34-year old Corporate Giveaways Buyers’ Show marks its second year online

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With the pandemic forcing a halt to face-to-face activities, companies are looking to increase their corporate gifting activities to help them stay connected to their clients and employees.  Reaching out to customers and keeping engaged with your team is even more important now that traditional marketing, PR and team building events are still not possible.

“A gift, no matter how high or low the cost, reminds people that they’re not forgotten just because they happen to be out of sight. The feeling of appreciation that you create with customers and clients will stay with them beyond the moment the gift is received. Furthermore, recipients will probably send a message of thanks, opening lines of communication and increasing engagement naturally.” shares Raquel Romero of World Expos & Concepts Inc. organizers of the Corporate Giveaways Buyers’ Show, the Philippines’ longest-running annual expo on business gifts, premiums, promotional ideas and merchandise incentives.

This year’s Corporate Giveaways Buyers’ Show is once again online with over 60 participating companies and brands offering thousands of year-round gift options at all price points. Exhibitors include Decathlon Philippines, Anker and Garmin Philippines, Cross, Timex, Zinc Group, BrandCharger, Ramesh Trading, Ilahui, Parker Pens, The Primer Group and many more. Through the event website, visitors can browse through suppliers’ details, view product photos, download brochures and send chat or email inquiries.

Corporate Giveaways Online Buyers’ Show is from August 1 to 31, 2021. Visitors can register and log in for free at www.corporategiveawaysbuyershow.com. 

  

   

 

DTI innovates with 2021 Hybrid National Food Fair to bolster food entrepreneurs

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With the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, the DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion is introducing innovations to help Filipino MSMEs recover and thrive in the new normal. This year, the 2021 Hybrid National Food Fair will combine the excitement of the traditional, physical event with the advantages and flexibility of a digital, online event.

In addition to the usual food fair held at a Metro Manila mall, the virtual components of the 2021 Hybrid National Food Fair allow the participation of exhibitors and visitors who could not be physically present due to travel restrictions and health protocols. Also, while the physical fair is slated to run for only 10 days from September 16 to 27, 2021, the online events are spaced across several months, thus providing the participating MSMEs with sustained market exposure for the whole year.

MSME Webinar Series

To help MSMEs prepare for the 2021 Hybrid National Food Fair and equip them skills to hurdle new challenges in growing their business, the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion and the Philippine Trade Training Center organized a free webinar series covering the following topics:

· Digital Payment Workshop for MSMEs

· Penetrating Domestic Market thru Online Platform

· Facebook Business Page Development

· Click and Close: Social Media Navigation for Successful Negotiation

· Online Visual Merchandising

· Negotiating with Buyer (Covering Customer Service, Business Pitching)

The webinar series was held via Zoom and Facebook Live last May 5 to 7, 2021, and reached 24,200 views on social media.

Online National Food Fairs and Digital Promotions

SHOPEE.PH. Held last May 10 to 16, the Online National Food Fair on the Shopee PH platform showcased 3,500 products from 278 MSME Stores and the Go Lokal Official Store. Featured products included sweets, snacks, staples, breakfast food, superfood/healthy food, beverages, seasonings, and baking ingredients, among others. As of May 31, the campaign generated 2,900 orders equivalent to sales of PHP 1.61-million for the participating MSMEs. Having been onboarded to the online shopping platform, all Shopee Stores of the MSMEs remain accessible as permanent online stores. Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan.

MAYANI.PH. Another online venue for the Online National Food Fair is Mayani, a farm-to-table e-commerce platform focused mainly on agricultural products. Held periodically since June 2021, buyers can enjoy up to 30% markdowns on featured food and artisan products when shopping on www.mayani.ph/NFF. Fresh vegetables, fruits and upland crops from the Cordillera Administrative Region were marketed and sold online for the benefit of farmer cooperatives and indigenous people’s organizations under the DTI-led Integrated Natural Resources Environmental Management Project – Livelihood Enhancement Support 2.

