Showing posts with label press release. Show all posts
Showing posts with label press release. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

Cebuana Lhuillier Bank opens first branch in Cebu

 

Bank’s roster of products expected to empower the region’s small and medium enterprises

EMPOWERING MSMEs IN VISAYAS. Cebuana Lhuillier Bank opened its first branch in the Visayas region, setting another expansion milestone pioneering Cebu City. Present in the photo are (from left to right) Dennis Valdes, Cebuana Lhuillier Bank President; Mrs. Edna D. Lhuillier, wife of Ambassador Lhuillier; Amb. Philippe Jones Lhuillier, Chairman and Founder of PJ Lhuillier Inc.; Mrs. Camille Lhuillier-Albani, Mr. Andrea Albani, and Jimmy Ang, Cebuana Lhuillier Bank Vice President



Cebuana Lhuillier Bank (CLB), one of the country’s fastest growing rural banks, has set its sights for further expansion in the Visayas region, beginning with the opening of its first branch in Cebu City. 


The move is in line with the bank’s mission of providing financial inclusion to every Filipino, especially to clients from the countryside. CLB, in particular, is reaching out to mom-and-pop businesses and to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) whose operations definitely needed a boost following the challenges brought to the economy these past two years.  


“MSMEs have always been the backbone of our economy, with 99% of total businesses in the Philippines considered falling under this sector. They are also a major source of employment, and also a major contributor in our total export revenues. However, in spite their huge contributions to the economy, MSMEs often lack financial resources that will help in their growth and development,” Cebuana Lhuillier Bank president Dennis Valdes said. “True to the mission of becoming a partner for progress, CLB’s first-ever branch here in Central Visayas is open to all, especially to the more than 65,000 MSMEs looking to further grow their business.” 


Located within the business center of the city, CLB’s newest branch can be found in Acacia St., Brgy. Kamputhaw, Cebu City. The bank offers a wide variety of business loan products primarily aimed to provide financial assistance to MSME business owners for their working capital, business expansion, and investment. Depending on the business size and profile of the clients, CLB offers loan products such as Microfinance Loans, SME loans, and Corporate Business Loans.


Jean Henri Lhuillier, President & CEO of PJ Lhuillier Group of Companies, the parent company of Cebuana Lhuillier and Cebuana Lhuillier Bank, enthuses, “As a conglomerate, PJ Lhuillier has always been guided by its mission of financial inclusion. We make sure that this is reflected in all the products we offer in our companies, and a vital part of how we extend our services to the millions of Filipinos who rely on us for their micro financial needs. Our banking arm, Cebuana Lhuillier Bank is guided by this vision—from their ground-breaking micro savings product which empowered close to 6M Filipinos to start saving for their future, to their expansion plans to Visayas and Mindanao which will allow them to serve more of our kababayans and MSMEs in rural communities.”


CLB currently offers housing loans and business loans in the province. With low interest rates, fast application process, and flexible loan payments, CLB aims to empower MSMEs and business owners. Qualified CLB clients can get a maximum loan amount of PHP300,000 for business loan. 


Aside from business loans, CLB also offers housing loans, and soon to be available in its Cebu branch, the Teachers Loan and Motorcycle Loan products.




Amb. Lhuillier welcoming the expansion of Cebuana Lhuillier Bank in Cebu


To date, CLB already has five (5) branches nationwide and is expected to reach Mindanao region before the year ends. As the banking arm of micro financial services giant Cebuana Lhuillier, CLB recently tapped the industry leader to serve as its cash agent, utilizing Cebuana Lhuillier’s more than 3,000 branches nationwide for its Micro Savings product. The wide network presence provided the bank and its clients greater accessibility; while also enjoying wider connectivity thanks to the mobility provided by eCebuana app, which enables  clients to conveniently access micro financial services such as Micro Savings, Money Remittance, Bills Payment, and E-load services among others.


Friday, July 8, 2022

Jollibee Group and Yoshinoya International hold partnership ceremony

The Jollibee Group and Yoshinoya International hailed its partnership in a ceremony that culminated in a beef bowl toast led by Jollibee Group President & CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong (front row, 3rd from left), Asia Yoshinoya CEO Tetsuya Naruse (front row, 4th from left), Jollibee Group President for Philippine Business Joseph Tanbuntiong (front row, 2ndfrom left), and Jollibee Group Chief Real Estate and Design Officer William Tan Untiong (back row, 3rd from left).


 The Jollibee Group welcomed Yoshinoya International executives in a Partnership Ceremony on June 25 to celebrate their collaboration that will bring the authentic Yoshinoya Japan beef bowl experience to the Philippines.

Yoshinoya, Japan’s world-famous Beef Bowl Chain, is the first foray into Japanese food by the Jollibee Group. Jollibee Foods Corporation formed a joint venture with Yoshinoya International Philippines Inc. (“Yoshinoya International”) to operate the Yoshinoya stores in the country, with plans to expand to 50 stores in the long term.

The Yoshinoya International executives who attended the private ceremony were Tetsuya Naruse, CEO of Asia Yoshinoya International Sdn Bhd (“Asia Yoshinoya”); Shigekazu Miyata, President of Yoshinoya International; and Shigeo Kurokawa, Director of Yoshinoya International.

Asia Yoshinoya CEO Tetsuya Naruse hailed its partnership with the Jollibee Group during the partnership ceremony. “In the history of Yoshinoya, I can say that we have never encountered a company such as yours. I’ve met the best partners that we could work with and I’m really looking forward to this partnership.”

"We would like to thank Yoshinoya International for partnering with Jollibee Group. Together, under Yoshinoya Jollibee Foods Inc., we will grow and expand Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and we will work hard to make it the No. 1 Japanese restaurant in the country," said Joseph Tanbuntiong, President for Philippine Business of the Jollibee Group.

