High Vaccine Coverage, Vaccine Suitability, crucial to combating Pneumonia in PH, says Vaccine Expert

July 27, 2022


Dr Olakunle Oladehin


A VACCINE EXPERT reinforced high vaccine coverage and the suitability of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) as crucial strategies to reducing overall pneumococcal disease burden in the Philippines.
Pneumonia is the leading cause of death of children below five years old in the Philippines. Globally, around 672,000 children die from pneumonia every year. This is equivalent to a child dying every 47 seconds.

Dr. Olakunle Oladehin, a vaccine expert and current Regional Vaccines Medical Lead for GSK, stressed the importance of high vaccine coverage to ensure success of a vaccination program especially in the current context of the pandemic.
“Even if we have the best vaccines, we will not be able to see its full impact if vaccination coverage is low. It is critical that every country strives to revive its vaccination uptake against diseases like pneumonia,” said Dr.
Oladehin in a scientific lecture with local healthcare experts last July 7.
According to the Department of Health (DOH), childhood immunization fell to 48.5% in 2021 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the necessary focus on COVID-19 vaccination as a response. The DOH has continuously ramped up its routine immunization activities including implementing the Chikiting Bakunation Days from April to June.

“I commend the determination of the Philippine government to bring back its immunization rates coming from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Dr Oladehin.

Meanwhile, Dr. Oladehin also reiterated the importance of ensuring that a given PCV should protect against relevant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the Philippines, a type of bacteria that causes pneumonia and other invasive diseases.
“To achieve overall protection, the choice of PCV should address the most prevalent strains in the local landscape,” said the vaccine expert.

In 2020, the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) of DOH reviewed the use of PCVs in the country, coming from a position statement issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2019. The mandate of HTAC is to undertake technology appraisals by determining their clinical and economic values in the Philippine healthcare system.
In its report, HTAC recommended the use of PCVs protecting against 11 important strains which accounted for 48% of Invasive Pneumococcal Disease (IPD) cases found in the Philippines namely 1, 4, 5, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F. The recommendation was based on local surveillance data from the Research Institute of Tropical Medicine (RITM) from 2012-2019.

Majority of these strains are highly invasive, and it is imperative that a given PCV should have evidence of being able to protect against them, Dr Oladehin said.
“Invasive pneumococcal strains like 18C and 4 can destroy living tissues or spread to many organs of the body through the blood, increasing likelihood of death,” Dr Oladehin zeroed in during his presentation.
Currently, there are three PCVs pre-qualified by the WHO—PCV13 and 2 kinds of PCV10: PHID-CV and SIIL- PCV. The two PCVs that were reviewed by HTAC—PHID-CV and PCV13—are suitable to address the 11 strains in the country.

Backed by real-world evidence and experience of being used in National Immunization Programs (NIP) across the world, both PHID-CV and PCV13 are included in the Philippine National Formulary (PNF) and can be procured for use under the Philippine’s own NIP.
 

4) Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in infants and children under 5 years of age: WHO position paper-February 2019. Weekly epidemiological record. 2019;94(8):85-104. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/310968/WER9408.pdf Last accessed July 12, 2022.
5) Health Technology Assessment Council (July 1, 2020). Reassessment of 10- versus 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines (PCV) in the Philippines. https://doh.gov.ph/sites/default/files/health_advisory/HTAC%20Recommendation-PCV-Reassessment.pdf Last accessed July 12, 2022.

6) Joon Young Song, Moon H. Nahm, M. Allen Moseley. Clinical Implications of Pneumococcal Serotypes: Invasive Disease Potential, Clinical Presentations and Antibiotic Resistance. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23341706/ 4-15. Last accessed July 12, 2022.
7) Sonia B. Sia, Marietta L. Lagrada, June M. Gayeta, Melissa Ana L. Masim, Jaywardeen P. Abad, Mariane A.Magbanuaa and Ferissa B. Ablolaa. Serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the Philippines, 2012–2018. WPSAR Vol 12, No 4, 2021 | doi: 10.5365/wpsar.2021.12.4.834
8) GSK Data 2016N309619_00 2016.
9)Department of Health (2020). Onclusion of 10- and 13-valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) multidose preparation in the Philippine National Formulary. Memorandum No. 2020-0366



 







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Taco Bell goes bold and fearless with its newest innovation: the Naked Chicken Taco!

July 27, 2022


There’s a new chick on the block! What if you could take your standard taco shell and swap it out for some juicy, perfectly cooked chicken? Well, that would be the new Naked Chicken Taco! Get this brand new innovation from Taco Bell, available from July 26 to October 17, only!
Indulge in a different kind of taco filled to the brim with shredded fresh lettuce, fresh tomatoes, cheddar cheese and sour cream. But instead of your classic crunchy or soft taco shell, it comes with a crispy chicken taco that is seasoned and batter-fried to perfection!

The new Naked Chicken Taco is priced starting at P199 ala carte, and you can make it a full meal by adding P70 for a side of Nachos Sprinkles and ice-cold soda! If that’s not enough, you can go all out with the Naked Chicken set! Priced starting at P349, the set comes with 1 Naked Chicken Taco, 1 Classic Crunchy Taco, a side of Nachos Sprinkles and Cinnamon Twists, and 1 serving of soda.
Join the fun and enjoy a taco experience like no other! Be part of a chicken-driven craze that swept the US, India, Thailand, and many parts of the world, and get a taste of this culture-defining moment only at Taco Bell!

Have this new innovative offer together with your other Taco Bell favorites whenever the fancy takes by visiting a Taco Bell branch near you! You can also order by calling the 8911-11-11 hotline or with just a few taps via Taco Bell's official delivery partners GrabFood, foodpanda, and Pickaroo! Prices may vary.
For the latest news, offers, and deals from Taco Bell, you can stay updated by following and giving the brand a like on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!



