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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Bangko Kabayan Inc.) |
Highlighting its unwavering commitment to supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Bangko Kabayan has been named the Best MSMEs Development Bank in the Philippines for the second year in a row at the prestigious International Finance Awards. This recognition underscores the bank’s essential role in fostering economic growth and entrepreneurship across the nation. The International Finance Awards, known for recognizing industry talent, leadership skills, industry net worth, and capability on an international level, has once again lauded Bangko Kabayan, a subsidiary of Union Bank of the Philippines Inc., for its innovative and impactful contributions to the MSME sector. This repeat recognition underscores the bank’s dedication to financial inclusion and sustainable development.
Bangko Kabayan’s strategic initiatives have been instrumental in empowering MSMEs which are considered the backbones of Philippine economy. The bank’s comprehensive suite of financial products and services, including accessible loan programs and tailored advisory services, have significantly enhanced the growth and resilience of small businesses. The bank’s success is rooted in its deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by MSMEs. By offering customized financial solutions and fostering an environment of trust and support, Bangko Kabayan has managed to build strong relationships with its clients, enabling them to navigate financial challenges and seize growth opportunities.
The International Finance Awards’ recognition of Bangko Kabayan is not just a win for the bank but also a significant boost for the MSMEs it serves. As the bank continues to set higher standards in the banking industry, its role in driving economic progress in the Philippines remains vital. Bangko Kabayan’s back-to-back recognition at the International Finance Awards is a celebration of its relentless pursuit of excellence and its pivotal role in shaping the landscape of MSME banking in the Philippines.
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PHINMA Education Unveils PHINMA Saint Jude College's Aurora Boulevard Building
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| (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/PHINMA Education Philippines) |
PHINMA Education, the largest private education network in Southeast Asia, recently unveiled the new PHINMA Saint Jude College Quezon City (QC) building along Aurora Boulevard in the City of Stars. The building’s nine-story building features 11 laboratories and 22 classrooms to cater to more underserved students as part of the network’s mission to make lives better through education. The building is an extension of Saint Jude College QC’s existing campus in Cubao which is part of PHINMA Education’s NCR network along with Saint Jude College Manila. Students and employees celebrated the event with a 12-vehicle motorcade along Aurora Boulevard.
“Our commitment to providing accessible and quality education is unwavering. Getting a diploma is one of the stepping stones for Filipinos to achieve social mobility. In embracing our mission, we answer the call for more accessible locations and modes for our students to get quality education. Our new building here in Aurora Boulevard is commute-friendly to our students coming from Marikina, Pasig, Antipolo, Cainta, and Taytay. This grants us more opportunities to help our students achieve their dreams, and we are honored that we get to make this happen at PHINMA St. Jude College,” said PHINMA Education Chief Operating Officer (COO) Liezl Occiano-Delos Angeles. PHINMA Education Philippines Country Head Christopher A. Tan remarked, “Providing affordable quality education to underserved Filipino families has always been the driving force behind our work. We take deep pride in producing skilled professionals, who not only perform well in licensure exams, but are also industry-ready, and committed to making the lives of others better as well.”
To provide financial support to underserved youth who want a college degree, PHINMA Education offers the Hawak Kamay (HK) Scholarship Program. It provides tuition scholarships to qualified candidates until graduation with no maintaining grades. The application for HK5.5 and other HK scholarship offerings for SY 2024-2025 is still ongoing. Students across the nation are encouraged to apply online through https://bit.ly/phinmaedhk55scholarship.
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Exceptional Talents In Filipino Children's Literature To Be Honored On National Children's Book Day
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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/Cultural Center Of The Philippines) |
The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), in collaboration with the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY), celebrates the National Children’s Book Day (NCBD) which aims to embrace the transformative power of literature to fuel curiosity and ignite imagination among children Central to this celebration are the prestigious PBBY-Salanga and PBBY-Alcala Prizes which honor outstanding contributions to children’s literature through writing and illustration. This year, Eric R. Roxas received the esteemed PBBY-Salanga Prize for his captivating story Monina’s Many Moles, celebrated for its ability to engage and inspire young audiences. Illustrator Marcus Vito Z. Nada has been awarded the illustrious PBBY-Alcala Prize for his exceptional artistic talent in enriching children’s literature with captivating visuals. Named after National Artist Larry Alcala, the PBBY-Alcala Prize recognizes illustrators who skillfully bring stories to life.
