Smart powers all-female esports league ‘Liga Adarna: Laban Para Sa Korona’ for COVID-19 initiatives

Mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) has teamed up with Eplayment Entertainment for ‘Liga Adarna: Laban Para Sa Korona,’ an all-female esports league running from Aug. 16 to Sept. 17, 2020 in support of COVID-19 initiatives.

Spearheaded by Eplayment Entertainment, the first esports multi-platform in the Philippines, the league features various esports and mobile gaming events including Valorant, DOTA 2, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang with a total of Php 140,000 cash prize pool and the coveted Liga Adarna Crown up for grabs.

5 ways to get hired during pandemic

Millions of Filipinos have lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 pandemic which means the competition for getting the job is much tougher as more candidates now eye for a single position. 

The situation has led to the rapid increase of the demand for alternative sources of income as the quarantine limits job opportunities on ground. There are 30 million job searches on Google as of April 2020. Furthermore, leading online job portal JobStreet.com says there has been search growth for freelance jobs (+709%), work from home (+514%), and part time jobs (+53%).

Teleperformance fosters vibrant people culture through global talent competition

Even during the pandemic, the passion and creativity of Filipinos shone through as Teleperformance Philippines, the leading global group in digitally integrated business services, gave their employees a chance to display their talents in a competition.

To showcase its diverse employees and to spread positivity during the crisis, Teleperformance organized the COVID-19 Fight Challenge, a global talent competition held virtually for its employees. 

In the local competition, the more than 47,500 employees of Teleperformance Philippines were encouraged to use their talents to express their feelings about their COVID-19 experiences and about what the future holds for all. Employees were able to submit in any of the four categories, namely, Music, Writing, Art, and Dance. Based on their originality, talent, and presentation, the judges shortlisted three finalists per category and announced the local champions via a Facebook Watch Party hosted by TV and radio personality Gino Quillamor.

LRMC’s ikotMNL app now with contact tracing feature and Sakay.ph navigation

LRT-1 private operator and maintenance provider, Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), continues to pioneer digitalization for rail transport and find ways to enhance the commuting experience in Metro Manila.

Using the ikotMNL mobile app, LRT-1 passengers on trains and at the stations may activate the contact tracing feature via Bluetooth LE technology that allows detection of other passengers nearby. The contact tracing feature is automated, anonymous, and privacy-first by design. With the integration of this feature, LRT-1 passengers who may have come into close proximity with a fellow passenger who reports or tags himself later on as diagnosed positive with COVID-19 will be notified by government authorities when the respective contact tracing procedure begins. This is part of LRMC'S initiatives to keep reassuring the public of a safe railway, as well as help government authorities in fighting further spread of COVID-19 by addressing the challenges of manual contact tracing and providing safe and anonymous log interactions. 

Students Raise Funds for COVID-19 Emergency Response in World Vision’s 5K Campaign Challenge

Students across the Philippines showed their support to the children and families affected by the pandemic by participating in World Vision’s 5K Campaign Challenge, a fundraising initiative for the benefit of the child-focused organization’s COVID-19 emergency response.

The 5K Campaign Challenge’s goal is to encourage the participating students to fundraise among their peers and relatives to help affected families receive cash support to buy their basic needs. 

Ensuring learning for young children amid the pandemic

Early childhood is a crucial stage in a child’s life. As a child grows from infancy up to eight years old, important connections are happening in the brain. Brain development progresses at a very rapid pace in the first few years of life, and at three years of age, a child’s brain is twice as active as an adult brain. This is a very special time that will never happen again. 

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, young children are staying at home without access to daycare. This can have longer lasting consequences among very young children as the unfolding overwhelming circumstances affect their brain. This can lead to toxic stress among children, which produces high levels of cortisol, a stress hormone that disrupts the process of brain development by limiting the proliferation of brain cells, damaging health, learning and behavior. But even as schools and day care centers remain closed, parents and caregivers can continue young children’s learning at home.  

Visiting a doctor amid pandemic: If symptoms persist, don’t hesitate

The widespread panic and fear generated by COVID-19 have brought the world to a grinding halt with authorities imposing quarantine protocols.  

