Robinsons Bank brings smiles in the homes of children this holiday season

 

TODA member Charlie R. Madriaga, along with his children, receive Robinsons Bank’s Christmas gift.

(Disclaimer: Masks were only removed for the photo.)

This Christmas season, Robinsons Bank's promise of a brighter future for every Filipino took the path of donating electronic tablets to schoolchildren in various communities nationwide to help them cope with the requirements of online schooling for the coming year 2021. 

“Many families are still struggling with the setup of remote learning, whether it is the lack of a gadget to use or difficulty in accessing the internet. We wanted to provide support to these children so they can continue with their education and achieve the brighter future they deserve,” RBank President Elfren Antonio Sarte stated. 

Mr. Sarte also added that “Our strong advocacy on financial literacy for children has led us to witness their eagerness and passion for learning. It would be disheartening to know that there are children out there who want to keep learning but have no means to. So, we pushed for this initiative to really help those children in need.”

TODA Member Gerardo Legarda, along with his wife and daughter, receive Robinsons Bank’s Christmas gift.

(Disclaimer: Masks were only removed for the photo.)

In lieu of RBank’s corporate giveaways, the children received sim cards along with the electronic tablets, which they can use to access the internet for their online schooling. 

Despite the challenges that this year has brought, the Bank’s passion for service remains unwavering. RBank will always be committed to fulfilling the needs of the Filipino people. 

With Robinsons Bank, the future is bright!

Embassy of Czech Republic x World Vision: Bridge to Employment Project

 

Here's an inspiring story worth reading: Despite the difficulty of finding a stable job, Rodelyn Rabaya, still hopes to earn a decent living. “I worked as an office encoder and as a warehouse assistant but since the contracts ended, I have been without work since then,” said the 23-year-old unemployed resident of Baseco, Manila.

Especially now with a global health crisis, she thought opportunities were hard to come by for someone like her who did not earn a college diploma. Rabaya had to drop out from first year college to give way for her other siblings’ schooling.

Based on the report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the unemployment rate increased to17.7% last April from the 5.3% unemployment rate last January 2020. PSA data also showed that though 13 million Filipinos continued to have jobs, they were unable to report for work due to the risks brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

These statistics reveal that wage-earners who are forced out of work due to the lockdown are in danger of a decreased or zero income. This affects their ability to provide essential needs of the family, including education for their children.

“I want to provide my child everything she needs but not to the point of spoiling her. I want her to finish her education,” shared Rabaya.

Building opportunities

World Vision is a non-profit organization whose vision is for every child to experience life in all its fullness by helping improve the welfare of children, their families and communities, in partnership with individuals and local and international institutions.

Together with the Embassy of Czech Republic in Manila, World Vision launched last October 2020 the “Bridge to Employment Project” in Barangay 649-Baseco.

This one-year project will support 50 students under the Alternative Learning System Program of the Department of Education, and 30 more who are enrolled in technical-vocational-livelihood programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Rabaya said she immediately signed up when their local government youth organization announced the project the through social media.

“They were looking for 18 to 24 year old people who wanted to continue studying though a scholarship, and whom the project will eventually help land a job,” said Rabaya, who immediately signed up for the contact center training among other available courses such as computer programming and events management.

She said she is eagerly waiting to start her 18-day online training.

“We at World Vision are excited for the students of the Bridge to Employment Project. This gives them a chance to continue reaching their dreams. We are thankful to the Embassy of Czech Republic in Manila for supporting our projects of looking after the welfare of families, especially the most vulnerable children,” said Rommel V. Fuerte, World Vision (Philippines) National Director.

The “Bridge to Employment Project” is one-year project aims to assist the education of 80 students so they can one day support their own families through livelihood and employment.

To know more about World Vision, visit www.worldvision.org.ph. For updates, follow /worldvisionph on Facebook and @worldvisionphl on Instagram.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Officially Launched in the Philippines amid Coronavirus Outbreak

With COVID-19 still affecting most part of the world, any good news in sight about its prevention is something that everyone is looking for.

