SSS partners with UnionBank for the launch of UMID Pay Card

Social Security System (SSS) and Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) recently formalized their partnership, which aims to develop and launch the Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (UMID) Pay Card, as part of their goal of making financial services more accessible to Filipinos.

SSS President and CEO Michael Regino, UnionBank President and CEO Edwin Bautista, and several key executives and team members from both organizations joined the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony for the UMID Pay Card Program, held last June 27, 2022 at the SSS Head Office in Quezon City.

Harnessing UnionBank’s superior digital banking capabilities and innovation, the upgraded version of the UMID Card will provide SSS members with a number of new features and benefits. Members will be able to upgrade to the new version of the card when it fully launches in the fourth quarter of 2022.

One of the main benefits offered by the new card is the convenience of having an SSS and government ID and a UnionBank debit card in one, where SSS members can receive their loan and benefit claim proceeds, and even refunds, directly and securely through their UnionBank Account, providing a level of ease and convenience like never before. It can also be used for basic banking services.

Best of all, the newly upgraded card gives SSS members easy access to the UnionBank Online app, UnionBank’s banking and fintech superapp designed to revolutionize banking like no other banking app can.

UnionBank Online is an all-in-one platform that allows users to bank anytime and anywhere, complete with essential features such as balance inquiry, bills payment, fund transfer, and mobile check deposits, as well as advanced features like split billing and a savings goal setter and more. 

“This is a milestone for SSS, and hopefully with this one, we'll be able to ensure that the ordinary SSS member could now become a bankable person through the getting of his UMID card,” Regino said. “On behalf of SSS, we welcome the efforts of both teams to come out with this reality.”

"With this, we expect significant improvements in our transactions and accurate and timely payment of benefit claims and loan proceeds to rightful members, pensioners, and beneficiaries. More importantly, it will significantly reduce the risk of fraud making online transactions and disbursement of loans and benefits more secure, aligned with our thrust to enhance our digital platforms and services," said SSS SVP, Member Services and Support Group, Normita Doctor, who was one of the witnesses during the signing ceremony.

"We are truly humbled and honored with this opportunity to be the first bank to be selected to work on this program with the SSS. This is a fulfilling journey for us as we do our part to ensure the Filipino employees enjoy their benefits in a meaningful way," Bautista said.

"As you all know, 'teching-up' Pilipinas is one of our advocacies and by ensuring that we help the members of SSS, employees, self-employed and voluntary members of society, we help ensure that every Filipino should have a bank account and should enjoy the benefits of digital, as they say, so that when the country moves up and prospers in a significant way, no one gets left behind."

The UMID Pay Card Program shares the same goal with this game-changing project, an SSS and UBP joint initiative, which aims to make basic financial services more accessible to Filipinos, especially the unbanked and the underbanked. 

 

McDonald’s Philippines announces the transition of all of its stores across the Philippines to strawless lids

 Quick service restaurant giant McDonald’s Philippines, majority owned and operated by its Master Franchise Holders, Chairman & Founder Dr. George T. Yang and President & CEO Kenneth Yang, announces the transition of all of its stores across the Philippines to strawless lids, marking another milestone in the company’s sustainability initiatives.

 

McDonald’s is the first QSR giant to go strawless for its iced beverages, underlining the company’s commitment to reduce waste by eliminating the need for a separate plastic straw, while keeping drinking convenient for customers whether they’re at home or on-the-go. This is one of McDonald’s latest efforts for its Green & Good platform-- the company’s commitment to the environment, by developing and scaling sustainable restaurant solutions in its stores.

 

The strawless lids are designed to complement favorite McDonald’s beverages, continuously giving customers that familiar feel-good experience whenever they enjoy their favorite McCafé Premium Roast Coffee and other cold beverages served without sundae. 

“The adoption of strawless lids is part of our commitment to be better for the environment. We recognize the role we play and the impact we can make by committing to innovate and scale initiatives that reduce waste. By making strawless lids permanent, waste reduction, one less straw at a time becomes something that our customers can easily integrate to their experience at McDonald’s,” says McDonald’s Philippines President & CEO Kenneth S. Yang.

