Well-loved tocino brand Mekeni now available in the US market

Well-loved tocino brand Mekeni now available in the US market

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

 

Another Mekeni food product will be available in the US market soon as Mekeni Food Corporation announced that they are bringing their well-loved tocino through Island Pacific Supermarket.

Mekeni President Prudencio Garcia said that this new development in their world-market journey is a testament to their commitment to uplift the lives of Filipinos and bring pride to the country.

“This is another step for us to introduce our own Timplang Atin to the rest of the world. When we introduced our first batch of Mekeni-branded products to the US, we want Filipinos abroad and foreigners alike to have access to the world-class quality and taste we offer,” said Garcia.

Last January, Mekeni made their Kikiam and Fish Balls available on the West Coast also through its partnership with Island Pacific Supermarket, one of the area's biggest Asian/Filipino supermarkets.

The products were widely accepted by the Filipino community on the West Coast. Stocks immediately ran low just a few days after the new products were announced by Island Pacific on their Facebook page.

“We received a lot of positive feedback from families, friends, and friends of friends in the US. Some even asked us to bring more Mekeni products, said Marilou Uy, Mekeni AVP for Export. This inspired Mekeni to speed up its efforts to bring its tocino to the US.

“This is a major feat for a brand like Mekeni that started as a backyard business of a simple family. This milestone is a celebration of the efforts of the whole Mekeni family through the years,” Garcia said.

Before the US, Mekeni exported food products to international markets such as Dubai, Bahrain, Brunei, Qatar, Australia, Canada, and the UK. It is also the first company accredited by the Japanese government to export cooked products to the country.

For over 30 years, it has been known for its world-class manufacturing capabilities. Mekeni is the first in Asia and the second in the world to receive the certificate of compliance with ISO 22000 Food Safety Management System standard. In 2012 and 2013, Mekeni received the Century International Quality ERA Award (Gold Category) in Switzerland and The International Arch of Europe Platinum Award in Germany, respectively, which further cemented its commitment to food safety and quality. 

For more information about their products, visit Mekeni’s official Facebook page.

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Meralco recognized for ESG excellence, now a FTSE4Good constituent

Meralco recognized for ESG excellence, now a FTSE4Good constituent

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has been recognized as one of the most socially and environmentally responsible companies globally.

UK-based FTSE Russell, a global sustainability index provider, announced Meralco’s inclusionin the FTSE4Good Index Series—specifically in the FTSE4Good Emerging Index and in theFTSE4Good ASEAN 5 Index.

Meralco is the second power company in the Philippines recognized by FTSE Russell for outstanding sustainability performance.

The FTSE4Good Index Series is a set of global sustainability indices that measure theperformance of companies in key environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas suchas climate change, labor standards, and anti-corruption. It was designed to help marketparticipants assess sustainable investment products, to research environmentally and sociallysustainable firms, and to provide a transparent and evolving global ESG standard against which businesses could benchmark their performance.

To be included in the FTSE4Good Index, a company in an emerging market must achieve anoverall ESG rating of 2.9 or higher.

In FTSE Russell’s latest assessment, Meralco garnered and ESG rating of 3.2 – topping the Philippines’ and the global energy sector’s averages.

“We are very honored and grateful for this distinctive recognition of our sustainability strategyand initiatives. This confirms that we are indeed progressing in the right direction. Ourinclusion in the FTSE4Good Index inspires us to heighten our sustainability agenda and to continue creating a positive and transforming difference for all we serve—truly, powering thegood life,” said Meralco First Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer Raymond B.Ravelo, who also serves as the President and CEO of eSakay, Meralco’s electric vehiclesubsidiary. 

Meralco’s sustainability agenda called “Powering the Good Life” is deeply rooted in and promotesthe United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

The company’s key sustainability initiatives include sourcing 1,500 megawatts (MW) of its power requirements from clean energy in the next five years while building 1,500 MW ofrenewable energy capacity through 2027; electrifying 25% of its vehicle fleet by 2030; plantingand nurturing five million trees by 2025 to help protect and preserve Philippine forests andwatersheds; and achieving 40% women representation in its workforce by the end of thisdecade.

“We, in Meralco, will continue to advance our drive towards sustainability not only by intensifyingour efforts to keep the lights on for our customers and communities but also by heightening ourinitiatives to protect and preserve the planet,” said Meralco President and Chief ExecutiveOfficer Atty. Ray C. Espinosa.

“As we forge ahead, we are committed to accelerating our sustainability transformation while meeting the needs of our recovering nation. We likewise set our vision towards co-creating a society with all the hallmarks of enduring and meaningful progress as we provide and powermore life to sustain the Filipino,” he concluded.

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How to build successful online business

How to build successful online business

Thursday, July 14, 2022

With inflation rising and economic recession looming, aspiring entrepreneurs may find it difficult to invest in an online business. Despite the economic situation and the challenges it poses, Davao-based Shopee sellers Shiela Reyes-Lao and Lou Putian prove that one can still manage to start an online business and become successful.

In a recent face-to-face event held by Shopee for Davao-based entrepreneurs, both sellers shared how easy it was to join and grow their businesses on Shopee, even in the face of economic uncertainty.

Tip #1: Just go online, digitize your business

SY Glow Cosmetics owner Lou Putian’s e-commerce journey started when her husband, an Overseas Filipino Worker, was sent home in 2020. “We had little to no income at the time. To continue paying our bills, I started selling bath and body care essentials haphazardly online until some of my loyal customers urged me to set up a Shopee store,” she shared.

In just 2 months after creating an account and learning how to market her products through the platform, her sales greatly increased. “From barely making ends meet then, I’ve now been able to fulfill my dream of purchasing houses for family members and even establishing my own warehouse,” she added.

Meanwhile, Shiela of Cacao Culture, already joined Shopee in 2017. However, she and her team only focused their efforts on the platform after the pandemic affected their operations. “Initially, our Shopee account was only meant to supplement our retail store sales. But when the pandemic hit, we were forced to close down our physical stores and outlets—prompting us to refocus our efforts on e-commerce,” she shared.

