Info Manila: 2015-11-01

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

U-hop to offer chopper, private plane and yacht services

Luxury travel has never been easier.

U-Hop is introducing an app-based booking process for luxury transport such as private planes, choppers and yachts.

In its commitment to deliver on-demand services to its customers, U-Hop has partnered with top-of-the-line chopper, private plane and yacht providers and made the booking process more efficient with its app-based system.

When before customers were clueless where to book chopper and yachts and have to go through the rigorous process of reservation, now it can be done with an easy click.

An expanded service also caters to different customer needs.

For example, a chopper may be booked by customers who want helicopter transfers from island to island or from airports to resorts. But with U-Hop, booked choppers can be customized according to purpose. Whether it's to drop flowers from the sky on your wedding day, or an aerial gimmick for a marriage proposal, our services are tailored specifically to what customers need.

Private planes can also be booked through U-Hop for a more convenient and efficient travel than with a passenger airline. With over a hundred community airports and airstrips, U-Hop assures that our private plane customers will be taken nearer to their destinations, to the most exotic places in the country.

By booking private planes, U-Hop customers do away with the hassle of going to the airport and enduring delays and cancellations.

As with the choppers, private planes can also be booked for other purposes such as cargo transportation or for aerial photography and videography.

When it comes to yachts, U-Hop has the crewed yacht charter service that offers different services such as sight-seeing tour and even sailing lessons.

With our app-based booking system, your tour or sailing lessons can be scheduled on your time of convenience. Customers even have the option to select what type of boat they prefer to use.

When you book any of the luxury transport, U-Hop will provide a car service to pick you up from your home or office and take you to the helipad or port.

Last October 1, U-hop flew its very first chopper customers: a group of people were taken to different points of Luzon to see Mt. Data in the Cordilleras, the Banaue Rice Terraces and then back to Central Luzon to see Mt. Pinatubo in Zambales.

U-Hop is dedicated to provide the public with all transport solutions; from its pioneer project of a ride-sharing shuttle service, to on-demand services such as delivery, and now, an app-based booking system for luxury transport.

For inquiries, please call Joy Bustarde- 0916-245-3089/ 0925-491-5507 or Khristine Llanto- 0926-141-5984 or at U-Hop office- 654-3390.

Pfizer Strengthens Global Campaign on Bone Health, Calls on Filipinos to ‘Love Your Bones’

It is easy, or seemingly involuntary, to take things for granted when living in today’s fast-paced world. Health is almost secondary, as work is often given high priority. But to keep the body going, one needs food and nutrients for sustenance—the same goes for the need for strong bones to ensure continuous mobility and support.

Sadly, food and bone health, although considered vital life components, are still largely ignored, be it due to poor lifestyle or lack of awareness.

To help address this growing health problem, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare (PCH) partnered with the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) to spearhead the local celebration of World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) on October 20.

Aptly themed “Serve up Bone Strength,” WOD 2015 focuses on the importance of adopting a bone-healthy diet throughout a person’s lifetime to optimize bone strength. The campaign highlights the point that poor nutrition is one of the critical risk factors for developing bone-related diseases.

“It conveys the message that the first step in osteoporosis prevention begins in youth, when nutrition can help maximize our bone-building potential, and continues throughout life as we strive to maintain strong bones at older age,” explained IOF, the global organizer of WOD.

A key date in the bone, muscle, and joint community agenda, WOD is an occasion when people around the globe unite to put the spotlight on the immense burden caused by osteoporosis and other musculoskeletal diseases, and the actions that can be taken to prevent and treat them. It aims to put bone, muscle, and joint health on the global health agenda.

In the Philippines, PCH has remained a solid supporter of this global movement and has advocated various activities in the past to raise awareness on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease.

The Silent Disease

According to IOF, osteoporosis affects over 200 million people worldwide. Approximately one in three women and one in five men over the age of 50 will break a bone (also known as osteoporotic fracture) due to this silent disease.

Fractures, specifically hip fractures, can cause loss of function and independence with 40% of patients unable to walk independently; 60% requiring assistance a year later; 33% being totally dependent on or in a nursing home. Moreover, hip fractures cause the greatest morbidity with reported mortality rates up to 20-24%in the first year after a person suffers a hip fracture.

“We at Pfizer Consumer Healthcare support the IOF in its advocacy to inform the people about osteoporosis and the fact that it can be prevented,” says Dr. Egbert Dorado, senior medical manager at PCH. “We echo IOF’s key message: Adequate intake of the right nutrients contributes to bone health at all ages, and is a first step in osteoporosis prevention. For those who already have osteoporosis, a bone-healthy nutrition should be part of their treatment and rehabilitation program.”

Three of the major nutrients that help optimize bone health are: calcium, vitamin D, and protein, with recommended daily allowances varying throughout life.

“Regulating calcium levels in the body promotes better bone mass density (BMD), alongside improving muscle performance and balance. Taking a calcium supplement with adequate levels of Vitamin D3 also helps maximize calcium absorption,” adds Dr. Egbert.

While proper nutrition works, it is also important to have a holistic approach to osteoporosis prevention and management.

“It is indeed crucial to build strong bones early in life by following a healthy diet as it is the key ingredient in helping a person achieve peak bone mass, and maintaining it throughout life. But it is equally important to avoid other modifiable risk factors including sedentary lifestyle, smoking, and alcohol use,” explains Dr. Egbert.

