DULDULAO DOT NET This Day & Beyond

Category: Advocacy

  • Transforming the Educational Landscape in the PH with Tech

    Transforming the Educational Landscape in the PH with Tech

    UnionBank empowers educators and students with tools from Microsoft!

    Technology has radically changed the way Filipinos live. Across the country, work, play, and communication are now heavily influenced by digital technologies. This influence transfers to learning as well. As more modern workplaces now demand digital skills, it becomes paramount for educators to prepare its students for a digital workplace.

    Clarissa Segismundo, Education Programs Lead of Microsoft Philippines, explained the importance of digital tools in learning. “Engaging students remains one of the core pillars in the digital transformation of education. How they use technology is crucial in promotingcollaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills” said Segismundo.

    But technology alone cannot develop the 21st-century skills students require. Technology is an accelerator and an equalizer, but it needs guidance and knowledge on proper utilization to truly have an impact on student development. 

    Through the Microsoft Education Ambassadors Program, Microsoft and UnionBank are working together to transform the educational landscape in the Philippines by equipping our educators and students with the right skills. The program aims to empower schools, educators and students with 21st century skills through the proper use of technology for teaching and learning. To date, there are over 1,000 Microsoft Education Ambassadors advocating teaching with technology in various parts of the country.

    Microsoft Education Ambassadors from UnionBank undergo training

    “It is UnionBank’s mission and vision to stay grounded on its purpose of ‘Making a Difference’. And we hope to truly make a difference with Microsoft. It’s an exciting time as UnionBank employees open new doors of opportunities for the youth through technology,” said Henry Aguda, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation officer of UnionBank.

    With extensive experience in the industry, UnionBank’s education ambassadors can share valuable insight on the demands and requirements of the modern workplace. It is the desire to impart knowledge and expertise to the country’s future workforce, that led Michaela Rubio, SVP and HR Director of UnionBank, to develop this program with Microsoft. “As Microsoft education ambassadors, UnionBank employees will serve as inspiration and valued resource persons for students and teachers. They possess the necessary expertise and skills to meet industry standards and can pass these on to the next generation,” she said.

    Microsoft Education Ambassadors from Union Bank with the Education team of Microsoft Philippines

    As ambassadors of education and technology, UnionBank’s MEAs will be training teachers on Microsoft tools and technologies to help improve productivity, classroom engagement, and learning outcomes.

    “At Microsoft, we recognize the value of our country’s young minds in shaping our future. By equipping them with work-ready skills with the support of our industry partners like UnionBank, we are paving the way towards employability and economic progress” added Segismundo. 

    Catherine Llanes
    Media Relations Manager
    m: +63 917 5820573
    t: +632 332 1031 loc. 108

    M2 Communications Inc.

  • World’s #1 Leadership Thinker and Global Coach says 3 minutes daily is all that’s needed to change your life

    World’s #1 Leadership Thinker and Global Coach says 3 minutes daily is all that’s needed to change your life

    Even the world’s top leadership coach admits he needs a helping hand to navigate through life and the decisions he has to make. And that’s perfectly okay.

    Dr. Marshall Goldsmith, a best-selling author and the world’s #1 leadership thinker and executive coach from the USA, said that it’s OK to ask for help from others. While most people veer away from asking for help, Goldsmith actually urges everyone to get over the idea of being able to do everything alone.

    “I do this exercise daily with a peer coach. I have someone call me to listen to me ask myself questions I wrote and provide the answers I wrote every day. Why I do this? I’m Marshall Goldsmith and I’m too cowardly to do this by myself,” said Goldsmith in a podcast with EntreLeadership.

    Dubbed as the Daily Question Process, it requires an individual to ask themselves a series of questions every day. The 3-minute exercise can help people change their lives for the better when done regularly. While the skepticism is expected, Goldsmith said that most people usually quit the exercise after two weeks – not because they failed, but because it has already impacted them.

    “I’m too undisciplined. I need help, and that’s ok. I know how difficult it is to go,” said Goldsmith. The leadership coach adds that once there’s an admission for the need for help, life gets better.

    The Daily Question Process requires the individual to write several questions on a spreadsheet, with each question representing a behavior that is important yet often easy to neglect. The questions usually begin with “did I do my best to…” and must be answerable with a yes or no.

    The process helps the individual to confront how they actually live out their values every day. The mere process of writing the questions allows for introspection on what really matters to them.

