Sink into sound, sync into your world: The Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro is officially up for pre-order now

 

Samsung just dropped its most powerful and premium wireless earbuds to date during the Galaxy Unpacked event held August 10. Following the footsteps of the Galaxy Buds Pro released in 2021, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is designed to provide the most immersive wireless audio experience, enabling users to listen to sounds at the quality they were intended to be heard. 

In a hectic world that inherently adores “the grind,” the easiest way to escape is to put on a pair of earbuds and sink into sound. Samsung knows there’s a special kind of comfort that can be found when listening to music or watching a feel-good series in the middle of a busy day. With the Galaxy Buds2 Pro, the immersive listening era has begun.

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro supports wireless 24bit Hi-Fi audio for crystal-clear sound resolution and higher dynamic range. With the new Samsung seamless codec(SSC HiFi), quality music is enabled to transfer without a pause, and the new coaxial 2-way speaker makes those sounds richer than ever.

The device also boasts superior Active Noise Cancellation technology which comes with a fully-adjustable level control, allowing better focus and additional audio clarity.  With 3 High Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) microphones—a first in the Galaxy Buds Series—the Galaxy Buds2 Pro excellently filters out noise so users can fully focus on things that are most important to them. 

It also features Iintelligent 360 Audio that follows the user’s head movements to deliver theater-like sound with every move.. With this, users can completely sink into sound through the Galaxy Buds2 Pro’s improved head tracking response with motion prediction based on machine learning. 

Transferring from one Galaxy device to another is easy, thanks to the Galaxy Buds2 Pro’s Auto-Switch feature. Users can enjoy seamless integration in the Galaxy ecosystem as the Buds2 Pro automatically switches from their smart TV to their phone. 

When it comes to battery life, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is a reliable daily companion with up to 8 hours of playback time and a total of 29 hours of play time with the charging case. It also gives 1 hour of playtime with only 5 minutes of charging time and is Qi-enabled for wireless charging. . Other features include an IPX7 water resistance rating and an automatic Voice Detect technology, among others.

Aside from features that complement modern lifestyles, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro also boasts a stylish and compact design. A much more improved version of the original model, the Galaxy Buds2 Pro is ergonomically-designed for a more comfortable fit as it is 15% smaller than the Buds Pro. It comes in three trendy colors: Bora Purple, Graphite, and White. 

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro is now available for pre-order until September 1, 2022 via samsung.com, Samsung Experience Stores, Authorized Samsung Stores, Lazada, Shopee, Abenson.com and MemoXpress Online. Customers who pre-order until September 1 can enjoy freebies and discounts worth up to PHP 6,495. 

During the pre-order period, customers can enjoy either a PHP 1,500 Token for Samsung mobile products, or if they wish to purchase the new Galaxy Z Fold4 or Z Flip4, they are entitled to a 50% discount on the Galaxy Buds2 Pro and a 30% discount on the Galaxy Watch5 Series. 

The Galaxy Buds2 Pro will be available in samsung.com, Samsung Experience Stores, select Authorized Samsung Stores, Lazada, Shopee, Abenson.com and MemoXpress Online for PHP 12,990 starting September 2, 2022.

Get ready to unlock greater possibilities with the Samsung Galaxy Buds2 Pro. For more

information, visit https://www.samsung.com/.

Safe Samsung Shopping

Health and safety protocols are strictly followed in Samsung Experience Stores to keep consumers and employees safe. Adhering to the guidelines set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Samsung has implemented the mandatory use of face masks, and performs frequent sanitation in all stores. 

Samsung Experience Stores also has unique QR health declaration codes to promote a safe and contactless contact tracing process. Product demonstrations are done side-by-side instead of face-to-face while keeping the required safe distance of one (1) meter to make sure everyone is socially distanced.

To find the nearest Samsung Experience Store, visit samsung.com/ph/samsung-experience-store/locations.

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About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom at http://news.samsung.com.

3 reasons why you should check out Shopee’s 9.9 Super Shopping Day

MANILA, 30 AUGUST 2022 - Shopee has officially launched the start of its year-end shopping season, and this year, the e-commerce platform is giving Filipinos even more reasons to check out. From Mas Mura Sa Shopee* offers, to an exciting new game that will surely thrill shoppers and not-to-miss entertainment, here are what users can expect this 9.9 Super Shopping Day: 

1. Discover Mas Mura Sa Shopee deals from August 26 to September 11 

Grab a wide range of ₱1 deals on your daily essentials and trending products by visiting the “₱1 Deals” page. Enjoy even bigger discounts when you claim free shipping with no minimum spend that you can use on your 9.9 Super Shopping Day buys.

Shopee is also the perfect place to score your favorite brand products at irresistible deals, with thousands of brands offering exclusive discounts up to 90%. Shoppers can look forward to  special offers and storewide discounts from leading brands such as P&G, Olay, OPPO, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, Pedigree, Garnier, Huawei, Adidas, Xiaomi, POCO, Ace Hardware, Uni-Care, Abbott, GameXtreme, Belo, INSPI, and more.

