To Push E-Commerce Forward, Developing Tech Leaders is Key

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Shopee Nurtures Top Tech Talent with the Global Leaders Program

The continued rise of Southeast Asia’s “digital decade”, now projected to gross around $1 trillion across the region by 2030, has increased the demand for tech talents who can drive the digital economy. Amidst this growing digital landscape, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, continues to seek for the next generation of industry leaders through the Global Leaders Program (GLP).

The Shopee Global Leaders Program is a 2-year graduate program consisting of four 6-month local and overseas rotations. It is designed for highly enthusiastic and ambitious young Filipino talents who have the potential to boost the country’s e-commerce industry. Final-year students or young professionals with up to two years of working experience can apply for GLP and be part of a structured learning and development program. Participants will also receive dedicated mentorship from Shopee leaders.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Digital transformation has been an ongoing focus in several key economic sectors. As a result, the demand for tech talent has been on the rise in recent years. Shopee remains committed to developing the next generation of talents in the Philippines through immersive training and mentorship initiatives like the Global Leaders Program. We will continue to come up with various programs that aim to value-add to the Philippines’ digital economy.”

Now in its 4th year, the program continues to provide its participants with eye-opening experiences and regional exposure

CJ, a GLP participant, shares why she chose Shopee to grow her career in e-commerce. “Shopee has been taking big strides to enhance the user experience and keep up with the recent changes in the retail market industry. It’s evident that the company is constantly growing bigger, better, and faster—and I want to be part of this growth.”

Among the many interesting components of the GLP, CJ says what caught her attention the most was the regional experience and exposure it offers. “Working with other teams from various countries is a great opportunity to learn about different cultures and gain new perspectives and insights that can help further the industry in our country.”

Currently working with Shopee’s Business Development team, CJ’s exposure to different functions allowed her to grow, adapt and learn new things every day. “I am constantly pushed and supported to become a better version of myself every day. The projects that I handle allow me to develop problem-solving, critical thinking, good leadership, and proper time management skills. Seeing how e-commerce campaigns are brought to life, and how people communicate and collaborate to achieve success regularly definitely inspire me to keep growing and eventually contribute.”

CJ takes pride in being part of the GLP. “If you want to become a future tech leader and be part of the growing digital economy in the Philippines, the Global Leaders Program is the best way to jumpstart your dream. You get the best training and development possible: close mentorship from Senior Management, rotating stints in different markets, and you get to drive crucial projects across the business. The program is truly for those who are willing to push themselves every day to be better and keep growing. I am grateful and humbled to be part of all this.”

Are you an aspiring tech leader and interested in learning about the e-commerce industry? Apply to be part of Shopee’s Global Leaders Program starting February 14, 2022. For more information about the program, visit https://careers.shopee.ph/GLP.

Bayanihan in the midst of a pandemic: The Coca-Cola Foundation, Coca-Cola Philippines contribute aid to Filipinos impacted by Super Typhoon Odette

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Responding to the call for aid following the devastation caused by Super Typhoon Odette in the Philippines in December 2021, The Coca-Cola Foundation, the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company, has extended relief assistance to thousands of Filipinos across six provinces of the country.

Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines Inc. partnered with Synergeia Foundation to provide residents of Barangay Tiling, Cauayan, Negros Occidental with relief goods, ensuring that they have the support they need in the aftermath of the typhoon.

The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded a grant of US$400,000 to CBCP Caritas Filipinas Foundation to support the disaster relief efforts of nine dioceses in the Visayas and Mindanao. The grant will provide food, shelter repair kits, solar lamps, and hygiene kits to 4,031 families affected by the typhoon in Bohol, Leyte, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Palawan, and Surigao del Norte.

Meanwhile, the local Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines has provided humanitarian aid to 5,420 families, donating P5.8 million for food packs, hygiene kits, shelter or roof repair kits, drinking water, and water filtration kits to help them cope in the aftermath of the typhoon. Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines has channeled its assistance through its NGO partners Water and Life Philippines, World Wildlife Fund-Philippines, Caritas-Manila, Philippine Business for Social Progress, Gawad Kalinga, World Vision, Synergeia Foundation, and Waves 4 Water.