In a disclosure released in February 2021, the Jollibee Group said it aims to be the leading market developer of foreign restaurant brands in the country, as these foreign franchised brands are expected to contribute to the sustainable growth of its domestic business.  Jollibee Group continues to see the success of brands like Burger King, Panda Express, and PHO24 and will apply the same success drivers in expanding Yoshinoya.

Partnership for success

Like the humble beginnings of the Jollibee Group, Yoshinoya started as a family-run shop located at Nihonbashi Fish Market in Tokyo. Today, Yoshinoya has more than 2,000 global locations.

“Our dreams to make it big one day in our respective markets have driven Yoshinoya and the Jollibee Group to continuously work hard and always strive for excellence,” said Tanbuntiong. “With similar values and a true love for great tasting food, we see a strong foundation for success in this partnership.”

“I met Jollibee Group Founder and Chairman Tony Tan Caktiong, and after our conversation, I concluded that there is no other company that we would like to do this partnership with. And although some years have passed since then, we have reached this moment today and it’s all thanks to all your efforts,” added Naruse.

“Part of who we are in Yoshinoya Holdings is being ‘For the People,’ which means reaching as many people as possible with our tasty and value-for-money food—this is also what the Jollibee Group is all about. I look forward to working well together and I commit that we in Yoshinoya will give our full support to the Jollibee Group,” he added.

Now ready to serve the same superior tasting and authentic Japanese Beef Bowls, Yoshinoya is set for its grand opening slated this July.


Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Fujifilm Embraces a Decade of Innovation in the Philippines

FUJIFILM, one of the most trusted companies in the world, ushers in a new decade in the Philippines amid challenges in the continuing global pandemic. The Japanese brand continues to make significant contributions to society by offering products and services in a wide range of businesses utilizing unique technologies that have cultivated and evolved in the photographic business. The company offers a variety of products and services in to four segments of: Healthcare (products and services like medical equipment and producing pharmaceuticals); Materials (provides industry efficiency like graphic systems, inkjets, semiconductor materials and recording media); Business Innovation (digital color multifunction devices and printers for office use and services for business solutions); and Imaging (photo and electronic imaging such as mirrorless cameras and photo printing services).



Fujifilm Philippines was established in 2012 as a sales subsidiary of Fujifilm regional headquarters in the Asia Pacific. The company caters to quality products and services for the Philippine market in electronic, photo imaging, industrial products, graphic and medical systems. 

The company opened its first branch in Cebu in 2019 to respond to the growing demands and monitor the quality and consistency of its products and services in the Visayas and nearby Mindanao provinces. 

In its 10th year in the Philippines, Fujifilm has continuously served people’s needs through a diverse range of innovative consumer and business products, including solutions and services.  


Beyond Photography – Fujifilm Medical Systems


While Fujifilm has long been synonymous with superior-quality photographic films, Fujifilm Philippines as a company has evolved into so much more. Fujifilm leveraged on its expertise in pushing healthcare, and business innovation growth. Throughout the years, Fujifilm Philippines has created businesses providing total solution in multiple high-tech fields and has come to be known as a technology-oriented company. 


Fujifilm Philippines steadily penetrated and made significant contributions in enhancing the local healthcare industry. As a global pioneer in diagnostic imaging and information systems for healthcare facilities, Fujifilm’s Healthcare segment has helped address the country’s most pressing challenges. Its Healthcare technology and Medical Business Systems has contributed in the pursuit of operational efficiency of the local healthcare system. 




In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Fujifilm Philippines continued its support towards the local hospitals. The company installed FDR Go PLUS at various hospitals in the country. The FDR Go PLUS is a digital mobile x-ray that gives significant contribution to the Radiology Team frontliners in doing the chest x-ray needed for patients having signs and symptoms of COVID-19.


FUJIFILM Corporation expanded the product lineup through the acquisition of Diagnostic Imaging-related Business of Hitachi, Ltd in 2020, covering CT, MRI in addition to X-ray, ultrasound systems, endoscopy, in-vitro diagnostic systems and Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS). Fujifilm Philippines has also started offering these products in the local market, giving the much-needed service and medical equipment to the country.


Moreover, Fujifilm Philippines recently secured Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approvals for two of its key products that have aided healthcare workers in responding to COVID-19 cases. The FDR nano, a mobile digital X-ray system that allows medical professionals to diagnose COVID-19 signs and at the same time aid in reducing COVID-19 infection risks; and the FUJIFILM COVID-19 Ag Test Kit,      a testing kit that provides quick screening for COVID-19, got FDA’s nod. Both products are expected to help in the government’s heightened efforts to put an end to the COVID-19 pandemic.  


Fujifilm will continue to supply various products and services that meet the needs of the medical frontline to contribute to the advancement of medical care around the world, and the maintenance and promotion of human health.


Leading the Industry


Solidifying its position as a global leader in photographic imaging, Fujifilm Philippines has introduced and popularized a diverse range of game-changing products such as the X-series mirrorless digital cameras and instax or instant cameras.


In 2017, Fujifilm Philippines introduced the FUJIFILM GFX50S, the first medium format mirrorless camera. The GFX systems offers versatility to a wide audience from commercial to landscape photography. Currently, the company has been actively promoting the FUJIFILM GFX100S, the fourth large format mirrorless camera in Fujifilm’s GFX System.


Apart from introducing pioneering technologies, Fujifilm Philippines has closely reached out to its audience by creating various relevant and memorable touchpoints. These are workshops, shooting events, customer interviews, symposiums, and tradeshows.  Among the company’s significant milestones is the first-ever Fujifilm Photofest in 2016; and the Fujifilm Nationwide Photowalk in 2019. The Nationwide Photowalk was one of the country’s biggest photography related event, with over 4,000 registrants from all over the Philippines. Fujifilm’s photowalk continues to drive leading photographers, enthusiasts, and encourage the continuing passion for film photography.


Moreover, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and anticipation of the “new normal”, Fujifilm Philippines launched the Fujifilm Online Academy in 2020. This free online academy has provided knowledge about photography, videography, and vlogging.

