The heat is on! Yes, because it's summer already and we know when summer strikes, but, for now I believe we're experiencing El Niño. So, it means hotter weather is everywhere and we don't have much choice or rather places to cool down.The only means we can lessen the heat is with the use of our appliances like air conditioning units, electric fans, and refrigerators. Of course this comes with depletion of our finances. Higher electric bills!

Fortunately, I was invited to an exclusive tour of the Meralco Power Lab, where we learned many ways to conserve energy. The Meralco Power Lab is a two-level, multipurpose facility that aims to provide customers with power-related information, such as testing and validation, comparisons of electricity-related technologies and practices. We learned that there are still many ways to reduce the amount paid for electric bills. Here are some highlights of the tour and tips for energy efficiency.

The Air Conditioner or AC is the most frequently used appliance during summer, particularly in the Philippines, where it is used all day long rather than just at night for a good night's sleep.

Here are some tips on using Aircon:

1. Choose the appropriate size of air conditioner for your room.

2. Make sure to check for air leaks as they can prolong the time it takes to cool down the room temperature.

3. To speed up the cooling process, you can use an electric fan, but ensure that the air conditioner is positioned directly facing the fan.  

4. Utilize the timer feature automatically turn off the air conditioner when the temperature becomes too cold, even while you're sleeping.

5. Regularly clean air conditioner to prevent it from accumulating dust, which can slow down the air ventilation and cooling process.

 

The Refrigerator is a major contributor to a household's energy consumption. It runs continuously, consuming electricity to maintain a cool temperature to preserve food and beverages.  

Below are some tips for utilizing your refrigerator efficiently.

1. Choose a refrigerator that suits the size of your home and the number of people living in it.

2. Ensure that there are no air leaks by checking if the door is properly sealed after closing it, to prevent wasting the cool temperature inside the refrigerator.

3. It is advisable to wait for warm food to cool down before placing it inside the refrigerator.

4. Refrain from putting too much stuff inside your refrigerator as it can obstruct air vents, resulting in a slower cooling process.

Use a DC Fan - DC stands for Direct Current Fan. A DC fan utilizes a transformer to convert the energy into direct current, which is a one-way current, thereby reducing the amount of power consumed.

Switching to LED Lights and installing motion sensor lights can significantly reduce your electricity bill.

Induction Cookers are a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative to gasul stoves. They are also safer, particularly for people with busy lifestyles.

Solar Panels are an effective solution for saving energy, particularly in remote areas with limited access to electricity. For greater savings, consider installing solar panels on your roof.

During the tour, we discovered the Meralco Appliance Calculator which enables tracking of the energy consumption of appliances on an hourly, daily, weekly, and a monthly basis. We will know how much energy our appliances consume, and we can use them properly to prevent an increase in our bills. We can also adjust the usage of our appliances according to our budget. 

They also presented to us their electric vehicles as part of Meralco's Green Mobility Program, aimed at lessening greenhouse gas emissions and promoting the country's shift to electrified transportation. The program intensifies endeavors towards sustainable modes of transportation, and more electric vehicles will soon be accessible as additional electric charging stations are continuously being established across the metro.

Meraco's subsidiary, eSakay, Inc. provides comprehensive EV and charging infrastructure solutions to institutional clients and the public. The company has charging stations within its compound that can accommodate all of its EVs.

 

According to them, EVs are supported by the  government, and many people over the country are already using them. EVs also provide significant help in reducing pollution caused by conventional vehicles.

Indeed, Meralco has shared a lot of information to help improve the way we live as Filipinos. Surely, next month, my Meralco bill will be lower. Thank you, Meralco, for the informative tour. 

 

 

 

 

Jam to the infectious songs of Filipino band Soapdish and acoustic singer Jaydee as they take the stage at the OPM Festival at Tiendesitas in Pasig City on May 13, 2023. The event is free for all attendees.

Tiendesitas has been a hub for homegrown artistry, from fashion to furniture pieces, making it an apt venue to showcase local musical talents to new and regular visitors.

Opening the show will be Jaydee, whose relaxing and emotional songs will tug at listeners’ heart strings.

