Subway Celebrates 26th Anniversary with E-learning Program

 

From left to right — Mr. Joshua Wahiman (Subway's Marketing Manager), Ms Jean Gagarino (Subway's Territory Manager), Atty. Rainier Butalid (CEO of e-DRIS Inc.), Syed Darwish Bederi III (Asia Pacific Regional Head of Critical Links  based in Princeton, NJ US.)

Internet connectivity has been an issue that has plagued the educational system over the past two years. A pressing problem in the far-flung areas in the country and even in some parts of Metro Manila is the issue of intermittent or no internet connectivity at all. 

Every student deserves the opportunity to access learning resources despite accessibility issues. It is equally important that the country’s education system is also improved so that students will be prepared to face the highly competitive workforce.

One company that is passionate about education is Subway. Subway is the world’s largest submarine sandwich chain with more than 34,000 locations around the world. Subway understands that it takes more than just good food to nourish people and build vibrant communities. It starts with taking care of people, the heart and soul of the Subway experience.

One way of taking care of people is to provide opportunities for the future generation to get the best education that is available. To celebrate its 26th anniversary, Subway will be partnering with Critical Links and e-Dris, to launch the School-in-the-Box initiative.

Partners

Critical Links is a pioneer in delivering innovative e-Learning infrastructure for the next generation of schools, especially in challenging environments. E-Dris, on the other hand, is a company that offiers online and offline education through Micro-Cloud Architecture, Hybrid Learning or through Instant Access or Content.

“The past two years has shown us how important internet connectivity is for our children. Those with better internet connectivity do much better in school because of better access to online educational resources. Our partnership with Critical Links and e-Dris will be able to benefit more children so that they will have a better opportunity to achieve excellence in education. This will be our way of supporting the Department of Education in the attainment of their goal of bridging the digital divide. This School-in-the-Box initiative is going to be a game changer in the provinces because even if there is limited or sporadic bandwidth, lack of connectivity, rigid security and usage restrictions, schools can use the C3 Micro-Cloud to bring 21st century learning and discovery to their students. Together with our partners, we will be opening a world of learning and opportunity to students in schools anywhere.” ~Mr. Joshua Wahiman, Marketing Manager of Subway

Under the School-in-a-Box initiative, schools that do not have access to the internet will be given an opportunity to optimize technology and allow students to benefit from a 21st century education. The program will be piloted in a school in Metro Manila that has infrastructure limitations such as power outages and fluctuations and is often cut off from the Internet and cloud based resources due to the lack of regular or robust connectivity.

Cloud based environment

The program will utilize the C3 Micro-Cloud, a self-contained, cloud-enabled environment that allows the provisioning of content, resources, and management to local students and teachers even if they do not have access to the Internet. The server can support up to 50 devices at a time and is ideal for a library, laboratory or a facility room.

“Content in the form of texts and other resources can be centrally curated in the C3 Cloud Control portal by those responsible for curriculum and distributed to any authorized C3 Micro-Cloud regardless of where it is, whenever a network link becomes available.” ~Atty. Rainier Butalid (CEO of e-DRIS Inc.) and  Syed Darwish Bederi III, of Critical Links

With the C3 Micro-Cloud any school can use podcasts, e-books, quizzes, and learning games, allowing students to seek and gather information on their own under the guidance of their teachers instead of passively receiving only the hardcopy of information available in books.

Subway® Celebrates 26th Year in the Philippines

Attended by our friends in the media along with some influencers and our partners, Subway® Philippines reaffirms its brand promise of serving only the fresh ingredients to its guests.

Subway® celebrates 26 years in an intimate gathering held at the biggest Subway® Restaurant in the Philippines located at Axis Filinvest Tower 1 in Muntinlupa.

Penetrating a dominant rice-eating market, Subway® rose to the challenge and established a niche as the “fresher brand for me and thus my #BetterChoice” with its customizable and signature sandwiches, wraps and salads. Subway® continues to offer flavorful better-for-you options that are convenient, affordable and made fresh to order.

