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SM Cares holds Emergency Preparedness Forum for senior citizens, PWDs anew

Monday, August 1, 2022

In celebration of the National Disaster Resilience Month, SM Cares held its annual Emergency Preparedness Forum for PWDs and Senior Citizens, aimed to teach these most vulnerable groups on how to become prepared and resilient in times of emergencies and disasters. This is the 6th iteration of the project.

The event attended by more than 700 people was held at the SM North EDSA Skydome in Quezon City last July 22. This is the second of six venues where SM Cares will hold the forum for this year.

“Being resilient is not just for the young and strong. We should always consider the PWDs and seniors when creating programs specially on disaster preparedness. That’s why we do this every year in different venues so we can reach and educate as many people as we can,” said Engr. Bien Mateo, SM Supermalls SVP for Mall Operations.

SM Cares invited different groups to listen to the forum. One of which is the Girl Scouts of the Philippines (GSP) as they continue to banner their “always ready” mantra. “We always have to be prepared in everything that we do. Where SM is, Girl Scouts is there,” said GSP National President Dr. Cristina Lim-Yuson.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte also thanked SM Cares for their “hearts and compassion for PWDs and senior citizens” through a video greeting during the forum.

Joan Cruz-Salcedo from Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) kick-started the event with topic about seismic hazards and its immediate effects. She also explained the different levels of intensity and the right time to evacuate in case of an earthquake.

Weather Facilities Specialist Adelaida Duran from Philippine weather bureau PAG-ASA delivered the second session and discussed about flood disaster hazards, and flood mitigation measures that could be taken to lessen the impact of storms such as structural and non-structural methods.

The highlight of the session was the practical lessons given by Survival and Dis aster Management Expert Dr. Ted Esguerra. The audience were thought basic survival tactics designed for those who are physically limited or impaired. Esguerra also conducted earthquake simulation exercises that jolted the crowd with energy and enthusiasm.

The annual Emergency Preparedness Forum is just one of SM Cares' many initiatives in line with its programs for PWDs and senior citizens. The forum will also be held in other venues across the country, such as in SM Legazpi on July 27 and SM Seaside Cebu on August 3. SM Baguio already hosted its own emergency forum last July 13.

This initiative supports the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, particularly "SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities."

SM Cares is the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of SM Prime Holdings, responsible for programs that support communities and promote social inclusion and care for the environment. Its advocacies include Programs for the Environment, Persons with Disabilities, Women & Breastfeeding Mothers, Children & Youth, Senior Citizens, and the creation of bike-friendly SM Malls.

To learn more, visit www.smsupermalls.com/smcares.

business

UBX partners with WomenBizPH, SeedIn to boost women-led enterprises in PH

UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, cemented its role in empowering women in business by signing a groundbreaking partnership agreement with Women’s Business Council Philippines (WomenBizPH), the leading voice of women in Commerce, and mobile financing powerhouse SeedIn.

Under the memorandum of agreement, the three groups will collaborate to build a Women-to-Women (W2W) Investment and Lending Portfolio, a basket of financial assets that will help empower Filipino women to become successful entrepreneurs.

The W2W Investment and Lending Portfolio will provide beneficiaries with financial tools such as investment products and credit lines to empower them in their journey to become entrepreneurs.

Women in SME businesses will have the opportunity to borrow using AI credit scoring fintech platforms starting with Seedin Philippines Inc. Qualified borrowers can be chosen by women investors. The network of top women business leaders and entrepreneurs of WomenbizPH will have priority to choose and act as investors for their chosen portfolio.

UBX’s SeekCap, an online lending marketplace, will facilitate the beneficiary onboarding, while disbursements and payments will be coursed through i2i, the banking-as-a-service venture of UBX, and BUx, the country’s leading payment gateway.

On the other hand, SeedIn will play the role of the primary lender. SeedIn will connect female investors to the portfolio both from WomenBizPH and its existing investor pool. Beneficiaries can request for a loan for as low as P300,000 or investment in a portfolio with just P1,000.

“UBX recognizes the gender gaps that hinder women from reaching their maximum potential. Thus, our vision of finance for all means eliminating these obstacles by providing women with innovative digital business tools and credit options through Open Finance,” UBX Chief Product Officer Anne Yosuico said.

WomenBizPH is the lead private sector partner of the government, particularly the Department of Trade and Industry and the Philippine Commission on Women, and represents the Philippines in APEC and ASEAN events.