    Hailed by Harvard Business Review as the “World’s #1 Leadership Thinker”, Dr. Goldsmith has had more than 40 years of successfully coaching CEO’s from many of the world’s most renowned organizations such as Ford, Pfizer, GSK, World Bank, Toyota, Goldman Sachs & Co.. He is also an author of numerous #1 bestsellers, with the latest book “Triggers” as #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller.

    Dr. Marshall Goldsmith will headline a two-city CEO, HR and Senior Leaders conference in Asia this October, with Manila as his last stop on October 26, 2018. He will be joined by top coaching gun Dr. Peter Chee, and master trainer and chief coach Serely Alcaraz. The leadership conference is organized by ITD, the global leadership development expert.  For more information and registration, call ITD World Philippines at +632 887 7428 or email at itdmanila@itdworld.com.

  • Coca-Cola associates join youth organization in Manila Bay wildlife reserve clean-up drive

    Coca-Cola associates join youth organization in Manila Bay wildlife reserve clean-up drive

    A gathering of over 7,000 members of the Youth for United World—a global organization that stemmed from the Focolare Movement in Italy in 1943—is an inspiring premonition of how the future generation will be as stewards of the planet.

    GenFest 2018 focused on various activities and causes that, as the saying goes, “brings back our faith in humanity.” For starters, the organization is known as one that espouses consciousness among its members – mindful of the impact of their actions on the community, their families, and the environment.

    Coca-Cola Philippines, in line with its thrust of empowering the youth, supported the organization.

    “The youth of today are the future stewards of the planet, and it is a great opportunity to be partnering with them in sharing our vision of a more sustainable world. We hope that through partnerships like these, Coca-Cola becomes an ally of the youth as we contribute in finding better solutions to the various concerns of the communities and the environment,” said Samantha Sanchez, Coca-Cola Philippines Public Affairs and Communications manager.

    Coca-Cola associates join in cleaning the coasts of the Las Piñas-Parañaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA).

    More than supporting the event, associates of Coca-Cola Philippines also joined the youth organization for a clean-up drive in a nature reserve off the coast of Manila Bay – one of the last few habitats for migratory birds and resident herons and kingfishers.

    The islands that dot the Cavite-Laguna Expressway are some of the few wildlife reserves in Metro Manila. Collectively known as the Las Piñas-Paranaque Critical Habitat and Ecotourism Area (LPPCHEA), the islands that were originally part of a planned reclamation in the area have become a wildlife sanctuary that is home to a mangrove forest for both resident and migratory birds.

    Coca-Cola associates collect sacks of single-use plastic and other discarded items like bags and shoes during the clean-up drive.

    However, beneath the lush greenery of the islands and its thriving avifauna is a tragic story – the island also serves as a shorefront for various plastic waste that float in Manila Bay, the Paranaque River, and the Estero de Tripa de Gallina – bodies of water that have become channels for waste.

    “In line with our global goal to work towards a World Without Waste, we are supporting various organizations that can help us turn this dream into a reality. No matter how small the act may be, it’s one positive action that can create ripples as we continue to strive and find ways to solve the global problem on waste,” said Sanchez.

    Together with GenFest 2018, over 2,000 youth and associates of Coca-Cola Philippines picked up various kinds of trash, most of which are post-consumption waste and single-use plastic.

    The Bukas Palad Foundation, one of the clean-up drive partners, along with the rest of the GenFest committee, reported that 278 sacks of single-use plastic, laminates and Styrofoam, 180 sacks of recyclable plastic bottles, 205 sacks of rubber, and 22 sacks of glass were collected despite the onslaught of the southwestern monsoon, or habagat.

    Despite the torrential rains, these young GenFest participants continue to collect trash along the coasts of LPPCHEA.

    Early this year, The Coca-Cola Company announced its goal of a World Without Waste in the midst of the growing consciousness of the global problem on waste. The goal seeks the retrieval of every bottle that the beverage brand produces. Acknowledging its role in the problem, the Company is working with various non-profit organizations, local communities, and government agencies in finding ways to breathe a second life into the post-consumption waste created by their products.

    Coca-Cola Philippines will continue to work with the youth in its bid to achieve the goal of a World Without Waste.

    The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company, offering over 500 brands in more than 200 countries. In addition to the company’s Coca-Cola brands, our portfolio includes some of the world’s most valuable beverage brands, such as AdeS soy-based beverages, Ayataka green tea, Dasani waters, Del Valle juices and nectars, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, innocent smoothies and juices, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, smartwater, Sprite, vitaminwater and ZICO coconut water. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We’re also working to reduce our environmental impact by replenishing water and promoting recycling. With our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, bringing economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

    John Paulo Ondra Caparros
    Public Relations Department
    Strategic works, Inc.
    +63.893.7472 | +639. 17.158.7918
    john.caparros@stratworks.ph
    2nd Floor Zaragoza Building, 102 Gamboa Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City PH

  • Be a wise spender during the holidays

    You just got your much-awaited 13th month pay. You’re happy and very much eager to spend it on some things you’ve been longing to do—or buy—a couple of months earlier.