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Takeda Philippines urges public to #ContinueCaring for Lymphoma Patients

July 26, 2022

As the COVID situation in the country is improving, biopharmaceutical leader Takeda Healthcare Philippines Inc. highlights the importance of providing continuous care for patients that are diagnosed with lymphoma. 

“Now that restrictions are easing up, we have the opportunity to take initiative and engage in activities that will allow us to extend the much-needed assistance that lymphoma patients need,” said Loreann Villanueva, Country Manager of Takeda Philippines. “The situation may constantly change, but our commitment towards educating Filipinos about this disease and improving patient access to treatment and quality of lymphoma care remains the same.”

Knowing the enemy disease

Lymphoma is the most common type of blood cancer in the world. According to a study by the Global Cancer Observatory (Globocan), over 600,000 new cases of lymphoma were detected worldwide in 2020, making it the 11th most common cancer in the world.  In the Philippines, there were over 4,000 new patients that were diagnosed with this disease in 2020. 

It begins when an infection-fighting white blood cell (or lymphocyte) mutates, divides and grows out of control, compromising the immune system and lodging itself onto lymph nodes or "kulani" and causing them to swell. Hodgkin lymphoma is a type of lymphoma that involves the presence of a specific type of lymphocyte called Reed-Sternberg cells. Hodgkin lymphoma cases comprise one-fifth of all lymphoma cases in the world, making it a rare cancer. 
Like any other cancers, detecting the disease in its early stages is essential, as survival rates drop from 90% to 70% in patients with advanced stages of the disease. Hodgkin lymphoma shares common symptoms with other diseases such as fever, chills, night sweats, unexplained weight loss and fatigue. This, coupled with the fact that it is a relatively rare disease, makes it difficult for people to identify it in its early stages.
Diagnosing lymphoma entails several tests to confirm its type. One of which is through a bone marrow biopsy. Another one is through a series of panel tests called immunohistochemistry (IHC) testing, specifically the one that tests for the CD30 lymphoma marker. However, IHC is not a standard test in the country due to its cost and lack of availability in hospitals. 

Plights of a lymphoma patient 

Jheric Delos Angeles, lymphoma survivor-advocate and co-founder of Lymphoma Philippines, shared some of the struggles faced by lymphoma patients. These challenges include access to accurate diagnosis and new medicines, financial means, communication gaps with healthcare providers, cultural stigma, and discrimination. 

Jheric Delos Angeles, Co-Founder of Lymphoma Philippines, was diagnosed with Stage IV Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (ALCL) in May 2015.  


Having battled lymphoma himself, he co-founded Lymphoma Philippines, a patient support group that aims to help patients and their loved ones who are diagnosed with the disease, and to raise awareness about lymphoma. 



Apart from these barriers, Delos Angeles added, “Every individual Takeda Philippines stands with all the lymphoma patients and recognizes the struggles they face, and the many dreams and hopes they are yet to fulfill. Hence, Takeda Philippines takes on the mission to create approaches that would help patients overcome the barriers and shares multiple ways on how the company shows continuity of care for lymphoma patients. 

Takeda Philippines invests in various programs and solutions to address affordability barriers and to improve treatment access among patients. First, the company is guided by a tier-pricing approach where medicines are priced in a manner that reflects the holistic value they offer to patients, the healthcare system, and society. Secondly, Takeda Philippines has the Patient Assistance Program (PAP). This makes use of innovative and collaborative financing models to increase access to treatment and medicines for the recommended duration. Eligible patients may get in touch with their doctors for information on how to enroll in the program. 

“Aside from this, educating ourselves about the nature of the disease – its causes, symptoms, manifestations – is one of the first steps to take, which we can easily do by researching about lymphoma and attending talks facilitated by medical experts,” shared Dr. Joy Pabellon, Medical Affairs Lead at Takeda Philippines.

She added, “Engaging in conversations about lymphoma can also help strengthen the dialogue surrounding it. Through our social circles and platforms, we can create spaces for lymphoma awareness and care campaigns.” 

A commitment to lymphoma patients 
Takeda Philippines has engaged in several initiatives on lymphoma awareness, such as webinars, talks, and workshops, in partnership with national organizations for cancer.  Earlier this year, it launched the “Spot Lymphoma, Stop Lymphoma,” a campaign that aims to raise awareness about lymphoma by providing free testing to patients, partnering with relevant organizations and institutions, and sponsoring talks and seminars to educate the public about the disease. 


Representatives from Takeda Philippines and Care PH doing the symbolic gesture of Takeda’s Spot Lymphoma, Stop Lymphoma campaign. (From left to right) Loreann Villanueva, Country Manager, Takeda Philippines; Igor Gomes, Cluster Head and General Manager, VMAPS; Dr. Beatrice Tiangco, Founder of Care PH; and Mr. Jojo Flores, Program and Administrative Officer of Care PH


Recently, Takeda Philippines provided a Php 1,000,000 grant to Cancer Care Registry and Research Philippines Foundation (CARE PH) to expand cancer research efforts in the country. This initiative is geared towards providing a more comprehensive range of support for Filipino cancer patients. The grant will allow CARE PH to train encoders and lead additional site-specific cancer registries. It will be used in contributing to the research and development of newer diagnostic and therapeutic modalities to diagnose cancers earlier, while also ensuring that the best possible treatments are accessible and available to patients.
Furthermore, Takeda Philippines aims to sustain its efforts to provide patients access to the CD30 lymphoma marker test through a donation to the PHAPCares Foundation. The PHAPCares Foundation is the social responsibility arm of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) mandated to help improve the health and lives of Filipinos disadvantaged by sickness, poverty, conflicts and disasters.

