Tips in making the switch from office to home office

More and more companies are implementing a work-from-home scheme to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. For many employees, this sounds like a dream (No traffic! No need to leave the house!) but there are preparations to be made to ensure productivity. Working from home is also a good chance to strengthen your values—both your own and your family’s. 

Here are seven essential tips in making the switch from office to home office: 

Begin with a grateful heart. In these trying times, the ability to work from home is something to be thankful for. You’re assured of a steady income and you get to stay safe and healthy and protect your family from getting sick as well. 

Prepare a schedule and stick to it. Your home is rife with distractions—your big TV, that inviting bed, your spouse, your kids—so it’s important to make sure your day is structured like it would be in an office. Your discipline is a crucial tool you’ll be using as you work from home. Create a schedule that highlights your core hours and utilize your DND settings to make sure you can focus on your deliverables. List everything you need to do, include breaks, and if you manage your time well, you might even be able to squeeze a nap in. 

Get out of your pajamas. We get it, they’re comfy, but you need to start your day like you are actually going to the office to put yourself in that working mindset. Think of these as steps that show your commitment to your work. Set your alarm, get out of bed, have breakfast, drink your coffee, take a shower, wear something other than pajamas and flex those working muscles. 

Choose your work area. And no, it can’t be your bed. Your work area must be conducive to productivity and help you be as hardworking as ever.  If you don’t have a proper desk, maybe use your dining table. Get creative. A good chair is crucial too to make sure you stay comfortable while you slay those deadlines. Avoid back strain by getting up and stretching from time to time just like what you do when in your office. 

Make sure you have a strong internet connection. Connectivity is crucial if you want to work at home successfully. You will need to be as dependable as ever, with the ability to perform the tasks that you do in the office and communicate with your coworkers with ease. A slow connection is a productivity killer. 

And because PLDT Home knows that many of its subscribers are going to stay at home in the next month, it’s rolling out another round of free speedboost for PLDT Home Fibr Plan subscribers 1299 and 1699 in Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna, and Cavite. From their usual 10mbps and 20mbps, they get to enjoy up to 25mbps of internet speed from March 15 to April 30. 

While PLDT Home WiFi Prepaid users will continue to enjoy their favorite P199 prepaid pack double the data promo (from 12GB to 24GB) until April 30. If you don’t have a PLDT Home Prepaid WiFi yet, you can get a brand new one for only P995.

PLDT is your partner in maintaining your dependability. When your internet connection is strong, your coworkers will be able to count on you.

Get your household onboard.  If you live with your family, explain to them that you are home to work and that they can help you stick to your schedule by avoiding any interruptions unless absolutely necessary. This is a good chance to teach your children respect. “Mommy is working for the next few hours,” you can say. “But at lunch break, we’ll eat together and have fun.” It’s a good time for you to practice patience too because interruptions will inevitably come. You just need to be ready to deal with them with a cool head.

Enjoy your breaks. Good breaks help you do better work. Balance is key. Enjoy your lunch, have a nice conversation, play with your kids, devote time to your family and then get back to work. 

Keep your spirits up! Now is the perfect time to enjoy working at home with your loved ones. #StayHome to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep your family connected and productive.

SM Supermalls to waive tenant rentals nationwide

The SM Supermalls announced it will waive rentals to all tenants nationwide from March 16 to April 14, 2020. This is to offer tenants some relief during this trying time, so that they can in turn lend more assistance to their employees during the period of Community Quarantine.

“We share our tenants partners’ concerns at the unfortunate situation and will waive rental charges for those affected and unable to operate during this period,” said SM Supermalls president Steven T. Tan.

This support forms part of SM’s commitment to fight the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak, in addition to its recent announcement that it has allocated PhP100M to provide protective equipment and supplies towards hospitals for the safety of medical front liners, as they actively fight the spread of COVID-19.

For more information about SM, visit www.smsupermalls.com.

