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Category: Education

These Wais Moms are now ready to put up their own business—here’s their journey to self-confidence and financial freedom

Wais Moms Ruby Pagobo and Bernadette Aguilar get a fresh start on dreams for their families.

Manila, Philippines – Continuing decades of support for millions of Filipino moms across the country, Surf Philippines, has launched the first ever online entrepreneurship program—Wais University. The program has since gained more than 13,000 enrollees for the program and counting.

Surf envisions the program to be a catalyst for change that will help Wais moms all over the country to be successful in their entrepreneurship journey by promoting confidence to pursue their own business, help better understand the ins and outs of the trade, and give a better chance with any endeavor they want to launch.

Two recent Wais University alumni, Ruby Pagobo and Bernadette Aguilar, share their stories as to how joining Surf’s online business course has provided them enough knowledge and confidence to finally start their own businesses, enabling them to dream bigger for themselves and their families.

Challenges Faced

Ruby, a full-time mom, dreams of one thing: Financial independence.“Gusto ko magakaroon ng financial freedom, yung walang utang kasi siyempre gusto ko ma-secure yung future ng pamilya ko. Yung asawa ko naman OFW, so minsan mahirap talaga.”

Bernadette, who’s also a full-time housewife and mom, is working towards financial stability and is willing to learn more practical skills that can help start her own business. However, it hasn’t been a steady journey as she admits that there are times that her family often has to scrimp so that they can afford daily needs. “Napagkakasya ko ang budget para sa pangangailangan namin sa pamamagitan ng pagtitipid at pag-una ng mahahalagang bagay.”

The pandemic and current inflation also took toll on both families. Bernadette recounts that loss of stable income and rising prices of goods have become one of the greatest challenges they have faced as a family especially when it comes to everyday needs.

New Normal, New Knowledge

Being Wais moms themselves and in hopes to gain more knowledge and opportunities to earn, both Ruby and Bernadette have signed up for the Wais University, a program launched by Surf with the help of the Filipina Homebased Moms (FHMoms) community group on Facebook.

“Yung tingnan ko po yung mga topic na idi-discuss sa webinar, pasok po siya sa negosyo namin na gustong gawin,” Ruby recounts.“May nasimulan na kaming negosyo na online sushi store kaso nagsara noong bagyong Odette. Pero ngayon, sisimulan ulit namin pag uwi ng asawa ko.”

Bernadette quickly became interested since the free virtual format befits her as a stay-at-home mom. “Naging interesado akong matuto ng mga skills na iniisip kong makakatulong sa akin. Lalo na pag may libreng oras ako, may mapaglaanan ako na importante at saka libre naman, nasa bahay lang din ako at may gamit na cellphone.”

Wais Learnings

Both Ruby and Bernadette admit that they enjoyed taking part in the online entrepreneurship program.

For Ruby, the assessment part of the program allows her to test her learnings. She’s now more confident and enthusiastic to work especially because she now knows what permits she needs in establishing both an online and physical store.

“Lahat tayo may pangarap sa buhay, kaya go lang ng go!” encourages Ruby. “Ang mga problema nandiyan talaga yan kaya maghanap tayo ng paraan para magka-business. Sipag at Tiyaga lang talaga.”

Meanwhile, Bernadette is excited for other moms who get to enroll in the future as the course is free and provides resources to help moms be more confident in starting their own business. Bernadette flourishes with her own soap-making business, applying her Wais University learnings.

She encourages other moms to take advantage of this free program, invest in their own learnings and start their own Wais Journey. “Yung may kids na pwede mag invest ng time sa pagsali sa mga grupo na sumusuporta sa mga ina at matuto sa ikauunlad ng sarili para makahanp ng opportunity na kumita nang hindi kailangang gumastos ng malaki. It takes time talaga pero worth it yung learning.”

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Want to gain the confidence in starting and growing your own business like Ruby and Bernadette? Enroll for free Negosyo Courses at www.waisuniversity.com to start your Wais journey to financial independence!

REFERENCE:

Lariza Garcia

September 22, 2022
Jollibee Group Foundation reinforces support to smallholder farmers through
agri-technology

Together with local and international experts, Jollibee Group Foundation has been introducing technologically advanced farming techniques and systems to smallholder farmers to empower them to improve their productivity and gain more income.

Jollibee Group Foundation (JGF) continues to support smallholder farmers by providing them access to technologically advanced farming techniques for more sustainable agriculture.