 

The shift to strawless lids comes after McDonald’s first introduced the limited distribution of straws across its branches in 2018. The company is able to take a bigger step towards climate action by going strawless nationwide, now making it a permanent and sustainable solution.

 

McDonald’s has also implemented other projects under its Green & Good platform. In 2020, McDonald’s opened its first Green & Good flagship store in U.N. Avenue in Manila and in 2021, its second Green and Good store in Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong. Since, the company has expanded Green & Good with the introduction of new solutions in its restaurants like solar rooftop panels.

 

In support of active sustainable mobility to reduce carbon emissions, McDonald’s also empowers the biking community through its inclusive dining solutions such as bike racks and Bike and Dine areas available in its stores. McDonald’s, in partnership with eSakay, is also providing e-charging stations in the same branch, where e-bikes and e-scooters can plug in for a minimal fee of Php1 for a minute’s worth of charge.

 

Be updated on the next Green & Good initiative by following McDonald’s PH on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

 

The Infinix NOTE 12 G96 variant 8GB + 256GB is now available in Lazada

The Infinix NOTE 12 G96 variant 8GB + 256GB is now available in Lazada. Get the best gaming smartphone in Force Black, Sapphire Blue, or Snowfall and unleash your full gaming potential with its 6.7” FHD True Color AMOLED Display that promises crisp and sharp colors for all your gaming sessions. 

With the NOTE 12 G96, never run out of juice with its massive 5,000 mAh battery and 33W Fast Charge feature that brings battery from 0-100 in minutes! Experience the smoothest gameplay with its 13GB extended RAM (8+5GB) and Helio G96 Ultra Gaming Processor for only PHP 9,499 for a limited time at Lazada and enjoy a stylish and powerful phone that keeps up with you.

 

Buy now and be a part of the X-fans community #YanAngSmoothGameplay.

 

Be Mineralized with VRT Brilliant Mineral Oil!

More than 2 billion people in the world or one-third of the world’s population today may be affected by Micronutrient Deficiency (MND) or malnutrition. Micronutrient malnutrition is a term used to refer to diseases caused by a dietary deficiency of vitamins or minerals.

 

The most severe problems of Micronutrient malnutrition are found in developing countries, where people are also likely to suffer from various forms of these nutritional difficulties.

This growing concern is a major obstacle to socio-economic development and contributes to a vicious circle of underdevelopment, to the disadvantage of already underprivileged societies. It has long-ranging effects on health, learning ability, and productivity.  As such, MND results in high social and public costs, reduced work capacity in populations due to high rates of illness and disability, and tragic loss of human potential. Eradicating Micronutrient malnutrition is a prerequisite for ensuring rapid and appropriate development and requires massive public information initiatives from government leaders.

Studies show that poverty, lack of access to a variety of foods, lack of knowledge of optimal dietary practices, and high incidence of infectious diseases are some of the factors which lead to Micronutrient malnutrition.

 

A few years from now, it would be harder if not nearly impossible to address these global concerns, and policies and programmes must now be developed to assure the availability of and access to an adequate variety and quantity of safe, good-quality foods for all people of the world to battle MND.

 

The VRT Brilliant Mineral Oil Corp. is the only company in the country today that distributes products that contain 16 high-grade minerals that help the body perform its functions.

Medical studies show that minerals and vitamins are essential to sustain life and for the optimal physiological function of every person. MNDs are preventable. And people should be made aware of that as well as the options available to them.

 

According to a health website, the body uses and requires more than 80 minerals for completely balanced health? Unfortunately, Most of the U.S. population is deficient in essential minerals.

“Minerals are the often forgotten essential elements for good health. People think of minerals in terms of strong teeth and bones, but minerals are far more important than that. Every living cell depends on minerals for proper function, structure, and electrical conductivity.”

Several options exist to combat MNDs, including supplementation, fortification, and food-based approaches like dietary diversification. The choice of intervention strategy or strategies should depend on the cause, severity, and scope of the MND.

According to VRT Brilliant general manager Mervin Tobias, their company for the past 10 years has been an avid advocate of minerals since his family, especially his father who was able to fully recover from an almost fatal heart attack due to supplementation of minerals.