“The Coca-Cola Foundation is resolute in its commitment to communities by extending humanitarian aid to those in need,” says Saadia Madsbjerg, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation. “We recognize the devastating impact of natural disasters and the pandemic especially on vulnerable communities with limited resources.”

Cecile Alcantara, President of Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines, adds: “Coca-Cola Foundation Philippines and its trusted partners will continue to serve Filipinos not only through our programs on waste management, water stewardship, education, and youth and women empowerment but also through our long-held commitment to disaster relief. The resilience of a Filipino is always strengthened when we come together—and we are here to give our unrelenting support, one day at a time.”

Continuous support for vulnerable communities

In its 110-year journey of refreshing Filipinos and uplifting vulnerable communities, Coca-Cola Philippines remains dedicated to supporting disaster relief operations for families affected by natural calamities.

Coca-Cola Philippines’ initiative in the past month has amounted to a total of more than P10.8 million worth of disaster relief funds for typhoon victims, including employees in the Visayas and Mindanao.

“Circumstances such as typhoons and the pandemic continue to affect Filipinos across the archipelago, and this is why it is critical for us at Coca-Cola Philippines that we provide continuous support to communities whenever we can,” shares Tony del Rosario, President of Coca-Cola Philippines and VP for Franchise Operations of the ASEAN and South Pacific-East Asia Region. “By extending humanitarian aid, we continue to prioritize the immediate needs and well-being of those affected the most.

”World Wildlife Fund Philippines and Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), funded by Coca- Cola Foundation Philippines Inc., distributed sacks of rice and relief goods to support residents of Anajawan Island in Surigao del Norte.

Beverage donations, employee support

In the aftermath of the typhoon, Coca-Cola Beverages Philippines Inc. (CCBPI)—the company’s bottling arm in the country—also mobilized its resources to distribute nearly 70,000 liters of Wilkins drinking water for residents in affected provinces and cities. Moreover, CCBPI made sure that affected employees were given assistance through a P5-million emergency fund, while also providing them with over 70,000 liters of drinking water and around P800,000 worth of grocery items.

Staying true to their People First commitment, CCBPI’s employees from other parts of the country launched an internal donation drive and were able to collect more than P600,000 to help their fellow associates in the Visayas and Mindanao whose homes were destroyed by the typhoon.

On top of this, CCBPI is working with the local government of Mandaue City in Cebu toward the deployment of a SETA machine (a mobile water treatment equipment that processes water to make it potable) in evacuation sites and communities in Marawi, Davao del Sur, and Bicol.

“Our commitment has always been uplifting the well-being not only of our consumers but the employees behind the work we do,” said Gareth McGeown, President and CEO of CCBPI. “It is truly heartwarming to see CCBPI’s employees come together despite the limitations and challenges posed by the typhoon. Their dedication to helping those in need is a testament to our People First commitment–that through our collective effort, we are able to uplift one another even in times of crisis.”

PAWS launches 'Kapon for all pets' to solve stray problem

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The Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is non-profit, non-government, volunteer-based organization dedicated to the promotion of kind treatment to animals and the prevention of animal cruelty through humane education.

PAWS pushes its newest campaign “Kapon for All Pets” program.

Kapon, neutering male/female cats or dogs, is a better way to show that you are an animal lover and responsible pet owner, taking care of their overall health.

The root of the problem: not spaying your pets

Many communities all over the country have long dealt with the issue of stray dogs and cats. For many years, the only programs that the local government units (LGUs) have in place are impounding activities and vaccination drives. Unfortunately, these measures only scratch the surface of the issue and do not preventively address the problem of homeless animals at its root.

Strays come from owned pets. Pets get pregnant or get other pets pregnant and once they give birth, people give the puppies and kittens away. There are always takers for the puppies but when they are all grown up, sometimes they end up on the streets.

