July 2022

The biggest and most awaited digital conference in the Philippines, organized by the Internet & Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP), has officially released its 2018 topic. With brands, advertising experts, and business leaders, DigiCon Valley 2022 will address the panorama of digital marketing transformation in an effort to recognize creativity, problem-solving, and the entrepreneurial spirit of Philippine businesses. Official attendees will have access to four brand-new tracks that cover the distinct stages of innovation from October 10–14 from 9 AM to 1 PM PST: Launchpad, Hypergrowth, Breakthrough, and Enterprise.

This year’s theme is an allude at the Gobi-Core Philippine Fund Ecosystem Report of 2021 which perceived that the growing startup scene in the country is ripe for it to finally become a key player in the technology sphere, in relation to ASEAN counterparts.

The future for development and expansion is projected with optimism as logistics, e-commerce, and fintech sectors continue to rise locally, especially in a post-pandemic economy. It is expected that Philippine firms will raise more investments in the next three years versus the past five years combined.

Leading 100 speakers across the 65 sessions of the 5-day event, keynote Speakers include world-renowned marketing expert and academic, Mark Ritson; one of the most influential female entrepreneurs in the world and founder of the Huffington Post, Ariana Huffington; and the co-founder of Character Ventures and the inventor of the Design Sprint, Jake Knapp. More internationally-acclaimed speakers and guests are set to be announced soon.

After two years of virtual connections, DigiCon Valley 2022 is finally bringing back face-to-face networking through the DigiCon After-hours. Held between 6-9 PM on select evenings across the city, major sponsors will host physical gatherings which promise to provide cocktails, entertainment, and speed networking, allowing delegates to reconnect with others in the industry.

Tickets are now available for purchase with the early bird discount at 40% off in limited supply. For more information and updates on DigiCon Valley 2022, visit www.digicon.com.ph and follow their social pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

ViVYD is going to power this event. Visit https://www.qairos.asia/vivyd to find out more information about this platform.

Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government, is the Gold Sponsor of IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022. Silver Sponsor Hepmil Philippines and Platinum Sponsors Manulife Philippines and Tiktok are also acknowledged.

Rizaly Lim, a high school student, and her four siblings used to stop and marvel whenever they passed the first SM City being built in their hometown of twenty years ago, Sta. Rosa Laguna. The five kids, crammed onto the tricycle their father drives for a living, were all anticipating fun family weekends spent at the enormous mall.

Rizaly is now a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), having graduated from Summa Cum Laude thanks to a scholarship from the SM Foundation, and she works as the accounting manager for the corporate office of SM Prime Holdings, a prominent property developer.

From SM Foundation scholar to SM Prime accounting manager

At a young age, Rizaly was headstrong about getting her family out of poverty. She shares, “My father was the only one who worked for our family, and because we were a large family, his daily earnings as a tricycle driver were never enough.”

Rizaly finished high school at the Balibago National High School as class valedictorian in 2005 and was already sending applications for other college scholarships when her teacher asked the top 10 students to go to SM City Sta. Rosa for an interview with SM Foundation.

“Sa umpisa, hindi po ako naniwala kasi bago pa lang sa amin noon ang SM City Sta. Rosa,” she recalls. She proceeded of course, driven by the one goal of finishing college and helping her family. “Gusto ko rin po makapag-aral at makapagtapos noon. Maka-work at makatulong sa family.”

A few exams and interviews later, SM Foundation, Inc. (SMFI) went to visit her and her family at home to inform them that she will be receiving a full scholarship with monthly allowance until she finishes her course.

In 2010, Rizaly graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accountancy. She went on to pass the Philippine CPA Board Exams on first try in October 2010. The assistance of SMFI, she said, went beyond tuition and allowances. “With full scholarship grants and monthly allowances, as well as the opportunity to work at SM Store during our summer and Christmas vacations, the SMFI scholarship has enabled me to help my family financially.”

“I am the master of my fate”

While other parents were buying their college kids the latest Nokia phone back in the summers of 2000’s, Rizaly’s father gave her and her siblings weekly assignments to accomplish during the summer vacation. “Our late father instilled in us the love of reading and the value of studying,” she shared. “During summer, he would assign us English words and their meanings to memorize and asked us to recite these to him.“

Then there’s the memorization of motivational poems and speeches, one of which stuck with her for life: “It matters not how strait the gate, how charged with punishments the scroll, I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” She shared that this last stanza of “Invictus” by W.E. Henley had kept her motivated to look past the limitations of her circumstances and focus on her personal goals.

Career at SM

SM Foundation was established in 1983 by Henry Sy, Sr. and Felicidad T. Sy as the heart of the SM group. It has established programs that are focused on nurturing and caring for underserved communities where SM is present. It supports and empowers host communities through education, healthcare, shelter, disaster response, sustainable agriculture, and care for persons with special needs.

To date, SM Foundation has assisted more than 8,000 college and technical/vocational students, and has donated over 100 school buildings with a total of 334 classrooms built across the country.

The SM Foundation offers career possibilities across the various SM group firms, so nurturing graduates goes beyond the classroom. A Career Fair organized by the organization is intended especially for its scholars.

Rizaly received job offers from three businesses as a result of the Career Fair held by the SM Foundation, one of which was SM Prime Holdings, one of the biggest integrated property developers in Southeast Asia that offers sustainable and innovative lifestyle cities through the construction of malls, homes, offices, hotels, and convention centers. In terms of assets, it is also the biggest in the Philippines.

I still want to level up

“I haven’t accomplished much yet, but I value what I have already accomplished and received so far,” said Rizaly, referring to the highest honors she has received in high school and college, becoming a CPA, and being promoted to manager in within only a few years of her work at SM Prime.  “These are just a few of the accomplishments for which I will be eternally grateful. I’m also proud of my daily achievements at work, such as fulfilling particular duties assigned to me. They make me happy and proud of myself, and they inspire me to do better.”

“Ang mga dating pinapangarap ko lang, nagagawa ko na ngayon,” Rizaly said as she related how she has been able to travel to Taiwan for vacation and do the tri-city tour of Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. But her biggest dreams, she said, remain centered on her family: to provide better for her family by sharing with them what she has now. “Nothing is simple. Nothing is easy. Hindi ko naman to straight line lang na na-achieve. Life is full of challenges. Just stay strong, keep the faith and always give your best effort.”