IABC Philippines’ CommChat Series Season 2 Premiere Features Beyond the Vax: The Value of Our Body’s Defense and Repair System in Fighting COVID-19

 

The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines invites you to the premiere of Season Two of its CommChat series entitled Beyond the Vax: The Value of Our Body’s Defense and Repair System in Fighting Covid-19 on July 31, Saturday at 3PM. 

This season kicks off with Dr. Oyie Balburias talking about the value of our body’s defense and repair system in fighting against COVID-19. Dr. Balburias is one of the three pioneering doctors for Functional Medicine in the Philippines and is also a host in GMA’s health program “Pinoy M.D.”.

The CommChat Series is a webinar series that invites recognized professionals in communications and other industries to talk about relevant and insightful topics that will help in the professional development of communications practitioners. It is one of the initiatives of the IABC Philippines that aims to teach both communication practitioners and aspiring professionals how to survive in the constantly changing industry landscape. 

The Season One of IABC Philippines’ CommChat Series tackled different issues, from “Pursuing career goals despite the pandemic”, to “How brands and companies use technology and social media to achieve their communication goals and objectives”. 

The event is free and those who are interested in attending this season’s premiere entitled Beyond the Vax : The Value of Our Body’s Defense and Repair System in Fighting COVID-19 can register at https://forms.gle/J2sTktQJEMhAkL3CA.

Partnering with IABC Philippines for the Season Two premiere are regional integrated communications agency ComCo Southeast Asia and payment platform CIS Bayad Center, Inc.

IABC Philippines is the first IABC country chapter in Asia. It is an association of top business, industrial and organizational communicators and professionals that supports the highest professional standards and practice of exceptional quality and innovation in organization and business communication. It advocates for continued professional growth, learning, and communication excellence, linking Filipino practitioners with colleagues and best practices worldwide. Its two major communication excellence industry awards are the Philippine Quill and the Philippine CEO EXCEL Awards. IABC is a member of the Global Alliance of Public Relations and Communication Management.

To know more about IABC Philippines, please visit https://www.facebook.com/iabcph or e-mail iabcphilippinesat30@gmail.com.

It's The First Anniversary Sale of Universal Robina Corporation On Shopee !

 

Nothing compares to good food that brings Filipino families closer together. This has always been the purpose of Universal Robina Corporation (URC) -- to offer a variety of delightful treats that can be enjoyed and shared by the whole family.

Continuing to delight Filipinos with good food choices, URC celebrates one year of well-loved snacks and treats made available on Shopee with a week-long sale. From July 28 until August 1, 2021, goodies such as Piattos, Cloud 9, Cream-O, C2 and many other URC products will be up for grabs on the URC Shopee Mall with discounted prices.

 

Score great deals when checking out with Shopee vouchers, which will also be readily available within the week. Bundled classic Pinoy snacks like Jack ‘n Jill snacks, powdered beverages, and more categories will also be on sale.

Last year, amid the health crisis and the sudden shift to online shopping, URC made its wide selection of snacks and drinks available on the Shopee Mall in the hopes of offering a safe and convenient way for Pinoys to shop for their favorite treats, hassle-free.

Find out more about the latest news on URC at www.urc.com.ph, or stay tuned to URC’s Facebook page.

World Vision calls to support a meaningful future for Filipino children in the “Back-to-School” campaign

 

World Vision, one of the leading child-focused NGOs in the Philippines, launches its “Back-to-School” campaign to support Filipino children for the opening of the school year 2021-2022. 

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the consequences of COVID-19 continue to affect many, especially those living in the most vulnerable conditions. Among those most heavily affected are children as the pandemic continues to disrupt their learning and development and makes education inaccessible to millions of students nationwide.

Research conducted by World Vision revealed that since 2019, almost three million students have dropped out of school and that five in ten families lacked access to basic education. These problems have only worsened during the pandemic because of the limited avenues to learn. In the absence of face-to-face learning, online or remote methods have become the temporary norm, however, more than 38% of children in far-flung areas are unable to take advantage of this medium as they cannot afford the technological materials required.

In the face of these challenges, World Vision continues to believe that every child has the right to have access to quality education in these trying times through the “Back-to-School” campaign. The campaign hopes to not only raise enough money to sponsor learning materials for students but also highlight the need to create a more meaningful future for them.

“Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, it is inspiring to see a number of most vulnerable children continue to have access to quality education. With your support to World Vision’s Back To School campaign, we can sustain their learning and help them reach their full potential. Together, we can look forward to a bright future,” said Mr. Rommel Fuerte, World Vision National Director.

Last year, World Vision’s “Back-to-School” campaign has helped 64,000 children by raising funds to provide school kits and printed modules for students in remote areas. This year, World Vision strives to help even more as they carry the same mission with the campaign’s Celebrity Ambassador Jasmine Curtis Smith and World Vision Advocate Scarlet Snow Belo.

“The pandemic has severely hindered many children’s opportunities to have a good education, but we’re hoping that World Vision’s ‘Back-to-School’ campaign could help them in any way and that everyone can find their reasons to support a child. This is a cause I really believe in, and I stand with World Vision in ensuring that these children reach their full potential through education,” said Jasmine Curtis Smith.

In line with the advocacy of the Back to School campaign, Jasmine Curtis-Smith recently donated to World Vision 1,500 children’s books that aim to educate kids on proper and secure use of the internet. The donated books will go to at least a thousand children in Malabon.

 

World Vision Celebrity Ambassador Jasmine Curtis-Smith donates books for World Vision 

Help create a more meaningful future for our children by supporting World Vision’s Back-to-School campaign at https://wvph.co/OfficialPRB2S. For as low as Php 600, you can give students in remote areas the materials they need for their education, including school kits, printed modules, and gadgets for learning.

To know more about World Vision and its other initiatives, you may visit www.worldvision.org.ph or follow World Vision’s official social media pages /worldvisionph on Facebook, @worldvisionphl on Instagram, and @worldvisionph on Twitter.

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, their families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by its Christian faith and values, it is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people. It serves and collaborates with all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

Angeline Quinto is the New Celebrity Endorser of Ayesha Beauty Products

 

Singer and actress Angeline Quinto who had spawned many hit songs throughout the years, is the newest face of a thriving beauty product. Little did she know that one of her songs - "Patuloy Ang Pangarap", inspired Armie Rosale Agmata, the CEO of Ayesha Beauty Products (ABP) to work hard and reach for her dreams.      

In just four years, Ms. Armie's beauty products are now available nationwide, and Angeline, who used to serve as her inspiration, is now her newest endorser. 

"Just like Angeline, I had humble beginnings in life and I never gave up on my dreams despite the negative criticisms thrown at me. Her song really inspired me a lot that is why I am very happy that we got her as our first ever celebrity endorser because her story pretty much mirrors the journey I went through in putting up Ayesha." said Ms. Armie. 

Angeline felt overwhelmed that she was chosen by ABP Corporation to be their newest face. But more than the endorsement, the singer-actress expressed how moved she was when she found out how her song influenced Armie's life.     

"It's very fulfilling to know that your song impacted someone's life. As a singer, that's what we really want - for our songs to move the hearts of our listeners. What Ms. Armie went through is more than that because the song motivated her to improve her life, work hard in her business, and help other people change their lives too." shared Angeline.   

 

During the live press conference and contract signing of this endorsement, Angeline got teary-eyed when she recalled the passing of her Mama Bob last year. She lost a major part of her life. But now that she's with Ayesha Beauty Products Corporation, she feels that she's part of a new family.  

Before becoming the Queen of Teleserye Theme Songs, Angeline used to be an aspiring singer who actively competed in several barangay singing contests. She even joined talent searches on television but she always came home empty-handed. That is until 2011 when she was named the first grand winner of "Star Power: Sharon's Search for the Next Female Pop Superstar."  

"I can very much relate to Ms. Armie's story that's why I am so happy to be part of the Ayesha family. They really worked hard to get to where they are now. Aside from producing effective products, I like that they have a heart for service and they are really passionate to beautify and improve the skin of many Filipinas and even guys too." added Angeline.  

Ayesha's top product is its rejuvenating kit, which comes in mild formula, extra-strength, and premium varieties, and can be availed for only P250. The kit contains kojic soap, rejuvenating cream and toner, collagen with elastin cream, and sunblock gel cream.     

