Team APP won the national round and represented the Philippines in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) CEO Challenge regional semi-finals

Procter & Gamble (P&G) Philippines believes in developing leadership skills through meaningful work of managing leading global brands that impact billions of people every day. It also believes in honing today’s youth, who are destined to become tomorrow’s business and industry leaders.

The company recently exemplified this through its annual P&G CEO Challenge. This international business case competition invites top college undergraduate students to test their aptitude and skills in business leadership, strategic thinking, and real-life problem-solving. Top teams from each region will compete in a global final round and win the chance to attend the P&G Signal Conference and meet industry executives and even P&G’s CEO Jon Moeller.

 “The P&G CEO Challenge gives interested students the opportunity to learn and experience what it is like to become P&G’s CEOs and decision-makers as they develop business strategies to solve the actual challenges of our global brands. We hope to inspire, energize and develop our future brand leaders,” says Vince Dizon, Country Human Resource Leader of P&G Philippines.

 This year, P&G Philippines shortlisted 10 teams from the University of the Philippines (UP), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), De La Salle University (DLSU), and University of Santo Tomas (UST).

 Team APP, made up of Anika Reanna Go Tian Ng, Patrick Gabriel U. Lo, and Pierce Patek Nielsen Co Dee from UP, unanimously won the national round and represented the Philippines in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) CEO Challenge regional semi-finals.

The APAC CEO Challenge round saw more than 4,300 applications from 8 countries, with 8 finalist teams emerging as the top in their respective countries. The challenge focused on P&G’s hair care brand, Head and Shoulders, and the opportunities of the Metaverse and video gaming that presents immense potential for the brand to grow and win.

Team APP was mentored by P&G Philippines’ haircare team and got that chance to network with some of the company’s leaders, including Raffy Fajardo, President and General manager of P&G Philippines, and Evelyn Ng, Vice President and Regional Comptroller for Asia Pacific, Middle East, & Africa.

 Among the eight regional finalists, Team Malaysia took the top spot, followed by the delegates from Singapore and South Korea.

 When asked what the team’s message to fellow students who are interested in this kind of experience Patrick Lo shared, “Aspiring young leaders should not be scared to speak up their minds and really explore the limits of their creativity. As long as you are very clear with what you want to happen and have calculated that these would bring value to the company, then go for it!”.

 A great place to work

 P&G aims to create a workplace culture where employees are empowered and enabled to grow, develop and succeed through intentional career planning, meaningful work and equal opportunities. As a merit-based and grow-from-within company, P&G critically invests in their people through training experiences and hands-on mentorship from local, regional and global leaders.

 Aside from best-in-class career growth and development, P&G has stepped up as a force for good and a force for growth by creating industry-leading policies, programs, practices, and citizenship initiatives. They have pioneered flexible work arrangements and provided work-from-home opportunities since the early 2000s and launched their “Share the Care” parental leave policy. This provides a minimum standard of eight weeks fully paid leave 8 for all parents: biological parents, domestic partners, adoptive parents and parents in same sex couples – with an additional six-week physical recovery leave for birth mothers.

P&G’s global headquarters in Cincinnati, United States was recently given a Great Place to Work certification for workplace culture, employee experience and effective leadership behaviors. P&G Philippines was also recently recognized by the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles (UN WEPs) Awards as the 2021 champion for gender inclusive workplace.

Team Sibol bags two gold medals and two silver medals

Mobile services provider and staunch esports supporter Smart Communications, Inc (Smart) lauded Philippine esports team SIBOL for bagging two gold medals and two silver medals at the recently concluded 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam. 

With their medals, SIBOL placed third in the esports division with Vietnam at the top spot followed by Indonesia. 

SIBOL fielded a total of 54 esports athletes across 10 events for titles such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, FIFA Online 4, Crossfire, Free Fire, League of Legends (Wild Rift, PC), and PlayersUnknownBattlegrounds (PUBG).

 “We at Smart congratulate SIBOL for their momentous feat in the SEA Games. Their dedication and perseverance are undeniable as they brought honor and pride to our country. We hope that more young Filipinos follow their footsteps and pursuing their passions with purpose," said Jane J. Basas, Senior Vice President and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart.