Donate to the PH RedCross simply by scanning this PayMaya QR!

As the entire country copes from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Filipinos--particularly those in the marginalized sectors and communities--are left with little to no access to basic necessities and livelihood. The next few weeks will be tough for all of them.

Because of this, PayMaya has partnered with the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) to allow direct donations from any PayMaya Account via QR to PRC so they can provide critical humanitarian services such as medical assistance and relief operations in this time of need. Users only need to scan the QR code below using their PayMaya app to be able to make a quick and instant donation to the Philippine Red Cross:

PayMaya has also equipped the PRC with PayMaya One devices so they may be able to accept card and QR donations whenever they are in the field.

In these trying times, every contribution counts in making sure that no one is left behind. Together, we can rise through this crisis better and stronger than ever.

 "Make sure that when you scan this QR code, the merchant name appears in the PayMaya app as PHILIPPINE RED CROSS." 

Stay at Home Safety Tips for your family

Safety starts at home. Maintaining a clean and healthy environment at home is important to safeguard yourself and your family from any illnesses. 

Here are seven tips to keep your family safe at home:

1.     Wash your hands often

Wash your hands with soap for at least 20 seconds. Soap helps kill germs and viruses that are invisible to the eye, which simply washing with water can’t do. Always use hand sanitizer with 70% alcohol.

2.     Wear a mask, and don’t touch your face

If you are sick, whether it’s with COVID-19 or any other illness, wear a face mask wherever you go to stop the spread of your illness. You should also avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose, as it’s through those body parts that germs and viruses enter the body.

3.     Sanitize your devices

As you wash and clean your hands, you should also clean your devices, especially your mobile phone. These electronics could easily accumulate germs and viruses, as we constantly touch them throughout the day. Lightly apply some antimicrobial spray or alcohol on a microfiber cloth and wipe down your screens. If your devices have covers, don’t forget to wash these covers too.

4.     Work from home

If your work, school, or daily commute is near a critical area, then it’s best to stay at home even if you’re not sick. The internet now makes it easier than ever to do work remotely and reduce the chances of contracting the virus and spreading it further. You can set up virtual meetings, transfer work files online, save your important documents through cloud storage for easy access and communication with your colleagues—and you can do it reliably with your PLDT Home Fibr. 

Understanding the need for a strong and reliable internet connection now more than ever, PLDT Home has rolled out FREE speedboost for all Fibr subscribers in Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Laguna, and Cavite so that the minimum speeds will be 25 Mbps until April 30. This will help a lot of families working and studying at home to keep up with their daily tasks online.

5.     Keep family members updated of your status

The good thing about the internet is that with it, we can remain safe and constantly connected. In delicate times like these, it’s best to always update your family members of your status and location, as they may be able to tell you which places to avoid or anything they know, or you can share your own knowledge of the current situation. Even the simple news of telling everyone you’re fine can be very reassuring.

6.     Read up and share verified information on COVID-19

The best way to keep yourself and your family protected is if you also stay up-to-date on the right information about COVID-19 via official sources online. More developments unfold by the day, with new knowledge about the virus being discovered—you can learn about them right away online from trusted official sources and share them with your loved ones and friends, so they can protect themselves too.

PLDT Home Wifi and PLDT Home Volume-based plan subscribers now have FREE access to verified government and news websites such as the Department of Health (DOH), National Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), News 5, Philippine Star Global, Business World, CNN Philippines, ABS-CBN News, and GMA News Online.

7.     Always stay connected and set up personal notifications

Stay tuned to official channels of information. You can follow along on TV or radio and can easily set up notifications for important social media accounts such as the Department of Health (@DOHgovph on Twitter) or news sites. You can even set up Google Alerts to monitor for updates about COVID-19 around the internet.

Keep COVID-19 Hotlines and designated emergency hotlines of your area on your phone and send to your family members:

#StayHome to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and keep your family safe and connected. With PLDT Home, you can do so much such as reliably work from home and keep your family up-to-date to the latest news with your unlimited access to the Internet. Visit www.pldthome.com for more details. 

