We are inviting you to Ballet Manila’s return performance, RISE!
October 7, 8:00 PM
October 9, 5:00 PM
Featuring Lisa Macuja’s ballet version of “La Traviata” and a pop program with “Ballet & Ballads”,
The full live performance will be staged at Ballet Manila’s newly renovated home theater, Aliw Theater.
Featured artists are Bituin Escalante, Jade Riccio, Ivan Nery, and the Ballet Manila performing company. Maestro Gerard Salonga is musical director and conductor of a 60-piece bespoke orchestra.
We are offering a special and exclusive 20% discount to this community. Ticket prices are as follows:
(Actual / less 20%)
Zone 1 : 5,150 / 4,120
Zone 2 : 3,090 / 2,472
Zone 3 : 1,545 / 1,236
Zone 4 : 3,090 / 2,472
Zone 5 : 1,545 / 1,236
Zone 6: 1,030 / 824
Discount will apply to orders through 09188077148 or balletmanilamarketing@gmail.com
The highly-anticipated “Quezon City Investors Summit: Future Ready” will promote Quezon City as an ideal destination for investors and businesses as they continue to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The summit will put the spotlight on Quezon City as top business destination for local and international investors. We hope to attract many investors who can help further stimulate the economy and provide employment for QCitizens,” Mayor Belmonte said.
Scheduled on Oct. 7 at Novotel Manila at the Araneta City, the event will engage investors, business leaders, business associations, chambers of commerce, foreign dignitaries, and Quezon City government officials in discussions on key areas for investments, public-private partnerships and opportunities for expansion and growth.
“Quezon City is future ready, ready for investors, ready to build a better and more prosperous city so that our QCitizens will be able to enjoy the resulting benefits,” said Margarita Santos, head of the Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) of Quezon City.
Aside from its strategic location, Quezon City also has the homegrown QC E-Services platform that makes business processes such as permit and license applications easy for investors, according to Santos.
“The LGU has automated and digitized 95 percent of the city’s services through its QC E-Services platform. This means potential investors can apply for business permits online,” said Santos, adding that the “permit will even be delivered to the applicant’s business or home address free of charge.”
As a matter of principle, the Quezon City government constantly consults and coordinates with the business sector, which has enabled both sectors to build a relationship of mutual respect and support. “This continued dialogue with the private sector helps all stakeholders to address various challenges and issues, and to think up ways to create a free, fair and fertile business environment,” Perry Dominguez, head of the Local Economic Investment Promotions Office, points out.
The local government is known as an ardent supporter of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), providing them with incentives from tax breaks, tax payment extensions to changing the validity of business permits and licenses to help businesses especially during the pandemic.
Soon, Quezon City will launch its Start-Up QC program to further strengthen and develop the city’s start-up business ecosystem. “This program is calibrated to provide financial gains to innovative, creative and promising business models that can help provide solutions and recommendations to social issues and challenges,” Jay Gatmaitan, Investment Affairs Office head, explained.
The city’s commitment to good governance saw results when the Quezon City government received its second straight unqualified opinion from the Commission on Audit for its annual audit report for the year 2021. An unqualified opinion is the highest audit rating that can be rendered by COA to a government agency.
Recognized for its quality public service, Quezon City has increased its social services budget over the past three years, enabling the local government to provide livelihood opportunities and create more jobs, support education, and provide permanent housing, better healthcare and social safety nets, among others.
Earlier, Margie Santos, head of the summit’s organizing committee, said this gathering of business leaders aims to build investor confidence in Quezon City; generate investments and public-private partnerships and make Quezon City the top of mind preferred investment destination.
With the ever-evolving demands and needs of our skin, one thing remains the same:consistency is key, especially in routines and habits. Being consistent with your#RadianceRoutine and the products and ingredients you use can go a long way inmaintaining your skin health. It can even transform your skin to make it look even brighter.
To mark its 75th year of catering to the needs of sensitive skin, Dermatologist-recommendedskincare brand Cetaphil continues to forge its mark on the skincare industry by introducinginnovative brightening products with ingredients approved by Dermatologists through itsBright Healthy Radiance line. Formulated with GentleBright Technology – a combination ofSea Daffodil and Niacinamide that visibly corrects dark spots without irritation boostsbrightness, and evens skin tone – the latest line from Cetaphil introduces more brighteningproducts to the fold that will magnify skin’s brightness now powered by ingredients such asAdvanced Peptide and Antioxidant C.
