BPI shares six ways to do a digital clean up

Sharing personal data may be inevitable when we do various online transactions. However, it is best if we make it a habit to wipe clean the digital trail we create as we use gadgets and applications 24/7. 

“Doing so will protect you from identity theft, loss of funds, even damage to your reputation by the use of stolen personal data. Your digital footprint might be there to stay, but you can limit your vulnerability to scammers and fraudsters. Consider these tips to keep your personal information safe from their craftiness that grow by the year. Make digital clean-up a habit today.” ~Jonathan John B. Paz, BPI Enterprise Information Security Officer and Data Privacy Officer

To protect your privacy and avoid being a fraud victim, here are six ways to do a digital clean up:

1. Delete your personal data from old devices before disposing, reselling, or donating them. For computers, use a disk cleaning software to permanently delete information. For smartphones and tablets, do a factory reset. For other devices, in addition to doing a hard reset, remove hard drives and memory cards, if any. 
2. Secure your smartphones by uninstalling apps that you do not need because they not only waste energy but could also be exploited to leak information. Clear storage space of files and remove duplicates—check for downloads, media files, and messages that you do not need anymore. 
3. Deactivate or close the accounts you registered in the apps before uninstalling them. Purging those that you no longer use is a good way to minimize your digital footprint and lessen the likelihood of data leakage. Think twice before installing an app and creating an account, and ask yourself if it will serve your purpose. Do not reuse passwords across online services, especially passwords that you use for online banking.
4. Do a digital clean up of your computers to prevent data from loosely lying around. Delete all files that you no longer need and organize those you will keep. Uninstall unused programs. Uninstall unimportant web browser extensions that you might have inadvertently enabled. Clear your cache to delete personal information you may have used in answering online forms.
5. Organize your email inbox by categories: promotions, chat message notifications, social media notifications, past events or announcements, etc. Be cautious in sharing your email address and make a note to whom you do. Unsubscribe from newsletters that no longer serve your purposes. Reply to new emails at once so they don’t pile up.
6. Use your social media accounts wisely to prevent scammers from harvesting your personal information. Review your privacy settings and enable multi-factor authentication wherever available. Delete old and unused accounts. Delete posts that reveal too much of yourself or are not relevant anymore. Do not overshare. Be cautious of what or with whom you engage online.

SM Prime builds better, greener offices

E-com Centers at the Mall of Asia Complex

Many people have become more aware of the importance of sustainability in everyday living during the two years that the world faced the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Environmental awareness has caught on through practices such as shifting to paperless, reducing plastic use and planting more trees. For property developers, taking part in this movement means transitioning into green buildings and developments.

Such is the case for SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), a publicly listed subsidiary of SM Investments Corporation (SMIC) that is committed to building innovative and sustainable lifestyle cities. SM Prime is future-proofing its developments to be more responsive and adaptive to community needs and the effects of climate change in line with comprehensive sustainability goals ranging from energy to ecology.

Over the years, SM Prime has continued to elevate its approach to building and development of community spaces. All these green initiatives have been recognized by reputable and well-known organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) which awarded Conrad Hotel Manila and SM Aura Premier the Gold certification for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in 2016 and 2017, respectively.

"When we build, we build with the community in mind. This is why it is important to integrate sustainability in our developments and operations. We remain committed as an environmentally-conscious and responsible integrated property developer ready to serve the ever-changing needs and aspirations of our communities and stakeholders. Incorporating sustainability in property development means having the whole life cycle of a building in mind. We invest a tenth of our capital expenditure to ensure that sustainability is integrated into our properties as we carefully plan our developments for our communities, the environment, and future generations." ~Jeffrey Lim, SM Prime President

Building green office spaces

SM's Commercial Property Group is renowned for balancing green design features with operational and practical considerations, enabling more companies and locators to enjoy environmentally sound commercial developments.

The CPG's flagship properties are its five E-com Centers - all future-forward buildings catering mainly to technological, business process outsourcing, and Fortune 500 companies. All five E-com Centers are located in the MOA Complex. Each building has a proportionate amount of green open spaces and communal areas where workers can socialize and decompress from work.

CPG further promotes sustainable practices with its LEED gold-certified office buildings, solidifying its foothold and commitment to building green offices and commercial developments. These certifications are a testament to SM Prime's dedication to reducing its contribution to global climate change-all while enhancing the quality of life within its communities.

