Vic Vic Bautista

Filipinos frequently travel overseas in the dreams of a better future, full of excitement and anticipation. These ambitions frequently go beyond individual objectives and have a big impact on families and communities. However, the road to achieving these goals is frequently fraught with difficulties, necessitating fortitude, tenacity, and the proper assistance to thrive on the international scene.

From left to right: Lianne De Vera, Thomas Aguila, and Hannah Velasco, past IELTS test takers now successfully living abroad.
 

For many, being able to communicate in English is essential to taking advantage of these opportunities. Taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is a crucial step for anybody looking to advance in their job, pursue additional education, or begin a new life. In addition to administering the IELTS exam, the British Council, which co-owns the test, provides assistance to those getting ready for international exams so they can adjust to life overseas. Introducing Lianne, Thomas, and Hannah—three Filipinos who overcame both personal and professional obstacles to prosper in their new communities.

Dreams Beyond Borders

For Lianne De Vera, a British Council scholarship grantee and now the marketing communications head of a London-based non-profit, the dream was always to broaden her horizons. Initially believing her strength was in writing, her speaking skills surpassed her expectations after taking the IELTS exam and scoring higher in speaking than in writing.  “Taking the IELTS felt like a stamp of validation. It gave me the confidence to engage with my peers and professors,” she said. Earning a scholarship through the British Council’s IELTS Prize further motivated her to hone her skills in her field. “The IELTS was an eye-opener. I’m not particularly an extrovert, and I’m not comfortable speaking in public, but I did well with my speaking, showing me that I could surprise myself,” Lianne shared.

Moving to Canada to work as a nurse was a long-standing goal according to Thomas Aguila. This also required the right credentials. His employer and the academic institution where he is completing his degree units easily recognised his IELTS certification because it was from the British Council.  “If I had taken another test, I think the outcome would’ve been different,” he explained. “The process was much smoother, and I got my results quickly from the British Council.” He added that improving his English skills also helped him be more attuned to his patients’ needs and adapt to the foreign environment.

Meanwhile, after years of navigating the paperwork to move to Bermuda, Hannah Velasco took the leap to relocate from her hometown of Dagupan three years ago. It was an adjustment that pushed her out of her comfort zone, but it led to fulfilling experiences that extended beyond her career. “Talking to people from different cultures has been one of the most rewarding experiences for me,” she said. “Improving English through the IELTS not only made me more fluent, but it also broke down barriers. I gained friends and insights into their cultures, which made my transition smoother.” Beyond her life as a nurse, the skills she gained through her IELTS journey helped her adapt to a foreign community.

A Stepping Stone to Success

The IELTS journey also provides individuals with the skills needed to create life-altering experiences. As Lianne shared, “IELTS opened the doors for me to step into a new chapter, leading to career and study opportunities, as well as the chance to live here and raise my family.”

Thomas echoed this, sharing how IELTS helped him achieve his dream of working abroad. After securing a healthcare role, he later received a scholarship in Canada with his employer covering his travel, accommodation, and education. “For the first time, I felt truly valued in my profession,” Thomas said, reflecting on how the experience has created opportunities for him.

For all three of them, the difference in their IELTS experience came down to the personalised support that the British Council offered. “The test may be the same, but how they deliver it and the support given makes all the difference,” Lianne said, likening her experience to a safe space for pursuing her goals. The British Council also provided tips on building a mindset ready for the exam, helping ease her anxiety. “The readily available resources and stamp of credibility are what make the journey more empowering,” she added.

Lianne, Thomas, and Hannah’s experiences demonstrate how fluency in the English language promotes both career and personal development. The British Council provides a wealth of assistance for Filipinos who want to succeed overseas, including materials for test-taking and IELTS preparation. With more than 20 testing locations around the country and their extensive online preparation resource, IELTS Ready Premium, the British Council is dedicated to helping people realize their dreams of living abroad.

