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| Inside the new PLDT-Smart Experience Hub at SM City Olongapo Central serving customers in Zambales (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Smart Communications Inc.) |
As part of their commitment to bring telco and digital services closer to their customers, PLDT Inc. (PLDT) and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) recently unveiled Experience Hubs in two key cities in Luzon and Visayas. PLDT and Smart customers in Zambales and nearby areas can visit the newly opened Experience Hub at SM City Olongapo Central for their telco needs. Meanwhile, subscribers in Negros Oriental can go to the Experience Hub at Robinsons Place Dumaguete.
“These new PLDT and Smart Experience Hubs are aligned with our thrust to continuously innovate and improve customer experience in key cities nationwide. We want our customers to have a more pleasant and meaningful experience whenever they visit our store nearest to them. At the same time, these new stores allow us to expand the reach of our products and services in the regions. We also aim to help local governments to bridge the digital divide, boost local industries, and make their cities more attractive to domestic and international markets,” said PLDT and Smart Senior Vice President and Head of Sales and Development John Y. Palanca. With a population of over 260,000 as of 2020 Census, Olongapo City is a first class highly urbanized city in Central Luzon which is among the three out of nine economies in Central Luzon that posted a double-digit growth in 2022 (10.2%) based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). On the other hand, Dumaguete City is a bustling component city situated in Negros Oriental which houses many nearby tourist areas and was even part of Forbes’ 2015 list of best places to retire around the world.
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| PLDT and Smart officials at the grand opening of the telcos' Experience Hub at Robinsons Place Dumaguete for customers in Negros Oriental (Image Source: Orange Magazine TV/Smart Communications Inc.) |
At the PLDT and Smart Experience Hub in the cities of Olongapo and Dumaguete, customers can avail themselves of the latest promos of Smart Signature and PLDT Home fiber plans or switch their mobile numbers to Smart and TNT. They can also explore some of the latest smart gadgets to improve their home and lifestyle. The stores also feature self-care kiosks to help customers discover the best mobile and home connectivity plans that are suited for their lifestyle, and entertainment areas to engage the customers. Knowledgeable store specialists are also ready to receive the customers, to ensure a meaningful visit. Initiatives to broaden and deepen the reach of its retail and customer service underscore the PLDT group’s aspirational multi-year transformation, with elevating customer experience as one of the key priorities. They also contribute to the group’s endeavors to provide connectivity to all.
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Acer Opens Official Store On Shopee, Offering Exclusive Deals And Wide Selection
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| (Image Source: INQUIRER.net/Acer Philippines) |
Acer has officially launched its flagship store on Shopee, Southeast Asia’s leading e-commerce platform. This partnership marks a significant milestone for the global consumer technology brand, expanding its reach to a vast audience of online shoppers. The Acer Official Store on Shopee offers a comprehensive range of Acer products, including laptops, desktops, monitors, projectors, and accessories. Customers will have access to the latest Acer technologies such as the ultra-thin Swift series of laptops, the powerful Predator gaming line, and the innovative Aspire series of all-purpose devices.
In celebration of the store launch, Acer is offering exclusive deals and promotions to Shopee users. Customers can enjoy discounts of up to 10% on selected products as well as free shipping on orders over a certain amount. Additionally, shoppers can look forward to flash sales, bundle deals, and other special offers throughout the year. Customers can visit the Acer Official Store on Shopee at https://bit.ly/SHPAcerOfficialStore to browse the latest products, check out exclusive promotions, and make purchases. Acer’s dedicated customer support team is also available on Shopee to assist with any inquiries or provide technical assistance.
With the launch of its official store on Shopee, Acer further strengthens its commitment to delivering cutting-edge technology and exceptional customer service to consumers in the Philippines. Follow Acer Philippines on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram to watch out for the exciting #AcerU2024 Back-to-School campaign or visit www.acer.com.
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83 Mobile Clinics Rolling Into PH Provinces
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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/Presidential Communications Office) |
In yet another major step towards the Bagong Pilipinas vision of the administration of Philippine President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., Malacañang recently launched state-of-the-art mobile primary care facilities that will bring medical services closer to communities, especially underserved areas. A total of 83 medical buses will be deployed across the country — one for every province — to augment facilities capable of responding to the healthcare needs of Filipinos, no matter what they are and what they do in life.
