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PSC chairman Ramirez is Excellence in Leadership awardee at PSA Awards Night
March 3, 2022 9:38 p.m.
A first-ever Olympic gold medal amidst a global pandemic, a number of world champions, a gold quartet in the Asian Games and regaining the overall championship of the Southeast Asian Games.
In a nutshell, it defines just some of the major accomplishments attained under the term of William ‘Butch’ Ramirez as the man at the helm of the Philippine Sports Commission since being re-appointed to the post back in 2016.
And as his second term as chairman of the government sports agency comes to an end, Ramirez will be honored with an Excellence in Leadership Award in the San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association Annual Awards Night for the non-stop support and help his office tendered in uplifting the state of Philippine sports to a new level.
Ramirez, who was PSC chairman for the first time back in 2005 to 2009, is part of the 38 total awardees to be recognized by the country’s oldest media organization during the March 14 special event presented by the Philippine Olympic Committee, PSC, and Cignal TV.
The gala night will be held face-to-face at the Diamond Hotel and is backed by MILO (official choco malt milk), Philippine Basketball Association, 1Pacman, Rain or Shine, ICTSI, Chooks To Go, Smart, Philracom, and the MVP Sports Foundation.
An educator, former athletic director of Ateneo de Davao, and ex-chairman of the Davao City Sports Commission, the 71-year-old sports official was honored by the PSA with the Executive of the Year award in 2019 for successfully preparing the country’s hosting of the SEA Games three years ago, which saw Team Philippines emerge overall champion for the second time since it began participating in the biennial meet in 1977.
The SEAG overall championship was just one of several bright spots in Ramirez’s second term as PSC chairman, who works with the rest of the Board that includes commissioners Ramon Fernandez, Charles Maxey, Celia Kiram, and Arnold Agustin.
Seeing the country bag its breakthrough gold medal in the Olympics through weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz during the Tokyo Games, will forever be associated with Ramirez’s PSC mandate.
The 2020 Olympic campaign goes down in memory, too as the most productive ever in Philippine sports history as boxers Nesthy Petecio and Carlo Paalam added a pair of silver, and Eumir Marcial a bronze medal to complement the gold Diaz won in the women’s 55 kg division.
It was also under Ramirez’s watch that the country produced several Filipino world champions in the likes of gymnast Carlos Yulo, golfer Yuka Saso, pool player Carlo Biado, pole vaulter EJ Obiena, bowler Krizziah Lyn Tabora, Petecio, among others.
During the 2018 Asiad in Indonesia, Diaz and Saso also led an all-female gold medal cast for the Philippines, which produced its best medal tally in the quadrennial showpiece since 2006.
Saso won the gold in lady’s individual golf and added another one in the team event along with Bianca Pagdanganan and Lois Kaye Go, while Diaz and Margielyn Didal accounted for the two others in weightlifting and skateboarding, respectively.
Actually, just two months since Ramirez returned to his old PSC post, Diaz clinched the country’s first Olympic silver in 20 years during the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Games, setting the tone for what would be a truly magical ride along the way for the sports official from Davao.
Even when the chips were down, Ramirez rose to the occasion and managed to steer the agency in one of the most difficult times in Philippine sports after the PSC underwent a major financial cut from the national budget amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Also credited as part of Ramirez’s works were the revival of the Philippine Sports Institute, the establishment of the National Training Center in the provinces, intensified grassroots sports development program among local government units, and strengthening the partnerships amongst the PSC, POC, National Sports Associations and other sports stakeholders.
NEWS
Cebuana Lhuillier ventures into future of payments at Plan B Forum in Lugano, Switzerland
10:40 p.m. December 30, 2024
Cebuana Lhuillier, the Philippines’ leading microfinance institution, is stepping into the future of payments by exploring innovative blockchain solutions.
This initiative underscores the company’s commitment to financial inclusion and its strategic move towards adopting digital technologies. Senior Executive Vice President Philippe Andre Lhuillier attended the prestigious Plan B Forum in Lugano, Switzerland, where financial leaders and innovators gathered to discuss the next evolution in payments, blockchain, and digital finance.
A Global Stage for Financial Innovation
The Plan B Forum serves as a vital platform for thought leaders to explore the future of blockchain and digital currencies in the global economy. With a focus on the growing impact of decentralized finance (DeFi), stablecoins, and digital currencies, the forum highlights how emerging technologies are reshaping the landscape of financial services. Cebuana Lhuillier’s participation signifies its drive to stay ahead of technological advancements that can reshape and bridge TradFi and DeFi in the Philippines.
The event was attended by some of the prominent names in the digital currency space, demonstrating Cebuana’s commitment to industry and reinforcing its role in shaping the crypto landscape.
