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#TruthInAction: Globe partners with Internews to support quality journalism, fight fake news

Globe and global non-profit Internews sign a contract on Ads for News, a pioneering effort that aims to support carefully vetted local media organizations via programmatic advertising. Present at the signing held August 30, 2022 at the Globe Tower were (L-R) Ads for News Director Chris Hajecki, Internews Philippines Country Director Greg Kehailia, Globe Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto, and Globe PR & Communications Strategy Director Liza Reyes.

Globe has partnered with global non-profit Internews in a pioneering effort to raise quality journalism above the disinformation clutter and promote authenticity through support for carefully vetted local media organizations via programmatic advertising.

Through Ads for News, Globe is now the first and only telco and digital solutions platform in the Philippines to take part in such an effort, aligned with its long-running programs that aim to protect the public against online threats, including false information.

With the partnership, Globe has committed to direct ad spending to online news sites verified by Internews, including small and independent outlets that would otherwise have limited access to media investments from a major enterprise.

“This partnership is aligned with our advocacy to promote responsible online behavior. We are proud to be the first in the industry to partner with Internews in this noble initiative,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.

“Our goal is to bring to the fore what journalism ought to be: a chronicle of truth and a source of quality and useful information that could help communities realize their full potential,” she said.

Internews cited Globe’s commitment to Ads for News, calling it a valued partner in advancing responsible media investing and improving access to quality information.

“Responsible media investment today will have a meaningful positive impact on communities and society tomorrow. Globe’s partnership with Internews is significant because of Globe’s leading commitment to investing in advertising on trusted local news. In doing so publicly, Globe also sets a noble example for other major companies to follow,” said Chris Hajecki, Ads for News Director.

Ads for News is a global program led by Internews, with support from the World Economic Forum and GroupM, which aims to provide crucial ad support for local media organizations as they face financial woes. It also hopes to prevent the use of advertising funds on websites linked to fake news.

In the Philippines, Ads for News partnered with the Asian Center for Journalism to vet independent news websites using global journalism standards and the GARM Brand Safety and Suitability Standards. The Makati Business Club is also a partner in the advocacy among leading companies in the private sector.

Globe will, in turn, make use of its funding commitment to place advertisements on a chosen selection of trusted local news websites.

The company’s partnership with Internews is another major step towards its goal of promoting a safe online environment and quality information access for all.

Globe’s efforts to promote a safer online environment and access to quality information is part of its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, which highlights the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development, and UN SDG No. 17, which highlights the value of partnerships in achieving the sustainable development goals.

Its long-running #MakeITSafePH campaign is geared towards protecting children from online abuse. It has so far invested $2.7 million in content filtering systems. Globe’s Digital Thumbprint Program, meanwhile, teaches children responsible digital citizenship through public education modules and workshops.

To know more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

 

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Metrobank: Empowering Filipino customers and businesses for 60 years

As Metropolitan Bank & Trust Co. (Metrobank) celebrates its 60th year, it looks to further boost the reviving economy by leveraging on its full suite of financial products and services that bridge its retail, corporate, treasury and investment banking as well as leasing and bancassurance activities.

“For the past six decades, our customers have always been at the front and center of everything we do. As we mark our 60th year, we will continue to evolve with our customers and strive to deliver more convenient and relevant banking products and services to meet their needs, which in turn helps fuel our country’s economic growth,” said Metrobank President Fabian S. Dee.

Demonstrating strength and reliability for 60 years

Through the years, Metrobank has generated stable and diversified revenue streams and developed innovative financial solutions to cater to different customers. It has built both offline and online channels to strike a balance between digital innovation and the human touch across all its touchpoints.

To date, the Bank has over 940 consolidated branches nationwide, more than 30 foreign branches, and over 2,300 combined ATMs. It also provides accountholders with online banking platforms, allowing them to conduct their financial transactions anytime and wherever they may be.

“Our goal has always been to enrich the lives of all our stakeholders so we continuously evolve and innovate to retain our status as a strong and reliable bank for them. Even before the pandemic, we have adopted innovations in the digital space to address the shift in consumer behavior, while cementing relationships with those who still prefer in-person transactions,” said Dee.

The bank further proved strength and stability after reporting a 33% rise in net income to PHP 15.6 billion in the first six months of the year. The strong earnings performance shows that even amid the ongoing pandemic, Metrobank’s loan portfolio expanded, interest margin improved, and fee income growth remained robust while operating costs stayed put. Its consolidated assets and total equity reached PHP 2.7 trillion and PHP 303.4 billion, respectively. Metrobank’s balance sheet remained one of the strongest in the industry with its capital adequacy ratio standing at 17.6%, while its common equity Tier 1 was at 16.8%— both well-above the central bank’s minimum requirement.

Banking as a social business

Metrobank’s DNA is ingrained with doing good, helping people, and helping the nation. The bank endeavors this through financial education and social activities by its philanthropic arm, Metrobank Foundation Inc.

Since day one, Metrobank has committed to empower the larger Filipino community with knowledge that will boost their confidence and enable them to make smart financial decisions. In line with its promise to always put stakeholders in ‘good hands,’ Metrobank launched free and accessible financial education content and platforms to teach clients and the public personal finance, investing, and other finance principles.

“Our customers are people and not just account numbers. We want to be the bank that educates and helps them to live life to the fullest by equipping them with financial education so they can make smart financial decisions and achieve their goals,” said Dee.

Most recently, Metrobank introduced Wealth Insights— a website where high net worth individuals can get timely market news, valuable insights, and expert advice to make meaningful investment decisions. The bank also launched Earnest, a financial education and investing platform for starting investors. Tara Invest is also an initiative composed of a video series intended for first-time investors. On personal finance, Metrobank launched MoneyBasics, a collection of simple and creative articles and social media posts to help people build their savings habit. Meanwhile, to educate Filipinos about the dangers of financial fraud and how to prevent it, Metrobank teamed up with Philippine Savings Bank and other local banks to roll out the Scam Proof campaign— a series of online content focused on fraud prevention.

Meanwhile, as its means to pay it forward, Metrobank regularly rechannels its successes through Metrobank Foundation, which funnels its grants and in-kind donations towards programs that support outstanding Filipinos, education, and disaster response, rebuilding of livelihood, among others.

