UK-based Int’l Finance names CitySavings as “Most Innovative Savings Bank PH” 2022

CEBU CITY – A UK-based International Finance, a highly regarded global business and finance magazine recognized CitySavings as the “Most Innovative Savings Bank - Philippines” at the International Finance Awards 2022 in Dubai this year, for the bank’s straightforward banking and easy and user-friendly services.

City Savings Bank, Inc. (CitySavings), UnionBank’s thrift arm welcomed this win to solidify its position as the country's leading digital mass market bank.  “We remain steadfast in our commitment to serving our customers and communities to make banking simple for them,” CitySavings President and CEO Lorenzo Ocampo, remarked.

City Savings Bank provides simple solutions to one's banking needs thanks to its digital innovations and the Bank also has a chatbot called Talk to Maria, which played a crucial role in helping their customers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Finance noted.

Aligned with its purpose of elevating communities through financial inclusion, CitySavings has expanded its loan portfolio. While maintaining its lead as the preferred teachers’ bank, it also offers pension, motorcycle, company employee, and government salary loans, the bank bared.

CitySavings is also at the forefront of providing innovative solutions for its customers which include its Visa Debit Card that enables customers to transact online conveniently, and its Talk to Maria chatbot, which provides customer service 24/7.

With the appointment of UnionBank’s Chief Technology and Operations Officer and Chief Transformation Officer, Henry Aguda as its new Chairman of the Board, CitySavings is poised to expand its digital transformation initiatives driven by data science and artificial intelligence (AI).

It is piloting AI-driven solutions designed to improve customer relevance to avail of loans and enhance its credit scoring model for loan processing.

“On behalf of all CitySavings Bankers, I humbly accept this international recognition. Thank you, International Finance, for your trust.  This award is a testament to our dedication to customers and our advocacy to elevate the lives of our clients through relevant digital solutions,” Ocampo said.

The International Finance Awards recognizes the most outstanding and innovative companies, predominantly from the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Africa. C-level executives and senior management representatives in finance, banking, asset management, brokerage, insurance, energy, oil and gas, logistics, and utilities participate in the awards. (Photos: CitySavings/FB/Google Images)

The Piazza in Davao wins best lifestyle condo dev’t in Southeast Asia

CEBU CITY -- The Piazza at The Grand Citygate Davao, a premiere project from decorated homegrown developers Grand Land, Inc. (GLI) won the “Best Lifestyle Condominium Development in Southeast Asia” given on December 15 at the Four Seasons Bangkok.

According to Ryan Bernard Go, GLI president that since laun
ching in November of 2012, Grand Land, Inc, the real estate arm of the Gaisano Grand Group of Companies has won some 29 industry awards.

“As we celebrate a decade of operation, we are also humbled by all the accolades that are given to us, a true testament to the hard work of the people behind our growing brand. To be recognized among the best in Southeast Asia is the best gift for this season,” Go said.

This is an annual award given by DOT Property Southeast Asia. Go bared that this is the fifth award overall for the multi-awarded The Piazza, an Italian-inspired 3 condominium complex with a central plaza, for which it is named after.

Joining a roster of winners hailing from seven different countries, Grand Land, Inc. rose to the top of nearly 300 property leaders to bring home this latest accolade, capping an eventful year.

In November, The Piazza was also named “Best Mid-Range Condo Development” and “Best Investment Property Davao by Property Philippines Awards.  In 2021, Grand Land, Inc. was also named “Best Developer Cebu” at the Dot Property Philippines Awards 2021.

The Piazza is located beside Grand Land Inc.’s flagship project in Metro Davao, the Amani Grand Citygate. (Photos: Grand Land Inc.)

 

Design Cebu launches its online resource repository, enabling platform

CEBU CITY -- The Cebu Design community launched its Design Cebu Gateway (DCG) now at www.dsigncebu.com in December this year for the design and creative sectors in Cebu and other parts of the country to navigate, connect, co-create and cultivate a dynamic online converging point.

Butch Carungay, Focal Point, Cebu UNESCO City of Design described this as a resource repository and enabling platform for the design and creative sectors in Cebu and beyond; inclusive and customizable online portal that provides a robust experience that facilitates resource exchange, co-promotions, active networking and impactful collaborations. 

“The DCG is fully funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and was developed with Zai Design Hive, Bertech Integration Services and Cebu UNESCO City of Design. The new online platform is with much more robust social media functionalities and nearly 200 registered users,” Carungay revealed.

