Aspiring Baker-Entrepreneurs Win Big At URC Flourish Pilipinas Competition

 

Universal Robina Corporation (URC) Flour Division recently awarded six aspiring entrepreneurs with bakery start-up packages in its baking business competition, Flourish Pilipinas 2022: The CEO Initiative.

The competition is part of URC’s efforts to support young Filipino bakers who dream of becoming future CEOs of their own baking businesses.

Participants from the Manila and Davao leg of The CEO Initiative were immersed in a series of technical trainings and business lectures. These aimed to hone their potential and equip them with knowledge that can be useful as they start their venture.

Six finalists made it to the final phase where they presented their business plans to a panel of experienced entrepreneurs. In the end, Manila leg’s Sandra Camille Montenegro, with her “3 Cs” (Cookies & Cream and Corn Cookies), and Davao leg’s Ericka Mae Tuliao of Davao, with “Kaka Mangifera”, were declared the grand prize winners. They each took home a start-up online bakery package worth P200,000.

The first and second runners-up were given start-up packages worth P100,000 and P50,000, respectively. All the winners received top-of-the-line baking equipment, high-quality ingredients and access to industry network.

The CEO Initiative is one of the many activities under “Flourish Pilipinas”, URC’s program that aims to support the baking industry of the country. Since its launch in 2017, URC has conducted several activities that promote bread and pastry baking as a viable form of livelihood for Filipinos.

For more information and updates on URC Flour, follow its Facebook page. For more info about URC, visit its official website.

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OPPO Reno8 5G Is The Perfect Companion For Pursuing Your 2023 Goals

New Year, New Me is a tradition we always make when welcoming another year. And yes, it is the perfect time to prepare another set of goals and resolutions we aim to accomplish. As OPPO believes nothing should hold you back in your quest to become a new you, the global smart device brand has the OPPO Reno8 5G 12GB+256GB, popularly known as #ThePortraitExpert, to empower you to succeed in your 2023 goals.

Boost daily productivity this 2023 with its outstanding performance

Fulfilling your New Year’s resolution is much better to do when you have a partner that provides seamless performance. Luckily, the OPPO Reno8 5G 12GB+256GB runs on ColorOS 13 based on Android 13, enabling the device to handle your everyday smartphone demands. These upgraded features include improved Multi-Screen Connect and Nearby Share for smooth connectivity, as well as Auto Pixelate and Private Safe to keep your data secure.

Supported by an upgraded 12GB of RAM, you can effortlessly run multiple applications to conveniently switch from one program to the next for leveled-up productivity. Additionally, it has a sizable 256GB of ROM, so you won’t have problems downloading large files and documents daily. This will also help you store your captured memories and moments this year.

Address your power problems with its fast-charging technology

Because of the digital era, it is always important to have the power to stay connected. Thus, having a long-lasting battery is a must. The good thing is that the Portrait Expert has a 4500mAh battery to provide your device with the juice it needs for the whole day. And if you ever forgot to charge your smartphone, don’t worry because it supports a super-fast charging technology that powers up the battery from 0% to 100% in only 28 minutes. This is thanks to its 80W SUPERVOOC feature.

Level up your outfits with its stylish design

Aside from the device’s remarkable performance, the OPPO Reno8 5G 12GB+256GB also boasts a premium look and build with its lightweight and streamlined unibody design. Now in a new stunning Sunkissed Beige color, this provides a perfect accessory you can partner in any outfits you want to wear in 2023. Its look is even made more exquisite as it showcases an eye-catching gradient visual effect on its rear cover.

Never fail to capture every important moment in 2023 with its innovative camera

To seal the deal, the OPPO Reno8 5G 12GB+256GB is built with dual Sony flagship sensors packed in its front and main cameras. It has a Sony IMX709 sensor in its 32MP selfie shooter and a Sony IMX766 sensor in its 50MP primary camera to capture all your accomplished goals and breakthroughs in 2023.

