Kim Chiu is the newest brand ambassador of leading global payments company WorldRemit

 

A leading global payments company has announced that Kim Chiu, one of the Philippines' most beloved actresses, as its newest brand ambassador. 

WorldRemit believes that Kim, who has a brother and other relatives working and living in Canada, is aligned with its mission of making international money transfers more accessible, secure, and efficient. 

During the media roundtable interview after her video shoot for the brand’s upcoming campaigns, Kim shared her experience using WorldRemit’s international money transfers online services which she describes as, “safer, faster, and low-cost.”

Kim, who rose to fame after winning the reality TV show "Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition" in 2006, confessed that she is cautious in managing her finances.

“After so many years in show business, I have learned to be more careful with my earnings, and am invested in my future. It is not a secret that I come from humble beginnings. I work hard because I know what it feels like to come from nothing. I work hard to provide a good future for my family,” the It’s Showtime co-host said.

This partnership aims to highlight the importance of reliable and convenient financial support, not only for families separated by distance, but also for the communities they help to uplift.

WorldRemit currently sends from 50 to 130 countries, operate in more than 5,000 money transfer corridors worldwide, and employ around 1,200 people around the globe. It is 100% digital (cashless), increasing convenience and enhancing security. For those receiving money, WorldRemit offers a wide range of options including bank deposit, cash collection, mobile airtime top-up, and mobile money. 

Watch out for upcoming announcements and activities that Kim will be doing for WorldRemit in the near future. You can check www.worldremit.com/en for updates.

 

HONOR officially opens 7th experience store in SM City North EDSA

 

In pursuit of providing quality service and making it more accessible to its aggressively growing market in the country, HONOR Philippines has unveiled yet another experience store yesterday in SM City North EDSA Annex located at 4/F Cyberzone.

“As our HONOR fans grow, it is our duty to bring our wide array of offerings closer to them. We are now in six stores nationwide – SM City Fairview, SM City Consolacion Cebu, SM City Marilao, SM City Grand Central, SM City Makati, and now are more than excited to officially open our newest experience store in SM City North EDSA,” said HONOR Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng.

This momentous event was officiated by HONOR Philippines Brand Marketing Manager Joepy Libo-on, PR Manager Pao Oga, SM City North EDSA Assistant Mall Manager Gio Arandilla, and Leasing Manager Jorel Quan together with GMA Host and Actress Shaira Diaz.

In this jampacked store opening, the viral HONOR X9a 5G was put to a smash test yet again led by Diaz and lucky customers got the chance to win an HONOR smartphone. The newest and most powerful flagship of HONOR was also seen in a water dip test to prove its very high IP68 ranking.

It’s TechTok Wednesday on July 26!

Join HONOR Philippines’ Tech-Tok Wednesday if you’re itching to get HONOR products at a discount! You can get up to Php 2,000 off HONOR X6, X7, X8, X9, and HONOR 70 5G while HONOR MagicBook X Series laptops have great deals too! Tune in as HONOR goes live on TikTok on July 26, 2023 to get more freebies and prizes!

For more announcements, you may visit HONOR’s website www.hihonor.com or social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines). To check out HONOR’s complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/.

PLDT named as Philippines’ most valuable brand at US$2.6 billion

PLDT Inc. (PLDT) is the most valuable brand in the Philippines based on an independent 2023 study by Brand Finance, a London-based business valuation and strategy consulting firm.

 

With a 2% annual increase in brand value to US$2.6 billion, the performance of the country’s largest integrated telco contributed to the brand capturing a higher market share of the fiber industry, which led to a 45% improvement in year-on-year revenue.

 

Besting other brands in telecommunications, banking, and food service, PLDT was cited by Brand Finance for its consistent focus on innovation as a driver to improve customer service and propel the nation towards becoming a financial and technology hub.

 

PLDT’s sustainability initiatives were also recognized. The Brand Finance report indicated that the brand posted the highest Sustainability Perceptions Value among all brands listed in its rankings at US$222 million.  Brand Finance cited the use of carbon fiber technology for cell towers and the deployment of solar roof top panels leading to a reduction of over 137 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.

 

“PLDT greatly appreciates the latest and prestigious recognition from Brand Finance for being conferred as the Most Valuable Filipino Brand this year. This inspires us more to continue providing the vital connectivity that powers our digital economy, enabling us to help transform the country into a globally competitive and digitally-empowered nation,” said Alfredo S. Panlilio, President and CEO of PLDT and its wireless subsidiary, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart). 

Alfredo S. Panlilio, President and CEO of PLDT

“This recognition clearly shows that our efforts to proactively create brand loyalty, awareness, associations, and maintaining international standard of our products and services among our stakeholders are paying off,” Panlilio added. 

 

Brand Finance also lauded PLDT’s deployment of carbon fiber cell site towers, an environmental initiative that seeks to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide produced by up to 70%, as compared to using traditional steel towers. Carbon fiber towers also use less land space, reducing the need for land repurposing. 

 

“We sincerely thank Brand Finance for this distinction – a testament to our ardent investments in the fiber industry and good corporate governance,” Panlilio said.  In support of the government’s digitalization goals, the citation also reinforces PLDT and Smart’s commitment to bridge the digital divide – a mandate of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Digital Infrastructure group, where Panlilio sits as a founding member. 

