Author: WILMAR NICOLAS DULDULAO

  • United City Football Club Pull Off Another Signing Coup, with the Germany-Born Ott Brothers

    United City Football Club Pull Off Another Signing Coup, with the Germany-Born Ott Brothers

    United City Football Club (UCFC) pull off another signing coup, this time with the Germany-born Ott brothers — Manuel and Mike. 

    Midfielders Manuel and Mike Ott, signed with the club, late evening Manila time of August 6, 2020.  Transfermarkt.com was also quick to update Manny Ott’s current club on its website.

    Manuel Ott

    United City Football Club co-founder Eric Gottschalk says, “We are happy to announce that two (2) more former players have signed on to play for United City Football Club (UCFC) this season.  Both, Manny and Mike, bring a tremendous amount of experience on the club and international level to the team and this will be instrumental in our pursuit to defend the PFL title and to progress from the AFC Cup Group stages in September in Vietnam.”

    He adds, “These two are not our final signings for the upcoming season with 4 more players to be announced shortly.”

    Mike Ott

    United City Football Club (UCFC) announced its takeover of the Negros-side barely a month ago, and is focused on retaining the titles it has won for the local league; and building on its previous successes with the AFC.

    Please follow us:

    Website:         www.unitedcityfootballclub.com
    Facebook:     @unitedcityfootballclub
    Twitter:           @unitedcityfootballclub
    Instagram:      unitedcityfootballclub
    Linkedin:        unitedcityfootballclub

    About UNITED CITY FOOTBALL CLUB:

    Established in 2020, the Philippines-side intends to be a club of the people, the pride of the nation and a place to live your dreams, with fans at the forefront of everything it does.

    Reference and Media Contact:    

    Charmaine Cruz
    E: sports@greatcampaigns.asia
    T: +63917 8001408

    Charmaine Cruz, MA
    Int’l PR Specialist
    Loc. Mob.: +63917-8001408

    Winner, Best Sports Marketing Campaign, Asia Sports Industry Awards (SPIA), 2016

  • Catch the Shopee 8.8 Play & Win TV Special on Wowowin and Win a Total of ₱1.2 Million Worth of Prizes

    Catch the Shopee 8.8 Play & Win TV Special on Wowowin and Win a Total of ₱1.2 Million Worth of Prizes

    Tune in on August 8 and stand a chance to be one of the lucky winners.

    Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, is inviting everyone to tune in to Wowowin on August 8 to stand a chance to win a total of ₱1.2 million worth of prizes. From 5:30 PM to 6:10 PM, the audience can anticipate fun games, non-stop prizes and giveaways, 8-peso deals, and up to 90% off on leading brands. Joining Wowowin’s main host Willie Revillame are Kapuso stars Sanya Lopez and Andrea Torres as co-host and performer.

    Key highlights of Shopee 8.8 Fashion Sale:

    On August 8, viewers can look forward to fun Shopee games, low-priced deals, and big cash prizes. Key highlights include:

    • Shopee Shake: One player can win ₱300,000 on Shopee Shake. They should tune in to Wowowin at 5:45 PM for a chance to play and win.
    • Watch & Win: Four viewers can each win ₱80,000 cash prize plus ₱10,000 worth of groceries. To join, users should pre-register on the Watch & Win microsite and tune in to Wowowin. Registration is from August 1, 12 midnight to August 8, 12 noon.
    • Shopee Catch: One viewer can win ₱500,000 cash on Shopee Catch. Viewers have to catch items with a box or a bag, and the player with the most items is the winner.
    • ₱8 deals: On August 8, viewers can score ₱8-deals such as an eco-friendly t-shirt, a Nintendo Switch Labo, and a Platinum KS-10 Plus Junior 2 Karaoke Player. 
    • Exclusive promos from leading brands: Users can also enjoy exclusive offers and discounts of up to 30% off on leading brands such as Silver Kingdom, Hanford, Maybelline, Primer Group, Penshoppe, and iTrends. Shoppers can also avail of fantastic deals on jewelry, electronics, and eyewear on Shopee’s TV Special on Wowowin.

    To find out more about the Shopee 8.8 Fashion Sale, head over to https://shopee.ph/m/double-double.

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

    REFERENCE:

    Catherine Llanes

    Media Relations Manager

    T. +63 2-332-10-31 loc. 103

    M2COMMS | M2SOCIAL | M2LIVE | PROI

  • Robinsons Bank rolls out new digital solution with its cardless ATM withdrawal for SAP beneficiaries

    Robinsons Bank rolls out new digital solution with its cardless ATM withdrawal for SAP beneficiaries

    Robinsons Bank (RBANK) has rolled out a new digital solution that will provide ease and convenience for the thousands of Filipinos that are awaiting their financial aid from the government.

