What are the basic things you need to know as part of your motorcycle maintenance checkups?

As an avid motorcycle rider, there are few things that, for sure, linger at the back of your mind, nagging you every day. You fear that there might be breakdowns. You worry about scratches. And, of course, you are concerned about those costly major repairs—or worse, finding out that your motorcycle is not in its tiptop shape when you need it the most.

 

While you can go to your trusted mechanic for regular checkups, knowing some little do-it-yourself maintenance up your sleeves could help you take those worries away. As for your motorcycle, this means ensuring that your ride is always in good working condition, especially if it’s packed with cutting-edge features like the AirBlade150.

This stylish ride, ideal for courageous Filipinos, boasts of its front-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) that prevents wheels from locking up and avoids accidents, along with a smart key with added protection from theft. It also has a powerful 150cc SOHC liquid-cooled PGM-Fi eSP engine for superior stop-and-go function and fuel efficiency of 47km/L.

 

Its other features include a slim body design, a 22.7L U-Box for storage with a power outlet and LED Lamp, and a digital meter panel. It comes in Matte Galaxy Black Metallic, Candy Caribbean Blue Sea, and Candy Ross Red color variants with a suggested retail price of PhP109,000. 

 

So, if you have a motorcycle as stylish and cutting-edge as AirBlade150, what are the basic things you need to know as part of your maintenance checkups? Here’s are some of these handy care tips, as listed by Honda Philippines, Inc., the No. 1 motorcycle manufacturer in the country. 

 

Clean the bike regularly. Keeping your motorcycle clean will not only make it look nice but will help with maintenance, too. By doing so, it makes it easier for you to notice missing or loose bolts and nuts. It is also ideal to use a microfiber cloth to clean the surface of your bike. Lastly, do not overexpose it to direct sunlight. Park your bike in the shade.

 

Check the tire condition regularly. It is crucial to have a thorough look at the condition of your motorcycle, particularly the air pressure of its tires. Start by checking the wheel balance and alignment. Then, make sure that the air pressure is maintained at the recommended levels. Also, check for possible cuts and scrapes that could cause undesirable things like a tire blowout. Include the inspection of the tire treads at least once a week. If you find any significant problems, do seek the help of your mechanic. 

 

Change the oil. Engine oils lubricate your gears and engines. If you fail to change the engine oil, it might cause damages. That is why the owner’s manual of your motorcycle usually specifies how frequently you need to top up or change it. Regularly check the engine oil level and make sure that you maintain the correct level. The right amount of clean oil ensures that your bike will run smoothly for miles to come.

 

Change the Air Filter. Air filters are arguably the easiest to change in your garage. These filters keep dirt and other debris out of your bike’s main operational components so, you need to inspect and replace them based on prescribed schedule. You may also seek your trusted auto mechanic service more frequently when riding in unusually wet or dusty areas. Meanwhile, cleaning of air filters of most Honda motorcycles, like the AirBlade150, is not necessary so, it might no longer be a concern when you own one of them. 

 

Lube the Motorcycle Chain. It is integral to lubricate your chains. Otherwise, it may cause damages due to excess heat and will wear out. This cumulative wear on all the separate links makes the chain lose and more likely to fall off the sprockets.

 

Check the basics. Lastly, it also pays to check some essential components on your bike every day or before using it. Here are some of these things: 

 

·       Check the fuel level to confirm it’s not leaking.

·       Check all your fluid levels, such as oil, brake fluid, and coolant. 

·       Check the throttle cable free play. 

·       Check your lights and horn.

·       Check the clutch lever free play.

·       Ensure smooth steering movement and notice if there are no restrictions.

·       Adjust the rear viewing span of a mirror if you think it is needed. 

·       Check brake hoses for chafing or leakage.

 

While these simple care tips will help keep your bike in its tiptop condition, it’s still best to visit your trusted professional mechanic based on its prescribed maintenance schedule. These tips are also applicable not just to AirBlade150 but also to other bikes. 

 

Start developing these habits now! Remember that by taking care of your motorcycle, you are also taking care of yourself as you ensure that your every ride is safe and smooth. 