“Improving smallholder farmers’ knowledge and capacity for greater productivity and profit will redound to the continued growth of our agricultural sector,” said Gisela Tiongson, JGF Executive Director.

Launched in 2008, JGF’s Farmers Entrepreneurship Program (FEP) empowers and helps smallholder farmers sharpen their technical and business acumen, as well as partnership-building skills. Today, these farmers supply the vegetable requirements used in some Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Mang Inasal favorites.

“By becoming more adept and qualified to participate directly in the value chains of food companies, small producers get assured of a regular market, resulting in their increased and steady income,” Tiongson added. To reinforce support to smallholder farmers, JGF has adopted public-private partnerships to help farmers gain access to agricultural technologies that increase their yield, reduce farming costs, and make them more competitive in the market.

Weather data, farmer efficiency

Since 2020, the Foundation has partnered with IBM’s The Weather Company for a more accurate community-level, 7-day weather forecast. JGF also worked with the Central Luzon State University to interpret the weather data and translate it into the prescribed farm practice for the day. The information is then shared in a private messaging group for faster dissemination among the farmers. The SMS feature of this system is now being developed for easier access.

The Onion and Vegetable Producers Cooperative (OVEPCO) farmers from Barangay Tabulac in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija were among the first to benefit from this system. Through the barangay-level forecasts provided, the farmers can adapt and better decide when to plant, fertilize, and harvest their crops.

“It has been helpful. Now we can prepare for what will happen tomorrow. It has become a guide for our daily farming,” shared Eddie Soriano, OVEPCO Chairman.

This project currently supports 116 farmers in 12 barangays in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija and Alcala, Pangasinan.

Healthy soil, healthy production

In partnership with the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soils and Water Management, JGF ventured into studying soil samples and providing practical recommendations to make the soil healthier and more viable for greater yield.

To help farmers improve their crops, JGF worked with the PUM Netherlands Senior Experts, various seed companies, and Jollibee Group’s own Research and Development team to find appropriate onion and bell pepper varieties that will meet the company’s requirement, and which can be more easily produced by the farmers.

Together with the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, JGF is also looking into further increasing the productivity of onion farms. Called “Project SAYA” or Strengthening Agricultural Yield of Allium Cepa L. (Onion) in the Philippines, the project aims to help increase onion production by addressing inefficiencies, gaps, and factors affecting the level of production; as well as to identify potential and suitable areas for expansion.

“These agri-technology efforts are creating a ripple effect of empowerment and opportunities among our partner farming communities and institutions. They have reported greater knowledge on farming techniques, increased yield and income, and the confidence to transact with market players,” said Tiongson. “JGF will sustain these efforts so that farmer entrepreneurs can continue to gain greater pride in their profession and to reap the benefits of sustainable agriculture.”

REFERENCE:

Lariza Garcia

September 13, 2022
Empowering through Education project to be launched in Cebu

The empowerment of the out-of-school youth in the Philippines got a shot in the arm with the conceptualization of an innovative mobile classroom project in Cebu.

The project called the “Mobile KART Project” and proposed by SEED4COM got a further boost after it was declared as one of the Top Three winners at the “Taiwan Excellence: Sharing is Caring” philanthropic campaign that started last year. Winning the campaign means the opportunity to create more mobile classrooms that will benefit more out-of-school youth in many other areas in Cebu.

The aim was noble: to assist Cebu’s youth, particularly from poor and marginalized families, and provide them with free access to education with diverse and free-of-charge training courses that will hopefully educate them even in the midst of a debilitating pandemic.

The project will be officially inaugurated and launched on October 2022 at several locations in Cebu City such as Lapu-Lapu City, Cordoba, and Olango Island, among others. It would become doubly significant since the launch will coincide with the holding of the annual Taiwan-Philippines Joint Economic Conference.

The innovative and creative Mobile KART is not just any mobile classroom. It comes equipped with solar panels, laptops, an LED TV display, audio system and even routers for mobile internet connectivity, and all are Taiwan Excellence Award-winning products.

The Mobile KART Project offers courses such as “Transformative Educational Access for the Communities and Homes” and also “Technology Vocational Livelihood Skills Training.” These courses are meant to teach the poor youth in Cebu’s poverty-stricken areas with valuable life skills, particularly the benefits of reading. Hopefully, the skills will equip them with knowledge they can use to improve livelihood or pursue higher education when given the opportunity.