Spay-Neuter (SN) programs for stray dogs also do not address the problem of stray dogs who end up sick, with a contagious skin problem, or with transmissible venereal tumor since no one really brings them to the vet. The SN groups for stray dogs quickly realized that they are to run as "mini-shelters" themselves, and so they end up bringing the sick dogs to the vet. The SN groups for stray dogs will eventually run out of steam, enthusiasm, manpower, and funding, especially as long as owned pets keep reproducing. Owned pets, therefore, must be spayed or neutered to solve the problem of pet homelessness for the long term.

As part of its mission to prevent cruelty to animals and to offer sustainable solutions to the issue of stray dogs and cats in communities, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) has long promoted Spay-Neuter (Kapon) programs for companion animals. Since 2009, PAWS operates a low-cost spay-neuter clinic in Quezon City and gives free spay-neuter to indigent pet owners. In addition, its “KabaliCAT” project implements Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-and-Release (TNR) activities for managing stray cats in neighborhoods. Also, all dogs and cats that are available for adoption from PAWS’ animal shelter are spayed/neutered.

PAWS’ newest initiative: ‘Kapon for all Pets’

PAWS’ newest campaign is its “Kapon for All Pets” program which proposes incentives to be offered by local government units to veterinary clinics operating within their cities and municipalities. A three-way partnership between PAWS and participating LGUs, the program seeks to provide free or affordable kapon procedures for pets owned by the LGUs’ constituents.

Participating veterinary clinics within the city or municipality will be working alongside the local government to implement the program. The LGUs that will take part in the program will be included on PAWS’ List of Progressive Kapon-friendly Cities and Municipalities, a list that the organization will be putting out on all of their social media channels in celebration of World Spay Day on February 22, 2022. The first ten (10) LGUs to implement the Kapon for All Pets fiscal and non-fiscal incentives will receive P50,000 worth of surgery materials from PAWS and a plaque of recognition as a “Pioneer KAPON FOR ALL PETS LGU Partner”.

PAWS believes that providing free or affordable kapon for pets is the long-term and sustainable solution to pet homelessness. It is not having bigger pounds, turning pounds into shelters, or putting up new signages proclaiming that a building is now an ‘animal rehabilitation center’.

“Kapon for All Pets” is proof that private-public partnerships can promote animal welfare, which is directly connected to public health issues and the eradication of rabies. LGUs that are interested to work with PAWS to implement the “Kapon for All Pets” campaign within their jurisdiction may email PAWS’ Executive Director, Anna Cabrera at kapon@paws.org.ph.

Tim Hortons Philippines partners with Nestlé to launch plant-based menu

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Something to help you in your New Year’s resolution to eat healthier in 2022. Tim Hortons Philippines partners with Nestlé Professional Philippines in its plant-based movement to launch the HARVEST GOURMET® plant-based products. 

Tim Hortons Philippines has added two delicious offerings to its menu: the meat-free Classic Barbecue Sensational® Burger, and meat-free Grilled Quesadilla with Barbecue Sauce. Launched in all 31 Tim Hortons Philippines stores just last month and available for a limited time only, these offerings provide consumers more options and access to plant-based products—and is a welcome addition for anyone committed to eating better and healthier for the new year.

The meat-free Classic Barbecue Sensational Burger contains HARVEST GOURMET® patty, barbecue dressing, fresh tomato, onion, lettuce, and cheese, sandwiched in a brioche bun, and is priced reasonably at P230. The Grilled Quesadilla with Barbecue Sauce uses HARVEST GOURMET® Schnitzel pieces, enveloped in soft grilled tortilla with barbecue dressing, onion, green peppers, and cheese, priced at P190, giving consumers an affordable meat-free alternative. Although they are meat-free, a lot of consumers have said they could not tell the difference from meat.