With these upgraded ingredients combined with the effective GentleBright Technology, thenewest products under the Cetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance line promises to be the gentlestway to brighten skin in just 14 days and lets skinthusiasts continue being #BrightAboutSkin: For CleansingCetaphil Bright Healthy Radiance Gentle Renewing CleanserStart your #RadianceRoutine with the new Gentle Renewing Cleanser. This 3-in-1brightening cleanser offers gentle exfoliation using Jojoba beads infused with Vitamin E toremove pollution and impurities, instantly brightening and improving skin texture.
beep™ operator AF Payments Inc. is bringing commuters another option to top up their card with its newest e-wallet partner ShopeePay. By using ShopeePay for beep transactions, users can enjoy the convenience of reloading in a few taps and even earn cashbacks during special promotions.
“Our priority has always been to provide convenience to passengers. By partnering with a leading e-commerce platform like Shopee, which is widely used by Filipinos for online shopping, we aim to offer flexibility and consistently add value for our users so they keep using their card. Rest assured that beep™ will continue to grow our network of partners to provide the best service to the riding public and Filipino consumers in general,” said Sharon Fong, Chief Commercial Officer of AF Payments Inc.
It’s easy to reload via ShopeePay. Simply open your Shopee app and tap “Load, Bills & Travel.” Under the Travel category, choose “BEEP CARD.” Enter the 16-digit number found at the back of the beep™ card you want to reload and select the Top Up amount. Available denominations include P20, P50, P100, P200, P300, P500, and P1,000. A minimal convenience fee is added for every transaction. Tap Checkout.
Choose ShopeePay as payment option, then tap “Pay Now” and enter your ShopeePay PIN. To complete the process, fetch your load by tapping your beep™ card at any E-load Station located in LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3, and select P2P Bus Terminals.
ShopeePay is the integrated mobile wallet of Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. Through ShopeePay, Shopee users can conveniently and securely send money, pay bills, and top-up stored value cards such as beep. To access ShopeePay and maximize its features, vouchers, discounts, and cashbacks, simply download the Shopee app via the App Store, Google Play Store, or Huawei App gallery, create an account, and activate ShopeePay.
“Since we launched ShopeePay, our mission has always been to provide access to safe, reliable, and convenient digital payments for Filipinos. With our landmark partnership with beep™, we are able to extend this service as well as the rewards our users love and enjoy to beep™ cardholders as well.” said Martin Yu, Director of Shopee Philippines.
beep™ is a stored value card used to pay fares in the three elevated railways (LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3), select buses, and PUVs nationwide, and in partner retail merchants. For other inquiries, contact beep™ via landline at (02) 87379600, Globe Line at 09175121319, or Smart Line at 09985819675.
To be updated on news and promotions, follow the official beep™ Facebook <fb.com/beepcardph>, Twitter <twitter.com/beep_card>, and Instagram <instagram.com/beep_card> accounts. More information is also available at the website <www.beeptopay.com>.
About AF Payments Inc.
AF Payments Inc. is a consortium of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) and Ayala Corp. that provides contactless payment solutions in the Philippines through its integrated product and service offerings, thereby enhancing the transaction experience of every Filipino.
Its tap-to-pay system, the beep™ card, is available for use in all three elevated railways (LRT-1, LRT-2, and MRT-3), EDSA buses, P2P buses, and select PUVs, tollways, and retail partners. The beep™ card is reloadable and valid for four years.
Since its inception, beep™ has grown to offer a more robust automated payment collection system that accepts beep cards, QR tickets, and QR mobile codes, empowering businesses to expand their operations with cashless and safer additional payment channels.
About Shopee
Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalise and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services, and uplifting local communities.
Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.
Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena and SeaMoney.
About ShopeePay
ShopeePay is an integrated mobile wallet that offers users easy access to digital payment services. Launched in the Philippines in 2019, ShopeePay enables a seamless shopping experience by allowing users to make online payments on Shopee, top-up their wallets, and transfer and withdraw funds.
ShopeePay makes it easier to shop and do business. It provides users with a convenient, secure, and rewarding payment option; it empowers businesses and helps them capture new opportunities.
ShopeePay is part of SeaMoney, the digital financial services arm of Sea Group. A leading digital payments and financial services provider in Southeast Asia, SeaMoney’s mission is to better the lives of individuals and businesses in the region with financial services through technology.