“Subway® Philippines has come a long way since our first franchise, and it continues to expand to multiple areas in the country thanks to the efforts of our crew, our loyal guests, and to you, our partners in the media.” ~Jean Gagarino, Subway® Philippines Territory Manager

“The Subway® brand has earned a global reputation of offering fresher alternatives to traditional fast foods. Subway® has always provided better choices to our guests. We are honored to continue giving the ‘feel good’ food to many Filipinos, especially during the pandemic. The search for quality of food is important and critical to us. At Subway® we will uphold our brand promise of becoming the #BetterChoice for our guests.” ~Joshua Wahiman, Subway® Philippines Marketing Manager

As the brand continues to expand around the country, Subway® will be opening more restaurants with a projection of 40 restaurants by year-end.

ABOUT Subway®

As one of the world’s largest quick service restaurant brands, Subway serves freshly made-to-order sandwiches, wraps, salads and bowls to millions of guests, across more than 100 countries in more than 37,000 restaurants every day. Subway restaurants are owned and operated by Subway franchisees – a network that includes more than 20,000 dedicated entrepreneurs and small business owners – who are committed to delivering the best guest experience possible in their local communities. Visit www.Subway.com for more information.

Keeping Up with the Lopezes Here’s how the Lopez family lives a healthier, better life with Santé

They say that a family is like the branches of a tree that grow in different directions. However, for the Lopez family, their root remains united through a household hobby–bicycling.  

In an interview with the Lopezes, Louie, Alou, Gel, Aira, and Kang shared what they feel about being the newest addition to the family of Santé, a premier natural and organic health and wellness product and services provider, and their secrets to achieving not just a fit body but a healthier lifestyle, especially amid the global health crisis. 

Speaking of #FamilyGoals and #FitnessGoals, the Lopez family has the best of both worlds. Heading the tribe of these health enthusiasts is their father, who is well-loved and known by many as “Papa Louie.” His daughters sharing his same energy include Aira Lopez, a duathlete, a YouTube vlogger with half a million subscribers, and the host of a CNN show called Cycling Unlimited, with her equally beautiful and fit siblings Alou Lopez, Angela Lopez, and Alyssa Lopez. 

During the height of the pandemic, the family’s home was not an exception to the virus. Alou, who was working as a flight attendant in a local airline, was very much exposed to different people. Thus, she was infected first. Thankfully, due to their active regimen, the family only had mild symptoms and recovered faster. 

“With the mobility limitations brought by the pandemic, it was challenging for everyone to stay active. However, we delivered packed foods to frontliners at the hospitals and checkpoints using our bikes. As we helped and gave back to the community, it became an exercise routine for the family. We trust the brand. I have been drinking Santé Barley for a long time. It has helped me address my health issues. It is also my secret to keeping an energized and fit body.” ~Papa Louie

Ever since, the family has been health enthusiasts, doing different kinds of sports and physical activities. But more than the benefit to them, they equally see it as their mission to tap more.

“Biking is not just a sport for us. It is our advocacy. Because it is a male-dominated sport, we want to encourage more women to participate in it.” ~Alou Lopez

As the Lopezes hope to reach more Filipinos, especially women and inspire them to do the sport they love and enjoy, the family was ecstatic to join Santé as they share the same values and goals with the brand--helping people live better lives. 

Santé Barley™, the company’s flagship product, is made of barley grass gathered at a young age and turned into powder and capsule forms. It is composed of pure organic barley grass rich in vitamins and minerals that help detoxify the body, lower bad cholesterol, aid digestive health, deliver a good number of antioxidants, assist wound healing, bone formation, and many more.  

A glass or capsule of Santé Barley™ fortifies the body with Vitamin C, zinc, calcium, amino acids, magnesium, iron, B-vitamins, and carotenoids, essential to giving the immune system an extra boost. The healthy goodness of Santé Barley™ is certified organic by New Zealand’s renowned organic produce and products organization, BioGro. 

Lastly, the Lopezes reminded everyone to be happy and mentally prepared before pursuing any sports, such as cycling.

“Most importantly, do not forget to drink your everyday supplements, such as Santé Barley.” ~Aira Lopez, a Duathlete, a YouTube Vlogger

Santé Barley™ and other Santé products are organic health and wellness products offered by Santé, known for developing a comprehensive selection of everyday barley-based products. They are designed to improve people’s quality of life to live more and do more.  