The main act will be pop-rock band Soapdish. Known for their hits “Pwede Ba” and “Tensionado,” they will bring their brand of fun and sentimental tracks that longtime fans will surely sing along to their favorites.

The OPM Music Festival will be a free event held at Level 2, Food Village in Tiendesitas on May 13, 2023, 6pm. Guests can enjoy dinner while jamming with Soapdish and Jaydee.

For more information, follow Tiendesitas on Facebook (@tiendesitas) and Instagram (@tiendesitas.ph). Download the Ortigas Malls app to find out more about upcoming events, and sign up for the Ortigas Community Card for exciting perks.

The invention of passwords in the 1960s changed the digital world as we know it. Passwords are now an unconscious standard practice in our lives; from your first pet to the street you grew up on, they are deeply ingrained in our minds. Passwords today are the primary guardians of our privacy, personal data, and finances.

Despite this knowledge, passwords are often viewed complacently, even though simple, easy-to-guess passwords are insecure. Your dog’s name, spouse’s name, birthdate, and other words and phrases related to your life that are easily discoverable on your social media profiles are easy for attackers to discover.

While the onus of ensuring security and protecting data does lie on the companies that collect and store this data, there is quite a bit consumers can do on their end to secure their credentials. World Password Day 2023 is driven by the purpose of raising awareness about the importance of strong passwords and encouraging individuals and organizations to take steps to improve their password security. With the increasing prevalence of cyberattacks and data breaches, it is more important than ever to use strong and unique passwords to protect our online accounts and personal information.

Based on research, 91% of people know that using the same password on multiple accounts is a security risk, yet 66% continue to use the same password anyway. Steven Scheurmann, Regional Vice President for ASEAN at Palo Alto Networks, provides simple but effective measures to make passwords the primary guardian of your personal and professional.

Set guidelines for passwords that prevent password spraying: Ensure long passwords with a good mix of different character types—letters, numbers, and special characters. An 8-character password is easier to guess by a computer than a 16- or 24-character password.

Avoid vulnerable passwords that are easily guessed or already compromised. If you go and Google ‘commonly used passwords," you’ll see a list that any attacker uses when trying to guess passwords. If there is a default password on an internet-facing device or even internally. Change it ASAP!

Avoid reusing passwords: Everyone hates remembering passwords; some great options are using the passphrase options. We can use it to create unique passwords that are easy to remember. Be wary of password managers; several have been hit recently, and some of them multiple times. But they can also be an option.

Require password updates at set frequencies: This is a pain, but consider it the standard operating procedure for business risk reduction. It doesn’t take that long to do and helps secure the organization if a set of credentials is stolen or phished somehow.

Use multi-factor authentication methods: If a password is stolen or guessed, no matter how hard you’ve tried to be unique, having other methods to confirm it is you trying to get to a resource or a web service you use is vital. Many different cloud, security, and operating system vendors have a multi-factor authentication app that you can install on your phone to link to almost every website that supports it.

By taking these steps, individuals and organizations can help improve their password security and protect their online accounts and personal information. Learn more about how to create a stronger cybersecurity posture with an intelligent, automated, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven security operations center by checking out Palo Alto Networks’ World Password Day webinar.

Almost 5 out of 10 Filipinos have outstanding loans, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) latest Financial Inclusion Survey in 2021. Of this number, day-to-day expenses, emergencies, and fulfilling financial or life goals are the top three reasons why Filipino adults borrow.

However, only two out of ten Filipinos have access to formal financial services offered by banks and government institutions like the Social Security System (SSS) and Pag-IBIG, with some resorting to borrowing from individuals or lending companies with unfairly high interest rates.

Moreover, BSP notes that 25% of Filipino adults were forced to use up their savings during the pandemic, which means that on top of having to deal with everyday finances, they may not have enough cash to cover emergency expenses.

In line with its goal of making affordable loans accessible to more Filipinos, e-wallet app, GCash introduces new ways for Filipinos to conveniently manage their finances. On top of using the GCash app to pay bills, send money, buy load or pay for online and in-store purchases, users can now easily borrow money in the form of GLoan, GGives, and GCredit.

