For the Philippines’ journey to the “next normal,” digital literacy is what matters

In today’s world, the term literacy is not just about learning how to read and write anymore. As the country charts its future toward the so-called “next normal,” presuming that this pandemic will end already, digital literacy in the Philippines will be of high significance and importance.




The level of digitalization at present may already be in an advanced stage, but do Filipinos have the skills and capabilities already to be fully functional, effective, and efficient and be called “literate” enough to use digital technologies? Are they digitally literate enough to use information and communication technology (ICT) to tackle issues related to gender inequality, education, health, even employment?

Heck, can Filipinos even connect to the internet properly and consistently?




Recent data from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), the specialized agency of the United Nations about ICT, showed a surge in terms of internet usage to an estimated 4.9 billion in 2021 from around 4.1 billion back in 2019.




But despite this surge, connecting to the internet still remains unequal. An estimated 2.9 billion people have still never used the internet and of this number, 96 percent live in developing countries. “While almost two-thirds of the world’s population is now online, there is a lot more to do to get everyone connected to the Internet,” said ITU Secretary General Houlin Zhao.




For most ordinary people, being able to send messages and post to social media or simply surf the internet does not mean being digitally literate. People must have specific skills to be able to create digital content and share it online in the most responsible manner. The time to teach students anything and everything about digital literacy should also start right now, in the classroom, while they are still young so that once they graduate, they can proudly say that they are already digitally literate and be able to find gainful employment.




As many people look to the internet for information, it is also about teaching them how to create, communicate, share and yes, discern the kind of information they get. People should know how to consume and share correct information, especially in this world where “fake news” is practically considered gospel truth, protect them from and even help stop cyberbullies and cybercriminals. Digital literacy means not just having the ability to enter the World Wide Web and surf websites but also having the skills to effectively and responsibly find, assess, and evaluate information found online.




Digital literacy for all Filipinos is the kind of dream that Computer Literacy, Innovation, Connectivity and Knowledge or simply “CLICK” partylist wishes to achieve for Filipinos. It is about spreading awareness about digital literacy as a catalyst for change in many aspects of their lives, be it in education, employment, health, business and yes, more importantly, governance.




An important part of improving lives of many Filipinos is also about governance, which is why part of what CLICK intends to provide a solution in the area of governance is to usher it to the digital era. Admittedly, the government is still not ready for digitalization. Government processes are still mostly manual or paper-based, and many public servants in government are somewhat still aloof to modernization and technology, perhaps due to lack of awareness about its benefits, or probably the thought of “change” scares them.




With CLICK, their legislative agenda with regard to digitizing government services is to let every level of government, from the national to the barangays undergo a digital literacy journey to keep itself at pace with technological developments in governance in the 21st Century. Perhaps, reinventing how the government provides services and opening up its eyes regarding its role in national development through legislation will fast-track its modernization/automation of services using technology to make the lives of Filipinos easier and better in the years to come.

CLICK believes that only through effective and sound legislation can they affect change for all Filipinos regardless of economic status and geographical location using the power of technology and will help chart the country’s digital literacy roadmap. Decades of neglect and misinformation, coupled with corruption in terms of governance, will not be fixed overnight. Righting what was wrong for decades is not just a “weekend project.”




The work of crafting laws to help create better lives for Filipinos through the power of digital technology will be painstaking and meticulous, and will not offer an instant cure to their problems. Ultimately, through laws that leverage on technology, CLICK partylist can do its share of slowly undoing what had been wrongly done, and create a stronger and more progressive Philippines that can compete—or belong side-by-side—with other more developed countries in the world with regard to digital literacy and competency.




For CLICK, digital literacy should become a way of life to give the country a chance to move forward and create an efficient and digitally sound Philippines, and a better future for Filipinos.




To know more about “CLICK,” follow CLICK Partylist on their social media accounts or visit their website at www.clickpartylist.ph.




Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CLICKpartylist

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClickPartylist

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/clickpartylist/

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Youtube: https://bit.ly/CLICKPARTYLIST

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/partylist-click-4b0016227/

Digital real estate selling made easy by Lumina Homes; commission rate increases 6%

Real estate is one of the few industries that thrived during the pandemic. But as with other sectors, only brands that can quickly adapt to full digitalization and drive online sales can see light in the post-pandemic world.

Lumina Homes, the ever-innovative housing brand for the middle-income Filipino, continues to be at the forefront of digital real estate selling.

Not only has the company become a go-to brand for homeowners and investors during the lockdowns, it has also been offering a unique opportunity for candidate sellers.