 

Explore more from Honda and its wide array of motorcycles. For more details about Honda products and promos, visit our website at www.hondaph.com and follow us on Facebook, Honda Philippines, Inc., and Instagram, @hondaph_mc. You can also contact us through our landline number, (02)-8581-6700 to 6799, and mobile number, 0917-884-6632.

Sun Life ASCP held its webinar entitled “Spotlight on HR: Discussion on New Ways of Working in the New Normal”

The pandemic has forced organizations to be flexible and caused HR professionals to rethink their approach in sustaining the workplace amid the crisis. Now, more than ever, the role that HR plays in implementing the transition is crucial. From emphasizing new values in the company culture to leveraging the digital tools at their disposal, there are many ways businesses can emerge stronger from the pandemic. 

 

This challenge was addressed in a recent webinar entitled “The Bright Outlook: New Ways of Working in the New Normal” hosted by Sun Life Asia Service Centre-Philippines (ASCP), where Sun Life key opinion leaders gathered to discuss the different ways to create a brighter outlook for your workforce amidst COVID-19. 

Innovate for a flexible workplace

Sun Life Canada Vice President for Talent Acquisition and Development Helen Peng shared that in a time of disruption, businesses making proactive decisions in building a flexible workforce will see lasting impact on the success of their brand. 

 

Enabling and supporting a modern, flexible workforce will mean introducing the right tools for a cutting-edge approach to HR. This is imperative for keeping workers engaged and connected, regardless of where they are. 

 

For instance, Sun Life Canada proactively built their talent pipeline through a new digital platform called Candidate Relationship Management or CRM, which acts as a database for all talent. By leveraging the platform; they can tag, share, nurture and engage talent very easily.

 

“Through the CRM tool, we can effectively identify high quality talent and nurture them until they convert into the role we need. Talent segments allow us to proactively source talents based on skills over roles providing deeper poles of talent for our most critical areas that align with our strategic priorities such as digital enterprise and diversity equity and inclusion” according to Peng. 

 

Ensure digital connectivity

An assortment of remote workers does not necessarily add up to a digital workplace. It’s not about where you work, it’s about how you work. According to Sun Life ASCP Head for HR and Communications May Sunega, the key is empowering employees with resources and data for more effective collaboration in the workplace.

 

“As we change in this new way of working, we need to have the agility and efficiency of a robot. We need to be present, we need to be there, but our heart should remain the same and that will preserve the humanity of our craft.”

 

At Sun Life ASCP, the organization created a single source of truth – a central hub called Work Day – where aligned and critical information can be housed. This tool along with Zoom and Workplace, resulted in better collaboration and new ways of communicating and working.

 

Measuring performance efficiency 

Sun Life Indonesia President Elin Waty shared that assessing and measuring your employees' performance and productivity gives a unique opportunity for employees to understand what is expected of them. 

 

Waty shared that they measure using the key results that are set on an annual basis and use “grade” for the measurement. This is to ensure a proper alignment of achieving individual goals that are aligned with organization’s goals. She also recommends being cognizant of the personal lives of your employees before establishing what performance would entail for your business today. 

 

“I remind the managers that they need to be disciplined. They need to remember and know that their staff is actually at home; they have families and they have their own lives.”

 

Navigating the pandemic has highlighted the importance of creating a workplace which is able to adapt and react immediately to changes in circumstances to meet the evolving needs, desires and safety of employees, while ensuring that business continuity is maintained. 

 

Through Sun Life ASCP's webinar, HR practitioners were able to learn how to adapt and embrace innovation in the workplace amidst COVID 19. Furthermore, Sun Life ASCP also aimed to help jobseekers in creating a brighter outlook despite uncertainties through an online job fair held together with the webinar where they offered a wide array of opportunities within the organization.

 

For more information about Sun Life ASCP, visit https://www.sunlife.com/asc/en/.

TV5 officially launches its Himig ng Ating Pasko: Guess the Lyrics Promo

Are you ready for the grandest and longest Christmas celebration on Philippine TV5? Kapatid viewers are in for a surprise as TV5 officially launches its Himig ng Ating Pasko: Guess the Lyrics Promo where participants can win cash prizes of up to One Million Pesos.