“We at GCash are working hard to give every Filipino access to fair loans not just to help them meet their basic needs but also empower them to achieve their life goals,” said Zo Canaria, FUSE Lending Growth Marketing Head. “Through GCash’s in-app innovations, we hope to give Filipinos an easy way to fund the lifestyle they deserve and fulfill long-standing goals they were previously unable to achieve due to financial challenges.”

GLoan: Fast-cash loan offering

GLoan, the loan product of GCash, offers instant cash up to P125,000 straight to eligible users’ GCash wallets, which can be used for starting or expanding a business, cover emergency expenses, celebrate special occasions or even to pay for different necessities. Through GLoan, eligible users can borrow from P1,000 to P125,000 as good as cash, with an interest rate of as low as 1.59%.

To borrow, users simply submit their loan application within the app with no additional documents needed and wait for the loan to be reflected straight to their GCash wallet within 24 hours. The loan can then be paid for as low as P265 a month for 5-24 months.

GGives: Light and easy installment plan

Meanwhile, GGives is GCash’ light and flexible installment plan which allows eligible users to purchase big-ticket items and pay for it in up to 24 months. GGives allows eligible users to purchase items amounting up to P125,000 in one transaction and choose their payment terms in installments from 3, 6, 9, or 12 months and up to 24 gives.

GGives can be used for both in-store and online purchase of selected merchants. Unlike other installment products, GGives does not require additional documents during application and does not need an upfront downpayment and processing fees.

GCredit: Always-ready credit line

GCredit, powered by CIMB, is an always-ready credit line by GCash that can be used to pay for select bills, as well as products and services in-store and online. Eligible users can get up to a Php 50,000 credit line that they can use for bills payment, online buys, and in-store QR purchases to cover everyday expenses.

With GCredit, users are only charged based on the number of days they borrow. This prorated interest means users who pay earlier get charged a lower interest. GCredit’s Minimum Amount Due also allows users to pay as low as 15% of their dues on their billing and/or due date.

To be eligible for GLoan, GGives, and GCredit, users must have a fully verified GCash profile and must maintain a qualified GScore, which is the app’s trust rating reflecting their GCash activity. GScore is the primary basis to qualify for GLoan, GGives, GCredit and enjoy benefits such as lowest interest rates and highest credit line or loan amount.

As your GScore is computed based on GCash activity, users must maintain an active GCash wallet balance by cashing in regularly and using different GCash services. For those who are already using any of the GCash borrow products, such as GLoan, GGives or GCredit, they must pay their dues early or on time to maintain their GScore and be eligible for future credit transactions.

Users may access GLoan, GGives and GCredit through the GCash dashboard or find it under “Borrow.” No GCash yet? Download the GCash App on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Huawei App Gallery! Kaya mo, i-GCash mo!

The Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Pasay City Local Government Unit (LGU) and the Senior Citizens’ Partylist came together to showcase how every sector is able to contribute to improving vaccination coverage during this year’s World Immunization Week Health Connect Forum.

The forum, organized by the the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination (PFV), Philippine Medical Association (PMA), Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association (PHAP), and Sanofi Pasteur Inc., focused on “Each Sector’s Role in the Big Catch-up” to ensure the protection of people of all ages against vaccine preventable diseases.

“The time is now to build everything to give vaccines to those who need it most. The children and the elderly who are still unaware of vaccines, are at highest risk of dying.” said PFV Executive Director Dr. Lulu Bravo. PMA President Dr. Maria Minerva Calimag added, “Vulnerable populations also include the 14-17M indigenous peoples whose health concerns we should also address. Physicians at the PMA will join hands with the government to address gaps in implementation.”

The DOH noted that the Philippines ranked fourth in the world with the highest number of zero-dose children, which is why their priority is catch-up immunization for children who missed out on their schedules the past few years. They emphasized that this would only be successful through collaborative efforts. “Vaccination is a whole-of-nation approach. That is why we need everyone's help in order for us to catch-up and improve our vaccine coverage." said DOH National Immunization Program Manager Dr. Janis Macazo.