This year, the PHAPCares Foundation is partnering with one of the country's largest tertiary public referral hospitals for the CD30 Testing for Lymphoma Awareness and Prevention Program (CLAP) to facilitate early screening, diagnosis and confirmation of the disease. The CLAP initiative will provide CD30 testing for free to indigent Filipinos who would not have otherwise been tested.

“We are committed to outsmarting cancer so that more patients can benefit from—and have access to—life-transforming medicines. Through our cancer research and development, we are building up on our deep understanding of cancer to develop new ways to approach the disease,” said Villanueva.

She added, “In all our efforts, we seek not only to increase awareness about lymphoma, but also to heed the call of the government to implement the spirit of the National Integrated Cancer Control Act and for the medical, patient and healthcare community, to come together to work towards a cancer-free Philippines.” 

To know more about Takeda and its initiatives, visit www.takeda.com. 



About Takeda
Takeda is a global, research and development-driven pharmaceutical company committed to bringing better health and a brighter future to patients by translating science into life-changing medicines. Takeda focuses its research efforts on four therapeutic areas - Oncology, Rare Diseases, Neuroscience and Gastroenterology - to develop highly innovative medicines that contribute to making a difference in people's lives.
About Takeda Philippines 
Takeda Healthcare Philippines, Inc. (THPI) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Founded in 1968 and headquartered in Makati City, THPI aims to broaden patient access to treatment across the country through sustainable access programs enabling affordable and integrated access solutions for disease areas such as oncology, gastroenterology, rare diseases and by strengthening the healthcare system guided by our commitment to Patients, our People and the Planet.




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Atty. Vic Rodriguez: How big it is being the "Little President?"

July 24, 2022




Amidst all the excitements, expectations, anticipations and talks about the scheduled very first SONA of President Ferdinand "Bongbong "Marcos Jr., tomorrow, July 25, 2022, the buzz and questionings about the appointment of Atty. Vic Rodriguez as the Executive Secretary still emerges. 


President Bongbong Marcos Jr. with the Executive Secretary Vic Rodriguez 


Reports had been propagating that there is also a large political group that is urging him to resign from his position and there were also rumors that he resigned or was fired out. But all allegations were directly answered by the so-called "Little President," during a particular interview with him last Friday. He denied all those speculations. 



The Executive Secretary is often called the “Little President” because of the immense power that the position holds.

Among the Executive Secretary’s duties include: Implementing presidential directives, orders and decisions; supervise various agencies under the Office of the President, and appoint officials whose appointments do not need the President’s approval.

The Executive Secretary also has the power to sign papers such as executive orders “by authority of the President,” and decide on matters for and on behalf of the President if they don’t require the Chief Executive’s personal attention.

The post of Executive Secretary has been held by distinguished men since it was created in 1936. Lawyer Jorge Vargas, the first Executive Secretary, was appointed by President Manuel Quezon after serving as chief clerk of the Department of Interior and legislative secretary to then-Speaker Sergio Osmeña.

Manuel Roxas, the fifth President of the Philippines, also served as Quezon’s Executive Secretary from December 1941 until March 1942, just a month before he was captured by Japanese forces.

Experience is a major consideration in appointing the “Little President.” The Executive Secretary needs to hit the ground running, with barely any time to learn how to navigate the labyrinthine maze of the bureaucracy. Owing to the demands of the job, past Presidents picked Executive Secretaries who had proved their mettle through the posts they’ve held over the years.

Ernesto Maceda, a cum laude graduate of the Ateneo Law School, served as councilor of Manila—and was named Outstanding Councilor— before becoming the youngest Cabinet member of then-President E. Marcos as Secretary of Community Development at 29 years old. He served as Marcos’ Executive Secretary in a concurrent capacity as Chairman of the Commission on Reorganization from July 1969 to February 1970.

Joker Arroyo held the record as the human rights lawyer who handled the most number of cases between 1972 and 1986 before becoming then-President Corazon Aquino’s first Executive Secretary in 1986. Franklin Drilon served as Labor Secretary for three years and Justice Secretary for one year before his appointment as Aquino’s Executive Secretary in 1991.

Teofisto Guingona, who went on to become Vice President under the Arroyo administration, served as senator for six years before his appointment as Executive Secretary. He also chaired the Commission on Audit from 1986 to 1987. Ronaldo Zamora worked under the Marcos and Aquino administrations prior to becoming President Joseph Estrada’s first Executive Secretary from 1998 to 2000.

The longest serving Executive Secretaries were appointed in the past three administrations: Eduardo Ermita, Paquito Ochoa and Salvador Medialdea held the post for six years under Presidents Gloria Arroyo, Benigno Aquino III and Rodrigo Duterte, respectively. Both Ochoa and Medialdea were lawyers while Ermita was a three-term congressman from Batangas who also handled the national defense portfolio under Arroyo.

Compared to his many of his predecessors, Vic Rodriguez’s resume comes up woefully short. He was barangay captain of Sacred Heart in Quezon City for 10 years before becoming special assistant to the chief of the Business Permits and Licensing Office in 2002 under then-Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. He later became the officer-in-charge of the city’s Community Relations Office.

Rodriguez’s profile rose when he became spokesperson and chief of staff of Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the run up to the 2022 elections. He was named Executive Secretary shortly after Marcos won as President.




The administration’s recent blunders have shown Rodriguez’s ineptness for the job. The appointment of Archipelago Philippines Ferries-FastCat owner Christopher Pastrana as Philippine Ports Authority General Manager has been met with criticism owing to perceived conflict of interest and his company’s supposed P132-million debt to the Department of Transportation.

So far, Pastrana’s appointment remains in limbo. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista has instead designated a long-serving ports manager to become PPA’s officer-in-charge GM until further notice.

