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RCBC Empowers Calauan’s Digital Transformation

Calauan, a 2nd class municipality in Laguna, takes a big leap to promote greater financial inclusion and massive digital transformation of its local government and residents in its quest to become a “Smart City” by collaborating with the country’s multi-awarded and leading challenger bank, the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC).

In a grand ceremony during the celebration of the municipality’s Pinya Festival, RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva and Calauan Mayor Roseller Caratihan, with the presence and support of all the members of the Municipal Council, sealed the partnership between RCBC and Calauan LGU through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding as the initial step towards developing a framework that will propel Calauan’s economic growth and create a thriving digital payment ecosystem for the municipality.  Under this engagement, RCBC shall provide a payment gateway and digital disbursement solution for the LGU, and access to banking services at the barangay level through its various digital innovations such as DiskarTech, ATM Go, and NegosyanTech digital mSME, among others.

In the same event, RCBC launched its Moneybela Barangayan Banking to kick off initiatives to go down to the communities of Calauan and directly engage with the people as part of its financial inclusion advocacy. The RCBC Moneybela aims to onboard the unbanked and underserved individuals in Calauan to the formal financial system by spreading digital financial literacy and assisting in opening Basic Deposit Accounts through RCBC DiskarTech.  RCBC strongly supports the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)’s National Financial Inclusion Strategy and Digital Payments Transformation Roadmap which targets to onboard 70% of the adult Filipino population into the formal banking system and digitize 50% of all retail  payments by the end of 2023.

In his message, Villanueva said, “This day marks a historic chapter, both for the Municipality of Calauan and RCBC. It signifies the beginning of a meaningful public-private partnership for the people of Calauan. We are very excited about this and fully support your vision for Calauan to be a Smart City.”

 Villanueva also added, “Through our technology, it will be easier for Calaueños to pay taxes and other fees to the local government, the delivery of financial assistance to those in need will be expedited, and essential financial services will be brought closer to every Calaueño.”

Speaking to the attendees from various barangay in Calauan, Mayor Osel Caratihan commended RCBC and underscored the significant benefits that the partnership brings to the residents of Calauan. He highlighted the positive impact of the collaboration, stating that it will facilitate the accessibility of assistance to the local community. Individuals can receive the support they need by simply registering and visiting the barangay. Mayor Caratihan proudly mentioned that Calauan is at the forefront among LGUs in Laguna, being the first to establish such a program.

Launched in October 2022, the RCBC MoneyBela Barangayan Banking is a flagship program of RCBC to bring banking services closer to remote and rural communities. Last year, RCBC piloted this initiative during the Kadayawan Festival in Davao City and Masskara Festival in Bacolod City, and early this year, in the Dinagyang Festival of Iloilo City.

 

RCBC is one of the country’s fastest-growing banks, now ranked as the Philippines’ 5th largest privately-owned universal bank in terms of assets from 8th in 2019, and the most awarded for its banking innovations. Among its global and local recognitions include a three-peat award as the Philippines’ Best Bank for Digital by Asiamoney, back-to-back wins for Best Financial Inclusion App by The Asian Banker’s Financial Technology Innovations Awards, and the YouTube Challenger award for its viral and out-of-the-box digital ad campaigns generating combined views of over 17 million. Just recently, RCBC was also hailed as the Grand Champion for Digital Payments and Financial Inclusion by the Bankers Institute of the Philippines.

 

#RCBC #Calauan #Laguna #financialinclusion #digitaltransformation #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

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Men in Business & Power – collaborating for business and social progress

On a very rare occasion, leaders from various organizations gathered for an afternoon coffee and tea session recently held at the Rockwell Club in Makati. The event fostered exchanging of thoughts and best practices on how each of their businesses can continually improve in creating a positive impact in the country.