Besides the company’s significant achievements in the mirrorless camera market, Fujifilm Philippines with its Graphic Business Division remains as one of the stronger players in the offset business in commercial and publishing segments. Fujifilm has never stopped to be one of the leading companies in digital printing market as well. Fujifilm invested in the digital printing technologies and started to sell digital printing machines in the 2000s, and a lot of Fujifilm digital printing machines are used and marketed around the world. In the country, the company sells wide-format inkjet printer and has plans to expand the digital machine line up.

In line with its Global Branding Campaign “NEVER STOP”, Fujifilm aims to realize a sustainable society and contribute to social issues by creating new value in a wide range of business domains through innovation in products, services, and technological development. The campaign also seeks to promote a better understanding of Fujifilm’s broad range of businesses and its entry to new fields. Fujifilm will continue to proactively engage in researching and developing new technologies. As a technology-oriented company, Fujifilm will never stop taking on the challenge of leveraging on its core technologies to create outstanding new products, build new businesses, and grow the company as a whole.


Fujifilm Philippines not only wants to keep up with the times but continues to reinvent itself to offer better products and services and contribute to the quality of life in Philippine society.


For more information about Fujifilm Philippines, visit www.fujifilm.com/ph. 


Follow us on social media at:


https://www.facebook.com/fujifilmphilippines/ 

https://www.facebook.com/TeamInstaxPh/ 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/ffphms/ 

https://www.youtube.com/c/FUJIFILMPHILIPPINESOFFICIAL  



Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals completes a 100 liver transplants in children from the Philippines


  • 44 girls and 56 boys from Philippines between 4 months and 15 years ,have undergone a liver transplant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals
  • These procedures mark an important milestone in strengthening relations between India and the Philippines

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, Delhi has reached the landmark of performing 100 liver transplants in children from the Philippines. Aged between 4 months and 15 years, children suffering from various diseases that had resulted in liver failure necessitating a transplant have received a liver transplant.

Despite COVID posing several challenges in the last 2 years, Apollo made sure that children and their families were provided end-to-end assistance in terms of aligning travel permissions while also ascertaining patient safety by arranging special charter flights with a medical team on board to manage any emergencies.



Mr P Shivakumar, Managing Director – Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, asserted: “Apollo Hospitals leads the way in delivering cross-border care for children. Our approach is aligned with Apollo’s overarching objective of providing prompt delivery of healthcare services, notwithstanding myriad constraints. This becomes even more important when it comes to caring for children. We believe there is no greater joy than seeing the smiles of children who have been saved by our timely medical intervention.”




Group Medical Director and Senior Pediatric Gastroenterologist, Apollo Hospitals Group – Dr (Prof) Anupam Sibal, stated: “Apollo Hospitals has been receiving children with liver failure from Philippines for the last five years. Fortunately, we have been able to help many families from different parts of Philippines.

We would like to thank families for their trust as we mark the landmark of 100 liver transplants in babies and children from Philippines. Despite COVID restrictions, we have transplanted 53 children in the last 2 years. The youngest child to be operated on was 4 months. Significantly, babies weighing barely 3.5kgs have also had liver transplants at Apollo Hospitals. Our initiative has been facilitated by the immense support from the Embassies which helped in easing travel formalities for patients. The Apollo Liver Transplant Program, the first successful program in India which was established in 1998 has now performed more than 3950 liver transplants including 458 in children from 20 countries”.

Senior Liver Transplant Surgeon at the Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Dr. Neerav Goyal, said, "In liver transplant, surgery is performed when patients have a high risk of dying from their disease in the ensuing weeks to months. Since COVID-19 is not going away anytime soon, many of these patients were unlikely to survive the period of the pandemic without liver transplant, and the patients despite several challenges travelled to us. We are happy that we can help them in easing their pain and provided a new lease of life. In 65% of children, the donors were mothers, in 30 % fathers and 5 % other blood relatives.”

About Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals: Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, India’s first JCI accredited hospital, is a joint venture between the Government of Delhi and Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited. Commissioned in July 1996, it is the third super-specialty tertiary care hospital set up by the Apollo Hospitals Group. Spread over 15 acres, it houses 57 specialties with more than 300 specialists and more than 700 operational beds, 19 operation theatres, 138 ICU beds, round-the-clock pharmacy, NABL accredited laboratories, 24-hour emergency services and an active air ambulance service. Apollo Hospitals Delhi has the leading programmed in kidney and liver transplant in the country. The first successful pediatrics and adult liver transplants in India were performed at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals. The hospital is at the forefront of medical technology and expertise. It provides a complete range of latest diagnostic, medical and surgical facilities for the care of its patients. The Hospital has introduced the most sophisticated imaging technology to India with the introduction of 64 slice CT and 3 Tesla MRI, Novalis Tx and the integrated PET Suite. Indraprastha Apollo has also pioneered the concept of preventive health check

programmed and has created a satisfied customer base over decades. The Hospital has been consistently ranked amongst the best 10 hospitals in India by The Week survey for the past few years.

Hospital website - https://delhi.apollohospitals.com/

Twitter: @HospitalsApollo


Thursday, April 14, 2022

On a hunt for something eggs-traordinary to do this Easter?


Have your family hop with excitement and treat them to The Great Outdoors Big Easter Bash slated on Sunday April 17 at the Blue Bay Walk Garden in Pasay City. 



Organized by quant shopping retail strip Blue Bay Walk, the event is packed with eggs-citing activities for kids and parents, which will run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There will be an Easter Bunny Photo Wall, Easter Egg Arts & Crafts, Easter Egg Hunt, Pet Show, and Easter Story Time. 

The event is open to the public and free of charge.


Interested? Register at the official Facebook page of Blue Bay Walk at www.facebook.com/BlueBayWalkOfficial

 

Join eggs-citing activities for kids and parents at Blue Bay Walk this Easter Sunday. Register at https://swiy.co/eastersundaycelebration


Thursday, April 7, 2022

EXPECT ESPORTS TO CLICK FURTHER IN THE PHILIPPINES

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, the year 2021 was sort of a banner year for the Philippines regarding its participation in various electronic sports (Esports) events, either locally or internationally, where Pinoy players have dominated the majority of these competitions.

