BPI and McDonald’s Open 24/7 Cashless McDelivery

It sometimes happens. You get hungry or crave for take out food but you are unable to leave home or the office for the next couple of hours or so. You'd like to call a delivery service but you find out you haven't enough cash to pay for your order. What do you do? Here's one solution that's open to BPI card holders :)

Press Release:

Industry leaders, the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and McDonald’s, pioneer the first 24/7 cashless fast-food delivery system through BPI’s mobile banking service. BPI, which will celebrate its 160th year, and McDonald’s, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, launched another new milestone in mobile technology through the 24/7 Express Mobile Banking facility, the BPI-i.Can MOBILE MALL.

Through the BPI-i.Can Mobile Mall, McDonald’s now offers a third option for customers to order their favorite food and pay using their mobile phones. This technology puts the McDonald’s menu on a mobile phone of a BPI customer, allows him to select his favorite McDonald’s food, and pay for this directly via real time debit from his nominated BPI account. The process does not require cash handling since the client simply selects the deposit account from where the payment will be debited. The McDonald’s menu is available upon downloading the BPI-i.Can Mobile Mall applet.

“Taking our first step this year, we are pioneering a service that will provide more convenience to our customers as they bank with us. Now they can have their favorite McDonald’s menu on their mobile phones and skip the customer service hotline and cash payment, as BPI brings McDonald’s McDelivery in our Mobile Mall,” says Teresita Tan, Executive Vice President and Head of Overseas Banking and Channels Services Group, BPI.

Through i.Can Worldwide’s technology, the BPI-i.Can Mobile Mall is able to provide BPI account users convenient mobile banking service, which includes ordering, and paying for products and services of BPI’s accredited mobile mall merchants including Ayala Cinemas, Rustan’s, Philips, the SSI Group, PowerMac and Memo Express. McDonald’s McDelivery is the newest addition to the Mobile Mall.

"Parallel to our thrust to provide excellent dining convenience to them, we are pioneering a cashless McDelivery, an evidence of McDonald’s innovativeness in reaching out to the changing lifestyles of our customers,” says Mr. Kenneth Yang, McDonald’s President and CEO.

In photo (L-R) Mr. John Carlyle Quimbo, President, i.Can Worldwide; Ms. Teresita Tan, EVP and Head of Overseas Banking and Channels Services, BPI; Ms. Jojo Ocampo, SVP and Chief Marketing Officer, BPI; Ms. Margot Torres, VP for Marketing, McDonald’s Philippines; and Mr. Ronald McDonald.

To know more about the BPI-i.Can Mobile Mall, log on to www.mybpimag.com or www.bpiexpressonline.com.

VoiceOne and ECCP Partnership

Businesses in the Philippines, particularly those that are already members of the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP), have just become more accessible to existing and future customers from all over the world!

Press Release: VoiceOne empowers ECCP’s website with integration of WebTalk, forges long-standing partnership

Members of the ECCP can now enjoy increased visibility to existing and potential clients and partners worldwide, with the integration of WebTalk, the first complete and fully functional communication services via the web, on the chamber’s newly renovated website.

“The European Chamber of Commerce believes that in building business relationships, especially on a global scale, communication is key," says Mr. Henry Schumacher, Executive Vice President of ECCP. "This partnership between VoiceOne Asia and ECCP aims to bridge the gap between now and the future. We are changing how enterprises and individuals communicate by harnessing the power of the internet, empowering their voice and increasing their visibility.”

In Photo (From L-R): Partners towards enhancing globalisation through IP Communications.  
Mr. Henry Schumacher, Executive Vice President of ECCP; 
Mr. Hubert d’Aboville, President of ECCP; 
and Mr. Cyril Rocke, President and CEO of VoiceOne Asia.

With the integration of WebTalk technology to the chamber’s website (www.eccp.com), members can now enjoy several benefits that can improve customer service and promotion. These benefits include: members’ flexibility to assign their preferred tags to their company profile to derive the desired results when searched on the internet; the option to upload pictures or e-brochures of member’s products on the profile for free; and the opportunity for members to offer customers to make free calls to their company via the WebTalk voice service.