The popular traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Lianhua Qingwen capsule is officially launched in the Philippine market through the efforts of Yiling Pharmaceutical and its exclusive Philippine distributor, Philippine Archipelago International Trading Corporation. Making it the first TCM to be registered as a traditionally used herbal product in the Philippines.

 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the landmark registration of Lianhua Qingwen capsule in early August. The drug is widely used in China as part of its standard coronavirus treatments.

 

During the product launch, Olivia Limpe-Aw, the President of Philippine Archipelago International Trading Corporation stated that “The COVID-19 Pandemic has brought to the fore the importance and significance of TCM and the significant role of Lianhua Qingwen in particular in the prevention, treatment and control of this global epidemic.”

 

Lianhua Qingwen Capsule has been part of China’s standard therapy for mild and moderate coronavirus patients. It’s listed as a recommended medicine in the Diagnosis and Treatment Scheme of Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia (Versions #4-#8), issued officially by Chinese authorities.

 

The results of a prospective, randomized, controlled, and multi-center clinical study on treating COVID-19 with Lianhua Qingwen Capsules, which Chinese Academicians Zhong Nanshan, Li Lanjuan, and Zhang Boli and other experts worked on together with over 20 hospitals, were published in Phytomedicine, the journal with a high impact factor in the field of international herbal medicine. It’s found in the study in terms of clinical use that Lianhua Qingwen proved to be both safe and effective in treating COVID-19 in conjunction with conventional therapy as it could significantly relieve clinical symptoms of COVID-19 such as fever, debilitation, and cough, greatly improve pulmonary lesions, shorten the duration of symptoms, and increase the clinical recovery rate.

 

“It is our sincere hope that Lianhua Qingwen’s entrance into the Philippine market will contribute to the fight against the spread of COVID-19 in this country,” Yunling Zhang, VP of the drug’s manufacturer, Yiling Pharmaceutical, said during the launch. “It helped millions of patients during the coronavirus outbreak in both China and other countries.”

 

As of now, Lianhua Qingwen Capsule has been approved in nearly 20 countries and regions including Canada, Brazil, Romania and Thailand. In Kuwait, the medicine has been for the first time granted permission in countries other than China to treat symptoms caused by mild and moderate cases of COVID-19.

 

According to local TCM expert, Dr. Philip Niño Tan-Gatue, COVID-19 is new but the principles for treating it are not. Chinese medicine focuses, not just on the causes of the disease, but also the clinical or presentation of a disease at a particular point in time. COVID-19 is looked at the same way as SARS, or any other rapidly transmissible infectious disease. So long as a particular clinical pattern is recognized, then a formula used thousands of years ago can be used for modern diseases, albeit with modifications.

 

In the Philippines, however, despite its safety, Lianhua Qingwen Capsule is a prescription Rx drug requiring a prescription from a doctor holding a PDEA S2 license. Once obtained, prescription-holding consumers may purchase leading drug stores at a suggested retail price of P288.00/box (24 capsules/box). It is currently available in Southstar Drug and Mercury Drug and soon in Watsons stores.

Get healthy and join the InFerness dance challenge

 

Have you seen Sarah Geronimo Giudicelli’s newest dance moves? She was recently named FERN-C’s newest ambassador and to launch her latest endorsement, Sarah G showed her footwork by grooving to the InFerness beat.

 

Join the InFerness dance challenge and get a chance to win exciting great prizes.

Everyone can take part in this dance challenge. To join, participants can take a video of themselves, either solo or with a group of friends, dancing to the InFerness beat. Participants should retain the original dance steps and it will be a plus if participants put in their own creative spin on the second verse.

 

Video uploads must cover the entire 60 second song and may by uploaded in TikTok or in Facebook with their own caption and using the hashtag #InFerness. The more people like and share the post, the better the chances of winning.

 

Winners will only be contacted by the official FERN-C Facebook page or the official TikTok account that the winner used to upload the video. Any messages received from other platforms will not be valid for redemption.