Meanwhile, DILG Undersecretary Margarita Gutierrez noted that learnings from the COVID vaccination program can be used for all vaccination programs. “We developed the LGU guide for rehabilitation and recovery for COVID-19 to serve as an operational manual for similar situations,” she said.

This was echoed by Pasay City Health Officer Dr. Mercedes Noble, who coordinates the city’s National Immunization Program. “Our partners are very supportive in using their venues for mass vaccination programs. Our very dedicated barangay health center staff go beyond their office hours and even weekends, so no child will be left behind.” DSWD Director for Policy Development and Planning Bureau Rhodora Alday further shared how their programs are designed to address all of the social economic dimension which includes access to health services.

Director Alday said that the 4P’s program (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) helped incentivize beneficiaries for vaccination. “We are targeting around 700,000 households that have children below 18 years old to be enrolled in the program. Hopefully DSWD will help increase the immunization campaign through this program. Moreover, with a strong partnership that we have at the LGU we can design convergence programs to help free immunization available to people,” said Dir. Alday.

The forum also highlighted that catch-up immunization should not be limited to routine childhood vaccines. Atty. Charles de Belen from the Senior Citizens’ Partylist talked about ensuring our elderly loved ones are also fully protected from infectious diseases such as the flu. “Through our legislative agenda and initiatives, we try to expand the availability of immunizations that are inaccessible to senior citizens,” he said. Partylist Representative Congressman Ordanes’ HB 2097 recently passed the first reading in Congress.

“We now have vaccines to prevent more than 20 life-threatening diseases for people of all ages. In this age and time, no one should die from vaccine preventable diseases,” said Mr. Teodoro B. Padilla, PHAP Executive Director Mr. Teodoro Padilla. With PHAP bringing together these stakeholders, both public and private sectors have shown strong support for continued vaccination efforts this World Immunization Week.

The media forum, moderated by journalist and health advocate Jing Castañeda, can be viewed on the Facebook pages of PMA, PFV and PHAP.

UnionDigital Bank, the digital bank subsidiary of UnionBank, has recently partnered with HUAWEI, a global technology leader, to bring innovative financial services to more people in the Philippines by tapping into the tech company’s ecosystem of services and 7 million customer base.

Through the strategic collaboration, the UnionDigital Bank app is now available on the HUAWEI AppGallery to allow easy access for users to the digital bank’s financial services and products. As the number one digital lender in the country, UnionDigital Bank will offer loan products to mobile users through Petal Ads, the mobile marketing platform tailored for HUAWEI devices.

"Our partnership with HUAWEI reflects our shared belief in harnessing the power of technology to enhance financial inclusion and provide convenient banking solutions to all," said Henry Aguda, President and CEO of UnionDigital Bank. "Together, we are committed to shaping a better future by leveraging our combined expertise and resources to create innovative and accessible banking services."

"We are proud to work with a tech-first and tech-forward company like UnionDigital Bank, who shares our vision for leveraging technology to create positive change and make a difference in people's lives," said Ken Liang, Director of Mobile Ecosystem Business Growth, HUAWEI Technologies Philippines. "Our alliance reflects our commitment to driving innovation and using it for the greater good. We are excited to collaborate with UnionBank’s digital bank subsidiary to contribute and help in making their commitment a reality, starting with our users."

The tie-up between UnionDigital Bank and HUAWEI marks an important step towards promoting financial inclusion and leveraging technology to make innovative banking solutions closer to a greater number of Filipinos, regardless of their location or economic status. Together, they aim to empower more people to access essential financial services designed to contribute in supporting the country’s growing digital economy.

The leading smart devices provider, HONOR Philippines, has achieved another milestone with the opening of its third and fourth experience store in SM City Marilao and SM City Marikina.

Officiated by HONOR Philippines Vice President Stephen Cheng, Brand Manager Joepy Libo-on, PR Manager Pao Oga, and Sales Director for Central Luzon Jim Li with SM City Marilao Tenant Relations Officer Rafael Martinez and AVPO North 5 and 6 Anna Datu in SM City Marilao and HONOR Philippines National Sales Officer Jett Hermosura and Regional Retail Manager Jen Rayala with Power Premium Area Supervisor Kiwi Billy Arce and Sales and Retail Operation Consultant Matt Basilan in SM City Marikina, both store openings were another jam-packed success for the tech giant.