Mr. Cyril Rocke, President of VoiceOne Asia, believes that this groundbreaking technology can open up more possibilities of using VoIP technology in their businesses. He says, “Using VoIP technology will help enterprises achieve an edge over competitors when it comes to business communications. Big and small business alike can enjoy strengthened communications with reduced costs leading them to better operations and helping them dominate their respective markets for a very long time.”

15th National AUTISM Consciousness Week Celebration (January 16 to 23, 2011)

Theme: “AUTISMO PAGHANDAAN: Maagap na Deteksyon at Interbensyon Isakatuparan”

Autism is now considered the fastest rising developmental disability in the world, autism prevalence in children rose from 1:150 to 1:110. (Released by Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network in 2009). More will be diagnosed with autism than diabetes, cancer and AIDS combined in the coming years. Recognizing the gravity and urgency of this situation, United Nations General Assembly declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day (WAAD) in 2008.

Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how an individual interprets what he sees, hears, and touches, thereby impairing his understanding and use of language and his adaptation to his environment. Autism is not curable but is treatable. When a child is diagnosed and receives intervention early in life; given the appropriate education and therapy; they can become self-reliant and productive members of society.

In the Philippines, almost 1 million Filipino families are estimated to be affected with autism. Autism Society Philippines (ASP) has been in the forefront of providing services to families affected with autism. ASP has grown from the 11 mothers who bonded together for the causes of their children in 1989, to more than 7,000 members, with 47 chapters all over the country

Mandated in 1996 by former President Fidel V. Ramos, Presidential Proclamation No. 711 or Autism Consciousness Week aims to promote awareness on autism and the provision of appropriate social services to persons with autism. Every third week of January, ASP spearheads the celebration.

The theme for this year, “AUTISMO PAGHANDAAN: Maagap na Deteksyon at Interbensyon Isakatuparan” reflects ASP’s 22 years of commitment to continue expanding programs and services especially the early detection and intervention of children with autism. With the rising incidence of autism, the Philippine society must be prepared and equipped with proper knowledge and skills in dealing with this situation.

The event is in partnership with SM Programs on Disability Affairs, SM Supermalls, SM Prime, National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), House of Representatives Committee on Social Services, Buhay Party List, Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Katipunan ng May Kapansanan sa Pilipinas (KAMPI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Department of Education (DepEd), Bagumbayani, Archdiocese of Manila Office of Persons with Disabilities Ministry (AMO-PDM) and Liliane Foundation.

Be an Angel for Autism. Support the 15th National Autism Consciousness Week. Be a partner in early detection of and early intervention for children with autism. It makes a lot of difference in their development!

Click here for the schedule of the ACW activities this week. For more information call 926 6941 or 929 8447 or visit www.autismsocietyph.org or autismsocietyphilippines.blogspot.com

Jollitown live musical brings Jollibee magic to kids nationwide

Press Release:

Children across the Philippines jumped with enthusiasm and excitement as the country’s number one fast-food chain brought the musical, Jollitown: Good Friends Are All Around live on stage to schools and malls nationwide. Young fans of the hit children’s TV show eagerly watched the colorful extravaganza starring their favorite mascot characters Jollibee, Hetty, Popo, Yum and Twirlie singing and dancing live.

The production toured from Manila to the provinces and back, giving kids nationwide a Jollibee experience to remember. Performances by young Jollitown talents also made the play extra fun and endearing to watch.

The play revolves around a shy seven-year-old boy who, having found his way to Jollitown where he met Jollibee and his friends, learned the lessons of friendship, joy and confidence.

Every show also kicked off with fun games that the kids and even their parents happily joined.

“We want to bring the magic of Jollitown to more kids nationwide, and through this musical we also hope to convey to them that Jollibee is a perfect place to have fun and make friends,” says Jollibee Marketing Manager Coleen Niguidula-Ducusin. “Similar to the Jollitown TV show, our young audience can learn positive things along the way while enjoying watching their favorite mascots live.”