    In partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), RBANK successfully started the digital disbursement of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) subsidy in Laurel, Batangas.

    With RBANK’s new digital solution, beneficiaries were able to receive their SAP payouts through a cardless withdrawal process using RBANK ATMs instead of going through manual disbursement and risk exposure to the Covid virus.

    “We, at Robinsons Bank, were eager to partner with DSWD for this initiative. We believe that our efforts have always had the bigger purpose of uplifting the lives of our fellow Filipinos — in line with our advocacy of financial inclusion. With this process, we also provided them with a bank account. We know that with our digital banking solutions, we can, and we want to do our part in helping our kababayan during these hard times,” RBANK Retail Banking Segment Head Salvador “Buddy” Paps shared.

    After the success of the initial distribution, RBANK is set to roll out the cardless withdrawal of the SAP payout for the second batch of beneficiaries in Laurel, Batangas, and to more places in the NCR and Albay in the coming weeks.

    According to Mr.Paps, RBANK went through a lot of preparation to ensure  that the service will be easy even for those unfamiliar with transacting via the ATM. 

    Shifting to digital disbursement

    Committed to providing ease and convenience in all its services, RBANK has also trained DSWD representatives so they can readily assist the beneficiaries in completing their cardless withdrawal process. This ensured that the payout will move swiftly and avoid instances that can hold back the queue.

    Sobrang dali lang po ng pagkuha ng subsidy kumpara sa ibang transaction. Kinailangan lang mag-reply sa text at sundin ang instructions. Wala akong naging problema, sobrang bilis ng processing. Maraming salamat po sa Robinsons Bank kasi mas pinadali niyo ang pagkuha ng SAP subsidy,” one of the beneficiaries expressed (identity withheld for safety).

    Furthermore, another beneficiary was also very happy with the outcome of the distribution, “Sobrang dali lang po. Wala pang isang minuto nakapagwithdraw na ako. Walang hassle.

    The shift to a digitalized disbursement through RBank’s E-Ayuda aims to speed up the distribution process to the beneficiaries. With E-Ayuda, RBank was able to provide the beneficiaries with a bank account that could store the government’s cash assistance, making the withdrawal process easier. They can also choose to upgrade their accounts to a Simple Savings account, to widen the banking features that they can enjoy.

    Securing a safe payout

    As hundreds of beneficiaries were expected to flock  the Municipal Hall of Laurel, DSWD and the LGU assisted in managing the crowd for a smooth flow from registration to payout . The presence of the local police helped in maintaining security and order in the premises. The SAP beneficiaries waited comfortably in the municipal gym while they underwent initial screening to ensure a faster process with their withdrawal.

    Additionally, in keeping with health and safety protocols, beneficiaries were ushered to the pay-out location in batches.

    Through digital innovation and RBANK’s coordination with the LGU and DSWD, the SAP payout in Laurel, Batangas proved to be a success.

    RBank, with the help of its wholly-owned subsidiary, Legazpi Savings Bank (LSB) has also begun the distribution of the SAP payout in different municipalities in Albay. According to LSB President Mykel D. Abad, being tapped as a partner of DSWD is a “great opportunity as LSB has always aspired to be of help to those in need.”

    Recognized as the Fastest Growing Commercial Bank in the Philippines for 2020, Robinsons Bank is the financial services arm of the JG Summit Group of Companies, one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines. It currently ranks 18th among universal and commercial banks in the country, with assets amounting to Php 131.088 Bn as of December 2019.

    For inquiries and concerns, you may reach Robinsons Bank through its Customer Care Center at (02) 8637-CARE (2273) or domestic toll-free 1-800-10-637-CARE (2273); or visit its website at www.robinsonsbank.com.ph. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/robinsonsbank. Stay updated and join RBank’s Viber Community at https://bit.ly/RBankCommunity to know the latest announcements.

    REFERENCE:

    Catherine Llanes

    Media Relations Manager

    T. +63 2-332-10-31 loc. 103

    M2COMMS | M2SOCIAL | M2LIVE | PROI

  • As HIV cases among Filipino males rise, Durex calls for continued awareness and support to the LGBTQIA+ community

    As HIV cases among Filipino males rise, Durex calls for continued awareness and support to the LGBTQIA+ community

    With the ongoing pandemic, the COVID-19 virus has been on everybody’s mind, causing tremendous anxiety and fear in everyone. While undeniably COVID-19 has resulted in a health crisis of unparalleled proportions, the issue of HIV in the Philippines alongside that of LGBTQIA+ community concerns still remains a critical one, more so in view of the latest data from the Department of Health (DOH) and Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).