Carungay added that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for a virtual platform for Cebu’s design and creative communities was already identified, it was one of the main components of the 2019 UNESCO Bid. 

“For it to be impactful, the website must be very dynamic, rich and powerful means for people to connect, co-create and cultivate with social media functionalities,” he said.

According to Carungay the gateway has two main modules.  The first being an admin generated sections that include information about Cebu, the creative movement, the UNESCO bid, business frameworks, links as well as spotlighted news, events, and stories. 

The second is a crowdsourced, SEO optimized and versatile module where registered users can upload their profiles, portfolios, events, and marketplace listings. 

It also uses a two-tier database structure that consists of an Admin module which contains news, background information, statistics, frameworks, studies, profiles, and links. The crowdsourced and SEO optimized user module allows registered users to upload their profiles, portfolios, events and marketplace listings. 

The DCG was previewed during a mini–Creative Cebu summit which was held concurrently with the Visayas Art Fair at the end of November 2021.

Developed, tested and piloted in Cebu, the DCG is open to all creative practitioners, stakeholders, enablers, collaborators and customers.  Once fully realized, it is also meant to be replicated in other creative hotspots in the Philippines to scale its scope and reverberate its value, Carungay said.

“This portal has been many years in the making and is the result of intensive benchmarking, research and consultations with industry experts and stakeholders.  It also contains a lot of information taken from the 2019 UNESCO application and the 2020 UN DESA projects,” he bared.

Currently the DCG Dashboard, Profile, Portfolio, Directory and Events are live and can onboard users who are allowed to upload a total of five portfolios with six pictures each, Carungay explained that because user info is SEO optimized, the Directory is filterable by type of user and creative discipline. 

Social media functionalities have also been introduced so users can follow, like and message each other.  The Admin Pages offer a wealth of info, resources, links and has an updated feed for relevant news.  They also contain fun facts and trivia that one normally does not know about Cebu.

Periodic newsletters will also be mailed out to registered users and will be uploaded to the site on a regular basis to keep the content fresh and current.  The DCG today has nearly 200 registered users but the onboarding campaign to reward users with the best profiles will be carried into 2023. 

“Ultimately, we are hoping for thousands of regular users from all the different design and creative domains from Cebu and beyond.  We hope you can help spread the word to help us realize this ambitious goal,” Carungay said.

The DCG is meant to be a powerful, informative, and fun platform that will hopefully spark many new and exciting projects and collaborations for those who choose to be part of this groundbreaking community, he concluded. (Photos: Design Cebu/Butch Carungay)

 

PLDT/Smart, PDRF bring project Ligtas to calamity-prone areas in VisMin

CEBU CITY – PLDT Inc. and its wireless unit Smart Communications Inc. (Smart) partners with the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) to bring Project Ligtas to calamity-prone communities in VisMin.

Project Ligtas is part of the #SafeandSmart advocacy of the PLDT Group that promotes preparedness and immediate response through continuous availability of communication services, mobile solutions, and activities to help mitigate risks.

Each PLDT-Smart Ligtas Kit contains a power station, solar panel, rechargeable handy megaphone, crank radio, rechargeable flashlight, satellite phone, Smart LTE pocket Wi-Fi with initial load, smartphone, and whistles.

The municipalities of Madridejos, Bantayan, and Santa Fe in Cebu Province, Siquijor Province, and Ormoc City are part of the 11 disaster response teams in VisMin that received one Ligtas Kit each that comes with a workshop to fully equip the responders.

“As a disaster-prone city, it is one of our priorities to improve our resilience during calamities, and this kit is a helpful tool to make that happen,” Ciriaco Tolibao II, Head of Ormoc City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (DRRMO) said.

The PLDT-Smat Group also provided Ligtas kits to communities affected by Super Typhoon Odette, including the Province of Surigao del Norte and the municipalities of Pilar and Dapa.

Genevie Sumaylo, a responder from Pilar DRRMO said that the Ligtas Kit is a great aid to the DRRM Office as they can now quickly respond to any emergencies and communicate with the responders on the ground.  “We're grateful to PLDT and Smart for the programs they extended to Siargao Island,” she added.

PLDT and Smart also enable various organizations’ emergency warnings through Smart Infocast, a web-based text-broadcasting solution that enables LGUs to easily broadcast messages within their communities more efficiently.

Cagayan de Oro City, Tagum City, and Datu Odin Sinsuat in Mindanao are also among the LGUs that are now better equipped to continue responding to the communities they serve.