Since making the leap to e-commerce, Shiela grew her sales volume 7x. Cacao Culture’s growth and visibility on the platform also encouraged Shiela and her team to carry more Davao-based cacao brands and sell them nationwide.

Tip #2: Maximize Shopee’s convenience, seller tools, and nationwide logistics network

Besides the need to shift to a new income stream, what drew both sellers to Shopee was how easy it was to onboard into and sell on the platform. “With Shopee, all you need is a mobile phone and internet connection,” shared Lou. “The convenience that Shopee offers allows entrepreneurs like me to manage my own business and care for my family, all from the comfort of my own home.”

Having benefited from the seamless Shopee experience to easily bring sellers online, Shiela also highlighted that growing and sustaining one’s business is another story and different kind of challenge. Fortunately, Shopee offers tools like insights and marketing solutions to help sellers further their business growth and visibility. Moreover, Shopee’s continuous logistics expansion nationwide also allows sellers like Shiela to reach more customers.

“As a Davao-based seller, I found it challenging to sell my products online and attract more buyers at the beginning. Through Shopee’s establishment of more hubs in Mindanao and the tools on the platform’s Marketing Center, I was able to attract more customers nationwide by setting up promotions, discounts, and vouchers,” she said.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines said, “It is heartwarming to hear Lou and Shiela’s success stories as it is a testament to what sellers are capable of achieving on Shopee’s platform. Through seller education activities, continuous advancement of platform features, nationwide hub expansion, and other initiatives, we strengthen our commitment to deliver a safe and convenient online shopping experience for both our customers and sellers, no matter where they are in the Philippines.”

If you want to grow your business online and enjoy the numerous benefits of e-commerce, start your online selling journey with Shopee today. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

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UBX, Post Office partner to drive financial, social inclusion

UBX, Post Office partner to drive financial, social inclusion

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

 

UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, has teamed up with the Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office) to launch Kasama Lahat, a capacity development project which will transform the country’s premier postal agency into a modern hub that offers financial and data services for everyone in the community.

“The Post Office Digital Innovation signifies the commitment and support of the Post Office especially under the new administration of President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. in serving the public who deserve no less than the best postal service by global standards’, Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio said.

Under the partnership, UBX will provide the necessary technical knowledge in digital finance and open finance to hasten the Post Office’s digital transformation journey. With its ubiquity and reach, the Post Office is well-positioned to provide its customers necessary financial services, promoting financial and social inclusion, especially in far-flung areas.

Through the Bangko sa Barangay Service of UBX, the Post Office will be able to transform thousands of its outlets nationwide into financial hubs, offering various types of services such as disbursements, fund transfers, cash withdrawals, loan applications, payments, insurance, and collections, among others.

The Philippine Post Office has approximately over 1,300 outlets across the country.

“This groundbreaking partnership with the Post Office reflects our strong commitment to include everyone into the country’s financial system. With its reach and data, the Post Office has the power to drive financial and social inclusion through its digital transformation initiative,” UBX President John Januzczak said.

Aside from transforming each postal outlet as community financial centers, the partnership will also empower postmen to become cash agents. They will be trained to provide guidance on how to apply for financial products and services, as well as to supervise the provision of these services.

In the long term, Kasama Lahat aims to establish Post Office as Open Finance Hubs, which can process data transactions as well, such as validation of customer information for loan applications, asset validation, and even collection or debt restructuring services.

Since it was established in 2019, i2i has been connecting institutions, including micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) into the country’s financial ecosystems. Now with thousands of agents and hundreds of financial institutions, it provides fund transfers, bills payments, mobile ATM, insurance, and loan services which anyone can access in various banks and merchant locations nationwide.

Millions of Filipinos have been integrated into digital finance through i2i, paving the way forward to the future of open finance. Its Bangko sa Barangay service, which was launched in July of last year, turned branch networks and agent pools to become financial service providers in their communities capable of providing financial and data transactions.

These services, under Kasama Lahat, aim to transform the Post Office by putting customers to the fore by creating and innovating products and services to meet their demands, shifting the agency to a sustainable business culture, reviewing, and proposing amendments to the Post Office Charter (RA 7354), and overall contributing to social inclusion in the Philippines.

With this partnership, the Post Office will also be able to establish a product line which will establish its financial independence from the budget provisioned by the government, giving the postal agency a more sustainable business culture. The profit margins will also allow it to continue its vision of modernization.

“Our digital transformation journey, powered by UBX, allows us to diversify our services beyond the Filipino people’s postal needs. With our network of over 1,300 outlets and more than 3,500 postmen, we are in a unique position to provide financial services that promote both financial and social inclusion in the country,” Post Office Postmaster General Normal Fulgencio said.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) shows that 47 percent of Filipino adults are still unbanked. The government aims to include at least 70 percent of Filipino adults to the country’s financial system by 2023.

“The challenge for both the public and private sectors to drive financial inclusion is daunting and it requires a strong sense of commitment and partnership to achieve this. Our partnership with the Post Office is just an example of meaningful ways to bring financial services closer to Filipinos,” Januszczak said.

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Saeed Abdulla Miran is Emirates’ new country manager for the Philippines

Saeed Abdulla Miran is Emirates’ new country manager for the Philippines

Emirates has recently appointed Saeed Abdulla Miran as Country Manager for the Philippines.

With an almost decade-long track record with Emirates, Saeed is tasked to lead the airline’s operations here in the Philippines while helping drive further its growth in the country. His appointment comes at a time when air travel from the Philippines to other destinations around the world is picking-up following the easing of border restrictions in many countries. Emirates is considered the top carrier for hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who live and work in the UAE, and as the new Country Manager, Saeed’s leadership will be critical in setting the future direction of the airline in the market.