Its flagship programs include the Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipinos; Metrobank Art & Design Excellence; Metrobank Scholarship Program; Metrobank MTAP-DepEd Math Challenge; George S.K. Ty Grants Turnover, Disaster Response, National Teachers’ Month celebration, and the Metrobank Foundation Professorial Chair Lectures.

“We are not all about the numbers. Our Founder, Dr. George S.K. Ty, has instilled among Metrobankers that we have the responsibility to do good and pay it forward to society. That is why we have always ensured that we are able to give back to different communities through the Foundation,” said Dee.

In its 60th year, leading global financial publications abroad have recognized Metrobank’s strength and initiatives for customers, businesses, and communities. It was named the Philippines’ Best Bank by Euromoney; the Strongest Bank by the Asian Banker; the Best Domestic Bank and Best Domestic Private Bank by AsiaMoney; and the Top Banking Employer in the country by LinkedIn.

“I am proud that Metrobank has come this far. Today, after 60 years, it remains strong as ever and I am excited to see what more we can do to better serve Filipinos and ensure that they are in good hands for the next 60 years and beyond,” Dee said.

To know more about Metrobank, visit ingoodhands.metrobank.com.ph/.

 

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Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corp. to hold special stockholders’ meeting virtually on Sept. 26

 

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PHINMA Education commits to serving over 120K students in SY 22-23

PHINMA Education opens SY 22-23 with over 120,000 students, a significant increase from their SY 21-22 count of 95,000. About 61,000 are new students, with 42,000 freshmen. The network, with its mission of making lives better through education, credits its growing population to its learning strategies customized to the needs of the underserved market.

A majority of the network’s students come from low-income families, most of whom are the first in their families to enter college. For freshmen, nine out of 10 enter college with reading and math levels below what is required for college work. However, PHINMA Education is able to bridge learning gaps and empower them to attain gainful employment through financial, academic, and psychological support.

PHINMA Education also offers the Hawak Kamay (HK) Scholarship Program. With this, students may get as much as 75% scholarship depending on their family’s financial status. About 6 in 10 students currently benefit from the program.

The network offers a wide variety of programs that encompass the entire education chain. Among its popular ones are Nursing, Education, Criminology, Accountancy, Business Administration, and Engineering.

By training teachers in the Active Learning method, students learn critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making throughout the curriculum. The network also collaborates with industry partners to ensure curriculum relevance and equips students with Core Work Skills that they need to succeed in any industry.

Supplementing these financial and academic interventions is the Student Success Program (SSP) which underscores the three mindsets, “I want, I can, and I belong.” The program has proved vital in guiding students through college and towards their first jobs.

The network boasts a 75% board exam passing rate for first-time takers. To date, it has produced 122 board top-notchers and over 26,000 professionals.

In the May 2022 Nursing Licensure Examination, PHINMA Education had a 97% first-time takers passing rate, compared to the national average of 68%. It had six top-notchers, and PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang) was hailed as the top 2 nursing school.

In the August 2022 Mechanical Engineer Licensure Examination, PHINMA Cagayan de Oro College (COC) and PHINMA University of Pangasinan (UPang) garnered an overall passing rate of 92.68%. Meanwhile, in the recent Medical Technologist Board Exam, PHINMA UPang, Southwestern University (SWU) PHINMA in Cebu City, and PHINMA Saint Jude College (SJC) in Manila scored a 47.67% overall passing rate.

The network has a strong track record in acquiring and turning around schools, of which there are nine in the Philippines and one in Indonesia. In SY 21-22, PHINMA Education served 95,503 students, a 31% increase from 72,746 students in SY 20-21. This resulted in consolidated revenues of P3.79 billion, a 79% increase year on year.

PHINMA Education Holdings, Inc., under the conglomerate PHINMA Corp., started investing in the education services sector in 2004 through the acquisition of PHINMA Araullo University in Nueva Ecija. It has since expanded its presence across the country with its network of schools namely: PHINMA Cagayan de Oro College, PHINMA University of Pangasinan, PHINMA University of Iloilo, Southwestern University PHINMA in Cebu City, PHINMA Saint Jude College in Manila, PHINMA Republican College in Quezon City, PHINMA Rizal College of Laguna, and PHINMA Union College of Laguna. It also aims to expand across Southeast Asia beginning with Horizon Education in Indonesia.

 

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Addressing the Philippines’ learning crisis

By Adrian Paul B. Conoza, Special Features Assistant Editor

Business leaders and education experts have largely recognized that education in the Philippines has been facing a lot of difficulties, and the coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated such difficulties as schools adopted distanced or ‘blended’ learning in the past two years. The consensus has been that the Philippines — and the world in general — has been facing a “learning crisis,” and it is hoped that the new administration will exert great effort in resolving this another crisis in the country as face-to-face classes have resumed.

To recall, the most recent results of the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) showed that 15-year-old students in the Philippines scored lower in reading, mathematics, and science than those in most of the countries and economies that participated in the survey back in 2018.

The Philippines scored the lowest in reading comprehension with a mean score of 340 points, below the survey average of 487 points; while it was the second-lowest in Science at 357 and in Math at 353, below the average of 489 points in both subjects.

Interpreting the findings in context, OECD notes that expenditure per student in the Philippines was the lowest amongst all PISA-participating countries, and the expenditure was 90% lower than the OECD average.

“By comparison, expenditure per student in Indonesia was 83% lower than the OECD average and students there outperformed students in the Philippines, although their scores were still lower than those of students in between 66 and 70 other countries/economies,” the PISA report added.

Fast-forward to the past two years, when the pandemic forced schools to continue their classes virtually and even some to halt their operations, the difficulties in the country’s education system have been found to be much deeper.

A report by the World Bank (WB) last year highlighted that the Philippines’ learning poverty — defined as the share of 10-year-old children who cannot read and understand a simple story — was estimated at 69.5% in 2019, based on Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2003 outcomes.

On the other hand, based on Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics from 2019, as published in United Nations Children’s Fund’s (UNICEF) report on the State of Learning Poverty, the country’s learning poverty is at 90.9%.

According to WB, school closures and learning loss during the pandemic can have a long-term negative impact on the current cohort of school children, and these two factors are likely to affect the children’s economic potential and productivity in adulthood.

WB estimated that due to learning losses, an average annual earning per student will decrease by $893 to $1,137, or a loss of present value of individual lifetime earnings by $16,287 to $20,752.