    But hold your horses! As with any other things in this world, money will also disappear and will simply go to waste if you don’t spend it wisely. Temptations abound during the holidays so it’s best to think of ways on how to use your precious 13th month pay efficiently and wisely. You don’t want to end up with an empty wallet right after receiving your bonus, don’t you?

    The Philippine Association of Legitimate Service Contractors (PALSCON), the country’s biggest group of service contractors that have provided decent and quality work to many Filipinos, said many fall to their impulses, especially those who will get their 13th month pay the first time. “It’s all about a bit of planning, knowing priorities when it comes to spending. I’ve seen many of our employees who go excited of becoming a ‘one-day millionaire’ once they lay their hands on their money, then feel sad once all of it are gone and they’ll ask themselves ‘what happened there?’” explains Rhoda Caliwara, President of PALSCON.

    So it’s really best to sit down and think of what to do first with your bonus while it’s not yet with you, says Caliwara. That way, you’ll have a clear mind of what to do and how to do it when it comes to spending your hard-earned money. In short, plan.

    The first thing to do is save, using part of the bounty as part of a savings fund that can hopefully earn enough via time deposits or special investment funds. These funds can help through times when spending on things such as tuition fee payments for the kids or even for a possible business venture.

    You can also minimize your debt profile by paying them off, Caliwara said, though not really paying all of it in one go. It’s best to pay it a bit so as not to accrue on interest. It works for those with credit cards who pare down their expenses and at the same time pay their interest on time.

    Aside from a possible business venture for those who may have an entrepreneurial mindset, allocating part of the bonus for use in special investment instruments, real-estate or even a family or personal car can be options, but first check if going into these investment choices is feasible given your financial capabilities. Evaluate. Assess. Rethink.

    You can even save some of your bonus to build up emergency funds for unforeseen circumstances such as medical emergencies, whether your own or a family member, house repairs after a storm or disaster, or even for fixing your car after a sudden breakdown. There can be lots of other things you can put your saved money to good use. As they say, you can never tell if and when an emergency happens so it’s best to be ready.

    But most of all, don’t forget about yourself. You can save some as a personal treat after being hard at work for a year and spending countless hours toiling in labor. You can never be accused of being a spendthrift if you want to enjoy on some things and be pampered. Treat it as a reward so you won’t feel deprived, more of a “me” time when it comes to your hard-earned money. You definitely deserve it.

    “At PALSCON, we encourage our members to teach their employees the basics of financial literacy. It’s hard to get a job these days and even harder to earn decent pay so teaching their employees about spending wisely, especially during the holidays, is a good way of showing we care for our employees’ welfare. They should learn to preserve their riches for anything that can happen in the future. It’s all about being prepared—and being wise,” explains Caliwara. For more about PALSCON, visit www.palscon.org or go to their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/palscon.ph or Twitter, twitter.com/palscon1987.

  • Acer Lowers Digital Classroom Entry Barrier with Homegrown Management Service

    Acer Lowers Digital Classroom Entry Barrier with Homegrown Management Service

    Schools in remote areas have typically struggled with managing classroom devices with little or no dedicated IT staff. To help bring down the digital divide, Acer Taiwan has worked with local system integrators to deploy Android Tablets to five remotely-located schools across the island through the Acer DADA (Device Agent & Deployment Assistant) management service.

    The DADA system allows for provisioning based on device serial number, and automatically pushes predefined apps to batches of Acer tablets. In the case that students have accidentally deleted learning software or if the devices is infected with malware, a factory reset will restore the system and reload designated apps, streamlining the management process and dramatically lowering the entry barrier for schools with limited resources to deploy digital classrooms.

    REFERENCE:

    Irish Santos-Lorenzo

  • “Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine celebrates World Sleep Day 2016 with Uratex”

    “Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine celebrates World Sleep Day 2016 with Uratex”

    The Philippine Society of Sleep Medicine (PSSM), the primary organization that aims to promote sleep medicine healthcare in the Philippines, again led in the celebration of World Sleep Day 2016.

    The World Sleep Day 2016 slogan is “Good Sleep is a Reachable Dream” and this year, Multiflex RNC Philippines, Inc., makers of Uratex foam and mattress products, lent its wholehearted support to the PSSM in its efforts to help promote good, healthful and restful sleep.