With the growing demand for plant-based food, Tim Hortons Philippines and Nestlé Professional, the foodservice unit of Nestlé Philippines, have joined forces to develop this meat-free menu without compromise on taste. As more Filipino consumers are consciously making more informed food choices based on health and environmental reasons, Tim Hortons and Nestlé are tapping this growing trend of ‘Flexitarian’ consumers who are looking for healthier alternatives and choosing to reduce their meat intake with plant-based food. This trend has also been accelerated by the current COVID-19 pandemic that has led people worldwide to be more conscious of their health and the impact of food sourcing on the environment.

“We are very proud of our collaboration with Nestlé Professional and HARVEST GOURMET®, and we are excited to offer our customers the healthy, nutritious, tasty meat alternatives they seek. At Tim Hortons, we are committed to serving high-quality and great-tasting food and beverages every day, while reducing our environmental footprint. The plant-based menus are a tasty alternative for everyone who would like a substitute for animal meat. These menus are about providing more choices to our guests, who are asking for a variety of options and more plant-based products. We are confident that our guests will love our plant-based menus,” said Rickie Yap, Tim Hortons Philippines President and CEO.

“What we are seeing is that the demand for plant-based food is not just a short-term food trend anymore, but really a growing social movement for sustainability, and that’s why we are really calling the F&B industry to join us in this plant-based movement, and we are so proud to have Tim Hortons joining us in this call. We believe the F&B community has a leading role to play in driving this change,” said Alexander Ong Oh, Business Executive Officer of Nestlé Professional Philippines.

“Every plant-based menu added and served in restaurants and hotels will be a step closer towards promoting not just a healthier lifestyle, but the sustainability of our planet. And we are excited to leverage our global knowledge and latest technology in plant-based food to bring to our customers and to Filipino consumers products that deliver on health, taste, and texture. Today, it is indeed possible already to enjoy plant-based food without compromise. I invite everyone to taste it to believe,” added Oh.

To stay updated with the latest Tim Hortons Philippines news and for takeout & delivery options, you may follow them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or visit their website.

HARVEST GOURMET® products are also available through Nestlé Professional Philippines and e-commerce partners: Rare Food Shop, Lazada, Shopee, and Wholemart PH.

For more information on HARVEST GOURMET® products, please visit the official Nestlé Professional Philippines Facebook page.

About HARVEST GOURMET®

HARVEST GOURMET® is committed to creating delicious meat alternatives made predominantly from plants. Manufactured in Asia under strict Nestlé food safety standards, we offer a range of vegetarian and vegan products without compromise on nutrition, taste, and texture.

About Restaurant Brands International Inc.

Restaurant Brands International Inc. is one of the world's largest quick service restaurant companies with more than $35 billion in annual system-wide sales and over 28,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries. RBI owns four of the world's most prominent and iconic quick service restaurant brands – TIM HORTONS®, BURGER KING®, POPEYES® and FIREHOUSE SUBS®. These independently operated brands have been serving their respective guests, franchisees, and communities for decades. Through its Restaurant Brands for Good framework, RBI is improving sustainable outcomes related to its food, the planet, and people and communities.

About TIM HORTONS®

TIM HORTONS® is one of North America’s largest restaurant chains operating in the quick service segment. Founded as a single location in Canada in 1964, Tim Hortons appeals to a broad range of consumer tastes, with a menu that includes premium coffee, hot and cold specialty drinks (including lattes, cappuccinos, and espresso shots), specialty teas and fruit smoothies, fresh baked goods, grilled Panini and classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, prepared foods, and other food products. Tim Hortons has more than 4,800 systemwide restaurants located in Canada, the United States, and around the world. To learn more about the Tim Hortons brand, please visit the Tim Hortons® brand website at www.timhortons.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Nestlé Professional

Nestlé Professional® is the global leader in branded hot and cold beverage and food solutions. We are passionate about serving the out of home industry and “Making More Possible” for our food service partners. We leverage our global reach to bring knowledge and customized solutions to help our customers delight their consumers.

