Shopee and Taguig LGU Provide Care Packages to Support Vaccination Efforts

MANILA, AUGUST 13, 2021 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, teams up with the local government unit (LGU) of Taguig City to provide care packages that can encourage more people to get vaccinated and to express gratitude towards frontliners diligently working at the center. Last July 28-30, Shopee rolled out its vaccination center support initiative in Western Bicutan National High School by giving food, water, and health kits from Shopee and its partner brands under Shopee Mall to 1,500 frontliners, staff, and the people getting vaccinated. These included snacks from Del Monte, Perfetti Van Melle, Dutchmill Soy, Monde Nissin, and Rebisco; water from Hope in a Bottle; health kits from Mighty Clean and Colgate; and industrial fans from Symphony.

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Shopee is committed to contributing and positively impacting the community. We are proud to partner with the Taguig LGU in their efforts to inoculate their citizens and are grateful to our brand partners who generously lend us their support in serving the Filipinos. We want to play a part in meaningful initiatives such as this especially when the country is still battling the pandemic. We will continue to support the Filipinos and offer them the help that they need.” 

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About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee connects shoppers, brands, and sellers across Asia and other fast-growing markets, empowering anyone to buy and sell anywhere and at any time. 

 

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

 

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

Shopee Supports the Development of Tech Talent with Shopee Code League, the First-Ever Regional Virtual Coding Competition

MANILA, JUNE 18, 2020 - Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, has launched Shopee Code League, a first of its kind 'Code from Home' challenge made available across the region. This initiative offers tech enthusiasts an opportunity to learn and upgrade their skills as the demand for tech talents continues to rise.

A two-month-long program, Shopee Code League is an online coding challenge that includes weekly competitions and digital training workshops open to all students and professionals. Through this initiative, all tech enthusiasts will get equal access to learning opportunities, including the chance to work on real data sets and challenges in the tech industry. Registered participants will also have the opportunity to attend numerous free online training workshops touching on topics including data analytics and data science. Participants will also gain access to talks by industry leaders, including Andrei D. Coronel Ph.D., Chair in the Department of Information Systems & Computer Science. He will be sharing his views on the importance of technology and nurturing the next generation of tech talent.

Martin Yu, Associate Director at Shopee Philippines, said, "We are excited to help tech enthusiasts learn and upgrade their skills from home through the Shopee Code League. Shopee has successfully organized past coding challenges, and we are taking it a step further by bringing tech communities from across the region together for the first time virtually. Shopee Code League aims to help potential tech talents to make a difference in the tech community. We will continue to empower the growth of tech talents and develop a tech ecosystem that will drive the Philippine digital economy forward."

Registration is open until June 30. For more information about the Shopee Code League, please visit https://careers.shopee.sg/codeleague/.

Xiaomi Launches POCO F2 Pro: the Ultimate Flagship Killer in The Philippines

Xiaomi unveils POCO F2 Pro, the newest smartphone under its sub-brand POCO. Tailored for tech enthusiasts, the device prioritizes performance over frills – without the traditional flagship price tag and is priced from PHP 26,990.

POCO F2 Pro: Powerfully cool with Qualcomm® Snapdragon 865 and LiquidCool Technology 2.0

Onboard the POCO F2 Pro is the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 865: the most powerful 5G processor on the market. Paired with a Kryo™ 585 octa-core chip processor and Adreno™ 650 GPU, both offer 25% improved performance over their predecessor. The powerful SoC is complemented with ultra high-speed LPDDR51 RAM and the latest UFS 3.1 storage, which enable POCO F2 Pro to offer top-notch read-and-write capabilities for insanely smooth operations.

With LiquidCool Technology 2.0, POCO F2 Pro sports the largest vapor chamber available on the market, along with multiple stacks of graphite and graphene. This keeps the device cool, especially the SoC and the surface of the phone, and sustains peak performance even under heavy activity loads. Optimized for power users and TÜV Rheinland High Gaming Performance certified, POCO F2 Pro delivers improved gaming experience with enhanced HDR display and realistic haptic feedback with a z-axis linear motor. It also offers an immersive audio experience with Hi-Res Audio certification.