 

“For more than a decade, my father who really took the time to look for what can help him during his difficult ordeal, has been a living proof of the wonders of minerals, and the products of VRT Brilliant are the supplements that aided his father to walk and have a normal life again,” Tobias added.

The flagship products of VRT Brilliant, which contains 16 high-grade minerals such as magnesium, potassium, iron, copper, cobalt, vanadium, calcium, chromium, boron, manganese, sodium, sulfur, zinc, molybdenum, phosphorus, and selenium are VRT Brilliant Mineral Oil and VRT Brilliant Mineral Drops.

The Brilliant Mineral Drops (BMD) is a food supplement rich with 16 minerals, essential to keep our body healthy and function properly. BMD helps prevent the body from various mineral deficiencies that could lead to illness.

Just add 5 drops to water, juice, beverages, or any food preparation. A daily dose of BMD supplies you with the top minerals your body requires to survive against diseases and ailments. These include Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, and Potassium. Naturally, these minerals are highly concentrated on specific foods but BMD is packed with these minerals as well.

“The Brilliant Minerals Drops is one of our best sellers because it helps improve eyesight.”

 Meanwhile, the Brilliant Mineral Oil is a mineralized essential oil that can help reduce or relieve headaches, body pains, sore muscles, arthritis, rheumatoid, and other aches and pains in the body, and at the same time supplies the body with minerals. It is also formulated with the different relaxing aromas of Green Tea, Cool Water, Powdery, Cucumber, Melon, and Lavender.

“Most users of our Brilliant Mineral Oil say that they feel and experience instant relief after application of the oil.”

 

“I think we are the only company in the country today, which carries products that have these powerful minerals. And the people should be made aware about the importance of minerals in the normal functioning of our body, thus, promote good health,” the young manager quipped.

 

“Nutrition is the most powerful adaptable environmental exposure to target in order to reduce the burden of diseases and death across the life span around the world. Micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) have direct effects on individuals and indirect effects on societies. Globally, there have been substantial gains made to improve the nutritional status. However, there is still tremendous work to be done to reach all individuals with or at risk for MNDs.”

Now more than ever, the need to supply the body with minerals is imperative as we all live in an ailing environment. While food may not be readily available or accessible to everyone due to a thousand reasons, thankfully, there are other possible options.

For more information visit our FB Page: Brilliant Mineral Oil or email us at www.themineralbrilliantoilcorp@gmail.com

Smile Train and the Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital reinforce its commitment to provide safe and quality cleft treatment

Celebrating its 12^th year of working together to uplift the lives of those born with a cleft, Smile Train and the Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital reinforce its commitment to provide safe and quality cleft treatment to the community as the hospital formally launches its Smile Train Comprehensive Cleft Care (CCC) center. 

 Smile Train’s sustainable model of partnering with local medical professionals and hospitals in the country helps to improve access to safe, high-quality, and timely treatment for adults and children born with a cleft lip and/or palate. Like many of its CCC partners, Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital offers cleft surgery, orthodontic and dental treatment, and speech therapy at no cost.

In the Philippines, where more than 5,000 babies are born with a cleft palate every year, access to various cleft-related treatments remains vital. Thus, individuals living in Marikina, Rizal, and nearby provinces who are unable to afford cleft care will continue to benefit from these services, which are essential components of effective and impactful cleft treatment. Families who learn of the high-quality treatment at the center travel from all over the country to receive care in the hospital. 

 

“It has been 12 years since we partnered with Smile Train to provide free treatment and care for individuals with cleft and their families. Being able to offer comprehensive cleft care strengthens our resolve to provide life-changing treatment for the cleft community all-year round and in the future,” says Dr. Jenny Deoduco-Mercado, Program Coordinator for Smile Train at Marikina St. Vincent’s General Hospital. 

Aside from Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital, Smile Train offers comprehensive cleft care through partners such as the Philippine Band of Mercy, Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation of the Philippines, Craniofacial Foundation of the Philippines, San Fernandino Hospital in Pampanga, Mabuhay Deseret Foundation in ARC Hospital in Cebu, and Tebow CURE Hospital in Davao. Through the help of its partners, Smile Train has been able to support more than 68,000 cleft surgeries in the Philippines.  