Aside from providing regular training and webinars about digitization in the real estate industry, Lumina continues to provide digital tools that make home selling easier to its partner sales network.

Lumina Homes Online

The one-stop-shop online reservation portal makes it simple for accredited brokers and sales agents to hold the preferred unit on behalf of their customers. Once the seller has reserved units in the available inventories for their clients, Lumina Homes will automatically send a reservation payment link to their email addresses.

An Interactive Project Map also allows both buyers and sellers to view Lumina Homes’ available units in the subdivision map. This gives them a better idea of the unit’s exact location within the subdivision, similar to how you reserve a plane or theater seat when making an online reservation.

Lumina Online University

Gone are the days when candidate sellers and partners travel to Lumina’s physical offices to formalize their training.

Today, they can receive their certifications in the comfort of their homes by attending Lumina Online University’s two-level learning course.

The Beginner's Course includes modules about the Fundamentals of Lumina Homes and Lumina Online Training System Guide, while the Advanced Course includes modules about Recruitment and Training, Facebook Marketing, and Digital Marketing.

Sellers’ Portal

All the mentioned digital tools can be accessed through the Lumina Sellers’ Portal—everything a seller needs to know about Lumina Homes’ condo units or house and lot packages. It’s also where sellers can track upcoming events and activities, promos, and ongoing sellers’ incentives. They can also check pricing updates, view maps, see a complete directory of Lumina offices and site locations nationwide.

Lumina Homes takes pride in introducing these sellers’ portal even before the pandemic happened, a proof of its forward-thinking characteristic that it wishes to extend to its sellers.

As such, site visits or trippings are easily scheduled online, which can also be done through 3D virtual tours, to the excitement of interested homeseekers during the lockdowns.

Virtual Tours and Online Appointments

Lumina is equipped with a virtual 360-degree house tour of its best-selling homes, so sellers and homebuyers can have a walk-through of their home models online. Homeseekers, with the assistance of their brokers or agents, can easily search for their dream home through Lumina's digital solutions. They can choose from virtual home and subdivision tours, book online appointments, and pay through digital wallets and digital banking.

Lumina Homes’ official website, www.lumina.com.ph is an effective venue to explore its best-selling home models in 3D: Angelique at 35 square meters with two-bedroom and one carport provision, and Angeli at 42 square meters with three-bedroom and one carport provision.

There’s also a virtual tour of Lumina’s signature showcase area, which offers a preview of a Lumina Homes community.

Earn more at Lumina Homes

Lumina Homes has recently increased the commission rate by 6% for its partner sales network, on top of other perks and promos, such as “Complete It to Win It,” where sellers can get additional cash incentives as they guide their buyers through the homeownership journey.

Be an accredited seller of Lumina Homes today! Register at https://sellers-portal.lumina.com.ph/accreditation or contact (0917) 629-6523. 

New Year, New Food Discoveries

Meal preparation may seemingly be a daunting task year on year, but have no fear. There’s always room for new food discoveries and hacks. Foodies and homemakers alike are always on the lookout for something different yet easy to prepare and definitely, palate and tummy pleasers. A great break from having delivered meals! Make part of your New Year’s resolution to try out these new, life-easing products in the market by San Miguel Foods.

Go Veega. For vegans, try familiar comforts such as Veega’s meat-free Tapa and Tocino, which are fully cooked and completely free of animal meat and by-products. For flexitarians, there are Korean-inspired faves such as Meat-free and ready-to-eat Bulgogi and Spicy Soy Garlic Balls. You’ll never miss out on flavor with these meat-free wonders.

Breakfast thy will be done. Rethink about skipping breakfast with perfect breakfast mates, Purefoods Deli Breakfast Sausage and Purefoods Beef Bacon. They are so good, you”ll truly want more. And beyond breakfast, these delicious products can also be served in a lot of ways.

Create “chicken’’ na chicken meals. Make meal preparation a breeze in 2022 with freshly marinated and ready-to-cook Chicken Timplados. Prepping meals can be done in minutes with any of these easy chicken sarap variants- Magnolia Ready-to-Cook Fried Chicken, BBQ, Tocino, Teriyaki, Spicy Fried Chicken, Oriental Wings, Spicy Wings, Inasal and Roasters (marinated whole chicken) in Lemon Herb and Smoked Pepper. The menu will never be boring with the selection of variants cooked as is or leveled up with some twists.

Develop a Pasta-stic Habit. Have pasta anytime with Purefoods Spaghetti Sauce. Just reheat and toss in cooked noodles or level up with addition of some ingredients. Either way, you’ll get consistent, satisfying pasta sauce each time.