 

Following TV5’s ceremonial Christmas Tree Lighting last September 1, which kicked off the world’s longest Yuletide celebration, and the successful launch of the Network’s new shows Sing Galing: Sing-lebrity Edition and 'Di Na Muli, along with ABS-CBN’s Marry Me, Marry You, TV5 continues to unwrap more Christmas surprises as part of its “Atin ang Paskong Ito, Kapatid” Christmas campaign.

 

Running from October 4 until December 12, TV5’s Himig ng Ating Pasko: Guess the Lyrics Promo is set to make this Christmas the happiest and most life-changing season for lucky viewers who can win P20,000 in the weekly draws and P100,000 up to One Million Pesos in the Grand Draw. 

Throughout the promo duration, TV5 will be airing weekly Christmas promo plugs which viewers can catch during the Network’s program gaps. To join the watch & win promo, participants simply need to complete the missing lyrics of the featured Christmas song of the week and indicate the telecast date of the specific promo plug.

 

Valid entries must include the missing lyric and the specific Christmas promo plug’s telecast date; the participant’s name, address, mobile number, email, signature, birthdate, and age; and a proof of purchase of any of the participating Lady’s Choice & Best Foods products. Entries can be written on any piece of paper, in clear handwriting, submitted in a white envelope, and physically dropped at any of the drop boxes in participating LBC branches nationwide. One correct answer and telecast date is equivalent to one entry. Multiple entries are allowed. 

 

The Watch and Win promo is in line with TV5’s Atin Ang Paskong Ito, Kapatid campaign, with Lady’s Choice as their Kaisa sa Pagbibigay Saya partner. Nine (9) weekly winners (3 from Luzon, 3 from Visayas, 3 from Mindanao) will be randomly selected from the correct entries to win P20,000 each. All entries for the entire duration of the promo will be eligible for the Grand Draw where three (3) lucky winners (1 from Luzon, 1 from Visayas, 1 from Mindanao) will win P100,000 each. From all the entries nationwide, one lucky winner will win the jackpot prize of One Million Pesos.

 

Winners’ names will be posted on TV5’s Facebook Page (https://facebook.com/TV5manila) and will be announced via plugs on TV5. All winners will also be notified by way of email, registered mail and a phone call from a TV5 representative.

 

Despite the countless challenges brought by the ongoing pandemic, TV5 aims to uplift the Filipino spirit and give its Kapatid viewers a chance to hope for better days this Christmas season. “With TV5’s ‘Atin ang Paskong Ito, Kapatid’ campaign, we extend the message to all our Kapatids across the country that we refuse to allow the pandemic to dampen our Christmas spirit. We are here to entertain, provide news and information, and more importantly, to spread joy, hope and love, and bring the true meaning of Christmas to every Filipino home,” shared TV5 President and CEO Robert P. Galang.

 

For the detailed mechanics of the Himig ng Ating Pasko: Guess the Lyrics Promo and other upcoming surprises from TV5’s longest Christmas celebration on Philippine TV, visit their website at www.tv5.com.ph. 

 

Filinvest Alabang Inc. wins back-to-back Stevie Awards at the International Business Awards

Filinvest Alabang, Inc. (FAI) continues to strengthen its position as trailblazers in building sustainable and holistic live-work-play communities as it took home a Silver Stevie Award at this year’s 18^th Annual International Business Awards (IBA). Last year, FAI won the highly coveted Gold Stevie Award in the Real Estate Category. 

Stevie Award winners were determined by more than 260 executives worldwide who participated in the judging process from July through early August.  

“Filinvest Alabang’s back-to-back win is an indication of our commitment to be responsible builders with passion and foresight,” said FAI President Catherine Ilagan. “We have invested in making our developments people-centered right from planning to execution.  Our goal is to make each community truly experiential and engaging, where people can live healthier and fuller lives, even more so now given the global health crisis." 

Believing that health, sustainability, and resilience are integral elements to property development, FAI built the 244-hectare Filinvest City— a complete live-work-play garden CBD south of Metro Manila and the largest township in Southeast Asia to have received a LEED Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) v2 Gold Certification from the US Green Building Council.  

Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, FAI has consciously designed Filinvest City to be self-sustaining with several smaller, but complete ‘districts’ that serve communities within walkable distances to allow for enhanced and inclusive mobility. Without a doubt, FAI’s forward-thinking design is proving to be essential during the current community quarantine: Citizens have easy access to conveniences such as medical care, abundance of open spaces, which offers breathing room and supports well-being, and the intuitive 24/7 estate management and available emergency response services. Filinvest City likewise received a Silver award as Best Workplace for the country’s first-ever Mobility Awards.

Likewise, FAI’s sustainability values are also reflected in its office and residential developments. The LEED-certified first-grade office condominium in Filinvest City, Parkway Corporate Center, has also been named as the Best Office Development in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia in the 2020 Asia Pacific Property Awards. Pioneering green luxury residential condominiums in Alabang, Botanika Nature Residences, also echoes green and nature-centered living. For this, it has been recognized as the Best Sustainable Residential Development in the 2020 Asia Pacific Property Awards, the Best Residential Development in the Philippine Green Building Council’s 2020 Leadership in Sustainable Design and Performance and an Outstanding Development in the Department of Energy’s 2020 Energy Efficient Green Building Awards.  

Because of FAI’s astounding contribution towards a more sustainable future, several judges of the IBA lauded its innovative developments. One judge remarked, “You have uniquely created a space to enjoy the best living, working, and playing in your township for every resident. You figured it out in a remarkable way!”  

Another judge noted, “A great year highlighted by a number of awards, efforts to further advance digitization through the pandemic, and continued company growth. Great job, and congratulations on your success to date!”  

On top of the community’s positive experiences and the local and international recognitions, the commercial gains  FAI delivered to the investors, especially in the last decade where property values have steadily appreciated, is also a testament to the company values.  Visit www.filinvestcity.com for more details.

 

Fly easy with Cebu Pacific

The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced a new normal for everyone. Now, customers have it easier as a lot of businesses pivoted their strategies to ramp up digital transformation efforts. Take the travel sector for example - a few years ago, contactless flights were unheard of in the country. But now, Cebu Pacific has made it completely possible for its passengers.

 CEB leads in digital innovation and transformation while revolutionizing the customer experience and booking behavior - through its new technologies, products, and services offered.

“Even before the pandemic, our focus has always been the safety and overall journey of our passengers,” said Candice Iyog, Cebu Pacific Vice President of Marketing Customer experience.

New, self-service options

Besides the ease and convenience of digital booking and payments, Cebu Pacific has also enhanced its ‘Manage Booking’ portal to allow passengers to correct and update information as needed, such as misspelled names, birthdates, addresses; manage group bookings easily, and update contact information to directly receive notifications via email or SMS. 

The airline has also further improved its online check-in experience with self-service bag-tagging kiosks at the NAIA Terminal 3 to further lessen physical interaction between passengers and staff, thus making the journey even safer and more contactless. 

Seamless customer experience, available 24/7 

Aside from the regular seat sales, CEB offers products to make everyJuan’s experience convenient - like inflight meals, seats, baggage allowance, insurance, hotel partners, and transfers. These can all be easily added online via the CEB website or mobile app, conveniently available at your fingertips, within the comforts of your own homes.

On top of that, the airline also improved its chatbot named Charlie, who is now able to instantly address more common concerns of guests flying with CEB, such as flight schedule and status, check-in process, itinerary and boarding pass retrieval; or lead them to the right steps to address their concerns, without having to speak with an agent. 

World-class sanitation and disinfection

Cebu Pacific has also made significant improvements to its safety and sanitation procedures to help safeguard the health of its crew and passengers. All its aircraft undergo stringent sanitation and disinfection, in accordance with global aviation standards, before and after each flight.

To date, about 95 percent of CEB’s flying pilots and cabin crew are already vaccinated, and it expects to complete employee inoculation by October this year.

Moreover, the company likewise strives to ensure that all its passengers have access to the most affordable RT-PCR tests as they prepare their requirements for travel. It currently offers an exclusive rate as low as PHP 2,500 for RT-PCR tests through its laboratory partners, and PHP 675 for antigen test. 