The countdown to one of Shopee’s biggest sale events starts as early as August 30, where users can look forward to daily deals on featured categories. Mark your calendars to score irresistible discounts during these sale days: 

August 30 Payday Sale for your end of the month shopping with free shipping with no minimum spend, 10% off vouchers, and earn 120 coins cashback per bill payment when you use ShopeePay

Discover trending gadgets at Shopee-exclusive prices from well-loved brands such as Philips, 70mai & Han River at the Gadget Zone Day & Home Tech Day

Spruce up your personal space at the Home & Living Day

Enjoy huge savings on your parenting needs at the Babies & Kids Day

Stock up on your home essentials at the Grocery Bestsellers Day

Update your wardrobe like a true fashionista at the Bags & Accessories Day and Apparel & Shoes Day 

Beyond unbeatable deals on essential items and trending products, the 9.9 Super Shopping Day offers Filipinos greater value for money when they use ShopeePay. This September 9, enjoy even more rewards and mas mura perks when you pay bills, buy load, and buy from offline merchants using Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet:

Activate and verify your ShopeePay for a chance to get free ₱70

Settle your bills from Meralco, Maynilad, Converge, and more to earn up to 120 coins cashback per bill category

For only ₱1, get 1GB all-access data to your favorite sites and apps, available on all networks

For as low as ₱1, get up to 20% discount vouchers that you can use to pay at ShopeePay’s partner merchants such as Potato Corner, Gong Cha and Wendy’s on September 9

2. Win up to ₱1 million with 9.9 ShopeePay Shop & Win and more

Until September 9, get a chance to win ₱1 million with the all-new 9.9 ShopeePay Shop & Win. To join, you need to purchase on the Shopee app and claim the code from September 1 to 9 to be eligible for the draw. Viewers of the draws leading up to September 9 also stand a chance to win exciting prizes with Guess to Win, a daily in-app game that rewards one lucky viewer with ₱10,000 cash via ShopeePay. 

Start testing your luck when you tune in to the 9.9 Shopee Budol Live, happening until September 4, for a chance to win up to ₱50,000 when you play the Shopee Live version of the 9.9 ShopeePay Shop & Win game. 

3. Watch the 9.9 Super Shopping Day TV Special and bring home exciting prizes 

Be treated to an evening of entertaining performances from local stars such as Shopee’s own Primetime Queen Marian Rivera, Primetime King Ding Dong Dantes, Michael V, Carla Abellana, Bianca Umali, Victor Anastacio, Luane Dy, Ken Chan, Tuesday Vargas, Sanya Lopez, Rodjun Cruz, Sef Cadayona, Zack Tabudlo, Zephanie, Jessica Villarubin, and more during the 9.9 Super Shopping Day TV Special this September 9, 9:35 PM on GMA 7 and Shopee Live.

Exciting prizes are up for grabs, as lucky viewers who play Shopee Shake during the TV Special stand a chance to win up to ₱50,000 and a House & Lot from Lumina Homes. A total of ₱1 million cash from Shopee and Uratex, ₱500,000 worth of Uratex products, and a brand new MG ZS Crossover SUV also await the winners of 9.9 ShopeePay Shop & Win during the show.

Visit the 9.9 Super Shopping Day for more information. 

END

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.

This 9.9 Super Shopping Day, Shopee delivers bigger, more rewarding experiences for all Filipinos

 

Driven by its goal of serving Filipinos wherever they may be, Shopee continues to deliver ease and convenience for all through its highly-anticipated double day sales. With the upcoming 9.9 Super Shopping Day, the start of its year-end shopping season, Shopee gives everyone much to look forward to with a new community-building project, the greatest selection of deals, entertaining activities, and exciting prizes.

 

Win a Shopee-sponsored Community Project for your Barangay

Beyond offering the best deals through its double day sales, Shopee continues to work towards utilizing its resources and technology to help underserved communities across the Philippines. Especially crafted to welcome the start of the 9.9 Super Shopping Day, Shopee has launched Barangay Shopee, the newest initiative under its Shopee Bayanihan CSR program, where users can win a sponsored community project for their barangay, such as a new basketball court, multi-purpose hall renovation, and public school supplies. 

From August 25 up to September 9, Shopee users from all over the Philippines can nominate their barangay for a chance to win a community project of their choice that addresses their barangay’s needs. To join the initiative, users simply need to post their video entries on Facebook and submit the link via the Barangay Shopee page in the app.

 

“Mas Mura sa Shopee” deals and upsized brand promos at the 9.9 Super Shopping Day

From August 26 up to September 11, users can enjoy unbeatable “Mas Mura sa Shopee*'' offers on a wide variety of essentials, sitewide free shipping with no minimum spend, and exciting ₱1 Deals at the 9.9 Super Shopping Day. Shoppers also get to enjoy discounts from leading brands such as INSPI, Garnier, Dreame, Sabbat, OPPO, GameXtreme, Huawei, Colgate-Palmolive, Crocs PH, Uni-Care, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Philippines, Pedigree and Whiskas, Belo Essentials, P&G Beauty, Unilever, Ace Hardware, Adidas, Xiaomi, POCO, Bosch, Chef’s Classics, Enfagrow, and Lactum. 