Santé is one of the leading global growers of certified barley grass grown and harvested from New Zealand. With its mission to help people live better lives, the company promotes, produces, and distributes premier natural health and wellness products and services. Today, Santé has expanded its offerings, including a fitness and rehabilitation center with Santé Fitness Lab, staying true to its thrust of promoting a healthy lifestyle. 

To learn more about Santé, visit its website at mysante.com.  

About Santé 

Santé is one of the leading global manufacturers of certified barley grass grown and harvested from New Zealand. With its mission to help people live better lives, the company promotes, produces, and distributes premier natural health and wellness products and services. With Santé Barley as its flagship brand, the company has dominated the local market with its barley grass certified organic by BioGro, New Zealand’s largest and best-known certifier for organic produce and products. With the proven health benefits of Santé Barley, Santé has developed a comprehensive selection of everyday barley-based products. Today, Santé has expanded its offerings, including a fitness and rehabilitation center with Santé Fitness Lab, staying true to its thrust of promoting a healthy lifestyle. Headquartered in the Philippines, Santé has offices worldwide in New Zealand, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, Singapore, UAE, Qatar, Nigeria, and Cyprus. 

Overdoughs is not your ordinary Bakeshop

Do you want to do good and at the same time enjoy good food?

You should visit Overdoughs which offers their very own versions of donuts or doughnuts, mouthwatering chunky cookies or Chonky Cookies, brownies or brookies, pizza and fries.

“I wanted to start a food business and I was looking at trends around and then I realized there were different kinds of donuts that were not being served here. So that is what I wanted to introduce to the market. However, there have been a lot of recreations of Overdoughs because we started with donuts, donut holes and then we transitioned to fried cookie dough and then we transitioned to baked cookies. That’s where we are now. I remember an experience before when I was a teenager visiting a clothing shop. The employees at the shop were all at the cashier talking to each other. And then there was a guy who approached me but he was not talking. He was trying his best to really assist me and it was then that I noticed that there was a name tag and the word deaf was placed there. I saw that the customers were interacting with them. And we made sure that we put a system in place where the customers and the deaf partners will have an easy time. Then we have LED writing board where people can communicate easily. Currently we have around 30 deaf partners. We had more pre-pandemic but we had to retrench because we had to close some of our branches. So far we have 12 branches. We really want to offer the full experience and hopefully, we can also start providing sign language classes so that our customers can eat, can learn and can interact.” ~Francis Carl Reyes, CEO and Founder of Caravan Food Group Inc., the company behind Overdoughs and Elait!

If you are into ice cream, Overdoughs also offers Elait ice cream where customers can witness ice cream being rolled with their favorite flavors right in front of them. 

Deaf partners

That’s the good food part. The doing good part is that customers who buy Overdough’s many products are providing employment and opportunities for most of their employees who are deaf. 

That was Reyes’ first experience with a deaf person who he felt was the “epitome of good customer service. No matter who you are, he is going to assist you. No judgement.” That experience made him decide that he would employ deaf partners for his store.

He tried out the partner program initially with Elait. When he saw that it was doing well, he implemented it at Overdoughs. Initially, Reyes started with two able and two deaf partners and he would be observing how they were doing their jobs.

Sign language

He also posted basic sign language in all the branches so that customers can learn how to communicate with them.

In the future, Reyes hopes to convert more of their Overdoughs outlets in to cafes so that customers get to savor their other products like pizzas, fried chicken, fries and empanadas.

Overdoughs currently has one such outlet in Greenhills where customers can not only enjoy good food but do good as well.

For more information about Overdoughs, you can visit www.overdoughs.ph and @overdoughsph on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. 

Panda Express® adds another store in the South with its first branch in Muntinlupa

Located along South Luzon expressway, guests and travelers can now stop over at the new Shell SLT branch and enjoy their Panda Express® favorites.

The south area of the metro is attracting some good fortune. Panda Express®—the world’s largest American Chinese dining concept—is set to open another store in the south on July 1, with its Shell SLT branch, the first location in Muntinlupa and along the South Luzon expressway. 

 

The new branch will be the 10th Panda Express branch in Metro Manila since it set foot in the country in 2019.

