PLDT’s wireless unit Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has completed its donation of connectivity devices for 2,000 Davaoeño scholars, in coordination with the city government of Davao.
Under the Smart Bro Student Sponsorship Program, PLDT’s wireless arm provided prepaid WiFi kits to Davao City’s Educational Benefits System Unit (EBSU) to help ensure that learners have better access to connectivity. The program augments the city’s Scholarship on Tertiary Education for indigent beneficiaries.
Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte shared: “We thank Smart for the donation of devices for our scholars and their efforts in providing community services. Even with the return of face-to-face classes, learning doesn’t end when they leave the campus but continues after school. These pocket WiFis will help our scholars with online research and other schoolwork needed to maintain their scholarships. So, thank you very much, Smart!”
Handling academic responsibilities without a stable internet connection is a major challenge for students. Cedric Dablo of the University of Mindanao said: “With Smart’s support and fast connectivity, studying has become more seamless. This free WiFi device and the value-packed internet promos from Smart will help me to save up. I am on the last phase of my college journey and Smart’s technology will also help me work on my thesis more easily,” he added.
“This partnership with the city government, through the EBSU, supports the LGU’s top priority advocacies and highlights our campaign ’Live Smarter for a Better World’. Aside from our commitment to provide basic services for students and teachers, we look forward to future engagements with the Davao City LGU,” said Jonathan dela Cruz, Smart AVP for Mindanao Regional Customer Development.
Smart had previously backed the LGU’s COVID-19 response efforts through communication and connectivity support to Davao Central’s Telemedicine, as well as the city’s ResBakuna sites, Temporary Treatment and Monitoring Facilities, and swab centers.
Through technology, PLDT and Smart continue to enable learning communities as part of its commitment to promote digital inclusion and help the nation achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 4: Quality Education.
Driven by its mission to make e-commerce for everyone, Shopee partners with local government units (LGUs) in Cebu to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the region for its second iteration of the Shopee University Roadshow and Shopee Kumustahan. These two events educated MSMEs on how to take their businesses online, and kickstart their venture into e-commerce.
Through its partnership with the cities of Mandaue, Cebu, Talisay, and Lapu-Lapu, Shopee aims to reach more Filipinos across the Philippines, and make the online selling and shopping experience easier, more convenient, and more seamless for everyone.
As part of its efforts to push this objective forward, Shopee has also established more Shopee Xpress hubs within the region to expand its serviceable areas and provide local sellers with opportunities to reach more buyers nationwide.
Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said “We are grateful for our partnership with Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Talisay City, and Cebu City that has enabled us to reach even more MSMEs across the Philippines. Through more partnerships and hub expansions, we will continue to help digitize even more Cebuano MSMEs through more iterations of the Shopee University Roadshow and Shopee Kumustahan. We are committed to supporting local MSMEs as they bring their businesses online, wherever they may be.”
The Shopee University Roadshow is a masterclass that educates MSMEs nationwide on how to drive their businesses forward through e-commerce and onboard into Shopee.
By equipping them with the right tools and knowledge, MSMEs learn how to generate more sales and grow their buyer base.
To help sellers learn through mutual sharing of experiences, the Shopee Kumustahan engages Shopee sellers in a casual gathering for them to exchange personal insights, advice, and best practices.
Through these seller-focused events, Shopee strengthens its commitment to support MSMEs and digitize all kinds of businesses in the most seamless way possible.
If you’re looking to grow your business online, Shopee invites you to start your online selling journey with them today. Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.
PILMICO AT 60. Pilmico Foods Corporation celebrates its 60th anniversary by looking back on its beginnings as a flour milling company to a key player in the flour industry.
The Aboitiz legacy all started with trading hemp in Leyte back in the 1800s before becoming the conglomerate that it is today. Years after the company’s foundation, Pilmico Foods Corporation (Pilmico) became the Aboitiz Group’s first foray into the food industry.
It all began in 1962 when brothers Vidal and Ramon Aboitiz secured a partnership with Pillsbury Company of Minnesota, USA, and its flour milling company that operated under the name Pillsbury-Mindanao Flour Milling Corp., Inc. In 1990, the Aboitiz Group took full ownership of the company and renamed it to how it is known today: Pilmico Foods Corporation.
Sixty years since the initial operation, it has become a key industry player, consistently part of the top flour manufacturers in the Philippines. Its products are also exported to Vietnam, Hong Kong, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Myanmar, deepening its reach in the ASEAN region. Through its wide range of flour products — from hard and soft wheat to specialty flour — Pilmico services thousands of businesses, restaurants, bakeries, and home bakers.