 

Shop & Win up to ₱1 million and more exciting prizes

Big rewards await lucky shoppers with Shopee’s newest game, 9.9 ShopeePay Shop & Win Up to ₱1 million. To join, users need to purchase on the Shopee app and claim their code from September 1 to 9 for a chance to win up to ₱1 million at our draw. Viewers of the draws from September 2 to 9 also stand a chance to win exciting prizes with Guess to Win, a daily in-app game that rewards one lucky viewer with thousands of cash via ShopeePay when they guess the winning bag.

 

Non-stop fun and entertainment at the 9.9 Super Shopping Day TV Special

Filipinos can also look forward to big giveaways, fun, and entertainment when they tune in this September 9 at 9:35PM on Shopee Live and GMA 7 for the 9.9 Super Shopping Day TV Special. Exciting performances are lined up for the event with Shopee’s own Primetime Queen Marian Rivera, Primetime King Dingdong Dantes, Michael V, Carla Abellana, and more Kapuso stars.

 

Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, shared “We are thrilled to be welcoming the busiest sale season of the year with our users, sellers, and communities from all over the Philippines. We aim to be a platform that harnesses the power of technology to help all of our stakeholders and the community — whether it’s through our impactful CSR initiatives or exciting double day sales. We invite everyone to join us in making this our most meaningful 9.9 Super Shopping Day celebration yet.”

 

To learn more about the 9.9 Super Shopping Day andw Barangay Shopee, visit the 9.9 Super Shopping Day page and the Barangay Shopee page on the app. Download Shopee for free on App Store or Google Play Store.

About Shopee
Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalize and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services, and uplifting local communities.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

 

Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena and SeaMoney.

Frost & Sullivan accords MR D.I.Y. “Company of the Year” award for the 2nd year in a row

 

Not once, not twice, but thrice! MR D.I.Y. has done it again. The largest home improvement retailer has been named Frost & Sullivan’s 2022 Company of the Year in the Malaysia Home Improvement Retail Industry. In 2020, MR D.I.Y. was accorded the Market Leadership Award, and in 2021, for the very first time, the Company of the Year Award.

 

A research & consulting firm, Frost & Sullivan takes a meticulous and stringent approach when selecting the nominees in each award category, making a detailed evaluation across two key dimensions – visionary innovation & performance, and customer impact. The firm’s Company of the Year Award is its top honor that recognizes visionary innovation, market-leading performance, and unmatched customer care through its Best Practices Award analysis.

 

Announcing the achievement, MR D.I.Y. Senior Marketing Manager Mark Charles Salecina said, “We are proud to be accorded this award by Frost & Sullivan for the third time in as many years.  This is indeed great recognition of the work that we do every day, and it also demonstrates that we continue to stay relevant to our customers with our promise of “Always Low Prices”.  We wouldn’t have been able to achieve this award without the passion, commitment, and loyalty of our employees nationwide, as well as the trust and confidence of our business partners, suppliers, and friends.  This award goes out to them.”

 

“We have come a long way since we opened our first store in 2005 in Malaysia and in 2018 in the Philippines.  We commit to creating innovative retail experiences that capture the imagination of our valued customers, to always deliver value, and to serve our communities so that we positively impact lives,” added Salecina

Commenting on its recognition of MR D.I.Y., Narciso Podda, Director of Frost & Sullivan, said “MR D.I.Y.’s market leadership in highly fragmented home improvement retail industry remains unchallenged with its attractive value proposition for consumers, business scale, and internal operational efficiencies. This top-of-mind brand fulfils consumer needs for affordable home improvement products, complementing value for money with shopping convenience. With more stores and new store formats opening across the country, the company will continue driving innovation and overall industry growth, as reflected in its revenue growth that outperforms the industry average.”

 

MR D.I.Y. has commandeered several major accolades over its 17-year history, including being inducted into the FTSE4Good Index, being recognised as Brand of the Year for four consecutive years by the World Branding Awards, being listed in the Deloitte Malaysia Best Managed Companies Awards 2021 in Retail Category.

 

For more information about MR D.I.Y., visit mrdiy.com, Facebook, and Instagram.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MR D.I.Y. was accorded the 2022 Company of the Year - Frost & Sullivan’s Best Practices Award in Malaysia Home Improvement Retail Industry. This is its third award from Frost & Sullivan and its 2nd as Company of the Year.

 

-ENDS-

 

 

 

About MR D.I.Y.

MR D.I.Y. is a home-grown enterprise from Malaysia with more than 2,100 stores across the Asia Pacific (Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, India, and Cambodia). The home improvement retailer has been dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of its valued customers by offering convenience at all of its stores nationwide.