LAZADA. Scheduled for August 8 to 12 as part of the Lazada Love Local 8.8 Sale, this Online National Food Fair will include 74 participating MSMEs from 13 regions nationwide. Featured products will consist of processed food and beverages, cooked food, halal products and cuisine, Filipino snacks, food packaging materials, condiments and other cooking ingredients, among others. MSME sellers who qualify will be onboarded to the Lazada platform for free. To promote the event, Lazada will livestream cooking demonstrations by Chef Oliver John Gomez, an alumnus of the Center for Culinary Arts who combines his culinary expertise with a passion for organic agriculture production. LazLive will also feature a mukbang session showcasing food products from the MSME Stores on Lazada. Mark your calendars and don't miss out, by clicking on https://www.lazada.com.ph/88-shop-local/.

NFF DIGITAL STORE. Also set to launch within the year is the NFF Digital Store hosted on UnionBank GlobalLinker, an e-commerce platform that allows MSMEs to connect to local and global B2B and B2C partners, suppliers, and customers. The integrated NFF Digital Store will give participating MSMEs access to functionalities and networks to help grow and manage their business. The NFF Digital Store will be another venue for food entrepreneurs to have a permanent presence online, thus expanding their market reach even beyond local borders and despite restricted movement. One hundred MSMEs are set to be among the initial exhibitors in the NFF Digital Store.

Physical National Food Fair

Tentatively scheduled for September 16 to 27, the 2021 National Food Fair will be held at the Festival Mall in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. The exhibitor booths will be spread out across the Carousel Court, the Event Hall, and the Civic Drive Hallway of the mall.

A wide range of food products will be available during the event, including processed food and beverages, fresh produce and organic products, fresh and dried seafood, cooked food, halal products and cuisine, condiments and other cooking ingredients, dairy products, health and wellness products, food supplements, traditional cooking tools/equipment, food packaging materials and allied products, baskets and bayongs, labeling and food processing equipment, and even label and packaging design services.

The 2021 Hybrid National Food Fair is organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion (BDTP) and with support from the Regional Operations Group (ROG).

For more information about the DTI-Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion, please follow their social media accounts @BDTP on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You may also email bdtp@dti.gov.ph.

Model, TV host Kelly Misa-Fernandez talks about loyalty and creating long-lasting relationships

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Kelly Misa-Fernandez, model, TV host, and one of the most recognized faces in the Philippines is one whose life is made complete and beautiful by people closest to her heart helping and teaching her every step of the way. 

“Everything in my life that I have accomplished has never been done alone and I have been very fortunate to have met people who supported me, taught me, and enabled me to experience many things and become the best version of myself,” Kelly shared.

Long-lasting and genuine friendship

One of those people who has been intimately involved in her growth is her best friend, stylist, and former fashion editor Bianca Santiago-Reinoso who has been her rock and a constant in her life for many years. “We met in college and very early on we knew that we would be best of friends. I remember when she’d book styling gigs--she’d always recommend me and that opened a lot of doors for me. Bianca has seen me through a lot of my ups and downs and through it all she never left and pushed me to become better,” she said. “We’ve come a long way and I’m so glad that we remain close until now,” Kelly added, sharing how from fashion and work, they now bond over motherhood. “We’re at a different stage in our lives, but we still talk very often, to exchange stories and advice as we are raising our kids.”

The value of finding a good mentor  

Her career that started when she was 19 was something born out of hard work and sheer determination and no one knows the lengths she went through more than her former manager Luis Espiritu. “Luis pushed me beyond my comfort zone and has always believed in me more than I believed in myself. And it was a very powerful feeling—having someone who had that much faith in me and tells me whenever I feel I’m not there yet that I’m already there. That was really inspiring for me and I will be forever grateful to Luis,” she said. Her manager’s unwavering support and loyalty motivated her to make the most of new and better opportunities, including projects that brought her to Hong Kong and different parts of Asia. “I wouldn’t have done them if it weren’t for Luis,” Kelly added.

Kelly said it feels rewarding to have the people who love and believe in her. This helped her gain confidence to pursue other aspirations. She became a fashion editor; a host of a travel lifestyle show and a noontime program and dabbled in acting. At present, she is also building her channel as a content creator and is a wife to Carlos Fernandez and mother to their son, Tristan Antonio.

A lifetime and reliable partner

For Kelly, loyalty is something she cherishes and is important in her daily life. “I really value loyalty because it is the cornerstone of the relationships I have with the most important people in my life—the fact that I feel safe and secure knowing that I have people I can rely on and that I can extend the same to them is a special thing to have,” she shared.