Before being assigned to the Philippines, Saeed was the Area Manager for Hong Kong, where he was assigned to lead the operations of Emirates. He also oversaw key stakeholder relations amidst an ever-evolving travel environment. He also directly contributed to the growth of Emirates’ market share in Hong Kong. 

Before his appointments to Hong Kong and now the Philippines, Saeed served as the Country Manager for Bangladesh from 2018 to 2020 and Country Manager for Sudan from 2016 until 2018. He started his career with Emirates in 2013 as Commercial Support Manager in the UAE and was later posted in Qatar with the same position in 2015. 

Saeed graduated from the American University in the UAE with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Diplomacy.

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Emirates SkyCargo expands capacity with delivery of new freighter

Emirates SkyCargo expands capacity with delivery of new freighter

Sunday, June 5, 2022

Emirates SkyCargo, a leader in the global airfreight industry, received delivery of a new Boeing 777F this weekend. This latest addition takes its dedicated 777 freighter fleet to 11 aircraft.

From Boeing’s Paine Field in Seattle, A6-EFT headed to Hong Kong to pick up its first load before touching down on Saturday morning at its new home, Dubai World Central, with a full load of freight consisting of electronics, consumer goods, and general cargo.

"Our newest freighter adds welcome capacity to our operations, which have been running at full steam throughout the pandemic to serve our customers and keep global supply chains moving. We are scheduled to receive delivery of a second 777F in June. And in 2023 we will begin a program to convert four passenger 777 aircraft into freighters and all of the converted aircraft will be re-delivered by end 2024,” said Nabil Sultan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Emirates SkyCargo.

"These investments reflect our commitment to serving our customers with the best possible assets, as well as to enabling the movement of vital goods and trade flows through Dubai. Emirates SkyCargo will continue its journey as one of the world’s largest and best air cargo airlines, by investing in our fleet, our global network, technology, and world-class logistics infrastructure at our Dubai hub."

Emirates SkyCargo currently operates scheduled freighter services to 11 destinations. It also offers shippers cargo belly-hold space in Emirates’ passenger fleet of over 200 wide-body Boeing 777 and Airbus A380s aircraft which serve over 130 destinations on six continents. Last year, Emirates SkyCargo flew over 2.1 million tonnes of cargo.

Emirates SkyCargo offers a portfolio of solutions designed for the unique requirements of its varied customers. Whether it is perishable cargo such as food items and flowers; certified cool-chain handling for pharmaceutical products; valuables and technology items, cars and industrial items, champion horses and domestic pets, mail and courier items, or general cargo, Emirates SkyCargo has the experience and capabilities with specialized solutions to meet the needs of shippers.

Emirates SkyCargo was the launch customer for the Boeing 777-F and the aircraft has been at the heart of the carrier’s operations since 2009. The aircraft’s range and payload capabilities allow time and temperature sensitive shipments to be transported rapidly and efficiently from origin to destination.

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Cebuana Lhuillier and Bayad boost real-time bills payment services through intensified partnership

Cebuana Lhuillier and Bayad boost real-time bills payment services through intensified partnership

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Cebuana Lhuillier, one of the leading micro financial service provider companies in the Philippines, boosts its bills payment services through its intensified partnership with Bayad, a trusted multi-channel payment solutions.

Meralco bills can now be paid conveniently in more than 3,000 Cebuana Lhuillier branches. 

“Cebuana Lhuillier has always been committed to offer efficient micro financial solutions to our clients, and partnering with the biggest and widest multi-channel payment platform in the country will surely optimize one of our essential services. As we continue to expand our network and improve our digital payment facilities, we will provide our clients more convenient options for their bills payment needs,” Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier shared.

Cebuana Lhuillier targets to onboard more biller brands through Bayad’s extensive network of bills partners that will eventually extend across Cebuana Lhuillier’s digital platform, enabling an easier, more efficient, more convenient, and seamless one-stop shop solution for its clients. 

Bayad President and CEO, Lawrence Y. Ferrer, shared that “Bayad’s partnership with Cebuana Lhuillier ultimately amplifies our vision of elevating the quality of living of Filipinos as we usher in more real time bills payment services. We are committed to empower businesses like Cebuana Lhuillier by sharing our vision and strategy in advocating for digital financial inclusion.”

For fintech institutions that are interested to be part of Bayad’s extensive channel network, you may send an email to partnerships@bayad.com or call at +63 998 963 7880. Bayad enables partners to attain nationwide presence and provides end-to-end support services for efficient payment and collection processing.

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UBX bags Best ATM Project Award at the 2022 Asset Triple A Digital Awards

UBX bags Best ATM Project Award at the 2022 Asset Triple A Digital Awards

Saturday, May 28, 2022

UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, bagged the Best ATM Project Award at the 2022 Asset Triple A Digital Awards for its groundbreaking Mobile ATM Solution, which empowered financial institutions and community-based financial services providers to provide ATM solutions to far-flung areas during the pandemic. 

Operated under UBX’s banking-as-a-service platform and community - i2i, the Mobile ATM solution was developed to provide safer access to government cash assistance projects such as 4Ps and SAP in remote areas. It also created an additional source of income for small businesses that were successfully onboarded as cash agents. 

i2i prides itself in being the nation’s fastest growing payments and cash disbursement network. It enables banks, cooperatives, MSMEs and other non-banking financial institutions to connect with each other to expand their reach and digital capabilities in the name of financial inclusion.

“UBX’s i2i Mobile ATM digital project is a standout initiative in the Philippines and plays an important part in driving financial inclusion in the country. The project was timely given the impact of COVID-19 at the time, enabling distribution and access to funds in the remote areas of the Philippines,” according to the The Asset Board of Editors. 

The Asset Triple A Digital Awards recognizes financial institutions and technology firms that have excelled in innovation and developing a unique digital experience for customers across the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East. The awards are adjudicated by The Asset's board of editors who collectively have several decades' worth of experience evaluating industry awards in the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East.

