NEWS
PH entry leads ‘Taiwan Excellence: Sharing is Caring’ winners
January 29, 2022 3:04 p.m.
TAIWAN Excellence: Sharing is Caring, a global philanthropic Campaign launched by Taiwan’s Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs announced the top three winning proposals recently, led by Educating and Empowering the Community through Mobile Kart from the Philippines.
Other winners were Solar Solutions for Indigenous Māori Communities from New Zealand and One-day Medical Tour and Same-day Denture Delivery – Mobile Digital Denture Clinic & Oral Health Service Project from Taiwan.
Cynthia Kiang, Director General of BOFT virtually presented certificates to the winners during an awards ceremony today.
The BOFT said that the winning proposals would be funded and implemented according to how they plan out in the proposed region/country, hoping to promote kindness and good deeds in the local communities.
With the support from the industry, Sharing is Caring that was held for the first time has recruited ideas from all over the world that incorporate Taiwan Excellence winning products to address either social or environmental problems.
It was a pleasant surprise for the organizer that a total of 781 proposals from 61 countries poured in, and the best of all was finally out after careful and thoughtful selection.
Director General Kiang was excited to see that so much could be achieved and so many people participated for the first year of the campaign.
“We could feel that love and care are everywhere in the world,” emphasized by Kiang. “At the same time, the Taiwan Excellence winning companies will continue to spare no efforts in pushing forward the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) via the Campaign.”
Marareia Hamilton, one of the team members of the winning proposal ‘Solar Solutions for Indigenous Māori Communities’ from New Zealand, has long been devoted to the development of Māori communities and helped establish workable business models for the locals.
As many of the communities are located in the remote areas, the power supply might be on and off due to grid stability issues.
Thus the team has proposed to install solar panels from Taiwan and to build a self-sustaining green energy power generation system within the communities.
Marareia expressed her special thanks to Taiwanese Excellence during the ceremony for lighting up the Māori communities, and for bringing Taiwan and New Zealand closer.
In addition to the winning proposals, ‘Educating and Empowering the Community through Mobile Kart’ from the Philippines is to narrow education divide between the remote villages and cities while enhancing environmental protection.
The winning team put together a mobile classroom – a kart powered by solar panels and equipped with laptops and internet, so that children in the remote areas can learn how to use computers and get connected to new things.
The proposer Jonathan J. Cartilla thanked the Campaign for this opportunity to promote education in the rural areas. With the mobile kart, a classroom regardless of distance could no longer be a dream.
Another winning proposal is from Taiwan: ‘One-day Medical Tour and Same-day Denture Delivery – Mobile Digital Denture Clinic & Oral Health Service Project’ that sets out to care for health and well-being of the elderly people in the rural areas with a mobile medical vehicle full of dental care devices for measuring biodata.
The proposer Ms. Danielle Chen pointed out that quality of their healthcare services is guaranteed by using Taiwan Excellence winning products, while the car brings the good will of Taiwan Excellence to some of the farthest and remote corners of Taiwan.
The event also came with a lucky draw for those who predicted the winners. People are invited to predict and vote for the winning proposals online.
During the event, Director General Kiang revealed three winners who voted for the right proposals and could have prizes worthy of NT$50,000.
See the lucky draw winner list at
https://share-care.taiwanexcellence.org/
One of the members from the selection panel, professor Chu Jou-Juo felt impressed with how well-intentioned all the proposals are.
But if one need to stand out as a winning proposal, a mere creative philanthropic idea is not enough. Feasibility and practicality should also be taken into consideration, so that a good idea can be turned into actions. It is also hoped more companies can come on board and fulfill their corporate social responsibility.
NEWS
Atayde bats for moratorium on student loan payments during emergencies, calamities
March 17, 2023 9:00 p.m.
STUDENTS won’t have to worry paying their loans during times of calamities and emergencies, as Quezon City first district Congressman Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde has introduced a moratorium on the payment of student loans administered by higher educational institutions (HEIs).
The House Bill 7279, which Atayde filed last Feb. 21, headed into its first reading six days later in the Committee on Higher and Technical Education, chaired by Baguio City Rep. Mark O. Go.
He said the bill — once it turns to a law — will halt the payment of all the fees, charges, and costs relating to student loans and technical-vocational training institutions (TVIs) or by the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UNIFAST) during emergencies.
It will cover all students residing in areas declared to be under a state of calamity or emergency — those who are enrolled in state universities and colleges (SUCs), local universities and colleges (LUCs), private HEIs, and public and private TVIs.
“We have to find a way to help our students and their families, when natural or even these man-made calamities hit them hard. We just have to make everything easy for them including a moratorium on the payment of student loans,” Atayde said. “It is a burden on a student and their family especially in difficult times like aftermath of typhoon, fire and earthquakes, among other disasters.”