Further on the pandemic’s impacts, WB observed that an additional 1.6 million students were out of school in 2021 as overall basic education enrollment was 6% lower than in 2020. Enrolled children, meanwhile, faced many challenges to effective learning under a distance learning modality; and such challenges have been found greater for lower-income households who have limited resources for better access. This likely explains the high demand for returning to in-person classes, highly driven by lower-income households and women.

Cited by advocacy group Philippine Business for Education (PBEd) in a statement, a survey by Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Pamilya ng Pantawid of more than 9,000 parents revealed that they spent 40% more because of distance learning compared to 2020; while a Pulse Asia survey said that one out of four parents think their children are not learning in the remote setup.

More recently, according to UNICEF’s report, jointly published in partnership with United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and WB last March, nearly six out of every 10 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries suffering from learning poverty. Translated to the Philippine context, less than 15% of Filipino children are found to be capable of reading a simple text at age 10 — placing the country’s learning poverty somewhere around 85%.

Another highlight of the report confirmed that the Philippines has the longest duration of school closures, as of last February. Year 2020 figures cited by PBEd showed that private school closures reached a total of 1,179.

Strongly recognizing the struggles the country’s education system has been through, especially amid the pandemic, PBEd sees the need to immediately resolve the difficulties.

“Clearly, we need to stop the learning crisis. All sectors of society need to take part in solving this crisis, with the government taking the lead. We must demand for better education, for quality education enables individuals to enjoy strongly rooted and secure lives as reflected in Ambisyon Natin 2040,” PBEd Chairman Ramon del Rosario, Jr. said in a statement.

Sharing in a compilation of insights published on BusinessWorld’s anniversary report last July, Mr. del Rosario noted that the longstanding education crisis is what currently hurdles the country from reaching its goal of slashing Philippine poverty to a single digit, as shared by the current President in his trust state of the nation address.

“We cannot address our learning losses without sufficient resources. Historically, only 3% of our GDP (gross domestic product) has been allotted for the education sector. While the proposed budget for basic education now is at 4.3%, we still do not meet the global standard of 6%. We should spend as much for education as we do for physical infrastructure,” the PBEd chairman continued.

PBEd, together with Philippine Business for Social Progress, Makati Business Club, and Management Association of the Philippines, proposes the following policy directions for improving the country’s education system: (1) bringing all children to quality pre-Kindergarten to Grade 3 education and developmental programs; (2) improving the quality of instruction and teachers with the target that all learners meet basic skills based on international standards; (3) using the lens of lifelong learning in workforce development; (4) fully leveraging private education to better complement delivery of services; and (5) strengthening autonomy, coupled with accountability, of school leaders and local governments.

RLC moves forward with modern and fully-equipped offices located in Metro Manila and in key cities of Bacolod, Iloilo, and Cebu

Artist’s perspective: GBF Center 1, RLC’s prime office development, is poised to be the most iconic structure along the C5-Libis IT corridor.

The future of work is reimagined to be about flexibility. But how could companies assure that their employees have access to the right facilities to be productive wherever they are?

Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC), a leading real estate developer and a pioneer in providing office spaces in the country, offers workspaces within and beyond the capital. These office developments are built with reliable equipment and sustainable features designed to cater to new customer demands.

Businesses looking to have a progressive, efficient, and sustainable office in the metro can find a workspace in the recently topped-off GBF Center 1, RLC’s most prime office development to date.

The 30-storey building is a modern office with a striking façade made of full-curtain glass walls, posing a vibrant visual dynamic for the C5 skyline. It is touted as the most iconic structure along the C5-Libis IT corridor.

Matching the elegant architecture of its facade is its functionality within. GBF Center 1 showcases well-designed center-core office spaces with large floor plates of about 2,500 sq.m. Both traditional and BPO companies will appreciate its column-free design, which allows users to maximize the use of its already efficient floor plate. It will also be interconnected with GBF Center 2 through the basement and podium parking floors, ground floor retail, and 9th floor common deck for the two towers.

The building is equipped to support efficient business operations with 100% backup power N+1 configuration for the gensets. Furthermore, it is built with various contactless features such as hands-free toilet fixtures and QR-activated turnstiles and elevators.

Companies are also given added layers of safety and convenience inside the premises with the installed turnstiles seamlessly integrated with destination control elevators, a digital visitor management system, professionally managed security systems, and round-the-clock CCTV monitoring.

Through GBF Center 1, RLC pursued its sustainability goals by reducing the building’s environmental impact. The office is equipped with LED lights, a rainwater collection facility, and an electric charging station, which promotes a sustainable lifestyle. It is aiming for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification.

GBF Center 1 stands at the entrance of RLC’s Bridgetowne Destination Estate, where one could experience the live-work-play-inspire lifestyle. Businesses that locate at the GBF Center 1 would be in the midst of best-in-class residential condominiums, a luxury lifestyle center, and a premium hotel. The 30.6-hectare Bridgetowne spans the border of Quezon City and Pasig City.

Working beyond the metro

Artist’s perspective: RLC’s Cybergate Bacolod 2 is a 9-storey premium-grade office development sufficiently equipped with safety and green features to provide a better work environment.

RLC also offers office spaces for companies that want to tap into the rich labor pool offered in the provinces, specifically in Bacolod, Iloilo, and Cebu.

In Bacolod, Cybergate Bacolod 2 and 3 are built with 9-storey each and large office floor plates of around 2,500 sq.m. Both their ground floors will house retail and dining options that employees could enjoy round the clock. These office are also equipped with 100% backup power with N+1 utility; FDAS, re sprinklers, and smoke detectors; and 24/7 CCTV surveillance for efficiency, safety, and business continuity.

Cybergate Bacolod 2 and 3 are located within the Robinsons Bacolod complex located along Lacson Street in Bacolod City.

RLC’s commitment to sustainability also extends to Cybergate Bacolod 2. The green features that will be incorporated in the building include LED lighting, a rainwater recycling system, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, and double-glazed glass. This office building aspires to secure LEED certification.

With a 60% lease-out rate, Cybergate Bacolod 2 is slated for completion by the fourth quarter of this year. Cybergate Bacolod 3, on the other hand, will be completed by the end of 2023.

Meanwhile, Cybergate Iloilo Towers, located within the heart of Iloilo in Robinsons Place Pavia complex, is fast becoming the preferred office development for companies seeking modern and functional workspaces.

RLC’s newly completed Cybergate Iloilo Tower 1 is comprised of seven levels with around 2,400 sq.m. floor plate each. While Tower 2, targeted to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2022, is a 10-storey office building that also has around 2,400 sq.m. floor plates. Tower 3 is yet to be constructed.