 

Entries will be judged based on the following criteria:

Creativity of choreography – 50 % (How well Sarah G’s choreography fits seamlessly with the participant’s choreography)

Creativity in presentation – 25 % (How InFerness the participants are wearing, props used if any and facial expression count as well)

Creativity of caption – 25 % (Captions mush include the participant’s answer to the question – “What is your priority these days?” It should also include the hashtag #InFerness.)

 

Screeners will include Sarah G and one STADA representative who will review all entries sent. 

The contest starts on September 28 and the deadline for the submission of entries is on November 22, 2020.  For more details, please visit FERN C’s FB page.

 

₱1 Million Daily Giveaway via Shopee Milyonaryo

 

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launches Shopee Milyonaryo as part of its 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale. Shopee Milyonaryo is an interactive lucky draw contest on GMA’s Wowowin, where Shopee users stand a chance to win up to ₱1,000,000 in cash every weekday until November 11.

 

Users can participate by logging on to the Shopee app and claiming the raffle code^[1]. The winners will be announced every weekday during GMA’s Wowowin. During the show, the winners will pick one out of six boxes, wherein one of the boxes has ₱1,000,000 in cash.

 

Martin Yu, Associate Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “Christmas is a much-anticipated occasion for all Filipinos. Shopee wants to engage more of its users this holiday by bringing back the season’s joy and excitement with Shopee Milyonaryo. We will continue to stay committed to providing our Filipino users with more initiatives that are engaging, uplifting, and rewarding.”

 

Key highlights of Shopee’s 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale

More details about Shopee Milyonaryo are available on https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-milyonaryo.

 

For more information about Shopee 11.11 - 12.12 Big Christmas Sale, visit https://shopee.ph/11-11.

 

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Until December 12, shoppers can expect big deals and discounts from leading brands.

 

●       Kris Aquino as Shopee’s new Brand Ambassador: Users can look forward to seeing Kris Aquino on TV commercials, TV shows, and Shopee Live.

●       11.11 Big Christmas TV Special: Viewers can win up to ₱11,000,000 worth of prizes on GMA’s Wowowin on November 11, 5:00 PM.

●       Christmas deals and promotions: Shopee users can enjoy free shipping with ₱0 minimum spend, up to 20% coins cashback, and ₱1 deals on selected items such as mobile cases and accessories, home and kitchen items, and nail care products.

●       Exclusive deals from leading brands: Users can anticipate up to 70% off on leading brands such as Pampers, Nestle, Vivo, Globe, Havaianas, Unilever Beauty, Abbott, Garnier, realme, and Enfagrow.

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^[1] Terms and Conditions Apply

Healthcare and Innovations from Taiwan Goes Digital

(From L-F)  Ray Yang, Intl Sales Manager, Mediland Enterprise Corp ; Miron Wang, CEO, Foresee-X ; Dr.Ted Chang, CTO, Quanta Computer ; Ms.Leonor F.M. Lin, President & CEO of TAITRA;  Adam Horng, Vice President,Faspro Systems Co., Ltd ; CP Chuang, COO, Crystalvue ;  David Hung, Asst.Manager, IEI Integration Corp

 

In the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis that has brought unimaginable disruptions 

in the healthcare industry worldwide, Taiwan Excellence, a national award in Taiwan with 28 

years of history, introduces the Smart Medical Express

 

Under Smart Medical Express, product launches are conducted with the aim of enhancing cooperation within the international community while highlighting Taiwan’s digital healthcare and innovations. Activities included 5 online presentations that focused on technological advancements and innovations in surgical equipment, ophthalmology, assistive devices, dentistry, and innovative healthcare products, all aimed at capturing the attention of international healthcare professionals.

 

Ms. Leonor F.M. Lin, President & CEO of TAITRA, delivered the opening remarks.

More than 300 medical practitioners from various medical institutions and colleges, and healthcare industries in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines, including the media from these countries, participated in the recent event entitled “Taiwan - ASEAN Medical Device and Innovation Forum” which showcased the latest medical technologies from Taiwan.