    Statistics from the DOH show that the average number of people newly diagnosed with HIV on a daily basis is at 35. Furthermore, the number of HIV cases among sexually active males has been considerable, with January to December 2019 figures pegged at 7,743 male to male transmissions.

    Additional data shows that from January 1984 to December 2019, sexual contact among men who have sex with men (MSM) is at 85% or 59,906, and was the predominant mode of transmission. This is followed by male-female sex at 11% or 7,476, and sharing of infected needles at 3% or 2,166. More than half of men who have sex with men at 52% or 31,377 were 25-34 years old at the time of testing, and 31% or 18,555 were 15-24 years old.

    These figures resulted in the DOH Central Office National AIDS and STI (sexually transmitted infection) Prevention and Control Program to sound the alarm over how more young Filipino men are being infected by HIV.

    Meanwhile, data from the 2019 Global AIDS Report shows that the population size estimate of men who have sex with men stands at 830,000, with an HIV prevalence of 5%, HIV testing and status awareness at 28.4%, and condom use at 40.1%. In the same study, the population size estimate of transgenders stands at 190,000, HIV testing and status awareness at 36.3%, and condom use at 40.6.%.

    “The lockdown imposed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges and difficulties to a lot of people, where people living with HIV (PLHIV) have not been spared,” says Dr. Louie Ocampo, Country Director of UNAIDS Philippines. “Early on, for example, accessing life-saving antiretroviral therapy and prevention services including condoms became difficult. It’s imperative therefore that all stakeholders’ work together to ensure uninterrupted access to HIV services is provided and that we remain relentless in our drive to curb a possible second wave of the HIV epidemic in the country.”

    Truly no one is invincible to catching HIV, and now more than ever, the use of protection and the importance of always being prepared in encounters cannot be stressed enough. This bares even more relevant with the recently concluded virtual celebration of Pride Month – with the call of the LGBTQIA+ community, one of the most vulnerable sectors of HIV, for inclusivity and acceptance – and the active participation of Durex.

    Through its No One Way Love All Ways Campaign, which emphasizes that there’s really no one way to own your sexuality, Durex continues the fight to curb the spread of HIV in the Philippines, even in this season of COVID-19.

    Beyond the No One Way Love All Ways Campaign, Durex has a host of other worthwhile initiatives in partnership with various stakeholders. Included here is the brand’s donation of condoms to the Taguig City Health Office last April, which were then distributed to health centers as well as being made available for the city’s telemedicine program. Durex is also donating P20K worth of products to LoveYourself for their National HIV Prevention Month activities this August.

    Without question, hand in hand with the present fight against COVID-19, so must the fight for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and people living with HIV continue. So, too, is the need to arrest the alarming rise in HIV cases in the country.

    REFERENCE:

    John Paulo Ondra Caparros

    Public Relations Department

    Strategic works, Inc.

    +638937472 | +639173068591

    john.caparros@stratworks.ph

    2nd Floor Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City PH

  • Sarah G gets new and trusted partner for boosting her Immunity

    Sarah G gets new and trusted partner for boosting her Immunity

    In fairness, FERN-C has finally revealed the new celebrity brand ambassador through online event dubbed as “inFERNess!” last July 27, 2020.

    She is known as the country’s Popstar Royalty with a very large and loyal fan base. Even if she is busy with her showbiz commitments, Sarah Geronimo-Gudicelli makes sure that she closely monitors her health and that she takes her Vitamin C every day.

    Now that Sarah has settled down and is ready to start her own family, she knows that she has to prioritize her and her family’s immunity in these unprecedented times. Sarah has found a new partner in strengthening her immunity as she is the new celebrity endorser of Fern C.

    “Inferness, Fern C is a big help for me because most of the time, I leave the house without eating breakfast,” Sarah related. “Fern C is sodium ascorbate, so I can take it even on an empty stomach without having to worry about getting the acidic side effect.”

    Fern C is the number one sodium ascorbate brand that can up our immunity without the acidity caused by certain Vitamin C brands. It is an immune system booster, an anti-oxidant and increases resistance to infectious diseases without the acidic side effect. This non-acidic form of Vitamin C also means that more people can take Fern-C anytime even on an empty stomach.

    “Sarah is the perfect celebrity endorser of Fern-C because she is the embodiment of a successful and busy person who wants to always boost her immunity by taking Fern-C,” said Sharmaine Abarientos, the General Manager of STADA. “Both Sarah and Fern-C are the best in their fields because they are both established and have the desire to help more people improve their health and well-being.”