Safety and sustainability are the topmost considerations in building the Cybergate Iloilo Towers to provide businesses with a better work environment.

RLC also offers workspaces at its 14-storey prime office development Cybergate Galleria located within the Robinsons Galleria Cebu complex in Cebu City.

Cybergate Galleria consists of nine office floors with floor plates measuring around 2,100 sq.m. The building has one level for commercial establishments, including retail, service, and dining options. Currently over 20% leased, this office building also promotes sustainability.

RLC is a leading provider of office spaces for Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies in the Philippines. Recognizing the increased need of infrastructure to support the new digital economy, RLC now supports data centers within its master-planned communities.

Artist’s perspective: RLC’s Campus One is dubbed as the Philippines’ largest telco neutral data center.

Bridgetowne houses Campus One, which hosts the largest telco- neutral data center in the country and serves as RLC’s first data center lease. 15 minutes from Bridgetowne is Sierra Valley, its 18-hectare mixed- use destination estate, which has lots provisioned for data centers. Meanwhile, its 216-hectare mixed-use green destination estate Montclair in Porac, Pampanga is only five minutes away from the Clark Freeport Zone.

Apart from workspaces and mixed-use developments, RLC continues to develop commercial centers, hotels and resorts, and residences nationwide.

Visit http://robinsonsoffices.com to know more about RLC’s office developments or email offices@robinsonsland.com for leasing inquiries.

 

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How digital technology is revolutionizing education

Out of adversity comes opportunity, Benjamin Franklin once said. Indeed, humanity’s greatest innovations and triumphs are borne of a time of great upheaval and change. One doesn’t even need to look far back in history for an example, as the COVID-19 pandemic is proof enough.

The pandemic, one of the most wide-reaching global crises in recent memory, has become the catalyst to the complete integration of the digital world to our physical one. Now, all aspects of daily life — be it banking, entertainment, socialization, healthcare, or even dining — can be accessed through the digital realm.

Out of them all, education is one that shows the most promise for meaningful change. The digital transformation of education has become critically important after the COVID-19 pandemic closed down classrooms across the world.

Edtech, or educational technology, since then has aimed to utilize digital technology to address accessibility, not only to circumvent pandemic-related restrictions, but for pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities as well.

“Educational technology — or “edtech” — entered public consciousness over the past year as the COVID-19 pandemic moved learners young and old out of the classroom and into the virtual world of remote education,” the World Economic Forum wrote in an article as part of the Davos Agenda mobilization initiative.

“One of its key benefits is improved accessibility to education — both in terms of helping pupils with learning difficulties or disabilities and in making learning less location-dependent.”

The World Economic Forum cited three key technologies that present the most potential to enhance education accessibility across the world: namely, augmented and virtual technology, artificial intelligence, and wireless technology.

Augmented and virtual technologies have become the go-to for schools and universities around the world as virtual classrooms and interactive learning materials aimed to create new learning environments for students regardless of location.

The World Economic Forum pointed out the innovative Virtuali-tee by Curiscope, a t-shirt and app package that enables users to learn about the human body. It works by allowing the AR smartphone app to virtually reveal — and explore — the various layers inside the body.

“The technology can also have benefits for neurodiverse learners. Floreo is a telehealth platform that uses VR headsets to deliver social and behavioral therapy in schools and other settings,” the organization noted.

Artificial intelligence helps learners outside the classroom through the use of virtual feedback, and customized learning material. This is primarily a boon for teachers, as AI can provide them with statistics and curriculum support powered by machine learning.

UK-based Sparx Maths does this, providing a four-hour programme every week on average that can increase a pupil’s GCSE maths exam result by a grade. Sparx can also help disadvantaged children progress at the same rate as their more advantaged counterparts, reducing the attainment gap.

Something like KidSense.AI, meanwhile, uses deep learning technology to offer a sophisticated automatic speech recognition system for children. Trained using children’s voice samples, KidSense powers the Roybi Robot — an AI-driven smart toy that teaches languages and basic skills in science, technology, engineering and math.

Finally, wireless technology can empower learners in communities and regions with limited or no internet access. The World Economic Forum pointed out Zaya’s ClassCloud as an example, a plug-and-play device that can support up to 40 laptops or tablets in the classroom over Wi-Fi and provides the same standard of user experience whether it is connected to the internet or not. ClassCloud has been used to improve access to high-quality education in rural locations in India.

Other offline learning apps like Kolibri can be seeded onto devices in areas where there is an internet connection — such as a school or a factory — and be shared over an offline local network.

“Edtech’s greatest promise is to widen access to education for everyone, no matter where they are in the world — something which has become an increasing priority during the pandemic,” the World Economic Forum said.

“Entrepreneurs and innovators who want to have an impact in areas such as education are invited to submit their solutions to have a chance to work with leading organizations via the World Economic Forum’s UpLink initiative — an open digital platform that aims to accelerate concrete progress in meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.” — Bjorn Biel M. Beltran

Inflation likely held steady at 6.4% in August – poll

A gasoline attendant fills up a motorcycle with gasoline at a gas station in Delpan, Tondo, Manila on Monday, June 13. — PHILIPPINE STAR/KRIZ JOHN ROSALES

By Keisha B. Ta-asan

INFLATION likely held steady in August, but still above the Philippine central bank’s target band for a fifth straight month as lower pump prices and power rates offset higher food costs, a BusinessWorld poll showed.

A BusinessWorld poll of 13 analysts yielded a median estimate of 6.4% for August inflation, well within the 5.9-6.7% forecast of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

If realized, August inflation would be unchanged from the 6.4% print seen in July which was the highest in 45 months or since the 6.9% print in October 2018.

Headline inflation rates in the Philippines (Aug. 2022)

Inflation stood at 4.4% in August 2021.

August inflation would also likely exceed the central bank’s annual 2-4% target range for a fifth straight month.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is scheduled to release the latest consumer price index (CPI) data on Sept. 6 (Tuesday).

Analysts noted that food prices remain elevated and likely drove the faster year-on-year inflation in August.

“The higher prices of key food items are due to supply constraints and the higher suggested retail price issued by the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry),” Philippine National Bank economist Alvin Joseph A. Arogo said.    

The DTI released on Aug. 12 the suggested retail price (SRP) bulletin for some basic and prime commodities, which reflected increases of between 3% and 10%. 