Former Energy chief Raphael Lotilla’s appointment also hit a snag as Malacañang appeared to have been remiss in vetting his credentials. Republic Act 7638 or the Department of Energy Act of 1992 prohibited the appointment of an Energy Secretary who used to be an officer of a private company engaged in the energy industry within two years from his resignation or retirement.

Lotilla, however, was an independent director of Aboitiz Power Corp., and the oil and gas exploration firm ACE Enexor. The Department of Justice later affirmed his nomination as “valid and lawful,” but not after the Palace’s head-scratching clarification that Lotilla’s appointment was a “nomination” for now.

Rodriguez’s hand was also seen in Marcos’ veto of the bill creating the Bulacan Airport City ecozone, which disappointed lawmakers and investors. He claimed there were “defects” that should be remedied by passing an entirely new legislation.

Philippine Star columnist Jarius Bondoc said there’s no one but Rodriguez to blame for the administration’s recent snafus. “From murmurs in Malacañang, Rodriguez had it coming. Supposedly he re-centralized to his office functions formerly dispersed to other units. That made him powerful, if overloaded,” Bondoc said.

Rodriguez has apparently taken upon himself to vet candidates for thousands of presidential appointees. No wonder the announcement of appointments is moving at a snail’s pace, with a number of key vacancies still unfilled.

For all his talk about being close to Marcos, one would think Rodriguez wants nothing more than the administration to succeed. But he seems bent on bringing his principal down, one wrong decision at a time.
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LG Looks Forward to the Future

July 22, 2022




While it seems like the world pressed pause while the pandemic was going on, LG, the South Korean technology conglomerate, went hard at work to address the needs of the future. COVID
fundamentally changed how business is done, from hybrid work setups to teleconferencing. An immediate need presented itself and LG rose to the challenge.

In LG Reconnect, the fruits of LG’s labor was finally unveiled to the public. The tech event was recently held in The Podium Hall, Mandaluyong and was hosted by LG brand ambassador Andrei Felix. The function featured a vast selection of LG Commercial Displays, all ready to face
the needs of the future today.

(L-R) Ryan Nulud, Aya Castillo, Kyra Yambao, Hannah Cepe, Bryan Tan, Hongjin “Peter” Uhm, Andrei Felix, Ed
Kasunuran, Mikee De Ocampo, Karl Herrera, Ren Castillo and Jane Pactoranan


Ed Kasunuran, head of business solutions, started off with a short intro on how the event came to be. “The whole industry went into upheaval because of the pandemic, so it’s crucial to address consumer needs. LG, as expected, went over and beyond to deliver what the market wants. Today, we will be unveiling some of LG’s innovations that showcase new technology that pushes us forward to the future.”

Ed Kasunuran, LG Philippines’ head of business solutions

Industry stalwarts gave short presentations detailing how LG’s new technology can be used to push different sectors to new heights. Asia regional senior business development manager
Bryan Tan discussed retail trends, particularly how the pandemic was a catalyst for digital acceleration in Southeast Asia, making the region one of the world’s most connected regions
going into 2022. For the hospitality industry, business development manager Karl Herrera gave his insights, noting the benefits of using dedicated commercial displays over consumer TVs. He gave detailed comparisons how the commercial options have more than double the lifespan of consumer displays with over three times the usage hours.


Business development manager Mikee De Ocampo discussed how the addition of commercial display solutions can lead to more productivity and collaboration in the evolving workspace. From small, medium to large meeting rooms, to auditoriums, these display solutions offer
interactive, user-friendly platforms to meet and fulfill new corporate needs while boosting meeting efficiency and simplifies maintenance. Business development manager Hannah Cepe also shared her expertise with LED. She introduced and gave a brief glimpse on indoor, outdoor
LEDs and content solutions. each with a different use case. From Magnit, Bloc. Transparent Film, FIne-Pitch Series, each offers a wider color spectrum and vivid color viewing angle. The last speaker was business development manager Jane Pactoranan, who talked about the increased demand for monitors following the pandemic. She went on length about the different monitor lines - Standard, UltraWide, UHD 4K Monitor and UltraGear series and how it can help businesses and consumers alike.

Mikee De Ocampo, business development manager for transportation, corporate and command center

Hannah Cepe, business development manager for LED corporate

The event showcased the different commercial display solutions that LG offers. The highlight of the event was the introduction of the massive LSAC025, a 54” LED Video Wall Display that you
can connect with each other with cable-less signal transmission and power docking.Its block assembly design makes the LSAC series easier to install than before. Its maintenance,
installation, and replacement is as easy as it gets. Unlike the LCD video walls, LSAC series is truly bezel-free, so audiences can focus on visual content in its entirety without any bezel interference between displays. It is the first of its kind in the world and a true marvel of
engineering.


LSAC025
Productivity during meetings is incredibly important. The One:Quick Works is the perfect blend for hybrid work environments. The 55” screen provides a commanding presence in conference rooms and makes meetings more interactive and productive. The One:Quick Flex offers most of the same features of One:Quick Works, but it offers better mobility. It is slightly smaller at 43”, but it comes with a stand and can be rotated horizontally or vertically.

One:Quick Works


One:Quick Flex


For quick, easy, and fuss-free screen sharing among multiple people, LG provides the perfect solution with the One:Quick Share. LG One:Quick Share is a wireless screen sharing solution
available through LG Digital Signage, USB transmission unit for PC (SC-00DA), and its app. Want to make a statement in your conference rooms? You can always go big with LG. The LAEC series is a 136-inch large screen which is offered as an all-in-one package including an embedded controller and built-in speaker.


