Canva launches Canva for Negosyo to empower Filipino entrepreneurs

Filipinos are so naturally creative that even the realities and challenges of the pandemic could not hinder the so-called diskarteng Pinoy. Amidst losing jobs, declining sales, closing of physical stores and businesses, Filipinos are resourceful and able to find solutions to make ends meet. To keep up with the rapidly changing times, Pinoy MSMEs are now transitioning their businesses online. 

Many business owners find themselves in an unfamiliar environment where they have little to no experience but with Canva for Negosyo, Filipino entrepreneurs now have an ally to take their first steps. Canva for Negosyo is the Filipino business owner’s partner in creativity and productivity for their digital presence. It aims to empower local entrepreneurs to create everything their negosyo needs in one easy-to-use collaborative space. 

Canva for Negosyo offers a wide selection of resources useful for designing, marketing, and managing a small business online: from video tutorials on branding and graphic design to customizable marketing templates and toolkits.  

“With Canva for Negosyo, Filipino entrepreneurs now have a headstart in bringing their businesses online. Madaling intindihin, mabilis matutunan. In minutes, kayang-kaya gumawa ng magaganda, engaging at patok na brand materials using our marketing toolkits and templates. Siguradong mag-eenjoy ang mga Pinoy na nag-nenegosyo with Canva's new hub of essential business resources, articles, and expert advice from fellow local entrepreneurs,” Maisie Littaua, Head of Growth for Canva Philippines said.

For those who are in need of photos for their businesses but have limited budget for hiring professional photographers, Canva for Negosyo offers a huge library of free photos and product shots that business owners can draw inspiration from or use on their designs and marketing materials.

Those who've turned their passion for food into a business during the lockdown, Canva for Negosyo offers photos of Pinoy dishes, from street food, local bakery breads, to everyday merienda. There's also a collection of fashion photos perfect for those with local clothing and accessory stores.

“Canva for Negosyo is more than just a tool, we also aim to highlight other successful local entrepreneurs who use Canva for their businesses, to inspire them and share expert advice to fellow entrepreneurs. Dahil kung kaya nila, kaya mo rin,” Littaua shared.

Canva is currently holding a series of webinars covering entrepreneurship topics such as Intro to Canva and Designing 101, Branding for your Business & Social Media Mastery, and Designing Your Marketing Materials on Canva. On October 28, Canva will be hosting Canva for your Negosyo, an online design workshop focusing on content categories relevant to branding one’s business. This includes designing storefront, product features, and design feed. It will also discuss the Canva resources and toolkit for newbie entrepreneurs. To join the webinar, tune in to Canva’s live session on their Facebook page.

Canva also introduces Canva for Negosyo Facebook community, where entrepreneurs can interact with each other and start conversations in growing their business online. 

If you are a local entrepreneur, visit https://www.canva.com/canva-for-negosyo/ to know more about Canva for Negosyo.

Break out your best dance moves and get a chance to win P50,000!

Get your bodies moving, bust out your winning dance moves and get a chance to win P50,000 by joining the Solane Dance Challenge social media contest!

Participants may check out the Solane Dance Challenge, set to the new brand jingle, which is already uploaded on leading LPG provider Solane’s official Facebook page (https://web.facebook.com/solane.ph).

Joining is easy! Participants who want to join the contest must form a dance crew and produce their own dance video following the exact choreography of the Solane Dance Challenge which was created by the dance crew Live, Love, Party. Each group must consist of 2-5 members only aged 12 years old and above and could be made up of friends, officemates or family members, making it the perfect opportunity for bonding moments amid the pandemic! 

All entries must be submitted before November 27, 2020 and uploaded on the Facebook account of the team’s representative with the caption, “Hi! We are (participants’ names or team name) from (participants’ city or town) and this is our #SolaneDanceChallengeOfficialEntry. Please like/love and share! Thank you! #SolaneDanceChallenge” 

Aside from uploading the video on Facebook, the representative must also fill up the registration form via https://www.solandancechallenge.com and  upload it on the said website to qualify. The video must be in MP4 format.

