Brittany Corporation has recently topped off Blanc Tower

 

Brittany Corporation, the luxury residential arm of the country's largest homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc., has recently topped off Blanc, the second tower of its luxury condominium project, Alpine Villas in Tagaytay. 

Present at the topping-off event were representatives of Brittany Corporation, its bank partners RCBC and Unionbank, and sales networks

Alpine Villas consists of mid-rise towers with charming European-inspired cafes and restaurants within Tagaytay's Swiss-inspired Crosswinds community. Its second tower, Blanc, is intended to set the tone for the entire development with bigger unit sizes and each room with a balcony.

Brittany Corporation Division Heads Earl Millanes (left) and Romeo Sabater (right) gave a memorable toast for the topping-off event

 

Blanc is a 9-story condominium project that offers a total of 89 units that were immediately sold out months after its launch.  Crosswinds' community is surrounded by lush green foliage of pine trees and unique retail concepts. Blanc will feature a mix of high-end lifestyle and leisure amenities and command a panoramic view of Crosswinds' community.

Mr. Earl Millanes led the topping-off ceremony to celebrate the raising of the last steel beam on Alpine Villas Blanc Tower

 

Blanc is also close to Crosswind's lifestyle hotspots such as Ruined Project, Napa, Cafe Voila, and Coffee Project, as well as unique retail concepts and new attractions such as Windmill Lausanne, Cafe Yama, Dear Joe, and Andersen's Bakery. It is also near Crosswinds Resort Suites, the luxury hotel within the 100-hectare development.

 

Brittany is the premium standard of high-end residential communities, featuring elegant and stylish luxury homes, lot-only properties, and condominiums in some of the finest locations in the Philippines.

                                Brittany Corporation representatives in Blanc Tower

 

Brittany offers a high standard of living in some of the Philippines' most prestigious communities, including La Posada in Sucat, Crosswinds in Tagaytay, Portofino in Alabang, Promenade, and Georgia Club located in Santa Rosa, Laguna.

 

Visit www.brittany.com.ph to learn more about the luxury real estate offerings from Brittany Corporation. You may also find them on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

 

 

Helping kids be safer and more confident online

In the latest survey conducted by Google in Asia-Pacific including the Philippines, 72% of Filipino parents are proactively looking for information about online safety, showing a 4% jump from 2021. 

 

This means that more parents are recognizing the importance of digital responsibility at home and that they should be equipped with the right knowledge and tools to guide their kids about the topic. These parents noted that YouTube Kids (64%), Google SafeSearch (55%) and Family Link(36%) have been helpful to them in ensuring their kids would have a safer internet experience. 

 

The survey also discovered that 86% of Filipino parents have had a conversation with their children on online safety and that they are confident their kids would come to them about any problems or questions regarding internet usage. 

Brought about by the need for online learning during the pandemic, 60% of Filipino parents allowed increased screen time for their kids. The new online activities they mentioned are remote learning (64%), learning a new language (44%) and learning a new dance (34%). Meanwhile, top online activities that took place during the pandemic are connecting remotely with friends and family (34%) and playing games online with friends (29%). Parents further shared that educational apps used in the past year include Brainly (52%), Canvas (29%), and Moodle (16%). 

 

Needs for improvement

Despite the optimism, three out of 10 parents still worry their children might not be sufficiently informed about online safety. Google also found that while children get their first mobile phone at an average age of 10, parents don’t talk to them about online safety until an average age of 12. This two-year gap could be why kids aren’t as informed as they could be—particularly at an age when they are most vulnerable to pitfalls and hard-to-break habits. The top concerns for parents online remain to be privacy and security, inappropriate content, and cyberbullying. 

 

Helping kids be safer and more confident online

As technology rapidly evolves, parents should have access to the latest and easy-to-understand tools to monitor their kids’ online activities. In addition to YouTube Kids, Google SafeSearch, and Family Link, here are some handy resources that parents can use:

 

●      Supervised experience on YouTube is a parent-managed version of regular YouTube. It comes with tailored content settings, adjusted features and digital wellbeing protections for younger viewers.