For something straight out of the future, you can go transparent. LG Transparent OLED Signage offers new ways to communicate visually and opens up a whole new level of creativity that even
conventional digital signage cannot offer. LG’s OLED technology makes the Transparent OLED Signage have slimmer structure without backlight unit nor a liquid crystal layer, achieving high transparency of 38%* much higher than conventional LCD transparent displays (10%**). While
clearly showing objects behind the screen, it overlays the relevant information right before them. Featuring self-lighting pixels, the display maintains vivid colors and high contrast ratio even when the display becomes transparent. It brings content to life from wide viewing angles, and the content blends into its surroundings seamlessly and naturally.




LG Transparent OLED

For outdoor display solutions, look no further with the 55XE4F-M. The XE4F series possesses a powerful brightness of 4,000 nits, capturing the attention of customers by providing clear and vivid picture quality even under strong and direct sunlight. With a slim & robust design, XE4F series can be easily installed to meet the customer’s needs in external environments that require complex installation conditions. It is composed of single display with a light and slim
design and it can be easily customized to suit various external environments with no need for separate casing. By adding more LED units, XE4F operates brighter at a lower temperature, thereby lasting longer than conventional products. Also, it offers outstanding visibility even when the viewer is wearing polarized sunglasses.

LG 55XE4F-M

LG also offers something to cater to the unique needs of hotels and destination rooms. The LG 55'' UHD Pro:Centric Hotel TV is a smart hotel TV with effective content management pre-installed. The US660H series supports clear Ultra HD and efficient content management with Pro:Centric solutions. In addition, the new webOS 5.0 for a wide variety of customer needs, provides customized content in an easier way. Newly added Mood Display & Gallery Mode enable you to utilize the TV as a customized clock and an artwork which perfectly harmonizes
with your space and life.


LG 55” UHD Pro:Centric Hotel TV

Peter Uhm, LG Philippines’ Information Display product director, gave insight regarding the brand’s vision for commercial displays “We want our products to offer proactive solutions, not
reactive. We want to anticipate the needs of tomorrow, today. We hope that you can join us together as we move daily life forward one display at a time.”

Hongjin “Peter” Uhm, LG Philippines Information Display product director


For more details, follow @LGPhilippines on Instagram and Facebook. You may click here for
inquiries about LG Information Display products and services.



About LG Electronics Inc.
Life's about more than having the latest technology, rather, it's about the experiences technology creates that impact our lives. LG Electronics Philippines delivers consumer electronics through top-of-the-line home entertainment, home
appliances, and air solution products that prepare Filipinos for their greatest moments. LG promises to bring "Innovation for a Better Life" nationwide - from Luzon, to Visayas, and Mindanao.
For more details, follow @LGPhilippines on Facebook and @LGPhilippines on Instagram. LG products are available
in all authorized dealers nationwide both in-store and online. Visit lg.com/ph for a complete list of our retail partners.
You can also visit LG's Official Flagship Stores in Lazada and Shopee.






























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Namamayagpag si "100 Million Man" ng Malacañang! Sino nga ba'to?

July 20, 2022







Sino si “100 Million Man” ng Malacanang? 

Namamayagpag at naghahasik ng lagim ang tinaguriang "100 Million Man" sa Palasyo ng Malakanyang. Isang maimpluwensiyang opisyal ng Marcos Jr. administration ang napakaagang gumagawa ng kababalaghan.

Ito sa pamamagitan ng pagkamal ng sandamukal na salapi, mula kampanya hanggang paglalako ng mga posisyon sa pamahalaan.

Ayon sa ating importante, si El Kapitan Nilalang ng administrasyon ay dikit sa Pangulo kaya naman kaniyang sinasamantala ang pagkakataong ito.

Ang nakamangha ay humihingi ito ng tumataginting na one hundred million pesos (P100M) sa ilang nais na makakuha na puwesto sa gobyerno na maituturong na “juicy position”—na ang Ibig sabihin ay ang mga posisyon sa gobyerno ba madaling mapagkakitaan.

Kung makakapagbigay ng P100 million pesos kay El Kapitan  ay siya mismo ang mag aayos na papeles upang agad na maappoint Sa puwesto.

Ang malupet sa lahat, kahit sa panahon ng kampanya, ganito rin ang modus operandi ni El Kupitan, abay halos lahat ng transaksiyon sa mga negosyante na gustong magbigay ng donasyon iisa ang kwento sa presyuhan, animoy eksena sa Storage War series ang bidding. 

Pati yung mga negosyanyete na maagang magpalapad ng papel  kay PBBM dahil lamang sa survey, abay iisa ang kwento at parang template ang numero ibinibigay ni El Kupitan- itoy nagsisimula sa P100M at kapag sinuwerte lalo pat galante ang kausap , mas malaki pa ang hatag.

Hindi lang yan, meron pang isang negosyanteng na nagboluntaryo naman mag-donate ng P100M ang sobrang nagulat dahil bank account ni El Kupitan ang ibinigay sa kanya.

Hindi ngayon malaman ng negosyante kung nakarating ba ang kanyang donasyon o nagamit nakaraang kampanya dahil sa bank account ni El Kupitan pumasok ang P100M.

Maliban sa bansag na “Mr 100 Million Man” may bagong pangalan si El Kupitan sa umpukan ng mga “Marisol” at “Marites” sa pamahalaan bilang “Silidonyo”, as in “silid dito, silid doon” sa garapon

Kaya naman nabubuwisit na mismo ang mga mas malalapit kay PBBM dahil maaring ito ay makasira sa imahe ng Pangulo  at sa buong administrasyon lalo pat usap-usapan kahit sa mga estero sa Palasyo ang modus ni El Kupitan.

Clue. Kaya naman pala Raketista si “Mr 100 million Man”, alyas El Kupitan dahil meron letrang R. 