All entries will be judged based on the following criteria: 10% number of Facebook likes/reactions, 40% choreography (synchronization, skill, mastery), 30% creativity, and 20% overall impact for a total of 100%.

The team in first place will take home Php50,000 plus one (1) year free supply of 11kg of high-quality and safe Solane LPG and Solane freebies. The dance crew in second place will win Php30,000 plus six (6) months free supply of 11kg Solang LPG and Solane freebies, while the team in third place will take home Php10,000 plus six (6) months free supply of 11kg Solang LPG and Solane freebies. Other dance crews will also receive consolation prizes of Php 2,000 and Solane freebies per team.

Participants who wish to join purely for fun are free to post the dance challenge on any of these social media platforms: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok using the hashtag, #SolaneDanceChallenge.

Don’t miss out on this chance to have fun with family and friends and show off your dance moves and creativity with the Solane Dance Challenge. To know more, visit https://www.solanedancechallenge.com/ or Solane’s official Facebook page https://web.facebook.com/solane.ph.

Samsung Odyssey G9 and G7 monitors reinvent the total gaming experience

Samsung Electronics, the world’s number one maker of gaming monitors[1], is set to make the next-generation Odyssey line-up available in the Philippines starting October 26, 2020. Filipino gamers can now get their hands on the Samsung Odyssey G9 and G7 monitors and avail of the early bird promo in the Samsung Online Store and select retail stores nationwide. 

“This year’s Samsung Odyssey line-up brings together the key elements of next-level game play: comfortable curvature, immersive interaction and perfect picture quality. This is the gaming monitor that every gamer deserves, set to surely reinvent the total gaming experience,” said James Jung, president of Samsung Philippines.

Both the Samsung Odyssey G9 and G7 offer deep and immersive 1000R curvature. The G9 is the world’s first Dual Quad High-Definition (QHD) gaming monitor that features an ultra-wide 49-inch display that curves around the player and fills the entire field of view for a fully immersive gaming environment.

For instance, games that feature a map or item inventory—conventional monitors might require users to scroll to take in all its content—with the Odyssey G9, all it takes is a single glance.

 

Today’s games offer players immersivity and longevity making a long gaming session an enjoyable one. But spending a long time in front of a screen can result in discomfort and visual fatigue. This is the reason why the Odyssey G7 has been specifically designed to minimize visual fatigue by offering consistent brightness, contrast range, and color coordination from the center to each edge of the monitor.

 

With the Odyssey’s 240Hz refresh rate, gamers can now bid lag goodbye. Coupled with 1ms response time, precise mouse movement and blur-free frames are now possible, enabling smooth gameplay without motion blur.

 

Gamers also have the competitive edge with the Samsung Odyssey monitor’s G-Sync compatibility and FreeSync Premium Pro support. This will get rid of those unsightly image tears, screen-lag, and choppiness to make fast-action and complex game scenes stable and stutter-free.

 

Serious gamers and gaming enthusiasts alike can now play their best game yet! The Odyssey monitor line-up is now available on Samsung.com and in PC Express, PCWorx, and Complink retail and online stores. The new gaming monitors are also available via Machine and Computer and DTYH (Oriontech) on Lazada and Smart Asia (I Love PC) on Shopee. The gaming monitors are priced at:

• 27” Odyssey G7 (Model: LC27G75QSEXXP) - Php 33,699.00
• 32” Odyssey G7 (Model: LC32G75TQSEXXP) - Php 37,299.00
• 49” Odyssey G9 (Model: LC49G95TSSEXXP) - Php 74,799.00

 

Early adopters can avail of the early bird promo starting October 26 to November 16. Every purchase of the Samsung Odyssey monitor comes with a free premium gaming item:

• 27” Odyssey G7 Monitor + Logitech Gaming Mouse worth Php 4,350
• 32” Odyssey G7 Monitor + Logitech Gaming Keyboard worth Php 7,200
• 49” Odyssey G9 Monitor + Logitech Gaming Bundle (Mouse, Keyboard, and Headset) worth Php 19,350

 

Check out this promo on samsung.com/ph/offer/2020/odyssey-monitor-bundle-promo/. Find out more about the Samsung Odyssey gaming monitors by visiting samsung.com/ph/monitors/gaming-monitor/?odyssey today.