“The same applies to other facets of my life. As a consumer, having a trusted ally gives me less things to worry about and I can focus on doing things better because of reliable partners like PLDT Home.”

Kelly added how rewarding it is to become a loyal PLDT Home subscriber, thanks to their PLDT Home Rewards program. “I have been a PLDT Home subscriber for years and with the PLDT Home Rewards program, it’s gratifying to know that my loyalty is valued. I get to earn crystals for every transaction or activity, like when I pay my bills in full and on-time, when I enroll for my paperless billing, or when I purchase a PLDT Home gadget,” she shared. “And then I can use these crystals to get discounts from my favorite online shopping sites like Lazada, well-loved food and dining brands and even rebates to pay for PLDT and Smart products and services. But my most favorite of all is that I get to earn raffle entries to the PLDT Home Grand Giveaway where I can win as much as Php5 million!”

Indeed, loyalty and valuable partnerships open doors to rewarding opportunities. To learn more about the PLDT Home Rewards program, visit https://pldthome.info/KellyForHomeRewards.

realme TechLife Air Purifier, Cobble Bluetooth Speaker launch on 8.8 Sale at discounted rates

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 Get up to 40% OFF on realme’s newest TechLife offerings, along with other smartphones and AIOT devices

realme, the country’s no. 1 smartphone brand for Q1 2021 continues to strengthen its presence in the AIOT category with the exciting launch of two new products this month: the realme TechLife Air Purifier and the realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker.

Launching officially on August 8, these two new devices are in line with realme’s mission to provide Filipinos with a full-circle digital ecosystem that would enable them to stay connected, and accomplish tasks more efficiently and conveniently.

Aside from the launch of these new TechLife products, the realme Squad can also look forward to incredible deals during the realme 8.8 Sale on both Shopee and Lazada. Products such as the realme 8 Series, the realme C25S, the realme Watch 2 Series, and other Smart Home and Smart Audio devices will be available at discounted prices of up to 40% OFF.

Breathe Better, Live Better with the realme TechLife Air Purifier

Designed to help you and your family breathe and live better, the realme TechLife Air Purifier is a must-have for everyone’s homes. It boasts a high-level purification capacity of 330m³/h CADR, which means that it is able to quickly and efficiently provide excellent purification results in a relatively short amount of time. For a standard indoor area of 1059ft³(30m³) for example, it only takes 14.4 minutes to complete a single purification process. That makes the realme TechLife Air Purifier both an efficient and time-saving solution for delivering clean indoor air into your home.

The realme TechLife Air Purifier is also equipped with an industry-leading HEPA H12 filter that is made up of 60-plus layers of an effective pleated design that is capable of filtering at least 99.5% of airborne particles. In addition, it features a powerful 3-stage filtration system, delivering up to 99.95% filtration efficiency. With all these features and more, the realme TechLife Air Purifier is well equipped to bring high-level air purification and is the ideal solution to air quality problems in your living space, providing you and your family with a healthy breathing environment.

As an early-bird offer on August 8, the realme TechLife Air Purifier will be available for only P4,990 (P1000 OFF SRP) on both Shopee and Lazada.

 

Experience the Pure Bass Powerhouse with the realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker

Another impressive addition to realme’s fast-growing Smart Audio lineup, the realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker allows music-loving fans to experience pure bass like never before. It comes packed with a 5W Dynamic Bass Boost Driver to guarantee a heart-thumping and immersive audio quality.

Equipped with realme’s Bass Boost+ audio technology, the speaker fully leverages the power of the large dynamic driver to deliver a bass experience that sounds truly alive. It also boasts 9 hours of playback with its 1,500mAh battery, and an IPX5 water resistance rating for an all-around audio experience.

In addition, you can pair two realme Cobble Bluetooth Speakers together by controlling the speaker’s multifunction button or realme Link for the supreme audio experience. The device comes in three equalizer presets — Bass, Dynamic, and Bright, which can all be configured from the realme Link app, allowing you to customize the way your music sounds exactly.

Coming in two colors: Metal Black and Electric Blue, the realme Cobble Bluetooth Speaker will be available for only P1,190 (P400 OFF SRP) as an early-bird offer during the Shopee and Lazada 8.8 Sale.