Oh, kaya nyo na yan ha... hulaan n'yo na!!! 


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Home Credit’s Health Secure offers year-round protection against COVID-19 and vaccine side effects

July 17, 2022


Health Secure is Home Credit’s latest addition to its protection initiatives covering personal accidents, COVID-19 and vaccine-related complications 


As the threat of surge in COVID-19 cases remains, leading consumer finance company and digital financial service provider Home Credit Philippines (HCPH) launches Health Secure with COVID-19 coverage. This latest addition to Home Credit Protect’s wide array of products reiterates the company’s commitment to advocating proactive measures to keep its customers safe and protected.

Health Secure offers protection not only for personal accidents resulting in dismemberment, disability and death but also for COVID-19-related complications, including vaccine side effects. For only PHP 1,212, you can get 12 months of comprehensive COVID-19 coverage, which can easily be availed through the My Home Credit app and paid through Home Credit Pay. 

This latest addition to HCPH’s protection initiatives offers PHP200,000 for coma cases, PHP20,000 for medical expenses and PHP500 per day for hospitalization for a maximum of 30 days. It also offers PHP30,000 that covers personal accidents.

Health Secure is also one of the very few insurance plans offering protection against the FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine side effects covering PHP100,000 for coma cases, PHP10,000 for medical expenses and up to PHP1,000 per day for hospitalization for a maximum of 14 days. Insurable age ranges from 1 year to 65 years old, given that the insured have not traveled to DOH-declared high-risk countries 14 days prior to the insurance effectivity date. 

“We hope more Filipinos appreciate the value of insurance. An insurance coverage that puts a premium on protecting Filipinos against the most imminent threat to our health, the COVID-19, is not only timely but also very proactive. Health Secure is our way of encouraging Filipinos to appreciate health insurance and protect themselves and their families by securing their health, future and financial stability,” shares HCPH Chief Marketing Officer Sheila Paul. 


Home Credit Protect, the most affordable device insurance
Unexpected expenses are not limited to medical emergencies. Accidentally cracking your tablet screen or pouring water on laptop keyboard requires immediate repairs. With gadgets such as phones, laptops and tablets being everyday life partners, they, too, need protection to ensure they can continue fulfilling their intended use.

To help you make the most of their gadgets, HCPH is offering the Home Credit Protect (HCProtect) to give Home Credit-financed gadgets the protection they need at less cost. It enables hassle-free device repair and replacement in the event of accidental breakage, liquid damage or cracked screen.

You can choose from different coverage plans such as one-year or two-year accidental damage and liquid damage and accidental damage plus extended warranty for two years and cracked screen coverage.

Safe and secure application and approval of the insurance can be accomplished through the My Home Credit app. Simply choose an item you want to protect, select a plan, and fill out the application form. Then pay online or in cash at over 10,000 HCPH partner stores nationwide. You can get HCProtect upon your loan application for gadgets or within 14 days of purchasing a Home Credit-financed device. If you have a device without a protection plan, you can still avail the insurance as long as you do not have a pending or rejected HCProtect application in the last three months.

Backed by bolttech, the world's largest technology-enabled insurance exchange, you are not only ensured of secure payment transactions but also of simplified processes. You may avail the insurance for only 12 percent of the gadget’s price and likewise pay in installments.

Claiming is also easier and more convenient with Home Credit’s 24/7 customer service. Simply call HCPH customer service at (02) 7753 5711 or message its official Facebook and Twitter accounts. You can also notify bolttech by registering on its online portal or calling its customer service hotline.

“At Home Credit, we do not just provide convenient ways for Filipinos to afford gadgets. We offer them ways to live a more comfortable life by giving them assurance that their gadgets will be protected so that they can then focus on the more important things and continue doing their work conveniently,” shares Paul.



About Home Credit
Home Credit Philippines (“HCPH”) is a consumer finance provider that promotes the principles of financial inclusion and safe lending, providing world-class financing services to qualified customers, often first-time borrowers. Home Credit arrived in the Philippines back in 2013 and within 8 years, has helped more than 8 million customers buy the things they need through fast, convenient and affordable financing in thousands of stores around the country. In 2018, HCPH was also granted the license to operate as a credit card issuer by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), making it the first and only non-bank financial institution in the country to issue credit cards. HCPH continues to expand its digital and online presence, and now has over 8 million users of its My Home Credit App. HCPH is part of the Home Credit Group, an international consumer finance provider. More information on HCPH is available at www.homecredit.ph.  



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There’s a reward for everyone with Maya’s latest Tipid Hits!

July 16, 2022



All-in-one money app Maya makes everyday shopping more fun and exciting with Tipid Hits! There is always a thrill in getting good rewards and great deals, and this is exactly what you’ll enjoy when you use Maya when paying for your essentials or even for your much-needed self-care treat. 
 
Tipid Hits covers a series of cashback rewards and promos for your everyday spending. So whenever you are paying for your bills, or treating yourself to a good meal, there’s always a reward waiting for you when you pay with Maya. Here are just some of the ways you can take advantage of these Tipid Hits this July! 

 
Newbie Hits 
 
If you are new to Maya, you can get up to P100 on your first week upon sign-up! This includes an instant P20 when you sign up, and P80 when you upgrade and do your first transaction.  
 
And if you help your family and friends to join Maya, upgrade their account, and complete their first transaction, you get up to P3,000! You can enjoy P100 for every referral, capped at 15 referrals per month. If you reach this number, you get an additional P1,500 on top of your accumulated earnings—which goes all the way up to P3,000! 

 
Adulting Hits 
 
Adulting doesn’t have to be so tough, especially with deals to make bills payment or even cashing in a bit more sulit. If you’re paying for any bill with Maya for the first time, you will get P50 cashback, plus a raffle entry to become one of the 50 Maya users who will only have to pay P1 for your bill. If you win, the rest of the bill amount will be refunded to your account, capped at P5,000. 
 