 

All MR D.I.Y. stores are managed directly, and the company often works in collaboration with other mass merchandise retailers or owners of malls or shopfront properties. MR D.I.Y. stores offer a wide selection of — approximately 18,000 SKUs — across 10 categories, namely hardware; household and furnishing; electrical; stationery and sports equipment products; toys, car accessories, jewellery, and cosmetics.

 

The company strives to always put customers first by operating an innovative business that is flexible when it comes to providing a wide variety of products, good quality, and value-for-money, holding true to its company motto: “ALWAYS LOW PRICES”.

 

 

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan is the Growth Pipeline Company™. We power our clients to a future shaped by growth. Our Growth Pipeline as a Service™ provides the CEO and the CEO's growth team with a continuous and rigorous platform of growth opportunities, ensuring long-term success. To achieve positive outcomes, our team leverages over 60 years of experience, coaching organizations of all types and sizes across six continents with our proven best practices. To power your Growth Pipeline future, visit Frost & Sullivan at http://www.frost.com.

Sinag Schools program powers up school in Batangas

SM Foundation and Maxeon Solar Technologies formally held the community launch of the Sinag Schools Program at Lemery Pilot Elementary School in Batangas.

SM Foundation (SMFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of the SM group, together with Maxeon Solar Technologies, recently powered up the Lemery Pilot Elementary School (LPES) in Batangas through the Sinag Schools program.

This social good collaboration between SMFI and Maxeon aims to provide clean and renewable energy to schools in grassroot communities by installing solar panels on an SM school building, especially to those that have low operating expenses. 

In addition to the solar panel installation which intends to power positive change in the way energy is consumed in public schools, the program also aims to enhance the understanding of students in terms of energy management and the need to transition to cleaner energy alternatives with lower environmental impacts.

“Through this program, we want to power up the learning and development of young people. We want to help teach young people about solar energy, about renewable energy. We want to power up the next generation to help save our planet,” Maxeon Fab4 General Manager Glenn Everett said.

The SM school building at the LPES, which was donated by SMFI in partnership with SM Prime Holdings (SMPH) in 2017, now boasts 21 solar panels—estimated to produce 6510 watt-p. With the savings on electricity, the school may realign their budget to more efforts and other innovations that will give the students an environment more conducive to learning.

It takes a village to raise a child

SMFI executive director Debbie Sy underscored the importance of collective efforts in advancing the learning experience of every student in the country: “We believe that collaboration can drive growth and become a force for good in addressing societal challenges. CSR partnerships can create solutions that improve society by fostering learning, promoting innovation and gaining access to new technologies, such as the Sinag schools program. CSR collaboration can pool resources, both financial and human resources - between multiple organizations which can amplify social good impact.”

“The establishment of an ever-evolving CSR strategy and partnerships will help companies and non-government organizations in developing and implementing crucial social good programs over decades while having procedures in place that integrate social and environmental priorities into CSR core strategy – all in close collaboration with stakeholders,” she further added.

Moreover, Everett mentioned how SMFI and Maxeon share the similar set of values and interest when it comes to helping Filipino learners: “We have this concept of powering positive change in the world. We are happy to be working together with SM Foundation to power up the Lemery Pilot Elementary School.”

“Individually, we can do so much. But together we can do actually more. For us to bring our solar technology and SMFI to bring in their schools, these things are much better together than they would be apart,” he concluded.

Spreading social good all the way

SM Foundation made sure to truly touch the lives of the learners and teachers of LPES as it donated eight desktop computers, 200 bags with school supplies, and more than 160 pcs brand new kinder and elementary books to further promote the love for reading among the students. Clothing items for parents were also distributed.

For more information about this initiative, follow SM Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube: @SMFoundationInc.

Maxeon is headquartered in Singapore. The company designs, manufactures, and sells Maxeon® and SunPower® brand solar panels. Maxeon has sales operations in more than 100 countries, operating under the SunPower brand in certain countries outside the United States. Maxeon is a leader in solar innovation with products that span the global rooftop and solar power plant markets through a network of more than 1,700 trusted partners and distributors. A pioneer in sustainable solar manufacturing, Maxeon leverages a +35-year history in the solar industry and numerous awards for its technology.

SM Foundation, through its School Building Program, is an active partner of DepEd’s Adopt-a-School program. This social good initiative aims to promote quality public education by building classrooms nationwide. To date, it has turned over more than 100 school buildings to grassroots communities.

SM Prime and AboitizPower Secure Long-Term Cleanergy Deal

 

SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), one of the leading property developers in Southeast Asia, secures a long-term deal with AboitizPower for Cleanergy supply, realizing its goal of increasing its renewable energy portfolio to more than 50%. This is in support of the Department of Energy’s program of moving up the renewable energy supply component of the country to 35% by year 2030.

 

Under the agreement, AboitizPower is poised to supply reliable and responsibly-sourced energy from Tiwi and MakBan Geothermal Power Plants, and PV Sinag’s Power Plants, operated and managed by AboitizPower subsidiary, Aboitiz Renewables, Inc. (ARI). This long-term contract will power SM Prime properties, including malls, leisure homes, offices, hotels, and other establishments under the Retail Competition and Open Access (RCOA) by the end of 2022.