The ThreeE-com Center boasts architectural wonders and green features that eventually earned its LEED Gold certification. These include water recycling for landscape and non-potable use. The building is fitted with glass windows that minimizes heat from entering the building,

allowing tenants to use less air conditioning. This 15-storey, semi-circular twin-tower office building features function and aesthetic complemented with state-of-the-art facilities. While it was the first office building in the Mall of Asia Complex to receive such an honor, the new FourE-com Center also recently achieved the same certification-designed with its tenants' needs in mind, improving work-life balance and office culture accordingly.

Both designed by globally renowned firm, Arquitectonica, the Three and Four E-coms are unique amongst business centers.

"We designed the E-coms to functionally meet the BPO industry's need for large, continuous floorplates, but also sculpted them in interesting ways so as to allow views and airflows between the buildings, while also, of course, giving them interesting architectural identities. At the same time, their landscaped podium decks create attractive communal green spaces for the tenants; they are envisaged to be interconnected via landscaped skybridges in the future. The combination of all these factors, architectural design and green spaces, have made the E-coms highly attractive to multinational companies and brands." ~David Zaballero, Arquitectonica Director

SM Mega Tower

Meanwhile, SM Prime's tallest skyscraper located along EDSA will also join the company's growing roster of LEED-certified green buildings. Called Mega Tower, the 50-story office building is future-ready as it provides spaces that respect both its tenants and nature itself.

Strategically located in the busy Ortigas Centre, the 50-storey LEED registered skyscraper is flexibly designed to meet the requirements of both corporate and BPO tenants. Though its design is highly sculptural, each floorplate remains efficiently planned - combining functionality and iconic identity.

In close collaboration with the SM Group's other business units, the CPG's multi-segment or mixed-use approach maximizes the socio-economic potential of its buildings and developments.

As a result, SM's commercial developments are connected to our malls, residences, and parks and civic spaces. Notably, they are all easily accessible to transport hubs to ensure mobility for pedestrians and the commuting public. This interconnectivity, alongside each property's green and safety features, reduces the company's carbon footprint, attracts more tenants and locators, and encourages greater productivity among its workforce.

Find out more about SM Prime and the SM Green Movement-- visit www.smprime.com and

www.sminvestments.com/sustainability/sm-for-the-community/sm-green-movement/

About SM Prime

SM Prime Holdings Inc., one of the leading property developers in Southeast Asia, is committed to providing safe and sustainable spaces for its stakeholders. Its development strategy is anchored on the responsible use of resources. In the communities it serves, it is able to promote resource conservation, environmental protection, and disaster resiliency by implementing solutions for water, waste, and energy management.

SM Prime is a key player in the SM Green Movement that aims to improve the quality of life of communities through sustainable solutions to promote a green planet, green living and a green culture.

POPTV LAUNCHES ANIME CHANNEL “BENTO”

Filipino anime fans are in for a treat as video-on-demand streaming service POPTV Philippines introduces “Bento,” an all new anime channel that offers hundreds of anime titles including simulcasts fresh from Japan.

This move is part of POPTV’s vision of becoming the ultimate one-stop entertainment service for Filipinos. After offering a slate of local blockbuster movies and Filipino-dubbed Asian content via POPTV, and Filipino-dubbed kid shows via POPTV Kids for the mass market Filipino families, the Singapore-based streaming service now has its eyes set on hardcore anime lovers.

“Filipinos are among the top consumers of anime content in the world. Bento has been created to address that market. A comprehensive Anime service that makes titles available easily and cheaply (or for free) is the best defense for anime IP owners against widespread piracy. Our launch slate of  over hundred titles will continue to grow through the next few quarters until we become the ultimate destination for Filipino anime fans.” ~Jyotirmoy Saha, Founder & CEO of POPTV

With Bento, POPTV is also introducing AVOD and PVOD packages that offer both ad supported and premium viewing. In its premium tier, users can access premium titles including weekly simulcasts. 

Headlining this new anime service are simulcast airings of hit anime series “Spy Family Part 2,” “Beast Tamer,” and “Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Season 3.” 

Bento also offers hit titles like “Mob Psycho 100,” “Assassination Classroom,” “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures,” award-winning Filipino anime series “Barangay 143” as well as Filipino-dubbed versions of “Jujutsu Kaisen,” “Sing Yesterday for Me,” and “Horimiya.” 

