Fitness enthusiasts of all ages got together for a fun Sunday morning of swim, bike, run at the first HMO-powered triathlon, MediCard’s Sprint Tri, in Fontana Leisure Park in Clark, Pampanga.

The triathlon included a 600-m swim, 20-km bike, and 5-km run. Athletes took several laps in the Olympic-sized pool and went on to a one-loop bike course around the Clark grounds, and a single-loop run on the rolling paths of the resort. It also featured a relay category for family, friends, or teammates.

Joining the event were MediCard president Dr. Nicky Montoya and COO Atty. Jon S. Montoya to advocate for a healthy and active lifestyle and to further show their dedication towards providing accessible healthcare to Filipinos.

“This is one of the best ways to encourage everyone – from little kids to adults, even the more senior ones – to exercise and move,” said MediCard president Nicky Montoya.

Participants of all ages finished strong with Adrian Thomas Dionisio nabbing the top spot of the 15-17 age group as he clocked in at 1:07:46, while Ian Banzon from the women’s category topped the 35-39 age group as she finished at 1:19:53.

Through the MediCard Sprint Tri, many beginner athletes were able to start achieving optimal health while having fun.

Ever Bilena chief executive officer Dioceldo Sy was recently awarded as the Regus Entrepreneur of the Year during the 2018 Asia CEO Awards. The Asia CEO Awards is the largest business awards event in the Philippines and in Southeast Asia that recognizes extraordinary leaders who have demonstrated outstanding achievement for their organizations and contributions to others.




This award is testament to Ever Bilena’s dedication to bring affordable and high-quality beauty products to Filipinas. The country’s leading cosmetics company headed by Sy continues to grow since its establishment. Photo shows Dioceldo Sy and Ever Bilena chief operating officer Siliman Sy.

Pawning has been an industry that is synonymous with augmenting the needs of majority of Philippine households. In a study released by Ken Research Private Ltd in April 2016, it is identified that 90% of the Philippine household subsist on less than $10 a day, making pawnshops a viable and trusted option for individuals in need of immediate cash.

With more than 17,000 pawnshop branches in the country today, pawning provides individuals with easy and accessible solutions to immediate cash needs of the common Filipino.1

In spite the massive scale and the length of reach of the business, pawning is an industry that often struggles with the negative connotation that it preys on the needs of the destitute and the middle-class. There is also a connotation that pawning items is for those who are truly desperate for cash, while others worry on the safety and security of their pawned items.

Contrary to these misconceptions, Philippine pawnshops are highly professional organizations that follow strictest code of operations, based on the guidelines set by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and complies the strictest requirements on corporate governance as set by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).

In fact, pawnshops has become one of the biggest supporters of BSP’s program in promoting microfinancial services as a means of providing access to the poor and to micro and small entrepreneurs financial access, something that is not otherwise possible via banks and bigger financial organizations.2

Jean Henri Lhuillier, president & CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, the country’s largest microfinancial services provider, was quick to dispel the preconceived notions that come with pawning. Lhuillier helms the lead in Cebuana Lhuillier, an organization that proudly positions itself as “a business with a social mission of financial inclusion.”

“Pawning has become instrumental in changing the lives of many Filipinos – thanks to its capability to immediately ease and assuage a financial burden. As someone who has grown with the country’s number one pawnshop brand, I have personally witnessed many success stories made possible by pawning—from a mother who sends her children to school, made possible by a few heirloom pieces; to an enterprising young man who got his first business capital by pawning. Pawning proved to be the fastest and easiest means to get access to cash – this can be traced back to the days of ancient China and even to day and age of computers and technical advancements, the value of pawning does not change or diminish, especially when it moves and evolves with the changing of the times,” Lhuillier said.

Here’s how pawnshops is evolving with the times as a means to address the common misconceptions in pawning:


Strictest quality check for pawned items – pawnshops follow a strict guideline before they accept pawned items. Branch personnel are trained appraisers and follows strict regulations from BSP. Contrary to a common misconception that pawnshops accept stolen jewelries, pawnshop personnel are trained to work together with law enforcement agencies to prevent this from happening.


Fast, efficient pawning process – In some pawnshops, the whole pawning process is done and over in five minutes. Pawnshops employ a dedicated lane for pawning clients and has adapted well to technology by putting modern systems in place to make sure the pawning process is easy, quick and efficient.


Putting utmost value and care for pawned items – To ensure the safety of the pawned items, strict security process are followed – from the opening to closing of the branch, to the placement of CCTV cameras and guards stationed in place.


Pawnshops are modern one-stop shop for microfinancial services – The pawnshop branches of today are bright, safe, air-conditioned offices that functions as a one-stop shop for its client’s microfinancial needs. For example, Cebuana Lhuillier, the largest pawnshop chain in the Philippines, is also considered as the country’s leading provider of microfinancial services. The company supports and actively campaigns the financial inclusion program of the government and has set services in place that answers the financial needs of the vast majority of Filipinos, particularly the underbanked and unbanked.