“In the order of spending, student loans will be their least priority since spending will go mostly to basic necessities for survival,” Atayde added.
The moratorium shall be effective for the duration of the state of calamity or emergency and for 30 days after its lifting. No penalties shall be collected on the deferred payments.
“To provide adequate relief and protection to our students in times of calamities and emergencies, this measure shall allow the deferral of student loan collections for a reasonable period during and after the onset of disasters.”
The Quezon City lawmaker cited also the availability of the moratorium, which shall not adversely affect the status of the students concerned with regard to their eligibility for re-enrollment on the succeeding semesters or terms, or their eligibility for graduation.
“The proposed legislation doesn’t prevent public and private HEIs from implementing more favorable forms of payment relief or assistance to students affected by disasters, prohibiting students from voluntarily waiving the moratorium on student loan payments, or availing subsidies and assistance from the government,” Atayde concluded.
NEWS
ShopeePay now available as a payment method for App Store, other Apple services in PH
March 16, 2023 1:59 p.m.
Beginning today, ShopeePay, Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet, is now available as a payment method for Apple services in the Philippines. Customers can use their ShopeePay account to pay for App Store, Apple Music, Apple TV app, and iTunes Store purchases, iCloud storage and more.
The addition of ShopeePay as an Apple ID payment method offers a new way to pay for Apple services without needing a credit card and still allows for easy, secure one-tap purchasing from Apple products including iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Customers can manage their Apple ID payment information in Settings on iPhone and iPad, or on their Mac or PC.
Agatha Soh, Director at ShopeePay commented, “ShopeePay is committed to meeting the needs of users who are increasingly expecting seamless payments across all platforms. We are excited to offer ShopeePay as a convenient payment option for our customers, and expand access to digital payments, benefitting more users.”
For more information on how to add ShopeePay as a payment method, please visit https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201266 or https://shopee.ph/m/ShopeePay-Apple-ID-PH.
NEWS
Be bolder, braver, more confident at SM Supermalls’ Women’s Month celebration!
March 8, 2023, 8:30 p.m.
Ladies, take center stage as SM celebrates Women Power throughout the month of March. Lots of activities both online and on-ground are in store to empower women and girls all over the country.
Join the Future of Women Global Summit
SM Supermalls will be joining UN Women in kicking off the IWD 2023 celebration through a women’s summit on March 8, at the SM Aura Premier Samsung Hall. Focusing on the future of women in ICT, the two-part event will gather young women, country leaders, policy makers, and advocates together to share perspectives and affirm their commitment to supporting digital equality for women and girls.
Photo courtesy of SM City Lucena
Photo courtesy of SM City San Jose del Monte
Support your local Womenpreneurs
Great finds for ladies are on sale at the SM Womenpreneur Market! This pop-up of small and medium businesses owned by women for women will give you everything you need from food and beauty to wellness and fashion!
Wednesdays are for women!
Shopping on Wednesdays has become even more tempting because the Women’s Wednesday Sale is back! Achieve the glow-up you deserve with special discounts, deals, and promos on fashion, beauty, and fitness exclusively for women every Wednesday of March. So don’t hold back on your shopping; you deserve all these and more!
A beautiful treat of wellness all for you
Forda glow-up and pampering sesh tayo this month because lots of self-care deals are available at the Women’s Wellness Sale. Avail of great deals from wellness salons on facials, hair and body treatments, nail care, and massage from March 1 to March 31.
And more deals online!
Special deals are up for women via the SM Malls Online app. Get the best brand offerings every Wednesday from shoes and beauty and wellness to home and hobbies. Use the code WOMEN and get an extra 10% off, capped at 250. What’s great is that there’s no minimum purchase required!
Also, a collection of brand vouchers will be sent to all women SM Malls Online shoppers valid all month. Wait for your Beauty Pass and give yourself the retail therapy you deserve with tons of discounts, GWP deals, samplers, in-store pick up bonuses, and mystery boxes!
Plus, the SM Malls Online app will be hosting self-care sessions online. Follow SM Supermalls on social media to get a dose of starter packages, Get-Ready-With-Me routines, and beauty products that your favorite beauty experts swear by.
Photo courtesy of SM City East Ortigas
Photo courtesy of SM City Manila
Celebrate Women Power on IG!
Capture the beauty and power of women at the beautiful spots and installations all over SM. Be free to express your own uniqueness and creativity in the specially-designed selfie spaces in partnership with Selfie Studio. Don’t forget to tag us on IG!
We don’t know about you but exciting days await every SM woman. So be bolder, braver, and more confident! With these activities, you can confidently step forward in fashion, beauty, wellness, and express yourselves to make a positive impact.
Stay updated on all things women this IWD 2023 by visiting www.smsupermalls.com and following @smsupermalls on social media.
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