“The food basket is estimated to have contributed approximately 2.3%, remaining the prime inflationary factor especially with [storm] Florita’s damage to food output, on top of the prolonged sugar shortage,” Robert Dan J. Roces, chief economist at Security Bank Corp., said in an e-mail.

The Department of Agriculture reported P1.13 billion worth of damage to agriculture due to severe tropical storm Florita last month.

Sugar prices reached over P100 per kilo due to the shortage in supply, but several large supermarkets have agreed to sell sugar at P70 per kilo. 

LOWER OIL PRICES
“Offsetting (inflation) is lower global oil prices and lower cost of other food stuff. Price growth remains mostly cost-push driven amid some demand-side recovery. Upside risks coming from global factors remain significant,” Mr. Roces said.

Global oil prices fell for a third straight month in August over concerns that monetary tightening will hurt economic growth.

As of Aug. 23, pump price adjustments for the month stood at a net decrease of P0.75 a liter, diesel by P1.25, and kerosene by P0.95.

“We estimate August inflation to be slightly lower than the previous month at 6.3% due to declines in pump prices in the first three weeks of the month. Electricity for Meralco-serviced areas and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) also posted lower rates for the month,” Domini S. Velasquez, chief economist at China Banking Corp., said in an e-mail.

Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said the overall rate for a typical household went down by P0.2087 to P9.5458 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in August.

Meanwhile, Bank of the Philippine Islands Lead Economist Emilio S. Neri, Jr. said inflation can put a damper on economic growth, more than rising interest rates.

“We have observed a slowdown in spending on discretionary items and services like restaurants dragged by rapid inflation and peso depreciation,” Mr. Neri said.

The local unit closed at an all-time low of P56.77 on Friday, weakening by 35 centavos from its P56.42 finish on Thursday, data from the Bankers Association of the Philippines showed.

For the year so far, the peso has weakened by P5.77 or 11.31% from its Dec. 31, 2021 close of P51 per dollar. The currency is the third worst performer in Asia in 2022, after the Japanese yen and South Korean won.

“We are concerned about the effects of the exchange rate on inflation,” BSP Governor Felipe M. Medalla said during the virtual Reuters NEXT Newsmaker event on Friday.

The central bank has increased borrowing costs by 175 basis points since May as it seeks to bring inflation back within target.

“If only the midpoint of our forecast is the basis for decision, we are already on the right path. But personally, I want a little bit more room for comfort,” Mr. Medalla said.

“I will not say whether my preference function is above (75 bps), below that, or on that…I don’t want to make my colleagues feel that I’m trying to pressure them to do what I like,” he added. 

At its August meeting, the BSP’s inflation forecast for 2023 was lowered to 4% from 4.2%, as well as the 2024 outlook to 3.2% from 3.3%

“So far, despite the cumulative 175 bps policy rate hike, BPI has not increased charges on credit cards which somewhat indicates that consumer demand has not been constrained by monetary tightening yet,” Mr. Neri said.

“As domestic inflation continues to rise, therefore, recovery to pre-COVID growth consumer demand has not been constrained by monetary tightening yet,” he added.

The Monetary Board will have its next policy-setting meeting on Sept. 22.

Concern grows as NG debt hits new record

BW FILE PHOTO

THE NATIONAL Government (NG) debt hit another record as of end-July, but economists expressed concern whether the government can generate enough revenues for the eventual repayment of the large borrowings incurred during the pandemic.

The NG outstanding debt rose by 0.8% or P96.09 billion to a record-high P12.89 trillion at the end of July, beating the previous high of P12.79 trillion as of end-June, due to additional domestic and local borrowings, as well as a weaker peso.

The Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said the debt pile jumped by 9.9% since the year started, after the government borrowed P1.16 trillion more. Year on year, the debt stock jumped by 11% from P11.61 trillion.

National Government outstanding debt“Outstanding National Government debt may have continued to increase on a month-on-month basis but the figure is still nearly half the average monthly increase of about P165 billion from 2020 to June 2022, or P2 trillion per year from 2020 to 2021 when there were hard lockdowns,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

“This reflects the narrowing of the budget deficit in terms of the faster growth in government tax revenue collections and the slower growth in government expenditures amid recent measures to further reopen the economy towards greater normalcy,” he added.

In the first seven months of 2022, the budget deficit narrowed by 9.11% to P761 billion.

To address the over P5 trillion in debt incurred since the pandemic began, Mr. Ricafort said that the Marcos administration still needs to intensify revenue collections, implement fiscal reforms and anti-corruption efforts.

“[These] would help narrow the budget deficit and, in turn, slow the growth or increment in the National Government’s outstanding debt, as well as better prepare for the eventual payment of the large borrowings incurred during the pandemic,” Mr. Ricafort said.

Ateneo de Manila University economics professor Leonardo A. Lanzona said the slower rise in debt can mean the government is “becoming more prudent with our resources or it can mean that we are now losing ground in terms of our ability to borrow.”

“It is alright to borrow if the growth rate is higher than the cost of borrowing,” he said.

Economist John Paolo R. Rivera from the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) said the government is not significantly adding debt compared to the height of the pandemic.

“The concern should be more of whether we are generating enough income to do debt payments while [we] continue providing social services,” he said.

As of end-July, outstanding local borrowings reached P8.83 trillion, 0.7% up from the end-June level. The BTr attributed the increase to the net issuance of government securities amounting to P64.33 billion and the P750-million impact of the peso’s depreciation against the US dollar.

Domestic debt was 8.8% higher than the P8.12 trillion a year earlier, and 8.1% higher than the end-December 2021 level of P8.17 trillion.

Most of the domestic debt stock still came from government securities with P8.83 trillion in July, up by 16.5% year on year, and 0.7% month on month.

Meanwhile, outstanding external debt jumped by 16.2% year on year to P4.06 trillion as of end-July. It inched up by 0.8% month on month, and increased by 14% from the end-December 2021 level.

Broken down, it consisted of P1.82 trillion in foreign loans and P2.24 trillion in global bonds.

“The increment in the level of external debt was attributed to the impact of local currency depreciation against the (US dollar) amounting to P25.77 billion and net availment of external financing amounting to P6 billion,” the Treasury said. 

AIM’s Mr. Rivera said that the incremental increase of the debt was expected seeing how the Philippine peso breached the P56-to-a-dollar level.