With the Visayas and Mindanao (VisMin) area getting its fair share of calamities, disaster resilience has become one of the top priorities of local government units there thus, PLDT and Smart reinforce government efforts through technology and communications support. (Photos: PLDT/Smart-FB)

NUSTAR celebrates Xmas with the children at the Parian Drop-in Center

 CEBU CITY – NUSTAR Resort and Casino celebrated Christmas with the Children of Cebu Foundation, particularly the Parian Drop-in Center, a halfway house and processing center for children in need of special protection on December 16 with some members of the NUSTAR family.

They hosted a Christmas party for the kids at the center where they treated the children with games and food, while NUSTAR’s Santa Claus personally delivered and handed out gifts during the party.

The Children of Cebu Foundation Inc., chaired by Margot Osmeña, operates the Parian Drop-in Center which   currently houses 18 children aged 3 to 15. For 31 years, it has helped 5,000 children to have a better chance in life and break the cycle of abuse and poverty in their families.

The children are taught life skills at the center and are exposed to educational programs and socio-cultural activities. Support and donations from various groups in the city help the center achieve its objectives for the children.

As “The New Star of the Holidays”, NUSTAR Resort and Casino introduces an island of new celebrations. Throughout the Christmas season, the region’s first premier integrated resort is creating the merriest of moments for guests through engaging holiday-themed events and enchanting experiences.

Christmas is universally considered as the most wonderful time of the year. As soon as the festive décor and lights are up, everything instantly becomes more beautiful and magical.

During its first tree lighting ceremony in November, NUSTAR’s executives and special guests adorned the tree at the Casino Grand Lobby with the 5 Stars of Christmas to symbolize joy, hope, peace, love, and The New Star.

The New Star is a reminder of what the true essence of Christmas is. Most people use this time to be generous and give back. For NUSTAR Resort and Casino, bringing value to the community and generating a positive impact form part of the company’s purpose. (Photos: NUSTAR/Noreen Tormis)

 

             

 

           

PLDT, Smart bring mental health support to communities in VisMin

CEBU CITY -- PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications, Inc. joined hands with local government units, non-government organizations, and religious groups in Visayas and Mindanao to help build mental health support groups in grassroots communities.

Over 150 youth volunteers were trained to become PFA responders in VisMin, and more than 100,000 people were reached by the mental health online series across the country.

The youth are growing up alongside technology and so it is our responsibility, as a technology company, to enable them to live up to their full potential in a safe and kind environment both online and offline, according to Stephanie Orlino, Head of Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart.

“Through our digital wellness advocacy, we spark conversations on mental health awareness, empower communities to positively impact young Filipinos through PFA trainings, channel sports and arts for strong mental resilience and wellbeing, and advocate policies that make the youth feel safer and happier,” Orlino said.

The Group conducted online mental health series, and Psychological First Aid (PFA) trainings upskilling the youth to provide immediate response to the psychological needs of disaster or trauma-affected youth and adults.

These efforts seek to challenge the stigma on mental health problems, promote the use of digital technologies to spread the advocacy, and set up a wider network of PFA responders enabling a correct line of information when mental health concerns arise.

In Cebu, the group partnered with the Archdiocese of Cebu’s Commission on Youth to train youth volunteers on the basics of PFA. 

Consequently, the same training was conducted to health workers on Siargao Island enabled by their partnership with the Rural Health Unit of General Luna. While in Gensan and Butuan City, the Group continues to support their SK Federations’ campaign for a mental-health friendly city.

“We are grateful to PLDT and Smart for partnering with us in our mental health advocacy. This is timely given the increase in mental health concerns among the youth. With the stereotypes surrounding mental health, we need to conduct more dialogues about it,” Cynth Zephanee Nietes, SK Federation President of Butuan City said. (Photos: PLDT/Smart FB/Google Images)

 

Royal Air launches Cebu to Caticlan direct flight, December 17

LAPULAPU CITY – Local carrier, Royal Air launched its inaugural Cebu-Caticlan direct flight on December 17 with a ceremonial water cannon salute before its take-off bound for Caticlan Airport.

Recognized as one of the World’s Greatest Places of 2022 by TIME, Boracay known for its postcard-sunset and white-sand beaches, is a sought-after all year-round destination for both tourists and locals.

With this new direct flight, it has become easier and with more options to reach the world-renowned island from Cebu.  Enjoy your vacation soon and book your tickets now at flyroyalair.com. (Photos: MCIA/Edilyth Maribojoc)