Cebuana Lhuillier: Championing Financial Inclusion in the Digital Space
Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, highlights the company’s growing focus on digital transformation. “As Cebuana Lhuillier continues to expand in the digital space, it aims to enhance payment services by adopting stablecoins and partnering with innovative digital solutions companies. These technologies promise faster, more affordable, and secure transactions for Filipinos, offering a modern way to manage payments with greater transparency and ease.”
Following this, Cebuana Lhuillier Senior Executive Vice President Philippe Andre Lhuillier added, “Blockchain technology and digital currencies are not just tools for innovation; they are vehicles for empowerment. By leveraging these technologies, we can democratize access to financial services, enabling Filipinos from all walks of life to participate in a global digital economy.”
This move reflects Cebuana Lhuillier’s commitment to providing reliable financial services that cater to the evolving needs of its customers across the country.
In representing Cebuana Lhuillier at the forum, Philippe Andre Lhuillier emphasized the importance of financial inclusion in the digital age. In an era where internet access and digital infrastructure are rapidly expanding, especially with advancements in web3 technologies, it set the stage that highlighted the importance of emerging payments in the web3 space and the role of Cebuana Lhuillier in bridging this technology with traditional finance.
Cebuana Lhuillier’s participation at the forum reinforces its commitment to financial inclusion. By incorporating digital wallets, blockchain technology, and digital currencies, the company aims to expand access to financial services, beyond traditional finance.
President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier remarked “With the evolution of financial landscapes, Cebuana Lhuillier is positioning itself at the forefront of digital transformation in the Philippines. By attending the Plan B Forum, the company is not only seeking to learn from global leaders but is also reaffirming its role as a key player in the future of payments and financial inclusion. Philippe Andre Lhuillier’s participation marks a critical step towards realizing Cebuana Lhuillier’s vision of becoming a fully integrated financial service provider that leverages cutting-edge technology.”
As blockchain and digital cryptocurrency technologies continue to grow, Cebuana Lhuillier is well-positioned to lead the way in providing innovative financial services.
NEWS
InLife wins Best in Future of Intelligence Award at IDC Future Enterprise Awards 2024
3:30 p.m. December 25, 2024
Insular Life (InLife) received the Best in Future of Intelligence Award – Philippines during the IDC (International Data Corporation) Future Enterprise Awards 2024 held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore on November 18, 2024.
The award recognizes InLife’s Agile Academy, a transformative initiative aimed at fostering an Agile mindset among InLife employees, or InLifers.
Through bootcamps, masterclasses, workshops, and curated resources, the Agile Academy empowers InLifers to tackle organizational challenges with innovative solutions, contributing to the company’s business and digital transformation journey.
At the heart of the Agile Academy are the Mission-Based Teams (MBTs)—cross-functional, user-centric, and self-organizing groups that leverage the Agile framework to address critical customer and enterprise issues.
To date, the Agile Academy has activated 21 MBTs, resulting in innovations like the InLife App, a mobile and web application for managing life insurance policies; and the InLife Compass Super App, designed to boost the productivity of InLife financial advisors. MBTs have also developed solutions addressing pain points of Gen Zs, Group account holders, and the silver generation, demonstrating InLife’s customer-centric and inclusive approach.
“InLife’s recognition at the IDC Future Enterprise Awards reaffirms our commitment to continuous innovation and transformation in service of our customers,” said InLife Chief Transformation Officer Efren C. Caringal, Jr. “At 114 years, InLife remains true to its pioneering spirit, leveraging initiatives like the Agile Academy to deliver meaningful solutions that benefit our policyholders and other stakeholders.”
The IDC Future Enterprise Awards recognize organizations that lead the way in digital transformation, demonstrating resilience, and a commitment to enhanced customer experiences.
NEWS
Converge engages Unang Yakap beneficiaries in gift-giving activities
8:30 p.m. December 24, 2024
Leading fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. shared the joy of Christmas to the mothers and volunteers of its Unang Yakap Community in Baseco, Tondo.
With the help of the mentors and mentees from its women mentorship program Grace Under Pressure: MentorSHE, the company celebrated with the beneficiaries and community volunteers through games, raffle, and gift-giving activities.
In partnership with Caritas Manila, Converge has been supporting the Unang Yakap Program that aims to provide healthcare and nutritional assistance to underprivileged pregnant and lactating mothers, and their infants, during their first 1,000 days.
Sylvia Sanchez-Atayde grateful for MMFF’s recognition of Topakk
Cebuana Lhuillier ventures into future of payments at Plan B Forum in Lugano, Switzerland
Topakk bags MMFF’s Jury Prize Award, 2 other citations