By launching its groundbreaking Mobile ATM solution, UBX, through i2i, was able to augment the income of small businesses directly affected by the quarantine like travel & tour operators, sari-sari stores and carinderias have found an alternative line of business in the midst of the pandemic.

Aside from boosting business for MSMEs in the time of COVID-19, the Mobile ATM digital project guaranteed safer access for the at-risk population, including pensioners. Since they cannot travel to nearby towns or the nearest ATM, either of which could be at least several kilometers away, i2i was able to provide a solution.

Despite the difficulty in delivering its devices in the midst of the harsh lockdown in 2020, i2i managed to deliver. In the last half of 2020 alone, monthly i2i Mobile ATM volumes increased by 3000 percent. At the start of last year, over 1,300 new financial service providers and agents joined the network via a joint venture with Irish financial services technology giant Fexco. Currently, over 3,000 devices are deployed all over the country processing almost P5 billion cash out transactions from year to date mostly in remote locations. 

i2i is the Philippines’ fastest-growing open finance and banking-as-a-service platform and community, digitally enabling financial institutions and service providers to bring in-demand financial services to underserved communities nationwide. It has product offerings ranging from money transfers via PESONet and Instapay, mobile ATM services, API integration and more.

i2i connects hundreds of rural and thrift banks to the National Retail Payment System (NRPS) and has over 3,000 agents to date.

“It is humbling to be recognized for our efforts in promoting financial inclusion, since this challenges us to strive for more. There is definitely more to expect from i2i in the near future–projects which are all driven by our commitment to bring finance closer to the everyday Filipino,” UBX President John Januszczak said.

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UBX signed partnership with Bayad to beef up bills payment offers

UBX signed partnership with Bayad to beef up bills payment offers

Thursday, May 19, 2022

UBX, the leading open financing platform in the Philippines, has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Bayad, the country’s authority in bills payment and Meralco’s full service fintech subsidiary.

Under the agreement, i2i, the banking-as-a-service venture of UBX, will leverage the network of billers of Bayad, allowing i2i banking agents to process payments for Meralco and Home Credit. Throughout the year, the partners will add more billers to further promote greater convenience to customers.

“We are committed to constantly improving our services and in bringing financial services closer to those who need them. Our partnership with Bayad will provide seamless bills payment transactions to our customers, allowing us to further strengthen our initiatives for financial inclusion,” UBX President & CEO John Januszczak said.

Currently, i2i has around 250 billers in its platform, including local utilities, schools, telcos and more. This includes major players of different industries such as Philippine Airlines, Bayan Telecommunications, and even different universities throughout the Philippines.

By integrating its systems with Bayad, small businesses and residents of far-flung areas can also enjoy the efficiency and convenience of paying their bills through i2i agents. 

As of end-2021, there are 3,000 i2i banking agents across the country and these include ordinary merchants like sari-sari store owners that provide the basic financial services to the most underserved and unserved communities. 

“As we leverage on digital financial technology, we proactively respond to market developments and adapt innovations in banking. With this, we partnered with UBX to make financial services more accessible and convenient to our kababayans. With our partnership, we will be able to help communities bounce back in the new normal. We at Bayad, will continue to create positive strides by expanding our bills payment solutions while offering the convenience of real-time posting.”,” Bayad President and CEO Lawrence Y. Ferrer said.

“Since day one, our goal at i2i has always been to empower underserved communities with topnotch digital financial services. Thus, we are committed nonstop to formulating solutions which will improve their lives, one step at a time.” Januszczak said.

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Home Credit makes its customer service available 24/7

Home Credit makes its customer service available 24/7

True to its commitment to providing Filipino consumers excellent customer service experience, the country’s leading consumer finance company Home Credit Philippines has officially made its customer service available 24/7.

HCPH is the first non-bank financial institution in the Philippines to make its customer support available round-the-clock, allowing its existing and potential customers receive 24/7 support for their concerns and other service inquiries. This is the latest among many developments that HCPH has implemented to ensure customers’ easy access to its various digital touchpoints.

“We at Home Credit Philippines are proud to provide our Filipino consumers with a seamless customer experience by making our customer support available day and night. Being the first local non-bank financial company to offer round-the-clock customer service, we at Home Credit are confident that we’ll be able to address our customers’ service concerns in the most convenient and efficient way possible and, at the same time, further strengthen our relationship with them,” shares HCPH’s Head of Operations, Pratim Bhattacharya.

With this initiative, HCPH’s customers will now be able to send their concerns and questions any time of the day, including during graveyard hours. This, in turn, will enable HCPH to learn about customers’ needs faster and resolve concerns in product and cash loans, payment status, account balance, product availability, partner brands, retail stores, gift payments, among others.

Running on multiple touchpoints, this new 24/7 service allows customers to seek assistance from a customer service representative about their concerns by sending a message through the official Facebook and Twitter accounts of HCPH.

Customers who are browsing HCPH’s official website may click the “Chat with Us” icon at the lower right side of the website to send in their queries. While for those customers who prefer to coordinate via email, they may send their concerns to info@homecredit.ph. More details are found on the “Contact Us” page of HCPH’s website.

To know more about the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit their official website www.homecredit.ph. You may also follow them on their official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts. Customers are encouraged to download the My Home Credit app on Google Play to learn more about the latest promos and see what’s new in the Marketplace.

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How top-performing sellers grow their businesses through Shopee's Mega Sales

How top-performing sellers grow their businesses through Shopee's Mega Sales

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Shopee’s Seller Recognition Operations Awardees highlight how efficient operations contribute to online success

In the Philippines, double day dates such as 9.9 and 11.11 have become highly anticipated due to shopping festivals offered by platforms such as Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. In fact, last year over 2 billion items were purchased by shoppers during 11.11 alone across the region. This uptick in purchases made during mega-sales allowed more than 1,000 local sellers across the region to exceed US$100,000 in sales during Shopee’s year-end festivals in 2021.