Sophistication meets vibrancy with a sleek design and 6.67” AMOLED Full Screen Display

The POCO F2 Pro touts a variety of favorite features, including an optical in-screen fingerprint sensor and Corning®️ Gorilla®️ Glass 5 on the front and back for sturdy protection. The device is offered in radiant colors and styles to suit every personality, including grey, purple, blue, and white – sporting an anti-glare matte finish in the purple and grey variants.

With a contrast ratio of 5000000:1 and a brightness of 500 nits (typ) / 800 nits (HBM), the device brings display quality to the forefront. No matter the time of day, users can count on a comfortable viewing experience through POCO F2 Pro’s bright 6.67” AMOLED ultimate Full Screen Display, featuring a 360° triple ambient light sensor to deliver accurate ambient light detection and smooth brightness adjustment.
The device boasts the latest TÜV Rheinland Full Care Display Certification, HDR10+, DC dimming, and Sunlight Mode 2.0. It also features advanced customizable color scheme settings.

Photography reigns supreme with 64MP quad rear camera and 20MP pop-up camera

Touting an impressive 64MP rear quad camera set up, POCO F2 Pro’s Sony IMX686 sensor captures clear, detailed images, while its 13MP 123° ultra-wide-angle lens lets users take effortlessly gorgeous landscapes and large group photos. A 5MP macro and 2MP depth sensor round out the rear camera for detailed close-ups with unparalleled bokeh, allowing for beautiful images every time.

With ultra-high definition video recording at 8K (24fps) and 4K (60fps), POCO F2 Pro turns any user into a cinematographer. The Pro mode, for both photo and video, offers more control over focus and exposure, so users can capture higher quality images without the use of a DSLR or professional cameras.

On the front, POCO F2 Pro sports a 20MP pop-up camera with a multicolor notification light, helping minimize front screen bezels without compromising camera quality. The selfie camera is also capable of 120fps slow motion video recording.

Accelerated performance shines with high-capacity 4,700mAh (typ) battery and swift 9.6Gbps connectivity speeds

Enabling a reliable extended user experience, POCO F2 Pro packs a 4,700mAh battery, surpassing the average user’s power needs even with heavy usage. The device also sports a swift 30W fast charge, which can fuel the device to 64% in just 30 minutes and 100% in 63 minutes2. In addition to superb charging speed, POCO F2 Pro also comes with a 33W in-box charger which provides a convenient power-up experience for users constantly on the go.

With WiFi 6, POCO F2 Pro provides hyper-fast connectivity with speeds of 9.6Gbps, nearly three times as fast as WiFi 5. Additionally, the device integrates a multi-link connection ensuring stable and peak network connections at all times across 2.4G Wi-Fi, 5G Wi-Fi, and mobile data.

POCO F2 Pro has two variants, 8GB+256GB and 6GB+128GB, in Neon Blue, Phantom White, Electric Purple and Cyber Grey. Priced at PHP 29,990 and PHP 26,990 respectively, the two models will be available at Authorized Mi Stores from June 15, 2020.
Starting from June 18, 2020 consumers can purchase both models at Xiaomi Official Store on Lazada, and enjoy P2,000 off for 24 hours on June 18, 2020

For more information about Xiaomi, please visit our blog http://blog.mi.com/en/.
For more information about the products available in the Philippines please visit: https://www.mi.com/ph, the Xiaomi Philippines Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/XiaomiPhilippines/ or the POCO Philippines Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/POCOPhilippinesOfficial/

About Xiaomi Corporation

Xiaomi Corporation was founded in April 2010 and listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on July 9, 2018 (1810.HK). Xiaomi is an internet company with smartphones and smart hardware connected by an IoT platform at its core. With an equal emphasis on innovation and quality, Xiaomi continuously pursues high-quality user experience and operational efficiency. The company relentlessly builds amazing products with honest prices to let everyone in the world enjoy a better life through innovative technology. Xiaomi is currently the world’s fourth-largest smartphone brand, and has established the world’s leading consumer IoT platform, with 252 million smart devices connected to its platform, excluding smartphones and laptops. Xiaomi products are present in more than 90 markets around the world.

In July 2019, the company made the Fortune Global 500 list for the first time, ranking 468th among all, and 7th among internet companies. Xiaomi is the youngest company on the 2019 Fortune Global 500 list. In May 2020, the company made the Forbes Global 2000 List again and its ranking jumped to 384th.