Award-winning safety services

All these efforts have led to Cebu Pacific being awarded a 7-star safety rating for its COVID-19 compliance, the highest safety score that AirlineRatings.com bestows upon airlines. 

“CEB has been revolutionizing the future of travel in the country through its numerous digital innovations. We believe this is the way forward and we are on the right track as we continue to empower our passengers through our self-service processes. You can count on us to continue improving our service for everyJuan for #MoreSmilesAhead,” added Iyog.

Fly easy, going online is key! Visit www.cebupacificair.com to learn more about their latest offerings, safety protocols, and travel reminders.

McDonald’s Philippines has vaccinated 98% of its restaurant managers and crew in NCR with their first dose

Quick service restaurant giant McDonald’s Philippines has vaccinated 98% of its restaurant managers and crew in NCR with their first dose. With more than 14,000 store employees in the region, the company has fully vaccinated 68% and is on its way to hit its goal of 100% by October.

 

"Our top priority is to provide our people and customers a safe environment to work at and enjoy their McDo favorites. With the continuous spread of the more dangerous COVID-19 variant [Delta], we are committed to get all eligible employees nationwide fully vaccinated. We need to ensure they are better protected against the more severe effects of COVID-19, keeping their families and customers safe as well,” said McDonald’s Philippines President & CEO Kenneth S. Yang.

Under its M Safe program, McDonald's purchased vaccines for all its employees together with other private companies under tripartite agreements.  The vaccines are to be given to the employees for free. With the rampant threat of the Delta variant, the company had also encouraged their employees to get vaccinated as early as June in their respective LGUs to receive the much-needed protection against the virus. All McDonald’s employees fall under the A4 category.

 

With the recent government announcement on the Pilot Alert Level System in NCR, McDonald’s restaurants with fully vaccinated managers and crew members welcomed back customers for dine-in last September 16. In accordance with the IATF guidelines, fully vaccinated customers can opt to dine indoor within the 10% store capacity, while outdoor dining will be open to all customers with a store capacity limit of 30%.

 

Together with the constant acquisition of Safety Seal Certifications, now in over 50% of all restaurants nationwide, and active participation in boosting vaccine confidence through the Ingat Angat Bakuna Lahat program, the QSR giant assured that they will continue to offer safe, feel-good experiences for customers whether in the store, Drive-Thru or Delivery, through crew and managers who are protected/healthy and working in a safe environment. 

Jordan, a Scandinavian brand that has been caring for people’s teeth since 1927 has now arrived in the Philippines

Scandinavian or Nordic design spurred interest among us – from interior design, furniture, fashion, and household items which found its way into every aspect of Pinoy lives. Most of us quickly jumped on the bandwagon as we fell in love with the minimal, clean approach, and over-all vibes of Scandi style that is relaxing and comforting. That timeless design and craftmanship which brings harmony with one’s environment.  So, isn’t it exciting that you can also have that Scandi design that strips back the unnecessary, just combining functionality with beauty, in your oral care products? 

Jordan, a Scandinavian brand that has been caring for people’s teeth since 1927 and with world-wide presence in over 50 global markets has now arrived in the Philippines. It brings its range of good quality, easy-to-use, and stylish products to make people’s dental care routine as uncomplicated and encouraging as possible. 

Banking on their mission to enable people to keep our healthy teeth for life, they offer tailor-made oral care products – from the first tooth of the baby and for every stage of life, individual needs, preferences, and dental habits of each member of the family.  

“As an organization, our purpose goes further. We feel that we have a responsibility not only to design and produce these high quality products, but also to educate both parents and children on the importance of good oral hygiene,” said  Jordan Asia Pacific General Manager, Mr. Bjorn Kruizenga. 

Jordan believes that having a good oral hygiene involves more than just brushing your teeth but also by choosing the right product to help us take good care of our oral health. “Jordan Oral Care products are indeed made with purpose, with each unique individual in mind. We brought Jordan to the Philippines to provide good quality oral care products that will help Filipinos take good care of their oral health because good oral hygiene contributes directly not just to our bright, beautiful smiles, but more importantly, to our overall health,” said East Valley Enterprise’s Director Karl Po.   