“To date, our partnership with Marikina St. Vincent General Hospital has helped thousands of Filipinos in need of comprehensive cleft care, performing over 4,900 life-changing surgeries. As the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, it is our vision to partner with more local hospitals and make cleft care more accessible for Filipinos all-year round,” said Jun Grimares, Program Director, Smile Train Philippines.

 

To know more about Smile Train’s global efforts and to donate, please visit smiletrain.org. To learn more about Smile Train’s local programs in the Philippines and to refer a patient in need, please visit smiletrain.ph/get-help. Follow Smile Train Philippines on Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

 

FAST Hub: What a next level smart home looks like

Imagine having a fully connected smart home where you can control all your home and personal devices – from health gadgets to home security – in just one app.

 

You can control your thermostat from your phone remotely or at home, stream movies and music while your robot vacuum cleaner does its work, you can work on your small business while you and your spouse work remote, and in the next room the kids are playing video games with friends from around the world. While all of these can now be done with a decently fast internet connection, imagine all the possibilities if you have 10,000 Mbps at your disposal.

 

Internet speeds of up to 10,000 Mbps puts the Philippines in the same league as many first-world countries, where smart homes are becoming the norm. Leading telecommunications provider PLDT Home has made this a reality for Filipino homes—right here, right now. 

PLDT Home ambassador Gigi de Lana trying out smart devices at the FAST Hub

FAST Hub: what a next level smart home looks like

 

To enable people to fully experience and appreciate the fastest available 10,000 Mbps internet speed in the Philippines, PLDT Home introduces the FAST (Fiber Accelerated Speed Tech) Hub.

 

FAST Hub is a visual representation of everything 10,000 Mbps can offer. Here, you can experience what it’s like to have a hyper-fast home internet connection across two rooms: the Living Room, Office, and Gaming Areas.

 

Make your home smarter: control the lights, electronics, security, and all your gadgets using your phone and your ultra-fast connection. And the best part is with such a connection, you can program your smart home to handle complex routines. Imagine at 6 am, you can automatically start coffee with your smart coffee maker and turn on the lights, then have the robo-vacuum start doing its thing at 6:15 am, among others–and have your smart home work like a well-oiled machine while you’re still waking up and getting your bearings.

 

Level up your entertainment and gear up for a totally immersive binge-watching experience at your home theater/entertainment system because having ultra-fast speeds means you can watch your favorite shows in 4K and even 8K. Enjoy actual cinema-quality graphics and sound while you sit down and relax with your favorite movie snacks.

 

Play stronger and lag-free because with 10,000 Mbps, you have the power to excel in every game, stream, connect with and grow your fanbase – all these you can do simultaneously. The Smart Work/Gaming Station enables families to do things better without worrying about heavy bandwidth usage for each device and zero latency. Suit up and set up your VR headsets and experience a totally immersive experience like never before.

 

Work faster and more efficiently through virtual meetings or lectures, while multitasking in your home-based business, or editing, rendering, and uploading your next trending video, while beefing up your home security devices – all working simultaneously, without worrying about bandwidth or dropped connection.

 

Imagine being able to download and upload a massive files in seconds–that’s the reality of having 10,000 Mbps. You can also scale your home business because you have enough bandwidth to power a small office with multiple heavy users. No more prioritization or workarounds because with such a connection, every member of the household can do their thing without worrying if they’re slowing down the connection for everyone else.

 

As the country’s undisputed fastest internet service provider for four consecutive years at the Ookla Speedtest Awards, PLDT Home’s mission has always been to provide Filipino families with future-ready innovations for them to do things better, stronger, and faster at home.

Want to know more about how to set up your own smart home? Visit PLDT Home’s Next Upgrade YouTube channel to get you started. Interested to experience the ultra-fast speeds of a 10,000 Mbps connection? Fill out the online form at www.pldthome.com/10000mbps.

TOYCON PH: The Biggest Pop Culture Event in the PH returns this 2022!