How a Young Entrepreneur Helped more than 1,700 Daily Wage Workers and Raised more than P1M during the ECQ

The rise of COVID-19 cases in the Philippines followed by the announcement of an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) have restricted the movement of people in Metro Manila and Luzon, leaving many daily wage earners and informal workers with no jobs.
Due to the ECQ, businesses were forced to halt operations - thus leaving so many of our daily wage workers with no jobs, and no means to provide for their families.

Despite these challenging times, the ‘bayanihan’ spirit of the Filipinos prevailed. Many companies, members of the private sector, and individuals took the initiative to assist fellow Filipinos who are in need.

Joey Gamos, a young entrepreneur, founder and owner of the brand Tara Baraha!, is among the many who stepped up to help those who lost their means of living. ‘Tara Baraha!’ is a small local business selling playing cards that showcase the beauty of the Philippines. The deck comes with 52 info cards that would take you on a visual journey around the Philippines, and three joker cards that serve as bucket lists to top destinations around the country. Gamos mobilized her own network and made use of her business’ Facebook and Instagram page to start a donation drive, “Tara Tulong Tayo!”, for the daily wage earners and their families.

“It started as a personal concern about our daily wage worker kababayans and their families. In the news that preceded the start of ECQ, I saw the struggle of so many of our workers who had to endure so much just to get to their place of work as public transportation was put to a halt - a foreshadowing of the hardships that they will go through for the rest of the quarantine period. They expressed their worries and concerns on how they’ll be able to feed their families,” Gamos shared. “Without their income, they would go hungry and possibly resort into other means of surviving. It could lead to crimes and disorderliness in the community - it will be a domino effect, really.”

Gamos felt restless and after speaking to a couple of friends about her worries, she had the urge to do something to help from home. She started by creating a compelling poster through online design platform, Canva, for the visual materials of her initiative. She then launched the fundraising drive on March 16, first day of the ECQ, which aimed to give Php1,000 cash assistance to affected daily wage workers.

Her close friends and family eventually joined her as the donations poured in as they all helped with the day-to-day operations. For the past 3 months, the whole Tara Tulong Tayo! initiative has become a collective effort by generous individuals, small local businesses and communities as some even mounted their own donation drives/online sales and chose ‘Tara Tulong Tayo’ as their beneficiary.

As of June 14th, and Day 89 of the initiative, they have been able to raise Php 1,741,353.00 and have sent out cash assistance to 1,741 of our daily wage worker kababayans. The initiative’s beneficiaries include our workers whose livelihoods have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic: food establishment crew, PUV drivers, maintenance personnel, vendors, construction workers, salon staff, etc.

“Through the generosity of so many kind souls, we have been able to send help to those who need it the most, especially in these tough times. It was great to have been able to create a platform that enabled many of us to be able to help from home. May the kindest and best in us emerge as we continue to fight this global pandemic,” Gamos said.

ABOUT CANVA

Launched in 2013, Canva is an intuitive online design and publishing platform with a mission to empower everyone in the world to design anything and publish anywhere. Featuring a simple drag-and-drop user interface and a vast library of templates ranging from presentations, social media posts, posters, invitations to resumes, a huge collection of stock photography, illustrations and fonts, anyone can take an idea and create something beautiful. Canva is available on web, iOS and Android.

ASGC PARTNERS WITH MYPHONE TO GIVE STUDENTS FREE PHONES IN SUPPORT OF E-LEARNING SET UP

As the new school year approaches, Academia System Global Colleges of Talisay City, Cebu has partnered with the first Filipino phone brand in the Philippines, MyPhone, to provide free cellular phones for Grade 10 completers.

In line to the Department of Education’s initiative to conduct modular learning to students for the upcoming school year, ACGS took their part to support their students in coping with the new learning environment, making them the first school in the Philippines to give free cellular phones to their students.

According to ACGS’ President Dr. Ferdinand Yap Tomakin, they have been motivated by the school’s mission to offer variable learning opportunities and educational experience geared towards the total formation of their students.

“Giving out free cellular phones is the ultimate manifestation of the school’s commitment in providing optimum and quality learning,” he said. “In doing so, the school will be able to reach out especially to the underprivileged, keeping true to our philosophy that education is a fundamental right and not a privilege,” he added.

