SMC in Forbes’ list, SL AGRITECH study tour, DUTY FREE-DTI corner for OFWs, TAIWAN Excellence promos, AIM-ABOITIZ tech space, ALLEN on the Rabbit in 2023, BDO Insure vs dengue, ADI as One to Watch, EASTWEST Ageas movements, Tambunting-UBX partnership
San Miguel Corporation (SMC) landed as among the top-ranked Filipino firms in American business magazine Forbes’ annual list of the World’s Best Employers, which includes 800 firms from some 57 countries.
SMC landed number 174 overall, and is one of just two firms based in the Philippines–along with fast-food giant Jollibee Foods–to make it within the top 200.
The survey, compiled for the past six years by Forbes, was conducted together with its partner, Statista.
“It’s a major honor for us at San Miguel to be included in such a list, and to be ranked within the top 200 in the world, and one of the very best in the Philippines. We’re also very proud to stand together with other Filipino companies who have emerged as among the best in the world in advancing the welfare of employees and workers,” said SMC president and chief executive officer Ramon S. Ang, said.
Apart from compensation and benefits, SMC also implements various programs to help employees hone their skills, maintain their health, advance in their careers, as well as pursue their passions.
Support for Gambia food security goals
Delegates from the Gambia Standards Bureau with members of SL Agritech during the Study Tour on Rice Grading, Certification, and Quality Control
SL Agritech Corp., together with the Department of Agriculture (DA), hosted a study tour for the delegates from the Gambia Standards Bureau, through the Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Philippines Standards. The study tour is in line with Gambia’s Rice Value Chain Transformation Project which aims to contribute to the improvement of the production, processing, and marketing of rice to enhance the economic growth of the country.
Gambia’s Rice Value Chain Transformation Project is the country’s effort towards increasing its rice production by slowly transitioning from subsistence rice farming towards more commercialized market-driven farming.
The study tour aims to provide the delegates with an overview of the programs, activities, and projects created by the DA that highlight the standards for food safety and quality control, specifically the production and distribution of rice.
Duty Free, DTI launch “Special Bagsakan” for OFWs
DFPC COO Vicente Angala and DTI BDTP Director MarievicBonoan cut the ceremonial ribbon during the launch of Fiesta Corner featuring DTI’s Special Bagsakan for OFWS.
State-owned Duty Free Philippines Corporation (DFPC) in coordination with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently launched the Fiesta Corner featuring DTI’sBagsakan Program at Duty Fiestamall store. This joint venture aims to welcome “balikbayans”, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and foreign guests with an exciting array of special delicacies, handicrafts and other native products from the country’s various regions.
This Special Bagsakan for OFWs at the Fiesta Corner, FiestamallGround Floor of Duty Free Philippines Fiesta Mall in Parañaque City will be open until Dec. 30.
Classroom of the future
The Asian Institute of Management (AIM) unveiled the Aboitiz Tech Space, the first smart caseroom and largest audio-visual caseroom of the school.
As its newest learning environment, it will immerse future business leaders in high-tech surroundings to supplement their education.
“On behalf of the Aboitiz Foundation, we are happy to have been able to assist AIM in their efforts to expand their curriculum and facilities towards the direction of a bold future, and the skills and education it will require. We celebrate with you all as we mark this new crossroads of innovation, technology, and education. And we look forward to a whole new generation of innovators, data scientists, IT specialists, and engineers that will be graduating from this school and leading the way towards great discovery and progress for all,” said Aboitiz Equity Ventures director Erramon Aboitiz.
The Aboitiz Tech Space features state of the art technology and has been expertly designed to be the most conducive learning environment for students.
Holiday season promos by Taiwan Excellence products
Taiwan Excellence has a complete range of excellent lifestyle products for that all-important Christmas presents
For one of Taiwan’s best IT brands, Acer products may be had with a free Digital SM Gift Pass worth up to P8,000. Promo runs until December 31.
For the gift of beauty this season of giving, there’s Annie’s Way products with their “Buy 5, Take 1” promo.
ASUS has its “ASUS/ROG Share 2022” promo offering up to P11,000 worth of wonderful freebies through the purchase of participating ASUS products. The higher priced products get a premium freebie. Promo runs until December 31.