No wonder, with the lucrative money prizes and distinctions that await esports athletes, the esports market in the country grew further. And since smartphones continue to become the ubiquitous gadget for Filipinos, coupled with improving mobile internet connectivity, expect esports to continue to attract youngsters to the esports arena.

One such esports team is “Virgin Souls.”



“Our team was named ‘Virgin Souls’ because we have a business called ‘Virgin Soles,’ which is a sneaker cleaning product. We loved the name ‘Virgin Souls’ because we wanted to show the other teams our ‘clean and smooth moves,’” explains Ingrid, team manager of Virgin Souls, whose members include Jetson Ignacio, Kharl Tan, Kristofer Calderon, Joshua Albino, Steven Buenaventura, Mark Cabigting, and Coach, Laurence Ruiz.



Initially, recruitment requirements for team members were not really that high because it was what she called a “passion project.” However, after a few months, they started to become strict when they added Banting, one of the country’s top tanks, to the team, a child prodigy since he was only 16 years old. They made some changes to the requirements for inclusion to the team, such as high points, that recruits have to go through the process in choosing players. “What we did was we held tryouts and recruits were made to answer certain interview questions to gauge their attitude, and then we interviewed them. And we didn’t set any age requirement as long as they are dexterous enough to play the game.”

She explained the choice of Goyo, who is 22, as the team captain, who was chosen because of his maturity to lead the team, someone the other team members can refer to as their “kuya.”

Why esports?

It was her little brother’s dream, says Ingrid, to be part of a pro team, and it was hers and her partner’s passion since he is a co-owner of the TNC Pro Team so she decided to form an amateur one. “For a professional team, the pressure is much higher, same with the costs, but the prizes are bigger. With an amateur team, the risks are also high. It’s really about investing time, resources because the competition field is much bigger and the chances of winning are smaller.”

Challenges abound

The first challenge they faced, according to Ingrid, was the recruitment, which is more skills-based. On the first stage, she said, it’s all about skills, and then after that the interview for their attitude, though that can’t be gauged immediately. By the time they went to boot camp, that’s where they saw who they really were. “Because they’re young, we saw their immaturity, their difficulty in dealing with other people, and the pandemic somewhat affected their social skills. We had to adjust things while they were at boot camp, and taught them how to go along with other people,” she said.

But what she was glad about was that the majority of the players have supportive parents who wanted to support their child’s dream, although they had difficulty with some, like that of Haru, one of the players, who had a super strict guardian. “That was understandable so we had to explain that their children are safe with us, so we put in place protocols like regular Covid-19 testing every month.”

For one of the team members, he said it was difficult to be away from his family, his child, but he needs to do it to fulfill his dreams and to prove himself that he feels the need to be better. His sentiments were echoed by the other team members, who all shared that what they’re doing is for the fulfillment of their dreams, and of course the bonding time with teammates is necessary to fight homesickness.

Ingrid is also proud that their team members, mostly students, still managed to excel in school despite their busy schedule in training. It all boils down to time management, she said, because she doesn’t want the players to neglect their studies since education is still important. “They’re not different from traditional sports athletes where they have to maintain good grades because we don’t want people to think that esports is a hindrance to their studies.”

Legislative action

The idea of identifying esports players as “athletes” much like in traditional sports, was the reason why Ingrid joined the party list CLICK, or Computer Literacy, Innovation, Connectivity and Knowledge, since one of their major platforms is on esports, where they want to help the kids gain recognition as athletes, for esports to be respected. “We believe CLICK can help us and other teams achieve that level of respect, that they will help the esports scene. They’re the only partylist that devotes time to support esports, and have future projects related to its development. It’s nice to know that there’s a group such as CLICK as a partner of the esports community.”

The future of esports with CLICK’s help

With CLICK’s help, Ingrid believes that esports will become a viable option for kids who want to pursue an esports career. As of now, she said, those venturing into esports are still very few, and fewer parents believe in it. “With the help of CLICK, I think they will be able to help us shape the future generation who are more open to go into esports, especially parents. Once CLICK is elected into Congress, they can come up with laws for its further development and support during competitions, especially regarding travel requirements. With the help of CLICK, we hope they can make parents understand that esports is not just a game and it’s not just a waste of time. I think CLICK can help us change that perspective.”

It is all about making the right CLICK through technology. The esports community have chosen CLICK as their partylist of choice. So, be ready to choose CLICK, No. 40 on the ballot.

To know more about “CLICK,” visit https://www.clickpartylist.ph, of follow CLICK Party-list on Facebook (www.facebook.com/CLICKpartylist), Twitter (https://twitter.com/ClickPartylist), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/clickpartylist/), YouTube (https://bit.ly/CLICKPARTYLIST), Linkedin (https://www.linkedin.com/in/partylist-click-4b0016227/) or TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@clickpartylist).


Friday, March 25, 2022

BPI makes sending money abroad more convenient with BPI Outward Remittance now on digital channels

Retail clients of Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) can now send money from their Peso or US Dollar account to a foreign bank account via BPI Online and BPI Mobile app with BPI Outward Remittance. The product was recently launched to complement bank transfers done in person, giving clients more convenient options to send money to family and friends abroad.



With BPI Outward Remittance, the Bank will enable more clients to fulfill international wire transfers in just a few taps for needs such as educational expenses, medical expenses, foreign travel funds, subscriptions, and insurance payments.

“We at BPI continue to innovate and reinvent our products and services to make everyday banking more convenient for our customers. With the BPI Outward Remittance being available in our digital channels, our customers will be able to enjoy fast and convenient international fund transfers anywhere, anytime,” said Reggie Cariaso, BPI Head of Corporate Banking Strategy, Products, and Support.

