SM SUPERMALLS event for gaming, CARGILL PH award, PANDESAL F

Oct 14, 2023

SM Supermalls was recently transformed into a haven for gaming enthusiasts, toy collectors, and pop culture aficionados. The exciting event brought together the worlds of e-sports, cosplay, and toys, captivating attendees in an unforgettable experience. The event commenced with an explosive e-sports extravaganza where skilled gamers battled, captivating the audience with their intense matches and electrifying gameplay.

A captivating life-size toy display in collaboration with TOYCON PH transported visitors to a realm of imagination and nostalgia. Larger-than-life replicas of beloved characters created an immersive experience, uniting toy enthusiasts and collectors in their shared appreciation for pop culture icons at the SM Mall of Asia

A unique partnership with the Canva app introduced an educational facet to the event. Canva Negosyantrends 2023, hosted at the Music Hall, explored the latest trends in business and design, empowering attendees with knowledge on crafting captivating digital graphics.

Culminating the festivities, the spotlight shone on cosplayers during the Cosplay Competition as they unveiled their creativity and craftsmanship in a highly anticipated competition. Attendees transformed into characters from movies, anime, comics, and video games, captivating the audience with their exceptional portrayals.

And it’s not too late for a gadget upgrade! The Great Gadget Sale runs until today, August 31. Discover the hottest gadgets and cutting-edge technology at SM participating malls at unbeatable prices, and experience a world of innovation like never before.

Cargill Philippines is proud to announce its first ever award at the esteemed HR Asia’s Best Companies to Work for in Asia awards, recognizing the company’s exceptional commitment to putting people first and creating a dynamic workplace where employees discover their purpose and make meaningful contributions.

The HR Asia Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2023 award recognizes companies that have been identified by their employees as one of Asia’s employers of choice and ascertains the best employers to work for in terms of employee engagement and workplace excellence.

The Cargill’s Gravitas Project is a year-long intensive development program which accelerates readiness of local talent to build a strong leadership pipeline across the company. It has not only produced a deep bench of ready-now talents but also resulted in a significant milestone: the appointment of the first female Country Business Leader in one of Cargill’s business units. Today, at Cargill Philippines, more than half of senior manager positions are filled by women and employees with disability have equal access to skills training and enjoy similar career development opportunities as everyone else.

To uplift and support employees, the company has in place flexible work arrangements to encourage work-life balance as well as culture initiatives such as our “Stay Well, Live Well” program. Carried out with the aim to enable employees to come with their best self to work, the program provides a holistic approach with varied activities, such as webinars, talks and game sessions to address and improve physical, financial, mental, and social wellness. This is in addition to the global rollout of Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) and Employee Disaster Relief Funds (EDRF) which demonstrate the company’s unwavering support for its workforce during challenging times.

The July 28 “Pandesal Forum,” in the 84-year-old Kamuning Bakery in Quezon City, welcomed health and economic experts to dissect the proposed increase in excise tax on sweetened beverages. The forum sought to understand why diabetes and obesity rates in the country continue to rise despite efforts to reduce consumption of sweetened beverages through the excise tax.

Data for diabetes rates in the Philippines shows that while the per capita consumption of sweetened beverages has decreased significantly from 2015 to 2019, a decline most evident among urban households, still from 2013 to 2019, the number of Filipinos with borderline diabetes has more than doubled, translating to about 17.6 million people.

A member of the media forum, Dr. John Paulo Rivera, executive director of the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Andrew Tan Tourism Center, and chief economist of Oikonomia Advisory & Research, Inc., noted that it is important to discuss the proposal to increase excise taxes on sweetened beverages because of the impact it may have on inflation, particularly on food. He proposes that if the government would like to limit consumption of sweetened beverages, projects to help improve physical activity like public open spaces to counter diseases can be given focus.

The forum ended with the conclusion that, as the data shows, to help reduce obesity and diabetes rates, the solution lies not in taxation but in the need for proper diet and exercise.

Animal shelter owners and their volunteers and employees often dedicate their time and tireless efforts to providing a safe haven for animals in need. From providing their daily food to their medical needs and their refuge, shelter owners find joy in making sure animals receive the care they deserve.

Woofy, one of the pet food brands of Aboitiz’s Pilmico and Gold Coin Group, salutes the unsung animal welfare heroes through “Project Hero.” This initiative aims to recognize the different animal shelters across the country and, at the same time, encourage more pet owners to adopt from them.

As part of the campaign, “Woofy” will support animal shelters and those who will adopt animals. Additionally, “Woofy” will be showcasing their partner shelters’ inspiring stories and experiences.

As Project Hero aims to encourage more pet owners to adopt, they will provide successful adoptees with a kit that includes pet food samples from “Woofy” for dogs and “Tommy” for cats, helping the pets achieve their first step to better nutrition.

At present, “Woofy” has partnered with 31 animal shelters, and more than 23 pets have successfully found new homes. Animal lovers who can’t adopt may opt to donate via KINDer by Aboitiz where all proceeds will be given to partner animal shelters.

Held last August 24, the initiative saw DFC management and employees provide school supplies, including notebooks, writing and coloring materials, a variety of other supplementary materials to two hundred and thirty students of Malanday Elementary School in Marikina City, which was affected by recent typhoons.

Company employees also demonstrated their premium on early education by contributing in-kind items.

The undertaking seamlessly aligns with two pivotal Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations: “Quality Education” and “Reduce Inequalities,” both of which encapsulate the essence of sustainable development through proactive measures.

The Department of Education (DepEd) kicked-off this year’s Brigada Eskwela earlier this month.

Recognizing the potential for transformative impact, Digido and UnaCash are resolutely stepping forward to continuously establish positive change for community revitalization. Drawing upon the collaborative prowess of various teams across the company, the Brigada Eskwela program exemplifies the organization’s unity of purpose for societal welfare.

The convergence of volunteer efforts also underscores corporate entities’ ethical obligations to address pressing societal issues and generate positive impact. DFC is slated to roll out further initiatives as part of its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) plan.