The “Mobile KART Project” is a mobile classroom that originated in Cebu and was part of several initiatives related to education by Sustainable Energy and Enterprise Development for Communities or SEED4COM (https://www.seed4com.org/). The organization was established to help improve human conditions and empowering poverty-stricken areas, rural and last-mile communities in the Philippines.

Truly, the “Mobile KART Project” winning at the “Taiwan Excellence: Sharing is Caring” was a proud moment not just for SEED4COM but also for the country, according to Dann Diez, Executive Director of SEED4COM, considering the huge number of entries.

Organized by the Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), the vision of “Taiwan Excellence: Sharing is Caring” was to help make society a better place by giving everyone an opportunity to raise ideas about charity and other altruistic activities related to the sustainable development of society and environmental protection by utilizing products of Taiwan Excellence.

REFERENCE:

Richard C. Mamuyac

September 5, 2022
Free tickets and books at MIBF 2022 from Rex Education

Rex Education is celebrating the on-site return of the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) 2022 with free tickets, books, and prizes for bookworms, educators, and learners.

Happening at the SMX Convention Center on September 15–18, 2022, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, the 43rd MIBF will bring together members of the local and international publishing industry to offer a comprehensive selection of books, panel discussions, workshops, storytelling activities, and training for readers and learners of all ages.

For first-time and returning attendees, get a free ticket to MIBF 2022 by registering with REX through this link: bit.ly/MIBF2022SignUpForm. Ticket holders can present the ticket at the REX booth 196-205 to receive a special surprise. Free tickets and freebies are limited, so register early and drop by the booth as soon as you can.

For students and teachers, grab a chance to receive free textbooks throughout the fair. REX will be giving out free books on Accounting, Business, Hospitality and Tourism, and Education.

Customers can claim up to three books, while non-buying visitors who come to the booth are also eligible to receive free books.

On top of the freebies, many exciting deals await attendees at the Rex Education booth. For thrift shoppers, browse through the Bukay-Bukay section or purchase tertiary education books at a bargain price of PHP 100.00 and below. Regular titles are also discounted up to 50% off.

After a satisfying book haul, customers can join the raffle to win additional prizes.

REX at MIBF

Rex Education values MIBF as an excellent opportunity to promote its mission of nurturing every child for lifelong learning. The company has been joining the fair for years now to give Filipinos access to more affordable and quality books and learning materials.

When MIBF went digital in 2020 and 2021, REX offered discounted books through the MIBF Online portal and free webinars with its in-house experts. Now that the fair is back on the exhibition floor, REX endeavors to welcome learners back with an eye-catching booth following the theme “Approaches to the New Normal Way of Life.”

Considered the biggest and longest-running book fair in the Philippines, MIBF is a haven for artists, bookworms, learners, educators, and publishers alike. MIBF has redefined the reading experience for over four decades now, showcasing the largest and most comprehensive collection of books, magazines, comics, educational aids, and allied materials.

Follow the Rex Education Facebook page for updates on their MIBF offerings, or visit the MIBF

official website at www.manilabookfair.com.

REFERENCE:

Richard C. Mamuyac

September 4, 2022
Shopee continues its pursuit of upskilling young tech talent through the Ultimate Case Challenge

Innovative Filipino students can win up to ₱50,000 by joining the Shopee Ultimate Case Challenge.

This August, Shopee Philippines will be launching its first ever Ultimate Case Challenge, a business case competition open to Filipino undergraduate students from across the globe. Finalists of the competition will get the chance to win up to ₱50,000. Throughout the duration of the case challenge, each team consisting of 3-4 members will be asked to pitch their own unique ideas and solutions to a real-world challenge included in a business case brief.

Karen Perez, Head of People at Shopee Philippines, said, “We’re thrilled to support Filipino tech talents from all over the world by providing them with opportunities to develop their skill set. Through the business case competition, we aim to hone their analytical and process improvement skills, preparing them to be proactive problem solvers in the fast-paced tech industry. We hope to inspire a new generation of talents who will continue to drive the tech industry forward.”

Apart from the opportunity to put their skills to the test, teams will also receive mentorship from leaders at Shopee and the chance to fast-track their careers in tech through Shopee’s career development programs: the Global Leaders Program, Shopee’s 2-year flagship graduate program for young professionals, and the Apprentice Program, Shopee’s specialized internship program.

The regional business case competition has already garnered over 4,000 participants across four other markets including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the Shopee Ultimate Case Challenge’s pioneer run in the Philippines. Ready your teams and sign up at careers.shopee.ph/succ from August 22 to September 30.