Exceptional customer service in place– Understanding the value of pawned items left in its care, more established pawnshops usually has its own customer service team in place to handle queries and concerns. One good example of this is Cebuana Lhuillier’s 24K Card which serves as a loyalty card, eCard and money card all at the same time.


1 https://businessmirror.com.ph/technology-economy-boost-pawnshops-in-phl/


2 http://www.bsp.gov.ph/about/advocacies_micro_facts.asp#7

Now on its sixth year, the annual Get Together party of the Filipino Bloggers Network (FBN) together with Metrobuzz Bloggers has become bigger and brighter with more sponsors and partners giving their support to two of the most active blogger groups in the country today.

Salu, a popular Filipino cuisine in Quezon City, will be hosting this year’s gathering of bloggers and online influencers on January 05.

FBN and Metrobuzz members anticipate the annual gathering as an opportunity to make new friends and catch up with old pals they have not seen for a while. Representatives of different PR groups and brands will also grace the event to personally thank members of the online community who have supported them in the past years.

FBN currently has almost 2,000 members and continue to expand as it provides a venue for Filipino bloggers from around the Philippines to interact with other members from different parts of the country. Moderating the discussions and posting opportunities from several brands for the Filipino Bloggers Network are co-admins Divine RC and Richard Mamuyac and for MetroBuzz is Lariza Garcia.

This year’s celebration was supported by the following generous sponsors:

• PNP-NCRPO Chief Director General Guillermo Eleazar

BRANDS

Salu is an all authentic Filipino restaurant. A journey to more than 7,107 tastebud experience.

SvelT’i Slim, Trim & Gleam provides advanced health and beauty services using state of the art technology. They offer non-invasive body and skin rejuvenation therapies to improve body curvatures and reverse the signs of aging.

• 

Fujidenzo Home and Commercial Appliances combine style and performance to meet the high demands of fast-paced living. Taking into account the high cost of living and non-stop surge of prices of commodities, Fujidenzo Appliances are designed to give quality performance at the most consumer-friendly prices. With Fujidenzo, you get the latest features and technologies all within the budget of the average Filipino household.

Cowboy Grill has been the for LIVE BANDS, GREAT FOOD, and UNIQUE EXPERIENCE for over 15 years. They have the wide range selection of mouth watering menu that suits every appetite and various mixed alcoholic drinks, beverages and other liquors.

Dermcare Professional Skin, Hair and Spa has been in the beauty and wellness industry for 30 years, offering quality of products and services. Among its noteworthy services are whitening facials, anti-aging and pimple treatments, hair coloring and rebonding services, eyelash extensions, body scrubs, hair and spa massage. Dermcare has over 115 branches nationwide.

Novelina is an industry leader in the production of powder and cream hair color. At the same time, it also carries its professional line of hair care products which includes cream hair color, shampoo, conditioner, and rebonding formulas. Novelina is also the OEM manufacturer of hair-color for two of the world’s largest and most prestigious hair-dye brands being marketed in countries such as Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, China, North and South America, as well as the Middle East.

Sinalco is popular quality German cola beverage which is now being sold in 50 countries worldwide. It has a wide assortment of beverage products (carbonated soft drinks, natural fruit juice, ice-tea, non-alcoholic beer, sports drink, mineral water). In the Philippines EURO INTERBEV CORPORATION was awarded the exclusive license by SINALCO International Brands GmbH & Co. KG based in Duisberg, Germany to import, sell and produce Sinalco products. Two of Sinalco’s best drinks are Sinalco Cola 330 ml – a high quality carbonated softdrinks that has an extraordinary cola flavor and contains the natural aroma of caramel, natural colourings and refreshing carbon dioxide; and Sinalco Special 330 ml - a high quality carbonated fruit flavour soft drink that has an extraordinary flavor and contains combination of four fruit flavours in one can, natural colourings and refreshing carbon dioxide.

Cebuana Lhuillier is the Philippines’ leading and largest non-bank financial services provider specializing in pawning, remittance, and micro-insurance.

PR PARTNERS

FuentesManila is one of the few full-service PR agencies in the Philippines. While publicity remains its core service, FuentesManila provides the following services to its clients: Publicity, Special Events, Online Publicity, Advertising, Media Monitoring, Creatives & Graphic Design and Digital PR.

LeapOut is a digital marketing agency that works directly with brands and mid-size businesses in developing digital strategy and campaign execution. The agency's services include the following:

• SEO
• Search engine marketing
• Social media marketing and management
• Programmatic advertising
• Video advertising
• Web and app development
• Digital creative services

Get in touch with LeapOut at tel (02)750 7630 or email accounts@leapoutdigital.com.

MAAPR Information Technology Solutions is a media marketing consultancy owned by Marlon Aldenese and established last August 2015. Email Marlon at marlon.aldenese@wnot.com.ph.