Globe Public Advisory as of March 18, 2020

Please be careful of a circulating post on Facebook and Twitter about how to get FREE EASYSURF299 from Globe. It asks you to privately message the poster or click on a link. This is a prank. Please do not message the poster, share the post, or click on the link. Only believe posts coming from Globe official social media accounts listed here: https://www.globe.com.ph/help/official-accounts.html

Jollibee Advisory as of March 18, 2020

SM Group allocates Php100M towards COVID-19 outbreak support to PGH, RITM, and other government hospitals

SM is bringing in personal protective equipment (PPE) – face masks, gowns, visors, hoods, gloves and shoe covers as well as urgent medical supplies to help government hospitals. Assistance has also been extended to Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and Research Institute for Tropical Management (RITM) for their urgent needs and for improving their laboratory testing capacity.

“To ensure the safety of medical frontliners, SM is bringing in personal protective equipment (PPE) - face masks, gowns, visors, hoods, gloves, and shoe covers, as well as urgent medical supplies to help government hospitals who badly need them,” said SM Prime’s Hans Sy. Assistance has also been extended to Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and Research Institute for Tropical Management (RITM) for their urgent needs and for improving their laboratory testing capacity. SM has also allocated PPEs and medical supplies to the UP Medical Foundation Inc. to reach a wider network of hospitals.

To improve availability of tests, SM has reached out to Manila Healthtek Inc. to distribute 20,000 tests for free to government hospitals, once approved for use.

Cebu Pacific Advisory:Suspension of all Flight Operations due to COVID-19

ALL CEBU PACIFIC AND CEBGO FLIGHTS WILL BE CANCELLED from March 19 until April 14, 2020, in support of government regulations on COVID-19.  

The Philippine government recently implemented Enhanced Community Quarantine over Luzon, and similar directives across various provinces in the country. We are ensuring the safety of our passengers and operations teams, in compliance with the stricter quarantine measures, land travel restrictions and regulations in place.  

The last day of operations will be on March 18, 2020 where Cebu Pacific will operate the following flights: 

Manila-Bangkok-Manila 

Manila-Tokyo (Narita)-Manila 

Manila-Osaka-Manila 

Manila-Nagoya-Manila 

Manila-Ho Chi Minh-Manila 

Manila-Singapore-Manila 

Manila-Taipei-Manila 

Manila-Bali (Denpasar)-Manila 

Please check the flight status through bit.ly/CEBflight-status.

Below is a summary of the options for passengers on cancelled flights due to COVID-19. These options may be processed online via the “Manage Booking” portal in the Cebu Pacific website bit.ly/CEBmanageflight. 

Help Caritas raise funds to protect the poor from COVID-19

President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon under Enhanced Community Quarantine (Lockdown) from March 17 to April 12 suspending all means of public transportation. 

Everyone is advised to stay inside their homes as the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases intensify its efforts to identify and isolate confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Many poor families in Metro Manila, even before the declaration of the Community Quarantine, are already unable to purchase food and basic protection needs against COVID-19. More than the virus, they’re afraid that the lockdown will deprive them of livelihood.

“We won’t last a month here. We won’t even last a few days if my husband doesn’t earn a living,” a woman living in Baseco, Tondo Manla said in an interview.  

In response to this crisis, Caritas Manila, the lead social service arm of the Archdiocese of Manila, launched the LIGTAS COVID-19 campaign. This aims to provide Caritas Ligtas COVID-19 kits and Caritas Manna food bags to 6,000 poor families in Metro Manila.

