Monthly Archives: June 2024

Partners for Equal Employment Opportunity. The Jollibee Group and the Quezon City (QC) Local Government Unit signed a Memorandum of Agreement to provide employment opportunity to qualified senior citizens and persons with disabilities in Q.C. Mayor Joy Belmonte (4^th from L) led the signatories from the QC LGU, while Jollibee Group signatories was led by Ruth Angeles, Head for Philippines HR (3^rd from R).

MANILA, Philippines.– Over 200 senior citizens (SC) and persons with disabilities (PWDs) will benefit from the inclusive employment program of the Jollibee Group in partnership with the local government of Quezon City. Qualified SC and PWDs will have the opportunity to work in over 50 stores of Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, and Burger King in Quezon City.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) was signed recently between the Jollibee Group and the Quezon City local government unit (LGU), led by Mayor Joy Belmonte, to formalize the collaboration.

“We support the local government of Quezon City in advancing the welfare of our elderly and persons with disabilities. Through this partnership, we honor their invaluable role in our society. We aim to give those who have the capacity and desire to work the opportunity to help spread joy to customers,” said Ruth Angeles, Vice President and Head, Global Organization, Leadership, and Culture, and Head for Philippines HR, Jollibee Group.

Advancing the Welfare of SCs and PWDs. Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte underscores the importance of partnerships with institutions like the Jollibee Group in promoting the well-being and dignity of SCs and PWDs through equal employment opportunities.

In her message during the signing ceremony, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte underscored the importance of partnerships with institutions like the Jollibee Group in promoting the well-being and dignity of SCs and PWDs through equal employment opportunities. “We thank the Jollibee Group for this gesture, which is a sign that they are with us in our crusade towards inclusivity. For us in Quezon City, progress must be inclusive; everyone must be part of our progress.”

“Age is just a number and a mindset, and we should not allow our age or our disability to be an obstacle to what we can contribute to our nation-building. I thank the Jollibee Group for taking away the obstacles that are preventing our SCs and PWDs from being active members of our workforce,” Mayor Belmonte added.

Interested SCs and PWDs can go to the Quezon City Public Employment Service Office (PESO) to help them with the requirements. They must also secure a fit-to-work certification from the Quezon City Health Department before they can proceed with the initial job screening by the City’s Social Services Department and the Persons with Disability Affairs Office.

Promoting an Inclusive Workplace. Since 2019, the Jollibee Group has partnered with various local government units in promoting an inclusive workplace where qualified SCs and PWDs can have the opportunity to join the Jollibee Group in its mission to serve great-tasting food, bringing the joy of eating to everyone.

Once qualified, SCs and PWDs will be endorsed by the LGU to the Jollibee Group for employment in select company-owned stores in Quezon City. Qualified SC and PWDs can work as guest relations staff, assisting store teams in serving customers at the counter and dining areas.

“This partnership is consistent with Jollibee Group’s commitment to providing equal employment opportunities to different sectors and promoting inclusivity and diversity in the workplace. We are looking forward to partnering with other LGUs so we can find qualified individuals to join us in our mission of spreading the joy of eating to everyone,” Angeles added.

Besides Quezon City, the Jollibee Group has also partnered with the local government units of Manila, Antipolo, Muntinlupa, Pasig, and the provincial government of Rizal to implement this inclusive employment program.

It’s Super Dads Weekend at SM Supermalls

Being a new dad can be equal parts exciting and overwhelming. But fear not, millennial dads of the east! This Father’s Day, SM City Marikina, SM City Masinag, SM City San Mateo, and SM Center Antipolo Downtown have got your back (and your little one!).

Gear Up for Adventures:

• Safety First: SM Store in Marikina, Masinag, and San Mateo boasts its Baby Company, whose wide array of products catering to newborns includes sizeable product lines of car seats for precious car rides and hand carriers for those quick errands. They also have the trendy 6-way hip-seat carrier, making those long walks a breeze.

Xiaomi gadgets for dad and for the family – Uniblade Trimmer for that clean, smooth shave and Smart Camera C300 for home and baby monitoring

• Tech Savvy Dad: Xiaomi stores at SM City Masinag and SM City Marikina include indoor CCTVs that could double as a baby monitor, perfect for keeping an eye on your little one while doing daddy chores. Plus, an electric shaver from SM Appliance and Xiaomi to stay looking clean and stubble-free for cuddling time with your baby.

Comfort and Style:

The Adidas Ultraboost 1.0 available at Adidas SM City Masinag and chino shorts from Penshoppe at SM City Marikina, Masinag, San Mateo, Antipolo Downtown for that comfy feeling even while running around chasing your little tyke. 