Back-to-Back Gold for Team Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and League of Legends: Wild Rift 

SIBOL snagged two gold medals in their match for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and League of Legends: Wild Rift. 

SIBOL's Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Team has proven again that they are kings of Southeast Asia as they beat Indonesia in a 3-1 match. The team is composed of Johnmar "OhMyV33nus" Villaluna, Danerie James "Wise" Del Rosario, Kyle Dominic “Dominic” Soto, Salic Alauya “Hadji” Imam, Lee Howard “Owl” Gonzales, Dexstar Louise “DEX STAR” Cruz Alaba and Russel Aaron “Eyon” Usi. 

On the other hand, SIBOL's all-women League of Legends: Wild Rift team took home the country's first gold medal for esports after dominating the finals against Singapore with 3-0. The team members are Charize “Yugen” Doble, Gianna “Jeeya” Llanes, Christine “Ray Ray” Natividad, Rose Ann “Hell Girl” Robles, and Angel Danica “Angelailaila” Lozada.

Meanwhile, SIBOL’s League of Legends (PC) and Crossfire teams delivered the silver medals for the PH. Both teams went up against Vietnam in the finals.  

The biggest supporter of Philippine esports

Smart's support for SIBOL is part of its longstanding commitment to the growth of Philippine esports by partnering with game creators and esports tournament organizers here and abroad, including the recent such as Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Seasons and Liga Adarna, the first female esports tournament in the country.

 Aside from organizing the country's biggest esports events and backing Filipino esports athletes, Smart also supports gamers with relevant data offers and services to level up their gameplay.

 "SIBOL's journey to the 31st SEA Games would not be possible without the generous support of Smart, along with our other partners, who share our belief that Filipinos have what it takes to dominate the global esports stage. We are grateful to Smart and look forward to a brighter esports future with their continued support," said Brian Lim, PESO President.

 Level up with GIGA Games, GIGA Arena

 Earlier this year, Smart launched the enhanced GIGA Games, which now includes data for PUBGM, on top of Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Facebook Gaming, and many more. 

 Smart Prepaid and TNT subscribers can conveniently register to GIGA Games via the GigaLife App, which is available on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and Huawei Mobile Services. Customers may also avail of GIGA Games by dialing *123#.

 Smart also recently launched GIGA Arena, the country's first all-in-one esports platform that aims to simply bring the total esports experience to mobile gamers who are looking to test their skills on Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, League of Legends: WildRift, PUBG and Call of Duty Mobile.

 To join Smart GIGA Arena, subscribers can simply go to gigaarena.smart and create an account using their Smart or TNT mobile number. To join ongoing tournaments, users need to use Giga Arena tickets, which they can earn and accumulate every time they register to GIGA Games data packs on the GigaLife App or by dialing *123#

 Philippines’ fastest 5G mobile network

Smart subscribers enjoy leveled-up gaming experiences powered by Smart, the Philippines’ fastest 5G mobile network according to Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence.

 Know more about how Smart enables subscribers to level up their gameplay by visiting https://smart.com.ph/Prepaid/whats-new/gigagames. 

Miss World Philippines 2022 Candidate Gwendolyne Fourniol is Living Proof of the Power of Education

Education is a right, not a privilege. Miss World Philippines - Negros Occidental Gwendolyne Bolivar Fourniol says more Filipino children should be given opportunities to finish their studies, as this can uplift the lives not only of their families but also their communities. 

Gwen (as she is fondly called) is an example of the power of education to change lives, as her mother was a former beneficiary of the ERDA (Educational Research and Development Assistance) Foundation, which sends underprivileged children to school. She shares, “my mother, Sim, grew up in poverty in Kabankalan, Negros Occidental. There were seven children in the family and only one sibling was given the opportunity to study. Losing hope for her future, she found her way to Manila to stay with a cousin and it was there that she met Fr. Pierre T. Tritz, SJ, who founded ERDA in 1974 to give underprivileged but deserving children the opportunity to study.”

With Fr. Pierre’s support, Sim Bolivar obtained a degree in Psychology from the Philippine Women’s University, and was able to work as an au pair (foreign household helper) for a family in Luxembourg where she met Thierry Fourniol at a park. “If it were not for ERDA, I wouldn’t exist, and my mother would still be living in poverty in Negros,” Gwen adds. Her mother is currently working as a nurse in London, while her father is working as a senior analyst in Belgium.

