5 Tips for Businesses to Achieve a Plastic Pollution-Free Christmas

Plastic pollution in the Philippines has already reached an alarming rate and continues to be one of the top environmental challenges for the country and the rest of the globe.

According to a report released by WWF-Philippines in 2020, Filipinos consume a yearly average of 20kg of plastics, from which 15.43kg/cap/year becomes waste. Insufficient recycling capacities for high value recyclables (i.e. PET, PP, HDPE) and the high volume of low value plastics (including sachets) are some factors that affect the country’s low plastic recycling rate, at 9%. The report further estimates that the Philippines leaks about 35% of plastic wastes into the environment.

With the economy slowly opening, WWF-Philippines encourages businesses to integrate plastic pollution-free practices to fight plastic pollution. Here are some useful tips for business owners on how they can participate in creating a plastic pollution-free Christmas this 2021.

Jhassy Busran teen star wins international acting awards

15-year-old pretty young miss, singer-actress Jhassy Busran makes the country proud by winning two international acting awards – the Jury Award Best of the Best Performance Short Film (Male or Female) at the 2021 International Film Festival Manhattan-New York and a best child actress award e at the Gully International Film Festival in India for her performance as young chil;d forced into hard labor in the film “Pugon” by Gabby Ramos.

A true artistic feat for a newcomer indeed since she does not belong to the roster of talents of a major television network or a star-maker talent management agency.

Jhassy’s name obviously comes from the fragrant flower that is jasmine, usually white or yellow, and thrives in the temperate regions of Eurasia and Oceania.

Born under the astrological sign of Virgo, this fifteen-year old 9th grader from the  Mission Christian School, declares the e King’s Language, English as her favorite school subject. On the side, she is a varsity player of their table tennis team.

Odette Relief Efforts with Tzu Chi Foundation

Tzu Chi Foundation, Digital Pilipinas, and industry
leaders discuss a strategic response to
Odette victims – and for future calamities.

Tzu Chi Foundation, industry leaders collaborate for strategic response to Odette victims 

Beyond donations, with preparations for future calamities

A week shy from Christmas, the devastation wrought by super typhoon Odette has leveled large parts of the central and southern Philippines, placing six regions under a state of calamity: Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Caraga. However, the lack of communications within the affected regions and the unpassable roads between the various towns have made the urgent distribution of assistance an enormous challenge. This prompted a call from and for business and NGO leaders to collaborate to get the communities back on their feet, as well as to form strategic responses for future calamities.

Golden Haven Memorial Parks Bags Two National Awards for 2021

Golden Haven is recognized as one of the premier
memorial parks that develop beautiful final
resting places in the country.

As Golden Haven looks back on the year, the developer takes great pride in its recent achievements with prestigious awards giving bodies. The leading developer recently received national awards from both the Q Asia’s Quality Excellence Awards and Philippine Top Choice Awards for Excellence & Outstanding Achievers.

Golden Haven is recognized as one of the premier memorial parks that develop beautiful final resting places in the country. Established in 1984, Golden Haven’s flagship project in Las Piñas offers memorial lots that vary in functions, sizes, and price points. The company commits to its mission of providing a place of refuge for recollecting memories of our departed loved ones while appreciating the lush greenery and beautifully themed landscapes. True also to its vision, Golden Haven gears up for vast expansion to have a themed memorial park in every hometown.

Bayad trains educators and students to become smart and responsible money managers

Bayad, the country’s trusted authority in payments, understands that financial management is a key life skill that everyone should develop. Learning all about money - how to earn, budget, save, and grow it is essential to lead Filipinos to a path of financial wellbeing and resilience.  

As such, Bayad partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) and Marylindbert International to roll out the Sapat Dapat Comprehensive School Program, a curriculum based financial literacy advocacy designed to equip teachers from the CALABARZON and Cebu regions with financial know-how learnings in student workbooks, modules and teaching guides. The end goal is to help educators to be able to competently impart to students knowledge and skills to make informed financial decisions in the future. 

Asticom launches 3rd subsidiary BRAD to revolutionize logistics technology and solutions in PH

Asticom Technology Inc., a shared services company under Globe, launches its third subsidiary, BRAD Warehouse and Logistics Services, Inc. BRAD provides end-to-end supply chain technology solutions to give customers the best logistics experience at an affordable price.

BRAD’s innovative and impactful business solutions are tailor-fit for different industries, including e-commerce, food and beverage, health and wellness, and telecommunications.  It allows enterprises to bring their products securely to the customers when and where they need them.

Essential workers, enjoy exclusive vouchers and discounts with the Shopee Bayanihan: Frontliner Holiday Package

Redeem exclusive deals from participating stores such as National Book Store, Tapa King, Moonleaf, Ultra Mega, and Shawarma Shack via ShopeePay’s Scan to Pay feature

The noche buena and gift-giving traditions are both huge parts of the Pinoy Christmas. However, let’s face it: the holidays can get costly. 

Since every peso counts, we always keep an eye out for exclusive deals to get the most out of our holiday budget. If you’re a frontliner, here’s a special treat—a way of saying "thank you" for your hard work. The Shopee Bayanihan: Frontliner Holiday Package offers an exclusive digital package that includes Shopee discount and free shipping vouchers, ShopeePay bills cashback vouchers, and discounts from participating merchants such as Ultra Mega Supermarket, Shawarma Shack, Moonleaf, Tapa King, and National Book Store until January 9, 2022. 

Level up your digital aguinaldo game with these surprisingly better features from PayMaya

This holiday season, PayMaya lets you easily send aguinaldo to your loved ones anytime, anywhere, and in any way you like with surprisingly better features than the e-wallet you’re used to.

Whether you’re sending funds to your inaanak’s PayMaya or bank account – or even those without any financial account, PayMaya is here to make your Christmas gift-giving more convenient and fun!  

Here are just some of the ways PayMaya can bring ease to your aguinaldo-sending this Christmas:   

bbno$ Releases Edamame (ft. Rich Brian) Diplo Remix’ Out Now

Today sees rising star bbno$ [baby-no-money] team up with Grammy award-winning DJ and producer Diplo to release the Edamame (ft. Rich Brian) Diplo Remix, out now via the bbno$ label in partnership with mtheory.

Listen to ‘Edamame (ft. Rich Brian) Diplo Remix’ here

Following the global success of the ‘Edamame’ ft. Rich Brian, which has amassed over 153m streams across DSPs, reached #78 on the Spotify Global Top 200 Chart, trended on both TikTok and Shazam with 505k+ creations and over 1.4m Shazams, as well as being championed by both Capital FM and BBC R1’s Jack Saunders as his ‘Tune of The Week’; bbno$ is back with a huge house remix of ‘edamame’ by Grammy award-winning DJ and producer Diplo. This hypnotic new remix sees Diplo transform the up-tempo and bouncy original into a club-ready house anthem. While bbno$ and Rich Brian’s deftly delivered vocals remain forefront, Diplo flips the production on its head adding a propulsive beat, echoed refrains, and pulsating bassline to create a whole new sonic atmosphere for the track.

Race against time in this Money Heist -themed Escape Room with Smart Signature and Mystery Manila

To extend the thrill of the epic season finale of Netflix’s hit original series Money Heist (La Casa De Papel), mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart), and game organizer Mystery Manila have teamed up once again to bring the themed virtual escape room called “The Professor’s Puzzle” for all fans of the show.

Experience the excitement and fun as you race against time in solving puzzles, answering riddles, and figuring out the clues left by The Professor to escape the heist in this virtual escape room. To make it more exciting, players who have the fastest time in solving the escape room can get a chance to win a 5G handset from Smart Signature.