MAYNILAD decorative manhole, BAYAD recognition, MAYA award, LANCASTER Hotel Chinese buffet, EASTERN Communications award, QBE Group donation, HELLO GLOW new product, PINOY FOOD TRUCK in Edmonton, TORRE LORENZO donation, CLEAN WATER for Goa community, SECURITY BANK commitment with CCT, EASTWEST Ageasgrowth

Decorative manhole

West Zone concessionaire Maynilad Water Services Inc.  recently installed 22 decorative manhole covers around Luneta Park, Manila City, in line with its 15th anniversary celebration as a re-privatized company. Present to lead the unveiling ceremony were (from right) Manila City Mayor Dr. Honey Lacuna-Pangan, Maynilad president and CEO Ramoncito Fernandez, and Maynilad chief operating officer Randolph Estrellado.

The commemorative manhole covers feature the monument of the country’s national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, the white Nilad flower from which the name of the city was derived, and Maynilad’s 15th anniversary logo.

Balikat ng Bayan

Bayad was recently conferred as SSS’ Best Collecting Partner under the non-bank category during the 2022 Balikat ng Bayan Awards.

SSS acknowledged the company’s consistent compliance of accurate and timely collection reports as well as its active participation in the integral programs of the institution.

Bayad reported a 9 percent growth rate increase in SSS contribution transaction volume from 2021 to 2022.

Maya named Digital Bank of the Year

Maya has taken the global spotlight as the Digital Bank of the Year at the Future Digital Awards for Fintech & Payments 2022.

Organized by London-based global analyst firm Juniper Research, the awards program recognizes “challengers and disruptors” who have made “outstanding contributions to their industry and are positioned to make a significant impact in the future.”

Maya emerged as the Platinum Winner for the Digital Bank of the Year category, the highest accolade given to the most innovative digital banking, payments, and fintech companies worldwide. The Maya Business app for MSMEs also won the Gold Award for the Best Mobile Money Offering category.

Maya was recognized for its unique integrated financial services ecosystem model, revolutionizing the digital banking experience with embedded services through the all-in-one money app Maya and Maya Business for MSMEs.

Maya achieved record-breaking growth acquiring more than one million bank customers and a PHP10 billion deposit balance within five months of its public launch. It is also the fastest digital bank to open its doors to customers within six months after securing approval from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

Lancaster Hotel’s new Chinese buffet restaurant

Newly opened R.M. Lim’s Chinese Buffet of the Lancaster Group of Companies promises to be the latest upgrade to the buffet landscape around Lancaster Hotel along Shaw Boulevard, Mandaluyong City.

The new buffet, Named after the president and CEO of the Lancaster Group, Ronald M. Lim, restaurant offers a value-for-money massive spread that includes dimsum, noodles, soup, congee, and a variety of authentic Chinese dishes, for the affordable net price of Php 599.

Led by Lim, with his Chinese culinary heritage, together with partners Norman Alensuela, and Marlon Aquino, R.M. Lim’s Chinese Buffet is open from 10 AM to 10 PM daily, with no cut-offs and no breaks.

Most inspiring workplace

Eastern Communications bags another global award as it won the “Most Inspiring Workplace in Asia” category at the Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability (ACES) Awards 2022, which recently concluded with an awarding ceremony at J.W. Marriott, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Dubbed as “Asia’s Most Prestigious Leadership & Sustainability Award,” the ACES Awards honors visionaries, business leaders, and sustainability advocates across various industries in Asia.

With Eastern Communications’ support for work-life balance and employee resilience through its holistic campaign entitled #Fearless2021, the company received the said award, presented to companies that implement a people-centric approach and demonstrate a significant commitment to employee empowerment and development. ACES Awards conferred this award to only one company from Asia, following a rigorous evaluation and elimination procedure.

The #Fearless2021 initiative spearheaded the company’s internal and employee engagement efforts, highlighting the importance of the role that Eastern Communications’ employees play to fulfill its commitment to customer service, as its subscribers rise above the challenges of the pandemic. It also promoted the values that are essential to help employees, companies, clients, and families succeed in 2021.

QBE Group donation

During their recent visit to the Philippines, QBE Group CEO Andrew Horton and CEO for International Operations, Jason Harris went to R.P. Cruz Sr. Elementary School in Taguig City and handed over a P2 million cheque to their partner foundation, the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), for various programs supporting the school, particularly, the Nutrition Program.

QBE partnered with PBSP to implement a Nutrition Program for at-risk children in its adopted schools R.P. Cruz, Sr. Elementary School and Bagong Lipunan Elementary School in Cebu.