    In addition to having a new celebrity endorser, Fern-C is now being manufactured by STADA. STADA, a German pharmaceutical company, is a trusted and reliable partner in Europe for more than 120 years. It is a leading manufacturer of high-quality pharmaceuticals with a long-standing heritage rooted in pharmacies. Its goal is to offer quality medicines at reasonable prices across all segments of healthcare – specialty, generics and consumer health.

    As part of their aggressive expansion, the group acquired Fern-C, one of the leading brands in the local Vitamin C market. Worldwide, the STADA Group is represented in more than 30 countries in about 50 subsidiaries. In the Philippines, it is a strong player in the field of Ophthalmology and is poised to expand its footprint in the generics and consumer health business with brands like Oilatum and Zerochol.

    “Fern-C will be better than ever under STADA because we will really give the brand the boost it needs in terms of heavier campaign support and greater brand accessibility,” Abarientos said. “Fern C has an established brand heritage and we will be able to develop a strong consumer healthcare platform to launch other quality product as well as to provide better health for all Filipinos.”

    REFERENCE:

    Richard C. Mamuyac

  • Do you want to get the 4 new Huawei Products with freebies on Shopee?

    Do you want to get the 4 new Huawei Products with freebies on Shopee?

    I’m always get intrigued why a brand or company offers freebies when you get or buy their new innovative technology products they offer to the marketplace. For me, freebies are considered as accessories out of generosity or additional discount from the seller and in fact the buyer or investor will be motivated to discover the features of the products until finally make a decision whether to purchase or invest it as a necessity of the daily activities.

    The’re individuals or persons who get or invest a set of advanced and innovative technology products such as laptop or netbook or netpad, smart phone, portable speaker and wireless earphone or headset that are considered important gadgets in doing related personal or work activities. Using innovative and affordable technology products will make you ease and comfortable of doing necessary activities in your life.

    Aside from me, who else wants to discover the 4 new Huawei Products coming to Shopee on July 31? Wow! these are the new products with exciting freebies when you make a Way to buy or invest it for yourself or as a gift to someone else:

    1. HUAWEI MatePad 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM 10.4” Screen-to-body ratio: 84% EMUI 10.1 8+8MP 7250mAh

    With its Operating System of EMUI 10.1 features:

    • MeeTime – Screen Sharing, Communication, Real-Time Action Camera, Multi-view Conference
    • Multi-screen collaboration – Large screen content, Hands-free video calling
    • Huawei Share – You can easily and quickly share pictures, videos and other files between Huawei smartphones, tablets and 3rd party devices.5 Large files and multiple photos can be transferred in a matter of seconds. All without using any data packages.
    • OneHop, Multi-Devices – Forget tedious setting processes while connecting devices. Enjoy a free entertaining experience by tapping the device you want to connect with.
    • Cast+ Wireless Projection – Huawei Cast+ enhanced projection technology delivers smooth projection performance due to the resilience to network instability.
    • Sound Booster – Need to be heard in a large room? Activate the Sound Booster so your sound can be amplified by a Bluetooth speaker. You can also wear Bluetooth earbuds to make the conversation crystal clear, even with a noisy background.
    • Gallery – Single Search, Multiple Devices. How to find the photos saved on different devices? Huawei’s distributed file system enables cross device photo access. You can find and share photos on multiple devices when they’re connected to the same home WiFi network.
    • Celia – Huawei Voice Assistant. Meet Your Personal Voice Assistant, Celia Just say “Hey Celia” or hold the power button for one second to launch. Celia will be ready to help, answers your questions, and help you get things done hands-free. You can keep your everyday tasks streamlined and make the most of your life.
    • All New Themes – Capture the beauty of light during the transition and fusion of ice and water. At the instant of movement and stillness, softness and rigidity, force and beauty, condensing moving moments.
    • Multi-Window – Multi-tasking, But No Switching. Slide in from either side of the screen and stay to access the app dock. Drag an app out to activate multi-window. You can drag and drop images, text or even files across multi-windows.12 When you’re gaming or watching a video, you can reply to messages in a floating window without quitting current Apps.
    • Visionary Performance – Deterministic Latency Engine. Fast and Fluid. Latest Deterministic Latency Engine reduces the system response time by 20.8% and the average latency fluctuation by 10.5%, delivering a more responsive and consistent performance.
    • Privacy Protection – Your privacy is under your full control. Local data is fully encrypted. Cloud data is also encrypted during transmission and storage for your data security. PrivateSpace, App Lock, and the Password Vault are all there to protect your privacy.
    • Proved Security – The microkernel of TEE has achieved CC EAL 5+, the highest level of security certification for a consumer device OS globally. Thus, all transactions, authentication, and other highly sensitive operations are running in the TEE system to prevent potential interception and leaks. You can use your phone with peace of mind under all-around protection.