Make meal preparation and dining with the family an enjoyable food adventure, even allowing enough me time in-between with these new discoveries.

Also, check out www.homefoodie.com for recipe ideas with these products!

Lumina Homes, digitally ready to accommodate OFWs home investment

The country is recovering from the pandemic, and it’s a great kick-off for the year 2022! With an insight of more substantial growth this year, it’s a good opportunity for the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) to have their hard-earned money invested in real estate and finally gift their families the dream home they’ve wished for.

Pandemic or not, OFWs continue to be modern-day heroes. They continue to pour out their energy, heart, and soul to give their families a good life in exchange for being physically away, especially during family occasions.

Digitally ready

To salute the invaluable contribution and sacrifice of OFWs, Lumina is giving back the love by being digitally ready in accommodating the housing queries of OFW home seekers.

Lumina Homes has partnered with RCBC Telepay and Optimum Exchange Remit Inc. so OFWs can conveniently settle payments and transact even abroad.

It also takes pride in having a dedicated international sales team that can accommodate inquiries 24/7 through WhatsApp and Viber at +63 999 887 3011 or via the Lumina Homes official website.

Even before the pandemic struck, Lumina has always been committed to provide a hassle-free homeownership journey and safe communities for Filipino families. It has been at the forefront of digital real estate selling to ensure a faster way of home-selling and home-owning.

Lumina Homes, a leading housing developer in the Philippines, offering affordable house and lot packages and condominiums with easy-on-the-pocket payment terms. It was recently recognized by Best Startup Asia as the Top Real Estate Company in the Philippines for its innovations and being at the forefront of digital real estate transactions.

Lumina now proudly features an online reservation system, online payment portal, online appointment portal, Lumina e-Services app for mobile and desktop, 360-degree house model virtual tours, interactive site development map, and other digital innovations for aspiring homeowners. They are also the first real estate brand to open Facebook, Instagram, and Viber shopping carts.

Nine years since it started, Vista Land’s Lumina Homes has always been dedicated to provide Filipino families with safe, high-quality but reasonably priced homes to call their own.

Lumina Homes Division Head, Engr. Joemi Tan affirms: “We, in Lumina Homes, earned the trust of many by constantly looking out for our homeowners’ best interests, ensuring a considerable return on their investment in the form of passive income or providing safe and secure easy-to-own homes for their family.”

The developer offers generously sized two-storey home models for growing families, such as:

• Angelique Townhouse, a 35 sq.m. floor area and 36 sq.m. lot area with provision for two bedrooms

• Athena Single Firewall, a 53 sq.m. floor area and 63 sq.m. lot area with three bedrooms

• Adriana Townhouse, a 44 sq.m. floor area and 36 sq.m. lot area with provision for three bedrooms

• Armina Single Firewall, a 42 sq.m. floor area, and 54 sq.m. lot area with three bedrooms

• Angeli Townhouse, a 42 sq.m. floor area and 36 sq.m. lot area with provision for three bedrooms

Lumina properties are located close to transport hubs, schools, major thoroughfares, hospitals, and business and leisure centers. Making it accessible for OFWs and their families in terms of work, entertainment, and other vital needs.

These properties also ensure a safe and secure environment with its eco-friendly solar lights to keep the streets illuminated at night, built-in 24/7 CCTV coverage, and fully secured perimeter fences and gated communities.

These communities are spread across the country, and OFWs can choose from key locations, namely, Pangasinan, La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac,Rizal, Bulacan, Batangas, Laguna, Cavite, Quezon, Camarines Norte, Albay, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Sorsogon, Iloilo, Capiz, Zamboanga del Sur, Bukidnon, South Cotabato, Agusan del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Davao del Norte, and Davao del Sur.

Apart from all of these, Lumina also offers an array of amenity center called eSpacio in its gated communities. It features Lumina’s well-loved multi-purpose hall, a designated shuttle terminal, and a night-market-inspired Tambayan ni Juan, surrounded by open spaces, edible gardens, play areas, and a jogging path.

The community center also includes provision for essential offices like barangay and health centers, daycare, and a senior citizen center.

Investing in Lumina offers OFWs an opportunity to earn a low-maintenance source of income since the units can also be leased. They can even choose from their comprehensive catalog of ready-for-occupancy (RFO) units.

Whether to fulfill the family’s dream home or start a real estate investment and finally come home to the Philippines, Juans abroad will always have the best home deals with Lumina Homes.

For more information, visit https://www.lumina.com.ph/. Like and follow @luminahomesofficial on Facebook or contact 0917-629- 6523.