The NCBD celebration and awarding ceremony will take place on July 16, 2024 at 9:30 am at Tanghalang Ignacio Gimenez (CCP’s Blackbox Theater) featuring musical performances by Ginger Karganilla and Billy Joel del Rosario, a storytelling session by a Philippine Information Agency (PIA) puppeteer, and the launch of new children’s books. A book fair entitled “Payapa" will be held at the venue’s basement level from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm featuring books from Aklat Alamid, Aklat Mirasol, Southern Voices Printing Press, Street Tales, and Supermaya. To participate in the festivities, attendees are requested to donate a children’s book at the registration desk on the event day with registration starting at 9:00 am. For the afternoon program, registration can be done via email at ccpintertextualdivision@gmail.com. Books donated during the event will benefit Inspire the Children of Cavite and Balay-aralan of Muntinlupa.
National Children’s Book Day (NCBD), observed every third Tuesday of July, commemorates the publication of Un Mono y Una Tortuga (The Monkey and The Turtle) by Philippine hero Dr. Jose Rizal. This timeless tale teaches Filipino values and life lessons, illustrating the significance of storytelling in children’s emotional development and learning experiences. Aligned with the theme “Payapa Ang Puso Ng Batang Nagbabasa", this year's observance of NCBD aims to foster a love for reading among children while celebrating Filipino children’s literature.
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Back-To-School Alert: National Book Store Invites Filipinos To Rediscover Passion In An Unconventional Ad
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| (Image Source: ClickTheCity.com/National Book Store) |
National Book Store (NBS), a cherished Pinoy brand and trusted partner for generations of Filipinos, has fueled our love for literature and creativity ever since childhood. As the new school year fast approaches, the brand released a heartwarming and mind-bending film that captivates audiences with a unique narrative about rediscovering passion, creativity, and love for learning. Its newest film “Passion" revolves around a seemingly ordinary mother with a secret that is anything but ordinary.
The film’s main turning point is when the mother, after seeing NBS' diverse selection of sulit reads and bestselling books, is triggered to molt her human guise to reveal her true self. This unexpected transformation, which can be viewed on NBS' official Facebook page, symbolizes the constant internal conflict between personal passions and parental duties, resonating deeply with viewers of all ages. As shown in the film, there’s only one place to help us rediscover our love for reading, creativity, and learning — and it’s National Book Store.
If you also want to rekindle your personal passions, or just planning to do your back-to-school shopping, you can head to any of the 240+ National Book Store branches nationwide. They have awesome deals and sulit bundles, lowest price finds from Best Buy, new and bestselling school supplies from trusted brands, and more. National Book Store is also revamping their Loyalty Program, Laking National. By signing up for free at lakingnational.com, you can get free cashback every time you shop with your Laking National QR. You may also use your Laking National QR when you shop at their online store here and at any of the official stores on Lazada, Shopee, TikTok, and Zalora. Shopping at National Book Store has never been more exciting with these new rewards. And with the release of the film "Passion", it just proves that rediscovering our slumbering passions for reading, creativity, and learning at the place Filipinos hold close to their hearts for generations has never been more welcoming.
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Zenless Zone Zero's First Fan Works Contest "Drip Fest" Now Open For Submissions
| (Image Source: PinoyGamer.ph/HoYoverse) |
Amid the jubilation over the global launch of the urban fantasy ARPG Zenless Zone Zero, global interactive entertainment brand HoYoverse initiated the game’s first fan works contest known as “Drip Fest" where players from around the world can submit their authentic works including graffiti, illustrations, videos, cosplay and music from now until August 23, 2024 via the competition's official website and HoYoLAB to participate in the event and potentially win up to a remarkable $3,000 monetary incentive together with a grand trophy of Golden Bangboo Award. Drip Fest is a showcase of the vibrant and talented Zenless Zone Zero global community who possess a passion for stylish, aesthetic lifestyles and expect to ignite the boundless creative possibilities of New Eridu. Without any threshold, all players interested in content creation of the accepted five categories are welcome to join the contest.