“This year, we celebrate the rich history of Pilmico. Over the past 60 years, our consistent quality products and effective relationship with our partners have become our keys to success. We have risen, and continue to rise, above the many challenges we face in the industry through our unparalleled consistency and service,” said Pilmico President and Chief Executive Officer Tristan Aboitiz.
PARTNER FOR GROWTH. Through its various initiatives and livelihood programs, Pilmico helps aspiring bakers and bakery owners achieve their ambitions.
Pilmico has always served as a partner for growth of local bakers and entrepreneurs as evidently seen in its various shared value programs throughout the years. Projects like “Mahalin Pagkaing Atin”, Wooden Spoon Innovation Center (in partnership with TESDA Women’s Center), Kutitap Feeding Program, and PanadHero are among the initiatives that advocate sustainable livelihood opportunities and nurture every baker’s skills and passion for baking.
Feeding Humanity from mill to meal for 60 years
In its 60th year, Pilmico further strengthens its promise to nourish more lives with its forward-looking attitude that prepares them for the future of the industry,
“Our goal for the coming years is to continuously search for ways to transform the food value chain in the Asia Pacific region. For the next 60 years, Pilmico will look to continue to be a partner for growth to all its customers and the different stakeholders who we work with, all the while delivering the best quality products available in the market that have become our trademark for over 60 years now,” Aboitiz adds.
Pilmico highlights its aim to fulfill the greater purpose to feed all of humanity from mill to meal for the years ahead.
As a demonstration of its support for the region’s COVID 19 referral hospital – the Northern Mindanao Medical Center, COWD facilitated a blood donation drive on September 8, 2022 at its Macasandig Sub-Office. Thirty-eight (38) COWD workers donated 450ml each of fresh whole blood (FWB) to the NMMC blood bank. COWD’s PR personnel and two company nurses assisted NMMC’s health workers included Ms. Camella Belisario of NMMC blood bank and NMMC physician Dr. Ryan Lim.
HAVE you ever sipped from a cup of juice that is literally one liter tall? That’s exactly the concept that Juice Boost is promoting. But here’s the twist. That cup of juice is so massive that the guys at Juice Boost decided to inject one more straw in the cup.
Which means that two people can sip at the cup at one time. So Juice Boost is ideal for lovers and couples but wait! That’s not exactly why Juice Boost was conceptualized. The creator of Juice Boost were avid gym afficionados and needed to rehydrate after a couple hours of workout. They could not find the size of drinks at grocery shelves that could immediately satifsy their thirst so they created one themselves. And so Juice Boost was born. From its founding in 2014 to the present, Juice Boost has retained the same sizes and taste. It is available in three flavors – the original one in iced tea lemon and two more flavors: cucumber & lime and citrus & green tea fusion. So why cucumber and lime? The health conscious creators of Juice Boost know that cucumber and lime lower your blood pressure, support healthy skin and boost bone health. And why citrus and green tea fusion? Because green tea fights cancer, lowers cholesterol, prevents cavities and speeds metabolism. Juice Boost is located at the second level of the original SM Uptown building as well as the second level of Ororama Cogon. Juice Boost is available on Food Panda too during mall hours. Take your one liter of wellness at Juice Boost!
Finland’s new Honorary Consul in Cebu, Mr. Franco Soberano is the Chief Operating Officer of Cebu Landmasters, Inc, the leading real estate developer in the Visayas-Mindanao (VisMin) region with over 100 projects across 16 key VisMin cities.
Their portfolio includes a wide array of residential, office, retail, hospitality, resort, mixed-use and township developments.
Franco graduated with a BS Management degree, minor in Financial Management from the Ateneo de Manila University. He also obtained a Master of Science degree in Real Estate Development from Columbia University in New York City. Franco is also an active member of the local community, being a founding member of the Global Shapers Cebu Hub (an initiative of the World Economic Forum).
The new Honorary Consul of Finland in Davao City, Mr. Antonio S. Peralta has degrees from Ateneo De Davao and Manila Universities, and from the University of Asia and the Pacific.
During his extensive career Mr. Peralta has been the Senior Country Officer at ASEAN Finance Corporation, Vice President of the Institutional Banking Group at the Development Bank of the Philippines, and concurrently served on the Boards of Directors of companies in which the Bank has interests.