●      Be Internet Awesome provides relatable lessons and interactive games that teach kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and online safety.

 

Yves Gonzalez, Google Philippines’ Head of Public Policy and Government Relations, commented on how Be Internet Awesome has helped her daughter be smart in the online world. “While my 7-year-old daughter Mouse was playing her favorite game online, a stranger wanted to ‘share a gift’ in exchange for her password. It was a good thing we have regular conversations with our kids on online safety and privacy, because Mouse knew that sharing her password is a big no-no! She quickly showed me the message and laughed at how the stranger was trying to fool her. Be Internet Awesome has helped make this topic easier for children to understand and apply in their daily lives.”

 

To find out more about how Google keeps children and families safe online, head over to the Google Safety Center.

 

Xiaomi is holding a back-to-school sale from August 20 to September 30!

 

Xiaomi is holding a back-to-school sale from August 20 to September 30, that can help high school, and especially college-bound kids, save hard-earned cash on top-notch smart devices. 

 

An eye-popping mix of reliable and classy RedmiBook laptops, smart watches, smart bands, and buds, will make an appearance during the promotion period. 

 

RedmiBook 15

The versatile RedmiBook 15 laptop is perfect for both face-to-face and hybrid classes. Powered with 11th Gen Intel Core i3 and i5 processors, it also roars with 8GB of ultra-high-speed RAM, enabling students to run multiple apps without lagging and save big files in an instant. It has a long battery life, lightweight design, and its 5G connectivity makes it easy to carry around -- for use anywhere. 

 

Best of all, the laptop now only costs PHP 25,999 for the i3 edition (regular price is PHP 26,999), and PHP 35,999 for the one with i5 processor (priced at PHP 37,999).

 

Redmi Watch 2 Lite

Great for fitness tracking to help students with everyday hectic schedule, the Redmi Watch 2 Lite is now priced for only PHP 2,599 – down from its usual price of PHP 2,899. This smart watch has a comfortable design, a 1.55-inch touch display, decent workout and sleep tracking accuracy, and an elegant user interface. 

 

It has over 100 fitness modes, 17 professional modes, and more than 90 extended modes, such as outdoor running, cycling, HIIT, hiking, swimming, and more. It’s multi-system standalone GPS enables outdoor lovers to enjoy high positioning accuracy on the go, while swimmers can take it underwater up to a depth of 50 meters.

Mi Smart Band 6

The XiaomiSmart Band 6 is now up for grabs for only PHP 1,599 (regular price is PHP 1,999).

 

Known as one of the most popular wearables across the world, the small and lightweight Smart Band 6 works with the Mi Fitness app and its core functionality remains intact. It can do heart-rate measurements, sleep tracking, and sport tracking. Along with the standard features like alarm, timer, and stopwatch, the device can also display notifications, serve as a camera shutter, manage your default music player, and more.

 

Redmi Buds 3

Ideal for actively listening to online classes, reviewing audio notes, watching educational videos, and enjoying music for relaxation, the Redmi Buds 3 earphones deliver high-quality audio, and extra-long battery life.  

 

Priced at PHP 1,499 (down from PHP 1,799), this ultra-light earbud has dual-microphone noise reduction to help users enjoy better hearing even in noisy environment, and it also has ultra-low latency – which, ensures that audio and video are always in sync. 

 

The device is dust and water resistant, and boasts great features like the MIUI pop-up window function for quick and easy pairing, in-ear detection, Bluetooth 5.2 with stereo sound, and type-C interface fast charging. 

 

Redmi Buds 3 Pro

Another great option in wireless earphones with special extra features, the popular Redmi Buds 3 Pro is now available for PHP 2,199 (from the regular price of PHP 2,899). 

 

Beyond the basics, this premium quality headset boasts of its ability to connect to two devices at once. It is superbly fast, and has a wireless recharging feature. Ideal for busy students, a mere 10-minute charge will allow the earbuds to operate untethered for 3 solid hours. In keeping with its unique, signature design, this device offers above-average sound quality, with plenty of bass, clear vocals and an overall balanced sound profile.