    When you buy this wonderful gadget, you’ll get freebies such as M-pen, Flip cover & Huawei benefit (Total worth Php8,051)

    2. HUAWEI Sound X Speaker 360 Surround 8GB + 512MB Devialet Dual Woofers Huawei Share, Hi-Res audio

    Need to be heard in a large room? Activate the Sound Booster so your sound can be amplified by this amazing Bluetooth speaker.

    3. Huawei Nova 7 5G 8 GB+256 GB 6.53 inches HUAWEI Kirin 985 5G Soc 4000 mAh 64MP AI QUAD Carmera

    The Operating System is based on Anroid 10 with features: MeeTime, Multi-screen collaboration, Huawei Share, OneHop, Multi-Devices, Cast+ Wireless Projection, Sound Booster, Gallery, Celia, All New Themes, Multi-Window, Visionary Performance, Privacy Protection and Proved Security. (See features details stated in No. 1 Huawei product.

    If you will purchase, get additional free Huawei Freebuds 3 worth PHP 8,990.

    4. HUAWEI FreeBuds 3i earphone IPX4 WATER RESISTANT* Active noise cancellation Call noise cancellation

    Get freebie Freebuds 3i case (worth Php1,090) when you buy this wireless bluetooth, chargeable and water resistant earphone.

    Download the Shopee app for free from the App Store or Google Play to get the new 4 Huawei products with freebies.

  • Go pro with HP ProBook 400 series laptops’ enhanced security features and durability

    Go pro with HP ProBook 400 series laptops’ enhanced security features and durability

    For millions of people working from home, using the right technology is part of getting the job done. That is why most professionals invest in efficient and reliable equipment to help them perform better and achieve more, wherever business takes them.

    Combining style, efficiency, and durability, the new HP ProBook 400 series allows one to work smarter and look good while at it. It counts on a thin, stylish durable design that protects technology that is built strong from the core up. It also boasts of integrated security and a spill-resistant keyboard feature, letting one meet the demands of work proficiently.

    Work remotely stylish and secure

    With the HP ProBook 400 series, one can tackle workloads with technology that protects what is essential for everyday use. It also has a Mylar film atop the keyboard, protecting the sensitive electronics from minor spills.

    A hybrid of style and power, the HP ProBook 430 G7 is built with a unique sense of style and sophistication suitable for business.

    Fingerprint passwords and wireless connection

    Remembering passwords one by one can be a thing of the past. With the new HP ProBook 400 series, access multiple websites safely by simply logging in via a fingerprint reader. One can also send documents and photos wirelessly to an HP ePrinter via the HP ePrint Driver app installed on the laptop.

    Improving the way you work. Collaboration made easy with the new HP ProBook 440 G7, with top-notch durability and security features only from HP.

    Collaborate better by easily sharing internet connection through the HP Wireless Hotspot. Whether around colleagues or working with family at home, get online fast and improve productivity with this wireless internet connection sharing feature.

    More ways to go Pro

    The HP ProBook 400 series lets one power through deadline-driven days with a choice of the latest 10th Generation Intel® Core™ processors or AMD Ryzen™ quad-core processors, both offering amazing value in speed and performance.

    HP ProBook 450 G7. Power through your multitasking day with your choice of processor. Choose between the latest Intel 10th Generation processor and the AMD Ryzen 4000 series mobile processor.

    Those that run on the 10th Gen quad-core Intel® Core™ processors are the HP ProBook 430 (13″ diagonal HD display), HP ProBook 440 (14″ diagonal HD display), and the HP ProBook 450 (15.6″ diagonal HD display). Meanwhile, those that operate on the AMD Ryzen™ quad-core processors are the HP ProBook 445 (14″ diagonal HD display) and the HP ProBook 455 (15” diagonal HD display).

    The new HP ProBook 400 series is a thin, light, feature-rich PC, working with high-octane processors and outstanding battery life.

    With five options to choose from, one can find a perfect size that brings excellent versatility and multitasking performance suitable for both business and leisure. Get a hand on the new HP ProBook 400 series by ordering online via https://forms.gle/6f3yX6Xu1uALNQNK7.

    REFERENCE:

    Abbey Malvar

    Stratworks, Inc.

    abbey.malvar@stratworks.ph
    +63 917 708 8346