He is currently the Executive Director of the Foundation for Rural Enterprise Ecology & Development of Mindanao (FREEDOM) Inc. Mr. Peralta is a member of various international organizations, and a Member and Chairman of Southern-Mindanao Business Council (SMBC), of the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines and Corporate Secretary of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Mindanao.
The contact information and opening hours of the Honorary Consulates are found on the Finnish Embassy in Manila FB page. You can also read more about the scope of work of the Honorary Consulates, augmenting Finland’s network of diplomatic missions. https://finlandabroad.fi/web/phl/honorary-consulates
Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ leading airline, welcomes ‘CEB-tember’ with a #CEBSuperSeatFest this 9.9 for both domestic and international destinations.
From 10:00AM on September 9, until September 13, 2022, CEB is gifting everyJuan with a SUPER early seat sale to allow them to plot ahead next year’s summer vacation plans. With a travel period from March 31 to August 1, 2023, travelers are bound to find value-for-money deals with domestic flights up for grabs for as low as PHP 79 one-way base fare, while international seats are available for as low as PHP 199 one-way base fare.
“We are encouraged to see more people confidently flying nowadays, not only within the Philippines but internationally as well. It has always been our core mission to stimulate travel so we are excited to offer yet another special seat sale as we enter the –ber months,” says Candice Iyog, Vice President for Marketing and Customer Experience at Cebu Pacific.
Whether passengers are in the mood to revisit their favorite beach destinations for that much-needed rest and relaxation in Boracay, Bohol, Siargao, Palawan, and Cebu; or fly abroad to explore the unique culture and cuisine in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi in Vietnam; or Bali and Jakarta in Indonesia; or Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu in Malaysia; or Bangkok in Thailand; or Seoul in South Korea – this sale will allow you to turn your travel dreams into reality.
Apart from this, the airline also has an ongoing early ‘BER sale’ with seats for domestic destinations available for as low as PHP 88 one-way base fare, with travel dates covering now until February 28, 2023. This is a testament to how CEB ensures it provides its guaranteed low fares all-year round as it remains committed to empowering everyJuan to fly.
Passengers with existing travel funds may use these to pay for flights and add-ons even during CEB’s special seat sales. Apart from Travel Fund, other payment options may also be used, such as payment centers, credit/debit cards, and e-wallets.
The airline currently operates 88% of its pre-pandemic systemwide capacity. To date, CEB flies to a total of 34 domestic and 19 international destinations. It continues to implement a multi-layered approach to safety, while it operates with a 100% fully vaccinated crew, 95% of whom have been boosted – all to ensure every Juan flies safely and conveniently on Cebu Pacific.
Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan held a Dedication Day to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the XU Masterson Campus and Manresa Township on September 8, 2022.
8TH OF SEPTEMBER. A Eucharistic celebration marks the solemn Dedication Day of the Masterson Campus and Manresa Township to the Blessed Virgin Mary during the Feast Day of the Nativity of Mary. L-R: CLI SVP & COO Jose Franco Soberano, CLI Chair & Pres Jose Soberano III, Fr Madz Tumbali SJ, CDO Archbishop Jose Cabantan , XU President Fr Mars Tan SJ, Fr Arman Samonte SJ, Fr Gabriel Gonzales SJ, and Fr Raymund Benedict Hizon SJ. Supplied photo.
“Today, we recognize that the Campus of the Future is a gift from God to Xavier Ateneo, to us, a gift that needs our collective effort to make it happen, to make it stand right on this site,” said Fr. Mars Tan, SJ, Xavier Ateneo President. “Same thing can also be said of the adjacent CLI Manresa Township, a complex of high-rise buildings and low-lying structures to complement the XU Masterson Campus.”
“As such, we are dedicating the entire Manresa site to our Blessed Mother so that she will cover the whole place with her motherly love, consolation, protection, and guidance. She will also give us the inspiration to work on this project from beginning to its full completion,” he stressed.
The Dedication ceremony consisted of a Eucharistic celebration for the Feast Day of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, followed by the dedication, blessing, and ground breaking where Xavier Ateneo’s Campus of the Future will rise.
“The solemn ceremony will serve as XA’s gratitude to the Lord and to all in the university and city who helped begin the Campus of the Future,” Fr. Mars said. “It will also serve as an affirmation of the new campus project being part of God’s noble work in our educational mission.”
The new campus, dubbed “Masterson Campus” in honor of the great Jesuit visionary Fr William Masterson SJ, will provide innovative and smart components for synchronous and asynchronous learning, pioneering Tesearch, artistic expression, and whole-person formation.