Alongside hard work and determination, the success of Shopee sellers relies heavily on how efficiently they operate. This is especially true during mega-sales where the opportunity for growth is high. For this reason, Shopee recognizes sellers who go above and beyond in time for Shopee’s mega-sale days through its Seller Recognition Operations Awards.

Martin Yu, Shopee Philippines Director, said, “Shopee has always been committed to helping businesses create long-term, sustainable e-commerce strategies in today’s digital economy. Through the Seller Recognition Operations Awards, we are able to highlight top-performing sellers in this regard, as well as their strategies and insights which their fellow sellers can learn from and apply to their businesses.”

Jenna Indigado, owner of Small Wonders Page and a recent awardee, is among those who diligently prepares for and maximizes mega-sale days to grow her business on Shopee. She decided to become a full-fledged Shopee seller in 2020 when her agricultural business was affected by the African Swine Flu (ASF) breakout that year.

“After our hog-raising business was affected by ASF, I made the decision to sell on Shopee full-time. I already had a part-time reselling business on the platform in 2018 so I knew the potential for growth was huge especially if I committed my time and resources to it.”

She went on to hire a local seamstress to grow her reselling business into one that manufactures clothing for babies. Today, she employs more than 300 Filipinos.

“There were only two of us when we started the Small Wonders Page at Shopee. Now, we employ around 250 local seamstresses and 70 employees who have gone on to fulfill their dreams and even purchase their own cars and houses. Without Shopee, we wouldn’t be able to provide jobs for these Filipinos,” she said.

She says her experience as a Shopee seller, the platform’s features, as well as guidance from her dedicated relationship manager are key factors for her business success especially during mega-sale days.

“Having a dedicated relationship manager helps us create strategies to maintain product visibility, eliminate backlog, and fast-track order processing and fulfillment during mega-sales. During campaigns we also make sure to utilize features such as Chat Broadcast, ShopeeLive, and ShopeeAds in order to connect with our customers and inform them about our new products, discounts, and deals.”

Charles Barrientos of Mikana store, a recent awardee as well, also shares that alongside the hard work that comes with preparing for mega-sale days, these highly anticipated dates are integral to their business. His decision to launch Mikana, a store that specializes in jewelry, on Shopee was because he learned about how Shopee provides features and guidance to cater to its sellers’ growth. Besides these tools, he says constant adjustments and preparation are what help drive his business success.

“Preparing for peak days and seasons comes with its challenges because of the sudden increase in demand. There are times wherein we have to extend our operations and double our efforts especially since mega-sale days are a big part of our sales.”

He also highlights how Shopee’s user-centric platform helps them maintain a good relationship with their customers. “Shopee has an efficient customer service feature which allows us to address the concerns of our customers directly and improve how we serve them.”

Like Jenna and Charles, you can conveniently join Shopee as a seller and grow your business today. Learn more and Get Started on Shopee.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

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UnionBank honors 5 Supply Chain Community Anchors, 25 future-ready MSMEs in first-ever SME Banking Financial Supply Chain Awards

UnionBank honors 5 Supply Chain Community Anchors, 25 future-ready MSMEs in first-ever SME Banking Financial Supply Chain Awards

Saturday, May 14, 2022

Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) recently held the first-ever SME Banking Financial Supply Chain (FSC) Awards to honor 5 existing Supply Chain Community Anchors and 25 future-ready MSMEs who are all part of the Bank's FSC platform. The awarding ceremony was held via Zoom. 

The SME Banking Financial Supply Chain (FSC) Awards aims to recognize the accomplishments and contributions of UnionBank's existing FSC Anchors and their micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) dealers. Aside from industry recognition, the awardees will enjoy various perks, which are all part of the Bank's efforts to support Filipino entrepreneurs. 

These perks include being featured in UnionBank communication channels; free access to Day 8, on-demand webinars on Entrepreneurship; 1-on-1 business consultation with UnionBank Director Josiah Go; get company tagged in the LinkedIn UB account; and Company name being mentioned in post event publications. 

"UnionBank is very passionate to be at the forefront of assisting our SMEs, particularly in getting fast and easy access to credit. We will continue to innovate our products and platforms so that we can continue to adapt to your changing and evolving needs particularly in this challenging and uncertain times," said UnionBank EVP and Head of Commercial Banking Robert F. Abastillas during his welcoming remarks. 

The event kicked off the ceremonies with the "Supply Chain Community Anchors Award (MSME Onboarding)" category, which recognized the top 3 Supply Chain Anchors with the highest number of onboarded MSME buyers in the FSC platform. The winners were SEOIL, Philippines Inc., Vitarich Corporation, and Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation (top 1, 2, and 3, respectively). 

"We are deeply honored that SEAOIL Philippines is awarded as one of your Top Supply Chain Community Anchors for MSME dealers for 2021," said SEAOIL Retail Business President and CFO Mark Yu. "At SEAOIL, looking after our customers’ needs goes beyond just providing them with quality products. We also want to help fuel a better future for them. And with the economy finally opening up after two years of recurrent lockdowns, we look forward to our continued partnership with UnionBank as we help more MSMEs grow their businesses and thrive in the new normal." 

For the "Supply Chain Community Anchors Award, MSME Penetration Rate" category, which recognized the top 3 Supply Chain Anchors with the highest conversion rate of Buyers from their referred MSME community. The winners were Vitarich Corporation, Pilmico Animal Nutrition Corporation, and Number 1 Supplier Inc (top 1, 2, and 3, respectively). 

"[I] thank everyone at UnionBank for this incredible work that you do. You create opportunity by helping our customers to grow and expand their business. This is aligned with the Company's goal of building lasting relationships with our customers and business partners through our lifetime profitable partnership," said Vitarich Comptroller Marian Dionisio. "On behalf of Vitarich Corp, I thank you for this recognition and for your continuous effort in providing help and support to our customers." 