 

PLDT and Smart’s efforts recognized by Brand Finance are among the broad range of initiatives undertaken by the Group in its continuing drive to elevate customer experience and become the region’s leading ESG telco. These objectives are two of the five pillars of PLDT and Smart’s multi-year transformation launched in 2022, in response to the rapidly shifting market conditions in the Philippines.

 

“We sincerely thank Brand Finance for this distinction – a testament to our ardent investments in the fiber industry and good corporate governance,” Panlilio said.  In support of the government’s digitalization goals, the citation also reinforces PLDT and Smart’s commitment to bridge the digital divide – a mandate of the Private Sector Advisory Council (PSAC) Digital Infrastructure group, where Panlilio sits as a founding member.

 

PLDT and Smart’s efforts recognized by Brand Finance are among the broad range of initiatives undertaken by the Group in its continuing drive to elevate customer experience and become the region’s leading ESG telco. These objectives are two of the five pillars of PLDT and Smart’s multi-year transformation launched in 2022, in response to the rapidly shifting market conditions in the Philippines.

 

Digital finance drives economy, financial inclusion in 2023

 

Digital financial services continue to drive the digital economy, investments, and financial inclusion in the Philippines, a recent report has found.

 

In fact, electronic banking transactions in the country amounted to three times its GDP in 2021, underscoring the significant role of digital finance in the country's economy. Last year, the Philippines ranked the highest in digital payments transactions in Southeast Asia.

 

“Thanks to the rising adoption of e-commerce and mobile payments and an emerging generation of young and tech-savvy users, the digital payments market is now experiencing a surge in growth,” said Earl Melivo, Head of Asia Pacific at WorldRemit Philippines. “This has allowed the digital economy to remain robust through the pandemic, and has even cultivated an investor-friendly climate in the Philippines.”

 

True enough, despite a global downturn in investment, the Philippine market has exhibited resilience, with 2022 marking a 7% growth from the previous year and an all-time high in funds raised by startups. In the same year, overseas Filipino workers were encouraged to make the most of global headwinds to put up their own investments.

 

The 2023 report attributed high digital penetration rates to the increasing accessibility and functionality of smartphones among Filipinos. By 2028, the Philippines is estimated to reach an all-time high of 94.06 million smartphone users.

 

Access to smartphones and apps have been vital to providing more Filipinos with essential services in a country where 44% or 34.3 million adults remained unbanked until 2021. Unmet needs or tensions, such as long application processes for traditional banks and high overhead charges, have thus driven the demand for digital solutions, such as online transfers.

 

“These transfers have emerged as a game-changer, surpassing traditional methods by providing a seamless and user-friendly experience. Filipinos can now send and receive money anytime, anywhere, at their convenience, through their mobile devices,” Melivo said.

 

In 2022, local e-wallet transactions amounted to $28.6B—almost double the amount in 2020. This ranked the Philippines as the country with one of the highest mobile wallet transactions in the region, next to Indonesia and Thailand. By maximizing e-wallets Filipinos gain access to a wide range of financial services, including savings accounts and loans.

 

Beyond that, digital financial services empower more individuals and families through greater financial inclusion.

 

“Digital platforms like WorldRemit promote financial inclusion in the Philippines by bringing remittances to recipients who previously didn’t have bank accounts or live far from physical remittance centers,” Melivo said.

 

"By leveraging technology, tech companies like us can contribute to Filipinos’ financial well-being and literacy and provide inclusive and impactful solutions that cater to their evolving needs," he added.

Schoology: The Breakthrough Classroom of the New Normal

 

During the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, the education sector needed guidance on how students would continue learning despite limitations at home. Many digital learning management systems (LMS) were explored, searching for the best alternative to physical classrooms. Among them, Rex Education's Schoology has grown in popularity and has become one of the most useful and impactful LMS.

 

Schoology is a cloud-based LMS that helps educators and academic institutions create engaging content, teach lessons, and evaluate students' performance, bringing learning and assessment together in one platform.

 

This digital tool enables users to utilize new and existing content, making it easy to create instructional materials. It contains rich shared resources, including user-generated lessons, assignments, and exams. Furthermore, its assessment tools aid teachers in more efficiently annotating and grading student responses. It also includes data and analytic functions for tracking student progress and identifying learning gaps.

 

LMS oversight is more complex than it appears. Apart from the country's challenges with Internet connectivity, some people may need more technical expertise to use this kind of system. However, this is manageable with Schoology because it is easy to navigate, user-friendly, and has a broader reach.

 

Moreover, Schoology is the only LMS with a built-in collaboration feature, connecting everyone to the same network to improve communication and sharing in the classroom, throughout the institution, and even globally. It makes linking apps, materials, and systems easier, allowing any institution's system or requirements to run and be monitored more seamlessly. Additionally, using its mobile application, any student or teacher can access resources, classes, assignments, and discussions no matter where they are.

 

As witnessed, especially in the last three years, learning management systems are becoming increasingly crucial in helping teachers and learners manage, plan, deliver, and track the learning process. Therefore, selecting the best system, such as Schoology, is vital to meet everyone's needs and assist schools, teachers, and learners in achieving their goals.

 

The country has reopened schools recently and returned to a face-to-face learning modality. Despite this, it is safe to conclude that some pandemic breakthroughs, such as online learning, are here to stay. After all, Schoology is not a replacement for physical classrooms but rather a tool to aid learning strategies, provide flexibility to accommodate more students and strengthen the educational system.