“This back-to-back store openings in the south is all attributable to the heartwarming support that Panda Express has received from Filipino customers since 2019. Guests from Muntinlupa and nearby areas, as well as city travelers heading south can now stop over at our new location to satisfy their craving for savory, wok-cooked American Chinese dishes.” ~Ned Bandojo, Business Development Head of Jollibee Group Foreign Franchised Brands

Fans from the south can now get a taste of Panda Express®’ savory, wok-cooked American Chinese dishes including The Original Orange Chicken®, Broccoli Beef, Savory Shrimp and Black Pepper Steak

The Panda Express menu includes a variety of entrées with regional Chinese influences—from its bestselling The Original Orange Chicken®, a wok-tossed crispy chicken coated in sweet tangy sauce to other must-try entrees like Broccoli Beef, Savory Shrimp and Black Pepper Steak.

Team South, this is for you! Panda Express® is opening another store in the south on July 1. The new Shell SLT branch will be the brand's first location in Muntinlupa, and the 10th branch in Metro Manila.

Guests can grab their Panda Express favorites through dine-in, takeout and Park, Order and go channels. To get more information about Panda Express, visit www.facebook.com/PandaExpressPH/ (Facebook) and @PandaExpressPH (Instagram).

About Panda Express® 

On a mission to inspire better lives, Panda Express® is the largest Asian dining concept in the world. Family-owned and operated since 1983 by co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng, Panda Express is best known as a trailblazer for creating a wide variety of industry-first recipes, including its best seller The Original Orange Chicken® and award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp, which have defined the category of authentic American Chinese cuisine. Each entrée at Panda Express, including the Wok Smart selections, is thoughtfully crafted with quality ingredients and inspired by bold Chinese flavors and culinary principles. The restaurant brand has more than 2,300 locations and has introduced American Chinese cuisine to twelve international countries. Visit www.facebook.com/PandaExpressPH/ (Facebook) and @PandaExpressPH (Instagram) for more information.

NBA to host first Iconic shots challenge in the Philippines

Immersive NBA Experience Will See Fans Attempt Select Signature Shots from the 2021-22 Season. This is your chance to take over the game, with a simulated authentic NBA arena atmosphere for you to showcase your offensive skills in completing a variety of shooting challenges! 

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced that the league will host the first “NBA Iconic Shots Challenge” on Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 at the Mega Fashion Hall activity center, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, Philippines.  The NBA Iconic Shots Challenge is an immersive basketball experience that will provide fans with the opportunity to attempt select signature shots from the league’s landmark 75th Anniversary Season, which concluded last week with the Golden State Warriors winning their fourth NBA championship in eight years and seventh championship overall.  

Simulating an authentic NBA arena atmosphere, the challenge will take place on a half-court in front of a virtual audience displayed on a curved LED panel.  Each player will have 60 seconds to score from five different spots on the court, ranging from four feet to 24 feet, and complete the shooting challenge in the following order: layup, floater, midrange jump shot and three-pointers from the wing and the top of the arc.  Each participant must make the basket or take at least three attempts before moving on to the next shot location.  In addition, each made basket will have a corresponding prize from a selection of premium partner items, NBA Store gift vouchers and official NBA merchandise.  The on-ground activation will also feature a pop-up NBA Store and interactive partner booths.  

“We’re excited for the return of in-person NBA events with our first NBA Iconic Shots Challenge. Thanks to the support of our partners, the NBA Iconic Shots Challenge will allow passionate Filipino fans to celebrate the players and moments that made our 75th Anniversary Season so memorable.” ~Mae Dichupa, Senior Director of Global Marketing Partnerships, NBA Philippines

The NBA Iconic Shots Challenge is supported by official partners AXA Philippines, Energen Champion and Gatorade and official media partners Cignal, Globe, Smart, and PLDT.  Official NBA merchandise are available through the NBA Store and NBAStore.com.ph, the official online NBA Store in the Philippines.

For all the latest NBA news and updates, fans in the Philippines can visit www.nba.com and follow the NBA on Facebook and Twitter.  

Head over to SM Megamall this Saturday, June 25 and Sunday, June 26 for the first ever NBA Iconic Shots Challenge at the Mega Fashion Hall Activity Center. 