 

The above Xiaomi devices are available online in Lazada & Shopee, and also in Mi stores & other physical outlets.

 

For more information, follow Xiaomi’s Facebook and Instagram pages, and website. 

Hamilo Coast and WWF: partners in eco-tourism and sustainability

Hamilo Coast, the premier beach resort town in Nasugbu, Batangas, may be the weekend haven of the country’s affluent set, yet it is on track as a thriving model of sustainable eco-tourism practices.

Touting 5,800 hectares of prime seaside development, Hamilo Coast is a project of SM Prime’s Costa Del Hamilo, Inc. (CDHI), which carefully integrates residential, resort, leisure, commercial, and institutional land uses in the sprawling estate. But beyond its vast scope and stunning vistas, Hamilo Coast embraces sustainable tourism at the core of its philosophy and shows how beautiful beachfront homes can harmonize with nature and the environment.

 

Hamilo Coast and WWF further push for environmental awareness by celebrating occasions that show respect for biodiversity such as the Coastal Clean Up.

2022 marks Hamilo Coast’s 15th year of productive partnership with the conservation group World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF). Hamilo Coast and WWF have been working together on key areas for sustainability—coastal resource management, ridge-to-reef management, solid waste management, mangrove reforestation, the use of renewable energy sources, and environmental awareness.

This long-standing collaboration with WWF signifies Hamilo Coast’s determination to pursue eco-tourism and sustainability while upholding international standards for leisure property development.

Ms. Imee G. Francisco, Vice President and Head of CDHI Projects and Operations, takes pride in the partnership’s objectives. “More than building and maintaining a beautiful community, we seek to create and sustain a world that future generations can enjoy. To help serve this end, CDHI continues to develop Hamilo Coast without compromising the quality of wildlife living around it.”

This year, Hamilo Coast and WWF will focus on addressing the major components on waste management, which include assessment of solid waste, water and wastewater management practices, formulation of environmental management plan, and the promotion of food shed farming systems. Apart from these, Hamilo Coast and WWF will continuously work on programs that will help conserve, protect, and nurture the environment.

For one, Hamilo Coast and WWF’s Ridge to Reef program declared three of Hamilo Coast’s 13 coves–Pico de Loro, Etayo, and Santelmo–as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). These are coastal zones where human activities are strictly regulated to ensure their long-term conservation. Declaring more MPAs would also mean expanding Hamilo Coast’s scope in safeguarding more marine ecosystem and resources.

Hamilo Coast also continues to implement a mangrove reforestation program in its 24-hectare mangrove belt—one of the largest in Nasugbu. Here, Hamilo has planted 50,000 propagules hand-in-hand with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Philippines.

Mangroves are the first line of defense for coastal communities, stabilizing shorelines by averting erosion and providing natural barriers to storm surges, flooding, and hurricanes. As an effective carbon storage, mangroves absorb six times more carbon than mature tropical forests, making it all the more vital in slowing down the effects of climate change.

 

Finally, Hamilo Coast and WWF will further push for environmental awareness by celebrating occasions that show respect for biodiversity. One is the annually held Earth Hour, during which time people are urged to shut down electricity to make a substantial difference in energy consumption. Individuals, organizations, and establishments also come together on Coral Triangle Day to shed light on ocean conservation and the ways we can protect and preserve the world’s epicenter of marine biodiversity.

Likewise, the development boasts the largest volunteer effort for the ocean’s health, made possible with the International Coastal Cleanup, where people gather on the Pico and Santelmo beaches to collect trash and record information on the collected debris.

For all these sustained efforts, WWF has awarded Hamilo Coast with the Longest Sustainability Partner Award, recognizing the development’s commitment to sustainable tourism and its positive impact on the Philippine tourism industry.

Francisco affirms, “CDHI is proud of how far we have come at Hamilo Coast with the help of WWF. This inspires us to do even more, in the hopes that our efforts will make it possible for future generations to witness the beauty of nature as we see it today.”