Angkas CEO George Royeca, believes the country is ready for a big leap forward in the tech and startup sectors. These industries and their continuous growth in recent years will be the primary focus of this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022, which will be co-presented by Angkas, the leading motorcycle taxi and delivery platform.
Text Box: Angkas CEO George Royeca“While the pandemic has been the worst global crisis of the millennium undeniably opened new avenues for rapid growth in the country, particularly in the tech sector. Overnight, e-commerce, online payments, e-wallets, telemedicine, online gig employment, digital banks as well as delivery and logistics services experienced exponential growth which then had to be supported by faster internet speeds,” points out Royeca.
“The pandemic and the restricted mobility it necessitated primed the market in terms of tech literacy and a willingness to adopt tech-based solutions. There are products and services the market is ready for now that would not have been viable pre-pandemic, and that might have otherwise taken another 5-10 years for the country to be ready for,” adds Royeca. “We have had, and continue to have an ideal and unprecedented climate for both developing and funding tech startups. The kind of businesses that offer innovative products and services we couldn’t have even imagined pre-pandemic,” he concludes.
The road less trafficked
Angkas was itself an innovation, far more unconventional than it seems on the surface. Motorcycle taxis were already in wide use for public transport all over the region at the time of Angkas’ inception in 2015. Despite the crippling traffic in Metro Manila and its staggering economic cost, motorcycle taxis were not a solution being considered by anyone at the time, because motorcycles had an appalling safety record.
The Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMARAS) Traffic Accident report for 2015 indicated that motorcycle accidents comprised 39.6% of all vehicular accidents and 33.6% of all fatal accidents in Metro Manila. In each case they were by far the single largest contributors. Filipino motorcycle riders were regarded as too undisciplined for such a service to be reasonably safe.
Angkas’ innovation was in actually believing that with training, motivation and support, Filipinos could be the backbone of a safe and professionalized app-enabled motorcycle taxi service. “We shoulder the training of all rider applicants, then we carefully select only the top 30%. We also hold regular company events that serve as refreshers, and venues for more training in soft skills, and even things like anti-sexual harassment education,” explains Royeca. “The result is that after literally millions of rides booked, our safety record is 99.997%,” he concludes.
Sense of purpose, grit resilience
“I think the number one thing that potential startups should begin with is seeing the bigger picture: are you solving a real problem?” asks Royeca. “Any business venture is always going have a money-making aspect, but in this day and age, it is businesses that have an innate sense of purpose and that offer real solutions to real problems that are embraced by the public,” Royeca points out,
Royeca had specific advice to would-be startups on failure: “Don’t be afraid of failure or adversity, these build grit. As long as you are imbued with a sense of purpose, you will overcome failure and adversity and come out stronger, and with more grit.”
In Angkas short history, they were ordered to cease operations twice, their rider pool was capped, and just when they seemed in the clear, the pandemic hit. Showing true resilience, it was then that Angkas launched a courier and buying assistant service, allowing more people to do errands and business safely from home. Angkas also formed a partnership with the Red Cross to assist with the delivery, and administration of COVID-19 test kits. When it became reasonably safe to do so, Angkas also offered free rides to medical frontliners.
Co-creation Breeds Innovation
Community building begins when everyone contributes for the welfare of everyone, and that is exactly what resonated with Angkas to sign up and be a co-presenter for this year’s IMMAPDigiCon Valley 2022, one of the most anticipated digital conferences in the industry which gathers professionals from marketing, advertising, and digital sectors to hear and learn from world-renowned and celebrated local keynote speakers.
Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP) is an organization that works toward educating and providing the necessary digital tools for advertising and integrated marketing professionals to make better communication decisions. One such effort is the yearly DigiCon.
Royeca explains, “When you have a business that serves many, it is impossible to innovate without co-creation. Angkas would not have been possible without the coming together of technology innovations, government regulators, customers, and of course our rider partners, to create a “winnovation”, an innovation in which everyone has a stake, and in which everybody wins.”
From L to R: Brian Go (Angkas Chief Marketing Officer), Denise Haak (IMMAP DigiCon Co-Chair), Janelle Barretto (IMMAP DigiCon Ways & Means Head), and Trish Elamparo-Esteban (IMMAP DigiCon Co-Chair).
After two years of purely virtual connections, this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 will finally bring back face-to-face networking through the DigiCon After-Hours, which will be held during the evenings across the city, promising to provide cocktails and entertainment, and allow delegates to physically reconnect with other industry players.