 

The forum with a theme anchored on innovations invited Faspro Systems Co., Ltd., Taiwan Main Orthopaedic Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Crystalvue Medical Corp., Mediland Enterprise Corp., IEI Integration Corp., and other medical manufacturers to present their new products. Furthermore, a leading digital healthcare enterprise in Taiwan, Quanta Computer Inc., gave the keynote speech and discussed Taiwan's digital healthcare transformation.

 

Globally, healthcare is considered the sector that is most at danger and at risk being the first line of defense when facing a large-scale pandemic. Taiwan is empowering its strong ICT industry to help medical institutions with regard to planning and executing their digital transformations. The country creates more opportunities for partnerships between medical institutions around the world by sharing experiences in software and hardware integration, Artificial Intelligence (AI) implementation, and establishment of cloud databases,

 

The presentations during the event included innovations in medical materials and equipment. The Faspro Surgical Video Camera (Fasmedo FM-100) offers a solution for medical imaging and recording. Taiwan Main Orthopaedic Biotechnology Co., Ltd., meanwhile, developed the Foresee-X Smart Surgical Glasses Solution, the first device in the world to apply augmented reality technology to surgery. The Non-Mydriatic Auto Fundus Camera, on the other hand, developed by Crystalvue Medical Corp., uses automatic retina tracking to quickly diagnose the eyes of patients. Mediland Enterprise Corp.’s product, the Hyper Light Disinfection Robot, uses the Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) sterilization method to neutralize pathogens in hospitals and reduce contact infections between patients and medical personnel. Finally, the Body Temperature Monitoring Solution, developed by IEI Integration Corp., incorporates a facial recognition system to quickly detect the temperature of multiple persons via their foreheads.

 

Using advancements in technology, these companies were lauded for creating new applications for the medical field, thus providing better services to patients.

 

Application of new technologies, such as AI, 3D printing, augmented reality (AR), and automatic detection in the healthcare sector have allowed for the creation of new and technologically advanced medical products. COVID-19 has made people realize the importance of transforming healthcare and as such, Taiwan Excellence will continue to introduce new healthcare innovations and share more healthcare products with global buyers.

 

For more information, visit the Taiwan Excellence digital healthcare pavilion at (www.taiwanexcellence.org/tw/digital_pavilion).

 

5 Ways AI Is Building A Better, Brighter Future For Asia

All across Asia, a hotly-debated topic amongst business leaders, government policymakers, academics and industry experts is the potential impact that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will have on society.

Understandably, some take a cautious view when it comes to AI development, sometimes painting a grim, dystopic future where large swathes of the population are rendered jobless, access to AI is not evenly distributed amongst citizens, and privacy and civil liberties are increasingly under threat from AI’s insatiable need for data.

There is no denying that AI will present a new set of societal challenges that will need to be navigated thoughtfully and carefully and, in particular, it will be critical for all organizations to build trust in AI amongst their customers and stakeholders.

However, these concerns should not overshadow the enormous potential that AI offers society.

Here are five key areas where AI has created remarkable developments and improvements in Asia.

1.      Accessibility

Asia-Pacific is currently home to 690 million people with disabilities. AI can help people with vision, hearing, cognitive, learning, and mobility disabilities perform daily tasks more independently, lead a richer, more productive life and participate more fully in society.

For example, Seeing AI is a free app that leverages AI capabilities to identify a broad range of visual cues - including faces, emotions and handwriting. That data is then converted into audio descriptions for the visually-impaired. This enables the 285 million people in the world with low vision to better navigate their day, making the visual world more accessible. 

2.      Agriculture

Today, Asia is the world’s most populous region with more than 4.5 billion inhabitants, approximately 60% of the global population, and this number is forecasted to grow to over 5 billion by 2030. This will put incredible strain on the region’s already-challenged food supply chains unless farmers can find new ways to keep up with demand, such as leveraging AI and analytics to greatly improve their yields.

In India, Microsoft has partnered with a non-profit organization, International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), to develop an AI Sowing App that sends advisories to farmers on the optimal date to sow their crops, based on weather conditions, soil, and other indicators.