The peso closed at a new record low against the dollar on Friday at P56.77, accounting for an 11.31% depreciation against the greenback in the year to date ending Sept. 2.

The government expects the peso to settle between P51 and P55 in 2023.

“If inflation is not arrested, it would also be challenging to manage forex to P51 to P55 but this can be achieved with the right monetary policy and meeting target economic growth,” Mr. Rivera said.

Meanwhile, overall guaranteed debt decreased month on month by 1.4% to P408 billion as of end-July. It was also 8.2% lower than the P444.31 billion as of July 2021.

This was attributed to P8.56 billion in net repayment of domestic guarantees and the net repayment of external guarantees amounting to P190 million.

“However, currency adjustments on both local and third currency-denominated guarantees were able to offset P1.4 billion and P1.43 billion, respectively,” the BTr said.

Outstanding debt is expected to rise to P13.43 trillion by the end of 2022.

Mr. Lanzona said the limited fiscal resources should instead be focused on social assistance and strategically located infrastructure projects.

“Not all infrastructure is inefficient. But if the infrastructure is going to be placed in the urban areas and is not going to improve productivity, this will be inefficient and will not benefit everyone, especially the poor. While it is true that returns from infrastructure exist, there are other investments such as education and health that have greater social returns,” he said in an e-mail.

Of the outstanding debt in July, the bulk or 68.53% was obtained domestically, while the rest was from foreign creditors.

Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said that the government is pursuing a borrowing mix of 75-25 this year in favor of domestic lenders. Eventually, the government will try to increase it to 80-20 to minimize foreign exchange risks.

“Tax reform and other fiscal reform measures, alongside faster economic growth, for the coming months would help ease the National Government’s debt-to-GDP ratio to below the international threshold of 60% and would help support the country’s relatively favorable credit ratings of 1-3 notched above the minimum investment grade rating,” Mr. Ricafort said.

The country’s debt level reached 62.1% of GDP at the end of the second quarter, from 54.6% as of end-2020 and 39.6% as of-end 2019. It is expected to steadily drop to 61.8% by end-2022, and to 52.5% by 2028.

Fitch Ratings in February maintained the Philippines’ investment-grade “BBB” rating, but retained a “negative” outlook, flagging uncertainties surrounding medium-term growth and hurdles to bringing down debt. A negative outlook means a downgrade is possible within the next 12 to 18 months.

S&P Global Ratings last affirmed the Philippines’ “BBB+” rating with a “stable” outlook in May 2021. Meanwhile, Moody’s last affirmed its “Baa2” credit rating with a stable outlook for the Philippines in July 2020.

The government borrows from local and external sources to help fund a budget deficit capped at P1.65 trillion this year, equivalent to 7.6% of gross domestic product.  — Diego Gabriel C. Robles

Gov’t eyes insurance firms’ investments for infrastructure

The construction of a railway is seen in Balagtas, Bulacan, June 14, 2021. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS

By Diego Gabriel C. Robles

THE MARCOS administration is eyeing investments from public and private insurance companies to support its ambitious infrastructure program amid a fiscal crunch, the country’s finance chief said.

Finance Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno said the government has to ramp up infrastructure spending in the next 20 years, particularly in the energy and transport sectors as the Philippines remains a laggard in Southeast Asia.

“We will maximize the use of long-term money for quality infrastructure… for example, [if] the return on infrastructure would be 20% and [insurance companies] will pay at least 12% — against investment that yields just 5-6% — it’s a win-win situation,” he told reporters at a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) event on Friday.

Last July, the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) already signaled its intent to continue investing in state and private infrastructure projects.

“Public sector or private sector, we will look at it. What’s important is the safety of our members’ money and the return that these investments would yield,” GSIS President and General Manager Jose Arnulfo A. Veloso previously said. “We want to ramp up our funds while helping the country.”

Aside from the GSIS, Mr. Diokno said that the administration is also looking to attract the Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Home Development Mutual Fund (Pag-IBIG Fund), and the Social Security System into investing in infrastructure projects.

“We will not mandate. But we will give them the option. It’s up to the individual boards to make a decision,” Mr. Diokno said.

In 2018, the Insurance Commission (IC) issued Circular Letter No. 2018-74 which set guidelines for insurance and reinsurance firms to “invest in debt and/or equity security instrument for the infrastructure projects under Philippine Development Plan” in order to help them “comply with the minimum net worth requirement” set by the regulator.

The circular said that insurers are required to submit the financial statements of the infrastructure projects so that the IC can determine the risk impact on the insurer’s capital.

“We’ll fix that. There’s a bill pending in Congress right now,” Mr. Diokno said, referring to House Bill No. 1787 and Senate Bill No. 425, both of which aim to reorganize the IC.

“I think the composition of the commission will be expanded. Because right now, it seems like it’s not a commission. It will be placed under the central bank or [will get] closer supervision. Maybe its mandate will also be changed,” he added.

The Marcos administration targets infrastructure spending to be at 5-6% of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2028.

“With higher interest rates, entering the bond market to fund public infrastructure projects may be attractive to both state and private insurance companies,” said Terry L. Ridon, a public investment analyst and convenor of think tank InfraWatch PH.

“But the government must temper this appetite to incur more loans with higher interest rates given our limited fiscal space and our actual debt load climbing faster to P13 trillion,” he added in an e-mail.

The government’s outstanding debt rose to a record-high P12.89 trillion at the end of July. It is expected to rise to P13.43 trillion by the end of the year.

“The IC has been very responsive in allowing its regulated entities to diversify their portfolio, which now includes foreign currency-denominated instruments, and without restriction, whether debt or equity securities,” Mr. Ridon said.

“As such, there should be no obstacle for infrastructure projects to be funded under the current regulatory environment for insurance companies, or through other funding modes.”

INFRASTRUCTURE SPENDING
In the first half, infrastructure and capital outlays spending reached P477.9 billion, up by 12% from P426.7 billion spent in the same period last year, recent data from the Department of Budget and Management showed.

This was attributed to payments made for completed and partially completed infrastructure projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the settlement of accounts payables for the procurement of farm equipment and machineries under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund and the Department of Education’s Basic Education Facilities (BEF), and the implementation of capital outlay projects under the Revised Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program (RAFPMP).

Despite the increase, the six-month figure is below the P529.3-billion program because of the election ban on certain government spending and public works.