Are you prepared to embark on your worldwide adventure? Take advantage of our Early Holiday Promo this October! by scheduling your IELTS exam now! Take advantage of a 10% discount at our test locations in Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, and Pampanga when you register for your IELTS online. Go to https://www.britishcouncil.ph/exam to reserve your place right now.

Iskaparate.com core team, industry partners, and media representatives in a commemorative photograph, marking a significant milestone of the platform.

A team from ConnectSys, Iskaparate’s ecosystem provider, led an interactive online purchase demo for media representatives and industry partners to get a firsthand look at the platform during the press launch of Iskaparate.com on October 15, 2024, at Overdoughs Café in Ayala Malls Circuit, Makati.

The occasion, which was intended to present Iskaparate’s characteristics and advantages, was a significant occasion for the platform as it formally entered the online market. The demonstration included a comprehensive overview of the website, covering product showcasing, e-commerce functionalities, and the purchasing process that was initiated with an e-gift certificate. In addition to an open discussion on the platform’s general functionality, attendees interacted with the demo through interactive navigation.

I really enjoyed the event; it helped the local and small business entrepreneurs to widen their reach. It is also essential to acquire more skills to innovate and foster their business. Through the event, we got a demo of how the whole process works, and everyone enjoyed the event. It is such a great relief knowing what they launched is such a convenience, not just for the sellers but also for the customers. That’s why it is also important that we value our very own products and support the small and local businesses here in our country.

Media representatives and Iskaparate partners from various organizations participate in the platform’s online demo, exhibiting customers experience with hands-on guidance in website navigation.

The event began with a warm video message from Iskaparate Founder Joey Bermudez, sharing the journey of Iskaparate from having a community of 33 entrepreneurial mothers to partnering with 3,000 fully vetted sellers. He highlighted. “Iskaparate.com was born during the darkest days of the COVID pandemic when micro and small entrepreneurs lost their physical stores to the brutal lockdowns. We then created an online platform that would allow these entrepreneurs to resume their businesses.”

Attendees included a mix of media professionals and industry partners eager to see how the platform could potentially impact and transform the digital commerce landscape for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines.

In the modern era when a unique driving force can define the success of an online platform, Iskaparate.com made a strong impression with its mission to empower small business owners. In her talk, DTC Promos Inc. President & COO Marissa Dames emphasized its passionate goal, “We share a vision to support the growth of MSMEs.”

On the left, Iskaparate President & COO Josefina Rojo-Natividad shares the platform’s growth since formation. On the right, DTC Promos Inc. President & COO Marissa Dames discusses features that set the platform apart from others.

On the other hand, Josefina Rojo-Natividad, President & COO of Iskaparate, shared the progressive growth of the platform, “Iskaparate started as a B2C [platform], but now, we are proud to showcase that our website already features B2B, offering grocery items and personal care products. This would benefit the sellers we have whose products are not able to sell because of competition.”

Using an e-gift certificate, the demo walked participants through the entire buying process, from selecting products to completing transactions. This hands-on demonstration allowed the attendees to explore different aspects of the platform in real time. This feature of the launch allowed for an in-depth understanding of how the platform operates from a customer perspective.

Iskaparate.com, while initially conceived to support micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), has now extended its offerings to include larger businesses and B2B companies. With a wide range of e-commerce tools, vendors of all sizes can list and manage their products, handle transactions, and engage directly with consumers on a trusted, efficient platform. The team emphasized that this expansion is designed to help businesses adapt to the digital age while remaining competitive in an increasingly globalized market.

Iskaparate.com’s primary goal of empowering Filipino business owners, especially MSMEs, by providing them with the resources they need to successfully traverse the e-commerce industry was further explained during the event. Iskaparate aims to make online selling accessible to companies that might lack the funds or know-how to set up their own e-commerce systems by offering a multi-vendor platform that levels the playing field.

From left, Iskaparate team Beck Llaneta and Josefina Natividad and Louise Sarrah Uy of Suy Sing engage in a conversation after the event.

A multi-vendor e-commerce platform called Iskaparate.com was created to support and empower micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Larger organizations and B2B companies are now included, enabling resellers to purchase in bulk at discounted rates and resell them with healthy profit margins.