“I think what Angkas is excited about is this live interaction; a lot of the best collaborations and partnerships happen because of these more spontaneous, in-person things, and human interaction is what makes all the creativity and innovation grow more,” muses Royeca.
As co-presentor for this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022, Angkas hopes that this can be a great model to induce new SMEs in the tech and startup sector, while also introducing a community mindset that can hopefully solve daily problems for Filipinos.
DigiCon Valley 2022 is happening on October 10-14 from 9AM to 1PM PST using ViVYD platform, with all new tracks that tackle the different stages of innovation: Launchpad, Hypergrowth, Breakthrough, and Enterprise.
This year’s prestigious keynote speakers include one of the most influential women in the world and Huffington Post founder, Arianna Huffington; Rappler Founder and the first Filipino Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Ressa; internationally acclaimed marketing expert and academic, Mark Ritson; co-founder of Character ventures and Design Sprint inventor, Jake Knapp; and Global CMO of Dole Sunshine Company, Rupen Desai.
IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 is co-presented by Angkas, and would like to thank Platinum Sponsors: Manulife Philippines, Share Treats, and TikTok; Gold Sponsors: Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government, Grab Ads, Kroma Entertainment, McDonald’s Philippines and Meta Philippines; and Silver Sponsors: Digital Turbine, Hepmil Philippines, and Metrobank.
A special thanks to IMMAP’s event partners: Creators and Influencers of the Philippines (CICP), Endeavor, and Kickstart Ventures.
Be an IMMAP Member today! To know more about IMMAP, please visit: www.immap.com.ph or contact us at:
In a bid to encourage consumers to stand against piracy, protect intellectual property, and support the local book publishing industry, Rex Education launched its anti-piracy campaign at the Manila International Book Fair (MIBF) 2022.
“After more than 70 years in the publishing industry, I can say that I am proud of the contribution and impact that every REX book has had in the lives of our learners. And we, at REX, would like to keep serving the Filipino learner through our learning materials—may it be printed, audio, or digital form. Through this anti-piracy campaign, we can keep the book industry flourishing and thriving. We can keep the passing of knowledge a sacred endeavor,” said Atty. Dominador Buhain, chairman of Rex Education.
Piracy is punishable by law
Educational book publishing is protected by Republic Act (RA) 8293, otherwise known as the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. Under this law, the unauthorized reproduction and distribution of books, audiobooks, and other printed or digital learning materials is illegal and punishable by imprisonment and fines of up to PHP 1.5 million.
However, piracy remains widespread in the country. According to the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL), they received a 25% increase in piracy reports from consumers and complaints from rights holders in 2021 compared with reports in 2020. General and educational books and e-books accounted for 49% of reports on piracy, suggesting that many learning materials are still being downloaded and distributed illegally despite the rise of legitimate e-commerce shops and the prevalent availability of e-books and audiobooks.
Rex Education launched its anti-piracy campaign to continue educating Filipinos about the damaging effects of piracy on authors and publishers. Rex also encourages consumers, who have become ubiquitous keepers of knowledge in this digital age, to help stop the illegal reproduction and distribution of books, e-books, audio books, and all other learning tools and materials.
The movement aims to protect the hard work and talent of creators, and ultimately create a ripple effect in strengthening the respect for published materials to keep the publishing industry thriving.
“Time, effort, money, and hard work go into every book that comes out of REX’s printing house. Hundreds of authors and thousands of employees are sustained by the learning materials we produce. Piracy is a crime. Piracy is disrespectful to authors, editors, artists, and the publishing industry as a whole,” said Jeanne Tordesillas, chief marketing officer of Rex Education.
No to book piracy; respect creativity
MIBF 2022 showed a strong confluence of the book publishing industry, educators, stakeholders from the education sector, creators and authors, consumers, and Filipino learners. Anchoring the movement at one of the biggest and most sought-after book fairs in the country meant bringing it closer to the learners and creators protected by the anti-piracy campaign.
With the call “No to book piracy, protect intellectual property, respect creativity,” REX staged a rally around the venue with placards, t-shirts, and flyers. The staged rally gained instant attention and traction throughout the fair, leading attendees to the REX booth where the launch of the anti-piracy campaign was held.