“This is such a sweet success for us. Seven months ago, no one would have ever thought that we would grow this early and this fast. We really owe it to our loyal customers, that’s why we are making our services more accessible to more and more Filipinos,” said Stephen Cheng, HONOR Philippines Vice President.

To those who are on the lookout of the next HONOR experience stores to open, here’s the updated list from HONOR Philippines:


Ultra-Tough gets Tougher

The crowd-favorite HONOR X9a 5G that now comes in the new limited-edition Midnight Black color, sports a 120Hz Premium OLED Curved Display bringing users a large screen with an impressive screen-to-body ratio. HONOR X9a 5G has an impressive 64 MP Super Triple Camera and a 2-Day Battery Life.

It was tested yet again during the store opening in SM City Marilao where select fans participated in the viral HONOR smash challenge. Lucky winner got to take home an HONOR smartphone.


Visit your nearest HONOR Experience Store or any partner dealer store now as this HONOR X9a 5G Midnight Black comes in limited stocks only!. It is also now available through your favorite online stores – Shopee (https://bit.ly/3oh9VGt), Lazada (https://bit.ly/3L0VuyT), and TikTok Shop (https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS8WXk7ow/), still priced at P16,990.

You can find the HONOR Experience Store in SM City Marilao at Second Level while the HONOR Experience Store in SM City Marikina is at Cyberzone.

For more announcements, you may visit HONOR’s website www.hihonor.com or social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorphilippines/) and TikTok: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines). To check out HONOR’s complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/.

Filipino K-pop multistans, this one's for you! EXO’s Baekhyun, Jeon Somi, and B.I are set to headline the OVERPASS: K-Pop Music Concert happening on June 11, 2023 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.

OVERPASS is a platform that brings together R&B, Soul, and Hip-Hop artists of Asian descent from different sides of the globe. The concert is an entry to a global music gathering that celebrates Asian excellence in music.

Coming from his much-awaited return, Baekhyun is back on the scene once again!

Apart from being the lead vocalist of the highly-celebrated nine-piece boy group EXO, Baekhyun has made a name for himself as one K-Pop’s force to be reckoned with. As a soloist, he has released three successful mini-albums – “City Lights,” “Delight,” and “Bambi.” He also made his acting debut in “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo” in 2016.

It girl Jeon Somi is finally coming to the Philippines!

The soloist rose to fame after finishing 1st by popular fan vote at the survival reality show “Produce 101,” and later achieved commercial success as the center vocalist of the group I.O.I. In 2018, she signed with THEBLACKLABEL to pursue a solo career and debuted with the chart-topping single “Birthday” and went on to release viral hits “DUMB DUMB” and “XOXO.”

It hasn’t been a year but B.I (real name Kim Han-bin) is once again coming back to the Philippines! Among the few things he does – a rapper, singer, songwriter, producer, director, composer, plus the CEO of record label IOK Entertainment, the Korean hip-hop act is considered as one of the industry’s best due to his artistry as a performer and a composer. Over the last two years, he has released three hit mini-albums “Waterfall,” “Cosmos,” and “Love or Loved, Pt. 1.”

Tickets to the OVERPASS: K-Pop Music Concert are priced at PHP 2,668 (General Admission), PHP 4,803 (Upper Box), PHP 6,937 (Lower Box B), PHP 9,072 (Lower Box A), PHP 10,672 (VIP Seated), and PHP 12,273 (SVIP Seated and SVIP Left/Right). Ticketing services are applied to the prices.

Tickets to the concert are now available for purchase at TicketNet outlets nationwide and online at www.ticketnet.com.ph.

For more updates on OVERPASS, check out the official social media of OVERPASS on Instagram at @overpassmusic, Cornerstone Entertainment on Facebook and Twitter at @cornerstone_ofc, and OctoArts Entertainment on Twitter at @OctoArtsEnt.