 

“This partnership with AboitizPower is aligned with our unwavering commitment to being a catalyst for economic growth and steward of nature. We will continue providing world-class amenities within our sustainable lifestyle cities that have been beneficial and inspirational to millions of Filipinos,” said Jeffrey Lim, SM Prime Holdings Inc.’s President.

 

SM Prime builds legacy communities based on its core sustainable pillars: Economy, People, Environment, and Community. It is dedicated to generating value sustainably through its diverse business segments.

 

“AboitizPower is thrilled to be SM Prime’s partner in building sustainable lifestyle cities. We thank SM Prime for trusting us to be their partner in their transition to clean and renewable energy. It is a privilege to be given the opportunity to power various SM Prime properties with our renewable assets”, said Sandro Aboitiz, Senior Vice President of the Commercial Operations Business Unit. 

 

“We consider it a great milestone for our group to be in support of SM’s transition to renewable energy and are working to rapidly expand our renewable portfolio as the demand for Cleanergy grows. We have supported a growing number of corporations transitioning to clean and renewable energy and we are excited at the prospect of seeing a future where Cleanergy is the norm.” said David Aboitiz, Aboitiz Renewables, Inc. (ARI) Vice President for Commercial Strategy, Sales, and Engagement.

 

The leading renewable energy provider plans to expand its Cleanergy portfolio in the next 10 years to support the government’s plans of boosting the renewable energy industry in the country. AboitizPower is targeting approximately 50:50 Cleanergy and thermal capacity mix by 2030. 

 

  

About SM Prime

 

SM Prime Holdings Inc., one of the leading property developers in Southeast Asia, is committed to providing safe and sustainable spaces for its stakeholders.  Its development strategy is anchored on the responsible use of resources. In the communities it serves, it is able to promote resource conservation, environmental protection, and disaster resiliency by implementing solutions for water, waste, and energy management.

 

SM Prime is a key player in the SM Green Movement that aims to improve the quality of life of communities through sustainable solutions to promote a green planet, green living and a green culture.

 

Find out more about SM Prime and the SM Green Movement

 

Shopee continues its pursuit of upskilling young tech talent through the Ultimate Case Challenge

 

This August, Shopee Philippines will be launching its first ever Ultimate Case Challenge, a business case competition open to Filipino undergraduate students from across the globe. Finalists of the competition will get the chance to win up to ₱50,000. Throughout the duration of the case challenge, each team consisting of 3-4 members will be asked to pitch their own unique ideas and solutions to a real-world challenge included in a business case brief.

 

Karen Perez, Head of People at Shopee Philippines, said, “We’re thrilled to support Filipino tech talents from all over the world by providing them with opportunities to develop their skill set. Through the business case competition, we aim to hone their analytical and process improvement skills, preparing them to be proactive problem solvers in the fast-paced tech industry. We hope to inspire a new generation of talents who will continue to drive the tech industry forward.”

 

Apart from the opportunity to put their skills to the test, teams will also receive mentorship from leaders at Shopee and the chance to fast-track their careers in tech through Shopee’s career development programs: the Global Leaders Program, Shopee’s 2-year flagship graduate program for young professionals, and the Apprentice Program, Shopee’s specialized internship program.

 

The regional business case competition has already garnered over 4,000 participants across four other markets including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the Shopee Ultimate Case Challenge’s pioneer run in the Philippines. Ready your teams and sign up at careers.shopee.ph/succ from August 22 to September 30.

 

About Shopee
Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia & Taiwan. Shopee promotes an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem by enabling businesses to digitalize and grow their online presence, helping more people access and benefit from digital services, and uplifting local communities.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping homegrown brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

 

Shopee is part of Sea Limited (NYSE: SE), a leading global consumer internet company. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology through its three core businesses: Shopee, Garena and SeaMoney.

 

COMCO marks 6th Anniversary with its new global headquarters, Middle East & Africa branch full rollout, and major account and metal wins

 

COMCO Southeast Asia’s growing team during the unveiling of the COMCO Mundo global headquarters

Coming from its groundbreaking Blazing Sapphire milestone, COMCO Southeast Asia (SEA) celebrates its Sweet 6^th year this 2022 with the unveiling of its global headquarters, the full rollout of its COMCO Middle East & Africa (MEA) branch, major account wins, and awards from prestigious international award-giving bodies.

COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises Unveils New Global Headquarters

This year brings yet another milestone for COMCO SEA as it opens its global headquarters in Makati’s Central Business District as part of its expansion. The new headquarters will house COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises’ current and upcoming ventures - COMCO Southeast Asia (SEA), COMCO Middle East & Africa (MEA), Camp COMCO Alumni Society, Citizen COMCO Advocacy Program, SEA Wave Pop Culture Studio, and Taro Digital AOX. Each area is inspired by different pop culture references rooted in COMCO’s love for movies, series, music, books, and all the emerging platforms out there. The COMCO SEA workstation is called the “Millennium Falcon” while the executive office is dubbed the “Cerebro”. The rest of the areas are “Rivendell” for the Corporate Services Unit, “Black Castle” for the Digital and Multimedia Arts Unit, “Watch Tower Hall” for the conference room, “Bifrost Bridge” for the reception, “Room of Requirements” for the stock room, and “Wooley Hall” for the lounge area.