Students who will receive free cellular phones can easily communicate with their teacher through online or text messaging.

In addition, ASGC reiterated that if a student opt not to receive a cellular phone, they will still be entitled for the free allowance of P500, free educational supplies, free P.E. uniform, and other inclusions in line with their offer of free tuition, miscellaneous, and other school fees for Grade 10 completers from public schools.

MyPhone, on the other hand, has extended their overwhelming gratitude to the school’s capability and openness to support the youth.

“We are glad that they reached the right phone brand as we also wanted to tap students in our future projects,” MyPhone Vice President Kevin Tan said. “MyPhone has been providing quality and affordable phones for the Filipinos since 2007 and this being partnered with a school is a great opportunity for us to reach the right market with our gadgets,” he added.

The Filipino phone brand has recently launched Balik-Aral sa Tahanan campaign which aims to introduce the use of tablets and other mobile devices as an e-learning equipment for students.

For more information about this partnership, like and follow MyPhone’s official social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or visit www.myphone.com.ph and Academia System Global Colleges’ Facebook page or visit https://academiasystem.school/.

Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual: A Compelling Esport Experience for Michelin

The first-ever Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual saw Rebellion Williams [sport claim first place with its N°1 car shared by Deletraz / Marciello / Wisniewski / Brzezinski. Pole-sitters Dillmann / Guerrieri / Simoncic / Pedersen (N°4 ByKolles Burst Esport) were second past the chequered flag, ahead of the N°13 Rebellion Williams Esport foursome (Canapino / Aitken / Arana / Romanidis). The GTE class was won by Porsche Esports Team which emerged as the category's dominant squad in qualifying. The top prize was secured by the W93 Porsche 911 RSR of Tandy / GOven / Rogers / Ostgaard thanks to a surefooted performance. Interestingly, British driver Nick Tandy can now claim to have won Le Mans' GTE class with Porsche and Michelin in both the real world and 'virtually'. Second in class went to the N°95 Aston Martin (Thiim / Westbrook / Sorensen / Biancolilla), while R8G Esports Team's N°80 Corvette (Juncadella /Beche / Jayovski / Kappet) took third. All these cars contested the race on 'virtual' Michelin tyres.

Not only did the realism of the rFactor2 software employed for the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual provide endurance racing fans with a welcome chance to enjoy their favourite discipline once more after the recent halt to real-world motorsport, but it also gave video game fans an opportunity to discover motor racing from a fresh perspective that introduced them to the important role that tyres play in motorsport.

Close, spectacular, realistic racing

Buoyed by a field of 50 cars and 200 topflight racing drivers and sim racers, the show provided by the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual lived up every bit to its promise. Drivers from different forms of racing and top names from the world of endurance racing teamed up with a line-up of sim racing stars to showcase their professionalism not only during their respective pre-race preparations but also in the course of the twice-around-the-clock race itself. The result was a gripping fight between the successive leaders who all chose similar race strategies and the gaps at the end were extremely close.

As expected, the teams with the strongest reputations took turns in front and took the two 'virtual' red-flag interruptions that bunched up the field in their stride. Thanks to the quality of the coverage and the work put into the event by its organiser, the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest), it was easy to forget at times that this wasn't actually the real thing. "The inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual was a resounding success," says Michelin Motorsport Director Matthieu Bonardel.

There is always room for improvement, but I would like to thank everyone at Michelin Motorsport, as well as all the staff at the ACO and the FIA World Endurance Championship who put so much effort into this project. Michelin's business is advancing continuously on the digital front and we are delighted today to have had this opportunity to reach out to a new audience thanks to the Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual."

An even more detailed understanding of our 'virtual' tyres

The drivers were swift to acclaim Michelin's tyres after qualifying and their praise continued during the race as they paid tribute to the realism of the feedback replicated via the steering wheel, and notably the difference between the feeling of the different compound options. As in the real Le Mans 24 Hours, their strategies were based on the use of either hard or medium tyres during the early stages of the race, before switching to the softer option for the cooler hours of darkness. On Sunday morning, as the temperature started to climb to exceed 20°C again, they returned to the medium compound, and then the hard tyre.