    During the celebration of World Sleep Day 2016, the PSSM held its 10th annual symposium entitled “Sleep Matters: Discovering the Importance of Sleep” recently at the EMG Auditorium of the Lung Center of the Philippines. There were various workshops and lectures on many sleep-related concerns for adults—and even in children—that elicited interests from symposium guests.

    The PSSM is just one of the many organizations around the world that advocates the importance and educates people about the value of good sleep, which many people lack or perhaps do not pay attention to due to today’s fast-paced lifestyle and blinding-speed technology. Various studies have already shown that lack of restful sleep because of irregular work and lifestyle may lead to health problems in the future. Or even having an incorrect mattress may harm the body rather than provide the restful sleep it needs after a long and hard day at work.

    This is why the PSSM reiterates the important elements of good sleep, which are “Duration” or the sufficiency of sleep to become well rested and alert the following day; “Continuity,” which means sleep time should be continuous and unbroken; and “Depth,” that sleep should be deep enough to be restorative or invigorating. Quality sleep, the PSSM said, is very crucial to one’s good health and quality of life. It said that good quality and invigorating sleep is important for people’s day-to-day functioning, even in children for their overall wellness and development.

    The PSSM also cited the 10 Commandments of Sleep Hygiene, according to the World Association of Sleep Medicine or WASM, such as having a fixed bedtime and waking up time, no daytime sleeping in excess of 45 minutes, avoiding excessive alcohol intake 4 hours before bedtime or smoking, avoiding intake of caffeine such as those in coffee, tea, most sodas, including chocolate 6 hours before bedtime; avoiding heavy, spicy or sweets 4 hours before bedtime, but a light snack is acceptable, exercising regularly but not before bedtime, using comfortable bedding, finding comfortable temperature when sleeping inside a well-ventilated room, blocking out distracting noise and less light as possible, and limiting the use of the bed to just sleeping.

    For its part, Uratex supports the PSSM through its own advocacies in promoting good sleep in the Philippines.

    “Uratex has always been humbly supporting efforts to promote good sleep, a much-needed bodily activity that unfortunately many people do not pay attention to or perhaps, do not know how to achieve it because of various reasons. Simply put, it all boils down to adapting to a more healthy and less-stressed lifestyle, a positive mindset toward life, and choosing the correct mattress depending on the body’s shape and contours, and this is where Uratex can help,” explains Dindo Medina, Corporate Sales Director of Multiflex RNC Philippines.

    As the country’s sleep specialist, Medina said Uratex will continue to help Filipinos achieve helathy and superior sleep by continuously developing and bringing innovative mattresses and other sleep solutions.

    The PSSM is a group composed of several specialists involved in the practice of sleep medicine in the country and are highly trained to address sleep disorders among Filipinos. Pulmonologists, Neurologists, Ear, Nose and Throat specialists, Psychiatrists and Pediatricians are among those that comprise the group and have expressed interest in the process and study of sleep.

    Here in the Philippines, the practice of sleep medicine is still relatively young compared to other countries so it is no surprise that even other doctors do not know that such practice exists here. But the practice is, indeed, growing, even in Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) member countries. In fact, the Philippines will serve as host of the 4th ASEAN Sleep Medicine Congress in 2017 where it will share vital knowledge with other countries about sleep. Together, this collaborative meeting will also help determine how the different cultures of these countries can impact on their actions with regard to sleep concerns.

    For more information about the value of good sleep to one’s health, visit the PSSM website, thepssmi.org. To find out more about the Uratex mattress and other sleep solutions, call the Uratex Consumer Hotline, 888-6800 or visit www.uratex.com.ph.

    REFERENCE:

    Jerome Samson-09178961568

    AMPR Publicity & Communications Inc.

  • Tutuban Center holds bomb explosion and simulation exercise

    Tutuban Center holds bomb explosion and simulation exercise

    To maintain the safety and security of shoppers, Tutuban Center recently conducted an bomb explosion and simulation exercise to test the capability of its emergency response team.

    The simulated exercise was also meant to determine the strength and weaknesses of its Disaster Emergency Response Team (DERT) in responding to emergency situations and enhance its response procedures when dealing with delicate situations.

    Tutuban’s Assistant Vice President-Safety and Compliance, Ted Mosquito, led the activity in close coordination and collaboration with PNP Police Station 2 to comply with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management and Council (NDRRMC) manual and its implementing rules. The station, located at Nolasco corner Morga Streets in Tondo, Manila, has jurisdiction over Tutuban, and is headed by P/Supt. Nick Pinion.

