Winning Entries of Ajinomoto’s first-ever 'Sustainabilidad Challenge'

Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) Group recently concluded its first-ever #AjinomotoSustainAbilidadChallenge, an initiative that enjoined Filipinos to share their do-it-yourself (DIY) sustainability projects. The online challenge garnered a total of 243 entries. Five Facebook and five Tiktok participants with the most creative application of the 3Rs of conservation—reduce, reuse, recycle— were hailed as winners.

“Filipinos are resourceful and innovative. This campaign proves just how invested we are when it comes to taking better care of our environment. We hope this campaign further inspires individuals to live a more sustainable lifestyle at home,” said Roann Co, Ajinomoto General Manager of Marketing and Public Relations.

Winning DIY Projects to Try at Home

The five winning entries from Facebook include a project that turned used sachets of Ajinomoto products into a beautiful plastic curtain, as well as one that turned what would have been trash into a fully functioning and fashionable apron. Used cartons were also popular among participants, one turned into a doll house and another into a DIY toy kitchen for kids. Meanwhile, tabs collected from soft drink cans were transformed into a soda tabs gown.

In addition, the entries submitted via Tiktok were equally inventive. One of the winning entries turned an old electronic cartridge into a mini amplifier, while another transformed old throw pillows into new, upcycled ones. On the other hand, those working from home may be inspired by the following DIY office organizers: plastic bottle pencil holders, carton storage box and tissue box turned facemask container.

Congratulations to the winners of the Ajinomoto Sustainabilidad Challenge!

Each of the 10 winners will receive P2,000 worth of gift certificate and other special items from APC Group. Special awards will also be given to entries that garnered the most number of “likes.”

“It makes me glad and proud to see that the SustainAbilidad Challenge was a success. Seeing all the creative DIY projects is truly inspiring because it shows us how big of an impact small acts can do. It also shows us that environmental sustainability really does begin at home,” said Guia Cebrero, Ajinomoto Brand Manager, one of the contest judges.

The #AjinomotoSustainAbilildadChallenge is part of APC’s Ilabas ang SustainAbilidad environment education campaign that was launched last year to help consumers incorporate sustainable practices in their daily lives.

Moreover, showing its serious commitment to sustainability, APC Group had earlier pledged to reduce its plastic waste to zero by 2030. The organization has already reduced the size and thickness of its packaging that led to lessening its plastic waste by 70-100 tons per year. The company has also made use of waste water treatment facilities and technologies to convert some of its factory materials to reusable fuel.

“The #AjinomotoSustainabilidadChallenge together with our other green initiatives are all part of our company’s commitment to resolving social issues through the Ajinomoto Group Creating Shared Value (ASV). We aim to contribute greater health and environmental wellness for people around the world.” Co remarked.

Visit COOKMUNITY by Ajinomoto Philippines Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/CookmunitybyAjinomotoPH/ for more SustainAbilidad ideas and inspirations in support of Global Sustainability.

Makati City Provided with Unique Panasonic nanoeTM and nanoeTM X Technology for Use in Main Vaccination Site.

Panasonic, as part of its global campaign to spread advocacy for cleaner and fresher air for life, recently reached out to the local government of Makati City through a contribution in the form of nanoe^TM air purifiers, and nanoe^TM X generators, that have been verified to have inhibitory effects on the novel coronavirus*. The equipment set-up and turnover were done at the main vaccination site of the city located at the Makati Coliseum.

Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines CEO Masaru Toyota, Life Solutions Group Country Head Yosuke Tanaka, Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay, and the Head of Makati Incident Command Post Dr. Roland Unson, were present during the site visit.

It has always been the intention of Panasonic to provide cleaner and fresher air to improve the quality of life for everyone with the introduction of the nanoe^TM in 1997 and nanoe^TM X in 2016.

In 2009, with the help of an independent testing organization, Panasonic verified the effect of hydroxyl radicals contained in water against bird flu and new strains of influenza, and in 2012, in collaboration with an independent testing organization in Germany, again conducted virus clearance testing that showed effectiveness of the technology against highly resistant viruses and unknown viruses.**

Just last year, again using an independent testing organization, Texcell*** – France, further verified the inhibitory effect of Panasonic’s patented nanoe^TM X technology on the novel coronavirus that causes Covid-19.

 
The Makati City partnership is part of a bigger program of Panasonic in the Philippines to provide air purifying and anti-covid technology of nanoe^TM X in selected sites in the National Capital Region to protect medical front liners and Filipinos in vaccination areas and to make them and the public feel safer with the theme “Bring Back the Filipino Smile”.

Panasonic works hard to bring back the smiles of the unsung heroes of this pandemic, and the Filipino people, for them to feel safer, breathe easier, and be more secure to smile once again.