About the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 215 countries and territories in more than 50 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2021-22 season featured a record 121 international players from 40 countries.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with 2.1 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

Green Run at Vermosa encourages outdoor activity, nature appreciation for physical, mental health

After two years of quiet and confinement, it’s time to celebrate the green outdoors and have fun in the sun. 

Vermosa, an Ayala Land Estate in Imus Cavite, is front running the event. It is a modern, suburban community that promotes healthy and active living. On July 3, Sunday, everyone is invited to lace up and run for a greener tomorrow with the staging of Green Run. It will be a one-day, multi-level run within its 750-hectare property that is fast gaining fame as the new sports and fitness hub down south.

Consisting of 21K, 10K, 5K and 3K distance categories, the Green Run is targeting elite athletes, fun runners, fitness enthusiasts, athletes in training, weekend athletes, families, barkada, and just about anyone who is eager to run.  Various running routes winding through wide open spaces and abundant greenery punctuated with wide pedestrian walkways, bicycle and jogging lanes, and enhanced greenways will make this Run a truly pleasant experience.

Vermosa’s famous Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub, a state-of-the-art professionally–managed sports facility that has already hosted various national and international sports events will be the center of activities for registration and information. Featuring a FINA-standard Olympic size swimming pool, a warm up pool, an IAAF standard 400m track oval, field with natural tiff grass, an Athletes Lounge, and a gym operated by Sante Fitness Lab, a premier training ground for amateur and professional athletes.

Vermosa has partnered with Pinoy Fitness, the running, fitness and multisport event organizer, to conduct the Run. A beautiful medal created by artist Cynthia Bauzon-Arre of Forest Foundation Philippines, will be among the perks that runners will get for their participation. Proceeds of the Run will go to Haribon Foundation’s Adopt-a-Seedling Program, to build a greener tomorrow.

“As more places begin to reopen, we can now enjoy the outdoors with more activities to engage in. I personally advocate sports and spending time outdoors as it helps boost physical and mental health. Physical activities, like running, provide a change of scenery and help reduce stress. This is why we organized the Vermosa Green Run. We want people to rediscover their surroundings, appreciate nature, enjoy the fresh air and boost their health. With an abundance of wide-open spaces and the state-of-the-art sports facilities at Vermosa Sports Hub, Vermosa provides one of the best venues to engage in physical activities.” ~Jay Teodoro, Vermosa Estate Head

Those interested to join Green Run may go to ayalaland.myruntime.com to register.

ABOUT VERMOSA

Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub (AVSH) is located within Ayala Land’s sprawling 750-hectare estate along Daang Hari Road, Imus, Cavite.  It brings together residential, retail, commercial spaces and a school all within the estate.  AVSH highlights an active lifestyle by offering athletes a number of sports facilities and wellness amenities including the nine-lane 400-meter track and field oval, football field, Olympic-size lap pool, warm up pool, The Athlete’s Lounge, a gym operated by Sante Fitness Lab, and green open spaces. With its state-of-the-art features, AVSH is home to some National Sports Associations and renowned teams in the country.  

4 ways to turn passions into something valuable and powerful

Reports have called millennials the “burnout generation.” This is further expanded by the 2020 Deloitte Global Millennial Survey, which found that 57% of Filipino millennials feel anxious or stressed all or most of the time. The 2022 report found that 45% of millennials around the world feel “burned out due to the intensity/demands of their working environments.”

There are so many stressors these days. Work, finances, and the welfare of their family are just some of the things that induce anxiety. Their only solace is their passion, which ranges from creating and consuming content to playing mobile games.

With all the stressors hounding millennials every day, it’s important to turn passions into something valuable and powerful. Here are four ways to do that:

Make time for it. Face it, there’s always something that needs to be done. It’s important to set boundaries between work and leisure because a mind must be well-rested in order to function well in the office. It’s not enough to simply find time for one’s passion. These days, it’s about making it. Set a rule that after 6 PM, work notifications must be switched off. The hours after that must be dedicated to rest, spending time with loved ones, and hobbies.

 

Connect with like-minded people. A group of friends who share the same passion will most likely encourage it. Friends who enjoy the same bands can go to gigs together, while gamers can join tournaments or just play together. Film buffs can have movie nights where they can discuss their favorite scenes. There are communities that cater to every passion, from Facebook groups to apps like Goodreads for books, Letterboxd for movies, and Reddit for anything under the sun.