“We want Filipinos to have effortless access to the best anime in the world. We want to enable anime fans to be able to express their love for anime and get fulfillment without having to rely on dubious sources. Lahat ng ginagawa namin ay para sa Pinoy anime fans kaya sana suportahan at tangkilikin nila ang Bento. We have a lot in store for the community that we will progressively roll out over the months to come.” ~Jackeline Chua, COO of POPTV

POPTV Bento will be available from Oct 26. To experience Bento, download the POPTV PINAS app on Google Play, Huawei App Gallery, Samsung Galaxy store, and Apple App Stores. Subscriptions can be purchased via load deduction through SMART or Google Pay; or may be transacted via credit/debit card or GCash app. It is also available on Shopee, Lazada, all branches of M L’huillier and RD Pawnshops nationwide, and in sari sari stores in key cities in Luzon.

For more information visit facebook.com/poptvph or visit www.poptv.ph.

Empower your music with the new OPPO Enco X2, co-created with Dynaudio

Global smart device brand OPPO introduces its latest and most innovative pair of earbuds yet, the Enco X2. Co-created with Danish audio company Dynaudio, the Enco X2 delivers an expert-built system, designed meticulously to bring a studio-like listening experience to today’s users. The true wireless earbuds come with not only next-level sound quality, but also top-tier noise cancellation, interactive smart controls, and streamlined design, empowers your music.

Studio-Level Sounds Anytime, Anywhere

OPPO teamed up with internationally-renowned high-end audio brand Dynaudio to co-develop an industry-leading sound system, the Super Dynamic Balance Enhanced Engine (SuperDBEE) Coaxial dual-driver five-magnet sound system. More commonly found in high-end stereo equipment, the SuperDBEE system has been carefully built into the Enco X2 to deliver a HiFi speaker right in your pocket. Along with a lightweight ultrasonic bass system to let you feel each beat, and a quad-magnet planar tweeter, the Enco X2 allows you to hear every detail and every note with the richest sound. 

The Enco X2 earbuds are also equipped with Dolby binaural recording, the first TWS headsets to do so. This means you can record what you hear in the same crisp and clear detail as in your first listen. 

Block Out Unwanted Noise

Each OPPO Enco X2 earbud comes with two noise-canceling microphones with a high signal-to-noise ratio, a rarely used feature in the industry. With this ultra-deep active noise cancellation, it cuts out stubborn noises from cars, streets, human voices and more. 

Built on the triple-microphone system commonly found in high-end TWS headsets, the OPPO Enco X2 earbuds are equipped with all-new bone voiceprint AI sensors. These built-in sensors can accurately capture your voice even in noisy surroundings, so you can chat with loved ones or take important work calls anytime, even on a busy street. Plus, its anti-wind noise duct design and a smart anti-wind noise algorithm blocks air intake to give you clear sound and voice. 

Streamlined Body for Longer Wearing

A work of art both inside and out, the OPPO Enco X2 comes in two colors, white and black, with the black version giving a ceramic-like texture for a premium feel. The earbuds also feature a new ergonomic design that’s the perfect fit for everyone, at only 4.7g.

The Enco X2 earbuds are also designed for protection. Each pair comes with wax guard layers to prevent earwax from blocking the speaker outlets, making them easier to clean. Meanwhile, they are also covered with ion antibacterial coatings to inhibit bacteria growth, making them comfortable and clean to wear over long periods. As with other OPPO earbuds, the Enco X2 also has IP54 dust and water resistance, so there’s no need to worry about sweat or rain damage. 

Intuitive Controls and Functionality

The Enco X2 buds feature unique controls, such as single, double and triple squeezes to skip or jump back to your preferred song, and even answer or hang up calls. Slide your finger up and down to control the volume, and squeeze for longer to switch between noise cancelling modes. 

Its Bluetooth connectivity promises low latency so gaming and streaming also becomes more enjoyable. You can even connect up to two devices at a time, so you can switch between answering phone calls and streaming your current TV show. 

Longer Listening on a Shorter Charge

The new generation of OPPO earbuds, the Enco X2 can last up to 40 hours on a full charge, while a five-minute charge can give you up to 2 hours of listening time. Supporting your on-the-go lifestyle, the Enco X2 can be charged by simply placing the charging case on a charging pad, wire-free. The earbuds also support reverse charging from a phone, so you can always keep the music going.

Now, you can experience true studio-like quality sound wherever you go with the OPPO Enco X2, empowers your music. 

The OPPO Enco X2 True Wireless Earbuds are now available for Php 7,999 SRP via OPPO Brand Stores, partner dealers, and OPPO Official Stores on Lazada and Shopee. For more information, visit OPPO Philippines’ Website and Facebook Page. 