The device is also integrated with Ultra Night Portrait, so you can snap your important moments even at night in high-quality and Ultra Night Video to allow you to record videos in dimly lit or dark environments. It also has Portrait Mode to provide you with more creative and spectacular selfies in 2023.

Grab #ThePortraitExpert as your perfect partner in fulfilling your 2023 goals! It is available for Php29,999 in OPPO Brand Stores, authorized dealers, and the OPPO Official Shopee Store.

To know more about the OPPO Reno8 5G 12GB+256GB, visit OPPO Philippines’ official website at  https://www.oppo.com/ph/. You can also check OPPO Philippines’ official social media pages on  Facebook, YouTube, and  TikTok. To get the best care for your OPPO devices, visit your nearest OPPO Care Center or contact us on our  website, via  Facebook.

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Smart And Maya Unveil ‘Power Savings’ Exclusive To Smart Postpaid Subscribers

Mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. has partnered with all-in-one money app, Maya, to launch ‘Power Savings,’ an exclusive promo that enables postpaid subscribers to grow their savings faster. 

Under the exclusive promo running from Jan. 16 to Feb. 28, Smart Postpaid subscribers with Plan 999 and up, and who have upgraded their Maya Savings account, can earn an interest rate of up to 7% per annum credited daily – from the base interest rate of 4.5% — one of the highest in the market. 

This gives qualified postpaid subscribers a unique opportunity to grow their money faster and extra cash daily to help them achieve their financial goals. 

Moreover, subscribers can enjoy FREE InstaPay transactions when they transfer funds from other banks to Maya and switch to Maya Savings.  

To avail of Power Savings, eligible Smart Postpaid subscribers simply have to follow these steps:  

First, join Maya and upgrade your account. First-time users can get up to PHP 60.00 Welcome Reward upon upgrade. 

Open a Maya Savings account and go to “Missions” in the app, look for “Smart Postpaid Exclusive” mission and enter the unique Smart Postpaid code (to be sent by Smart via SMS).  

Spend a minimum of PHP 999.00 using Maya on paying for your Smart Postpaid bill or any other bill, scanning to pay, paying with Maya card or shopping online. (Tip: Cash in at least PHP 1,500.00 via InstaPay and get a PHP 25.00 service fee cashback)

Enjoy the daily 7% saving interest rate (for up to PHP 100,000.00 end-of-day deposit balance)

All Maya Savings account holders may also avail of the FREE Maya Card, inside the app.  

Download the Maya App now  

Free to download and register, the Maya app packs a feature-rich e-wallet, an inclusive digital bank, and everything else you need to save, spend, grow, and manage your money—right from your smartphone.

The app is powered by its very own Maya Bank, a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-licensed and Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC)-insured bank to ensure that the money remains safe and secure. With its 99.9% uptime rate, users can expect their transactions to be seamless and with less downtimes. 

Maya was originally known as PayMaya, a leading e-wallet app in the Philippines. It recently rebranded to Maya as it evolved beyond payments with the launch of its own banking and crypto services. This makes Maya the Philippines’ first and only all-in-one money app as it brings together banking, crypto, and wallet features into a seamless customer experience. 

Register your Smart SIM 

Smart Postpaid’s exclusive partnership with Maya for subscribers is just one of the many ways the mobile services provider empowers customers with the best postpaid experience. 

On top of award-winning services, Smart Postpaid subscribers can expect more exclusive rewards and benefits this 2023.

To keep enjoying Smart’s services and perks, postpaid subscribers are encouraged to complete their SIM Registration by confirming the personal information and IDs they submitted for their postpaid plan application. To do this confirmation, subscribers just need to text YES to 5858. They shall then receive a confirmation message from Smart upon successful SIM Registration and get FREE 3 GB data. 

Know the best Smart Signature Plan for your lifestyle at www.smart.com.ph/postpaid.

To know more about this exclusive offer, visit https://www.maya.ph/smartpostpaidoffers.