If you’re paying government dues for PAG-IBIG, SSS, or NHMFC for the first time with Maya, you can get up to P100 cashback – P50 on your first bill, and another P50 on your second bill. 
 
Sending allowance to your siblings or simply pitching in for your lunch out with officemates? Do it with Maya and get up to P150 cashback! You get a P50 cashback for sending at least P3,000 for the first time. Continue sending P1,000 to 10 different Maya users and get an additional P10 reward for each transaction. Now you have an extra budget for a nice milk tea treat for completing your adulting duties! 
 
To top it all off, you can enjoy FREE cash in, or zero service fees, at any of the 63,000 Maya Centers nationwide. This way, you only spend on things that matter to you, and take advantage of exciting deals at that! 

 
Reloaded Hits 
 
Get the most bang for your buck when you’re loading up your data bundles or leveling up your game with Maya!  
 
When you buy P100 worth of data bundles from the Maya Shop, you get P100 worth of Razer Gold codes to amp up your game. And speaking of gaming, you can enjoy 20% cashback when you reach an accumulated spend of P500 on gaming items from the Maya Shop, and 100% cashback when you buy load for the first time on Shop. 
 
Meanwhile, you can enjoy a 6% cashback when you buy at least P300 worth of load this July. When you spend a total of P3,000 on load by July 20, you’ll also get an additional 20% cashback on your additional load purchases from July 24-31.  
 
Buying load via Maya also gives you the chance to be one of 25 weekly winners of P1,000, and one of two grand prize winners of P500,000 at the end of the promo this month!  


Self-Care Hits

And of course, Maya makes shopping for yourself guilt-free and rewarding with its Self-Care Hits.  

Going on a food trip? Enjoy these exclusive deals with Maya! Get 30% off on Regular or Large a la carte Pan Pizza and Stuffed Crust Pizzas for your dine-in, take-out, and delivery orders at Pizza Hut. If you’re craving some Chinese food, get P50 cashback for a minimum spend of P500 when you pay via Maya QR or with your Maya number at Harbour City Dimsum, Dimsum Break, Ding How, Ding Qua Qua or iwantdimsum.com. For quick eats, visit Taco Bell and for every purchase worth at least P450, you can get a free order of Cheesy Fiesta Potatoes. To cap it off, end your meals with a sweet treat from Dairy Queen, and save P100 when you buy their 8-inch cakes! 

Taking a well-deserved break is a breeze – especially with Tipid Hits, just for you. Get 7% off of your stay when you book at Agoda via Maya and use the code “MAYA7JUL” until September 14. You can also enjoy 15% off on your booking at RedDoorz when you pay via Maya until December 31.  


Weekend Hits
As an added bonus, we're making your weekends more exciting too with exclusive deals that are available on Saturdays and Sundays, until July 31! You can get an instant 30% cashback max of P500, when you spend at least P300 at McDonald’s, SM Store, LCC Supermarket, LCC Department Store, and Gaisano Brothers Malls via your Maya QR or Maya-registered mobile number. 
 
“With Tipid Hits, we want Maya users to enjoy the best value for their money – especially for their everyday purchases. From the moment they sign up and each time they refer, cash in, send money, pay bills, reload, buy gaming items, and shop with our partner merchants, they are able to get a little something in return which can accumulate to huge savings or even exciting prizes,” said Pepe Torres, Maya Chief Marketing Officer. “All they need to do is complete their everyday transactions with Maya and reap the rewards on top of overall seamless experience from using an all-in-one money app.” 
 
For more information and updates from the country’s all-in-one money platform, visit maya.ph and follow Maya Official on Facebook. 
 
 
About Maya 
Maya is the all-in-one money platform bringing Filipinos bolder ways to master their money. It is powered by a unique integrated financial services ecosystem that addresses the ever-evolving financial needs of today’s generation through cutting-edge technology.  
  
Maya leads millions of Filipinos — consumers, businesses, communities, and government agencies alike — into a digital economy that’s more inclusive, transparent, and empowering. Maya is powered by the country's only end-to-end digital payments company, PayMaya Philippines, and Maya Bank for digital banking services.



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Metrobank named ‘Best Bank in the Philippines’ at the Euromoney Awards 2022

July 16, 2022



Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) bagged the ‘Best Bank in the Philippines’ award at the recently held Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2022, solidifying its strong position and reliability as the country’s second largest bank.

"A changing of the guard this year as Metrobank pushes aside other local banks to post the best numbers in a mercurial year. Metrobank's story was about more than prudence. The bank is out there supporting a reviving economy, recording a growth in its commercial lending business. It also took advantage of COVID to push digital channels and launch a host of new services to address its customers' needs. Pretty much the entire street rates Metrobank a buy right now in recognition of a growing bank with strong capital and asset quality," said Euromoney

Euromoney Excellence Awards recognizes the best of the best financial institutions globally. For the Best Bank category, Euromoney scrutinizes the following key metrics: market capitalization; total revenues; pre-tax profit; net income; return on tangible common equity; return on assets; net interest margin; cost-to-income ratio; Basel III Tier-1 capital; market share of deposits; market share of loans; loan-to-deposit ratio; non-performing loan ratio; and non-performing loan coverage ratio.

“It is a great honor to be named as the Best Bank in the Philippines by Euromoney, which is a highly regarded institution in the financial industry. This is very timely as we mark our 60th anniversary of serving Filipinos this September,” said Metrobank President Fabian Dee.

“This award is a testament to the hard work of Metrobankers to maintain the Bank’s status as a strong, reliable, and stable partner for all our stakeholders. At Metrobank, we remain committed in serving our customers as their trusted financial partner,” he added.