For Aromase and its Anti-Hair Loss Set to give your man–or woman–there’s the Juniper Scalp Purifying Liquid Shampoo and Anti-Hair Loss Essential Shampoo for Hair Loss for stronger, more protected scalp and hair.
For a computer upgrade, Transcend solid state drives, the lead in digital storage and multimedia products with Transcend SSD225S and Transcend MTE250S SSD.
MSI has “Joy-Full Christmas Sale” promo offering special discounts and freebies worth up to P28,500. Promo runs until December 31.
What we can learn from the Rabbit, the ruling zodiac sign in 2023
January 22, 2023 marks the start of another Chinese Lunar New Year. Avid feng shui followers look forward to welcoming this day, which is the start of the Year of the Water Rabbit. The year ends February 9, 2024.
The Rabbit is seen as calm, gentle, quick and alert and this animal sign has become a symbol of peace, prosperity, and longevity in Chinese culture. Thus, 2023 is predicted to be a year of hope.
International feng shui master Marites Allen, is set to hold her annual Feng Shui Updates on December 17 and 18. The event ushering in the new Chinese New Year is aptly themed “Hop, Skip, and Jump in the Year of the Water Rabbit 2023.”
“Wholistic is the way to go in 2023 and beyond,” she concludes.
BDO Insure offers protection from dengue
BDO Insure recently started offering an affordable dengue insurance plan.
For a premium amounting to P300 per year, Plan A provides cash assistance worth P20,000 when diagnosed with dengue. Meanwhile, Plan B provides cash assistance worth P40,000 for an annual premium of P500.
Earlier this year, BDO Insure started offering financial and emergency medical protection to travelers through its comprehensive travel insurance plans with COVID-19 coverage. The travel insurance plans include coverage for emergency medical treatment for COVID-19, travel inconveniences benefits, and access to a 24/7 emergency travel assistance hotline. Coverage varies and may be availed for domestic and international travel.
One to watch
Aboitiz Group’s Artificial Intelligence (DSAI) arm Aboitiz Data Innovation (ADI) was recognized as One to Watch for Data Access & Exchange at the 5th Regulation Asia Awards for Excellence ceremony on November 22.
The Ones to Watch category recognizes new and innovative solutions that leverage technology to meet regulatory requirements, whether in their early stage of development or industry adoption. For Data Access & Exchange, Regulation Asia singled out Parlay, a data exchange platform powered by ADI that has successfully unlocked the Aboitiz ecosystems.
Parlay creates a secure workspace for users to publish and access data so it can be used for analysis and modeling. The platform is designed to allow external third parties to freely interact with data to innovate new data products, while still preserving control and security over the data.
The data exchange platform was developed by ADI in partnership with Habr, a data sharing and commerce platform. Parlay currently serves as a data ecosystem for the business units across industries under the Aboitiz Group — including power, banking and financial services, construction, real estate, food, and manufacturing businesses.
EastWest Ageas movements
Glenn Williams, president and CEO of EastWest Ageas Insurance, relocates back to the Ageas Regional Office in Hong Kong as regional chief financial officer in 2023.
Sjoerd Smeets, who joined EastWest Ageas Insurance in September from Ageas Portugal, takes over as president and CEO on December 1.
Diversity will play a key role in how Smeets intends to steer the company.
He added EastWest Ageas will work toward a broader IT infrastructure transformation and the development of a more data-driven distribution channel strategy in the coming year.
Tambunting partners with UBX
UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, has teamed up with Tambunting (Tiwala Sa Padala Co. Inc.) to transform the country’s leading remittance service company into a modern hub that offers a spectrum of digital financial services.
Under the partnership, i2i, the banking banking-as-a-service platform of UBX, will be empowering Tambunting counters to roll out its Open Finance Platform to its branch network, connecting it to platforms and agents in over 10,000 locations in the country.
As the demand rises for more digital channels in everyday services, Tambunting brick and mortar branch, powered by i2i, can quickly deliver a wide range of financial services such as deposit taking, loan origination, remittance, e-wallet cash-in, bills payments, and other products and services to its clients with an added customer experience that is simple and reliable.