Children who watched Jollitown: Good Friends Are All Around had a blast. For 10-year old Iñigo Suapengco, it was not just entertaining and fun, but full of lessons too. “I learned that friends are important and life is more fun with them. I also enjoyed seeing Jollibee perform live as well as my other favorite character, Yum. I like Yum because I am a gadgets guy, too.”

Seven-year old Maverick Montesa was delighted by the opening games and show. “They were exciting and I learned that every kid should be helpful towards others.”

As the magic of Jollitown reached more children across the country, Jollibee continued to spread positive values, lessons and experiences to help them live a brighter, jollier life.

Children's Craft Book Promotes Recyling

This month, Museo Pambata opens a new room called I Love My Planet Earth which is centered on helping save the environment. In line with this advocacy, the interactive museum also launched a book entitled 101 Crafts to Make With Toilet Paper Roll Tubes. It shows children how to creatively reuse toilet paper tubes that usually end up as trash.

101 Crafts to Make With toilet Paper Roll Tubes features 116 colorful pages of step-by-step photos. With these, kids can make their own toys, games and gifts from various items found in their homes. This is Museo Pambata's way to inspire children to use their creativity and imagination in turning waste materials into useful things.

The book is now available at the museum's Pasalubong Shop and will soon be available in other bookstores.

*Museo Pambata is the Philippines' premier children's interactive museum that has various exhibits and programs promoting love and care for the environment.

Orosman at Zafira Set to Open on Feb 4

Catch this wonderful play this coming February. Read more about the story below. You can find my thoughts on my first view of the teaser production in my other blog as well as photos I took during the sneak peek at the press con last week. You can also find there more info on play dates and about the members of the cast and the production team.



Press Release:

Imagine living in a time when poetry was simply an everyday language. Beauty was magnified ten folds, pandemonium was disguised in lyrical verses, and love was simply glorious. But what happens when chaos is translated into poetry?

Dulaang UP, in partnership with Bit by Bit Development Company, is bringing back its blockbuster production of Francisco Baltazar’s OROSMAN AT ZAFIRA. Set to open on February 4, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. at the SM Mall of Asia Centerstage Theater, OROSMAN AT ZAFIRA will run until February 26, 2011.

OROSMAN AT ZAFIRA tells the story of the struggle for power of three kingdoms: Marueccos, Tedenst, and Duquela. It is a komedya written by Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar—a prominent Filipino poet known for his “Florante at Laura” and widely considered as the Tagalog counterpart of William Shakespeare because of his impact on Filipino literature.

Amid hatred and war where two individuals find love, this contemporary adaptation of Baltazar's text highlights the strength of the Filipina and celebrates the uniqueness of Philippine culture through original music and dance. But the universality of this play lies in the encompassing love that all of the characters of this play are in constant search for: “Pag-ibig, pag-ibig, at pag-ibig pa rin.”

OROSMAN AT ZAFIRA is a modernization of Baltazar’s famous komedya, a remake of a tradition that made it more accessible to this generation. Not to be mistaken as comedy, a komedya is taken from the Spanish comedia, a generic term of drama. It was brought over by Spanish colonizers as an evangelizing tool. It usually had plots about saints or warring kingdoms, and used staging conventions like structured choreographed entrances and exits.

The story of OROSMAN AT ZAFIRA begins with Zelima, daughter of Ben-Asar, right vizier of Boulasem, the pacha of the Kingdom of Tedenst. She sings about Mahamud, sultan of the entire realm and pacha of the Kingdom of Marruecos, and his call for a feast.

All the pachas of the realm have been invited, including Boulasem and Zelim, the pacha of the Kingdom of Duquela. Boulasem suspects that Mahamud secretly plans to kill all the pachas to gain absolute power. His paranoia leads him to order the murder of Mahamud during the feast—this results in a cycle of war, murder and treachery.

Gulnara, courtesan of Mahamud, and Zafira, orphaned daughter of the Sultan, begin the first war. Lust for power causes the war to drag on. Boulasem’s son, Abdalap, murders his own father to inherit the throne. He also threatens to put his brother Orosman to death so that he will be free to marry Orosman’s lover Zafira.

Many more lives are sacrificed all because of the greed for power. Will it ever end?