 

Share it with the world. Social media has made the world smaller, allowing everyone to reach bigger audiences. Creators can share their work on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which can build a following. While the point of pursuing one’s passion is a break from the monotony of work, this could lead to freelancing gigs or even a change in career.

 

Have the right device. The right tool can turn a simple hobby into something more powerful. Samsung’s Galaxy M33 5G and M23 5G are great companions for young professionals who want to take their passions to the next level, especially content creation and mobile games.

Both smartphones are equipped with a multi-camera system to capture memories. The Galaxy M33 5G and M23 5G’s suite of lenses is bannered by the 50MP Main camera, which takes photos and videos in clear detail. The smartphones’ 6.6” displays with Full HD+ technology made the gaming experience richer. Lags are virtually undetectable with the 120Hz refresh rate. There’s space for everything since the smartphones have 128GB of internal storage, which can be expanded by up to 1TB with a microSD card.

Both devices are available at a discounted price on Samsung.com and other online platforms this June. The Galaxy M33 5G is priced at 16,990 SRP, down from its original price of PHP 19,490 SRP in Blue, Brown, and Green. Meanwhile, the Galaxy M23 5G is available for PHP 15,490 SRP, down from its original price of PHP 17,990 SRP in Light Blue, Deep Green, and Orange Copper.

Becoming successful at something you're passionate about takes time, persistence, and drive. Put these pieces together and you'll be well on your way to doing what you love, gaining more control and freedom in your life, and unleashing the genuine power that's within you all along.

For more information about the Samsung Galaxy M33 and M23 5G, visit samsung.com/ph.

Safe Samsung Shopping

Health and safety protocols are strictly followed in Samsung Experience Stores to keep consumers and employees safe. Adhering to the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Samsung has limited the number of its customers to only 50%, implemented the mandatory use of masks and shields, and performs frequent cleaning in all stores.

Samsung Experience Stores also has unique QR health declaration codes to promote a safe and contactless contact tracing process. Product demonstrations are done side-by-side instead of face-to-face while keeping the required safe distance of one (1) meter to make sure everyone is socially distanced.

Find the nearest Samsung Experience store via samsung.com/ph/samsung-experience-store/locations/.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.

RSG PH is the supreme winner in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup 2022!

RSG PH reigned supreme in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Southeast Asia Cup 2022. The epic showdown between RSG PH and RRQ Hoshi was hosted at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre to a sold-out crowd of over 1,000 spectators.

The event was graced by Malaysia's Youth and Sports Minister, YB Dato' Seri Ahmad Faizal bin Dato' Azumu, Deputy Minister, YB Senator Dato' Sri Ti Lian Ker, and Chief Executive Officer of Esports Integrated, Ahmed Faris Amir. MSC 2022 is held in line with the country's vision to propel the nation as a vibrant esports hub.

Dubbed as Kingslayers, RSG PH scored a victorious 4:0 sweep against the 'King of Kings' RRQ Hoshi. Eman "Emann" Llanda Sangco was awarded the most valuable player (MVP). The newly crowned SEA kings are the third Filipino team to take home the Southeast Asia title alongside Aether Main (Bren Esports) in 2018 and Smart Omega (formerly known as Execration) in 2021.

The historic grand finals drew a peak concurrent view (PCU) of 2.8 million viewers, according to analytical partner Esports Charts.

At MSC 2022, it was announced that the M4 World Championship will be held between 1 - 15 January, 2023. More details on the host country, tournament arena, and participating nations will be shared in the following months.

About MOONTON

Established in 2014, MOONTON is a global video game company dedicated to gaming development, publication and esports. With more than 900 employees worldwide, the company operates offices in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong and mainland China. It has successfully launched a number of high-profile mobile games globally and has built long-term relationships with governments and esports organizations in more than 30 countries around the world. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is its current star game and the leading mobile multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game worldwide.

About Mobile Legends: Bang Bang

Mobile Legends: Bang Bang is the most popular mobile Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA) game worldwide that brings communities together through teamwork and strategy. With over one billion installations and 100 million active monthly users, the award-winning game is among the top 10 most played in over 80 countries. With an extensive reach across the Asia Pacific region, the multiplayer is available in 139 countries with an expansive global esports presence.