Join the Ortigas Communities and enjoy exclusive perks and privileges

Join the Ortigas Communities and enjoy exclusive perks and privileges at your favorite shopping destinations! Download the Ortigas Malls app and register for FREE for the Ortigas Community Card, Elite Pet Society, and Toy Club to avail of discounts and promosfrom participating stores at Greenhills, Tiendesitas, and Estancia.

 

Ortigas Community Card members can enjoy exclusive events this August such as Pintura at Wika workshops in the three malls, Mobile Legends Tournament at Greenhills, Darts Tournament at Tiendesitas, and Mayani Hakot Challenge at Estancia.

 

Elite Pet Society also has exciting pet events lined up this August such as the Pet Meetup at Tiendesitas, The Bully Kennel Club Philippines’ Todo Angas event at Estancia, Pawspampering, and Pawlympics at Estancia.

 

Click the link to download the Ortigas Malls App & register for these membership clubs today: https://linktr.ee/enjoyeveryday

 

Visit the Greenhills Mall, Tiendesitas, and Estancia at Capitol Commons Facebook pages for more details!

#EnjoyEveryday #OrtigasMalls #OrtigasCommunityCard #ElitePetSociety #OrtigasMallsToyClub

40% of Filipinos are overqualified for their jobs

With the growing number of jobseekers eagerly looking to start and grow in their careers, job mismatches have become normalized occurrences despite being a concerning matter in the job market. A recent study by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) found that 40% of employed Filipinos have academic credentials beyond what is needed in their jobs, and that these Filipinos were only earning 5% more for finishing their studies despite being relatively overeducated for their positions.

According to leading online job portal JobStreet, a job mismatch is a growing phenomenon wherein the skills required to be successful in a certain position and the skills possessed by a certain employee are not completely aligned with each other, consequently affecting the employee’s work productivity, motivation, and development.

Identifying the mismatch

Job or skills mismatches can come in the form of either a horizontal or vertical mismatch. A horizontal mismatch is when an employee who has studied in one field works in a completely different one. Employees that are considered under this type of mismatch may have the right level of education but don’t necessarily have the ideal level of expertise. An example for this mismatch is a person who has a journalism degree is working in a sales and marketing position. 

On the other hand, a vertical mismatch is when an employee’s level of expertise doesn’t match the level needed for a job. The terms of over qualification and under qualification would fall under this type of skills mismatch since both imply an overall discrepancy between the individual’s abilities required by the position. For example, an engineering graduate is working as a customer support representative, a position which they may be overqualified for. 

Better hiring practices

When a company’s employees aren’t properly matched to their positions, these employees are more likely to struggle with their assignments, feelings of insecurity and lack of motivation and development, which may lead to resignation and ultimately nullify the resources that the company has invested in.

“Job mismatches are one of the primary reasons that new hires don’t stay in certain positions long-term, which translates to high turnover rates for the company,” said JobStreet Country Manager Philip Gioca.  “Not only will this require employers to invest more to hire, train new employees, but it also reflects negatively on the employee experience that other jobseekers perceive.”

According to JobStreet, crafting a specific and well-detailed job description is important in minimizing mismatch. Employers should be clear and concise regarding the skills that the position asks for, the requirements that a candidate needs to assume the role properly, and what the candidate would be expected to do. This helps in targeting qualified talents and avoid misinterpretations among jobseekers. 

It's also advised for hirers to avoid squeezing in the roles and responsibility of a two person under one position, as this may later on lead to job mismatch. For instance, an employer opened a role for a social media community manager but would also expect this candidate to be highly skilled in graphic design.

JobStreet also suggests evaluating candidates beyond interviews through skills assessment tests, which can come in the form of tests or even job simulation activities. Skills assessment tests offer a more unbiased perspective as to what candidates are capable of and help measure their abilities. 

Upskilling goes a long way

The impacts of job mismatches can also negatively affect employees and job seekers, but there are a few things that candidates can do. Apart from ensuring that their academic pursuits are geared towards an industry that they are interested in, jobseekers can also choose to develop valuable skills that can help minimize any skill gaps. This can help expand their abilities and increase their chances of succeeding in other jobs across industries.