Before joining her first Miss World Philippines pageant last year, Gwen was pursuing an Economics degree at Oxford Brooks in London in the UK. She hopes to join an internshipprogram with JP Morgan after graduation, and is also looking towards launching a French tutorial service in the Philippines.

She is using her platform to support ERDA, which has already helped some 800,000 Filipino children receive an education, and is calling for equality in education rights. “There is a misconception that women should be the ones to stay home and keep house and raise the children, and are therefore given less opportunities to study. My mother, because of the opportunity that was opened to her by the ERDA Foundation, was able to send her 6 siblings to school. This says so much about the power of women to uplift their families out of poverty. We should push equal rights for education regardless of gender.” She says that Miss World, with its platform of ‘Beauty With a Purpose’, resonates with her advocacies.

Gwen placed in the top 15th of last year’s Miss World Philippines competition and she talks about her pageant journey so far. “I grew up in France and pageants are not as big there as they are in the Philippines. I did not have that dream of becoming a beauty queen growing up; it was my mother who encouraged me to go for a screening.  The first time around, I was very alone because I was very new.” 

She recalls that in her first stint, they called her a baby of pageantry. “I didn’t know how to style myself and I didn’t know how to do makeup. Now, with the support of ProMedia, I feel more confident. I am stronger physically and because of this I am also stronger mentally, because when you exercise and treat your body right, it also goes a long way towards your mental health.”

ProMedia is a project management group that is passionate about wholistic beauty (body, beauty, and brains).  At its helm is CEO Paul Izon Reyes, ably assisted by Jam Aquino, director for operations. Aquino is also the CEO of The Belle Salon.   “We, at ProMedia, stage beauty pageants and body-building competitions. We also train beauty  pageant athletes, so called because they are required to train like athletes,”explains Paul.  “We see the true beauty in Gwen.  She has a striking face, inner strength, wit and confidence.  Furthermore, she is passionate about her advocacy,” shares Paul.  “Essentially, she represents beauty with purpose.”

Gwen hopes that with the Miss World crown, this #ExceptionallyEmpoweredFilipina can empower people through education which is the greatest equalizer. “I want to reach out to humanity and continue the legacy of Fr. Tritz. If one person can transform 800,000 lives in this country, imagine what so many people can do to help millions more in the Philippines and around the world.”

The stunning beauty was one of the Top 5 in this year’s recently held Talent Competition.

Watch the Miss World Philippines 2022 Beauty PageantFinals on June 5 at the Mall of Asia Arena. Gwendolyne Fourniol is candidate No. 25.

OPPO is partnering with Mineski Philippines to search for the next big name in esports

Calling all Mobile Legends players - now is your chance to conquer the battlefield, and show that you’re #DesignedToBePowerful! To go with the launch of the latest A96, global smart device brand OPPO is partnering with Mineski Philippines to search for the next big name in esports, with the OPPO Game On Cup 2022.

Open to all amateur Mobile Legends teams and casual players, the OPPO Game On Cup 2022 is a month-long tournament held in four phases online and onground. With up to Php100,000 in cash prizes plus OPPO gadgets going to the top teams, the OPPO Game On Cup calls on gamers to gather in teams of 5 and sign up today until May 29, 2022 to be one of the 128 teams taking their shot to be named the OPPO Game On Cup champions. 

The first Qualifiers phase from June 2-3, 2022 will see 128 teams battle each other in Best-of-1 matches to get down to 32 who will move on to the second stage. Immediately following on June 4-5, 2022, the remaining teams will divide into two groups and match up in Best-of-3 rounds to find the top 4 from each to move on to the last phase. Both the Qualifiers and Group stages will be broadcast live via the OPPO Philippines Facebook page.

The final Playoffs round will be played over two days - the first on June 17 will be broadcast via the OPPO Philippines Facebook page, while the second on June 26 will be held live at the Mall of Asia Central Atrium. From there, the champions will be decided in a series of Best-of-5 matches, with those who are most #DesignedToBePowerful coming out on top. 