 

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[1]Source: IDC Worldwide Quarterly Gaming Tracker, 2019 Q4 data

Lysol hand sanitizers contain a superior, marketing leading 71% alcohol that’s proven effective in killing 99.9% germs

Lysol has been known for its germ-killing ability, well recognized for its disinfectant sprays and other well-known household cleaning and disinfecting products. In fact, the name Lysol for 100 years now has long been synonymous with disinfection, and has been in use in hotels, hospitals and clinics. Moreover, numerous scientific studies have been conducted that back-up Lysol’s disinfecting abilities and its ability in inactivating different virus strains.

These days, with an increased awareness on proper personal hygiene, particularly regular and thorough washing and disinfection of hands, Lysol saw the critical need to respond to the demands of community wellbeing. Thus, with this critical need, Lysol Hand Sanitizer now comes to the market – addressing the necessity of on-the-go hand sanitization with superior efficacy.

With Lysol Hand Sanitizer, Filipinos now have an additional daily source of protection from contamination – convenient, versatile, handy – just when you need it!

Lysol hand sanitizers contain a superior, marketing leading 71% alcohol that’s proven effective in killing 99.9% germs. What’s more, Lysol hand sanitizers are dermatologically tested to be safe and gentle on skin, are non-sticky too!

So, in times like these when practicing personal sanitation is a must, it’s good to know that there’s a Lysol product that you can now take with you anywhere you go – an alcohol-based sanitizer that can help reduce the number of microbes on hand — keeping you safe from possible viruses obtained from contaminated surfaces that are frequently touched: lift buttons, moneys and even your mobile phones.

Lysol Hand Sanitizer is available in 50ml at PHP65 and 200ml at PHP190 bottles at leading retail outlets. 

 

What’s more, here are simple tips on how to keep your hands sanitize with the right way. Use the Right Amount: When it comes to hand sanitizer, less doesn’t mean more. Take a thumbnail sized on your palm, apply enough to thoroughly coat every part of your hands; don’t forget about the back of them or your fingers and palms. Rub it in until your hands are dry.

Magic Share is an effective tool for remote collaboration

One of the greatest challenges faced by remote working teams is how to collaborate seamlessly without physical interaction. Successful remote collaboration is largely dependent on effective communication, which is not always easy to achieve when working online.

 

Virtual communication is subject to misinterpretation, especially in emails or chat, where facial expressions and body language of message senders are not seen. Delays in providing feedback and updates can also slow down the work process and affect a team’s productivity. On the other hand, receiving an overwhelming amount of information through shared documents, and messages passed back and forth, is likely to create confusion among individual team members. 

 

An effective tool for remote collaboration

 

An optimal work tool, such as Lark, can help remote teams communicate effectively and flexibly, while remaining organized and efficient. With Lark, all the essential functions needed to create and collaborate are found in one complete platform.

 

 

For video embed: https://youtu.be/1I_A105kv1E

 

 

With work tasks done virtually within Lark, no time or effort is wasted switching between apps. Because Lark Docs, Calendar, Email, and Messenger are all integrated, team members only need to look in one place for instructions and updates. With Lark’s tagging feature, it becomes easier to receive real-time feedback on urgent matters. And, when messaging is no longer enough, a video call can easily be launched by any team member, at any time. 