Metrobank also recently received praise from other award giving bodies such as Asiamoney, The Asian Banker, and LinkedIn for being the Best Domestic Bank, the Strongest Bank, and the Top Banking Employer in the Philippines, respectively.

For more information on Metrobank, visit http://metrobank.com.ph/.


About Metrobank:
Metrobank is the country's second largest private universal bank. The Bank believes that its robust capital position and balance sheet strength will provide ample support as it navigates through these uncertain times. Capital ratios are among the highest in the industry, with total CAR at 18.5% and Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio at 17.6%. Consolidated assets stood at P2.6 trillion as of end March 2022, making it one of the strongest and well-capitalized banks in the country.



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Mark Your Calendars for ShopeePay Day: Send Money and win over 1M worth of prizes and more!

July 16, 2022



On July 16, send money and win up to Php 1M, buy P100 load for only P1, and get bills cashback when you use ShopeePay.

ShopeePay is making saving easier for everyone! With features that allow you to send money for free, buy discounted load, earn bills payment cashback, and more, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet definitely enables you to have greater cost savings with every payment and transaction. To top it off, users have something exciting to look forward to as ShopeePay Day kicks off on July 16. Watch out for exciting promos and rewards when you use ShopeePay every 16th of the month!

Enjoy rewards and huge prizes when you send money for free
Stand a chance to win up to ₱1M worth of prizes with Happy Hour Plus. To join, simply transfer a minimum of ₱50 to any ShopeePay user and play the lucky draw to win up to 7,000 coins per hour. Send money as many times as you like to get more chances of winning! Do not worry about additional fees because sending money to any bank, e-wallet, or Shopee user is free with ShopeePay. 

Still looking for more rewards? On July 15 and 16, verify your ShopeePay wallet and send money for the first time to get Free Money. Lucky users who will send money to 100 friends via ShopeePay Ang Pao on July 15 to 16 can also earn ₱500.

Save on fees and receive cashback when you cash in
From July 13 to July 18, receive up to ₱50 cashback when you cash in with InstaPay (minimum cash-in of ₱1,000). Earn up to 100 Shopee coins when you cash in at least ₱1,000 during Happy Hour. 

Get exclusive discounts for bills and load
For those looking to get more value for their hard-earned money, especially after payday, ShopeePay is also offering cost-saving deals for necessities like ₱100 worth of load for only ₱1 and up to 100% cashback on bill payments this July 16. 

Don’t miss out on all these rewards. Not yet a ShopeePay user? Activate and verify your ShopeePay wallet in time for ShopeePay Day. Here’s how:
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To learn more about ShopeePay, visit https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-pay. Follow ShopeePay’s Instagram and Facebook pages to be updated with the latest promos. 


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 digitalise 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.


About ShopeePay
ShopeePay is an integrated mobile wallet that offers users easy access to digital payment services. Launched in the Philippines in 2019, ShopeePay enables a seamless shopping experience by allowing users to make online payments on Shopee, top-up their wallets, and transfer and withdraw funds.
ShopeePay makes it easier to shop and do business. It provides users with a convenient, secure, and rewarding payment option; it empowers businesses and helps them capture new opportunities. 

ShopeePay is part of SeaMoney, the digital financial services arm of Sea Group. A leading digital payments and financial services provider in Southeast Asia, SeaMoney’s mission is to better the lives of individuals and businesses in the region with financial services through technology.



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URC caps off Environment Month celebration with nationwide tree-planting event

July 16, 2022


Universal Robina Corporation (URC) conducted simultaneous tree-planting activities in 25 areas nationwide in celebration of the Environment Month last June.

Universal Robina Corporation (URC) culminated its celebration of Philippine Environment Month with a nationwide tree-planting initiative. From Bulacan to Davao, URC employees and volunteers planted over 6,000 seedlings through simultaneous tree-planting activities across 25 areas.

Under the theme “Protect Nature, Sustain Our Future,” this activity aims to promote the relevance of environmental awareness and protection; reinforce its values of environmental stewardship and planet-friendly culture; and capitalize on people engagement to promote environmental compliance and best practices.

“This is an important step in fulfilling our ambition of becoming a sustainable global enterprise. We cannot do all of these without the support of our partners,” said URC Chief Executive Officer Irwin Lee.

“We, in the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), encourage URC to continue to build on the success it has started and make more things happen”, DENR representative Jean Borromeo shared during the opening ceremony of URC’s Environment Month program.

Universal Robina Corporation (URC) caps off its celebration of Environment Month with a nationwide tree-planting activity.



URC held the tree-planting activity on June 25 to coincide with the celebration of Philippine Arbor Day.

Employees from URC’s business units–Branded Consumer Foods Group, Flour and Bread Division, Sugar and Renewables and Agro-Industrial Group–planted endemic tree saplings, such bamboo, mangrove, narra and balitarhan, among others.

Aside from tree planting, URC also held several activities in celebration of Philippine Environment Month including a coastal cleanup in Sariaya, Quezon, sustainability-themed webinars and sharing of best practices.

Universal Robina Corporation (URC) employees planted over 6,000 seedlings as part of their nationwide tree-planting program



These activities are in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 which seeks to combat climate change and address its impacts.

For this program, URC partnered with various organizations, such as the Pasig City Parks & Playground Development Office, Clean and Green Pasig, DENR - Environmental Management Bureau, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, Philippine Ports Authority, and the local government units of the different sites for the tree-planting sessions. 

The month-long event was in pursuant to the Presidential Proclamation No. 237 series of 1998, declaring June as the month dedicated for the environment.

To know more about URC’s sustainability efforts, visit the URC corporate website: https://www.urc.com.ph/. 



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