“With the help of our fintech partners UBX and SeedIn, what we hope to do with is to be able to provide opportunities for women led businesses to get funding and hence would have a chance not only to survive but thrive,” said WomenBizPH Trustee/Treasurer Ida Tiongson.

SeedIn, on the other hand, is a mobile and web-based P2B Financing Platform where local businesses seeking short-term financing can match with individuals and institutions seeking short-term investments and has been considered one of South East Asia's largest Business Financing Platforms with funded projects in several countries throughout the region.

“This partnership with UBX and SeedIn, fortifies our commitment to support local small businesses and this extends to the elimination of gender disparity as well. Women play a major role in the country’s microeconomy, and empowering them by providing alternative financial solutions will undoubtedly make a big impact in improving the economic landscape in the Philippines”, said Mylene Abiva, Chairperson of WomenBizPH.

In the Philippines, 54 percent of MSMEs are run by women. According to a study by the Asian Development Bank, women-led businesses are less likely to get bank loans and resort to reducing the number of employees. With the impact of COVID-19 on the economy, these businesses suffered even more, as the majority of them faced lack of funding and were forced to close down due to financial decline.

“This partnership will have a positive domino effect which will redound to boosting economic growth in the Philippines. This is real financial inclusion,” Tiongson said.

More fintech players are expected to be included in this endeavor to truly achieve finance for all. Soon enough, women entrepreneurs from across the archipelago will have access to Fintech Financing and Education, Fintech Investments, Platform for financial education through UBX.

To learn more about UBX, please visit www.ubx.ph.

business

CREIT named Philippines’ Most Committed to Environmental Stewardship in FinanceAsia Poll

Citicore Energy REIT Corporation (“CREIT” or the “Company”), the country’s first energy REIT, was voted Most Committed to Environmental Stewardship, Most Committed to High Governance Best Standards and Most Committed to Social Causes. These three awards are just among the seven Country awards received by CREIT during the recently concluded FinanceAsia’s 22nd Best Companies in Asia Poll.

CREIT debuted in the Philippine Stock Exchange last February 22, 2022 as the first energy- themed REIT in the country, a trailblazer going beyond the traditional commercial REITs in the market.

The Company pioneered the Agro-Solar concept in the Philippines, which promotes the co- existence between solar power harvesting and vegetable farming. Various root crops and vegetables are planted underneath the panels to augment income of community farmers living within the vicinity of CREIT’s properties, with a long-term goal of transforming Filipino communities through positive energy and empowering investments through green sources of revenue.

As global economies continued to grapple with Covid-19 in 2021, the Company focused on prioritizing the needs of its employees and partner communities. This included strengthening its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) platform, which FinanceAsia’s 2022 Philippines’ Best CEO Oliver Tan considers vital amid the debilitating impact of the health crisis.

“CREIT remains supportive of the country’s desire to return to pre-COVID levels and always looks after the welfare of Filipino families. We are glad to be in the energy sector, which remains resilient due to a sustained demand for electricity amid remote work arrangements and enables us to further extend assistance to our partner communities. Our ESG standards serve as the baseline in achieving our triple bottomline goal of environmental, social, and economic sustainability and we remain thankful to our business partners and investors for recognizing and appreciating our drive to enhance our ESG program to secure the Company’s long-term sustainable growth,” Tan added.

FinanceAsia, a Hong Kong-based publication covering financial and capital markets in Asia, conducts an annual poll among members of the finance industry to determine the best managed companies in the region in categories that include overall management, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, and corporate leadership. Capital providers, including lenders and investors, participate in the survey and voting process.

arts

Visit Ortigas Art Festival until August 7

Friday, July 29, 2022

Don’t miss these exciting activities at the Ortigas Art Festival 2022! The festival will only be until August 7, 2022 at the Estancia East Wing, Pasig City.

Chicks Series 2

Take a look at Rita Bustamante’s Chicks Series 2 collection at the G/F East Wing. This collection is all about women rarity to deliver a message where silence is bliss which was inspired by empowered females from all walks of life. Admission is free!

The Learning Tree Workshops

Join the last 2 workshops with The Learning Tree – Child Growth Center this weekend at the G/F East Wing. Learn how to make Paper Sculptures on July 30, 2022 and how to draw with Oil Pastels on July 31, 2022. These workshops require a fee of Php 600 to be paid at the venue. To register, visit https://bit.ly/OAF2022Workshops.

Ballet Performance

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon with Ballet Works’ A Ballet Medley on July 31, 2022, 5:00 PM at the G/F East Wing. Admission is free!

Estancia Mall is open from 11AM to 9PM from Mondays to Fridays, and 10AM to 10PM on Saturdays and Sundays.