The event was coined as the Men in Business and Power meeting, as indeed attended by seasoned and influential entrepreneurs in the country. Former AFFI Executive Director, Raffy Galang Canare, a socially active business community builder and social entrepreneur, championed the event. The event was highlighted by the powerful talks presented by Potato Corner Co-Founder, Jorge Wieneke, Rairaiken CEO, Joey Garcia, Social Spiritual Entrepreneur Leader and Tangere Partner, Jonathan Camcam, and ASEAN Business Leader Awardee, Rosanna Llenado.  The event was attended by key business organization leaders such as the Rotary Club of Greenfield District, JCI Makati, Philippine Marketing Association, Assn. of Filipino Franchisers, Inc., Financial Executives Institute Inc., Philippine Ecommerce Assn of the Philippines, World Trade Center Business Club and members of the Business Press Corp.

The event aims to provide a venue to gather key opinion leaders and businessmen to network and exchange business thoughts and ideas. MBP Lead Convenor, Raffy Canare envisioned to continue to bridge big players and small business players in collaborating for business and social progress.

 

#MBP #businessleaders #entrepreneur #RockwellClub #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

 

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Asia CEO Awards returns to honor the movers and shakers shaping Philippine Business

Nominations are open for the 2023 awards season.

 Manila, Philippines — Over the past year, business leaders all around the world and across the country had one goal in mind – growing the economy in a post-pandemic setting. The industry landscape experienced numerous ebbs and flows in recent months. Companies with leaders who can pivot and diversify their business are the ones changing the game. The Asia CEO Awards 2023 returns to give recognition to these movers and shakers, honoring their commitment to the progressive Philippines.

Now in its 14th year, the Asia CEO Awards is reimagining its overall mission and vision, in line with the rapidly-shifting world around it. ACA founder Rebecca Bustamante hopes to further reinforce the Philippines’ standing as a center of business excellence and sees the awards as a platform to develop future industry leaders. “The Philippines has so many business leaders waiting in the wings for their chance to drive the economy to greater heights. They are strong, compassionate, and resilient,” shares Bustamante. “We see this every year, and now we want to do our part to help nurture this potential.”

For 2023 and beyond, the ACA’s rallying cry is ONE TRUE PRIZE. Bustamante and her team were inspired by the idea of the awards being the first, genuine, and among the highly-regarded peer organizations in the country. They hope to set a standard for excellence for others, and that their recognition will inspire a positive impact on the community.

Asia CEO Awards – Rebecca Bustamante and Richard Mills present their donation to Globe’s Hapag Movement.

Nominations for the 2023 batch of game-changing and accomplished organizations are now open.

Philippine-based individuals and corporations who have shown exemplary leadership achievements in their work in the region over the past year are eligible for the awards. Criteria for each category zeroes in on a positive contribution to the development of the country’s economic capabilities and international reputation through their work, business involvement, or heritage. Coupled with a heart for the Filipino people, these nominees will be paving the way for a brighter future for the country.

The award categories open for nominations are

Airspeed SME Company of the Year  

Figari Entrepreneur of the Year

Foundever Young Leader of the Year

Kyani Wellness Company of the Year  

Lionheart Farms Sustainability Company of the Year   

Microsourcing Service Excellence Company of the Year 

PLDT Enterprise Global Filipino Executive of the Year

iCXeed Diversity Company of the Year

Reed Elsevier Top Employer of the Year

Sprout Solutions Technology Company of the Year
United Neon Most Innovative Company of the Year

CSR Company of the Year

Expatriate Executive of the Year

Executive Leadership Team of the Year

 Nominations are now open and will end on August 15, 2023.

At the recently concluded media launch, the esteemed panel of judges for this year’s awards were announced. Reviewing the entries will be the likes of Architect Jun Palafox, business leaders Bing Sibal-Limjoco, and Don Felbaum, PWC Chairman Alex Cabrera, public and private sector figure Darlene Berberabe, and economist Bernie Villegas. Finalists for each award category are announced once a shortlist has been made by the panel.

The Circle of Excellence Awardees and the Grand Winners will be presented at the 2032 Asia CEO Awards to be held in October of this year.