REFERENCE:

Pao Oga

Shopee | Marketing | Public Relations (Media Relations)

Mobile: +63 917 650 1835 (Viber/Whatsapp)

Address: 15F Asian Century Center (ACC) Building, 27th St. Corner 3rd Ave. BGC, Taguig 1634

August 21, 2022
Shaping Future Filipino Tech Leaders with Shopee’s Global Leaders Program

The rapid growth and development of the tech industry over the last decade calls for a new way of molding future tech leaders. In order to keep up with the fast-paced industry, there is a need to equip future leaders with a global perspective and a constant desire to learn. Part of equipping them with such skills includes expanding their scope of work to enable them to gain new competencies and exposure to different peers, colleagues, business functions, teams, markets, and more—all of which are crucial in training future tech leaders.

This is exactly how Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, develops young leaders in tech. The Global Leaders Program (GLP) is Shopee’s 2-year flagship graduate program open to final year students and young professionals with up to two years of work experience. The program consists of 4 rotations among Shopee’s different departments, 2 of which are overseas. Throughout the duration of the training, participants are given the chance to receive mentorship from senior management, work on the end-to-end processes of highly impactful projects, and gain exposure from the various departments of both local and international Shopee markets.

Recently, Shopee Philippines welcomed its newest and biggest batch of GLP associates through a casual mixer to get to know one another, meet their senior management mentors, and heed advice from GLP alumni. The event introduced participants to the vibrant and collaborative culture at Shopee, and gave them a better understanding of what to expect as they begin their journey.

Karen Perez, Head of People at Shopee PH, shared “We are thrilled to welcome our largest batch of Global Leaders Program associates to date. As they embark on their journey at Shopee, it is our privilege to provide them with mentorship, a dynamic work environment, and meaningful work experiences. We are deeply committed to honing the skills of local talent and we look forward to delivering even more opportunities to help young Filipino professionals reach their full potential.”

This year’s batch of GLP associates is a diverse mix of fresh university graduates as well as previous Shopee Apprentices and interns. Included in the batch is Graciel, a GLP associate currently assigned to Shopee Xpress. She was a 2021 graduate of the Apprentice Program, Shopee’s flagship internship program. As an Apprentice, she worked under the Seller Operations and SeaMoney Credit team. Likewise, Neal and Lovella, were participants of Shopee’s year-round internship program under the Marketing and Consumer Insights teams, respectively. A year later, they are now GLP associates and will begin their first rotation under Business Development. On the other hand, Alyana had extensive internship experience in the fields of e-commerce and marketing. She was able to successfully channel her knowledge and skills to begin her journey as a GLP associate under the Marketing team.

Alyana, one of this year’s GLP associates currently completing her first rotation under the Marketing department, shared “There is no better place for me to build my career in tech than at Shopee. As an avid user of the app, I am excited to gain a new perspective on e-commerce through this experience. I am confident that the collaborative work environment and the mentorship that I receive from industry leaders will help me grow as a professional and further my career in tech.”

For Luca, another associate who started the first part of his GLP journey under the platform’s integrated mobile wallet ShopeePay, the overseas rotation aspect of the program appealed to him the most. He shared “The GLP offers participants such a unique learning experience. I am looking forward to completing my rotations abroad and gaining regional exposure from the different Shopee markets at such an early stage in my career. I believe there’s so much that I can learn from immersing myself in different cultures and working under different departments and hopefully apply in our local context.”

Meanwhile, Graciel, who was previously a Shopee Apprentice, begins her GLP journey with Shopee Xpress. “With the many processes and initiatives that we take on as GLP associates, it’s important to remember that it’s okay to ask for help. I’m grateful that Shopee fosters such a strong culture of collaboration and teamwork because I learn a great deal from asking questions and seeking advice from my mentors,” she shared on her experience navigating the workspace.

Shopee is always on the lookout for local talent keen on becoming drivers of growth. Those looking to challenge themselves and build a career in tech may visit https://careers.shopee.ph/.

REFERENCE:

Pao Oga

Shopee | Marketing | Public Relations (Media Relations)

Mobile: +63 917 650 1835 (Viber/Whatsapp)

Address: 15F Asian Century Center (ACC) Building, 27th St. Corner 3rd Ave. BGC, Taguig 1634

July 21, 2022
Shopee Apprentice Program Upskills Young Emergent Leaders

By 2030, the digital economy is projected to generate up to PHP 5 trillion (USD 101.3 billion) in economic value in the Philippines¹. With e-commerce set to become a key pillar of the economy in the near future, there lies an opportunity to develop emerging tech talents to support this rapid growth. Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, recognizes the need to upskill young Filipino talents and mold them to become tech leaders of tomorrow through its Shopee Apprentice Program.