The pandemic has caused many Filipinos to hesitate to visit doctors’ clinics primarily due to the fear of contracting the virus outside their homes. Medical practitioners are now conducting teleconsultations or virtual consultations, allowing patients to have access to doctors through phone or video calls to mitigate the situation.

Leading People Today

The COVID-19 pandemic was an unforeseen crisis that brought unprecedented uncertainty to companies globally. One such challenge is leading employees in a time of great upheaval. Companies have struggled with huge changes in their day-to-day operations as they tried to balance business continuity with the health and safety of their employees. 

In a recent webinar held by the British Chamber of Commerce, Jeffrey Johnson, Senior Vice President for Human Capital Resource Management of Teleperformance Philippines, shared several tips on how companies can adapt to this new normal in a way that would help motivate and ensure the wellness of their employees. 

Gearing up for 5G: What’s real and What’s not

One of the next big things in technology is finally starting to be implemented around the world, but as the mobile tech scene gears up for 5G, it’s unavoidable for some conspiracy theories to surface -- from the simplest to the more peculiar ones. What’s the real deal about 5G? Globe will debunk  five myths that surround the latest wireless technology.

Myth 1: 5G is related to the spread of coronavirus disease 2019.

The global health pandemic, that is the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and 5G are in no way related to each other. The theories that supported this were COVID-19 and 5G became a hot topic for the world almost at the same time and that both are related to China.  However, these aren’t enough to prove such claims that 5G can be a method to spread the disease.

Caring for customer service agents amidst the pandemic

“Working during the pandemic is so risky.  But it’s worse if we just stay at home and there’s no food to eat.  My house is so far from my work.  There’s no jeep so I have to walk.  Thankfully, during the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine), the company offered to house us so we can still work and have a salary.  And the company provided us allowances and hazard pay and free meals.  I am content but worried,” narrated Fatima Perido, an employee of a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) unit in Cebu City who works as a Globe customer service representative.

Fatima, like many call center agents, continues to brave the threat of the virus in order to survive and feed her family.  But despite her difficult circumstances, other call center agents have it worse.  The challenges that COVID-19 brought has prompted some of Globe’s BPO partners to close or limit their operations, drastically cutting down to less than 40% the manpower supporting Globe’s customer operations for both its hotline and social media channels.

PLDT-Smart gears up for a more meaningful, flexible learning experience

The start of the schoolyear in the Philippines is an event that parents and their school-age kids await with plenty of excitement and bits of anxiety. This year, however, with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) still lurking in our midst, apprehension overshadows anticipation.

Blended/Distance learning was proposed by the Department of Education (DepEd) as an alternative to the traditional face-to-face classes in a physical school. An educational strategy that enables students to attend learning sessions in the safety of their homes, the Blended/Distance learning can be managed through printed modules being delivered to the homes of students or picked up by their parents; online learning resources such as the DepEd Commons; and television or radio-based instruction.

PLDT partners with PBSP to provide food packs and vitamins to families in Malabon and Cebu

Philippines – PLDT Inc. recently donated food supplies and vitamins to over 1,000 families in Cebu City and Malabon City adversely affected by the COVID-19 in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP).

"Urban poor families are some of the most vulnerable at any given time, more so in this period of uncertainty and hardship. Thank you to PLDT for choosing to allocate its Motolite PBSP Balik-Baterya funds to support our COVID-19 campaign. The provision of food packs is incredibly important in minimizing the adverse impact of job losses and suspended economic activities. Our communities are grateful for PLDT's generosity and solidarity," said PBSP Deputy Executive Director Elvin Ivan Y. Uy.

McDonald’s Philippines reinforces commitment on safety

The brand also introduces more convenient ways to order and enjoy food  

As the country remains under quarantine and as consumers continue to be extra careful with their safety, McDonald’s Philippines remains committed to find ways for Filipinos to continue enjoying their McDonald’s favorites, in the restaurant as well as in their homes.

With the recent resumption of dine-in services, McDonald’s Philippines has shared how they have elevated their commitment to quality, service, safety and cleanliness with stringent policies for both their customers and employees.