The solution predicts the optimal sowing period by using AI to analyze 30 years of historic climate data and calculate the adequacy of rainfall and soil moisture using real-time data and weather forecasting models. In addition, the program does not require farmers to incur capital expenditure, such as installing sensors in their fields, making this optimal for emerging markets.

·         Insert Video for News Center: Microsoft and ICRISAT - Bringing Artificial Intelligence to agriculture to boost crop yield

3.      Climate Change

One of the most pressing challenges of the 21^st century is the changing climate, and how it threatens human health, infrastructure, and natural systems. A leading cause of climate change is carbon emissions.

Microsoft is embracing the responsibility to operate sustainably and reduce the environmental impact of its business. One of the ways it doe this is by enlisting AI's help to manage the operations and infrastructure of our data centers. As a result, less electricity is needed to fuel data centers’ computing and cooling requirements. In fact, cloud services are 93% more energy efficient and up to 98% more carbon efficient than traditional enterprise data centers.

AI technologies are also being applied beyond the data center to improve the energy efficiency of entire buildings. In Singapore, approximately one-third of the nation’s electricity is consumed by buildings. JTC, a government agency responsible for the developing the nation’s industrial infrastructure, is taking a proactive approach to address this voracious demand for electricity by centralizing its operations on the Microsoft Cloud to monitor, analyze and optimize its buildings. Using sensor data and AI-driven analytics, JTC can now identify and rectify faults before breakdowns occur through a predictive model, resulting in a 15 percent drop in energy cost avoidance.

·         Insert Video for News Center: How JTC is modeling what it means to make buildings more energy-efficient and sustainable

4.      Education

Education is one of the building blocks for creating a better future, and AI is being leveraged to enhance the education experience for students and improve outcomes in schools.

In Andhra Pradesh, a state in southern India, Microsoft is partnering with the government to launch a new app that predicts which students are most likely to drop out of school. Powered by machine learning, AI capabilities, and the cloud, this solution processes complex data sets that include enrolment information, student performance, gender and socio-economic demographics, school infrastructure, and teacher skills, to look for predictive patterns.

This enables administrators and educators to intervene early and target the most at-risk students with programs and counseling to prevent dropouts. The app is already being used successfully by more than 10,000 schools in Andhra Pradesh, covering more than five million students in 2017.

5.      Healthcare

Lastly, AI technology has the potential to assist healthcare providers in their quest to tackle some of the most prevalent diseases we face today, as well as improve the quality of life for Asia’s growing population.

In India, Microsoft is collaborating with one of the largest health organizations in the country, Apollo Hospitals, to develop an AI-focused network aimed at tackling cardiovascular disease, which contributes to nearly one-third of deaths worldwide. In India alone, nearly three million heart attacks happen annually, and it is estimated that 30 million Indians suffer from coronary disease. 

By bringing together Microsoft’s AI expertise and Apollo Hospitals’ experience and knowledge in the field of cardiology, this partnership aims to develop new machine learning models to predict patient risk for heart diseases and assists doctors with treatment plans.

·         Insert Video for News Center: Apollo Hospitals India: AI predicts heart diseases

These are just some of the amazing benefits that AI is bringing to society, though it’s clear that it is still in a nascent stage of its development. The story of AI is still unfolding, and future chapters will be supported by positive, impactful anecdotes. After all, with AI, we are not just amplifying human ingenuity, but the qualities that make us human: Our caring. Our curiosity. Our collective desire to create a better tomorrow.

#SwitchItUpChallenge Creator LAVAADO Teams Up with AC Bonifacio for Upcoming Sure Fire Hit

Taking the world by storm last year, Georgia-based artist Lavaado’s viral single Switch It Up has amassed more than 4 million streams on Spotify, with the music video having more than 7 million views on YouTube. Celebrities and content creators all over the world took to social media to join the #SwitchItUpChallenge with moves from Lavaado’s music video.