• Dad on the Go: Adidas and Sports Central in SM City Marikina and SM City Masinag have a big selection of sneakers and footwear that are perfect for keeping up with your energetic little one. And for those chill days at home, grab a pair of shorts, a shirt, and slippers at the SM Store Men’s section.

Car seats, Hip Seat Carrier and Baby stroller are available at Baby Company inside SM Store in Marikina, Masinag and San Mateo

• Childproofing Essentials: ACE Hardware in SM City Marikina, Masinag, San Mateo, and Antipolo Downtown have child safety outlet covers, corner protectors and door cushions, giving you peace of mind while your little explorer gets curious.

Celebrate Dad’s Day with a Feast:

Treat your Bida Best Dad to a feast at Kuya J SM City Masinag and SM City Marikina and get a free Patis Chicken Skin

Free 3 pieces of Chicken n’ Mojos on Father’s Day from Shakey’s SM City Marikina and SM Center Antipolo Downtown

Bitter, sweet and rich Affogato Cake to treat dad at Café Mary Grace 

Don’t forget to treat Dad to a well-deserved meal! Many restaurants in SM Supermalls in the East are offering special Father’s Day deals. From classic Filipino fare to international cuisine, there’s something for every taste—Kuya J, Max’s, Café Mary Grace, Shakey’s, Pizza Hut, Viking’s—name it, SM Supermalls have it!

Pro Tip: Dads deserve a little pampering too! Treat him to a relaxing massage at the spa or a much-needed haircut at his favorite GQ barbershop at SM City Marikina and SM City Masinag.

This Father’s Day, show Dad how much you appreciate all he does with these helpful finds and delightful treats. Remember, these are just a few ideas. Each SM mall offers a diverse range of stores to explore and find the perfect gift for your special guy. So, get shopping, celebrate Dad, and make this Father’s Day one to remember!

While the Philippines actually falls under the “Bean Belt”—an equatorial zone of the biggest coffee-growing countries in the world—it still lags behind the emergence of a revolutionary movement that reshapes the peoples’ connection to a cup of Joe.

Nevertheless, it’s not too late for this nation to firmly establish its own coffee culture, wherein majority, if not the entire populace, have a general knowledge and appreciation of this well-loved drink, coupled with their strong familiarity, exposure and use of available technologies in the market to make a cuppa.

With this in mind, IAJ Wellness Corporation (IAJWC), the exclusive distributor of Breville in the Philippines, has officially signed up multi-awarded barista and famed content creator Vanessa Maclang Caceres as the country’s ambassadress of the leading small kitchen appliances brand from Australia.

Impressed by the rich and mature coffee culture of various countries, IAJWC President Cris Llamo dreams of replicating such trends locally, where Filipinos do not merely drink coffee but dive deep into the art and appreciation of its unique flavors and origins.

“Hence, our partnership is aimed at raising more awareness on coffee culture and appreciation in the country,” she said during their contract signing held recently in Makati City.

“We want to be in the forefront of educating the people about Third Wave Coffee. That’s why we really want Vanessa to become our ambassadress because her vast knowledge of the industry will be of big help to elevate the peoples’ understanding of specialty coffee,” added Elijah Marie Cortez-Flores, Food & Beverage (F&B) Business Unit Manager at Breville Philippines.

Being an ambassadress, Ms. V (her online monicker) or Mamita (as fondly called by her colleagues) will mainly help promote the brand’s coffee category, plus other kitchen appliances through her social media contents. With her new role, she will also work closely with the brand in equipping the frontliners, which include promo merchandisers, with the most up-to-date knowledge about specialty coffee in order for them to effectively sell Breville products to customers.

“Transfer of knowledge should not go wrong. We want to make sure that our people who interact with the customers are saying the right things about coffee and how best to enjoy it using Breville products. So it’s important to have somebody like Ms. Vanessa, who’s been in the industry for a long time—19 years to be exact. There’s a wealth of information and experience that we can learn from her,” Llamo said.

“Through her hands-on training, we also believe that we will be able to foster a deeper appreciation for Breville products, especially the espresso machine category,” Flores added.

Elated by their confidence, Caceres is very thankful of their partnership. She quipped: “I’m happy that they trust me with this partnership. I’m really grateful to train their frontliners and share my knowledge on Third Wave Coffee to other people.”

Breville Philippines started to tap her in March 2023 for Women’s Month using the Breville Bambino Plus. Little did she know that her first encounter with this small espresso machine would make her a firm believer and, eventually, ambassadress of the brand. She said: “It’s not like other similar products, wherein everyone can pull a shot of espresso. No one can do steamed milk that is much better than Breville.”