Level up your game with a device that’s #DesignedToBePowerful

OPPO A-Series Ambassadors Blacklist International

Powering the OPPO Game On Cup 2022 is the brand’s latest A-Series smartphone, A96. A device that’s #DesignedToBePowerful, the A96 is every mobile gamer’s dream, as it’s packed with 8GB RAM, 256GB storage and a RAM expansion feature of up to 5GB to give a powerful and high-performing experience for all users. With a 5000 mAh battery and 33W SUPERVOOCTM flash charging technology to enable 3 hours and 38 minutes of phone calls or up to 94 minutes of video streaming with just a 5-minute charge, the A96 is capable of powering your every move.

To enhance your gaming experience even further, the A96 also comes with a 6.59-inch 90Hz Color-Rich Punch-Hole Display and 1080x2412 (FHD+), supported by OPPO’s adaptive refresh rate technology for immersive viewing. Its dual speakers enabled by a high-fidelity Dirac HD audio technology give a louder and clearer sound, so you can feel like you’re right there on the virtual battlefield. 

Available in Starry Black and Pearl Pink, the OPPO A96 retails for Php15,999 and is available through OPPO Brand Stores, authorized dealers and e-commerce platforms like Lazada and Shopee. 

Register now for the OPPO Game On Cup 2022 and show how you’re #DesignedToBePowerful and to conquer the virtual battlegrounds!

Registration period for the OPPO Game On Cup 2022 is open until May 29, 2022. Sign up via  http://bit.ly/OppoGameOnCup2022. 

Join the OPPO Game On Facebook Group for information and updates on the tournament. 

Cebu Pacific’s third A330neo is the greenest aircraft in the industry

Cebu Pacific (CEB) has used green fuel to power its brand-new Airbus A33NEO on its delivery flight from Airbus facilities in Toulouse, France, to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila, becoming the first low-cost carrier in Asia to incorporate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) into its operations. 

The historic flight, with the Airbus330neo aircraft, departed Toulouse, France and was powered by a blended mixture of SAF and conventional fuel, before arriving today, May 20, at the NAIA at 9:04am local time. 

The new aircraft is CEB’s third A330neo and is the greenest aircraft in the industry given its fuel efficiency and carrying capacity. CEB’s A330neo is configured with 459 seats in a single-class layout and is fuel efficient, achieving 25% less fuel burn than previous-generation aircraft. 

CEB intends to use SAF for the delivery of two more A33neo aircraft later this year. 

“This move to use SAF is a pillar of Cebu Pacific’s sustainable journey. SAF will be used for aircraft delivery and is a major component of our fleet modernization. This strengthens our drive to achieve our green goal of being carbon neutral by 2050,” said Alex Reyes, Chief Strategy Officer at Cebu Pacific.  

SAF is a “drop-in” replacement for fossil fuels, produced from renewable resources. The use of SAF results in an up to 85% reduction in carbon emissions across the SAF lifecycle. The chemical and physical characteristics of SAF are almost identical to those of conventional jet fuel and these can be safely mixed with regular jet fuel to varying degrees. SAF does not require any adaptations to the aircraft or engines, and does not have any negative impact on performance or maintenance. 

The airline’s sustainability goal is aligned with global aviation’s commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.  

To respond to this challenge, CEB invested in appropriate technologies and is practicing fuel-saving and emission reduction strategies.  

The airline’s three major pillars on its sustainable journey are fleet modernization which aims, among others, having an all-Neo fleet by 2027; resource optimization, which includes pushing for fuel efficiency best practices; and utilizing SAF by launching green routes by 2025 and using SAF for its entire network by 2030. 

  

Equicom Group and JE Holdings of the Gokongwei family partner to reinvent healthcare through Maxicare

The Equicom Group, the company behind Maxicare, the leading HMO company in the Philippines, and JE Holdings, Inc., announced a strategic partnership that will allow Maxicare to revolutionize its mission of helping Filipinos live their best lives.  

JE Holdings, a privately-held investment company of the Gokongwei family, will become a co-equal shareholder of Maxicare alongside the Equicom Group. The partnership agreement, approved by the Insurance Commission on May 5, 2022, will result in a bigger and stronger Maxicare due to the synergies to be derived from the partnership. 