CHARICE: Filipino Superstar

If you haven't yet seen and heard Charice Pempengco sing live, this is your chance. Start the New Year with a bang by catching her at Enchanted Kingdom this coming January 9. Read on for the latest updates on this remarkable young lady.

Press Release: A Magical Tale

A Star’s Humble Beginnings. Not everybody knows that Charmaine Clarice Relucio Pempengco, or simply Charice, was a neighbor of Enchanted Kingdom’s beloved wizard, Eldar, as she was born in Laguna on May 10, 1992.

She and her younger brother were raised by a single mother who had not been afraid to share their story – how they struggled, and how Charice was pressured to help support their family by joining whatever singing trysts she can find. She had been attending amateur tilts in fiestas beyond her hometown, where she shares that she had been part of almost a hundred singing contests, exercising those magnificent vocal chords since she was seven years old.

Charice also tried her luck in local show business. In 2005, she joined Little Big Star where she had been eliminated right after her first performance. Luckily, she was called back in as a wildcard contender and made her way to the grand finals. She only emerged a runner-up and was then forgotten after her stint at the talent show.

But, as they say, if it is not a happy ending, then it is not yet the end.

YouTube Sensation. Call it fate, luck or whatever term applicable. In 2007, a supporter using the pseudonym FalseVoice began posting a series of her performance videos on YouTube. These videos instantly received over 13 milion hits, catapulting Charice to YouTube Singing Sensation status. That is where her meteoric rise to stardom happened as if overnight with her first guest appearance on Ellen, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, who discovered the petite singing sensation on YouTube. After that, respected talk show host Oprah Winfrey, also one of the most powerful and wealthiest women on earth,  invited Charice to guest several times in the show and moreover dubbing her as the Most Talented Girl in the World. More doors were opened for Charice as she also appeared in other shows and had her very first stint in Hollywood in one of the Alvin and the Chipmunks movies.

Shortly after releasing her first hit single Pyramid with fellow artist Iyaz, Charice will forever remain in history as the first solo Asian artist to land in the Top Ten of the Billboard 200 album chart. Pyramid is a very inspirational song with beautiful lyrics and a testament to how powerful her singing voice is. She is indeed a small lady with a big voice!

Of course, numerous offers to appear in shows and endorse products and corporations poured in to overwhelm this talented young lady who had never shown that her feet have left the ground. She continues to captivate people not only with her mesmerizing voice and brilliant performances, but also with her humble and bubbly personality.

Move over, Leah Michelle. The star of the hit musicale TV series, Glee, along with the rest of the cast and crew confessed to being blown away with the powerful voice of Charice, who appeared as a guest star named Sunshine Corazon. The world watched as she sang her own rendition of Beyonce Knowles’ “Listen,” which made the whole Philippines stop and cheer for joy after her flawless performance. She also was able to sing her version of Lady Gaga’s “Telephone,” among her many superb performances in the program.

Charice is currently working on her sophomore studio album, in which she will collaborate with another talented superstar, Sean Garrett. And while she is not breaking barriers with her jaw-dropping voice and performances, more and more people have been noticing her, like international singing star, Josh Groban who states that her voice is the most beautiful that he has heard in a long time. Composer David Foster noticed that Charice also has the ability to mimic the voices of other people, which is one of the best abilities of only the best singers. Going back to Glee, its executive music producer, Ryan Murphy, perfectly describes her voice by stating, “When that girl opens her mouth, angels fly out.”

Pretty soon, Charice will come back home to Laguna, where she is bound to make Eldar’s Enchanted Kingdom of 15 years much more magical than it has ever been. Brace yourselves on January 9 for EK’s Enchanting Christmas treat for all as Charice comes home and gives a powerful concert at the park grounds.

Entitled Enchanting New Year’s Cheers with Charice, the concert is still part of EK’s 15th anniversary celebration. It will definitely be a New Year treat for all to cherish. Admission is free.

For more details, contact Enchanted Kingdom’s Makati Sales Office at 812-7232, 584-3535, 584-4326 to 29, or log on to their website at www.enchantedkingdom.com. You can also read the other press release about the show in my other blog.