True to its Scandinavian nature and spirit, Jordan sets a high standard of craftmanship because each product is made with carefully selected materials and a purposeful design that has been recognized by international design award-giving bodies such as the Red Dot Design Award and Norwegian Design Council. Its product range for kids, Jordan Steps, offers toothbrushes and toothpastes that are designed with different features that are tailor-made for the child’s age and oral development to help parents establish fun and good dental care habits. For adults, Jordan has a range of products that will fit to the different oral care needs and preferences of everyone as the brand acknowledges that we are all different – with a unique set of teeth, brushing techniques and styles. Reflecting the Scandinavian and Nordic countries relationship to nature, it should come as no surprise that sustainability is also an integral part to Jordan’s product portfolio. The Green Clean toothbrush is made of sustainable and recycled materials – with bio-based nylon bristles, a 100% recycled plastic handle and packaging made of recycled paper fibers, which is a clear indication that all materials are carefully selected with the environment in mind.   

Truly, Pinoys can now easily enjoy a slice of the Scandinavian life with Jordan. Jordan Oral Care products are now available in all South Supermarket branches and from its official stores on Shopee and Lazada. Everyone now has a chance to elevate their Scandi style living, and finding that perfect oral care match for you and your family. Jordan is MADE FOR EVERY SMILE so choose the one that fits you. To know more about Jordan, visit https://www.jordanoralcare.com/

Huawei hosts the Energy Summit online

Huawei hosted the Energy Summit online, which was held within the framework of HUAWEI CONNECT 2021 and themed "Digital Energy, Powering the Low Carbon Era". During the summit, customers and partners discussed best practices in using new technologies to transition the energy industry toward carbon neutrality. Huawei also released the Global Energy Transition and Zero Carbon Development White Paper and shared its Energy Trans-Cube Strategy. 

Anthony Hu , Chief Representative for Energy Transition (Carbon Neutrality), Global Energy Business Unit of Huawei Enterprise BG

Energy Trans-Cube, Creating New Value for the Industry 

After signing the Paris Agreement in 2015, more countries than ever before are committed to carbon neutrality and are taking positive actions to address climate change. Each one follows a different path, suitable to its resource profile, energy, and environment. "Despite the strong will to go carbon neutral, we need to take into account three challenges: green and low carbon development, economic development, as well as the security and continuity of energy supply. The convergence of energy transformation and digital transformation will pave the digital way for carbon neutrality," said David Sun, Vice President of Huawei Enterprise BG and President of the Global Energy Business Unit. He added, "Huawei has developed a Trans-Cube methodology. It suggests that to get closer to a net-zero carbon intelligent energy system and achieve global zero-carbon development, we should build three core capabilities — net-zero carbon transformation, energy transformation, and digital transformation." 

The first capability — net-zero carbon transformation — will help various industries manage their carbon assets, and implement de-carbonization actions suitable to their specific contexts. In the process, they will go from low-carbon to near-zero carbon, and eventually achieve carbon neutrality.

Then, energy transformation will make energy production and consumption more reliable, secure, and efficient, transforming from a single centralized system to a diversified, distributed, and integrated one. The ultimate goal is to achieve multi-energy coordination and optimize efficiency.

Last but not least, there is digital transformation, which will enable the industry to transform from information-based to digital, and finally intelligent. With data at its core, digital transformation will enable net-zero carbon transformation and energy transformation.

White Paper Release — New Ideas to Lead the Industry

According to Guo Xiaobo, Energy expert at Deloitte China, going carbon neutral means achieving energy transformation and zero-carbon development as soon as possible, using more renewable resources, changing the way we use energy, and using new technologies to reduce emissions. Based on this, the Global Energy Transition and Zero Carbon Development White Paper analyzes the key factors affecting energy transition, and proposes a new plan for the energy sector — building a net-zero intelligent energy system. 