FBN 10th Annual Christmas Party: A fun-filled and meaningful day

The Filipino Bloggers Network (FBN), one of the most active Philippine-Based community of bloggers and influencers in the country, held its 10th Annual Christmas Party virtually last December 12.

FBN currently has almost 2,000 members around the country and continues to expand as it provides a venue for Filipino bloggers to interact with other members even those based overseas. Moderating the discussions and posting opportunities from several brands are co-admins Divine RC and Richard Mamuyac and Lariza Garcia.

The yearly event serves as a venue to reacquaint with fellow members around the country, celebrate the holiday season, and create great new memories. Just like last year, the gathering was conducted online and live-streamed within the official FBN group page. Aside from the exciting prizes given away during the virtual games and raffle draws, a couple of members received financial assistance to support them in their family medical emergency. Indeed, it was both a fun-filled and meaningful day at the same time.

Different PR groups and brands and individual sponsors were acknowledged during the event for supporting the online community in 2021 and hopefully for more years to come. This year’s virtual event is made possible by the following generous donors:

PR Partnerss - CAT PR, i55 Talent Hose, Page One, M2.0 Communications, Comm&Sense, ROAR Agile, GPS TV, Full Circle, Pro Communications Inc. Pro Solutions, Full Circle, and Ripple 8.

Brand and Individual sponsors - Pacific Sunrise, Goodah!, Cebuana Llhuillier, Glorious Blend, Rex Education, Gur Lavi Corporation (Telavi); Dyna Drug Corporation, Diana Stalder, Sagada Harvest, Stevia Natural Sweetener, a number of fellow FBN members and public servants like Rep. Eric Yap of ACT-CIS partylist, Rep. Joey Salceda (2nd District of Albay), Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento (1st District of Samar). Rep. Mike Defensor of Anakalusugan partylist, General Guillermo Eleazar, Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and Deputy Commissioner Randy Escolango of the Philippine Insurance Commission.

With the great support and opportunities that FBN received this year from partners companies and brands, the group is looking forward to more campaigns and activities that members can join and engage within the coming new year.

Let us claim that 2022 will be a better year for all of us. Cheers for more success and blessings!

Celebrity chef Tatung Sarthou to release two new books

 

Two new cookbooks from Chef Tatung!

Celebrity chef Tatung Sarthou rings in the holiday season bearing gifts for everyone. The author-restaurateur is releasing not one but two follow-ups to his bestselling Simpol The Cookbook.

First in the back-to-back release is Simpol Kitchen Secrets, a guidebook on cooking skills and techniques. Here, Chef Tatung breaks down the fundamentals of culinary arts for everyone’s easy reference. It is told through over 100 recipes, 200 kitchen tips, and 600 colored photos and artwork.

The second is Baking Simpol, a cookbook with 100 recipes for desserts, breads, and pastries. Chef Tatung, who has earned praises for his innovative takes on dessert classics such as bibingka cheesecake, tsok-Nut cake, and pichi-pichi with torched queso de bola topping, lays down the art, crumb by crumb, to satisfy your sweet tooth any time, any day.

“’Yung culinary knowledge natin it belongs to the people. Kasi hindi naman orihinal na ideya na nanggaling sa akin. Hindi naman siya kaalaman na ako ‘yung nakadiskubre,” says Chef Tatung.

“Kung ako natutunan ko siya dahil may mga taong nagturo sa akin, may mga taong nag-share sa akin, bakit ko ipagkakait sa tao na matuto din?”

So, for those who are looking to elevate their Christmas feast or just searching for the perfect Secret Santa gift, Chef Tatung has you covered just in time.

A perfect gift for loved ones who love to cook, or for yourself!

Simpol Kitchen Secrets will be out by November 30. This shall be followed by Baking Simpol two weeks later. Both books will be available locally and abroad through Lazada, Shopee, Amazon US, Amazon Canada, Amazon SG, and eBay.

The two titles shall be published under Vertikal Books, a boutique press specializing in the creative nonfiction genre, specifically culinary content.

Simpol Kitchen Secrets and Baking Simpol shall be the fifth and sixth books penned by Chef Tatung. His previous works have won the prestigious World Gourmand Awards in Paris, France. Last October, two of his bestselling books, Rice to the Occasion: Kanin to Kakanin and Simpol: The Cookbook, were also featured in the Frankfurt Book Fair, one of the largest and oldest trade fairs for books and content in the world.

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Dianne Medina with son Joaquin

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Dani Barretto with daughter Millie

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