Strategic Works, Inc. works with the possibility of making an idea come to life as they spot the hot buttons that unlock consumers’ hearts and brand success. They do Public Relations, Creative Services, Activations, Events Management, Digital Marketing and Advocacy and Social Marketing.

DDB Group Philippines is a full-service communications group composed of award-winning advertising, digital, media, activation, and PR agencies. Over the years, the group has made a mark in local and international markets by creating cutting-edge solutions for a diverse portfolio of local and multinational clients. The group lives by one philosophy…CREATIVITY is the most powerful force in business.

Perceptions, Inc. is a public relations company that provides PR counselling and various corporate and marketing communications services to business and industrial organizations, government institutions as well as trade and professional associations.

CID Communication is a leading and pioneering public relations firm in the Philippines. The work with companies locally and abroad to design and implement effective communication campaigns to further an organization, individual, or a cause.

Full Circle Communications, Inc. (Full Circle) is a full-service public relations firm based in the Philippines. They have been working with clients to create proactive, ongoing public relations campaigns that generate positive press coverage. The company helps both established and budding companies attain and sustain positive and favorable image.

M2Comms understands that perfection doesn’t exist – but greatness does. Their team won’t waste your time by coming up with perfect plans that will be easily derailed by circumstance. For them, it’s better to execute now with a good plan and get immediate feedback. If the results are not good, they’re ready to own up to our mistakes and revise the plan. And if the results are good, they’ll improve the plan until the clients achieve greatness.

Havas Media Ortega is the first full-service media agency providing end-to-end solutions in the Philippines. It does not only offer the most complete and cohesive set of media services in the Philippines, it also aspires to provide clients work that is best in class in all the media channels on offer.

FleishmanHillard Manila works with many local and global leading companies seeking targeted growth by combining local strategic thinking with a powerful global network.  

EON Group is a regional communications consultancy delivering data-inspired and human-centered solutions that impact the businesses of their clients. The company aims to champion truth-telling as an instrument for meaningful and lasting change.

Green Bulb is an independent communications agency that develops campaigns for brands; a team of communication experts dedicated in delivering brand’s message and vision to the market.

i55 Talent House is a consultation agency which gather talents who would see the world differently, and help clients create valuable stories that would INFECT and INSPIRE. Their vision is to create a world where brands communicate REAL STORIES to inspire people, communities, economies, and the world.

Paperclip Communications is a group of consummate professionals who brings a personalized approach in servicing your requirements. They will customize their campaigns to precisely fit your needs. They will walk you through from the beginning to the end of the process, from initial conceptualization, project execution to post-project evaluation. More than just account managers or communication providers, they are reliable, committed partners towards your reaching growing levels of success through public relations, media & events managements.

Lorem Ipsum is a boutique marketing communications agency that swiftly gained impact and traction because of its experience, knowledge and relationships. It is a lean team gifted with drive and ferocity to develop and execute marketing and PR campaigns that are right on point, disruptive and relevant.

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Romblon Island, Philippines–January 2, 2019, — Striving to realize a sustainable society, Honda Motor Co. Ltd., developed the Mobile Power Pack which can charge renewable energy as power source for electric devices that are necessary for people’s daily lives, including electric mobility products. Honda is expanding its efforts toward the realization of “local generation and local consumption of energy” and a “carbon-free society” by combining technologies to “generate”, “get connected” and “use” for energy.




Last 2017, Honda has conducted the demonstration testing of the Mobile Power Pack in Asia, and in the Philippines is Romblon Island, located in the Southern Tagalog region, particularly near the islands of Mindoro, Marinduque, and Palawan. In Romblon, diesel power generation is the primary source of energy while it is therefore overly dependent on high-cost and high-CO2 energy. Aside from the fact that Romblon is also facing a challenge in ensuring stable power supply while accommodating electricity needs with large fluctuations in day-night demand.




For this demonstration testing, Komaihaltec which jointly conducted this testing with Honda, installed a wind power generator that generates clean energy. Honda installed an Exchanger where surplus electricity will be stored in the Mobile Power Packs to realize highly-efficient energy use, through which the two companies will strive to realize a reduction in CO2 emissions.




Soon in Romblon, Honda will utilize PCX ELECTRIC as an electric mobility product which can be installed with the Mobile Power Pack to collaborate with wind power generator as renewable energy source in the island.




The PCX ELECTRIC is an electric motorized scooter. Two Mobile Power Pack units enable the PCX ELECTRIC to travel up to 41km (60km/h steady state test) on a single charge. It maintains the PCX series’ easy-to-handle size and comfortable riding position to realize comfortable and elegant riding. It also maintains the advanced features such as the stylish All-LED lights, and Honda SMART Key System which allows the rider to unlock the main switch knob by simply approaching the scooter without removing the smart key from their garment.







Honda looks forward to the continuous innovation of its products to contribute to the creation of a sustainable and carbon-free environment.




For more information, visit https://hondaph.com/ or follow Honda’s official Facebook page at Honda Philippines, Inc.