For the "Supply Chain Community Anchor Award, MSME Volume" award, given to the Supply Chain Anchor with the highest volume of MSME buyers as of Dec 31, 2021, the winner was New Hope Bulacan Agriculture, Inc. 

Last but not least is the "The Future-ready MSME Award," which honored the top 25 MSME customers who have used the FSC platform and consistently availed of the Dealers Business Line for the year 2021. They were led (top 1-5, in chronological order) by VJS Agri Farm and Poultry Supply, Boundary Hardware Supply, San Gabriel Feeds Supply, ACJP Agri Trading, and Treark Grocery Trading. 

These were followed by (top 6-15, in chronological order) Nanette Mini Mart, 5MLink Enterprise, Mondray Bread Trading, Triple E and JM Gines Groceries, St. Gabrielle Seaoil Service Station, Bohmart Poultry Supply, Asian Dragon Petroleum Philippines Inc, Buscar Enterprises, Cabauatan Agri Supply, and Gianniel Consumer Goods Trading. 

Ryan Sari-Sari Store, Jeanne Martini Enterprise, AC Consumer Goods Trading, Ramos Poultry Supply, Cris Lamano Fish Cage, JCK Fish Dealer, Rapisafe Philippines Inc, SMJ Trading, SJ37 Enterprises, and Eriq Farm Supply completed the list (top 16-25, in chronological order). 

"Sitting here and listening to everyone and seeing the happy faces especially coming from our customers and from our team in UnionBank...it's very inspiring that what we all worked hard for is coming into fruition," said UnionBank SME Business Head Jujut Enriquez during his closing remarks. 

"We have this platform that makes it easy for our Anchors and their buyers to gain access to capital, and that's what we are seeing here this afternoon. Many in the essential goods sector had access to capital so they can purchase more inventory and grow their business. So, thank you everyone for gracing this afternoon," Enriquez concluded. 

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UnionBank partners with Asia Pacific College to strengthen security risk management for third-party vendors

UnionBank partners with Asia Pacific College to strengthen security risk management for third-party vendors

Friday, May 6, 2022

In a bid to strengthen its security risk management for third-party vendors, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) has teamed up with Asia Pacific College (APC) to provide cybersecurity and information security education to these vendors.

Through this joint initiative, UnionBank is enhancing the high standard of information security for its customers’ data.

Through the MSME Business Banking Group and enterprise networking platform UnionBank GlobalLinker (UBGL), the Bank will collaborate with APC in developing training courses centered on security risk management. The courses will be tailored to the nature of services offered by the third-party vendors and their corresponding roles in UnionBank, and will be made available through the UBGL portal.

The partnership gives UnionBank an advantage over its competitors as this will also promote trust among customers, knowing that the Bank continues to employ means to safeguard their security; making clients more at ease to use its innovative and industry-leading digital banking products and services.

"UnionBank takes security risk management very seriously. This is the reason that the Bank only engages with reputable third-party vendors to ensure utmost security where the processing of customer information is involved, and this initiative will take that further," said Joey Rufo, UnionBank FVP and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO).

"Through this partnership with APC, our third-party vendors are able to adhere to global standards and best practices as they provide their services to the Bank, especially when it comes to protecting the data of our customers."

Asia Pacific College (APC) is the educational partnership of SM Foundation and IBM Philippines. APC is the only Higher Education Institution (HEI) strong in industry-academe linkages across the curriculum: with industry experience infused in content and industry experts as industry professors, full-time 6-month internship, and project-based learning as the predominant teaching/learning methodology. The aim of APC is to produce highly skilled professionals who can meet the standards of business and industry. APC is continuously upgrading its curriculum with the infusion of industry badges and certification to enhance employability and productivity of its graduates. For more information, visit https://www.apc.edu.ph.

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Singlife Philippines gets excellent rating from Trustpilot

Singlife Philippines gets excellent rating from Trustpilot

Friday, April 22, 2022

The excellent rating is driven by Singlife Philippine’s ease of support from customer service, and fast and easy claim process

As a newcomer in the longstanding insurance industry in the Philippines, Singlife Philippines enlisted itself in Trustpilot to build trust and provide proof on how the company delivers on its promises to its customers. 

Trustpilot is an online review community that connects businesses and consumers through genuine feedback from customers about their buying and service experiences. Through the platform, consumers can give reviews without censorship and companies are able to respond to reviews given by their customers in real-time. 

Singlife has received a TrustScore of 4.6/5 stars, far above the life insurance average category of 3.8 stars. 

Transparency and accountability 

To live up to its mission to help customers protect themselves and secure their financial future on their own terms, Singlife proactively notifies both newly signed up and existing customers who have claimed against their policies to provide reviews on this platform so that potential new customers are able to see firsthand, feedback from actual customers of the Company. 

Topics that drove the Excellent rating of Singlife Philippines include ease of support from customer service, and fast and easy claims process– a concrete proof that despite being a challenger in the category, Singlife has made a mark in the industry. 

“Feedback is very important to Singlife Philippines. We know the importance of listening in to understand how we can further improve our services,” said Rien Hermans, CEO of Singlife Philippines.

A reliable partner

In the middle of a global public health crisis that has left many Filipinos scrambling for public health benefits and coverage, Singlife Philippines remained relentless in its service to its customers.

The company has paid out over 3,500 claims to its customers in these difficult times. These claims include test and confinement allowances, and medical reimbursements – a lifeline for a lot of its customers.

“Trust means fulfilling our commitments to our customers– to provide them with their money when they need it most. During the pandemic, we made sure to live up to our promise by making sure the reimbursements and allowances for medical bills are paid out at the soonest time possible. The Trustpilot reviews show that we were able to do just that – to pay out claims fast and make it hassle-free, and a few areas where we can do better,” Hermans added. 

Singlife Philippines remains steadfast in its commitment to make insurance more accessible and convenient for every Juan (and Maria). The Company uses mobile-first technology to improve customers’ experience in buying, managing their policies and, you can even claim through your mobile phone. The Company continues to develop more products that give people money when they need it: when faced with income loss, with high medical bills, and when saving up to reach their dreams and aspirations. Singlife offers a better way to plan, save, and protect.