COMCO Middle East and Africa in Full Swing

Following its launch during COMCO SEA’s Blazing Sapphire anniversary event last year, COMCO Middle East and Africa is now in full blast servicing various brands in the market. In its first year, COMCO MEA has already worked with notable brands in the Middle East such as Buono Buono, Nolte, Open Thrill, Paus, POPC Live!, Red Shrimp, TruCARE, Victor, Yas Plaza Hotels, Belcanto Restaurant, Empire Movies, Central Park Towers, Dubai London Hospital, Electric Pawnshop, GESS Education, R&B Kids, Playbook, Universal Trading Company LLC, MaKiRa Dubai, Hudson Tavern Dubai, Katsuya, Najah Connect and Middle East Film & Comic Con. COMCO MEA, together with COMCO SEA, also recently conducted the property roadshows for Phiippine property firm RLC Residences in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as among the group’s first of many synergy initiatives.

COMCO Southeast Asia’s Major Account Wins

The Agency also continued to strengthen its client portfolio for its 6^th year, winning major accounts in recent inter-agency pitches for premiere brands/organizations such as MR. DIY, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Lenovo, Skechers, Takeda, ASEANA City, Lalamove, and Philusa Corporation together with its wide range of brands - Rhea Generics, Cleene Cotton, Cleene Clio, Babyflo Baby Care, and Love My Honey, Phinma Education, Remy Martin, AXA Philippines, and European Union.

Harvest of Metals Across the Globe

In its 6 years, COMCO Southeast Asia has won recognition garnering a total of 135 awards from various prestigious local, regional and international award-giving bodies with the most recent wins and citations from PR Awards Asia-Pacific, PRCA APAC (Public Relations and Communications Association Asia-Pacific) Awards, CIPR (Chartered Institute of Public Relations) Excellence Awards, The Gold Standard Awards, Asia-Pacific Tambuli Awards, Stevie Awards, and IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) Quill Awards.

The Agency made the cut in this year’s PR Awards Asia-Pacific organized by Marketing Interactive Asia held in Singapore. COMCO Southeast Asia’s Regional Integration and Chief Executive Director, Mr. Ferdinand L. Bondoy, bagged the Gold Award for the PR Champion of the Year (Agency). COMCO SEA’s initiatives “Dear Survivor: The COMCO Southeast Asia Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2" and "Blazing Sapphire: The COMCO Southeast Asia 5th Anniversary Celebration” received finalist citations in the Best Use of Micro / Niche Influencers and Best Anniversary Campaign categories respectively. The Agency is also a finalist for the PR Team of the Year (Agency) award.

COMCO Southeast Asia's flagship initiative "Dear Survivor: The Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2" is the big winner of the much-coveted Purpose Award of the PRCA APAC Awards, besting other campaigns in the Asia-Pacific region. COMCO SEA also received finalist citations for the Medium Consultancy of the Year Award, Workplace Champion Award, and Strategic Communications Award for the Blazing Sapphire 5th Anniversary Celebration campaign. Meanwhile, Mr. Bondoy is among the top five finalists for the PR / Communication Leader Award.

COMCO SEA also received finalist citations in The Gold Standard Awards for Professional Excellence for Mr. Bondoy and APAC Tambuli Awards for Eastern Communications. Ultimately, COMCO SEA emerged as among the top five finalists in the highly acclaimed global CIPR Excellence Awards for Small PR Consultancy of the Year, organized by the United Kingdom-based Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR).

Last but not the least, COMCO SEA bagged a total of 30 awards including 4 top award nominations from the prestigious IABC Quill Awards. COMCO SEA is also a nominee for the Agency of the Year, Top Award in Communication Management for Corporate Social Responsibility as well as for Media Relations for “Dear Survivor: The Write to Ignite Blogging Project Season 2”, and Top Award in Communication Training and Education for “The Force of Learning in New PR and Smart Social: The Camp COMCO House Wars”.  

Mr. Bondoy shared, “When you are with like-minded and like-hearted people, when you create masterpieces and accomplish great things together, when you slay 'monsters' and do the impossible as a team, and when you enjoy exploring the world and celebrating life with the people you belong to, you won’t realize six years have passed so fast. And with the rollout of our 10-year master plan, we can’t help but get excited about what else we can do for our partner brands and organizations, our industry, our growing teams in SEA and MEA, and the communities and advocacies that we support.”

To know more about COMCO Southeast Asia, visit comcosea.com. Follow them on social media: facebook.com/comco.southeastasia on Facebook, linkedin.com/company/comcosea, and @comco_sea on both Instagram and Twitter.