Visit the Ortigas Art Festival Facebook page for more details! #OrtigasArtFestival2022 #EnjoyEveryday #OrtigasMalls

family and health

Filippo Berio: His Signature. Our Promise.

Since the mid-1800s, the Filippo Berio brand has become synonymous with Italian olive oil excellence thanks to modern production facilities, uncompromising quality standards, and strong brand integrity. Its unique flavor has made it one of the leading brands in the world.

If Filippo Berio was particularly proud of one thing, it was the exceptional quality of his olive oils. He worked hard to ensure that each bottle was made from the best olives using tried and true production methods.

In every deliciously rich bottle of Filippo Berio olive oil lies 150 years of skilled craftsmanship. We treat our heritage with great care, ensuring Filippo Berio’s signature today represents the same uncompromising quality that our founder intended.

Today, his stringent quality standards are still applied at every stage of the production process, which takes place in SALOV’s state-of-the-art production facility just outside Lucca, Italy.

Filippo Berio’s highly-experienced tasters sample 6,000 olive oils each year, yet only 6% are selected to become Filippo Berio olive oil.

During the selection process, analysis stages must be passed for olive oil to be considered Extra Virgin.

The very best and purest form of olive oil is extra virgin which is stored or bottled immediately after pressing, just as it is. To obtain this prestigious classification, the olive oil must undergo a range of stringent tests to ensure its acidity levels are below 0.8%. All oils above this limit are sent to a refinery and blended with extra virgin olive oils to add flavor, the resulting product is known as standard or pure olive oil.

Filippo Berio Olive Oil has become a staple ingredient in the kitchen that some of the country's renowned chefs use as an everyday cooking oil.

“What’s great about using Filippo Berio olive oil is that you get a longer shelf life with your pastries than butter,” says Chef Angelo Comsti.

“Filippo Berio Extra Virgin olive oil, it’s really high quality, very flavorful and they’re experts in olive oils” says Chef Jackie Laudico.

Filippo Berio Oils are also certified Kosher and Halal.

Aside from high-quality olive oils, Filippo Berio creates delicious Pestos. Pesto is an Italian sauce. The name ‘Pesto’ derives from the Italian verb, pestare, meaning to crush or grind. Available in the market are the classic pesto, sun-dried tomato pesto, and tomato and ricotta pesto.

Filippo Berio also has Balsamic Vinegar of Modena which is made from specially selected grapes and assures its origin in Modena, Italy which is known for its production of Balsamic Vinegar. Its unique flavor, a perfect complement to our fine Extra Virgin Olive Oil, is ideal for salad dressings, marinades, or even drizzled over grilled fish, meat, and vegetables.

Filippo Berio is available in all major supermarkets nationwide and in e-commerce platforms like Lazada and Shopee.

To know more about Filippo Berio and discover its products, cool recipes, videos, chefs’ tips, and more, you may visit the official Filippo Berio global website, Facebook, and Instagram.

news

SM Home's August Sale at SM Store

Now is the time to create your dream home as SM Home launches its Home Sale this August! You’ll love the great finds and great bargains up to 50% off from select items from August 1 to 31 at all SM Home branches at SM Stores nationwide.

There are stylish and affordable furniture pieces for your home or home office, as well as innovative appliances for gracious living. Entertain in style with elegant dinnerware and tea sets; and whip up a foodie feast for friends and family with state-of-the-art grills and cookware. Organize your home with storage solutions for your pantry, closet, vanity table, or garage; and make your bath and bed true comfort zones with luxe linens. All for less!

Check out the latest SM Home collections in-store or follow their social media accounts at IG: @smhome, FB: facebook.com/SMHome.ph or visit shopsm.com/collections/sm-home/ for more details.

Enjoy the payday weekend with sweet deals from your favorite electronics and beauty brands, 10% off vouchers, free shipping with 0 min. spend, and 100% bills cashback at Shopee’s July 30 Payday Sale!

Who doesn’t love payday weekends? Aside from having the time to relax and unwind, our replenished bank accounts allow us to reward ourselves. This July 30, Shopee is giving its users an extra special treat with up to 50% off on bestselling electronics and beauty products, 10% off vouchers, free shipping with 0 min. spend, and 100% bills cashback!