 

Searching for files, people, and events is conveniently done through a single search bar on Lark. Time zones and schedules of team members are easy to take into consideration when planning meetings through Lark’s smart calendar. The safety and privacy of all users and work materials stored in the cloud are also guaranteed by Lark through an AWS certification that is compliant with the strictest rules in cloud computing.

 

Online meetings are elevated with Magic Share

 

 

For video embed: https://youtu.be/37PoBEEc_Lg

 

 

For truly collaborative video meetings, Lark introduces Magic Share. Whether on desktop or mobile, Magic Share allows meeting participants to simultaneously edit files right within the video call window. Instead of simply discussing what needs to be done, this new feature transforms virtual calls into hardworking meetings that deliver actual results. Anyone can start sharing a file, without having to switch tabs or share your entire screen. Simply click the share button on the control bar, and select a Lark Doc or Sheet to share. 

 

Magic Share also supports multiple file formats, making it especially helpful when there is a need to collaborate on presentations or give feedback on designs and layouts. Just click the import tab to upload locally-saved Word, Excel, Powerpoint or PDF files into the call window. It is also possible to create an entirely new shared file, right within the call, to start collaborating from scratch. 

 

When it’s time to present, whoever is in control of the file sets the pace for scrolling through the document. Meeting participants can also view the file at their own pace, to catch up or read ahead as needed. The next presenter can take over controlling the file with a click of the Pass on Sharing button, eliminating unnecessary pauses for switching files or changing shared screens. Finally, to stop sharing a file at any time, just click on the Stop Sharing button. 

 

 

For video embed: https://youtu.be/WTeve4hvwH0

 

 

Try Magic Share on Lark, and discover how well your team can maximize its online collaboration potential today. To learn more, visit www.larksuite.com. Lark is available for free on Mac, PC, iOS, and Android. Click here to start using Lark.

BDO reminds accountholders: Do not reply to Add Device text messages if you did not make an Add Device request

BDO Unibank, Inc. cautions clients to be vigilant against scammers’ attempts to imitate official bank communications. Using the bank’s name and logo, these scams appear to be legitimate security alerts asking for clients’ personal information, which scammers’ will then use to access and steal money from online bank accounts. BDO reiterates that it will never send text messages or emails asking for clients’ personal information.

 

A recent modus finds scammers tricking clients into initiating BDO’s “Add Device” security alert, which is part of the bank’s two-factor authentication process to protect clients from unauthorized transactions. When accountholders reply “Add Device” to this bank-sent text message, scammers get access to their online bank account.

 

BDO reminds accountholders: “Only add trusted devices to your digital banking app. Do not reply to Add Device text messages if you did not make an Add Device request.” For added protection, the bank advises clients to limit permission to just one device.

 

How “mobile device takeover” scam works

 

The modus operandi starts with an email or text message that urges clients to click on a link to verify their accounts and avoid deactivation. Scammers often get clients’ data from scraping the internet for email addresses and mobile numbers. BDO reminds clients to be prudent when sharing personal information online.

 

Worried of the potential inconvenience, many clients click on the link, which prompts a fake website to open. Clients “log in” the fake website with their online bank account username and password. Scammers get their victims’ login details from the fake website and key these in the mobile app.

 

As a security protocol, BDO sends a text message to the client’s registered mobile number in case an unknown or new device is being used to access his or her online banking account. The alert asks the client to reply “Add Device” to get a One-Time PIN (OTP) to register the known and trusted mobile device. 

 

Deceived by the scammers’ email, some clients reply “Add Device” to this prompt, thinking it will reactivate their “deactivated” online bank account.

 

BDO reassures clients that it will never ask clients to verify their bank accounts via email or a text message, or ask them clients to click on links to do so. The bank advises accountholders to ignore or send these messages to ReportPhish@bdo.com.ph.

 

 

Report unauthorized transactions to BDO

 

If clients mistakenly register the scammers’ device, scammers will then send money from their victims’ account to theirs. When a fund transfer is successful, the bank sends a confirmation email to clients’ registered email address.