About Nestlé Philippines

Over a hundred years after it first started operations in the country, Nestlé Philippines, Inc. (NPI) today is a robust and stable organization, proud of its role in bringing high-quality food and beverage throughout the stages of the Filipino consumers’ lives. The Company employs more than 3,200 men and women nationwide and is among the country’s Top 10 Corporations.

Driven by its purpose of enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future, Nestlé today produces and markets products under some of the country’s trusted brands such as NESCAFE, NIDO, MILO, NESTEA, MAGGI, BEAR BRAND, NESTLÉ, and PURINA, among others. Its product range has expanded to include coffee, milk, beverages, non-dairy creamer, food, infant nutrition, ice cream and chilled dairy, breakfast cereals, confectionery, and pet care.

GlobalData: Philippines an ideal hyperscaler hub

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Hyperscalers looking for geographic expansion should consider the Philippines for its strong legacy in the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, future of work programs, and hyperscale roadmap—a study conducted by data analytics and consulting company GlobalData showed.

According to the research titled ‘Why the Philippines Should Be the Next Destination for Hyperscalers,’ the country is the next logical destination for global tech giants due to several factors such as its success in terms of outsourcing, government support, business climate, accelerated cloud adoption, and significant steps for sustainability.

The study cited that the Philippines has a stable and evolving BPO sector as one of the global leaders in BPO, which currently holds about 10 to 15 percent of the global market and an annual growth rate of 10 percent over the past decade.

This entails a strong demand for cloud and artificial intelligence, driven by the shift of companies to remote working setup and the use of data and analytics to understand the online customer journey.

More enterprises in the country are also seen to move to the cloud with the adoption of hybrid operations and vertical applications, enabled by continuous network expansion efforts through 5G and fiber led by the PLDT Group. This is said to “drive the cloud market in the Philippines to grow solidly to US$ 2.8 billion in 2025.”

The PLDT Group has been augmenting its capabilities to strengthen the country’s global connectivity infrastructure and be the next preferred geographic destination of hyperscalers in the Asia-Pacific region.

Likewise, it has been leading various industry initiatives including the launch of commercial mobile 5G last year, which now has over 6,000 sites, to provide the best connectivity experience to its customers.

Moreover, the group also owns 615,000 kilometers fiber optic cables spread across the country to date, as it also marks its domination of the submarine cable capacities terminating in the Philippines.

In terms of sustainability, the group has implemented comprehensive sustainability programs, in partnership with Meralco and the energy department, with a focus on reducing its carbon footprint and improving environmental conservation.

Its key sustainability initiatives include its target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 by reducing carbon emissions, extending the use of renewable energy; and expanding investment in environmental projects.

“The digital economy in the Southeast Asian region is clearly at the cusp of unprecedented growth, and the Philippines is leading the way and growing the fastest,” said Gary Ignacio, PLDT Enterprise VP & Sector Head for Strategic Business Development, citing an excerpt from a recent market research report that tackled internet economy growth in the region.

“As such, the PLDT Group continues to invest heavily on network and IT infrastructure, as we anticipate the hyperscalers’ momentum to further build up in this part of the world. We’re beefing up our international capacities for full hyperscale readiness, with our investments on new cable systems such as Jupiter, APRICOT and the Asia Direct Cable. We’re also ramping up on our data center capacity build, which includes a plan to build a world-class hyperscale data center facility in the country,” Ignacio added.

Meanwhile, the study further mentioned that 29 percent of the businesses they surveyed are considering edge computing within the next three years, which represents another major opportunity for hyperscalers and telecommunication providers.

“Many businesses need the speed and agility of hyperscale solutions, ideally with the security and regulatory compliance that only locally hosted applications can offer to the various industry verticals operating in the Philippines,” the research indicated.

Moreover, the growing support of the government to develop the hyperscaler sector is helping create the right environment to further drive market traction and growth, with implementation of incentives program for hyperscalers expanding their operations in the Philippines, passage of relevant laws on data privacy and security, and the thrust for a cloud-first strategy across the public sector, among others.

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com.