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About COMCO Southeast Asia

COMCO Southeast Asia, based in the Philippines and with affiliate network presence in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, is a powerhouse and global award-winning integrated communications agency. With the unique brand of Meaningful Storytelling, the Agency has done groundbreaking works for more than 90 local, regional, and international brands including reputable development and humanitarian organizations. COMCO SEA has been awarded twice as Agency of the Year 2nd Runner-up at the IABC Quill Awards; Agency of the Year - Silver Award at the ASEAN PR Excellence Awards; Finalist for Boutique PR Consultancy of the Year at Campaign Asia Pacific’s PR Awards Asia, PRCA APAC Awards, Marketing Interactive’s PR Awards Asia-Pacific, and the global CIPR Excellence Awards; and 135 metals from various local and international award-giving bodies.

COMCO Southeast Asia is part of the COMCO Mundo League of Enterprises.

 

Ring the school bell as The Metro Stores’ Back-to-School Sale is happening on August 19 to October 2

 

It’s finally time to say goodbye to virtual learning with face-to-face classes coming back this month – and what better way to welcome this than school supplies shopping at The Metro Stores?

 

Staying true to the brand’s promise of “We Make Life Easy”, everyone from students, parents, to teachers are in for a sulit treat with The Metro Stores’ Back-to-School Sale. Customers can choose from a wide assortment of school essentials with up to 50% discount on August 19 to 21, 2022 for Metro Department Store and August 22 to October 2 for Metro Supermarket in-store and online.

 

After two years of online classes, now’s the best time to update that idled school essentials rack. Need an elevated style for face-to-face sessions? Have a wardrobe change with irresistible deals from the Metro Department Store. Start from trending outfits, basic everyday wear, to school uniforms and shoes with nothing over P499 and also stock up on classroom must-haves such as notebooks, backpacks, and pens – all under P100. Additionally, a 20% OFF applies to regular priced items on most brands.

 

There’s more to purchase as the Back-to-School Sale does not stop there. Fill up the pantry with baon favorites and grocery essentials with the lowest price markdowns. Take advantage of bundle deals with free items on school lunch staples such as canned goods and noodles, quick bites like biscuits and chips, along with hygiene and disinfecting necessities and more from Metro Supermarket.

 

Here’s how shopping is more rewarding at The Metro Stores. Customers can get a chance to be one of the 20 winners of P50,000-worth Tuition Fee Assistance and 10 winners of Acer laptops all tax-free  with their Back-to-School E-Raffle from August 22 to October 2. To earn one (1) e-raffle ticket, shop a minimum P1,000 single-receipt purchase inclusive of any participating products from the Metro Supermarket or Metro Department Store.

 

There’s even more to look forward to for MRC cardholders. Members can get a free P200-worth of gift certificate for purchases worth P2,000 and up on August 19 to 21 and August 26 to 28.

To earn one (1) e-raffle ticket, shop a minimum P1,000 single-receipt purchase inclusive of any participating products from the Metro Supermarket or Metro Department Store.

As The Metro Stores welcomes their customers back in-store, they’re also finding more ways to welcome them back to their pre-pandemic habits with the best shopping experience. Don’t miss out on the greatest deals to make this new school year one for the books!

 

#ShopTheMetroStores in-store, online at www.shopmetro.ph, or thru its personal shopper service via Metro Pabili via text or Viber message to: 0917-88-METRO (0917-88-63876) or at www.shopmetro.ph/chat. #WeMakeLifeEasy

IABC Philippines to celebrate communications excellence at 19th Philippine Quill Awards

 

The International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC PH) will once again honor and celebrate the best of the campaigns, programs and tools promoted in the Philippine communications industry from January 2020 up to July 2021 at the 19th Philippine Quill and 9th Student Quill Awards, the country’s most prestigious awards program in the field of business communication.

The Quills is a communication Olympiad highlighting the gold standard in communication for professionals as well as students.  The IABC Philippines has been running the Quills for almost two decades, promoting a spirit of friendly competition as well as unity amongst Philippine communications practitioners in pursuit of a common goal – communications excellence.

Each entry is evaluated using IABC’s highest global standards.  The industry sees the Quill as a seal of approval, recognizing the use of excellent communication to achieve business goals and to make a difference in society.

The 19th edition of Philippine Quill Awards and the 9th Philippine Student Quill Awards will carry the theme “Move: Stronger Together”, highlighting the power of communications in shaping the future. With recent challenges, IABC encourages communicators to use their voice and platforms to navigate and move through the next normal bigger and better – setting the direction and inspiring people towards action and positive change.

The awards night for both Philippine Quill Awards and Philippine Student Quill Awards will be happening virtually this August 18 via KTX.PH platform.

“I feel very honored to witness our communications professionals and students thrive during a very difficult period. In this second year of the virtual Quills, we shall once again come together to inspire and encourage each other to look towards a future made better by evolving communications, “said IABC Philippines President and Football for Humanity Co-Founder Belle Tiongco.