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone - “Smiley Face” - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO provides its users with the ColorOS operating system and internet services like OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO operates in more than 40 countries and regions, with 6 Research Institutes and 5 R&D Centers worldwide, as well as an International Design Center in London. More than 40,000 of OPPO's employees are dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

UnionBank teams up with Noel Bazaar creator to help participating merchants digitize transactions

Just in time for the holiday shopping season, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) has partnered with Cut Unlimited, Inc., the creator of the long-running Noel Bazaar, to promote cashless payments so customers can have a better and enjoyable Christmas shopping experience.

"In the advent of digitalization, it is of keen importance for the Noel Bazaar team to support our merchants in learning how to connect with their consumers through the ways of doing business in this new digital-first ecosystem,. ~Mayose Gozon-Bautista, Cut Unlimited, Inc. President

The partnership was made official through a signing ceremony last October 6 at the UnionBank Plaza in Pasig City, and is in line with UnionBank's goal of helping the country's micro, small, and medium enterprise sector as part of the Bank's "Tech-UP Pilipinas" advocacy.

"This is the first time for UnionBank to ever partner with an event like Noel Bazaar, and we are very excited to learn more so that we can improve ourselves for merchants and retail buyers, not just on a day-to-day basis but also during special occasions." ~Jaypee Soliman, UnionBank's SME and Micropreneurs Segment Head

UnionBank will help make payments easier and more convenient for shoppers at the bazaar by making its award-winning online banking features accessible to the participating merchants. Through these, customers can then pay for their purchases digitally, allowing seamless transactions between them.

"We are very excited because 2022 is a comeback year for many people and we want this to be "revenge Christmas," and what better way to do that than with a partner which is an iconic Christmas bazaar." ~Albert Cuadrante

For those who are interested in visiting this year's Noel Bazaar, it will take place from November 11 to December 18 and will be held in three different venues: Okada Manila (November 11 to 13), The World Trade Center in Pasay City (November 25 to 30), and the Filinvest Tent in Alabang (November 18 to 20 and December 16 to 18).

66TH Merzci Blumentritt Manila Branch Grand Opening

Merzci Bread & Pastries, producer of Bacolod’s best food pasalubong, finally lands in the Capital City of the country – Manila!

Merzci Pasalubong recently held its grand opening of its first ever branch in the City of Manila last Friday, October 14, 2022 . The said event was graced by CM & Sons CEO & President Jonathan Manuel T. Lo & family.

The store is strategically – located along Blumentritt Road - a major road in Manila, Philippines. It runs through the border of the City of Manila and Quezon City from Rizal Avenue in Santa Cruz district to G. Tuazon Street in Sampaloc district, to bring the yummiest and tastiest products to more Filipinos in the Luzon regions.

This is the company’s 66^th branch to be opened since it started in 1995. The company aims to expand and reach more clientele in Negros, Panay, Cebu, even in the Mindanao and now in Luzon. Where it has been receiving a lot of inquiries for distribution of the best – tasting Filipino delicacies that has to offer.

Manileno fans of Merzci Pasalubong Treats will surely delight on its best – selling items like special biscocho, cashew-topped butterscotch, delicious piaya, crunchy barquillos, assorted mouth – watering tarts, and enjoy the famous hot – off - the – grill piaya.

Merzci’s newest branch is located at 1637-1639 Blumentritt, Corner Oroquieta Streets, Sta. Cruz, Manila.

This branch is also set up to cater to wholesalers and dealers who are interested in partnering with the company in distributing delicious Merzci products in other parts of the country. Interested seller may get in touch directly at the branch or contact 0917.708.8783 / 0917.700.7747.

MERZCI BLUMENTRITT BRANCH
1637-1639 Blumentritt Road - Oroquieta Road
Santa Cruz, Manila, Metro Manila 1014

Mobile: 0917.708.8783 / 0917.700.7747

Operating Hours:
Weekdays: 6am - 10pm
Weekend: 6 am - 9pm

OFFICIAL SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS:
Facebook: @MerzciPasalubongPH
https://www.facebook.com/MerzciPasalubongPH
Instagram: @merzcipasalubongph
https://www.instagram.com/merzcipasalubongph/
 
 

 

 

About Merzci Pasalubong
MERZCI is the trade name of CM & SONS FOOD PRODUCTS, INC. It is the leading bread and food pasalubong producer in Bacolod City and the island of Negros. It carries a wide array of product lines, namely; BAKESHOP, FAST FOOD, PASALUBONG, and PURIFIED WATER.