Be sure to go to Shopee this July 30 to catch exciting deals from leading brands when you watch the Shopee Budol Live: Grand Electronics Sale. Even more, you can also level up your skincare regimen with sweet deals on Shopee Beauty’s wide selection of beauty and skincare items. For more details, here’s what you can expect during Shopee’s July 30 Payday Sale:

Catch Joyce Pring and Show Suzuki give out irresistible deals at the Shopee Budol Live: Grand Electronics Sale

Need advice before buying something? Catch host and content creator Joyce Pring and radio DJ Show Suzuki as they showcase must-have tech and home appliance products on Shopee Budol Live this July 30. From 11 AM to 2 PM, watch as Joyce share tips on how to spruce up your home and tries out trending appliances from Gaabor, Deerma, and Han River. Stay tuned in as Show demos the newest mobile phones and gadgets from OPPO, Logitech, and Bavin so you’re more informed before you make that upgrade. Check out during the stream to enjoy more rewards like deals up to 50% off, discount vouchers, and up to 10,000 Shopee coins.

Pamper yourself with exclusive offers from these Shopee Beauty Luxe brands

Beauty and skincare lovers rejoice– Shopee Beauty has sweet deals and discounts just for you! Enjoy savings up to 50%, exclusive bundles and discounts as you level up your beauty regimen with the following brands:

● Up to 33% off on sleeping masks and expert hydration products from Laneige

● Up to 50% off on bestselling Japanese eye makeup and skincare from Beautybox

● Up to 30% off on BaByliss, the brand for reliable hair styling dryers, curlers and trimmers

● Up to 20% off on crowd-favorite sunscreens from Anessa

● Even more special offers and exclusive bundles from Innisfree, Sasa, NUXE, Philips and Cetaphil

Check out these deals and more by visiting Shopee Beauty.

Get bigger rewards when you shop with ShopeePay

Take your pick and add to cart this payday. But first, register on this site, verify your ShopeePay wallet, and send money for the first time on July 30 or 31 to receive free ₱500. Replenish your budol fund this payday by cashing in at least ₱1,000 via InstaPay to get ₱50 cashback. Surprise your friends with Ang Pao which they can use to pay for their Shopee finds, bills, load, or other transactions—send money to 100 friends and get ₱300 cashback. If you’re a first time Ang Pao user, you get a bigger cashback of ₱500! Watch out for the 8.8 ShopeePay Festival for a chance to win up to 1M by sending money. For updates, visit ShopeePay’s Facebook and Instagram pages.

Visit the July 30 Payday Sale to learn more.

entertainment · music

Singaporean R&B singer-songwriter Sezairi hooks up with Filipino rapper Young Cocoa for catchy new track “Dead”

The infectious song is part of Sezairi’s third album, Violets Aren’t Blue — out today via Sony Music Singapore

Singaporean musician and singer-songwriter Sezairi teams up with rising Filipino rapper Young Cocoa for the slinky R&B jam “Dead.”

The track, which follows the release of Young Cocoa’s bossa-meets-rap ditty “Nova” and Sezairi’s streaming hit “Restless Love,” is produced by Canadian hiphop/electronic producer duo Potatohead People. It also comes with a visualizer that expands on the song’s theme with a moody, melancholic touch.

Setting the theme for an exhilarating listening experience, the catchy bop serves as the focus track from Sezairi’s third album, 'Violets Aren't Blue', which features his previous singles, ‘Raindrops’, ‘Blue’, ‘Fool’, and ‘RestlessLove’, and three new tracks that continue his plunge into the depths of love, infatuation, and the desperation of seeking to fill an empty heart.

In this album, Sezairi turns the famous 18th-century poem on its head, challenging the cliched expectations and idealism of great love and being swept off your feet by someone who sees you better than you see yourself.

"The reality isn't quite the same. Just like how violets aren't actually blue, love isn't actually easy. The true strength of love lies in the adversity, the physical labor in the gardening of two people to make each other truly blossom."

Starting at the first moment of attraction and the infatuated daydreams of an idealised future that follows, we follow Sezairi throughout the album on a journey of the bittersweet realities of temporary love.

Tracklist: Dead (ft. Young Cocoa)

Fool
Blue (ft. msftz)
Violets (Interlude)
Raindrops
Restless Love
Lullaby
Raindrops (Outro)

In addition to Young Cocoa, who is signed to Southeast Asian label OFFMUTE, Sezairi pulled together a myriad of talents to co-create this piece this work: Korean artist and labelmate msftz, New Zealander producer Josh Fountain (BENEE, MAALA, Theia), Canadian producer duo Potatohead People, Australian singer-songwriter Brooke Toia, music video director duo Nasri Lian and Hanie Hidayah, fellow Singaporean artists Linying and lewloh, illustrator Sleeping Geisha, and more.