"Before it is just a dream for me to have whiter skin, so when I discovered the rejuvenating kit, I told myself that I want others to enjoy its benefits as well. When I finally found a supplier, I worked twice as hard to reach my goals. Now I have my own manufacturing plant, and we even added new products like lotion, cream, toner, and many more." said Ms. Armie.  

Ms. Armie, and her husband Michael, COO of ABP Corporation, were beaming with pride when they shared their reseller program wherein they gave out cash, gadgets, and travel incentives to their distributors.   

5 activities to turn family merienda into fun bonding moments

For Filipino families, merienda is a tradition typically enjoyed twice a day, either between breakfast and lunch, and between lunch and dinner. But beyond this, it’s also as good a time as any to catch up and bond over light and easy-to-prepare delicious food.

Add a twist to your family’s usual merienda to make them more fun and exciting. Here are five activities worth a try:

Do the no-phone tower challenge

Distractions can occur during merienda time, so one way to avoid them is by setting aside phones and tablets during merienda. Of course, rules are no fun, so turn it into a challenge instead. Do this by stacking all of your phones at the center of the table. The challenge is this: the first one to get their phone from the tower gets a penalty, like cleaning up after merienda.

Play games

What is merienda without yummy snacks? Use your family’s favorite snacks as part of the games that you could play. Two games come to mind: Build-a-House and Face-the-Cookie.

For Build-a-House, simply challenge everyone to build a house using Magic Creams crackers and Wafrets. Let your family’s creative juices flow in this game. Meanwhile, for Face-the-Cookie, each family member will place a Cream-O or Presto cookie on their forehead and race to move the cookie to their mouth using only their facial muscles. 

The winner gets a prize, of course, like a free pass for washing the dishes after dinner.

If most of your family members have a sweet tooth, this is the perfect surprise you can do for them: dessert kebabs! Kebabs are typically pieces of meat and tomatoes and bell peppers on a skewer. For your merienda time, put Dewberry biscuits in sticks, together with cubed watermelon and apple, or maybe even marshmallows, to keep a perfectly balanced taste.

You could also treat your family to a delightfully sweet clubhouse sandwich. This type of sandwich often includes bread, with either bacon or ham, lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise in between. But as desserts, use Jack ‘N Jill’s Quake Overload as the bread and Strawberry or Milky Knots as fillings. Keep them secure using toothpicks to complete the “clubhouse” look.

Try pre-merienda games

One of the common questions during family merienda time is who gets to prepare the food. Instead of pointing fingers, try playing Pinoy childhood games like Jack en Poy (Rock, Paper, Scissors). Ten rounds of Jack en Poy should be enough. The winner can be the one to choose the snacks for merienda, which the loser will have to prepare.

Give “Potluck Day” a chance

Filipino family reunions are often tied to the potluck habit. So for merienda time, think of it as a mini reunion with your loved ones every day, where you gather to eat your favorite snacks, relax, and take a break from work or school at home. This is also your chance to bring to the table your favorite Pinoy snacks, like Jack ‘N Jill Biscuits and Cakes.

Merienda time is like your family’s “glue”. It’s these times spent together when you connect and bond even closer. Give any of these activities a try, or create a unique one yourselves. They don’t have to be complicated. 

What matters is that everyone enjoys their favorite snacks with their favorite people, making funny, sweet, and lasting memories, together. Stock up on your family’s Jack N’ Jill Snacktime Favorites – Magic, Cream-O, Presto, Dewberry, Knots, Wafrets, and Quake Overload, available at your nearest supermarket, sari-sari store, and online.

World Vision and ComCo SEA join forces for Cause Marketing for Good initiative for MSMEs

Global development and advocacy organization World Vision and regional integrated communications agency ComCo Southeast Asia through its Citizen ComCo initiative continue their mission of giving companies and brands opportunities to give back, this time with a focus on supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through the Cause Marketing for Good Virtual Conference.

Created and organized by World Vision and ComCo Southeast Asia, the Cause Marketing for Good Virtual Conference is part of the organization’s larger initiative to orient MSMEs on the value of cause-related marketing or CRM, which is especially relevant in today’s pandemic environment, and to equip them on how to champion social issues through their marketing efforts.