(L-R) Breville Philippines Food and Beverage (F&B) Business Unit Manager Elijah Marie Cortez-Flores, Breville Philippines Ambassadress Vanessa Maclang Caceres, and IAJWC President Ma. Cristina S. Llamo

What Caceres loves about the brand is its innovative wide array of products that do not only address the complications of coffee-making processes, but the whole kitchen concerns as well. Their designs go hand-in-hand with functionalities, befitting the requirement of each client.

Although Breville is positioned as a premium brand, it’s worth the investment given the endless possibilities it can do for the buyers. No wonder it’s now Vanessa’s constant kitchen companion.

“It’s really a part of my daily life. Once you have it in your kitchen, you cannot stop using it. That’s why you really get your money’s worth,” she stressed.

 CONFIRMED: HONOR has an entry in the flip phone category this 2024!  

MANILA, PH – June 11, 2024 – What if you could take your financial journey for a test drive? That’s exactly what you can do with Sun Life’s upcoming game, Play for Life: A Game of Choices, which is set to launch in June 2024. This Financial Independence Month, Sun Life is launching engaging activities that will foster financial literacy among Filipinos through gamification elements.  

Embark on Your Financial Journey with Play for Life 

Play for Life is a free, single-player online game that mirrors the financial decisions one encounters in real life. The objective of the game is to achieve your chosen life goals through strategic financial and life decisions while navigating the ups and downs. 

At the beginning of the game, players define their life goals and select a character representing a career. Gameplay revolves around dice rolls, guiding pieces across the board to squares that correspond with the dice outcome. The board features spaces that offer life-enhancing opportunities (‘Life Wins’), present challenges (‘Life Happens’), or require critical financial decisions (‘Life Choices’), allowing players to use their accumulated funds strategically.  

You win the game once you have accumulated enough play money to achieve your life goal. The journey involves managing both positive and adverse circumstances, reflecting the essence of life’s financial planning and decision-making.  

Step into the World of Play for Life 

For a more immersive experience, there will be a roving life-size version of Play for Life in select areas around the country. Navigate giant game boards and make real-life choices at SM Megamall from June 22 to 23, 2024, SM Sta Rosa from July 27 to 28, 2024, and more locations to come. To engage the mobile gaming community, the initial launch of the life-size version of Play for Life will be in partnership with Talon Esports, a leading esports and gaming organization. There will also be table-top boardgame versions of Play for Life, where you can play with friends, family, and even Sun Life financial advisors.  

Those interested to learn more about Sun Life’s new game, Play for Life: A Game of Choices, may visit http://sunlife.co/playforlife. 

Rank Your Money Moves with Sun Life’s New TikTok Filter 

Further amplifying its commitment to financial empowerment, Sun Life launched an interactive TikTok filter called “Rank Your Money Moves”. This gamified filter allows users to rank various priorities, such as love life, food, travel, and other possible money moves. Once priorities have been placed in order, the user gets a fun and playful financial personality type depending on how they ranked their money moves. 

Try out Sun Life’s new TikTok filter here: https://sunlife.co/RankYourMoneyMoves  

Marking 9 years of Financial Independence Month 

Financial Independence Month is Sun Life’s annual campaign encouraging clients to pursue financial preparedness at every life stage. Launched in 2015, it aims to make the national celebration of Independence Day more personal and meaningful, as it centers on the pursuit of one’s brighter future.  

“Financial freedom starts with a choice,” said Carla Gonzalez-Chong, Chief Client Experience and Marketing Officer of Sun Life Philippines. “This is why we are set to launch Play for Life: A Game of Choices. We want to equip Filipinos with the knowledge to make informed decisions on their financial journey. By making financial literacy more engaging and accessible, we hope to empower individuals to take control of their future and make life choices with confidence.” 

Looking for fun ways to honor the man of the house?

Spend quality time with the whole family this Father’s Day weekend with a double celebration at Blue Bay Walk and Met Live Mall!

At Met Live Mall, sports dads will enjoy a sports-themed display for a photo op, while car enthusiasts will adore the car display show in partnership with Grupo Toyota at Blue Bay Walk. Dads also get free swag in exchange for a minimum single-receipt transaction or accumulated receipts worth P1,000 any MET Live Mall and Blue Bay Walk establishments made from June 14 to June 16, 2024.

Come evening, families can gather at the Met Live Mall’s Center Atrium or Blue Bay Walk’s The Spine for a relaxing time listening to live music.