 

If they receive confirmation emails about transactions they didn’t do, BDO advises clients to immediately report it to its Customer Care Hotline at 8631-8000. They may also reach out by logging in Messenger and looking for BDO Customer Care with the blue verified checkmark from Facebook.

 

 

Again, never share OTPs

 

Scammers obtain their victims’ OTPs through the fake website. OTPs add another layer of protection for online banking. As the last part of the bank’s two-factor authentication process, the unique six-digit numbers register a mobile number to BDO Online Banking and confirm an online transaction. They can be used once and only within a short span of time.

 

BDO reminds clients not to give their bank account login information, such as username, password, and OTPs to protect their online bank accounts from theft.

 

Take your first step to health with AXA PH and get your FREE teleconsultation access

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major challenges to everyone’s access to healthcare. These days, safe and convenient access to doctors and medical care is not easily available because of the limitations caused by the pandemic and the community quarantine.

AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, reaches out to help Filipinos take that first step to health by providing them safe and easy access to healthcare anytime, anywhere with free teleconsultation service, available to policyholders of AXA Philippines’ wide range of health insurance products, such as Health Max, Health Start, and Global Health Access. 

And the great news is AXA Philippines is also giving away one-time free access to this teleconsultation service to everyone who will participate in the promotion (even non-AXA customers and AXA customers with no health policy) until December 31, 2020.

“We have always been committed to being a reliable health partner for our customers. We are further strengthening this commitment by giving Filipinos convenient access to health protection during this pandemic to help ease their fear and worry about their own health and that of their loved ones,” said Rahul Hora, AXA Philippines president and chief executive officer.

Teleconsultation provides 24/7 access to non-emergency medical advice with just a few taps on a smartphone. Simply download the MyPocketDoctor app from the Google Play or App Store and register with an e-mail address and mobile number. Once registration is complete, the customer can avail of the virtual medical consultation. For others, they may click this link https://bit.ly/AXATCPR1 to avail of one-time free access. 

AXA health policyholders can also request for the teleconsultation via the Emma by AXA app.

To celebrate the launch of this campaign, AXA Philippines is inviting everyone to join the #FirstStepToHealth Social Media Challenge. To join, simply: 

1.    Post a photo of you with your loved ones and tag them on Facebook.

2.    Add the caption: “Take your first step to health. Get your FREE teleconsultation access from AXA by visiting https://bit.ly/AXATCPR1 and use the hashtags, #KnowYouCanwithAXA #FirstStepToHealth, and make your post public.

3.    Visit https://bit.ly/AXATCPR1 to get your free teleconsultation code.

The COVID-19 outbreak may be challenging, but as a leader in the health protection insurance landscape, AXA Philippines aims to help Filipinos and their families overcome these challenges one step at a time. To know more, visithttps://axa.com.ph/multimedia/articles/axa-as-a-health-partner.

Goldilocks is delighted to announce the return of the fan-favorite ALL-ABOUT CHOCOLATE cake!

"Cakes are special. Every birthday, every celebration ends with something sweet, a cake, and people remember. Its all about the memories. "

Who would say no to chocolate cake especially if its from Goldilocks.

Chocoholics around the country, rejoice! As Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop is delighted to announce the return of the fan-favorite ALL-ABOUT CHOCOLATE cake! Now back with its improved design! 

 

Enjoy this deliciously fudgy and creamy creation at Goldilocks stores Nationwide!

For more information, you may follow @GoldilocksPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit the official Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph

3 Ways Lark encourages job autonomy, empowering employees to be more productive

Working from home has shown many employees the importance of job autonomy. Workplace autonomy simply means that team members are granted a level of freedom to accomplish tasks in the best way that they can. 

Those that are granted autonomy at work typically thrive because they feel valued by their superiors and colleagues, have a sense of fulfillment in the completion of their tasks, and are empowered to make decisions that drive results. These employees become more productive as they learn to perform independently, and develop a sense of ownership and accountability for the work that they do. 