Happening on July 21, 2 p.m., the online conference will include sessions on defining CRM, CRM’s impact on sales from AirAsia, and how to use e-commerce to forward your cause from Lazada. There will also be a panel discussion on how to create effective CRM campaigns featuring experts and practitioners of the field such as ComCo Southeast Asia for public relations and Ideas X Machina for creatives.

The ongoing pandemic has had a massive effect on the economy, with MSMEs taking the brunt of this as they make up 99.5% of business establishments in the Philippines and employ 62.4% of the country’s workforce according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. MSMEs are currently facing huge hurdles to keep their businesses afloat, especially in the face of quarantine regulations and economic slowdown.

But with the challenge brought about by the pandemic comes bayanihan spirit – the value of Filipino community as they work together towards a common goal. This has urged individuals, communities, organizations, and even brands and companies, to band together and help each other during this crisis. It has also shown us how Filipino consumers, especially millennials and Gen Zers, are responding positively to brands and companies who support advocacies and stand for causes and values that they believe in.

According to the Global Millennial Survey 2021 by professional services firm Deloitte, millennials and Gen Zers are concerned about the positive impact of businesses on society. These generations of consumers tend to make decisions aligned with their values, with more than a quarter of respondents saying that businesses’ impact on the environment influence their buying decisions, expecting brands to be aligned with their personal values before they invest in their products or services.

In the eyes of consumers, businesses can and have the responsibility to do good – and doing good actually makes for good business. Through the Cause Marketing for Good Campaign and Virtual Conference, World Vision and ComCo Southeast Asia look forward to helping more MSMEs build strong connections with their customers through effective and sustainable cause-related marketing campaigns – ones that allow them to sell while also creating a positive social impact in the Philippines.

Participants may register for the Cause Marketing for Good Virtual Conference at wvph.co/CauseMarketingForGood.

To know more about World Vision and ComCo Southeast Asia’s partnership, visit www.worldvision.org.ph or follow World Vision’s official social media pages /worldvisionph on Facebook, @worldvisionphl on Instagram, and @worldvisionph on Twitter. For more information on World Vision Philippines and its other initiatives, call the World Vision hotline number at 8372-77-77 or Ms. Wichelle Cruz of Private Sector Partnerships Manager at 0917-511-6640.

About World Vision

World Vision is a Christian relief, development, and advocacy organization dedicated to working with children, their families, and communities to overcome poverty and injustice. Inspired by its Christian faith and values, it is dedicated to working with the world’s most vulnerable people. It serves and collaborates with all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender.

About ComCo Southeast Asia

ComCo Southeast Asia or ComCo SEA is a trailblazing and global award-winning integrated communications agency powered by the coalition of premier brand architects, inspired storytellers, and communication trailblazers in the region. Based in the Philippines with affiliate network presence in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, ComCo SEA takes the lead in the innovation of premier brands and growth of up-and-coming businesses through the emerging global disciplines of New PR – a strategy based, content-driven, and channel-agnostic way of doing PR, and Smart Social – a holistic, authentic and integrated approach in the maximization of digital and social channels, to effectively reach and engage audiences and help influence change. To know more about ComCo Southeast Asia, visit www.comcosea.com. 

A Single Man's Journey To Survival

Dear Survivor, 

The past one and a half year had been the most difficult time for most of us. This CoVid19 pandemic was probably the worst thing that could happen to the citizens of the world. And it's still among us. Let me go back to that time when it first happened. It's the year 2020 - New Year, New Decade. It's the year of the rat. An animal which is smart, resourceful, and quick-witted. But it's also a symbol prone to negative thinking, and a harbinger of diseases. In mid-December 2019, news broke out that a new virus in China is fast spreading. It is said to be very contagious, and people were advised to take necessary precautions like wearing face masks in public, avoiding crowds, washing hands with soap, etc.  

March 15, 2020 

It finally hit me ! Lockdown is real. ECQ was declared in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. Land, sea, and air travel to and from Metro Manila were suspended for 30 days. That meant no more going to the malls, no more movies in cinemas, no more events or parties to attend to, no more work for most of us. Everyone had plenty of time in their hands. We had to stay in our homes to be safe. Most of us were afraid for we didn't know what we were dealing with.  