Interested? The event is open to the public and free of charge. Visit the official Facebook page of Blue Bay Walk at www.facebook.com/BlueBayWalkOfficial and MET Live Mall at www.facebook.com/MetLiveOfficial for more details.

Manila, Philippines – As we enter the second half of the year, HUAWEI, a key leader in the tech industry, announces its latest laptop deals for the month, with a special highlight on its HUAWEI MateBook D 14 2024 and HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024 laptops. With their cutting-edge performance housed in sleek and minimalist designs, these laptops redefine the modern computing experience.

The promotional discounts for several of HUAWEI’s MateBook laptops, including the new HUAWEI MateBook D 14 2024 12th i3/8/512, will be available starting from June 1 and will end on June 30, 2024. 

Special promotion on select HUAWEI models

In addition to price discounts for HUAWEI’s current line of MateBook laptop models, the brand is also offering a special promotion on select variants of the HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024 12th series. Customers can now enjoy a PHP2,000 price drop on models like the HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024 12th i5/16/512 and i5/8/512, making these powerhouse laptops more accessible than ever for public consumption. With their high-performance processors, generous RAM, and ample storage, the HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024 is designed to keep up with the demands of even the most demanding users.

Experience unparalleled performance in a laptop

The HUAWEI MateBook D 16 2024 stands out from its counterparts with state-of-the-art technology, which includes a 16-inch FullView display, a sleek 17mm profile, a remarkable 90% screen-to-body ratio and 180-degree hinge flexibility. Equipped with a battery which can last up to 13.5 hours  on a single charge, it can comfortably and reliably take on light day-to-day tasks and demanding activity, catering to both professional and casual users. Features like its Metaline Antenna ensure uninterrupted connectivity, its Super Device enhances collaboration, and AI integration enhances the overall user experience.

On the other hand, the HUAWEI MateBook D 14 2024 offers a perfect blend of style and performance, boasting a 16:10 golden ratio display with a remarkable 90% high screen-to-body ratio. Having the latest 13th Gen Intel Core processor, this laptop delivers lightning-fast responsiveness and seamless multitasking capabilities. Its innovative smart conference features, including mobile personal voice enhancement, ensure crystal-clear communication during virtual meetings. Additionally, the HUAWEI MateBook D 14 2024 facilitates multi-device collaboration, allowing users to effortlessly connect and share content across different devices for enhanced productivity.

Take advantage of these limited-time offers to upgrade your computing experience without needing to break the bank today!

To learn more about the HUAWEI MateBook Family laptops, visit Huawei’s official website, online HUAWEI Store, Shopee, Lazada or social media accounts (Facebook | Instagram).

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) warned companies and the general public against the proliferation of executive phishing attacks, or whaling, which is known to be a sophisticated social engineering scam that preys on the members of an organization.

Jonathan John Paz, BPI Enterprise Information Security and Data Protection Officer, said executive phishing or whaling can occur over emails and messaging applications like Viber and WhatsApp, in which unscrupulous individuals pose as a senior management figure to induce the employees to execute fraudulent transactions or lure them into divulging sensitive or confidential information.

“Cyberattacks against organizations do happen and it could cost millions in terms of data loss, financial impact, and operational disruption,” he said.

“Line managers, particularly those with access to critical data or tasked with critical transactions, face the biggest risk of whaling, that is why it’s important to conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training and attack simulations within the company,” he added.

Paz urged the public to be alert and exercise caution with emails and attachments to protect themselves from this type of social engineering scams. He advised to follow these tips:

• Verify the sender. Before taking any action, make sure that the sender’s name, email address, and contact number are correct. If you don’t normally receive an email or message from the sender, ask a person in authority to verify their legitimacy.

• Don’t engage. Don’t click on links or download attachments from suspicious senders. Don’t respond to their message either.

• Check for viruses. Take an extra step by scanning attachments for viruses before opening them.

• Report immediately. If you receive a message from a sender who you suspect is impersonating an executive of your company, report immediately to your company’s cybersecurity team.

Moreover, Paz said companies must take a proactive approach in promoting cybersecurity awareness, urging them to instill among their employees the mindset that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility, regardless of their position, title, or tenure.

“We must get everyone to understand that cybersecurity is a responsibility we all share and that it takes a collective effort to fight cyberthreats. Doing so will allow us to safely navigate the digital world while ensuring the company and employees are protected,” he said.

According to a report by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, cyber incidents in the country increased by 62 percent in 2023, signaling the need for a more aggressive cybersecurity awareness initiative to protect Filipinos.