    “We have conducted this activity on a yearly basis in our efforts to serve our customers better, and maintain a safe and secure shopping center. By doing so, we also train and equip with enough knowledge and awareness our DERT staff, our tenants, employees and contracted service providers on how to respond and react properly in this kind of emergency,” explains Mosquito.

    The activity was conducted in two phases: preparation and actual. Preparation involved coordination, collaboration and meetings with concerned offices/units and careful planning in terms of personnel and logistics, and the actual, where there were lectures, briefings and rehearsals of Tutuban’s DERT and other participants to ensure success.

    Bottom line, the participants were proven effective and efficient in performing their individual roles and assigned tasks when responding to this type of emergency.

    There were a total of 168 registered participants, comprised mostly of Tutuban personnel and police officers from Precincts 6 and 7 both under Police Station 2. Other units that participated include the Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD), the Special Reaction Unit (SRU), Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) and the Manila Traffic Bureau, plus other Manila Police Department (MPD) units headed by no less than P/Senior Superintendent Carlito Felicano. Tutuban Center is located along C.M. Recto Avenue in Manila and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 12 midnight. Visit our Facebook page Fb.com/TutubanCenter, follow us at Twitter and Instagram accounts, @TutubanCenter.

    REFERENCE:

    Contact: Jerome Samson
    Telephone: (02) 7061971/ 09178961568
    E-mail: jsamson@amprpublicity.com

  • Tips to Fireproof Your Home

    Tips to Fireproof Your Home

    Fire incidents are considered as common as the perennial hot summer season in the Philippines. Every year, fire cases all around the country destroy resources and displace families. March once again marks the observance of Fire Prevention Month to alleviate this country-wide problem.

    In 2015, The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) recorded a total of 1,727 fire incidents in March alone. March is considered the hottest month of the year, with the elevated temperature attributed for some of the incidents that occur during its period.

    Homes are very prone to fires and the kitchen, specifically, is among the areas that are very susceptible to such accidents. In January and February last year, 70 fires came from unattended cooking stoves while 162 incidents were caused by problems with electrical lines.

    With the kitchen being one of the most important areas of a household, making it a safer place should be a top priority for homemakers. Below are some tips to make your kitchen a fireproof place.

    1. Keep your focus

    One of the leading reasons behind kitchen fires is neglect. Often, it is easy to get distracted and leave a dish cooking. This kind of neglect causes the most injuries, deaths, and property damage than other roots of home fires.

    2. Keep a fire extinguisher close

    A fire extinguisher is necessary in any home. Keep one ready in the kitchen and store it in a place 10 feet away from the stove, in a spot where it is easy to grab. All members of the household should know how to use it in case of emergencies. Note also that all fire extinguishers should always be refilled every six to seven years to function properly.

    3. Keep from storing items on top of the stove

    It is easy to be less mindful of your actions while caught in a cooking mood. Refrain from placing things on top of a stovetop since this kind of surface can easily start a flame when it gets in contact with anything flammable. Instead, keep things orderly in cabinets and cupboards.

    4. Make sure your cooking appliances are free from crumbs and scraps

    Leftover pieces of food from stovetops, ovens, and toasters can catch fire so make sure to clean these cooking appliances after use. Unplug them from their sockets before cleaning and keep the cables away from water.

    5. Go fireproof

    It is nearly impossible to entirely fireproof a kitchen with all the flammable materials in the area. However, while it doesn’t entirely cancel out the probability of a fire, using cooking appliances that are designed for safety can add a layer of protection to this part of the home.

    Induction cookers, for example, lessen the risk of fire accidents. The Induction Cooker from Midea, one of world’s largest manufacturers of domestic appliances, is a good example of a household partner that values safety as much as efficiency.

    The induction cooker removes the risk for burns with its flameless technology. It also protects your home from possible gas leakages.

    In addition, this kitchen essential also works faster than an average electric stove as it heats up 25% faster than the latter. It also has an energy-saving Piso Meal feature which uses up 1Php worth of electricity for every 4 minutes of cooking or heating.

    Make your kitchen safe the whole year round with these nifty tips. A little precaution and awareness can go a long way when it comes to preserving the harmony in the household.

    To learn more about Midea’s Induction Cookers and other home solutions, visit www.midea.com.ph and like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/MideaPhilippines for updates.

    REFERENCE:

    Contact: Jerome Samson
    Telephone: (02) 7061971/ 09178961568
    E-mail: jsamson@amprpublicity.com