Going beyond just the pageantry of an awards night, the ACA is putting in the work. During this year’s presentation, Bustamante will be launching the Learning Excellence & Active Development (L.E.A.D.) Center. The promise is a transforming experience, aligned with the idea that “Together we can do more.” It is focused on producing highly competent, well-rounded, proactive individuals who will be the future drivers of the nation. Through diversity, equity, and inclusion, they hope to build a foundation for informed and intelligent business practices across all sectors. The leadership development framework will also include advocacy and outreach work for poverty and hunger alleviation. The L.E.A.D. programs  will be initially offered online this April, but they hope to hold sessions in their soon-to-be-built Tagaytay facility.

The ACA and its programs are made possible by valuable partners who have shared the same vision over the years. For 2023, Globe Telecom returns as the grand title sponsor. Their participation extends beyond the awards, highlighted by their support of the L.E.A.D Center program through nation-building initiatives. In turn, the ACA presented a donation to Globe’s landmark project, The Hapag Movement, during the media launch.

PWC’s Alex Cabrera delivers the welcome remarks at the Asia CEO Awards media launch.

Asia CEO Awards Elite award sponsors include Airspeed International, Figari, Foundever, Kiyani, Lionheart Farms Corporation, Microsourcing, PLDT Enterprise, Reed Elsevier, Sprout Solutions Philippines, Inc., IcXceed, and United Neon. Prestige sponsors are Beepo, and PSG Global Solutions. Stepping in as a knowledge partner is PWC. Official Venue Partner Marriott Hotel Manila. Media partners are ANC, BusinessWorld, Business Mirror, The Philippine Star, The Manila Times, SMNI, Net25, and The Philippine Business And News. PR Partner is A-List Partners and Consulting, Inc.

As the Philippines moves forward into the future, the Asia CEO Awards is focused on supporting the business community and its nation-building efforts. They continue to work to achieve a stronger economy and first-world status for the Filipino people.

For more information, visit the Asia CEO Awards website, and on Facebook.

 

#AsiaCEOAwards #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

 

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Canadian Embassy ties with FinTech Alliance.PH to elevate Filipino FinTech in global scene

FinTech Alliance. ph, the Philippines’ premier digital trade organization, which is composed of startups and unicorns that account for over 90% of digital-initiated transactions volume in the country, has teamed up with the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines to showcase the Filipino fintech talent at upcoming global events including AsiaTech x Singapore (ATxSG) and Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF) happening in Singapore, and Collision 2023 that will take place in Toronto, Canada.

This collaboration aims to promote excellence, ingenuity, and diligence of the Filipino FinTech players on the world stage by connecting them with global partners for cross-border digital technologies and services, including e-commerce payments and remittances for expertise building, knowledge exchange, technical assistance, and investment stimulation. The Embassy of Canada’s Trade Commissioner Service in the Philippines will be facilitating business-to-business meetings between Filipino FinTech players and Canadian companies exhibiting at these events.

“This collaboration presents an exciting opportunity to leverage our collective strengths and expertise as Filipino FinTech players, and bring innovative financial solutions to the global stage. Through this collaboration, we aim to create a thriving ecosystem for FinTech innovation, and contribute to the sustainable economic development of the Philippines,” said Lito Villanueva, Founding Chairman, Fintech Alliance. ph.

“The Canadian FinTech ecosystem is highly competitive and is home to over 850 companies and several financial hubs, the largest being Toronto. This collaboration would open opportunities for Canadian FinTech players to connect and do business with key partners in the fast-growing economy of the Philippines, as well as foster and sustain a successful FinTech innovation ecosystem,” said Guy Boileau, Senior Trade Commissioner of the Embassy of Canada.

AsiaTech x Singapore is the gateway to the world’s fastest-growing digital economy and leading platform where the international tech and enterprise communities congregate for conversations and networking that set the agenda for key tech trends, governance, and innovation impacting businesses and society in the region. This year’s conference will happen in Singapore.

The Singapore Fintech Festival brings together the global FinTech community to engage, connect, and collaborate on issues relating to the development of financial services, public policy, and technology. As the world’s largest FinTech festival, last year’s edition brought together over 62,000 participants from 115 countries. SFF is organized by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Elevandi, and Constellar and in collaboration with the Association of Banks in Singapore.