Open to top university students, the Shopee Apprentice Program aims to develop future leaders in the tech industry by equipping them with critical skills such as problem solving, effective communication, and adapting to a fast-paced working environment. Throughout the duration of the internship, Apprentices are immersed in Shopee’s collaborative work culture. They are given the chance to gain firsthand experience working on impactful large-scale projects in the e-commerce and digital finance industry. Apart from the exposure and valuable work experience, Apprentices can also expect to receive guidance and mentorship from Shopee’s top leaders as their internship journey progresses. Upon completion of the program, successful Apprentices have the option to join an accelerated track for the Global Leaders Program, Shopee’s 2-year flagship graduate program for young professionals.

This year’s batch of Apprentices is a diverse mix of top students from prestigious local and international universities. To mark the beginning of their internship journey, the Apprentices were welcomed with an on-site event held at the Shopee office. The gathering allowed them to get to know one another, and hear the advice and testimonials from Apprentice Program alumni and mentors. Through their sharing, they were able to get an idea of what is in store for them and what to expect, as they embark on their rigorous internship journey.

Karen Perez, Head of People at Shopee Philippines, shared “The Shopee Apprentice Program is a testament to our commitment to developing leaders of tomorrow. We look forward to maximizing our platform to provide even more opportunities to hone the skills of young tech talents, even at the career preparation stage.”

The impending growth of the local tech industry emphasizes the need to develop and prepare young tech talent. To support this growth, Shopee is always on the lookout for young Filipinos interested in becoming drivers of growth in the tech industry. Learn more about how you can become an apprentice today and a leader tomorrow, by visiting: https://careers.shopee.ph/apprenticeprogram/.

REFERENCE:

Pao Oga

Shopee | Marketing | Public Relations (Media Relations)

Mobile: +63 917 650 1835 (Viber/Whatsapp)

Address: 15F Asian Century Center (ACC) Building, 27th St. Corner 3rd Ave. BGC, Taguig 1634

July 5, 2022
Shopee expands presence in Mindanao with a series of seller onboarding initiatives and the establishment of new hubs

Initiatives include workshops and roundtable discussions with sellers on growing their business through e-commerce.

Department of Trade and Industry Region XI Division Chief, Small and Medium Enterprise Division Marie Ann J. How, Shopee Philippines VisMin Seller Acquisition Head Dane Mangoba, SY Glow Cosmetics shop owner Lou Putian, and Cacao Culture shop owner Sheila Lao at the Shopee University Roadshow in Davao City

MANILA, PHILIPPINES, JUNE 24, 2022 – As part of its continuous efforts to bring a fun and seamless online shopping experience to more Filipinos across the country, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, expands its serviceable areas through the establishment of new Shopee Xpress hubs across Mindanao. Through these new hubs in Davao City, Davao Del Sur, Davao Del Norte, and other areas, local sellers are provided with greater opportunities to expand their business through e-commerce and compete at a national level. For Davao to Davao purchases, both shoppers and sellers can now enjoy shorter delivery times.

Shopee also partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to hold its first Shopee University Roadshow in Davao City. The masterclass educated Davao-based sellers on how to grow their businesses with e-commerce and onboarded new sellers to improve the overall online selling experience for Filipinos. Shopee also held another live seller engagement event in Davao City, Shopee Kumustahan, wherein representatives from the platform held roundtable discussions with local Shopee sellers to know more about their experience and get insights on what can help drive their business forward.

Shopee Philippines Seller Communications and Education Lead Mia Mendoza, SY Glow Cosmetics shop owner Lou Putian, and Cacao Culture shop owner Sheila Lao at the Shopee Kumustahan event in Davao City

“Here at Shopee, we are always driven by our objective to make e-commerce accessible to everyone. Through the Mindanao hub expansions and conducting educational workshops, our goal is to equip local sellers and business owners with the necessary knowledge and tools to make the most out of their e-commerce journey with Shopee,” shared Martin Yu, Director at Shopee 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.

REFERENCE:

Pao Oga

Shopee | Marketing | Public Relations (Media Relations)

Mobile: +63 917 650 1835 (Viber/Whatsapp)

Address: 15F Asian Century Center (ACC) Building, 27th St. Corner 3rd Ave. BGC, Taguig 1634

June 24, 2022