The mobile healthcare facilities will provide laboratory examinations, doctor consultations and medicine to patients all for free. Each bus is equipped with modern diagnostic equipment, among them a mobile digital X-ray machine, an ultrasound machine, a hematology analyzer for blood tests, a binocular microscope, an ophthalmoscope for eye tests, a lab-grade refrigerator, and telemedicine equipment. Of the total, seven buses were recently turned over to the seven provinces of Central Luzon. First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos led the handover of the mobile healthcare facilities to provincial government officials of Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales in a ceremony held in San Fernando City, Pampanga.
The Department of Health (DOH) also held a series of training and orientation sessions of health officials from the seven provinces to teach them how to operate the mobile primary care facilities. The medical buses are a critical addition to primary healthcare facilities in the Philippines where the ratio of the population to hospital beds and doctors fall short of global standards. According to government data, 1,000 Filipinos share one hospital bed in the country, far from the global standard of 200 per hospital bed. There is also just one doctor for every 1,667 Filipinos, below the benchmark of 1,000 people per doctor.
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Cebu Pacific Welcomes Seventh Aircraft For 2024
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| A321neo, Cebu Pacific's newest aircraft (Image Source: ABS-CBN News/Cebu Pacific) |
Cebu Pacific (CEB), the Philippines’ leading carrier, received its seventh aircraft delivery for the year, remaining steadfast in its efforts to strengthen operational resilience while addressing the ongoing demand for air travel. The brand-new aircraft, a fuel-efficient A321neo, arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Manila from Airbus’ facility in Hamburg, Germany on June 30, 2024.
CEB operates one of the youngest fleets in the world that enables the widest network coverage in the Philippines with its diversified commercial fleet mix of eight Airbus 330s, 37 Airbus 320s, 22 Airbus 321s and 15 ATR turboprop aircrafts. Airbus NEOs are the latest-generation aircraft that burn 15 percent less fuel per flight compared to the previous generation. The reduction in fuel consumption leads to a corresponding reduction in aircraft carbon emissions.
On July 2, 2024, CEB announced that it has signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Airbus for the purchase of up to 152 A321neo aircraft for US$24B (Php1.4T) based on list prices, the largest aircraft order in Philippine aviation history. The purchase agreement to finalize the transaction is expected to be completed in the third quarter of the year. CEB currently flies to 35 domestic and 25 international destinations spread across Asia, Australia, and the Middle East.
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Lipa City Community Park Welcomes Visitors With Upgraded Facilities
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| A top-down view of the new Lipa City Community Park with upgraded facilities and additional amenities (Image Source: Department Of Public Works And Highways) |
The Department of Public Works and Highways recently completed the construction of Php72.3M multi-purpose facilities at the Lipa City Community Park in an effort to revive its status as one of the most beloved community spaces in Lipa City, Batangas. Reporting to Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan, DPWH Region 4A Director Jovel G. Mendoza stated that the revitalized Lipa City Community Park is now ready to welcome visitors and serve as a hub for recreation and community activities.
Key features of the project include the construction of a local government-facilitated coffee shop and food kiosks, a detention tank to mitigate flooding, additional public toilets and gazebos, a 50-meter by 25-meter Olympic-size pool with a water pump system, and the reintegration of a mini football field with durable synthetic grass. The restoration efforts also include the upgrading of driveways and walkways using a stamped concrete system and the refurbishing of landscaped areas. The rehabilitation of the Lipa City Community Park was implemented under the Convergence and Special Support Program for Sustainable Infrastructure Projects Alleviating Gaps (SIPAG) with funding sourced from the 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
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Philippine International Comics Festival 2024 Holds First In-Person Event Post-Pandemic
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| (Image Source: Manila Standard/National Book Development Board) |
The Philippine International Comics Festival 2024 will be having its first physical event since the onset and impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic back in 2020. Serving as a celebration in support of the comics market, the two-day event will feature the works of more than 100 independent Filipino comics creators and publishers as well as international guests from Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the UK, the USA, and Australia.
The festival will feature fun activities such as comics masterclasses on July 19-21 as well as a comics exhibit showcasing the PICOF Official Selection, artworks by Alamat Creators in collaboration with the Komikero Museum, and the Comics Create a Better World project with the Lakes International Comic Art Festival and the British Council Philippines. The event is organized by Komiket with the support of the Office of Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), and the National Book Development Board (NBDB). It will be held at The Podium Hall on July 20-21, 2024 from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm. Tickets will be sold at the entrance for Php200.
(With words by Abigail Adriatico, Manila Standard)