For more information on Panasonic and its patented technologies, please visit https://www.panasonic.com/ph/nanoe

Notes:

*: based on the Texcell, global contract research organization, verified the inhibitory effect of the nanoe™ X technology with the benefits of hydroxyl radicals on adhered novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) placed in 45L box. Over 99.99% of adhered novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) activity was inhibited within 2 hours. Note: This verification was designed to generate basic research data on the effects of nanoe™ X on the novel coronavirus in laboratory conditions different from those found in living spaces. It was not designed to evaluate product performance.

**: Main releases on verification cases - May 12, 2009：Positive effects of charged water particles on viruses, bacteria, and agricultural chemicals have been verified. - October 20, 2009： The new influenza virus inhibition effect of charged water particles has been verified. - February 20, 2012：Suppression effect of charged water particles on pet-related allergens, bacteria, fungi, and viruses have been verified. - January 16, 2014：Nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles effectively break down PM2.5 components and inhibits growth of fungi attached to Yellow Sand

***: Texcell is a global contract research organization that specializes in viral testings, viral clearance, immunoprofiling and R&D or GMP cell banking, for your R&D, GClP, GLP and GMP projects. With more than 30 years of experience and roots within the Pasteur Institute in Paris, Texcell has a long-recognized expertise in viral testing with a broad range of protocols for the detection of adventitious agents. Texcell is the first spin-off of the Pasteur institute of Paris created in 1997.

 

Perk Up Coffee & Tea: A success story amid a pandemic.

Running a business in the middle of a pandemic isn’t for the faint-hearted. With the restrictions and restless consumers, entrepreneurs have to be quick on their feet to survive much less make a profit. This didn’t stop 24-year-old Pam Jacobe from establishing her ready-to-drink brand Perk Up Coffee & Tea. 

 A business administration graduate of Mapúa University, Jacobe always dreamed of having a coffee farm and shop. She studied it in-depth and started selling coffee grounds and beans in 2019.

Months before the pandemic, she rebranded and changed her products to bottled coffee and tea lattes after noticing a gap in the market. “I saw an opportunity and joined the #CafeAtHome movement which encourages people to bring home the cafe experience. Friends and former colleagues supported my business, and it started to gain traction,” Jacobe recalled.

Pamela Maris M. Jacobe, founder and owner of Perk Up Coffee & Tea.

To connect with customers, she relied on social media advertising and word-of-mouth marketing. “The pandemic made people more supportive of micro-, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), specifically small online businesses. I grabbed that opportunity and dedicated my time on digital marketing strategies,” the youthful entrepreneur explained.

But the real catalysts of Perk Up Coffee and Tea’s success were its compelling advocacies and quality products. Aside from helping customers recreate a coffee shop experience at home, it imparts a strong sense of community with the causes it advocates.

Jacobe explained that Perk Up’s main advocacy is being environment-friendly, so all drinks are served in reusable glass bottles and eco-bags. “I want to make sure that my brand is doing its part to lessen plastic wastes. Imagine the hundreds of drinks I sell in one month. If I use plastic bottles, that’s already 100 plastic bottles gone to waste.”

1 liter bottle of French Vanilla latte.

From L-R: Strawberries and Cream, Spanish Vanilla Latte,
Cold Brew Concentrate.

She naturally advocates the exquisite taste and variety of Philippine coffee, and uses locally-sourced teas. One of which is the Kalinga Robusta dark roast beans which she uses because its low acidity, and nutty and earthy notes. It’s best tasted in her best-selling caffeinated Cold Brew Concentrate and French Vanilla Latte. While her Strawberries & Cream and Hazelnut Chocolate are caffeine-free hits.

While business has been brisk, there were times when she was met with people’s doubts. Instead of being discouraged, Pam used these obstacles to refocus on her purpose and goal.

She gives credit to her college education for preparing her for the challenging road ahead. “I will always be grateful for the holistic education that I received from Mapúa. They trained us not just to be employees, but to be leaders and trailblazers in whatever industry we chose. Mapúa taught me to be diligent, strive for excellence, and never settle for ‘half-baked’ results,” she explained.

Jacobe was trained to pursue continuous learning and improvement. It’s no wonder that she is doing research and development on non-dairy options and new flavors to expand her product line. She also encourages other aspiring entrepreneurs to take the big leap.

“Don’t be afraid to start from nothing. Enjoy the fact that you’re literally starting from the bottom and have nothing to lose if you try. Your dreams are planted in your heart for a reason. You owe it to yourself to give it a try.”

The Importance of Security Check-ups.

Lots of things are conducted on the Internet through the rising-in-popularity technologies. All those pieces of software, applications, systems, and websites are very helpful, but it is essential to ensure full protection. Android pentesting is one of the methods aimed at ensuring the safety of the applications based on this OS. Special security checks can also be applied to detect possible weaknesses in the software used by the company. Learn more about security checks and where to order them.