For the month of June, infrastructure spending picked up by 51.9% to P143.4 billion from P94.4 billion year on year, due to the disbursements of the DPWH for its completed infrastructure projects. The June figure is also 78.2% higher than the P80.5 billion spent for infrastructure in May.

NATIONAL ID
Meanwhile, Mr. Diokno said that identification cards for insurance memberships such as the GSIS and the SSS will eventually be integrated into the National Identification System as part of the government’s initiatives towards digitalization.

“The national ID will be required for all, and then maybe eventually there would only be three IDs — your national ID, driver’s license, and passport. So [the national ID] will be your senior ID, voter’s ID, SSS, etc.,” Mr. Diokno said in a mix of Filipino and English.

He also envisions the pairing the national ID with the use of artificial intelligence to collect and disseminate data on a person’s income liability in a bid to reduce leakages and redundancies, particularly with the distribution of cash aid and taxpayer identification numbers respectively.

However, Mr. Diokno criticized the Philippine Postal Corp. (Philpost) for its inefficiency in distributing the national ID.

“They (Philpost) are slow. It’s funny how the cost of delivery is more expensive than the cost of printing per ID. We print it at the BSP… It shouldn’t be like that. For efficiency, you should just pick it up where you registered,” Mr. Diokno said.

“I don’t know why the Philippine Statistics Authority still entered into a contract with Philpost.” — with Keisha B. Ta-asan

Pandemic or no pandemic, Beauty Addicts get their fix

ALMOST 10 years in the industry has got to mean something. Last week, Rustan’s Beauty Addict, the loyalty program for Rustan’s The Beauty Source (the source of luxury beauty brands like La Mer, Chanel, and Tom Ford in the country) celebrated almost 10 years of beauty since its founding in 2013 in an event at the Shangri-la Plaza Rustan’s branch with games at beauty counters to win prizes.

The various Rustan’s Beauty Addict Events “adopted various themes to communicate different aspects about beauty,” said a company statement, including Beauty Neon and So Surreal in 2015 and 2016, Beautiful You in 2017, Beauty Before Time in 2018, and The GLOW Beauty and Beats in 2019, “which recognized music as an essential means for self-expression, beauty and freedom.”

Jackie Avecilla, Marketing Head for Rustan’s Beauty told BusinessWorld, “It actually started, I think like a campaign; an event.” For the original Beauty Addicts campaign, they had a temporary membership card, but guests and shoppers alike gamely signed up for it.

Elaborating on the reasons for building a separate loyalty program from its Frequent Shopper Program (FSP), she said, “The Rustan’s team saw that there’s really a big opportunity for the beauty shoppers. We noticed at the time that a lot of the customers come and just shop for beauty (products),” she said.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed things and like many other companies, Rustan’s made the swivel towards online, including holding their popular beauty event in the virtual world.

“Rustan’s Beauty Addict Event held its very first online celebration in 2020 to continue the yearly gathering of enthusiasts despite the challenges present at the time,” the company statement said. The theme of that year’s run was Face Forward, which “called everyone to tackle the times ahead with beauty innovations that help face the future fearlessly.” In 2021, it held another online event with the theme “Transcend.” “In addition to self-care, it highlighted another aspect of beauty — which is love and care for others,” said the statement.

“Buying skincare has never stopped, even during the pandemic,” said Ms. Avecilla on their performance during a time when many people were locked in at home. “That was what we saw in terms of sales and all. People were still buying — I guess they really wanted to take care of their skin, right?”

Now that the world has mostly reopened, makeup sales have gone up as face-to-face interactions have gone back nearly to normal (masks are still on in many circles, though). “Talking to some of the girls in the counters, that’s what they said. People still really want to use makeup, even if they’re wearing masks,” said Ms. Avecilla. “We’re seeing a bounce back of our makeup brands. I’m always in masks, but I still want to wear a lipstick under that, or foundation, powder.”

She has observed the changing behavior of the beauty customer since the loyalty program began in 2013. “A lot has changed in terms of the sophistication of the customer, especially with the rise of the internet and social media. They see a lot of brands, options, and styling tips. Not like before, you don’t really get that,” she said. “Now, because of that, they look, and then they want to look for that product. So, they come to our stores.

“We’re happy, because I think it’s all about self-care and self-love. We all went through a lot during the pandemic, right?,” she said. “They want to take care of themselves. Part of that is really also looking good inside and out.”

As part of the Beauty Addict celebration, from Sept. 1 to Nov. 30, every purchase of P2,500 entitles Beauty Addict Members to one raffle entry for a chance to win four days and three nights for two at the Peninsula Hotel in New York City. Members can double their chances of winning and get two raffle entries for every purchase of P2,500 when they use their HSBC card at Rustan’s the Beauty Source.

“I heard there’s travel revenge the same way that there’s shopping revenge,” said Ms. Avecilla.

Other month-long promos include a complimentary Rory and Sloan Mini Croft bag for a minimum single-receipt purchase of P20,000 when customers shop in-store or on-call from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31. For more information on promos, check out the website https://rustans-thebeautysource.com/en/BAE-2022. — JLG

Local skincare products that will give you great skin days without breaking the bank

By Zsarlene B. Chua

SKINCARE has always been a very important part of my daily routine because I believe that feeling beautiful starts with feeling good about yourself. Yes, I’m a believer of the good ‘ol “skincare is self-care” adage.

I’m also a sucker for all the trending skincare products and routines — from the 10-step Korean skincare routine, to the daily facial mask routine and layering on so many toners, hyaluronic everything, to name a few.

But as I continued on my skincare journey, I realized that I needed to craft a routine that would not only suit my skin but also take into consideration the amount of time and money I’m willing to spend on my products.

I became more purposeful in my skincare choices by trying newer, more affordable brands. This led me to gravitate towards local skincare brands which — in my opinion — are having a moment right now by putting out amazing products at amazing prices.

If you’re on the hunt for affordable and local skincare finds, here are some of my favorites:

(NOTE: My skin is currently dry-to-normal.)

SUNGLOW BY FRESH CREME TINTED SUNSCREEN SPF 50 PA+++ FAIR (P329/50ML)
Fresh PH is a local skincare brand that offers “Korean-value skin and personal care products that are affordable yet high quality.” It is not to be confused with the Fresh beauty brand under LVMH.

The brand, according to its website, believes that “looking your best is achievable without having to spend on high value treatments,” something I wholeheartedly agree with. It’s no wonder why Fresh PH is one of my favorite brands right now.