The Equicom Group, the company behind Maxicare, the leading HMO company in the Philippines, and JE Holdings, Inc., announced a strategic partnership that will allow Maxicare to revolutionize its mission of helping Filipinos live their best lives.

The Equicom Group, led by Chairman Antonio Go, is a diversified conglomerate engaged in the areas of healthcare, information technology, banking, and financial services.   

According to Mr. Go, the agreement entered with JE Holdings is a partnership of equals that will give Maxicare a stronger foothold in the country’s healthcare industry. “Maxicare is already the top HMO provider in the Philippines; this partnership will only strengthen our lead in the healthcare sector and will help us deliver industry-defining services that will benefit Filipino consumers,” Go said. 

For his part, JE Holdings Chairman Lance Gokongwei said the company is very excited to work with the Equicom Group on this noble undertaking that will further democratize the delivery of essential healthcare services to our countrymen.

“We share Maxicare’s vision for the future of healthcare in the Philippines.  As their partner, we commit our support as they continue to innovate to help bring a better and comprehensive healthcare system in our country. We have high hopes that the synergy from this partnership will provide unparalleled customer experience,” Gokongwei said.

Maxicare CEO Sean Argos shared that the partnership between Equicom Group and JE Holdings will create new opportunities that will elevate healthcare services in the country.  

“We imagine a future where healthcare services in the country will be further enhanced through a new industry-leading healthcare ecosystem that will benefit Maxicare’s medical provider partners and provide Maxicare members better customer experience, affordability, and availability,” said Argos.  

He also shared Maxicare’s plans to expand into new products and services in order to reach and serve more Filipinos, details of which will be announced in the coming months. By leveraging the combined Equicomand Gokongwei ecosystem, Maxicare will now have access to more than 36 million customers, he said. 

 

Established in 1987 by an esteemed group of doctors and businessmen with the vision to deliver a better healthcare system, Maxicare Healthcare Corporation is one of the pioneers in the health maintenance organization (HMO) industry in the Philippines. 

As the largest HMO provider in the country, Maxicarecontinuously provides Filipinos comprehensive healthcare programs via its wide network of medical providers fortified by a strong customer support system. Currently, it services the largest number of HMO customers across the country from corporate segment, small and medium-sized enterprises to families and individuals via its more than 24,000 affiliated doctors and specialists, 1,400 hospitals and clinics, 1,000 dental clinics, 180 rehabilitation, dialysis, and eye centers. 

 

Discovery Shores Boracay steps into the Roblox metaverse with “Bogart & Friends”

One of the first luxury resorts to open along the famous white beach of Boracay, Discovery Shores Boracay (DSB) once again pioneers in the travel and tourism industry.

 

Guest can now experience the Discovery Resorts in the virtual space as its flagship property, DSB steps into the Robloxmetaverse with World of Discovery’s first game episode called “Bogart & Friends."  Kids and kids-at-heart can delve into this new, fun and exciting world where they can complete challenges and redeem special treats.

 

The main objective of the game is to find DSB's beloved mascot, Bogart the Bear. Players can collect items by completing tasks such as crossing the swimming pool, getting out of quicksand, or experiencing iconic DSB moments such as pool butler service and Boodle Fight. Prizes include coins for in-game items and badges that can be claimed to get actual prizes at the property for in-house guests.

 

Guests can play by themselves, meet fellow guests or make it a fun activity for friends and family.Discovery Hospitality Corporation (DHC) through The World of Discovery, follows in the footsteps of pioneering companies like Nike and Chipotle in creating a virtual experience to connect with their customers. The game, “Bogart & Friends” is an interactive way to promote brand love by providing out-of-the box channels to entertain andengage with guests of various ages.As travel and leisure evolve through the tailend of the pandemic, DHC has taken the initiative to showcase its leadership through the design and development of new and exciting ways to showcase its hotels and restaurants.

 

So whether in Boracay or not, guests can enjoy a visit to DSB virtually by playing Bogart & Friends. “It’s a new experience to take on, we invite everyone to download the Roblox app and search for “World of Discovery” so they can have a blast as we offer a virtual space in an iconic tourist destination in the country – the first of its kind in the Philippine hospitality industry,” shares Erwin Lopez, Hotel Manager of Discovery Shores Boracay.