Other than upskilling, JobStreet advises candidates to read job descriptions carefully to have a better understanding of what the position entails. This can help them better comprehend the skills and requirements that the job might ask for and whether they themselves are suited for the job.

“It’s important for candidates to focus on the development of not only hard skills through their education and other experiences, but also soft skills. With a combination of both, candidates can then look at job listings more critically and come to a decision as to whether they would be the right fit for a position,” shared Gioca. 

Eliminating job mismatches lead to better hires for employers and help jobseekers find more fulfillment in their careers—both situations leading to better productivity and employee satisfaction in the workplace long-term. 

For more career advice for both job seekers and employers, visit https://www.jobstreet.com.ph. 

Let’s Fly Juans More to Seoul and Southeast Asia

With international destinations easing travel requirements for tourists, many Filipinos are looking to book affordable flights for their next vacation.

The Philippines’ leading airline, Cebu Pacific (CEB) is at the forefront of providing low fares for everyJuan, both for international and domestic flights. And with 16 destinations in its international network now widely open for leisure travel, CEB is continuously ramping up its frequencies to give passengers more flight options.

“We look forward to fly more Juans, not only within the Philippines but also internationally. Many countries have eased travel requirements, and lifted the negative COVID-19 test result requirement. We believe the reopening of borders, coupled with CEB’s trademark low fares and continuous safety initiatives, will boost travel between the Philippines and the Asia-Pacific region,” said Candice Iyog, CEB Vice President for Marketing & Customer Experience.

The airline also launches a special seat sale to encourage everyJuan to fly international, for less. Beginning August 22 until August 25, 2022, seats to top international destinations will be up for grabs for as low as PHP 599 one-way base fare. Travel period is from October 1, 2022 to January 31, 2023. 

Here are some destinations that are easy to fly to and for less via Cebu Pacific:

Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, Vietnam

Known as one of the most affordable countries to visit, Vietnam is a popular choice among travelers looking for a unique cultural and gastronomic adventure. There are a couple ways one can make this a reality. 

In Ho Chi Minh, travelers can check out the stunning French architecture of Saigon, grab traditional Vietnamese food in District 1 (don’t forget the banh mi!), visit museums, and much more for less than $120 (around P6,000) on a weekend.

The capital city of Hanoi can also be explored in one weekend. The sprawling commercial city will lead tourists to hole-in-the-wall food joints in the Old Quarter and local bars around the city. They can also visit the Presidential Palace and Ho Chi Minh Museum. All this for less than $100 (around P5,000).

CEB offers 4x weekly flights from Manila to Ho Chi Minh, and up to 4x weekly from Manila to Hanoi. 

Bali and Jakarta, Indonesia

Bali is on every beach lover’s bucket list. Apart from its luxurious beach resorts, it’s well-known for its lush landscapes, surf spots, and ancient temples around the island. To get more bang for your buck, avail of tour packages for as low as P2,000 to explore Bali’s wildlife, cultural sites, and the must-see spots in Ubud. Booking a private van for small group trips is also a cost-efficient way to get around the island during your stay.

Jakarta also offers a variety of attractions just within the city. Whether you want to learn more about Indonesia’s history and culture at The National Museum, or just shop and sample cuisine in Central Jakarta – everything is within reach in this capital city. 

CEB currently offers thrice weekly flights from Manila to Bali and Jakarta. By September, Manila to Bali flights will become a five-times-a-week service, and then 7x weekly by October 1 this year.  

Seoul, South Korea

Seoul has a lot of budget-friendly spots for visitors. The first thing they should check out are the wide selection of cheap, filling street food for snacks and meals to get them through the day. There are also many Instagram-worthy cafes around the city for a dose of coffee and boba.

There’s no shortage of cultural adventures either with museums charging affordable entrance fees, like the Leeum Samsung Museum of Art ($9 or around P500 for the permanent exhibition), which houses a collection of traditional and modern Korean art; and the Seoul Museum of Art (free entry).