One of the products that has become a staple in my routine is their Sunglow Tinted Sunscreen. I’ve always been a fan of multi-purpose skincare products — especially those that can simplify my makeup routine — that’s why I’ve always used tinted sunscreen in place of foundation or BB creams.

Tinted sunscreens are great if you need light-to-medium coverage or if you’re going for that “clean girl” or no-makeup-makeup aesthetic.

The Sunglow Tinted Sunscreen offers SPF50 PA+++which means it offers broad spectrum protection against the UVA rays that cause skin aging and the UVB rays that cause sunburn. The product also contains Centella Asiatica (which has great anti-inflammatory and hydrating properties), Niacinamide (also anti-inflammatory), and sunflower oil (which has anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties), making it perfect for people who have sensitive or acne-prone skin.

At only P329 per 50ml squeeze bottle, it’s a great price for all the benefits it offers. It also comes in three shades: Fair, Medium, and Deep. The texture is smooth, though because my skin tends to be a bit dry, I need to mix in a bit of moisturizer to make it glide on better. I think this texture is perfect for people with oily or combination skin though. A little pump goes a long way for coverage, but since I use this as my main sunscreen, I do two pumps for my entire face and let it set for a bit before putting on my makeup.

While I still have a special place in my heart for the Belo Sunexpert Perfecting Shield Tinted Sunscreen, this Sunglow sunscreen is currently the main character of my skincare drawer.

Sunglow by Fresh Creme Tinted Sunscreen is available on Fresh.ph, Lazada, Shopee, and Watsons stores.

FRESH SKINLAB TOMATO GLASS SKIN HYALURONIC WATERDROP CREAM (P239/80ML)
As a dry-to-normal skin girl, moisturizer is something I always have to have in my life. While there are a ton of options out there, I do tend to have very specific requirements for my moisturizers. In the mornings, I prefer lighter moisturizers that will layer underneath makeup, while at night, I prefer heavier moisturizers that will keep my skin moisturized until I wake up.

One of my most recent finds is the Fresh Skinlab Tomato Glass Skin Hyaluronic Waterdrop Cream that I bought on a whim because we were leaving for Boracay the next day and I had run out of my travel-sized Hada Labo moisturizer.

And I loved it. It has that super light “water” texture that sinks into the skin upon application (great for oily to combo people!) but still keeps the skin moisturized all day. Since it has tomato extract, it has anti-aging properties while promising that dewy, juicy glow. It also has Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, a sunscreen agent (though please still use sunscreen!), Hyaluronic Acid (to hydrate the skin), arbutin and Vitamin C (for lightening dark spots).

I put a layer on after my serum in the morning and I add a little bit more to my tinted sunscreen to make it apply smoothly. If you’re looking for a lightweight moisturizer, this is a product you should consider.

Fresh Skinlab Tomato Glass Skin Hyaluronic Waterdrop Cream is available on Fresh.ph, Lazada, Shopee, and Watsons stores.

HUMAN HEART NATURE SUNFLOWER EYE CREAM (P325/15ML)
Human Heart Nature (or Human Nature) is a Filipino vegan and cruelty-free personal, home, and beauty care brand known for using sunflower oil and all natural ingredients in their products.

In the past, I’ve loved their moisturizers and their Sunflower beauty oil still remains one of the top beauty oils I use for my face, hair, and all over my body. Sunflower oil has great anti-inflammatory properties alongside combatting dark spots and moisturizing the skin. This is why I’m happy to have discovered the Sunflower Eye Cream.

Eye creams are one of those types of skincare products that I consider add-ons: they’re not super important like moisturizers and sunscreens and you can certainly live without it, but if you want a little something for your eyes, it’s a product to consider adding to your routine.

I haven’t always used eye creams but now that I’m entering my late-20s, I felt that it was time to step up my anti-aging game and eye creams is one way to do it. The Human Heart Nature Eye Cream promises to improve suppleness and helps relax tired puffy eyes — something you’ll need if you’re like me and prone to staying up late.

I use this in the morning and at night after moisturizing, and a very small dot does more than enough for both eyes so the 15ml squeeze bottle goes a long, long way (I’ve been using mine for more than two months). I love this product because it does moisturize my undereye area and softens my dark circles, plus, it has this very smooth texture that makes it easy to apply.

Human Heart Nature Sunflower Eye Cream is available on HumanHeartNature.com, Lazada, Shopee, and physical stores nationwide.

HUMAN HEART NATURE NATURAL SHAMPOO BAR ZESTY VANILLA DELIGHT (P144.75/35G)
I’m currently on a journey to take better care of my hair and to address issues like hair fall and frizz. I have thin wavy hair that tends to be oily up top and dry at the bottom. I’ve tried the trendy methods like skipping shampoo altogether and using conditioner only, to no avail. It just gives me dandruff and more hair falls. No, thank you, I’ll keep shampooing every day.

So, instead of the no-poo (no shampoo) method, I decided to look for other shampoo brands and that’s what led me to the Human Heart Nature Natural Shampoo Bar. This shampoo bar is not only environmentally friendly as it is plastic-bottle free and contains no harmful chemicals, it also contains nice ingredients like Cocoa seed butter, Vitamin E, and Avocado oil that keeps the hair healthy and smooth.

I was new to this shampoo bar game and it took me a little bit of time to get used to it, but once I got the hang of it, I started to really enjoy the product. Like regular soap bars, you’ll need to wet the shampoo bar and lather it on your hands before applying it to your scalp. As a person with an oily scalp, I only put shampoo on my scalp and condition my mid-length and ends.

The Human Heart Nature shampoo bar is great because it keeps my hair soft, even without conditioner, and the Zesty Vanilla Delight variant smells amazing — it has that refreshing citrusy-vanilla scent. I love smelling my hair with this product. It also keeps major oiliness at bay, so it’s a major plus.

One thing I had to learn to do was to keep it in a dry place to make it last longer. In my first forays, my shampoo bar melted too fast, but now I put it in its very own case and keep it away from water after using it —  I’m on my second month of use now.

I also feel good about making better choices for the environment because using a shampoo bar means one less plastic bottle.

Human Heart Nature Natural Shampoo Bar Zesty Vanilla Delight is available on HumanHeartNature.com, Lazada, Shopee, and physical stores nationwide.

 

Zsarlene Chua is a former BusinessWorld reporter who is now a fledgling PR girl. She’s all about skincare, makeup, and video games. None of the brands reviewed are her clients.

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