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Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Your Way to a Zero Waste Life

For many, the beginning of another year is the perfect opportunity to learn and develop new habits, which is why setting new year’s resolutions continues to be a popular tradition. Some of the most common ones include eating healthier, exercising more, discovering new hobbies, and managing finances better. This year, why not make space for one more resolution on your list and try going zero waste for the planet?

Adopting a zero waste lifestyle means minimizing the amount of trash an individual generates daily to reduce waste that ends up in landfills and the environment, which further contributes to global warming and climate change. It is also a way to help mitigate the solid waste crisis in the country as local waste generation is projected to reach 23.6 million tons in 2025 from 21.4 million tons in 2020.

Starting your zero waste journey doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, it can be as simple as practicing the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

Reduce

Believe it or not, this is one of the easiest ways to become zero waste—you just have to limit yourself from buying things that you don’t need. When people purchase more items, more waste is produced and the demand to manufacture also increases, resulting in more impact to the environment.  So the next time you’re out shopping, evaluate first whether the items in your cart are truly worth the space in your home.

Another tip is to cut down on unnecessary single-use items, especially plastics, to lessen one’s waste footprint. They may be convenient to use, but that does not change the fact that they also largely contribute to the solid waste crisis at hand. Invest in reusable items instead. Fortunately, there’s a wide range of reusable alternatives for almost anything nowadays, from water bottles to sanitary products, that makes the switch so much easier.

Reuse

Instead of buying new things, use your resourcefulness and creativity to reuse and/or repurpose items that you have rather than just throwing them away. The possibilities are endless! For example, NESCAFE Gold glass jars make great containers for pens and other trinkets while KOKO KRUNCH cereal boxes can be crafted into gift boxes, bookmarks, and even drawer dividers. You can also give used goods a second chance by purchasing from thrift stores and choosing to repair furniture, household items, and electronics.

Recycle

The waste we generate that cannot be reduced or reused will ultimately need to be recycled. Remember that the recycling process starts at home—it’s our responsibility to properly segregate our trash and make sure our recyclables are clean and dry before collection. Make sure to follow your barangay or LGU’s collection schedule for recyclables or if that’s not applicable, you can also send them to recycling centers or look for the nearest plastic drop-off location nearest to you by visiting #PlasticDropPH.

Kitchen and garden wastes, on the other hand, can be composted to prevent them from ending up in landfills. You can either try backyard composting if you have the space or indoor composting, particularly Bokashi method and vermicomposting,  if you reside in a condominium or apartment.

Choosing to live a zero waste life is not an easy task, but there are many communities both online and offline that can support you with this transition. More and more brands are also doing their part in enabling the public to become more conscious of the waste they produce and how to manage these properly.

Nestle Philippines, for example, is embracing its leadership role in tackling plastic waste in the country and shaping a waste-free future through its various initiatives that are inclusive and wide-ranging. Aside from constantly working to make its packaging more sustainable, it also empowers its consumers and communities to practice proper solid waste management (SWM) by developing educational modules, conducting capacity-building activities, and supporting construction of collection, segregation and recycling infrastructure, particularly materials recovery facilities in barangays.

To mark this year’s National Zero Waste Month celebration, Nestle Philippines and GMA Network are launching an online video series aimed to raise awareness about the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. This is part of the Kapuso at Kasambuhay ng Kalikasan partnership that aims to educate the public about our individual responsibility to the planet and engage them to be more actively involved in the advocacy for the environment. Don’t miss it!

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Conti’s Puts The Fresh In Fresh Starts For 2023

 

The long Christmas season is over and now it’s time for another exciting period, one filled with making resolutions and drawing up goals as we look back to help ourselves recalibrate the future.

It’s that special time when we dust off the excesses of the festive holiday season and clean our plates for a fresh new start. And as new starts go, the best ones are those filled with health-giving goodness for better minds and hearts and more positive moods this year.