For his much-awaited follow up, Lavaado is teaming up with the Philippines’ very own AC Bonifacio, just fresh from very succesful first solo concert and 16^th birthday celebration – AC All About It at SM North EDSA Skydome last December. Lavaado reached out to AC about a collaboration during the Christmas holidays, and they worked out recording while AC was on vacation with her family in Canada.

In and Out – Lavaado’s newest track featuring AC Bonifacio comes out on Spotify, iTunes, Apple Music, and all digital stores worldwide this comingFebruary 8, 2019. Lavaado has been featured in ABS-CBN’s Rated K, and will be performing live in GMA’s Eat Bulaga! this coming February 23.

In and Out is distributed worldwide by Ivory Music & Video, and published under Another Frequency Productions from Chicago, Illinois.

Philippines x China: An Exchange of Art and Culture

Deng Jun, Country Head of Bank of China Manila (first from left), Celeste Diokno, Managing  Director of Bank of China Manila (first from right),  and Tina Colayco, President of the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (second from right), flank Filipino artists (from L-R) Rico Lascano, Phyllis Zaballero, Norberto Carating, and Manuel Baldemor. Together with Jonahmar Salvosa (not in photo), they will be participating in an upcoming culture and art exchange program that seeks to generate awareness for environmental harmony.

Since 2002, Bank of China Manila has been working towards boosting bilateral cooperation in the economic, financial, and trade fields between China and the Philippines. From efforts like the SME Cross-Border Trade and Investment conference, where Filipino businesses were matched with Chinese investors, to the facilitation of two panda bond issuances, the bank has been steadfast in pursuing its mission of bridging the Philippine and Chinese markets.
 
That mission goes beyond business, as Bank of China Manila extends its efforts to bridging people. "Our two countries have been friends for a long time. We share many similarities, but we also share many differences. Through this exchange of cultures, we hope to enhance the understanding between the peoples of Philippines and China," said Mr. Deng Jun, Country Head of Bank of China Manila.

In partnership with the Metropolitan Museum of Manila (MET), the Chinese Culture and Art Association, and China Daily Mail, Bank of China is launching an international arts and cultural exchange program between China and the Philippines. The project brings together five Filipino artists and five Chinese artists to participate in a brief residency in historically and culturally significant locations that will juxtapose similarities and nuances of people, place, and nature. It will culminate in two group exhibitions in both countries with corresponding public programs.
 
A shared advocacy

In its aim to bridge cultures, Bank of China is endeavoring to unpack and highlight the similarities between the Philippines and China. For both countries, rapid growth has at times led observers to disregard the negative impact of economic activity on the environment. But environmental protection has now become a common goal for both nations to preserve their vast natural resources.

It is this kinship with the living environment that inspired the theme for the cultural exchange. Dubbed “In Harmony with Nature”, the program seeks to present the issue of climate change and mankind’s stewardship of the natural environment, from an artist's perspective.
 
This kind of advocacy is something Bank of China is no stranger to. "We care deeply about the environment, and that extends to our business as well. We implement a strict Green Financing policy where we only finance projects that do not damage the environment," said Mr. Deng.
 
An exchange of art and culture

For this project, ten renowned Filipino and Chinese artists have been chosen for the caliber of their work, the strength of their practice, and potential synergy with their counterparts. They are some of the most distinguished in their respective countries, and are able to convey complex non-art concepts through their artistic lenses.
 
First, the participants will undergo a brief residency in Palawan before returning to Manila to exhibit their work at the MET. This initial leg will be punctuated with a collaborative/interactive painting that will be held during the exhibit’s opening day. After the art exhibition in the Philippines, a counterpart art exhibition will be held in China. It will then be the Filipino artists’ turn to visit China for a similar residency and collaborative painting activity.
 
The participating artists from the Philippines are Manuel Baldemor, Rico Lascano, Phyllis Zaballero, Norberto Carating, and Jonahmar Salvosa. Their Chinese counterparts are Kuku Chai Bukuk, Cai Zhixin, Ding Jie, Hao Ping, and Liu She.