Blueprint of Zero-carbon Smart Energy System

 

The said system focuses on interconnecting oil, gas, electricity, heat, and hydrogen systems, and aims to achieve secure, reliable, efficient, cost-effective, and clean energy. Anthony Hu , Chief Representative for Energy Transition (Carbon Neutrality), Global Energy Business Unit of Huawei Enterprise BG, said, "The architecture of the net-zero intelligent energy system will interconnect the energy system, carbon system, and ICT infrastructure as well as eventually converging energy, carbon, information, and value flows. Gradually, it will form a system with data at its core, promoting the digitalization of the energy industry."

Drive Data to Barrel, Embrace Intelligence to Grow

The digital transformation and intelligent development of the oil and gas industry is still in its infancy. According to Lv Gongxun, Senior Consultant of Huawei and Former General Manager of China National Corporation for Exploration and Development of Oil and Gas (CNODC), digital transformation signals four opportunities for the industry: rebuilding business models, transforming management models, innovating business models, and accelerating transformation and value growth. 

Lv Gongxun also discussed the value of cloud for the oil and gas industry: "Cloud technologies enable centralized information resource planning, intelligent management and control, flexible provisioning, convenient services, and high security and efficiency. They will transform the existing business models."

Power grids are another important area of energy transformation, rapidly evolving with new technologies. In this context, Felix Chifwaila, Senior Manager of Electro-Technical Services at ZESCO, introduced the role of video and AI in improving grid O&M capabilities. For example, visualizing channel data leads to fewer operational risks and makes inspection 80 times more efficient. Video and AI also help detect potential faults in time, helping eliminate 90% of power outages every year. Having an intelligent inspection platform and apps leads to 30% more efficient emergency response and maintenance. Mr. Chifwaila noted, "ZESCO is looking forward to continued cooperation with Huawei, helping ZESCO become a regional power hub in digital transformation."

 

ICT and OT Drive Energy Digital Transformation

"As an Operation Technology (OT) system service provider, DFE actively cooperates with ICT vendors, including Huawei, to complement each other's strengths, promote energy digital transformation, and build intelligent and innovative solutions." — Fang Zhengji, General Manager of DFE. He introduced the innovative solutions DFE developed with Huawei — Intelligent Substation Inspection System and Automatic Transmission Line Inspection System. Powered by DFE and Huawei technologies, the two solutions help enterprises further their digital and intelligent transformation.

Like many others, Huawei started out as a non-digital native enterprise. This means that the company has accumulated extensive experience and lessons learnt through both internal projects and industry practices. It has a first-hand understanding of the challenges traditional enterprises face during digital transformation and has paved a "digital way" for the transformation and development of the energy industry. 

Huawei hosts HUAWEI CONNECT 2021 online from September 23 to October 31. The theme of this year's event is Dive into Digital. We're going to dive deep into the practical application of technologies like cloud, AI, and 5G in all industries, and how they can make organizations of all shapes and sizes more efficient, more versatile, and ultimately more resilient as we move towards economic recovery.
For more information, please contact our local team or check out https://www.huawei.com/en/events/huaweiconnect

 

For more information about the Global Energy Transformation and Zero Carbon Development White Paper, click Global Energy Transition and Zero Carbon Development White Paper 

 

 

UNIQLO Philippines is set to reopen in Iloilo, Dumaguete, and Caloocan

Globally renowned Japanese apparel retailer, UNIQLO, is set to open more stores in the country this last quarter of the year, bringing its unique   brand of retail shopping experience nationwide.

 

“With our new store openings, we hope to make our products more accessible to the local communities, and expand the reach of our LifeWear philosophy of helping our customers in their everyday lives by providing clothing that is affordable and high quality.” says Masoyashi Nakamura, Chief Operating Officer of UNIQLO Philippines.

UNIQLO Philippines is set to reopen its SM City Iloilo store on October 29, 2021. The store is stationed at the Upper Ground floor of the mall’s North Wing and will feature a sales are that has been expanded from 736 sqm to 959 sqm to provide a better shopping experience to the Ilonggos. 

 

This will be followed by another store opening in Metro Manila—UNIQLO SM City Grand Central will open on November 26, 2021, the same day as the mall’s opening. With 830 sqm sales area, It will be its first store in Caloocan City and the whole CAMANAVA area which will be directly accessible via LRT1 (Monumento station).