In contrast to the real Le Mans 24 Hours, however, where multi-stinting the same set of tyres is commonplace, this tactic wasn't a feature of the virtual race. This was due on the one hand to the fact that the teams didn't have a maximum allocation of tyres for the race, whereas numbers are capped in the real world. On the other, the simulated time allowed for tyre changes was relatively short, so there was little to gain from staying on the same rubber for more than one stint. Meanwhile, the wear-rates factored in by the software were higher than in reality. The game effectively reproduced a cost of two seconds per lap (one stint equivalent to approximately 10 laps) due to wear, whereas — in reality — Michelin's tyres deliver consistent lap times from the start to the end of runs of up to four stints at a time Michelin hopes to be able to work with the rFactor2 platform's designers so that competing teams have a broader spectrum of possible strategies in the future while demonstrating the consistency of its tyres' performance more fully.

A resounding worldwide success and new contacts for Michelin

Given that the Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual allowed motor racing enthusiasts to enjoy the action in the virtual company of video game fans who often have little interest in real motorsport, Michelin saw its involvement in the race as a chance to reach out to a wider audience which was able to discover the importance of the role played by tyres not only in real life racing but also, by extrapolation, on their road cars. The quality of the race's video coverage kept millions of fans captivated across the world, with viewing figures boosted by Michelin's own social media teams who provided live streaming of the race on Michelin and Michelin Motorsport's Facebook pages in 30 countries. Meanwhile, the teaser video posted by the French firm ahead of the race attracted by 1.3 million views on Instagram alone, plus another 450,000 on YouTube and 155,000 on Facebook.

Michelin's involvement in the inaugural Le Mans 24 Hours Virtual asserts its commitment to eSports and, in September, it will be looking to follow up by extending its current unbeaten record in the real race to 23 victories in a row since 1998.

Diskwento Caravan Continues to Roll, Moves West of the City

The Department of Trade and Industry, through the initiative of its Regional Operations Group (DTI-ROG) led by Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona, has finally run the Diskwento Caravan rolling store, heading its way to the western portion of Zamboanga City after serving four (4) barangays in the east. It first went to Barangay Sinunuc on April 24, 2020, and on April 28, it rolled to Barangay San Roque.

In Sinunuc, it served a total of eight hundred twenty-one (821) consumers generating sales amounting to PhP 252,566.00. While in San Roque, nine hundred thirty-two (932) consumers were served by the rolling store which also generated PhP 297,936.00 in sales. The number of consumers served by the rolling store in the two barangays are the highest since it started operating on April 7.

“We believe that the absence of grocery and convenience stores in Sinunuc is one of the major reasons for the large turnout of buyers during our visit in the area. Among the barangays we visited so far, it was in Sinunuc where the rolling store was the busiest. More or less, we were able to serve eight hundred twenty-one (821) consumers”, said Rowena Divinagracia of DTI-Zamboanga City’s Consumer Protection Division. “We expect higher turnouts and hope to help more consumers in other areas where it is really difficult for the people to access basic grocery items.”

Four (4) days later, new records, both in the number of consumers served and amount of sales were posted in Barangay San Roque. Of the total number of consumers reached out by the rolling store, almost a quarter were from San Roque.

“Ta puede gane kita mira, maga gente y vivientes de San Roque cay este dia ya dale gayod canaton privilegio especialmente el maga departamento de govierno - el DTI, el Department of Agriculture, el City Agriculture’s office. Alegre gane kita cay bien manada gayod ya puede beneficia el de aton maga residente taqui ahora (We can clearly see that, today, the people of San Roque are very privileged especially that various government agencies are here – the DTI, Department of Agriculture (DA) and City Agriculture’s Office. We are very glad that many, who are here, are benefitting from this event)”, Chairman Edgardo Delgado of Barangay San Roque said in an interview.

In all areas visited by the rolling store, the DA’s Kadiwa on Wheels also brings with it basic agricultural commodities such as vegetables, fruits, fish and poultry products.

The DTI, other line government agencies and the local government unit of Zamboanga City continue to provide the people of Zamboanga easier access to their basic necessities.

8 Tips to Help your TikToks Stand Out

When you hear the song “Don’t Start Now” by English singer/songwriter Dua Lipa, what initially comes to mind? Do you imagine the visually stunning music video tied to it, or is your mind flooded with mental images of a plethora of dance covers on TikTok?