For long-time TOYCON fans, it’s no secret that Voltes V holds a special place in this convention’s heart. This iconic robot has never missed a spot among the collage of colorful characters on our poster since the very start, and on special milestone years it has even become the central symbol of our show, with the huge Voltes V statue in 2016 when we first moved the convention to the SMX in Pasay, the fleet of Voltes V ships gracing our 2017 merchandise, and TOYCON’s launch of the Tamashii Nations Super Electromagnetic Machine VOLTES V, Bandai Spirits DLX Soul of Chogokin in 2020. 

It’s been too long since the community of pop culture fans and collectors have come together since the pandemic struck. For many, this long drought without any gathering to celebrate our common love for all things creative, innovative and collectible has gone on way too long. And so with the effects of CoVid winding down, we just cannot wait to see you all, our fans and loyal community, finally come home. 

And this year, our 19^th year of putting on an onsite convention, Voltes V takes center stage again as part of a promise made by our event partner, Quiccs, back in 2019 to launch his trademark TEQ-63 in unmistakable Voltes V style only at TOYCON! And this year, in partnership with TOEI Co. Ltd. Telesuccess, we’re all set to finally launch it! At the heart of the Voltes V story is a tale of a family divided, of struggles suffered and surpassed, but ultimately a reunion of love. Which is really what TOYCON is about too, isn’t it?  It is a yearly reunion, and for this year, a homecoming, as we return to the place where it all started.

BACK TO BASICS

TOYCON was started as a gathering of people of like minds, and this year as it has been every year, it is a collaboration of many to put together the biggest pop culture event in the country and in South East Asia. It is an alliance, which this year, goes back to its roots, as we put on a TOYCON which feels familiar but still is the cutting-edge show it has been which other shows have imitated but never duplicated. 

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Our event highlights this year will include:

●      The biggest Voltes V Licensing and merchandise exhibit in collaboration with Telesuccess Productions Inc.

●      Surprise Celebrity appearances (to be announced soon!)  

●      Funko Funatics Philippines release of exclusives and celebrity signings

●      Top toy studios and designers from the region on exhibit 

●      TOYCON Creator’s Alley – co-organized by the Bulletpunk Network where the top Filipino toy creators meet the up and coming young upstart creators

●      Artist Alley – co-organized by Komiket with some of the Philippines top comic book artist/s assembled for signing and sketching

●      The TOYCON Collectors Gallery c/o the Philippine Toy Groups Association

●      Toy Art and Toy Customizing competition

●      ToyClick and Cosclick Photography contest

●      The TOYCON Cosplay Competition and the World Cosplay Summit

●      Collectors and Customizers Panel discussions  

●      The Pinoy Pop Culture Icon Awards

●      And the Biggest collectibles retail floor of more than 250 booths

●       

WHAT NEW FOR THIS YEAR’S CONVENTION?

●    Online selling seminars, live auctions and livestreams brought to us by Lazada

●    VIP access, NFT workshops and Bulletpunk BitWars art brought to us by Smart Signature

Come home to a very familiar, yet still a whole new playground as the TOYCON PH 2022 happens on July 8 to 10, 2022 at Megatrade Halls, 5/F of the SM Megamall Building B. The event is organized by VLAC Event Management Inc and co-presented by Lazada and Smart Signature.

Sponsored by Telesuccess Productions, MaxiCollector, Great Toys Online, Legendary Beasts Studios, EC Collectibles, Filbars, Toy Empire, Bully Boy Collectibles, and DHL.

In cooperation with

Vans, Yori, Funko Funatic Philippines, Warner Brothers, and The Linden Suites 

With media partners, ABS-CBN, 106.7 Energy FM and FPS PH.

And event partners Anime Alliance, Ex-Link Events, Komiket, PICOF,  and the Philippine Toy Group Association. 

For event details go to: www.toyconph.com or Like ToyConPh on Facebook and Twitter

Tickets are available online at SMTickets.com and the TOYCON 2022 store on Lazada.     

narzo is holding a payday sale on Lazada with the lowest prices possible this coming June 30 only!

Still deciding on what to get with your hard-earned midyear bonus? If you’re looking to upgrade your device or invest in a new one without going over the budget, you’re in luck! narzo, an emerging brand offering value-for-money smartphone devices by realme, is holding a payday sale on Lazada with the lowest prices possible this coming June 30 only.