Osteoporosis is an incurable disease, but controlling its risk factors and complying with treatment regimens where prescribed can ensure a mobile, independent, and fracture-free life.

For more information on osteoporosis and World Osteoporosis Day 2015, visit

www.worldosteoporosisday.org, follow IOF on Instagram (@worldosteoporosisday) or on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/worldosteoporosisday), or subscribe to its YouTube channel
(www.youtube.com/iofbonehealth).

Monday, November 2, 2015

PLDT Smart SME Nation’s Bozz Awards caps historic first run, announces first batch of winners

Celebrating the next generation of Bossings (from left): Boss for Customer Service Chino Atilano of Timefree Innovations, Boss for Social Media Jason Magbanua of Jason Magbanua, Mobkard Chair of the Board Jay Bernardo representing Boss for Mobile Readiness Carlo Calimon of Mobkard, Boss for E-Commerce Kim Lato of Kimstore, President and CEO of PLDT Group Manuel V. Pangilinan, Boss for Social Responsibility Kristine Reyes-Lopez of Messy Bessy, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, EVP and Head of PLDT Enterprise Eric R. Alberto, and FVP and Head of PLDT Smart SME Nation Kat Luna-Abelarde.

Manila, Philippines – The digital search for the most creative, most innovative and most successful new breed of small to medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) has come to a close, and PLDT Smart SME Nation finally announced the highly anticipated first batch of winners for the first ever Bozz Awards. Bozz Awards is the first social media crowdsourcing search for the new generation of entrepreneurs who are harnessing digital tools to grow their businesses.

In partnership with Rappler, Voyager, Ideaspace, Bloomberg Philippines, Uber, Takatack and Airbnb, it was established to recognize SMEs who have displayed excellence in technological innovation and digital integration. In the long run, it aims to highlight the crucial role of digital technology in supporting the growth and sustainability of small businesses in the country.

“We’re ecstatic at the enthusiastic reception we got from the SME and digital communities,” FVP and PLDT Smart SME Nation Head Kat Luna-Abelarde said. “We exceeded our expected number of nominations by almost 150 percent and we’ve seen some really inspiring stories of digitally powered business success. Digital truly is the future, and this is a resounding testament to that.”

Digital leaders

From hundreds of nominees, the list was down to the top 15, with three nominees for each of the five categories—Boss for Mobile Readiness, Boss for E-commerce, Boss for Social Responsibility, Boss for Social Media and Boss for Customer Service.

The Boss for Mobile Readiness is the one who makes their product or service accessible anytime or anywhere. MobKard’s Carlo Calimon emerged as the winner of this category. MobKard is a mobile application that allows customers to receive exclusive promos in real time as they approach a store or a restaurant. It digitizes and converts traditional plastic privilege cards so merchants can create flash sales in store.

The Boss for E-commerce successfully maximizes the Internet as the world’s largest marketplace and Kimstore’s Kim Lato proved to be the one who best exemplifies this. Kimstore is a name synonymous to online tech and gadget shopping. A pioneer of e-commerce in the Philippines, Kimstore is known for its commitment to safe and trustworthy online shopping of gadgets including notebooks, tablets, PCs, cameras, gaming consoles and of course, mobile phones.

The Boss for Social Responsibility is the one who effectively harnesses the power of technology for a notable cause. The honor of being the first ever Bozz awardee under this category went to Messy Bessy’s Kristine Reyes-Lopez. Messy Bessy Cleaners, Inc. produces and sells cleaning and personal care items made from biodegradable, non-toxic and all-natural materials. They operate with project HOUSE—Helping Ourselves through Sustainable Enterprises—which is a group of enterprises that employs and educates formerly abused, jailed and trafficked young adults.

The Boss for Social Media utilizes social media platforms to create meaningful connections with customers and grow an online community of brand advocates which is what renowned wedding videographer Jason Magbanua has been doing for the past decade. Known as the “holy grail of wedding videographers,” Magbanua is one of the most in-demand wedding videographers in the country. He pioneered the “same-day-edit” videos, and his creations are popular on social media sites.

The Boss for Customer Service uses digital platforms to provide better service and improve their business processes. Under this category, the first ever Bozz is TimeFree Innovations founder Chino Atilano. TimeFree Innovations is a virtual queuing solutions company. It allows users to get an e-ticket through their smartphone. They then receive SMS alerts regarding their position in the queue so users don’t have to waste time waiting in line. This innovation helps companies improve their customer service and build brand loyalty.

In addition to the results of the public voting, each nominee was assessed by a panel of judges based on promising entrepreneurial journey (20%), market/brand affinity (20%), integration of technology to business (30%), and product/service innovation (30%).

The five winners each received a full-powered Smart Enterprise Biz Kit which consists of business-enhancing tools and gadgets, including year-long data subscription, to help keep them always connected to their customers and updated with their operations, even while on the go.

They will also be given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the world’s melting pot of technology via a Silicon Valley tour. As a final twist, PLDT Smart SME Nation announced that the other 10 finalists will also join the exclusive tour.

According to Abelarde, today’s technology-driven lifestyle demands SMEs to explore mobile and online opportunities to remain relevant to a digitally savvy market. It is PLDT Smart SME Nation’s mission to provide entrepreneurs with tools and solutions to enable them to flourish online and reach markets they wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach offline.

“This is just the beginning of our efforts to help and encourage more Filipino SMEs to embrace digital platforms,” she added. “We hope that this new breed of industry movers and shakers will inspire other SMEs to embrace technology driven platforms and become digital."

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