BPI Outward Remittance ensures secure fund transfers of up to $10,000 with SWIFT global payment innovations (SWIFT gpi), an advanced payment method using modern digital tools for traceable and swifter cross-border payments. Clients will simply need to fill in their sending details, receiving bank details, and beneficiary details via BPI Online or BPI Mobile app.


The product offers affordable overall charges and competitive foreign exchange rates in multiple currencies including USD, AUD, GBP, EUR, SGD, HKD, and CAD. It also provides a fast and reliable turnaround time of one to three banking days for transactions with no discrepancies.


For more information about BPI Outward Remittance, visit https://www.bpi.com.ph/bank/services/send-money-abroad.

Wednesday, December 15, 2021

ANTI-STAT RAPE BILL HURDLES BICAM

Atty. Cheryl P. Deloso-Montalla
Congressman, 18th Congress
2nd District, Zambales

PRESS RELEASE
December 14, 2021
Reference: Earl L. Sitaca
09952298300

REP. DELOSO-MONTALLA: ANTI-STAT RAPE BILL HURDLES BICAM

Rep. Cheryl P. Deloso-Montalla, Chairman of the House Committee on Revision of 
Laws, hails the ratification today by the House of Representatives of the bicameral 
conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill No. 2332 and 
House Bill No. 7836 on increasing the age in determining statutory rape. 

“In the report, we determined that the age of statutory rape be set to under 16 
years of age in view of the global standard on statutory rape age,” Rep. Deloso-Montalla 
explained. “We also aligned with this bill the age of consent in other crimes under the 
criminal code and other anti-child abuse and exploitation laws like the R.A. No. 7610,”
she added.

The Representative of the 2nd District of Zambales also said that the Committee “… 
also provided a “close-in relationship” or “sweetheart clause” to recognize the legitimate 
relationship between 2 teenagers... that is in consonance with the age of criminal liability 
under RA 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and 
Discrimination Act and the Juvenile Justice Welfare Act or RA No. 9344, as amended by 
RA No. 10630. Most importantly, rape and other acts of sexual exploitation, under this 
bill, is now applicable to a man, woman, or child.”

“The enactment of this bill is long overdue as the data scream loudly and clearly
speak that the crime of rape remains rampant in the country. What we know are the 
reported cases but the true statistics may be higher considering that there are a lot of 
unreported and unaccounted cases of rape and other forms of sexual abuse and 
exploitation that are happening,” Rep. Deloso-Montalla further said.

“Now that we have ratified the Bi-Cam report on the anti-stat rape bill, it is now a 
step closer to becoming a law! We will always endure to ascertain that our children are 
given optimum protection under our laws and within the bounds of the democratic society 
that we have,” she averred.

Initially, 9 bills were referred to the Committee on Revision of Laws relating to the 
amendments to Anti-Rape Law with specific provisions on increasing the age of consent 
on statutory rape. There were similar bills that were referred to the Committee on Welfare 
of Children Chaired by Rep. Yedda K. Romualdez. The 2 committees jointly heard and 
deliberated exhaustively on the proposed measures and came up with a substitute bill -
HB 7836 or An Act Providing for Stronger Protection Against Rape and Sexual Exploitation 
and Abuse, Including Increasing the Age for Determining the Commission of Statutory 
Rape.

The bill was approved on Third Reading by the House of Representatives on December 1, 2020.

Tuesday, May 11, 2021

The Manila Hotel Café Ilang-Ilang offers halal-certified food for Takeout and Delivery

Muslims around the world celebrate the end of the fasting period of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast this May 12, 2021. It is celebrated through prayer, gifts, and lavish feast. While the country is predominantly Catholic, Islam is the second largest religion in the country. No wonder, Filipinos have become fond of Halal foods. 

Halal food is prepared following a set of Islamic dietary laws and regulations that determine what is permissible, lawful and clean. Any dish can be halal, as long as the meat used is religiously slaughtered and no pork or alcohol is involved. 

The Manila Hotel’s Café Ilang Ilang has a Halal kitchen certified by the Muslim Mindanao Halal Certification Board. This kitchen dedicated to Halal food preparation serves Indian and Middle Eastern-inspired halal dishes will whet your appetite and pay homage to its traditional roots. 

Designed for proper breaking of the fast, The Manila Hotel’s Ramadan Special Halal Home Buffet set comes with dried dates and juice, chickpeas hummus, Fatoush mixed salad, roti and naan bread, vegetable biryani, tandoori chicken, lamb rogan josh, vegetable samosa, and baklava. The set is just one of the three choices for the Halal Certified Home Buffet. 




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“Our Lamb Rogan Josh is a must-try. It’s imported from Australia and it has the spices and sharpness that will surely be enjoyed by everyone. We can also customize the food according to our customer’s request. Say you don’t like chili, we can make it milder. We can tweak a dish to please your palate while still being true to its authentic taste,” says Chef Kiran Singh, the hotel’s Halal trained chef.  

Celebrate Eid Al Fitr by ordering any of The Manila Hotel’s Halal Home Buffet sets or dishes, available for Takeout and delivery. Visit https://www.manila-hotel.com.ph/takeout/ for the full menu; or call 8527-0011 or 0998-9501912. 

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Digital Doc program: Send me your QR code

The next time you look to pay your doctor, you may want to ask for his or her QR code -- cashless transactions are safer for the patient and doctor alike.

Through our Digital Doc program, we enable doctors and medical professionals to enjoy the benefits of digital payments via QR code.

“We are thrilled to share the benefits of cashless transactions -- in enabling online health consultations and in keeping us all (doctors and patients alike) safe during these trying times,” said BPI Deputy Head of Marketing Mariana Zobel de Ayala. “In addition to keeping us safe from COVID-related health risks, the use of QR codes keep your bank accounts safer as well -- they are less prone to errors that often happen when keying in account numbers and transfer amounts.”

Patients can pay in seconds and for free -- by just scanning the QR code and inputting the payment amount. Doctors, in turn, are able to monitor their funds anytime, anywhere through BPI Online or BPI Mobile app.