To learn more, go to www.iskaparate.com.

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Multi-year partnership contributes to uplifting Filipino lives

Unite for Hapag this World Food Day. Globe and SMAC celebrate their joint effort that raised Php 14.93M to be donated to the Hapag Movement. IN PHOTO (L-R): Hapag Movement mobilization partners David Jo, Head of Partnerships, Communications and Reports, UN World Food Programme; Eduardo Jimenez, Vice Chairperson, World Vision Philippines; Jun Godornes, Director for Resource Development, World Vision Philippines; Cel Amores, Senior Director for Corporate Communications, Ayala Foundation; Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer, Globe; Kevin Hartigan Go, Chief Operating Officer, SMAC; and Yara Macalindong, VP for Sales and Marketing, SMAC.

In preparation for World Food Day, SMAC has reaffirmed its commitment to combating involuntary hunger by contributing Php 14.93 million to Globe’s Hapag Movement. This is a major milestone in Globe’s efforts to end involuntary hunger and improve communities nationwide.

The Globe-led hunger reduction program, which helps 100,000 Filipino families with livelihood training and supplemental meals, has received the largest single corporate donation to date.

The funds were raised in the second round of SMAC’s partnership with the Hapag Movement, focusing on SMAC kits sold and members’ points donation through eligible purchases from SM Store and other SM retail partners from December 2023 to January 2024. The donation will be distributed to key mobilization and program implementation partners of the Hapag Movement, among them the Ayala Foundation, Tzu Chi Foundation, the United Nations World Food Programme, and World Vision.

The Hapag Movement has provided meals to over 154,000 family members, with 2,784 heads of households receiving livelihood training. Impressively, 2,361 of these individuals have successfully continued running their small businesses, highlighting the program’s role in fostering sustainable community growth.

“We are deeply grateful to our partners for closely working with us on this life-changing initiative. Together, we are creating a meaningful shift in consumer behavior, where Filipino shoppers are inspired to consider not only their personal needs but also the collective well-being,” said Yaracel S. Macalindong, VP for Sales and Marketing, SMAC.

The growing success of the partnership also reflects the importance of corporate collaboration in addressing social issues.

“Our partnership with SMAC is a testament to the power of collective action. Seeing the impact of the Hapag Movement firsthand among families we have supported so far is truly inspiring. We are incredibly grateful for this substantial donation from SMAC, which will help us expand our reach and provide vital support to families whose lives we have yet to touch,” said Yoly Crisanto, Globe’s Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.

“SMAC’s partnership with Globe through The Hapag Movement has created valuable opportunities for our members to engage in meaningful contributions. It enables them to actively give back to their communities and make a lasting, positive impact on the lives of others. This collaboration empowers members to be part of something greater, fostering a sense of purpose and social responsibility,” said Kevin Hartigan-Go, Chief Operating Officer of Digital Advantage Corp (DAC).

Looking ahead to their third fundraising round in December, SMAC and the Hapag Movement are creating more opportunities for Filipino shoppers to transform their purchases into acts of kindness and community support.

SMAC’s first partnership with the Hapag Movement in 2022 raised Php 5.5 million, benefiting 55,000 individuals and counting. Year 2 received a boost from the participation of 13 different brands apart from SMAC: SM Appliance Center, SM Beauty, SM Fashion, The Body Shop, Crate & Barrel, ECCO, Forever 21, Kultura, Levi’s, Our Home, Simply Shoes, Sports Central, and Surplus. This alongside the doubled online engagement for last holiday’s campaign significantly increased the funds gathered for the cause.

In order to provide lasting, effective solutions for Filipino families in need and contribute to the development of sustainable change that improves communities nationwide, Globe and SMAC encourage more businesses to #UniteForHapag. In order to combat child stunting, the program will intensify its livelihood training programs and support for wholesome feeding in public schools through its partners as it approaches its multi-year target.

To find out how you can help, see the Globe website’s Hapag Movement page.