CEB offers flights from Manila to Seoul 7x weekly, and from Cebu to Seoul up to 7x weekly. 

Singapore

Singapore has a diverse cultural background that one can experience through tourist spots, food, and historical sites across the country. The city-state has a reputation for being pricey country but exploring it doesn’t have to cost an arm and leg as many popular scenic locations are open to the public, such as the Jewel Changi Airport Waterfall, Botanic Gardens, and Merlion Park. For food, one can find plenty of hawker centers that serve delicious and affordable meals. Don’t forget to try local laksa, satay, and char kway teow!

CEB flies from Manila to Singapore twice daily, while its Cebu to Singapore flights are thrice weekly.

Bangkok, Thailand

The bustling city of Bangkok is known for its vibrant street food culture, night markets, cultural sites, and a growing art scene. Tourists can avail of day tours to explore local markets (the Floating Market is a must-visit) and temples for around P1,500, depending on the package. They can also check out Bangkok Food Tours to immerse themselves into Thai cuisine.

CEB offers flights from Manila to Bangkok up to 7x weekly. 

Let’s Fly Juans More and travel international for less with Cebu Pacific’s wide network coupled with guaranteed low fares. Passengers are advised to check travel requirements before boarding, and to ensure that their updated COVID-19 booster is reflected in their VaxCertPH certificates or BOQ yellow cards. Secure your trip with CEB TravelSure, and get rid of the anxiety over what might go wrong during your travels. For a minimal fee, get emergency medical treatment in case of an incident or sickness during travel, and personal accident insurance coverage of up to 2.5 million pesos.

Book your flights now at cebupacificair.com.

Upgrade your home theater system with Samsung at the Great Samsung TV Sale

Our TV habits have evolved from regular channel surfing to streaming platforms, playing games, and browsing social media with a click of the remote thanks to smart feature upgrades But not all smart TVs are built the same. Samsung’s best-in-class TVs up the ante with its superior picture and audio quality, and stylish form factor. 

 

Upgrade your home theater system with Samsung at the Great Samsung TV Sale, and don’t miss the best deals from the Global #1 TV and Soundbar brand. Until September 30, snag up to 40% off on the 4K Crystal UHD Smart TV and over 30% off on premium soundbars. It’s Samsung’s biggest TV event of the year, which means it’s the best time to upgrade your home entertainment system. 

 

Here’s how you and your family can enjoy TV time when you upgrade to a Samsung TV and Soundbar today:

 

Enhanced visuals for all media

Your favorite movies and series get a boost with more lifelike color, thanks to Samsung’s Dynamic Crystal Color feature. Get a different level of picture quality with one billion shades of color, delivering every subtlety and detail in whatever you’re watching. The TV’s 4K picture takes realism to the next level – don’t be surprised if you or your kids reach out towards the screen on your next movie night.  

 

Play like a pro

Access your favorite content with just a click of a button with Samsung’s improved Smart Hub. With artificial intelligence, Smart Hub learns your preferences so you and your family spend less time searching and more time bonding over streamed movies, shows, and other content you enjoy. Gaming with Samsung’s BU8000 Crystal UHD TV is also now more enjoyable with enhanced game motion features. 

 

Seamless addition to your home’s aesthetic

With Samsung TV, you don’t need to sacrifice form for function. The Crystal UHD TVs are sleeker and slimmer than ever to blend in beautifully when wall mounted or displayed on a TV console. Whether placed in the living room, the family room, or the bedroom, the Crystal UHD TV will complement any space.  

 

Cinema-quality sound

Complete your viewing experience with the best sound with Samsung’s Q-Soundbar. It is built with Dolby Atmos technology for cinema-quality audio, and when paired with a Samsung TV, the Q-Symphony feature allows audio to be played from both TV and Soundbar speakers for better sound quality and immersion.

 

Get that much-deserved home theater upgrade at the Great Samsung TV Sale from now until September 30.

 

Visit www.samsung.com/ph for more details on the products and the promo.