About Mobile Legends Esports

Established in 2017, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Esports serves as a platform for players to pursue their dreams of becoming esports athletes and illuminate opportunities within the international esports ecosystem. MLBB Esports has since expanded to multiple leagues, including the MPL series hosted in Southeast Asia.

Collaboration: A key in creating sustainable agri-enterprises

SMDC Weekend Market

Limited market information and market access are two major obstacles to increased smallholder farmers’ income. According to studies, farmers in grassroot communities often lack access to profitable, value-added markets. In the absence of critical supporting functions, such as infrastructure and service provision – farmers struggle to transform their traditional subsistence farms into a feasible commercially oriented production. Buyers, on the other hand, such as wholesalers, find it difficult to get the quantity and quality of produce that they need for processing on a timely basis. 

Because of this challenge, SM Foundation collaborated with various government agencies, and engaged various SM business units such as the SM Development Corp. (SMDC), SM Supermalls and SM Markets to ensure that local farmers under the Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) program have venues where they can sell their produce amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Green lane: an agri-enterprise led by the wives of KSK farmers

From training KSK participants in practicing sustainable farming technologies via technology transfer and product development, SMFI, together with various SM business units used the power of collaboration to create farm-market linkage - which intends to create a powerful driver of rural poverty reduction.

KSK Farmers’ Market Day at SM City Sta. Rosa

Team social good

The Good Guys Market is a weekend market set up in SMDC properties to connect small-scale farmers directly with consumers—condo residents. This initiative links around 26,000 small-scale farmers directly with consumers.

Together with SM Supermalls, SMFI launched the Green Lane initiative. Led by the wives of the KSK farmers, the social enterprise offers a wide variety of quality yet affordable indoor and landscape plants which cater to every enthusiast’s preference. In addition, the team also launched the KSK Farmers’ Market Day to provide farmers with market exposure in select SM Malls nationwide.

KSK Pop-up booths in Davao

Meanwhile, SMFI also partnered with SM Markets in creating market for onion farmers. Through the partnership, SMFI was able to establish specialized onion pop-up booths creating a stable market for small scale onion farmers.

Millions of smallholder farmers are seeking ways to improve the productivity of their farms and to improve their market performance. Modern farming technologies, paired with market linkage, such as the SM KSK, plays a vital role in improving the livelihood of small-scale farmers and their families.

Locally farmed onions by KSK farmers in SM Markets

Locally farmed onions by KSK farmers in SM Markets

SM Foundation’s Kabalikat Sa Kabuhayan (KSK) is SMFI’s Social Good program on sustainable agriculture that intends to uplift the lives of Filipinos in grassroot communities through sustainable agriculture via technology transfer, product development and farm-market linkage. To date, the program has trained more than 28,500 farmers from more than 900 cities/municipalities nationwide.

Century Park Hotel Offers Exciting Father's Day Deals

Father’s Day is just around the corner and what better way to treat the Man of the Hour than with Century Park Hotel’s exciting Father’s Day deals!

Indulge Dad with a relaxing city getaway at Your Home Away From Home from June 18-20, 2022!  For as low as P6,000/ night, enjoy an overnight stay in one of our Deluxe Rooms, breakfast for two, a complimentary 1-hr massage for two, and a special Father’s Day Cake! For bookings and reservations, call 0956-5232880 or email reservations@centurypark.com.ph.

The celebration of course will not be complete without food and fanfare!

For every 3 paying guests, Dads eat for free at the Café in the Park from June 15-19, 2022, treat Dad to a sumptuous Churrasco-style Lunch (11:00AM – 2:30PM) and Dinner Buffet (6:00PM – 10:00PM) at P1,200net per head. 

The food outlet also now serves Breakfast Buffet at P995net per head from 6:00AM – 10:00AM daily. For reservations, call 8528-5827. 