“As BPI, we hope to be a partner for our healthcare professionals -- in enabling them with what is needed to adapt to the next normal, and more importantly, to keep them safe, ” she said.

To activate a QR code for free, doctors are invited to log in to BPI Online or BPI Mobile app and select “Other Services,” followed by “QR Generator.” From there, they simply select the account for which they wish to generate a QR code for, and can even add a nickname or label for their QR code -- so that it is easily recognizable for anyone they send to. They have the option to include an amount requested for payment -- but either way, by clicking “Save to Device” they can access it easily anytime -- and send it to their patients as they wish. Beyond the benefits of convenience, BPI’s digital banking platforms offer security features to ensure protection of your data and account information.




Visit the BPI website at https://www.bpi.com.ph/accept-payments-with-a-qr-code to know more about accepting payments via QR code.

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Bring Out the Strongest Version of You with Pantene

On days when life gets in the way, it’s easy to lose track of yourself. Even when it’s frustrating, choosing the easy way out of situations can feel like the best decision when you’re stuck with no options.



But even if life throws you a curveball, you’re still able to get back on track — stronger than before.
And if you can put your best foot forward again to face the new normal in 2021, your hair definitely can too!
Pantene’s newest digital video https://youtu.be/iG8CDhXWAsY empowers women to toughen up by starting stronger and get that extra boost of confidence by taking care of themselves. It features familiar scenario women can definitely relate to — those times when you feel like you’re losing yourself to a point that even your hair looks like it gave up. Split ends start to pop out and the damage is apparent, and you’re so tempted to take a literal shortcut by chopping off your locks.

Now cutting hair short isn’t the only solution to hair damage, you can look forward to stronger days ahead with the new Pantene Long Hair Solutions Total Damage Care Shampoo. It has Pro V with Japanese Rice Oil Essence, specially created for long hair needs to protect your hair from having split ends and prevent hair damage even before it happens. Rice Oil Essence has 50x Anti Damage Benefit, so you can say goodbye to hair damage and split ends even before it happens.


Pantene’s latest video brings the message of empowerment reaching and encouraging numerous Filipinas to keep growing their hair out, here are some tidbits from Filipinas who are now committed to stop with the short cuts and grow their hair long in 2021.

Tuesday, January 5, 2021

BDO honors Medalla’s legacy


BDO Unibank honors Filipino artist David Medalla, who passed away on December 28, 2020. It commemorates Medalla’s legacy with the continued display of his sculpture, “Cloud Canyons No. 31,” at the lobby of its Corporate Center in Ortigas (CCO). “Cloud Canyons No. 31” found its way to CCO for bank employees, clients, and visitors to enjoy in 2019. Before coming home to the Philippines, it was exhibited in the Hepworth Wakefield art museum in England when Medalla was one of the shortlisted artists for the inaugural Hepworth Wakefield Prize for Sculpture in 2016. It is made of Plexiglas tubes, wood, fiberglass, water, soap, and oxygenators, and is part of a series often referred to as the “bubble machines.” Mara Coson, who oversees the BDO Art Collection, said of Medalla’s passing: “David Medalla was magnetic. He lived a life that drew people in while he himself could not be contained. He left the world with stories so wild and infinite they can never all be told. “Medalla was born in Manila in 1942, with literary and visual genius uniquely attributable only to his bright spirit. His biography is too vast for a short note and is kept alive by the many who encountered him along with his life’s adventures, strangers and friends, periods from explorations of kinetic art in the 1960s and beyond to performances anywhere, and travel whether physical or otherwise. He spent his life around the world, at home everywhere, and still home was also the Philippines, where he died peacefully. “More than ever, we must make sure the bubbles of Cloud Canyons No. 31 continue endlessly and fully in our care—and most of all, welcome to the public to experience these clouds for always. We will do Medalla proud. “When you visit the bubble machine, I encourage you to take a moment to wish David the best for his next life, as he dances with ease among the brightest galaxies.”

Monday, February 3, 2020

Keeping a healthy smile all year round: Get into the habit of proper dental Hygiene

 As we kick off a brand-new year, we start to list down resolutions to jumpstart good habits that we wish to form and continue for the rest of the year. They say it only takes 2 weeks to create a habit, so why not start off with the easiest resolution to keep: the habit of proper dental hygiene?

Building on the habit of good dental hygiene only takes a few minutes per day, but somehow, this doesn’t get the attention and commitment it deserves. To mindfully get into this habit, every household should begin by understanding our natural eating habits, as most of the food and drinks that we consume daily are generally either acidic or pigmented.

Think of oranges, coffee, pasta, ketchup, wine, and so on. Acid in food and drinks softens the tooth enamel or the outer layer of the tooth. Weakened tooth enamel may lead to dental erosion that makes our teeth prone to sensitivity. More so, acid also promotes bacterial growth, which causes problems ranging from bleeding gums to gingivitis. So, what can we do about it? 


The latest innovation from Oral-B has 2-in-1 oral care action that directly repairs and protects sore gums and weakened enamel. The NEW Oral-B Gum & Enamel Repair Toothpaste is clinically proven to protect gums and strengthen the enamel in 2 weeks. Oral-B's Gum and Enamel Repair toothpaste has unique ActivRepair™ technology, clinically proven to neutralize bacteria on the gum line, and even keep it away afterward, too. It also repairs the damage caused to your tooth enamel by everyday wear and tear and continues to protect it afterward. Not only that, but it also helps do all this in just two weeks. Unlike common fluoride toothpaste, Oral-B Gum and Enamel Repair is made with Stabilized Stannous Fluoride Complex. Oral-B pioneered the introduction of Stannous Fluoride in its toothpaste in the 1950s, and with over decades of research, their technology has evolved to now deliver multiple dental care benefits, such as sensitivity repair, elimination of bad breath, cavity protection, enamel erosion protection, neutralization of plaque regrowth, and gum rejuvenation. 