Collision 2023, North America’s fastest-growing tech conference dubbed as the “Olympics of Tech,” will feature sessions that gather tech experts, cultural icons, and global policymakers, as well as interactive Q&As, masterclasses, roundtables, and speaker experiences.

 

#FinTechAlliancePH #CanadianEmbassy #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph

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Essence of Cleopatra Aromatherapy: How a couple’s love revolutionized aromatherapy

Lloyd and Judith Barran seemed to have it all– a blossoming business, a great marriage, but one must simply know how they came to achieve all of this. There is one word for it: love.

 

A couple’s shared love and passion

 Before they married and had three wonderful children, Lloyd and Judith were in different worlds– almost literally. Lloyd was born in Guyana, South America while Judith first saw the light of the world in Davao, Philippines. Even as a young man, Lloyd did everything with passion and grit. He was a stellar student– up till he entered college at the University of Saskatchewan, he continued his love for science by taking up Pharmacy.

However, science took a break for a while when he went back to Guyana to become a corporate secretary to six companies in the Booker, McConnell Group of Companies. It was a great undertaking, but his love for science still prevailed as he went back to Canada, eventually opening up a retail pharmacy that lasted for 25 years. That was the time when Lloyd met Judith– an encounter like no other.

 

Judith and Lloyd Barran: The couple’s love for aromatherapy and their strong bond has been crucial for the Essence of Cleopatra Aromatherapy, Presenting Cleopatra Luxury Skincare to rise to greater heights.

 

Judith was a Commerce graduate, but she was also keen on discovering and making new paths for herself. She studied interior decorating, and affluent people from Davao would acquire her to decorate their mansions. She followed her heart and married Lloyd in 1992, and moved to Canada a year later. In 2000, She attended Aromatherapy school, and Lloyd followed her the next year. Their love for each other and their interest in aromatherapy brought forth the existence of Essence of Cleopatra Aromatherapy, Presenting Cleopatra Luxury Skincare– a testament of dedication and passion to their craft.

 

Judith is currently focused on marketing its products in Western Canada, preparing for the launch of its product in the fall of 2022.

 

A product of their love and dedication 

The Essence of Cleopatra Aromatherapy, Presenting Cleopatra Luxury Skincare features a wide range of products that seek to enlighten one’s well-being and promote a healthy and invigorated lifestyle as well. Like the name Cleopatra, which originated from Ancient Egypt, they also want their customers to experience beauty in its most refreshing form. They have several products that seek to help people feel naturally better. They have several aromatherapy blends for Muscle & Joint Pain, Cold Sores, Headaches, and Cold & Flu, among others. All of their products are made from 100% essential oils and are used and recommended by doctors and dermatologists alike.

During the pandemic, they have also created their skincare line, Cleopatra Luxury Skincare. It features a variety of luxury serums–the Scar and Stretch Mark serum, the Youth Serum Elixir, and the Acne Blend. Customers from all over the world have been raving about it, as it enhances their youthful beauty and nourishes the skin!

On to greater heights

 Despite all the odds, the couple’s love for aromatherapy and their strong bond has been crucial for the Essence of Cleopatra Aromatherapy, Presenting Cleopatra Luxury Skincare to rise to greater heights. Their partnership, sense of duty, and love for each other have helped them grow together and as individuals. In turn, the Essence of Cleopatra Aromatherapy is now growing and thriving, never backing down.

 

Lloyd and Judith are now hand in hand in managing their business, which has also helped people from all around the world discover what it takes to take their health and beauty to a higher level. Judith is currently focused on marketing its products in Western Canada, preparing for the launch of its product in the fall of 2022. One thing is for sure– their love for aromatherapy and each other will never waver, much like the Essence of Cleopatra Aromatherapy’s success.

For more information, visit www.essenceofcleopatra.com.

 

#EssenceofCleopatra #luxuryskincare #LloydandJudithBarran #AlbertaCanada #rubyspreciousmoments #rubyasoyph