“We would like to keep providing authors an avenue to share their talents and pass on their knowledge to the next generation. We would like to keep providing jobs to our employees and workers of the publishing industry, most especially during these trying times. We want to teach the culture of discipline and respect to the next generation, so they value what goes into every book that passes through their hands,” said Buhain during the launch. “Today, we invite you to join us. Support the local publishing industry. Say no to piracy.”
Join Rex Education in saying “no” to book piracy and “yes” to protecting creativity and intellectual property. Buy from legitimate sources; buy original. Watch and share the “Proud Ako” anti-piracy campaign video launched at the MIBF 2022, showcasing the hard work that goes behind every published book and learning material produced by REX.
To support Rex Education and its efforts to protect the publishing industry, visit www.rex.com.ph.
SM Prime Holdings (SMPHI) recently announced its support for the global search for women leaders in disaster resilience.
For the second consecutive year, SMPHI is sponsoring Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) Leadership Awards, a flagship program of the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).
SMPHI Vice President for Corporate Compliance Liza B. Silerio said that the support is aligned with the company’s drive to recognize women’s leadership in disaster risk reduction. “This is important in inspiring other women to fully and effectively participate in promoting gender equality and empowerment while building our collective resilience.”
UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction Mami Mizutori expressed gratitude for the support, stating, “The awards highlight the key role of women as leaders and agents of change in building resilience and actively participating in the creation and implementation of DRR strategies, policies, plans and programs in their regions. Their stories reflect the diversity of solutions required to meet the converging challenges of accelerating climate change and disasters in the region.”
“We look forward to continued collaboration with SM in our DRR agenda,” Secretary General Mizutori added.
The WIN DRR Excellence Awards 2022 sponsored by SM Prime has 15 finalists shortlisted from 420 nominations received from across 24 countries in the Asia-Pacific. The winner will be announced at the Asia Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in Brisbane on 21 September 2022. US$10,000 will be awarded to an individual woman who has achieved exceptional professional success in DRR.
The WIN DRR partnership is consistent with SM Prime Holdings’ social commitment towards women empowerment, resilience, good health and well-being of women. The company’s corporate social responsibility arm, SM Cares, supports programs that advance these causes.
The Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction (WIN DRR) is a professional network to support women working in disaster risk reduction, in all their diversity. Its overall goal is to empower women to attain leadership and enhance their role in decision-making in disaster risk reduction in Asia-Pacific. The WIN DRR Philippine Network is powered by SM Prime and Asia Pacific College.
Earlier this year, SM Prime through its SM CARES, partnered with UNDRR in celebrating women empowerment through a webinar on the role of women in disaster resilience. In her keynote message, Mizutori emphasized “women’s equal participation and leadership in public life including disaster risk reduction is important and it is also essential to reducing disaster risk in achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals.”
Users can donate to GMA Kapuso Foundation, Unicef, Habitat For Humanity, and Waves For Water by purchasing donation vouchers in the Shopee app.
To help the Filipinos devastated by the torrential rains and fierce winds brought about by Typhoon Karding across Central, Northern, and Southern Luzon, Shopee launches its Shopee Bayanihan: Typhoon Karding Support initiative wherein users can buy donation vouchers from Shopee’s partner charities on the app. This initiative is part of Shopee Bayanihan, the company’s umbrella CSR arm that seeks to provide support for communities in need through partnerships with various humanitarian organizations.
From September 28, 2022, to October 9, 2022, Shopee users can purchase the donation e-vouchers that will be used for water kits, health, and sanitation stations, and other essentials such as food and clothes from partner charities GMA Kapuso Foundation, Unicef, Habitat For Humanity, and Waves For Water. Users can view Typhoon Karding Support vouchers through https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-bayanihan and purchase them via Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, ShopeePay.
Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “We are incredibly saddened by the immense devastation that Typhoon Karding has brought to our fellow Filipinos across Central, Northern, and Southern Luzon. Shopee remains committed to using our platform and resources to benefit the local communities we operate in. Through this initiative, we hope to support our kababayans in times of need.”
To donate to those affected by Typhoon Karding, users may:
2. Choose the e-voucher of your preferred charity.
3. Click “Buy Now” to purchase the donation vouchers using ShopeePay.
Typhoon Karding is the 11th tropical cyclone to hit the Philippines this 2022 affecting major areas in Central, Northern, and Southern Luzon such as Quezon, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and more. With Shopee Bayanihan, Shopee is committed to making e-commerce accessible for everyone by helping communities benefit from the power of digital transformation wherever they are in the Philippines.