Pinaspeed, the newest service offered by Airspeed, is revolutionizing the way micro-businesses in the Philippines manage their pick-up and delivery services. This innovative solution allows SMEs, especially online sellers, to take their logistics to the next level -- increasing their efficiency and effectiveness.

The COVID-19 pandemic has a dramatic impact on the way people shop, particularly in the Philippines. As the world has faced unprecedented restrictions on movement, more and more people have turned to online shopping to meet their needs. This has opened up a big opportunity for the online shopping industry in the Philippines.

Pinaspeed is the online pick-up and delivery service offered by Airspeed, that provides customers with a seamless experience. Specially designed to meet the diverse logistics needs of its customers, this user-friendly platform offers tracking of shipments/deliveries, allowing customers to monitor their orders and get them delivered with ease. With its reliable and efficient delivery system, Pinaspeed provides customers with a secure, fast and convenient way of shipping their items.

As an initial offer, it can now pick-up items of micro-businesses in NCR, Rizal, and Cavite, and will be expanded to more locations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. The following rates can give you an idea of how much Pinaspeed's delivery services cost for packages that originate in the NCR, and are delivered to anywhere in NCR, Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao: a small pouch weighing up to 0.75 kg costs P99, a package weighing up to 1.5 kg costs P119, a package weighing up to 3 kg costs P149, a package weighing up to 5 kg costs P179, and a package weighing up to 10 kg costs P199. Just like its mother company, Airspeed, no matter where you are.. Pinaspeed can make it happen.

Airspeed understands that e-commerce is a powerful tool for entrepreneurs, and for more than 37 years it helps large enterprises, and micro, small, and medium businesses to grow and provide clients with integrated and flexible solutions tailored to their needs. By launching Pinaspeed, it will help businesses reach success because of its accessibility, affordability, and convenience (free packaging is offered). May kailangan ka bang ipadala? Documents, bulk orders or drop shipping pa.. i-PINASPEED na yan! For more details and to sign up, visit www.pinaspeed.com.

Shakey’s x Potato Corner. The collaboration many potatoholics have all been waiting for is finally here! Enjoy the flavors of Potato Corner—Sour Cream, BBQ, and Cheese—in the famous Shakey’s Mojos. Available starting May 1 in Solo Flavored Mojos (Php 209), Basket of Flavored Mojos (Php 429), and Flavored Mojos Supreme (Php 579).

Is there anything else better than Shakey’s famous Mojos?

Here’s the answer to that. Your favorite Mojos are now Made MO’ Fun with Flavors, thanks to an iconic collaboration between Shakey’s and Potato Corner! Starting May 1, 2023, Shakey’s will be coming out with Flavored Mojos: Shakey’s signature Mojos combined with Potato Corner’s iconic flavors: BBQ, Sour Cream, and Cheese.

BBQ Flavored Mojos is made with Potato Corner’s signature barbecue flavor. This all-time favorite from Potato Corner gives every bite of Shakey’s Mojos a burst of smoky, tangy, and meaty taste.

For those looking for a zesty kick to their Mojos, guests can also try the Sour Cream Flavored Mojos. Another Potato Corner favorite, Sour Cream is the perfect blend of flavorful herbs and rich, zingy sour cream.

Cheese Flavored Mojos is for those who can’t get enough of Potato Corner’s finger-licking O.G cheese. This classic, craveable flavor blends perfectly with Shakey’s iconic Mojos slices. 

Potato Corner and Shakey’s fans alike can start to get their Flavored Mojos starting May 1, 2023 at Shakey’s stores. Guests can enjoy Flavored Mojos in three sizes: Solo (Php 209), Basket of Flavored Mojos (Php 429), and Flavored Mojos Supreme (Php 579)! Plus, when you order a Flavored Mojos Supreme, you can opt for “Half and Half”, meaning you get two flavors in one bucket!

Shakey’s Flavored Mojos are available in Shakey’s stores for a limited time for dine-in, carry-out, and delivery! To know more, follow @shakeysph on Instagram and Shakey’s Philippines on Facebook.