Bae Suzy in Start-Up (2020).

What a Security Check Can Be Ordered for?

It can be ordered virtually for everything. For example, customers may want to opt for a smart contract security audit if the security of a blockchain is required. Generally, when it comes to the use of networks, software, applications, and various IT systems, specialists can conduct a relevant type of testing or audit to detect any vulnerability. It may be difficult to determine where the threat may come from. Therefore, it may be wise to contact a reliable company and ask for their recommendation on what should be checked.

What Will Be the Results of Security Check?

After analyzing a certain object in terms of weaknesses, specialists will conclude on how vulnerable it is. Relevant recommendations on the elimination of possible problems will then be issued. Generally, the main purpose of cybersecurity services is to ensure the safety of a certain transaction, piece of software, or the system in general.

Kim Taehyung. 

How to Find the Right Company?

There is a range of companies that provide cybersecurity services. The following are the factors to take into account when picking the right one:

•  The availability of the specific services;
•  The price;
•  The reputation;
•  The speed of order execution;
•  Good support.

Conclusion

Professional cybersecurity services are increasing in their popularity. Today, it is essential to be well-protected against hackers. Problems due to attacks may cost much more than a check of possible vulnerabilities.

QURE is here: A teleconsultation and wellness website made by Filipinos for Filipinos.

A teleconsult website that promises to make medical consultations easy and convenient for many Filipinos was finally launched today, October 20.

QURE.ph, an all-Filipino-made website, provides a platform for online video consultations, connects doctors and patients for easy scheduling of appointments, and makes available a directory of pharmacies and other health and wellness providers. QURE.ph offers a free platform for doctors who want to expand their services via teleconsult amid increasing demand for virtual consultation.

Earlier today at the Qure Press Launch.

“We created this platform with the Filipino patient in mind. It’s a simple website and it does not complicate the teleconsultation process. Even those not comfortable with technology will find these consultations easy to do. This is our new normal and QURE is here to help you navigate the future of healthcare,” said Gary Libby, QURE Chief Technology Officer.

A trip to the hospital may also be burdensome these days, as the COVID pandemic persists. QURE will help Filipinos find their way through this public health crisis while keeping their health in check.

“This will definitely benefit doctors and patients. No more overbooking for doctors, and no more long lines for patients waiting for their turn at clinics. Whether via teleconsult or face-to-face check-ups, the scheduling system of QURE helps both patients and doctors,” Libby added.

Andrea Trinidad, Chief Executive Officer of QURE, said the idea of the teleconsult platform started last year when the lockdowns extended and it became difficult for patients to see their doctors. Trinidad, who has a life-long disorder called hemophilia and is the president Hemophilia Advocates-Philippines, said the pandemic really affected patients.

“When I was approached by my friends last year and they shared with me their idea of a telemedicine platform, I told them it was brilliant. We envision QURE to be an e-mall of health services where you can book consults, buy medicines, book laboratory appointments and even book a consult with the veterinarian for your fur babies,” she added.

QURE is here!

More to know about QURE:

1. The platform is data-safe, both for patients and doctors.

Registering is FREE for patients and doctors. Consultation fees range from P500 to P1,500, depending on doctor’s specialization. But for its introductory price, QURE is offering a 50 percent discount for consultations.

2. Registered users can look for doctors for their tele-consult.

Specialists have expertise on: Cardiology; General Surgery; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Integrative General Medicine; Internal Medicine, Dermatology; Otolaryngology (ENT); ENT Specialist Head & Neck Surgery; Psychiatry-Adult; Physical Medicine/Rehab; Pediatrics; Allergy & Asthma, Immunologist; Urology; Sleep Medicine/Insomnia; Ophthalmology; Family & Occupational Medicine; Cardiology; Pediatrics-Pulmonology; Family Medicine; Lifestyle Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery and Hematology/Oncology.

Also in QURE’s pool of experts: Nutritionist Dietician; General Dentistry/Orthodontics; Dentistry/Prosthetic and Esthetic.

3. The website lets you know who is online.

Is the doctor in? No need to guess or call the doctor’s secretary. Through the QURE website, you can easily see if the doctor is available to take consultations. 

Dr. Dex Macalintal is in!

4. Find doctors in your area or teleconsult with a specialist anywhere in the Philippines

QURE has a growing number of specialists from all over the country. The drop-down menu on the website shows that many doctors have already signed up. Many more are joining QURE in the following weeks.

5. It’s a growing health and wellness community.

In the coming months, expect more health and wellness features. You will also soon see reviews of doctors done by patients themselves.

For more information about QURE, you may contact us at support@qure.ph or 0991.398.8781. To check our pool of specialists, visit https://qure.ph/search-doctor]