My first thoughts were: What am I gonna do ? What am I gonna eat ? I had to watch the news everyday to be updated. For the first week, I had to eat only canned goods which was available at home. It's not the healthiest meal but I had no choice. But after eating canned tuna and corned beef each and every meal, I wanted to have something more palatable. Since I didn't have that community pass given to only one person per household, I had to sneaked out of the house, run to the nearest carinderia (eatery), buy food, and be back to our house within thirty minutes. It was like that for several days, until one day I didn't have any money left.  

I went to a nearby pawnshop and brought my Armani Exchange watch which was a gift for me last December 2020. I was hoping to get a good amount but I only received P1,100 payable in four months. It wasn't enough. So I had to talked to the owner of the carinderia (eatery) near us, and asked if I could get food on loan (pa-lista). Since I have done that in the past and I paid my debts diligently, she agreed. We didn't know then how long it would take me to pay them back. Weeks passed and still no sign of things getting better. Finally I thought of writing a long letter to my sister who's based in the U.S.A. My sister, who lives with her husband and son, is the breadwinner. She usually sends me money on my birthday and for Christmas, but no more than that. I had to explained to her that I had no work, and therefore no income. I also told her that I will not die due to CoVid19, but I might die because of hunger. She sent me the money ! I paid the eatery  immediately. Six weeks worth of lunch and dinner.  

Middle of June 2020

I received a call from one of my agents that I had been approved for a role on a new tv series "ANG SA IYO AY AKIN" (What's Yours Is Mine). It's a small role but hey, it's better than nothing. It's a lock-in taping for two weeks in July. We stayed in a boutique hotel in Quezon City. I played a Japanese businessman named Mr. Nakamura. I only had two scenes with Sam Milby, the lead actor. I was also asked to play other small roles like crowd doctor, church goer, and market buyer. Since the pandemic, most talents are required to play multiple roles so as to keep a limited number of people on the set. We had our serology test before and after taping.  

August and September 2020 

Other tapings were scheduled but they didn't push through. It's back to the usual routine of home-buy food-home. Most of the time, I just watched tv or movies at home. Or surfed the net. I had to monitor my expenses because I didn't know when will the next project be.   

October 2020 

Got a call confirming my taping for this month for FPJ's ANG PROBINSYANO. I'll be playing Mr. Tam - an investor for Lito Valmoria's (Richard Gutierrez's character) real-estate development company. First we had home quarantine for one week, then dorm quarantine for another week before going to Lipa City, Batangas for the actual shoot.

We only stayed there for one week because it's been raining hard everyday. We were forced to go back to Manila due to the thunderstorms. We had our swab test before and after taping.   

November 2020

When the storms had passed, I was asked to go back to FPJAP. We had PCR test and dorm quarantine for one week, before going back to Batangas. Some talents tested positive for CoVid19 so they were sent home. The production became more strict in enforcing safety protocols. I had more screen time and longer lines during our shoots, but the pay was just the same. When all our scenes were done, we were sent back to Metro Manila for our PCR exit test. I was home in Makati by Dec. 5, 2020. December was just resting and spending the holidays at home.  

Year 2021

By this new year, we are seeing news of the CoVid variants in UK, South Africa, and India. They are said to be deadlier and more contagious. This means we cannot afford to be complacent when it comes to our safety. Several countries have started vaccinating their citizens, yet we are far from achieving herd immunity. We need to be more vigilant with regards our health. We should eat the right food - more fruits and vegetables. Take our vitamins everyday. Wear our face masks. Avoid crowds. Wash our hands with soap and water. Practice proper hygiene. I'm still surviving. The battle is not yet over ! 

This story is an entry to ComCo Southeast Asia’s “Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2: Dear Survivor”. The initiative continues to respond to the need of our times, as every story comes a long way during this period of crisis.  The initiative aims to pull and collate powerful stories from the Philippine blogging communities to inspire the nation to rise and move forward amidst the difficult situation. The “Write to Ignite Blogging Project” Season 2 is made possible by ComCo Southeast Asia, with Eastern Communications and Jobstreet as co-presenters, with AirAsia and Xiaomi as major sponsors, and with Teleperformance as sponsor.

         

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