The masterplan includes an abundance of open spaces, a main plaza, interconnected courtyards, campus-wide wireless connectivity, bike lanes, sports facilities, newly-designed academic buildings, and the center of the life of the Xavier Ateneo community, the University Church.
The Masterson Campus will be constructed on a 21-hectare land in Manresa, adjacent to the 14.3-hectare township to be known as “Manresa Town.” It will be near XU’s 12-hectare Basic Education Complex in Pueblo de Oro Township, allowing the integration of campuses for greater efficiency and modernization.
The 25-hectare forest reserve and animal sanctuaries will be retained.
This new campus is fit for the new normal as it provides innovative and smart components for synchronous and asynchronous learning, pioneering research, artistic expression, and whole-person formation.
The Manresa Town will complement Masterson Campus to provide students with generous open spaces, convenient and safe residential options, easy access to commercial establishments and future-ready offices.
“The road ahead of us is not easy. The task is tremendous, which I cannot carry out alone, so I am asking for your support and cooperation. This is not the only challenge we have in the university; there are several more we have to address urgently yet thoroughly. We have to do it one at a time.”
“Amidst all these, I am blessed to have very good Campus of the Future committees: Finance/Documentation/Legal; Communications & Information; Learning Development and Innovation, Heritage and History; Campus Development, and a separate set of Aggie Committees for the transfer and establishment of the new College of Agriculture farm and facilities in El Gaucho.”
“Teamwork and effective partnership between Xavier Ateneo and Cebu Landmasters Inc (CLI) mark the preparations and planning that have brought the Project to this stage,” Fr. Mars stressed. “We are happy to share this milestone with the university administrators, faculty members, staff, students, alumni, parents, stakeholders, and the community at large.
In particular, Fr Mars cited Fr Provincial Primitivo E Viray, SJ, Fr Roberto C Yap, SJ, the XU Board of Trustees under the leadership of Mr Frank F Guerra III, and the executives of CLI, led by CLI Chairman and CEO Jose R Soberano III and COO Franco B Soberano, for their unfailing devotion and for extending their time, effort, and expertise to ensure this project’s success in every phase.
“I am blessed to have you here supporting this noble project of Xavier University: to the city LGU especially to Mayor Rolando Uy, and former Mayor Oca Moreno, the city council, the Board of Trustees for wise guidance and support, my ever helpful brother Jesuits, and I can humbly say, for the trust and confidence of my Fr Provincial, all the Ateneo University presidents, and the good Archbishop Jose Cabantan,” Fr. Mars added.
“Most of all, XU’s development partner in this huge project, the CLI, for its highly professional yet quite personal also, business dealing with us.”
For his part, the elder Soberano said he is honored to be part of this game-changing project for both XU and Cagayan de Oro.
“Both CLI and XU have always shared the same goal – this new campus and university town is truly for the betterment of the people of Cagayan de Oro City,” Soberano said. “This development will serve as a key catalyst for both the education and economy in the entire region.”
Despite the still tremendous odds facing the project timeline, Fr. Mars expressed optimism it would eventually be completed in time.
“With all these, I can confidently say, the new XU campus will rise on this site with God’s grace and your constant support and help,” he declared.
“As for us, we commit ourselves to this gargantuan task to build a new 21st century Xavier Ateneo for the city, the region, Mindanao, and the Philippines; for us, our children, and the coming generations of Kagay-anons, Mindanaoans, Filipinos, and international students.”
“This is the Society of Jesus’s commitment to advancing the education apostolate in this part of Mindanao. This is Xavier Ateneo’s commitment to producing new generations of young people, our children, to become competent, committed, and compassionate graduates bringing us to greater heights for God’s greater glory and the service to humanity.”
BLESSING OF THE GROUND. Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Jose Cabantan leads the blessing of the ground for the Campus of the Future, with XU Pres. Fr Mars Tan SJ, XU Trustee Fr Gabriel Jose Gonzales SJ, and other Jesuits in the city. Supplied photo.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–“It is our duty to inform our people that TVET is here, TVET is always available for them,” says Regional Director of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-10 Ashary Banto.
TESDA-10 Regional Director Ashary Banto says, “It is our duty to inform our people that TVET is here, TVET is always available for them,” during the National Tech Voc Day last August 24. (IJBD/PIA-10)
He is referring to technical – vocational education and training (TVET) offered by the department to Filipinos who cannot afford formal education.