That’s because these days, just having long-lasting fresh breath isn’t enough. Your toothpaste must be hardworking enough to target the root causes of oral care problems, such as bacteria and acid erosion. As it is difficult to prevent ourselves from eating food high in acidity, Oral-B delivers the oral protection that we need so our gums remain healthy and our teeth stay strong as we continue to enjoy our day-to-day grind. Building on the habit of good dental hygiene Dental experts recommend brushing your teeth three times a day or after every meal and visiting a professional for dental cleaning at least twice a year. 


At home, the right way to brush your teeth and gums is for two minutes long in a soft and circular motion. It’s also important to choose a toothbrush that can do more than just brushing. Unlike regular toothbrushes in the market, Oral-B’s toothbrushes are made with crisscross bristles that remove 90% more plaque even in hard-to-reach areas. With the rise in the popularity of detoxifying properties of charcoal in the health and beauty industries, 

Oral-B has harnessed its power and learned to infuse it in their Charcoal White toothbrush to help whiten your teeth in just two weeks! Aside from brushing your teeth and gums, dental floss is also an essential dental care step to remove plaque from tight spaces between teeth and gums. This prevents both bacteria and plaque buildup from forming, which can potentially lead to cavities, sensitive teeth, and gum disease. 


Oral-B Glide Floss is lightly coated with natural wax that makes it strong, smoothly gliding, and is perfect for people with sensitive gums. It is also made from a single filament, which means it never shreds, and leaves you with a cool and clean feeling afterward. Remember, it only takes two weeks to build a habit. So, practice early and practice right and make sure to teach everyone in the family the value of having healthy teeth and gums!

Thursday, July 18, 2019

Philippine Wacoal holds interactive exhibit that uplifts and celebrates women

Manila, Philippines — Philippine Wacoal Corporation has been a significant part of the daily lives of Filipinas here and across the globe for 30 years now. To celebrate this milestone, Wacoal recently held a five-day interactive exhibit last June 26-30 at the Level 3 of SM Makati where they also launched their latest campaign called Wacoal’s Women of the World.
In line with their anniversary theme “Uplifting Women for 30 Years”, the brand exhibited remarkable stories of 30 women from different fields, such as social entrepreneurship, aviation, art, management, publishing, public speaking, content creation, and personal branding among others. Right on the spotlight of the exhibit were the portraits of 30 multi-hyphenate women, as well as their stories of hard work and success. Some of them led talks on their personal journey, and how each and everyone can make their mark, too.
This embodies the company’s persistence in helping more and more ladies realize their significance and excellence no matter where they are, no matter what lifestyle they have chosen to live and pursue. Part of the campaign’s amazing roster of individuals includes sports broadcaster and enthusiast Dyan Castillejo, an advocate of renewable energy Ruth Yu Owen, campaigner of strong social responsibility and designer Zarah Juan, and visual artist Celeste Lecaroz.
“From the products that we offer to the advocacies we promote, our brand guarantees that every single Filipina realizes their beauty and worth,” Ann Christine Palisoc, president of Philippine Wacoal Corporation, said. Such empowering campaign direction — highlighting the transition from challenges to achievements — not only mirrors who the company stands for but how it has also reached its current stature in the intimate apparel industry. “When we started, it was a real struggle with the department stores who expected us to offer discounts. But through constant communication, they began to understand our brand values. The superior quality of the products spoke for themselves and today, the department stores have become valuable business partners with relationships based on trust,” shared Palisoc.
Aside from moving stories and engaging discussions, each day of the interactive exhibit was packed with activities and concepts that further show the company’s value for freedom - freedom to explore, move, and have fun. The venue also featured travel-inspired photobooths that made guests feel like they have traveled to top international destinations where Wacoal has established its presence. Guests posed in front of Eiffel Tower of Paris, New York’s Statue of Liberty, as well as the Cherry Blossoms of Japan - right at the exhibit. The setup comes in 3D effect, with real elements like park benches, boats, and even a Sakura tree to mimic that ideal travel photo. Eventgoers unleashed their creativity with the Create Your Own Power Frame, which allowed them to become the cover model of their own magazine. Other exciting activities also include glitter tattoo, tarot card reading, and of course, participants also tried on different Wacoal items at the venue.
Aside from the June 26 to 30 exhibit, the company also held a dinner gala last June 4 to recognize the notable people behind the brand’s success in the country. It also showcased their accomplishments and bigger plans in the following years to come. “Our focus is to grow the boutique business and further elevate the brand image by providing more exciting premium product lines and even better customer service. Better customer service means improving one’s total experience, from better facilities offering more comfort and privacy to better communication with our beauty advisers,” said Palisoc. One can expect Philippine Wacoal Corporation to continue to offer high quality functional and comfortable products but in addition to this, even more, premium products featuring elegance and comfort while consistently enhancing the beauty of the woman’s body. You can also watch out for more exciting new product lines including lingerie, men’s underwear, and more activewear for women. For more information about Philippine Wacoal Corporation, like and follow them on Facebook @PhilippineWacoalCorp and Instagram @wacoalph. To know more about the stories of the 30 Women of the World, visit wacoalwomen.com