To see Singlife’s TrustPilot reviews, visit https://www.trustpilot.com/review/singlife.com.ph?page=2

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Bayad and PNB seal partnership to push digital bills payment in real-time

Bayad and PNB seal partnership to push digital bills payment in real-time

Monday, March 28, 2022

CIS Bayad Center, Inc., or Bayad, the country’s biggest and widest multi-channel payment platform, and Philippine National Bank, the fifth largest bank in the country, have partnered to make it easier for Filipinos to settle payments electronically.

In a recently held virtual signing of a memorandum of agreement, the two companies forged a partnership that would allow Meralco postpaid customers to pay their bills real-time through the PNB Digital App. 

According to Bayad’s President and CEO Lawrence Y. Ferrer, “We at Bayad take on an ecosystem-oriented stance which we believe is key in accelerating growth for our company, partners, and industry as a whole. We also continue to innovate and introduce key features in our system such as Bayad’s real-time posting of payments to offer them the ease and convenience of transacting with us.”

This strategic partnership offers a one-stop-shop solution for the best customer experience. With Bayad as a payment gateway of PNB, both companies will eventually onboard more biller partners on the PNB Digital App, aside from Meralco.

PNB President and CEO Wick Veloso said the bank’s partnership with Bayad addresses the customer’s increasing preference for online transactions. “Partnering with a reliable and trusted name fully supports our efforts to provide safer banking to our customers and the banking public,” he said. “As our country enters a new phase in its history where our new normal is characterized by going digital and contactless, this partnership is very timely as we are able to serve the bills payment needs of our customers while helping them stay safe at the same time.”

To date, Bayad collects for more than 450 biller brands from basic utilities such as electricity and water, cable & internet, to government contributions and loan payments, school tuition fees, online shopping, insurance, and many others.

For banks and financial institutions like PNB that are interested to be part of Bayad’s extensive channel network, you may send an email to partnerships@bayad.com. Bayad enables partners to attain nationwide presence and provides end-to-end support services for efficient payment and collection processing.

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Lamudi and RLC Residences Renew partnership agreement

Lamudi and RLC Residences Renew partnership agreement

Friday, March 25, 2022

Driven by a force to elevate the ways of living of their patrons, Lamudi and RLC Residences inked a partnership agreement once again. The contract signing held physically marks the second year of partnership between the two firms.

 

2022 marks a rise in the property market as the industry sees a more positive outlook in the return of normalcy.

 

Top officials from real estate platform Lamudi and developer RLC Residences recently held a face-to-face gathering to renew their partnership. The contract signing happened at the City Life Gallery in Robinsons Galleria.

 

The executives that graced the event were Lamudi Co-Founder and CEO Kian Moini, Lamudi Philippines Managing Director and CEO Kenneth Stern, Lamudi Philippines Vice President-Operations Ramjit Lahiri, RLC Residences Senior Vice President and Business Unit General Manager John Richard Sotelo, and RLC Residences Director, Head of Marketing and Chief Integration Officer Karen Cesario.

 

According to Sotelo, Woodsville Crest and Amisa Private Residences are just some of the RLC projects that will be highlighted under the Lamudi-RLC partnership.

 

Growing from the Global Crisis

 

While thanking RLC Residences for their trust, Moini underscored the signs of recovery and normalcy that have been more evident in the past weeks.

 

He said, “We’re really happy to finally be sitting together again in person. It’s a reflection of what’s happening in the world and in the Philippines [...] We hear from developers that numbers are picking up very aggressively. People are going to viewings. People are transacting. We want to be at the forefront of bringing the industry together. We’ll be launching in-person events again that we can celebrate with RLC, with the industry.”

 

Expressing the same delight as Moini, Cesario thanked Lamudi for all its efforts to make RLC Residences’ brand and its launch more visible to the property market. More than a new beginning, the contract signing is a renewal of commitment, [a testament] to how much Lamudi and RLC Residences want to move forward together with all the innovations in tow, she said.

 

She noted the beginnings of the partnership last year, saying, “It’s critical for us to do something disruptive. We are so thankful that [Lamudi] rose to the challenge and gave us more than what we could actually ask for. It’s not just the initiative. It’s actually the relationship.”

 

Growing to Greater Heights

 

Lamudi CEO Kenneth Stern noted that the demand for condominium projects has increased by 20 percent since the government eased restrictions in February. He added that one of RLC’s condo developments is capturing the market’s attention, as it’s in a promising real estate hotspot.

 

“The Magnolia Residences in Quezon City is doing very well because QC has historically been our most viewed and most transacted area. It continues to be that way even through Q1 this year,” he said.

 

Stern forecasted that the strong property appetite can contribute to economic recovery, saying, “Overall, the pent-up demand has been somewhat released, but I do think that over the next quarter and even the second half of the year, we’ll see pent-up demand further drive the economy with a stable industry like real estate.”

 

Harnessing market opportunities and expanding their property portfolio, RLC Residences ventured outside Metro Manila for a groundbreaking project, Sierra Valley Gardens located in Cainta, Rizal.

 

According to Stephanie Anne Go, RLC Residences Business Development and Design Head, the company will continue venturing outside Metro Manila post-pandemic, following the growing preference of the market for open spaces.

 

For property seekers interested to know more about the residential projects under the Lamudi-RLC partnership, visit this page.

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UBX’s i2i to grow by 300% in 2022

UBX’s i2i to grow by 300% in 2022

Monday, March 21, 2022

 

i2i - the banking-as-a-service platform and open finance community under fintech innovator UBX, expects business to grow by as much as 300% in 2022. This year’s growth comes after recording impressive results in 2021 on the back of strong demand for banking services across the country.