After receiving players’ submissions, a prestigious panel of professional judges from different backgrounds will meticulously evaluate the submissions, select outstanding professional works deserving of recognition, and award popular fan favorites. The judging panel includes ZEUS40, one of the most talented graffiti artist out of South Italy; BUNBUN, Japanese illustrator who has been working on popular light novels including Sword Art Online; Naji Yanagida, Japanese illustrator previously illustrated for games like Sangokushi Taisen TCG etc.; Yamashita RIRI, Japanese animator specializing in modern animations with representative works such as HATSUNE MIKU: COLORFUL STAGE! "Journey" music video; Myrtle Sarrosa, well known Filipino actress, streamer and cosplayer who has won multiple awards for cosplay and gaming in Philippines; and Jorn Heringa, Head of Artist & Repertoire at the world’s leading dance label Spinnin’ Records who cultivated top-tier musicians including Alok, Don Diablo and so on. Outstanding participants can win a variety of coveted prizes, including monetary incentive, exquisite merchandise, and valuable in-game rewards. The recipient Masterpiece Award (grand winner) will receive the Golden Bangboo Award, $3,000, a full display series character stand and 10,000 Polychromes as in-game reward.
Zenless Zone Zero is HoYoverse’s brand-new urban fantasy ARPG in which a calamity called “Hollows” destroyed modern society. New Eridu, the last remaining metropolis, has risen against the odds amidst this destructive catastrophe and become the remnant of contemporary civilization. In the game, players assume the role of “Proxy” accompanied by unique characters to explore Hollows, combat enemies, complete commissions, and to reveal the mysteries behind New Eridu. The game has officially launched last July 4, 2024 simultaneously on PlayStation®5, PC, iOS and Android allowing cross-progression and cross-play. For more information regarding Drip Fest and Zenless Zone Zero, please stay tuned by visiting the official website at https://zenless.hoyoverse.com/ or follow @ZZZ_EN on X (Formerly Twitter). For more information on Drip Fest, visit https://hoyo.link/8k8jFMAL.
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HONOR 200 Is Official Smartphone Of eSports World Cup
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| (Image Source: INQUIRER.net/eSports World Cup Foundation) |
eSports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) and HONOR, a global technology leader, have officially announced a main partnership for the eSports World Cup (EWC), the world’s largest gaming festival currently taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This partnership makes the HONOR 200 Pro the official smartphone of the EWC, leveraging the device’s cutting-edge technology to power eSports competitions in popular mobile games like Free Fire, Honor of Kings and Women’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) tournament.
As the ultimate smartphone for mobile gaming enthusiasts, the HONOR 200 Pro offers a suite of outstanding new features that appeal to both eSports athletes and casual players. The ESWC-HONOR partnership will focus on engaging global gamers, strengthening brand identities, and fostering a community driven by the spirit of competition. Officially kicked off last July 3, the eSports World Cup transforms Riyadh into the epicenter of professional gaming fandom and gaming culture. Located in Boulevard City, fans can watch their favorite athletes and clubs compete across 22 game championships for a share of more than $60M in life-changing prize money — the largest prize pool in eSports history. The ESWC also features various festival activities that include numerous gaming activations, community tournaments, pop culture celebrations, international experiences, and more.
The HONOR 200, highly regarded as the AI Portrait Master, as well as the HONOR 200 Pro are coming to the Philippines on July 17, 2024 and these will be launched via a special event which can be streamed live on HONOR Philippines' official social media accounts where viewers can get a chance to win their very own HONOR 200. Interested enthusiasts should stay trubed for the full mechanics on HONOR Philippines’ social media platforms.