In the current scenario, where working remotely has become the norm, business owners and leaders are presented with a great opportunity to develop job autonomy within their workforce. Letting go of the impulse to micromanage, and instead allowing team members to take the lead on their respective tasks is one way to do this. Another is by equipping employees with an online collaboration tool, such as Lark, which enables teams to efficiently work together despite the physical distance.  

As the perfect work from home companion, Lark encourages job autonomy, which in turn improves productivity. Lark does this in three ways - By providing remote workers with an optimal online work environment on a single platform, offering a new way to create, save and share content for better team collaboration, and making communication between remote teams easy and hassle-free.

 

For video embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_Zu7Aj2eH4

 

Single Platform Synergy

 

Those who work remotely are free to create their ideal work environment that maximizes both location freedom and time flexibility. With Lark, this optimal environment extends beyond the physical, and into the virtual workspace. Because Lark combines multiple collaboration tools such as Chat, Calendar, Creation and Cloud Storage in a single interconnected platform, everything is always in sync, within reach, and easily accessible any time.

 

Real-Time Collaboration

 

Creating, editing and sharing content is made easier with Lark. With real-time collaboration, full history tracking, powerful rich media, and easy permission control on Docs and Sheets, everyone gets the opportunity to contribute their ideas. Saved in the Drive, files are always easy to find and access. 

 

Lark’s smart Calendar helps workers stay on schedule, and enables them to independently manage their time at work. Because it is seamlessly integrated with Messenger and video calls, booking meetings and engaging the whole team can be done quickly and easily.

 

Dynamic Communication

Successful job autonomy requires effective communication between team members to keep everyone up to speed on each others’ progress. Streamlined communication results in a streamlined workflow that allows employees to focus on delivering quality output.  

 

Lark provides an excellent communication experience, through video calls equipped with powerful in-call screen sharing capabilities for real-time remote collaboration. Integrated with Messenger and Calendar, anyone has the freedom to launch a high-quality video conference from anywhere, at any time. Plus, Lark Email, which also integrates seamlessly with the rest of Lark, gives users a smart and secure email experience right within the app.

 

Empower your team to achieve workplace autonomy and productivity with these awesome tools and features that are always free on Lark. To learn more, visit www.larksuite.com. Lark is available for Mac, PC, iOS, and Android. Click here to start using Lark today.

 

Marks and Spencer is now in MetroMart, the #1 Online Grocery in the Philippines

Marks and Spencer is adding MetroMart to its growing list of online channels. You can now stay in and make celebrations at home even more special by having your favorite M&S food and drinks delivered right at your doorstep in 2 hours. This saves you from the burden of going out, and more time with your loved ones.

You can order through the MetroMart website or the mobile app to receive a contactless delivery. Simply register a free account and purchase a minimum order of P1,000. Even a customer abroad with an active MetroMart account can order for their loved ones in the Philippines as long as the recipient is within MetroMart's allowable delivery area which is a distance radius of 7 km per store.

The partnership between Marks and Spencer and MetroMart that launched in October 19, 2020 lets you order from the following M&S branches: 

Alabang Town Center, BGC Central Square, SM North Edsa, Eastwood, SM Megamall, Rockwell Powerplant, Glorietta 4, and Robinsons Place.

 

With almost 400 M&S food and drink products available, you can choose to have a Fruit & Nut Flake for breakfast, a delightful Tomato and Basil pasta for lunch or a bottle of Pinot Grigio after dinner. 

 

Prices in the app are updated live. If an item you ordered has sold out during transit, MetroMart's Personal Shopper will contact you to make replacement suggestions that you may approve or reject.

 

Prepare for your special day by ordering at metromart.com. Whether it's a big or small event, Marks and Spencer and MetroMart has got you covered.  

 

To get the latest updates, follow Marks and Spencer at facebook.com/MarksandSpencerPH and Instagram @marksandspencerph