TESDA-10 celebrated, August 24-25, the National Tech-Voc Day which is also simultaneously held by TESDA offices in different cities and provinces in the country. The first day is the National Enrollment Day where various TESDA schools in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental are present.
In their designated booth, Jamaican F & B Training Center representatives serve free coffee to guests in the event. (IJBD/PIA-10)
Banto said the celebration is another opportunity to tell the people in northern Mindanao that TVET is really working in this part of the country.
“Perhaps, the welfare and the development of our human resource in our country will be better addressed by technical skills training,” he said, citing that there are even success stories gathered by their office when even those who are graduates with bachelor’s degree are earning because of their technical-vocational skills.
Representatives of Cagayan de Oro (Bugo) School of Arts and Trades (COBSAT) teach onlookers on how to make chicken nuggets from scratch. (IJBD/PIA-10)
Moreover, he mentioned that it is recognized that for a typical Filipino family, graduating tertiary education is very important.
“But nevertheless, not everybody can afford formal education, not everybody can proceed to college. So therefore, it is our duty to inform our people that TVET is here, TVET is always available for them,” he said.
Technical-Vocational skilled applicants lined up during the National Enrolment Day. (IJBD/PIA-10)
The National Tech-Voc event showcased the skills of trainees and graduates. The information caravan special of this activity also promoted the different offerings of the department.
The second day, on the other hand, highlighted the job fair dubbed as “World Cafe of Opportunities.” Tech-Voc graduates were exposed to different companies and TESDA is looking forward to many applicants being hired during or being called after the job fair. (IJBD/PIA-10)
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)–A skills training expo and job fair dubbed as “Kahigayònan” gathered out-of-school youth and other jobseekers from the city and nearby places, September 5.
SK Federation President John Michael L. Seno expresses his gratitude to those who actively participated in the event. (IJBD/PIA-10)
The event was part of the culminating activity for the Oro Youth Month.
Led by Oro Youth Development Office of Cagayan de Oro (CDO) City, SK Federation and Out-of-School Youth Development Alliance of CDO, the event was conducted at the Ricardo E. Rotoras Memorial in University of Science and Technology of the Southern Philippines (USTP).
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony and opening program, SK Federation President John Michael Seno said the activity is meant to bring available opportunities to out-of-school youth and jobseekers in just one place.
In the morning alone, over 200 out-of-school youth and jobseekers attended the expo and job fair. (IJBD/PIA-10)
“Kinahanglan gyud kaayo ni kay sa ato pang gisabutan sa OSYDA, kung mahimo, barangay per barangay mag-job fair gyud kita para ang kabatan-onan sa dakbayan sa Cagayan de Oro, sayon nalang gyud ang pagpangaplay (We really need this expo and job fair that we are doing now. As what we discussed during OSYDA meeting, it would rather better if we can have a number of barangay level job fair, so that it would be easy for our youth members to file for job application),” he said.
The Kahigayonan skills training expo and job fair is the first of its kind that has been conducted by OSYDA. (IJBD/PIA-10)
The SK official added that there are 40 local employers and four companies for overseas job who actively participated in the job fair. Hence, in behalf of youth leaders of the city and different barangays, he is thankful for those who supported the event.
Moreover, Councilor Suzette Magtajas Daba of the City’s Committee on Education said she is as well thankful for the collaborative effort of Oro Youth Development Office, SK Federation and Out-of-School Youth Development Alliance with the support of USAID Opportunity 2.0 team.
“Nagkahiusa [kita] to provide opportunities and services para sa atong mga kabatan-onan. Sama sa giingon sa usa ka famous nga leader – si Mahatma Gandhi, ‘The future depends on what you do today.’ So karong adlawa, depende na sa atong mga kabatan-onan, because this will be your ticket to your future,” she said.
(They enjoined forces to provide opportunities and services for our youth members. As what a famous leader Mahatma Gandhi said, ‘The future depends on what you do today.’ So now, it already depends to the youth members because these will be their tickets to the future.)
The expo included the conduct of services orientation of City Scholarship Office of CDO. USTP also interviewed applicants for its free digital skills training. To offer their livelihood and entrepreneurial assistance programs, Department of Agriculture-10 introduced its entrepreneurial online courses, while Department of Trade and Industry-10 had its Youth Entrepreneurship Program orientation.
In the afternoon of the expo and job fair, an Oro Youth Month culmination activity called Kasadya 2022 was also done. Highlights of the event include the “Tingog sa Kasadya” competition. (IJBD/PIA-10)