The 2000 Pesos Caritas LIGTAS COVID-19 kit for a family of 5 includes:

·      1 liter of 70% ethyl alcohol

·      5 handy bottles of 30 ml alcohol

·      5 washable face masks

·      1 liter of antibacterial liquid soap

·      1 box of 100 tablets of vitamin C with zinc

·      A pair of reusable gloves

·      1 liter of liquid bleach

·      3 pieces of cleaning cloth

·      Eco bag

The 700 Pesos worth of Caritas Manna bag to the family contains:

·      5 kilos of rice

·      munggo beans

·      9 assorted canned goods

·      2 packs of Caritas Margins kalabasa/malunggay noodles

·      1/4 pack of sugar and salt

·      Eco bag

Joining this campaign is now made even easier with GCash. Simply scan the QR code below in your GCash app and you can donate as low as 1 peso to help protect the poor from COVID-19.

The crisis has affected our country and there is no other way to #FightCOVID19 than to live out the Filipino spirit of Bayanihan. No one should be left behind.

For MORE information about Caritas Manila and its campaigns please go to www.caritasmanila.org.ph or CONTACT 0917-5955083

Staying at Home? Try the TikTok #POV Challenge

While the 30-day “community quarantine” is in effect within Metro Manila, why not make the most of your time and learn new things?

There is a trending challenge on TikTok which offers viewers a myriad of perspectives on situations, scenarios, and circumstances. The TikTok #POV challenge features short form videos that are shot from the watchers’ point of view. This places the audience right in the middle of a scene as a participant and not just a spectator.

Watching TikTok  #POV posts can give off an almost roleplaying feel for the viewer. In a way, you can enjoy being a part of the action for a brief moment. The variety of viewpoints that you can experience when you browse through the #POV hashtag on TikTok is incredible. These videos provide the audience with a unique perspective on everyday things, which you might have never thought about or imagined yourself.

Typically, a #POV video will assign a particular character or persona to the viewer. The post creator sets the scene, and he or she indicates what point of view the video is taking, in the post caption. Here are some awesome sample videos by Filipino TikTok creators, with POVs like a classmate, a school geek, and even someone’s crush.

@yanyandejesus1 POV: You’re the school geek who has a crush on me (the bad boy) for a long time and you decided to confess your feelings for me.
♬ Don't Wanna Fall In Love - KYLE

@jasminealabastro23 ##pov : me and my friends were talking but then we made eye contact 🙈 (you're my crush) ##foryoupage ##tiktokdavao ##tiktokphilippines
♬ Make Me Crazy - goalsounds

@moonchi22 POV: Ako yung bagong transferee sa klase ##pinoytiktok ##fyp
♬ 'yung bagong classmate ay 'yung crush mo - ❀JaBuan❀

In some videos, the viewers personify inanimate objects. This one from @benoftheweek, for example, puts viewers in the point of view of a Nintendo DS Lite https://vt.tiktok.com/YxnFXq/. This video is said to be one of the first to use the #POV hashtag on TikTok.

@benoftheweek what ur nintendo ds lite sees when u pictochat ur crush (wait till the end lol) ##foryou ##foryoupage
♬ original sound - benoftheweek

Another video where the audience takes on the perspective of an inanimate object is @jae_hwaw’s post, which shows what a cellphone hidden inside his bag supposedly sees. 

@yazdemand ##pov your my mirror after My family say that “you will always be a boy”😢 ##foryou
♬ original sound - Junkhoe伊

@jo_osh pov: the mirror of my insecurities
♬ IDFC - isså.pÿt

@jae_hwaw ##POV you’re my cellphone! ##phcomedy##voicechanger ##duetwithme ?
♬ original sound - 𝙹𝙰𝙴-𝙷𝚆𝙰

For content creators a #POV post gives the ability to speak right at your audience, as if you are communicating with them directly. In a way this adds a deeper, more intimate quality to your interaction, which could also help to drive engagement. You can be as creative as you want to be when making TikTok #POV videos, placing your viewers in all the scenarios you can come up with, from scary to funny to serious and meaningful ones.