 

Also opening soon is a new 860 sqm UNIQLO store at Robinsons Dumaguete on December 17, 2021. 

 

The three new stores will showcase the complete line-up of LifeWear including essentials and collaboration collections for women, men, kids, and babies. During their opening weeks, locals can enjoy special offerings and promotions just in time for their Holiday shopping. 

 

For more updates, please visit UNIQLO Philippines’ website at uniqlo.com/ph and download the UNIQLO APP via Google Play Store or Apple Store.

 

Follow UNIQLO Philippines’ social media accounts, Facebook (facebook.com/uniqlo.ph), Twitter (twitter.com/uniqloph) and Instagram (instagram.com/uniqlophofficial).

Teleperformance shares views on creating a gender-neutral workplace

Teleperformance Philippines continues its advocacy of promoting inclusive workplaces through its recent participation in the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication (UP CMC) Department of Communication Research and International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Philippines’ webinar “Let’s Talk About Gender.” 

 

Marilyn Romero-Ventenilla, Senior Director for Communication and Marketing of Teleperformance Philippines, joined various experts from the communication industry and academe and gave a talk on Genderlect, or different ways of communicating between men and women, as well as on Teleperformance Philippines’ commitment of being a Great Place to Work® for all, and tips on how to create and foster a gender-smart working environment. 

Gender-neutral Terminologies

 

Ventenilla gave examples of terms that people can use to encourage more gender balance and inclusive communication. Humankind, workforce, people, chairperson, and head are some her recommended alternatives for gender-neutral terms.

 

“If we meet people who have some allusions to discrimination that have become a standard for them, more and more people are also looking for ways of overcoming such references,” Ventenilla said.

 

“People need to be conscious of using sexist phrases that may sound offensive to some people. It is crucial to recognize and understand the gender differences in a conversation to prevent the adverse consequences of contrasting conversations,” she added.

 

Gender Pronouns

 

Most people might not be familiar with gender-neutral conversations, and adapting to these types of conversations could pose some difficulties for them. Marilyn believes that gender-neutral conversations need to be part of the norm as people live and move every day.

 

She also emphasized that there should be an awareness of the pronouns or references a person from different genders may prefer. A more gender-neutral environment or society accepts the use of “they” and “them” pronouns. Pronouns portray a person’s identity. Hence, using their preferred pronouns signifies that people respect them and do not want them to feel invalidated and dismissed.

 

Creating a Culture of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

 

Ventenilla also talked about making the workplace as inclusive as possible and how companies can start doing this in small ways. “One example would be the establishment of gender-neutral restrooms or inclusion of health insurance benefits for partners with the same gender. We can also launch learning programs to promote awareness of the value of building an inclusive environment and creating safe spaces for people,” shared Marilyn.

 

Ventenilla shared that in their 25 years in the country, Teleperformance Philippines has been a true advocate for diversity, equality, and inclusion policies across their workplace, creating a variety of initiatives championing the LGBTQ+ community and women. Their recent Pride Month festivities officially established a TP Pride Council that engage its members in awareness and support community year-round. Teleperformance also has an award-wining HIV/AIDS in the workplace policy that promotes respect, support, and equal opportunities for employees. 

 

Moreover, Teleperformance has a program called TP Women that celebrates the achievements of women in Teleperformance, while also serving as a community and support system for women and allies within the organization. Among its recently held activities include webinars on parenting, financial literacy and management, along with podcasts and videos to highlight the achievements of women in the field of Technology. 

 

Teleperformance has been recognized by relevant organizations such as Philippine Financial & Inter-Industry Pride for their gender-inclusive policies and programs, and have built partnerships with organizations such as Project Red Ribbon and SPARK! Philippines. Teleperformance Philippines has also recently earned re-certification as Great Place to Work® for the fourth year in a row, the first and only company in the country to have accomplished this feat.

 

For more information on Teleperformance Philippines’ diversity, equality, and inclusion programs, visit the company website at www.teleperformance.ph or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/teleperformance.philippines.