“Our peers from the communication industry have shown how resiliency through impactful campaigns can foster a positive influence and change to each one of us. Excited to finally celebrate their work at this year’s Quills,” said Abigail Ho-Torres, IABC PH’s Chair of the Philippine Quill Awards and Assistant Vice President – Head of Advocacy and Marketing Department of Maynilad Water Services.

The 19th Philippine Quill Awards and 9th Philippine Student Quill Awards is supported by KTX.PH as the event’s virtual platform partner. Adobo Magazine, BusinessWorld and Manila Standard served as media partners.

E-tickets for this year’s Philippine Quill Awards and Philippine Student Quill Awards are now available and can be booked in the following link: https://forms.gle/grKnGfqtj5HLVcXt6

To know more about IABC Philippines and the 19th Quill Awards, please visit https://www.facebook.com/iabcph or e-mail iabcphilippinesat30@gmail.com.

About IABC Philippines

IABC Philippines is the first IABC country chapter in Asia. It is an association of top business, industrial and organizational communicators and professionals that supports the highest professional standards and practice of exceptional quality and innovation in organization and business communication. It advocates for continued professional growth, learning, and communication excellence, linking Filipino practitioners with colleagues and best practices worldwide. Its two major communication excellence industry awards are the Philippine Quill and the Philippine CEO EXCEL Awards. IABC is a member of the Global Alliance of Public Relations and Communication Management.

Clinical Test Shows Real World Effectiveness of Difflam-C® vs COVID-19 Sore Throat

 

Dr. Jennifer Nailes, MD 9 (leftmost), and Dr. Roberto Salvino, MD, the doctors who spearheaded the recent study done to evaluate the effectivity of the Difflam-C gargle against COVID 19-related throat pain were at a media roundtable held recently in Makati City, to reveal their findings. iNova Pharma Philippines Inc. are the makers of the Difflam-C gargle.

A recent in-vivo study done by the UERM Memorial Medical Center Research team shows Difflam-C®, a locally-available antiseptic gargle solution, significantly alleviates the so-called COVID-19 Sore Throat – the most common symptom and tell-tale sign of people diagnosed with COVID-19.

 

The in-vivo study focused on establishing whether the combination of Benzydamine HCl and Chlorhexidine gluconate in Difflam-C® are effective in a real-world setting and was conducted on 219 COVID-19 patients from November 2021 until February 2022. This combination of active ingredients found in Difflam-C® solution have been gaining popularity in the Philippines particularly among doctors and healthcare professionals, with the synergistic action of its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anesthetic, and antiseptic properties in relieving sore throat, as well as other symptoms of throat and mouth infection.

 

Clinically-tested Efficacy in COVID-19 Patients

Lead investigators of the study have found that Difflam-C® significantly relieves the COVID-19 patients’ sore throat and alleviated throat discomfort associated with difficulty and/or pain in swallowing. Results also show that it helps shorten the duration of the said condition of COVID-19 patients, with the VAS scores of participants significantly decreased during course of treatment with Difflam-C®. “At specified time intervals, median VAS scores showed a decreasing trend from baseline until after 12 hours of Day 1 and is significantly different from baseline values (p<0.001). There were some participants whose sore throat pain were relieved within 30 minutes of first use of the solution which persisted even until after 12 hours,” said lead investigator Dr. Jennifer M. Nailes, MD, MSPH, Vice-President for Research of the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Inc.

 

Gargle Against COVID-19 Sore Throat

“There was a noticeable shortening of the course of the sore throat in the study subjects, with their use of Difflam-C® during treatment. This gargle solution could be viewed as an effective treatment for patients with odynophagia (painful swallowing) or dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), conditions associated with severe sore throat among COVID-19 patients,” said Dr. Nailes.

 

Though yet to be published by Acta Medica Philippina, a peer-reviewed general medical and health science journal, these results are extremely encouraging and present a positive step in addressing the COVID-19 sore throat, using a widely available medicated gargle solution such as Difflam-C® in the study.

 

As cases rise and new Omicron variants are discovered, the results of this study could be valuable information in making the public more aware of clinically tested remedies to help address key symptoms like the COVID-19 sore throat. While Benzydamine HCl + Chlorhexidine gluconate (Difflam-C®) could be an effective treatment for COVID-19 sore throat, getting vaccinated with boosters, the observance of standard health protocols, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are the current mainstays for the prevention of COVID-19 infection.

Representatives from iNova Pharma Philippines Inc. (makers of Difflam-C gargle) together with Dr. Jennifer Nailes, MD, and Dr. Roberto Salvino, MD, the doctors who spearheaded the recent study on the effectivity of the Difflam-C gargle against COVID 19-related throat pain, recently held a media roundtable to reveal their study’s findings. Standing from left are:  Michelle dela Cruz, Marketing Manager of iNova Pharma Philippines Inc., Ria Enriquez, Difflam Product Manager; Dr. Jennifer Nailes, vice president for research at University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center Inc, Dr. Roberto Salvino, Medical Director, iNova Pharma Philippines Inc., and Eric Yuson, Associate Medical Affairs Manager of iNova.