In addition to this, QBE, through PBSP, also helped R.P. Cruz Sr. Elementary School started a vegetable and mushroom garden to teach students about food sustainability. This has also become an additional source of funding for the school. In Bagong Lipunan Elementary School in Cebu, QBE built an Innovation Room that housed a library and a computer room to enhance the students’ learning experience.

New innovative sunscreen from award-winning brand

Hello Glow, the multi-awarded Korean-inspired skincare brand, takes up skin protection another notch, introducing a new multitasking sunscreen jampacked with myriad skincare benefits due to popular demand: the Hello Glow Ultralight ++ Matte Sunscreen SPF 30+ PA+++ in an economical 50g pouch.

Raved by top-tier dermatologists and skincare vloggers for its high-tech formulations and commitment to clean beauty, Hello Glow new release is the 10g day cream, part of the brand’s flagship skincare set, the Hello Glow Advanced Rejuvenating Set.

Hello Glow is available online at Shopee, Lazada, Tiktok and Zalora, in physical stores like Watsons, The SM Store, Robinsons, SM Supermarkets, Alfamart, Puregold, Waltermart group, Gaisano group, among other leading retail outlets nationwide. Hello Glow can also be purchased through its resellers and Ever Bilena Direct Sales dealers.

Pinoy food truckowner makes it in Edmonton

Leaving the Philippines over a decade ago,Jamie Balmores, or JT, settled in Edmonton, Canada to work as a resident nurse.  In no time, he became an authentic influencer and celebrity in his community and hometown.

Through Jeepney Jaytee, Edmonton’s most famous and multi-awarded Filipino food truck he launched in 2015, Balmores has been promoting and highlighting Filipino regional delicacies on Global TV, CityTV and Dinner Television.

He has won Best Food Truck in Canada from 2016 – 2022, Best Filipino Restaurant Cuisine (Reader’s Choice Award) 2021, Best Local Social Media Personality Gold Award 2021, and Best Filipino Food in Edmonton 2022. His best sellers are his authentic Ilocos Bagnet, Sisig Tacos/Sisig Fries, and his Cheesy Bistek Shawarma.

Torre Lorenzo donation

Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation (TLDC) recently turned over an ambulance unit to the Municipality of Mabini in Davao de Oro in support of the local government’s efforts to provide better access to healthcare services to the community.

The Mabini town is home to Torre Lorenzo’s flagship leisure development, Dusit Thani Lubi Plantation Resort. Torre Lorenzo chief operations officer Cathy Casares-Ko (leftmost), together with Bobby Horrigan (rightmost), TLDC’s Hospitality Consultant, turned over the brand new and equipped ambulance to Mabini Mayor Emerson Luego (middle).

Clean water

Solar energy is powering up deep-well systems in the rural communities of Goa, Camarines Sur giving residents access to clean and safe water.

The Municipal Government of Goa, with support from the Department of Energy (DOE) in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), has completed the installation of solar-powered potable water systems in 10 water-deprived upland barangays.

About 820 families in Barangay Cagaycay, Catagbacan, Halawig-gogon, Matacla, Maymatan, Napawon, Salog, and Tabgon, now have access to running water from 192 tap stands.

This initiative is funded through the Development for Renewable Energy Applications Mainstreaming and Market Sustainability (DREAMS) Project via the Support Facility for Renewable Energy (SF4RE). DREAMS is enhancing local renewable energy (RE) investments by accelerating the deployment of RE systems and supporting local capability to innovate, create, operate, and maintain RE facilities. The implementation of the project also aims to expand RE shares in the country and demonstrate non-power applications of RE.

Security Bank renews commitment with CCT

Security Bank Corp.  has strengthened its partnership with the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) by helping build LupangPangako, a 37.5-hectare non-contiguous land in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.

LupangPangako, termed after the Promised Land, is a resettlement site for former street dwellers served by the CCT Kaibigan Ministry.

At present, CCT Kaibigan Ministry helps around 5,000 street dwellers annually across the Philippines.

CCT aims to relocate 180 rehabilitated street dwellers to LupangPangako yearly.

Growth in the time of COVID

EastWest Ageas Insurance has posted tremendous growth over the last two years, despite the global pandemic threat.

In just over six years, EastWest Ageas has protected the lives of over 250,000 Filipinos across the country.

The company began operations in 2016 with only five insurance solutions, including its Group Mortgage Redemption Insurance. It now has 13 financial solutions that help Filipinos live their best lives today.

Over the past two years, EastWest Ageas has been the fastest-growing insurance firm among the top 15 insurers in Annual Premium Equivalent.