Indeed, TikTok has become a global phenomenon and, lately, has sort of become a therapy for most people especially in light of the community quarantines enforced worldwide. And with millions of active users on the platform, coming up with fresh and unique videos may seem like a daunting task.

Fear not because collecting plenty of views, likes, and followers on this rapidly growing platform is not impossible. Here are 8 tips on how to make Tik-Toks that stand out:

Immerse yourself in the “For You” page

Developing ideas and crafting them into your latest TikTok might be difficult due to the sea of clips already out there. But who says you can’t draw inspiration from these clips? Binge watch videos on the “For You” page to get a sense of what’s hot, what’s not, and what hasn’t been created yet.

Use your own audio clips

While TikTok has a vast library of songs and audio clips, they are only offered in segments lasting no more than a minute. Got a favorite? Why not use a separate device to play audio clips of your choice. Be wary of copyright infringement though.

Make every second count

To get a higher viewership count, make sure that the first few seconds of your TikTok has an impact that will easily reel people in. Try baked-in captions or brief and creative intros on your videos to entice viewers to watch your clips entirely.

Showcase your “talent,” but be yourself

TikTok is considered a safe space for people who want to explore and broadcast their skills and talents. Whether it’s dancing, singing, acting, cooking, or showing how talented you are at being talentless--that actually garners a lot of engagement--show the world what makes you, you. Just make sure to maintain authenticity because that is what the audience likes.

Go all out

While you’re at it, make sure to give it your all and showcase the best version of you. Don’t be ashamed of being a bit “extra”. Put on your best outfits, apply makeup, and unleash a burst of energy--it’ll only be a few seconds anyway.

Be relatable

Another way to make your TikToks stand out is to make them as relatable as possible. Try kickstarting ideas with a few unique questions like “How do I react during monumental scenes in a certain renowned movie?” or “How do I look when I wake up on different days of the week?”

Add in multiple hashtags

Maybe you’re thinking: “...but having a ‘gazillion’ hashtags is so 2013.” While that may be true for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, there is certainly zero judgement on the use of hashtags by the TikTok community. In fact, using a ton of hashtags like #fyp and #tiktokph, increases your chances of landing on the “For You” page.

Engage in a “Duet”

Joining forces with fellow “TikTokers” not only allows for wider audience engagement, but ensures a fun and interactive experience. Plus, you get to make new friends in the process.

Bonus tip: Follow influential profiles

Much like in fashion and design, it’s always good to have pegs that are consistent with your style and taste. Follow your favorite TikTokers and celebrities to be in the loop for latest trends. And while you’re at it, follow the brand on TikTok at @vivophilippines to get fresh and creative updates on products and services.

About Vivo

vivo is a leading global technology company that is product-driven with core businesses including smart terminals and intelligent services. vivo is committed to connecting users to the digital world by designing exciting and trendsetting smart mobile products and services which integrate technology and fashion in unique and creative ways. Adhering to its core values, which include "Benfen”, “innovation” and “consumer orientation”, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy to achieve its vision of becoming a leading, long-lasting, world-class enterprise.

vivo’s headquarters is located in Dongguan, China, with 9 R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Taipei, Tokyo and San Diego. These centers focus on the development of cutting-edge consumer technologies including 5G, artificial intelligence, photography, design and other emerging fields. vivo has also set up five production hubs across China, South Asia and Southeast Asia, which manufacture over 200 million smartphones every year. As of 2019, vivo has developed its sales network across more than 30 countries and regions, attracting more than 300 million active users worldwide.

DTI in Sydney offers Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan Webinar Series to Overseas Filipinos Affected by COVID-19

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA—The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Sydney, the overseas office of the DTI in Australia, organized the first webinar of the Trabaho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan (TNK) webinar series held on 20 April 2020.

The TNK is an initiative of the DTI in partnership with other government agencies, private sector, academe and civil society organizations, to increase incomes by generating more jobs and promoting entrepreneurship. The program aims to popularize entrepreneurship as an alternative to unemployment, job-seeking or migration.

Alma Argayoso, the Philippine commercial consul to Australia said that PTIC-Sydney had conducted TNK seminars in the past and has lined-up several seminars this year. However, due to coronavirus restrictions, the physical events have been cancelled but they have decided to offer virtual seminars.