For more info and updates, follow realme on Facebook at facebook.com/realmePhilippines, @realme_PH on Twitter, and @realmephilippines on Instagram. 

#TakeChargeOfYourHealth: AXA unveils Health Care Access to allay concerns on rising medical costs

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A virtual family day with the theme #TakeChargeOfYourHealth was hosted by AXA Philippines on August 11, Wednesday in line with the latest developments that constantly threaten ours and our families’ health and safety. Medical persons and celebrity guests Dr. Randy Dellosa, Megan Young, Mikael Diaz, Cheska Garcia-Kramer, Edric Mendoza, and Niña Corpuz discuss how we can take charge of ours and our family’s health.

AXA empowers Filipinos to take charge and protect themselves against financial uncertainties
with its new affordable and comprehensive health insurance plan.

According to a report on health spending released by the Philippine Statistics Authority in late 2020, paying for one’s medical needs grew in the country by 11% in recent years.

 

On this spending, a staggering 48% of the expenses came from “household out-of-pocket”—meaning Filipinos have resorted to digging into their hard-earned savings or worse, turning to loans from well-meaning families, to be able to pay for the cost of hospitalization or other medical expenses that they did not have the capacity to cover.

 

In a separate report from the National Economic Development Authority, it was cited that 96% of Filipinos are concerned about their own and their family’s health, but only 16% are prepared to pay for medical costs. But it does not have to be this way.

Take charge of your future through AXA Health Care Access

 

With this as a backdrop, AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance companies, introduced its latest health insurance plan Health Care Access via a virtual press conference on August 11, 2021.

 

“We know all too well that sudden medical emergencies can happen to anyone, much worse if it rears its head during a pandemic,” said Rahul Hora, AXA Philippines President and CEO. “We developed Health Care Access as a way for Filipino individuals and families to protect themselves from life’s unexpected moments—freeing them from their worries while affording them a more secure future.”

 

An inclusive and value-for-money health care solution

 

AXA Health Care Access offers a comprehensive and affordable health care solution for one’s hospitalization and medical needs through a modest monthly or annual premium.

 

It comes in two plan types: Health Care Access Prime and Health Care Access Lite.

 

Health Care Access Prime provides comprehensive coverage of up to five million pesos (PHP5,000,000) annually. This plan is ideal for those who have no HMO like entrepreneurs, freelancers, and consultants. Health Care Access Prime offers inpatient and outpatient care, and emergency care treatment up to the Annual Benefit Limit (ABL). This also includes an Annual Physical Exam starting from seven basic exams, with a life and accident insurance benefit of up to PHP500,000. Moreover, customers can include optical care benefits to the plan by paying a small additional annual premium.

 

For those with HMO coverage from their employment but need additional protection, Health Care Access Lite is designed to provide just that on top of one’s existing health care plan or personal health fund. Health Care Access Lite offers inpatient and emergency care treatment up to the ABL. It also includes life and insurance accidents from PHP50,000 to PHP500,000. Moreover, you can enhance the coverage of your plan with outpatient care, optical care, or dental care benefit by also paying a small additional premium.

 

Full coverage in a pandemic plus other benefits

 

AXA Health Care Access provides full coverage and cashless payment arrangements which is advantageous given today’s ongoing pandemic. It also comes with free access to 24/7 teleconsultation via voice or video call with a medical professional.

 

Other superior benefits include the Longevity Health Fund, which one can tap into for health setbacks as they grow older and when they need it the most—beyond the age of 75. Customers get guaranteed renewability, family coverage within one plan, and even a premium reduction of 10% when the plan is extended to at least one family member, plus the option to add a ‘booster’ or add-on depending on your specific needs.

 

The Critical Illness Booster provides additional cash benefit if one gets diagnosed with any of the 56 critical illness conditions, and may be used for other medical expenses or as income replacement. The Annual Benefit Limit, on the other hand, automatically increases one’s annual benefit limit by 10% every three years to help keep up with rising medical costs.

 

AXA Health Care Access, which will be available starting August 16, encourages a more proactive and preparedness-oriented attitude towards health for everyone, allowing Filipinos to take full charge of their physical wellbeing for the future.

 

For more information on Health Care Access, visit https://bit.ly/3xwunlp.