  Apart from being entertaining and creative, #POV videos may be used to tackle important issues as well. You may find that certain #POV videos depict scenes that play on different emotions, including positive ones like joy and excitement, and negative feelings such as fear and loneliness. Through these videos, content creators can share valuable messages like how to deal, and where to seek support.

For instance, a #POV video could take the viewpoint of a mirror, and what the viewers will see is actually their reflection. Videos like these may be used to address topics like insecurity and self-image issues. Some great examples are these two posts by @jo_osh and @yazdemand

When you share your own #POV content or watch one of the thousands available on TikTok, you are sure to enjoy the unique experience that this online trend can bring. Start looking at things from a new perspective, and create your own #POV videos today. Download TikTok on your iOS and Android devices to get started.

SEAF x Ellana Cosmetics

I always support our local (Philippine made) make-up and skincare. Some of the brands that I have been using, are getting good reviews and testimonials  here and abroad. That's why if you'll check my make up and skincare staples nowadays. 

Some of them are a mixed up of local and high end products, like Ellana's pressed foundation in Hazelnut. Its perfect for setting your make up. Plus its 100% vegan makeup, talc-free, fragrance-free and cruelty-free.

SEAF  has  announced  its  first  investment  in  the Philippines as SEAF Women’s Opportunity Fund (“SWOF”) has invested in  Ellana Cosmetics Pte Ltd (“Ellana Cosmetics”), a fast-growing skin first cosmetics brand established by founder- formulator,  Theresa  Buenaflor,  as  a  leading  homegrown  mineral  cosmetics  brand.  Ellana Cosmetics creates and distributes non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic products specifically catering to the requirements of Filipina and Southeast Asian skin types.

From humble beginnings, Ellana Cosmetics started with foundation and primer products sold at a counter at a weekend bazaar in 2009. Today, the company has developed into a makeup brand that sells over 200 SKUs, including products distributed in more than 70 outlets. 

Ellana Cosmetics puts customers at the heart of its products and customer experience. Through its digitally-focused campaigns, the company cultivated direct relationships with consumers, fostering conversations both online and offline to gather insights on their needs and challenges. 

Ellana then used this consumer feedback to develop and refine its product offerings and formulations. With this consumer-centric approach, Ellana has developed a strong and growing customer base.

Theresa Buenaflor stated, “We believe that beauty does more, and we make that happen through products that put skin health first. Beyond beauty, we can do more by empowering our employees professionally and on a personal level. The investment from SWOF enables Ellana Cosmetics to accelerate our business expansion while strengthening our commitments to  empowering women,  particularly  our  beauty consultants who  are  hired  directly and  to protecting the environment by consistently decreasing our brand’s packaging waste.”

“We are excited to be partnering with Ellana Cosmetics in its expansion plans as well as advancing its women economic empowerment programs. Theresa has demonstrated grit and perseverance in building the Ellana brand over the years to a retail network of 70+ points of sale in the Philippines,” stated Jennifer Buckley, SEAF Senior Managing Director. “As a result, she has created an organizational culture that celebrates individuality, promotes gender equity and empowerment, and espouses strong family values. We are delighted to see Ellana Cosmetics become a strong brand that is well-known not only in Metro Manila but in many other parts of the Philippines, and we look to support its further expansion through this funding round.”

SEAF Investment Director Rowena Reyes explained that SEAF sees great potential in the Company and how they have developed a community of loyal customers who value high- quality projects using natural ingredients and environmentally friendly packaging. The firm was particularly impressed by Ellana’s distinctive hiring policies and training programs and foresees it as a great role model for women’s economic empowerment in the retail sector in the Philippines. This strongly aligns with SEAF’s mission to pursue gender equality to deliver on its mission of “Improving Lives and Communities through Entrepreneur-Focused Investment.”

SEAF’s  partnership  with  Ellana  Cosmetics  will  support  the  expansion  of  its  retail  outlets, increase  its  warehouse  capacity,  and  implement  management  systems  to  run  its  growing operations more efficiently.