“We realized that the webinars would be very useful particularly for those who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19, or for returning Filipinos who would like to start their own business. The webinars might also be of interest to Overseas Filipino Investors (OFIs) or even Australians who would like to help the Philippines recover from the pandemic by investing in viable economic activities in the country as soon as lockdown restrictions are lifted or helping finance the livelihood activities or rehabilitation efforts of their relatives or friends back home,” Argayoso said.

The first webinar of the series covered Franchising 101 and discussed key topics such as how to start and select a franchise business, benefits and pitfalls of franchising, franchising regulations, and franchising opportunities in Australia and the Philippines.

The speaker, Mr. Rudolf Kotik, founder of RK Franchise Consultancy Incorporated, discussed the basics of franchising for those looking for franchise opportunities in the Philippines or Australia, as well as opportunities for business owners who wish to develop their business into a franchise. An option to participate in a co-franchise agreement was also discussed where an opportunity to co-own a franchise together with other franchisees is available for those who wish to start a franchising business as a passive investor.

Mr. Kotik highlighted that the future of franchising is assured even after COVID-19 and is one of the most enduring industries one can think of. He said that aside from food businesses, the services sector such as beauty salons, spa services and laundry shops would bounce back immediately after lockdown restrictions are lifted.

“Franchising is an industry with a proven business system and the best way to invest your money and I highly recommend it to our overseas Filipino workers looking for alternative ways of employment or those who have lost their jobs due to COVID-19,” Kotik added.

Argayoso, during her presentation, highlighted that aside from the webinar initiated by her office, the DTI in the Philippines offers various services, tools and information to help Filipinos succeed as entrepreneurs. Through DTI’s Negosyo Centers located all over the country, the agency provides business advisory, business registration facilitation, product catalogue preparation, packaging and labelling design development, mentorship, education and training, exposure to online platforms and trade fairs, as well as funding for MSMEs.

More recently, DTI’s financing arm, SB Corporation announced a P1B loan facility for MSMEs affected by COVID-19 which will be rolled out by partnering with Negosyo Centers in accepting loan applications for small enterprises.

Argayoso said the TNK webinar series will discuss various business opportunities and feature a sector or industry per session. It will also include other topics of interest related to starting a business

PGH Calls for Blood Donations from COVID-19 Survivors

Since April 15, the number of people who have recovered from the coronavirus disease has surpassed the nationwide death toll. Today, there are a total of 693 recoveries and 446 deaths. Of those 446, 9 died just yesterday. So while the situation is improving, there is still much to do.

“Filipinos continue to suffer and some eventually die from Covid 19 everyday. There is no proven treatment yet for this although different medications and regimens are being investigated. And the vaccine against the novel coronavirus is not yet available. That is why we are calling for plasma donations from Covid 19 survivors. Their antibodies may help save patients who are still battling the disease, especially the severe and critical cases,” said Dr. Jonas Del Rosario, spokesperson for the Philippine General Hospital.

Known as convalescent plasma therapy, the treatment is a century-old technique that has been tried and tested on numerous illnesses, most recently for diseases such as Ebola, Sars, Mers, and Swine Flu. It involves the transfusion of plasma, the liquid component of blood, from a recovered patient to a sick patient.

Much like other organizations around the world, the PGH sees plasma therapy as a possible stop-gap to hold the virus at bay while more complex treatments are developed. “A vaccine is a year out, but what if we can use the antibodies of those who have already survived to strengthen the immune system of those still battling the virus,” said Dr. Del Rosario.

Since beginning the experimental treatment very recently, the PGH has received over 90 inquiries with more than 21 passing the criteria and at least 19 having already donated plasma. At least 5 COVID-19 patients were able to receive transfusions.

“Right now, we are taking care of over 100 COVID-19 patients in the PGH, and some of those are severe and critical cases who have exhausted all other treatment options with no success. For them, plasma therapy could be the last resort. That’s why we’re looking for more donors,” said Dr. Del Rosario.

The plasma donation process for COVID-19 survivors is fairly straightforward. When a prospective donor calls the PGH hotline, he or she is first evaluated over the phone. Once found eligible to donate, PGH personnel will conduct a home visit to get informed consent and a blood sample. After that, the donor is invited to the College of Medicine in UP Manila to donate. For all COVID-19 survivors who want to donate, you may call the PGH hotline at 155-200.