"On a personal level, this album is really the result of a long depressive episode amidst the pandemic and discovering how to re-contextualise my past experiences so I can live alongside them in peace. Working on the songs in isolation was incredibly difficult but assembling my dream team of creatives to work with made it incredibly worth it."

Official Artwork & Lyrics available HERE

‘Violets Aren’t Blue’ is available on all digital streaming platforms from 8th July 2022.

news

LRMC inks partnership with media firm United Neon

LRT-1 private operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) officially sealed partnership with the United Neon Media Group (United Neon) as its exclusive ancillary revenue partner for the advertising platforms of LRT-1 Cavite Extension (Phase 1) stations and its brand-new Generation-4 (Gen-4) trains from 2022 until 2027.

Under the partnership, United Neon will be in charge of commercializing all non-fare box revenues that include station-based advertising, digital advertising, marketing activities, such as but not limited to selling and non-selling activations, street level pillars, railway viaducts and bridges, and Gen-4 train sets.

“Both LRMC and United Neon value innovation by promoting a culture of encouraging new ideas and technologies. We see an exciting time ahead of us, and we have full confidence in bringing innovative advertising solutions for LRT-1 Cavite Extension assets with them being the leader in the field of advertising and having expertise in maximizing business potential of various advertising media,” LRMC President and CEO Juan F. Alfonso said.

“We thank LRMC for the trust they have placed in United Neon. This partnership unlocks a powerful avenue through which we can continue to connect our clients with their customers especially by implementing spectacular executions and by using data to show the impact of advertising campaigns. As mobility restrictions ease, we anticipate a lot of growth in the out-of-home advertising sector and the economy as a whole,” United Neon CEO Daniel C. Lim said.

The United Neon Media Group is the largest out-of-home advertising company with diversified interests in digital marketing, media, and technology development. Since 1937, the company has enabled both local and foreign brands to grow in the Philippine market by connecting them with their target audiences.

LRMC and United Neon commit to work together for mutual benefit to generate, optimize, and maximize ancillary revenue via sale of advertising, brand, and commercial partnerships in the LRT-1 Cavite Extension covering the permitted sites in the following five stations: Redemptorist Station, MIA Station, Asia World Station, NAIA Station, and Dr. A. Santos Station, which are targeted to be operational in 2024. Gen-4 trains are currently undergoing trial runs and expected to be used for commercial service by Q4 2022.

family and health

Eat healthy and get a chance to win Apple Watch Series 7 through Pru Life UK’s AI-powered app, Pulse

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Encouraging Filipinos to develop winning habits for a healthier lifestyle

Leading life insurer Pru Life UK is encouraging Filipinos to eat healthier while getting a chance to win the latest Apple Watch Series 7 as it launches the Vegethon Challenge promo on Pulse, its AI-powered health and wealth app.

In celebration of Nutrition Month this July, the Vegethon Challenge aims to help Pulse users develop healthier eating habits by incorporating more fruits and vegetables in their daily diet.

“At Pru Life UK, our mission is to help Filipinos lead healthier and wealthier lives so that they can get the most out of life. We are inviting Filipinos to start a healthier diet and track their nutrition. Through this new activity along with the other health and fitness features on Pulse, we offer a holistic approach to health and wellness to Filipinos,” said Pru Life UK Senior Vice President and Chief Customer and Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga.

The Vegethon Challenge raffle promo is open to all registered Pulse users. They will earn one raffle entry by logging their vegetable meals for a total of seven days. It will run until August 10, 2022 and the winner will be drawn on August 26, 2022. The winner will be notified via e-mail, call, and SMS.

Aside from the Vegethon Challenge, Pulse users continue to enjoy FREE access to the app’s AI-powered features such as Healthcheck, Symptom Checker, Fitness Tracker, Food Journal, etc. The app also offers protection products such as personal protection, yearly renewable term insurance, and life insurance.

To join this challenge, users can simply download and register through Pulse. Once logged on, users will need to look for the Vegethon Challenge activity under the Nutrition tab, then start logging their 7-day nutritious meal plans.

To know more about Pru Life UK and this promo, please visit https://www.prulifeuk.com.ph/en/explore-pulse/pulse-nutrition/

Pages

SM Cares holds Emergency Preparedness Forum for senior citizens, PWDs anew

Monday, August 1, 2022

UBX partners with WomenBizPH, SeedIn to boost women-led enterprises in PH

CREIT named Philippines’ Most Committed to Environmental Stewardship in FinanceAsia Poll

Visit Ortigas Art Festival until August 7