The company maintains optimum standards in its manufacturing processes and is constantly updating and improving its product lines. Along with its constant improvements, it strives to deliver customer satisfaction by bringing the highest "Value for Money" to its customers.

As of October 2022, the company is manned by a 2000-strong workforce more or less, with each department effectively working together to produce and maintain quality products for its customers.

Santé Choco Barley: The perfect drink to wake up to after cold nights

It’s rainy season again, which means colder days are here, making it much harder to get up in the morning. For most of us, a warm cup of our favorite beverage, such as a hot chocolate drink, will help start our day right.   

   

Aside from having to deal with getting a little cozy during bed weather, we’re also most likely to catch common colds and other diseases. So, it always pays to ensure that we get the most from the food and drinks we take to help boost our immunity.   

   

Fortunately, there are now exciting beverages that can give you the best of both worlds—a warm hug to get you started for the day and some additional health benefits to keep you healthy—perfect for the cold, rainy season.  

  

Among these exciting drinks is Santé Choco Barley, a smooth, creamy chocolate drink with 250mg of organic young barley grass powder mixed with cocoa. With just the right sweetness and its chocolatey goodness, it’s a sure treat for kids and adults alike.   

  

On rainy days, you can prepare Santé Choco Barley as a hot drink. Just empty a 15g sachet in 180ml hot water. Stir well and enjoy. If you want it cold, you can dissolve the contents of one sachet in approximately 30ml of hot water. Stir briskly, then add cold water to make a glass (180ml) of cold Santé Choco Barley.  

  

More than its delicious taste, it is also packed with nutrients, providing you with these health benefits:   

  

A drink that can protect you. With Santé Choco Barley, not only can you get a delicious chocolate drink, but it can also provide vitamins and other nutrients you need for your body. It is packed with Vitamin C, an essential nutrient to protect yourself during the cold season. It is also proven that Vitamin C can help boost your immunity and prevent iron deficiency, especially for kids.  

  

In addition, Santé Choco Barley has Vitamin A, which can improve your eyesight and protect you from night blindness. It can help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes because the chocolate drink contains flavonols that reduce insulin sensitivity.   

  

Good for the heart and has antioxidants. Cocoa contains flavonols that enhance your blood vessels’ function and maintains healthy blood pressure. The flavonols from cocoa help improve nitric oxide levels that relax the inner muscles of your arteries, veins, and capillaries, promoting good blood flow. It also reduces LDL cholesterol which is the type of cholesterol that causes heart attacks. The combination of cocoa and the barley grass powder makes the Santé Choco Barley perfect for your heart health.   

   

And since Santé Choco Barley contains barley grass powder, it can help provide antioxidants that can prevent diseases such as cancers, inflammations, and cardiovascular illnesses.   

   

Perfect for you and your loved ones. Sometimes, children can be picky eaters, but it is still important for them to get the proper nutrition they need. With Santé Choco Barley, not only can they enjoy a delicious drink, but they can also get all the nutrients they need.    

  

On the other hand, if you are an on-the-go adult, Santé Choco Barley is also perfect when you want a quick drink rich in protein. The hot beverage is an ideal substitute to wake you up when your mornings get too cold for you to function. It is also highly customizable, so you can make it cold, shaken, blended, or stirred.   

  

For a more fulfilling breakfast, try mixing the drink with your favorite fruits like banana and strawberry for a complete, healthy, quick, and easy breakfast! The possibilities are endless with this drink because of the numerous recipes you can try.    

   

“At Santé, we believe every health and wellness product we put out on the market should be enjoyable and bring comfort to people. With Santé Choco Barley, we want to provide warmth, especially during rainy days, as well as health benefits that you don’t usually get in other chocolate drinks in the market.” ~Joey Marcelo, chief executive officer of Santé

    

Santé is one of the leading global manufacturers of products with organic barley grass (certified organic by BioGro) 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.    

    

To learn more about Santé Choco Barley and other Santé products, 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 15 years of expertise, the company has been a prime mover in the health and wellness industry as it continues its mission to help people live better lives. Santé is engaged in the direct selling and retailing of premier natural health and wellness products and services. The company also has other offerings, including a fitness and rehabilitation center and leisure and recreational facilities, staying true to its thrust of promoting a healthy lifestyle. 

 

Headquartered in the Philippines, Santé has a presence in New Zealand and in 7 other countries.