The platform ended 2021 with 44x growth as it turned ordinary merchants into banking agents that offer a suite of banking solutions to unserved and underserved communities. 

i2i attributes this growth to the demand for its mobile ATM services - which allows merchants to allow cardholders to withdraw cash from their accounts through a handheld ATM device. 

“2021 was a year of immense growth for i2i. With the growing demand for financial services in the country – especially from the unserved and underserved – we were able to grow the business exponentially. We are realizing even more growth in 2022 with our goal to grow by 300% on the back of a stronger focus on agency banking,” Anne Yosuico, UBx Managing Director for Banking Services, said.

Agency banking refers to a banking model that transforms ordinary merchants – such as sari-sari store owners, general merchandise stores, or any registered business – into cash agents. It is enshrined under Circular 940 of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). 

Through digital technology, agents offer a spectrum of banking solutions from performing know-your-customer (KYC) processes, disbursing funds, processing bills payments, accepting deposits, accepting and processing loan applications digitally, to selling insurance, among many others.

“There is a huge opportunity for us to bring financial services closer to Filipinos through agency banking. Our goal at UBx remains the same: to make finance more inclusive in the Philippines, and this will be further promoted through i2i,” Yosuico said. 

i2i aggregates banking services and integrates them with other financial services on the UBX Open Finance platform, allowing for more personalized and democratized access to financial services for Filipinos through its network partners. Currently, i2i can be accessed in three ways: a mobile application, a website, and a set of application programming interfaces (APIs). 

A pioneering cloud-based platform, i2i is built on blockchain and open finance technologies, enabling fast, reliable, and secure financial transactions, including but not limited to wallet transfers, domestic transfers, bills payment, mobile scoring, mobile ATM, and offline and online loan processing, among others.

i2i is committed to remain innovative and introduce more solutions for its community to promote financial inclusion in the country.

“As a strong ally of the government and of the industry, we are committed to build and develop more financial solutions to bring banking services closer to Filipinos,” Yosuico said. 

To learn more about i2i and its services, please visit www.i2i.ph

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Viber helps small online entrepreneurs maintain business success

Viber helps small online entrepreneurs maintain business success

Tuesday, March 8, 2022

Chat, listen, take action with Viber, GCash, and Globe At Home

Viber, one of the world’s leading free messaging apps, has been a champion for small independent online entrepreneurs, committed to support them not only to survive but to thrive. Driving this commitment is the successful NegosyoSerye series and recently, Viber kicked off 2022 with an exciting, informative new episode. Raket@Home, made possible in partnership with the leading mobile payment app in the country GCash and reliable home prepaid wifi Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi, turns the spotlight on independent online sellers or “raketera” and “raketero” as we know them, and how they are maintaining the success of their businesses amid fierce competition and challenges.

Hosted by certified Raketera, Wais na Misis, and Mompreneur, Neri Miranda, the discussion emphasized how digital sellers have made the most out of the pandemic by pivoting to adapt to the fast-changing customer behaviors with the help of tools like Viber. As a Globe At Home Prepaid WiFi Ambassador, this is something Neri is very familiar with, sharing how having an affordable and reliable home prepaid wifi has really helped her grow her business.

Viber Community, for instance, has provided these small online businesses some advantages by harnessing the power of two-way, personal conversations with their customers, while the app’s Channel feature has allowed them to open discussions with users to hear their thoughts and engage with them by enabling the comment section for each post.

Viber Business Development Manager Veronica Feleo opened the session by reiterating Viber’s commitment to supporting the small online entrepreneurs and shared how Viber will continue to come up with innovations that’ll help them with their day-to-day business operations.

“We aim to be your all-in-one app. Viber is evolving as an app that not only allows users to connect with loved ones but also supports their growth as entrepreneurs through the community, channel, and through the app’s other features,” she pointed out.

One of the highlights of the session was the segment featuring entrepreneurs James and Juliet Gan of Coocoo House that offers Taiwanese milk tea and snacks. They shared how they started their food business as well as best practices that they picked up from being part and having their own Viber community. James shared that at the start of the pandemic, Coocoo House joined a lot of village and food groups on Viber to push their products before creating their own Viber Community and being part of FoodPH, a directory of food businesses on Viber.

James said that the Coocoo House team loves being on FoodPH since it’s a supportive community where their fellow entrepreneurs share best practices with each other and where followers are open to experiments. He added that joining the Community made them more visible to more people who engaged with their brand, inquired about their products, and of course, purchased them eventually—which has been made more convenient with GCash. It also helped them maintain loyal customers.

He added that being on Viber has allowed them to receive feedback from customers and have a conversation with them, which he pointed out is an important aspect of business nowadays. Yet, he emphasized that conversational commerce will be a true key to success if entrepreneurs genuinely listen to their customers and act immediately on their feedback, inquiries, and preferences.

“Conversational commerce is connecting buyers and sellers rapidly, if we don’t take action now, when? Nothing will happen if you don’t take action on things you learned about your customers,” James underlined during the NegosyoSerye session.

Also discussed during Raket@Home is how upskilling can take one’s business from good to great. This was explained by John White, the Chief Development Officer at Upskillist, an online education platform that offers short-term online courses on marketing, advertising, bookkeeping, and accountancy. These courses can help entrepreneurs develop their professional skills through practical knowledge and relevant learning kits that support the backend of a business.

To round out the session, GCash MSME Product Head Megan Chan introduced the new GCash Pro, a solution kit geared towards business owners that offers additional features for owners to achieve their business goals. It includes business solutions such as an increased wallet limit, QR and payment links, personal and business insurance, cash back on bank transfer fees, and pre-approved loans.

Keeping a small independent online business thriving despite the current situation and the tough competition can be quite a challenge. But with tech leaders like Viber, GCash, and Globe At Home that champion small online entrepreneurs to grow their business, being a raketera or raketero even amid a pandemic can be something that’s more than just a side hustle. It can be a direction any Filipino with an enterprising spirit can pursue full time and succeed in, as a result.

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