Enjoy up to PHP 750 off for the narzo 50 (6GB+128GB) and the narzo 50A Prime (4GB+128GB) when you successfully checkout during the “Sulit Sweldo Sale” using the Lazada app, starting from 12MN.

“After being the number one smartphone brand for five consecutive quarters, realme Philippines is ready to cultivate another gamechanger in the local market,” says Austine Huang, VP of Marketing. “Ultimately, narzo is our way of giving back to our consumers.”

The narzo 50 is an uncompromising gaming device that helps you score more wins with its top of the line performance at a very accessible price point. Boasting a 12nm octa-core gaming processor, the narzo 50’s MediaTek Helio G96 houses two Cortex-A76 cores along with six Cortex-A55 cores and a Mali-G57MC2 GPU which translates to excellent gaming performance, unique for its price segment. 

The 120Hz Ultra Smooth Display also guarantees higher frames-per-second (FPS) even on the most graphic-intensive games. Its 180Hz touch sampling rate allows for faster reaction times during combat, and up to 11GB RAM by combining its 6GB RAM with up to 5GB Dynamic RAM Expansion (DRE), enabling players to freely switch across different applications without suffering any lag. Get the narzo 50 now for only PHP 9,249 from its original price of PHP 9,999.

Meanwhile, the narzo 50A Prime is an all-rounder entry-level gaming companion that combines its high performance processor with a long-lasting battery and fast-charging technology. It’s backed by a 12nm octa-core Unisoc T612 Processor that houses 2 Cortex-A75 and 6 Cortex-A55 to provide seamless and stable user experience.

Complementing this chip is a massive 5000mAh battery that allows for more Mobile Legends and Wild Rift practice sessions with the Squad. It has an 18W Quick Charge capable of charging from zero to a hundred in just 2 hours, so players are always on the go. Get the narzo 50A Prime now for only PHP 7,299 from its original price of PHP 7,999.

Sold yet? Check out all the latest news and products at narzo PH’s official Facebook page, and head over to narzo’s official Lazada store to add-to-cart early! 

Canva Represents aims to amplify creators and champion diversity in every corner of the globe

 Inspired by its globally diverse community, Canva unveils Canva Represents which aims to amplify creators and champion diversity in every corner of the globe. With a worldwide community of more than 85 million, Canva is committed to providing a platform that inspires people from all backgrounds. 

As a platform that continues to grow globally, Canva recognizes its responsibility to create, grow and foster a library of diverse, authentic, and representative content. In the last 12 months, Canva had a 129% increase in content that represents people with a disability, a 111% uplift in diverse sexuality content, a 194% uplift in ethnically diverse content, and more than 17 billion diverse content publishes in total.

Canva Represents is designed to seek out, support, and champion talented artists from underrepresented communities around the world, including the Philippines. All of the content created by Canva Represents Artists is made available for free in Canva’. 

“At Canva, we celebrate the unique history, culture, interests, and experiences of our creative community. We believe that everyone should be empowered to express their identity through their designs, and we are so excited to support more Filipino content creators and creatives in their passion to produce authentic and diverse content,” said Yani Hornilla-Donato, Canva Philippines Country Manager.

To express your interest in becoming a Canva Represents Artist, visit canva.com/canva-represents/. Applications are assessed based on the artist’s portfolio, alignment with the mission and purpose of the Canva Represents Fund, and other details such as the creative process and personal narrative of the artist. Chosen artists will be paid on a per project basis.

Among the current Canva Represents Artists are Simone Niamani Thompson, editorial and portrait photographer from Los Angeles, California; Snezhana von Büdingen, acclaimed photographer from Cologne, Germany; and Bobbi Lockyer from Western Australia.

Canva remains committed to diversity through long-term initiatives including growing its  diverse photography collections, creating a marketplace for global Canva Creators who contribute to its ever-growing template library, and developing a truly local team of designers that produce high-quality, hyper-localized template collections for Philippines and beyond.

To know more about Canva, visit www.canva.com or follow Canva on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok. Canva is also available for download on App Store and Play Store.