The new salads of Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant perfectly fit the bill. Light but filling, tasty but healthy, they’re sure to help make new beginnings or restarts for this exciting time of the year as delightful as everyone hopes.

The Signature Salad has all the classic goodness everyone loves in one bowl – fresh strawberry slices, candied walnuts, and crispy mixed greens tossed in Conti’s’ signature raspberry vinaigrette. The dish is topped with lacey parmesan crisps for added taste and texture. 

It’s something special but light and fresh and nothing complicated. And it has something in common with Conti’s’ signature cakes: layers of complementing flavors. It’s tangy, sweet, and salty that gives a singular gastronomic delight.

For a bit more indulgence without the guilt, the new Homemade Caesar Salad serves up fresh greens with Southern-style chicken fillet, croutons, and Conti’s zesty homemade Caesar dressing. The bowl is topped with soft-boiled egg and anchovy to taste.

The new Conti’s salad bowls further expand the homegrown restaurant chain’s menu, providing more healthy but delectable options alongside classic and popular food dishes and the brand’s well-loved cakes. Designed to put the fresh in fresh starts and the new in new beginnings for 2023, the Signature Salad and Homemade Caesar’s Salad are perfect for those seeking better mental and heart health this year. Available for dine-in in all Conti’s branches throughout the Philippines. Also available via Grab and Foodpanda. To know more, send a message to Conti’s Messenger, call 8580-8888, visit the website at www.contis.ph or check out the Conti’s Facebook (@contisph), Instagram (@contis_ph), and TikTok (@contisph) pages. Other pages bearing the Conti’s name and images are fake. They do not in any way represent the brand.

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Indulge In Krispy Kreme’s Newest Milk Choco Creations

Krispy Kreme is welcoming a new year with an indulgent, chocolatey offering with its Milk Choco Creations. Partnering with one of the most loved chocolate brands in the market, KitKat®, the Milk Choco Creations brings a new experience to an all-time favorite Krispy Kreme flavor.

Throughout the years, KitKat® Choco doughnuts has been a staple in the American doughnut shop. Kids and kids at heart have been in love with its familiar chocolate flavor and yet, it never gets old. The good news is that our favorite doughnut place is introducing three new flavors that are still made with the classic chocolate brand — Milk Choco Crisp, Choco Swirl Cake and White Chocolate Kreme Filled. Bonus points for including a delectable Milk Choco Chiller made with KitKat®. 

Experience an overflowing milk chocolate flavor in every bite of the Milk Choco Crisp, a ring doughnut hand-dipped in KitKat chocolate spread.

Take your sweet moment with the Choco Swirl Cake, a cake doughnut dipped in white chocolate, drizzled with a milk choco swirl, and topped with a KitKat chocolate bar.

A burst of milk chocolate goodness will come with the White Chocolate Kreme Filled, a shell doughnut filled with kreme and a KitKat chocolate bar, dipped in white chocolate topped with dark chocolate and caramel.

To complete this exquisite chocolate experience, pair your doughnuts with the Milk Choco Chiller made with KitKat®. It is an iced-blended drink made with kreme base, KitKat®  spread & hazelnut syrup, topped with whipped cream and KitKat chocolate bits.

“A new year calls for a new delightful sweet treat experience and Krispy Kreme, together with KitKat®, will surely make the days brighter with this luscious collection. We hope you get to enjoy these amazing new treats with your friends and family this New Year,” said Ysabel Cruz, Marketing Manager of Krispy Kreme.

Get your hands on the Milk Choco Creations starting at Php 59 per piece and Php 550 for a dozen, and sip into the Milk Choco Chiller starting at P150 for 12 oz. Go to any Krispy Kreme stores nationwide to check out these specials. Visit your nearest store today, or have it delivered to your doorstep by calling 888-79000 or ordering online through now.krispykreme.com.ph, GrabFood, Foodpanda, Pick.a.Roo, Mangan, OrderMo, and Groover.

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