QuaranTalks: Pandemic Panic!

I said 2020 will be an epic year.

2020 was a year of exciting times. I even spent the first new year of the new decade in a different country. We got to celebrate it with my family in a amusement park complete with a concert and fireworks. Though accidentally my phone dropped and some of the screen had cracks. It was still working yet not as flawless as before. However, it seems to be an omen of an upcoming dangers as I started the year.

I thought that the year would be just like any year with some exciting parts. But even at the start of the year we are already shocked with news such as wildfires in Australia, the threat of war in the Middle East, and even the eruption of Taal Volcano. Both natural and man-made events stir worry to many, and I have to admit that those things scare me too.

But then came the next months and now being introduced with viral disease of COVID-19, prompted many countries into lockdowns, quarantines, and other strict measures. With the disease infecting fast and is also lethal, abrupt closure of businesses, work, and school was enforced. 

Globe services and assistance package for COVID-19 reaches P1.3B

During the first three months of the pandemic, Globe Telecom was able to come up with over P1.3 billion in combined services and assistance package for COVID-19.  This consists of support for Globe employees and vendor partners, services and promos, external fund-raising efforts, and monetary and in-kind donations.

The bulk of the amount went to salaries and benefits which Globe continued to provide even to managed service partners and vendor employees to help ensure their safety, health, and well-being as well as their families. Globe currently holds weekly rapid antibody testing of all its frontliners and has contributed to the AC Health COVID-19 facility to accommodate its workforce and their families who may contract the virus. 

How to Ride Safely amid COVID-19 Pandemic

The government recently relaxed the community quarantine guidelines, which gradually reopens up the economy. Thousands of workers are finally allowed to go to their offices, provided they follow strict health and safety protocols.

Although public transport will be operational, still, there are lots of limitations to ensure social distancing among passengers. For instance, in the National Capital Region (NCR), the resumption of public transport systems will be done in two phases, says the Department of Transportation (DoTR). 

Technology for good - Fundraising goes social

In the new normal, doing good is much more digital. 

In this time of COVID, many millennials are showing their support for the country’s health workers by using social media to raise funds for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as face masks, face shields and hazmat suits.

A eureka moment 

Last March, five friends in Quezon City got together in a eureka moment to start a PPE fund drive for the country’s frontline healthcare workers. With the help of friends, families and kind strangers, they have raised over P3.2 million as of April 28, 2020. 

World Vision keeps children’s dreams alive thru Give Hope campaign

Since the start of this year, the Philippines has been facing one great hurdle after another. Despite the gravity, Filipinos have been known to deal with problems head on.

It has been three months since the government has declared community quarantine in most cities and provinces in the Philippines. As the country continues to fight its battle against COVID-19, issues increase as more sectors of society become affected by this health crisis. One of the most pressing issues now is how to continue the learning and development of the children and youth at a time of a pandemic.

Mastercard builds on COVID-19 response with commitment to connect 1 billion people to the digital economy by 2025

In this time of crisis, Mastercard has expanded its worldwide commitment to financial inclusion by pledging to bring a total of 1 billion people and 50 million micro and small businesses into the digital economy by 2025. As part of this effort, there will be a direct focus on providing 25 million women entrepreneurs with solutions that can help them grow their businesses. 

The impact of COVID-19 has made it even more pressing to support inclusive growth in Asia Pacific, which is home to 60 percent of the world’s population and the fastest-growing economic region. In an update in April, the World Bank said 24 million fewer people will escape poverty across the East Asia Pacific region this year than would have without the pandemic.  

‘Keeping safe while mobilising’: Children and young people step up amidst the COVID-19 pandemic – World Vision research report

Amidst these challenging times, children and young people expressed high sense of social responsibility to fight the spread of COVID-19 in their respective communities while complying with lockdown measures, research report by World Vision finds.

The research ‘Children’s voices in times of COVID-19: Continued child activism in the face of personal challenges’ consulted over 100 children and young people in 13 countries to understand the various ways the health pandemic affected them and the actions they have taken to respond to the crisis.