On June 19, 2022, if you are in the mood for Asian cuisine, enjoy Century Tsukiji’s Eat-All-you-Can Lunch (11:00AM – 2:30PM) and Dinner (5:00PM – 9:00PM) for only P999 net per head. Cap off the merriment with some drinks at the Atrium Lounge (9:00AM – 10:00PM).  For a minimum transaction of P2,000 net at Century Tsukiji and Atrium Lounge, a complimentary Father’s Day cake awaits Dads on this extraordinary day.  For reservations, call 8528-5835 (Century Tsukiji) and 8528-5924 (Atrium Lounge).

“We honor the fathers who work hard for their loved ones and help shape their children into better individuals.  This is the time to pay it forward and say, ‘Dad, we got this!’.  A staycation and a gustatory feast at Century Park Hotel is the best way to make Dad feel like a king.” ~Anthony Tan, Century Park Hotel’s General Manager

Century Park Hotel has been duly awarded the Safety Seal Certification and Certificate of Accommodation to Operate as Staycation (CAOS) by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ).  One can look forward to a safe and pleasant dining atmosphere while inside the property.

Guests 18 and up must be fully vaccinated and present their vaccination cards, minors are allowed entry provided they are accompanied by a fully-vaccinated adult.

Launched in 1976, the Century Park Hotel remains as one of the finest hotels in Manila. It is owned and operated by Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation and enjoys a mix of local and international patrons. The renowned establishment has over 500 rooms in varied types and facilities for a complete dining and leisure experience. To know more about Century Park Hotel, visit www.centurypark.com or contact information@centurypark.com.ph and telephone number: (632) 8528-8888.

BPI SEAL empowers micro and small enterprises for sustainable growth

BPI Foundation extends opportunities to micro and small enterprises through its new program, SEAL-SEGA.

BPI Foundation, the social development arm of the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) today, launched a program for the development of local micro and small enterprises (MSEs) called BPI Small Enterprise Acceleration Lab (SEAL), with its first track, Small Enterprise Growth Agenda (SEGA), in partnership with Bayan Academy.  

BPI SEAL-SEGA is a search for start-up businesses that are ready to develop their viable business ventures.  This project is designed to meet the needs of start-up businesses through training, mentoring sessions, and cash grants. The training program aims to help the startups assess their enterprise’s products, services, operations, and marketing and assist them in developing their start-up enterprise development plan.

Photo shows, clockwise from upper left: DTI Undersecretary of Regional Operations Group Blesila A. Lantayona, BPI Foundation Executive Director Owen Cammayo, Start Up Village President Carlo Calimon, and Bayan Academy President and Chairman Prof. Francisco “Jay” Bernardo.

“It’s no secret that the past two years have been extra tough for the entire business community, most especially for the Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) which faced multiple challenges including the lack of funds to maintain their businesses after a series of lockdowns. To help address the pressing need for an intervention and spur growth to the MSE sector, we are excited to kick-off the pilot run of the BPI SEAL-SEGA.” ~Owen Cammayo, BPI Foundation Executive Director

In 2020, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) reported that 99.51% of all businesses across the country belong to the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector.  Micro enterprises account for 88.77%, while 10.25% are small enterprises.   

According to a study conducted by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies in 2018, this sector continues to struggle in the value chain, primarily due to lack of access to finance, labor and technical and management know-how. SEAL-SEGA aims to help bridge the gaps.

“Startups proved to us that crisis can also be a strong driving force for creativity and innovation. If this new normal has taught us anything, it is harnessing the benefits of digital technologies and transformation that could be an opportunity to create sustainable and adaptable businesses.” ~Blesila A. Lantayona, DTI Undersecretary of Regional Operations Group

Fifty (50) MSEs will be chosen to join the boot camps and showcase their plans through a business pitch to a panel of judges.  The Top 1–10 will receive a cash grant of P100,000 each, while the Top 11–20 will bring home Php50,000 each.

“BPI SEAL SEGA is dedicated to helping startups sustain, develop and scale up their businesses. We are here to be part of the nation-building efforts that SMEs have been providing us.” ~Prof. Francisco “Jay” Bernardo, Bayan Academy President and Chairman

The business challenge is open to start-up entrepreneurs who are 18 years old and above, and whose enterprise’s asset size is Php1 million and below. The application period will run until July 15, 2022.

To know more about SEAL, visit https://bpifoundation.org/page/bpi-seal-sega and follow BPI Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.