Sunday, June 23, 2019

UMak student crowned Miss Makati 2019

An 18-year old student of the University of Makati (UMak), Micah Beatrice Santos from Barangay West Rembo, has been crowned Miss Makati 2019, besting 23 other candidates at the Coronation Night held Friday at the Makati Coliseum. Makati Mayor Abby Binay said the newly-crowned Miss Makati 2019 impressed the judges with her striking beauty, self-confidence and intelligence, which have made her an ideal partner of the city government in promoting a “smart, sustainable and future-ready Makati”. “Miss Makati 2019 has risen above the challenges she has faced and turned these into opportunities to grow and become a stronger and better person. I am confident that she will be able to fulfil her crucial role in accelerating Makati’s transformation as a Smart City,” Mayor Abby said. The mayor said Miss Makati 2019 will serve as the city’s ambassador of goodwill while inspiring fellow young Makatizens to strive for excellence and take an active part in city-building, as defined by the 2019 pageant theme, “Creating the Future Now”. Santos is also the current titleholder of Miss UMak 2019. She stated that her advocacy is to campaign against bullying, having been a victim of bullies herself, and vowed to help fellow victims overcome adversity. Mayor Abby, accompanied by Miss Makati 2018 Karla O’Hara and Congressman Luis Campos, crowned Miss Makati 2019. Mayor Abby also congratulated the other winners, Miss Makati Tourism 2019 Kristina Cassandra Bahaj and Miss Makatizen 2019 Venice Kayla Barrameda. “Both Miss Makati Tourism 2019 and Miss Makatizen 2019 have shown that they are up to the task of helping us promote innovations that will empower and inspire the citizens of Makati,” she stated. Bahaj, 22, a resident of Barangay Sta. Cruz, said that she was motivated to join the pageant by her personal experience with taking care of a family member suffering from dementia, her own grandmother. This led to her advocacy for making Makati the first “dementia-friendly city” in the country. Barrameda, 21-year old resident of Barangay Guadalupe Viejo, who also won as Miss CEU 2016 at Centro Escolar University, is an advocate of good oral health. Her goal is to promote oral health by providing dental missions for the less privileged to give back to the city. Miss Makati 2019 took home P200,000 cash prize, a crown, a sash, a gift pack from Home of Beauty Color (HBC), and P50,000 worth of gift certificates from iSkin Aesthetic Lifestyle. Miss Makati Tourism 2019, on the other hand, won a cash prize of P150,000, a crown, a sash, an HBC gift pack, and P50,000 worth of gift certificates from iSkin Aesthetic Lifestyle. Miss Makatizen 2019 bagged P100,000 cash prize, a crown, a sash, an HBC gift pack, and P50,000 worth of gift certificates from iSkin Aesthetic Lifestyle. Bahaj was also named “Miss Air Asia” while Barrameda won the titles “Miss iSkin Aesthetic Lifestyle” and “Miss Balmain”. The title “Miss Congeniality” was won by Gianelle Anne Balaton, 22, of Barangay Valenzuela, “Miss Photogenic” went to Micah Beatriz Santos; and “Best in Long Gown” was Renee Rose Tirones, 23, of Barangay San Lorenzo. Now on its 29th year, the Miss Makati 2019 coronation night was hosted by Mikael Daez and Issa Litton. The pageant was part of the month-long celebration of the 349th Founding Anniversary of Makati with the theme, “Makati 2025: Fasttracking Progress”. The board of judges in this year’s pageant was chaired by Albert Andrada, designer; together with Sheila Romero, CEO Air Asia; Kate Pagkalinawan, CEO iSkin Aesthetic Lifestyle; George Royeca, CEO/owner of Angkas; Franco Laurel, singer and actor; Ruffa Gutierrez, actress and beauty queen; Tim Yap, host and media practitioner; and designers Anthony Ramirez and Paul Cabral. Entertainment numbers were provided by Air Dance, Nexus (Makati Dance Challenge 2018 Champions), and balladeer Michael Pangilinan. The other 21 finalists included Charlene Marie Inonog (Kasilawan); Stephanie Isabelle Aquino (Poblacion); Sophia Michaela Leanne Aguado (Pio del Pilar); Alliaa Nicole Diputado (Tejeros); Gianelle Anne Balaton (Valenzuela); Patricia Rose Pangan (San Isidro); Bianca Gabrielle Abaya (Poblacion); Lailah Guiuan (Pembo); Kaoru Aseana Pimentel (South Cembo); Jan Karen Esguerra (Bel-Air); Monica Acuno (West Rembo); Hannah Patricia Beatrice Kristiansen (Northside); Desiree Harriet Alyanna Gamboa (Guadalupe Viejo); Charlyn Joyce Barrientos (Southside); Ma. Anna Clarisse Villavicencio (San Antonio); Marie Gabrielle Brillantes (Poblacion); Princess Vinia Putulin (South Cembo); Renee Rose Tirones (San Lorenzo); Elliah Kate Nicolas (East Rembo); Jeanne Pauline Suplente (Guadalupe Viejo); and Erika Mae Salvador (Comembo). The candidates were adjudged with the following criteria: Intelligence, 40 percent; beauty, 40 percent; and personality, 20 percent.

Wednesday, June 19, 2019

LBC Launches Php 80 Pasabog Promo for Cash on Pick Up Transactions


LBC has terrific news for online sellers. LBC is launching the Cash on Pick-up (COP) P80 Pasabog Promo. Starting on June 1, 2019, until August 31, 2019, LBC will charge a fixed rate of only 80 pesos for LBC COP transactions of shipments up to 3 kgs.! 

LBC’s COP regular service rates are competitive and are designed to provide value for money for each buyer and seller. With the upcoming COP P80 Pasabog Promo, online sellers and buyers have the opportunity to take advantage of the cheapest and most affordable service rates of any logistics provider in the country. The LBC COP P80 flat rate offer is applicable for the following LBC parcels and boxes: N-Pack Small, N-Pack Large, KB Mini, KB Slim, and KB Small. This fixed rate applies to valid shipments coming from any domestic origin going to any domestic destination. A minimum charge of 15 pesos will be added as a valuation fee and may increase depending on the declared value of the shipment. 

Through LBC COP, online sellers immediately expand their reach in the market as they gain access to LBC’s more than 1400 LBC branches nationwide as pick-up points and payment centers for their buyers. LBC COP facilitates the “Kaliwaan System”, making transactions safer and more secure for both buyers and sellers. LBC COP also makes online sales transactions faster and more convenient for buyers and sellers because they can count on the speed and reliability of the LBC brand. The COP P80 Pasabog Promo is a way for LBC to thank their legion of customers and a way to show their commitment to continuously innovate and evolve to support Filipino online businesses. 

For more information, visit https://lbcexpress.com/80-pesos-pasabog. *Per DTI-NCR Permit No. 10157 Series of 2019. Promo runs from June 1 to August 31, 2019