Lifestyle

The country’s leading consumer finance company on empowering and enabling Filipinos to live more rewarding lives on its 11^th year of business in the Philippines

Home Credit Philippines (HCPH) serves a diverse variety of Filipinos, accounting for 78% of its sales from consumers who live outside of the National Capital Region. The company has over 10 million clients. Aware of the diversity of its clientele, Home Credit has created offerings that speak to different markets and strive to improve people’s lives. I, for one, can say that Home Credit is such a reliable ally for all our needs. I have been in circumstances where home credit has given me so much help and comfort. Throughout the years, they have proven their worth and are still improving it for the convenience of every Filipino. I have also been using Home Credit not just for my lifestyle products, such as my gadgets, but also for my online shopping and transactions these days.

Sheila Paul, Chief Marketing Officer of HCPH, stated at a recent event that the company runs three year-round major campaigns where customers can purchase products at great deals, including 0% interest installment rates. The campaigns are called the Summer Campaign, Back-to-School Campaign, and Holiday Campaign. HCPH does this to provide financial and credit opportunities to Filipinos during peak shopping seasons.

“We create campaigns with our diverse customer base in mind. Our initiatives to make financial solutions more accessible through our campaigns enable them to live the life they desire. We are grateful that our efforts are well-received by our customers, and we consider their recognition of our campaigns as a testament to our commitment to providing only the best initiatives that can truly benefit Filipinos,” Paul added.

Trusted partner for lifestyle products

Over the years, the increasing trust of Filipinos also meant an increase in demand to finance more and more commodities and high-ticket items for its customers. What was initially just four commodities—smartphones, televisions and computers and laptops—grew and diversified to more than 80 types of commodities now, the widest selection for any consumer finance company in the country. Some additional commodities include tablets, e-bikes, motorcycle necessities, musical instruments, furniture, farming equipment and medical needs, among others.

This growth in the types of commodities financed over the years were driven by strong partnerships with the most trusted brands and retail stores in the country, some of which were present as collaborators during the event to celebrate HCPH’s milestones and welcome its new decade: Abenson, Acer, Cellboy, Digimap, Imperial Appliance Plaza, Octagon, Power Mac  Center, Samsung, and Silicon Valley.

Top-selling commodities over the years

In the past years, the commodity with the most units sold by HCPH is mobile phones, with over 12 million units sold. In 2023 alone, the company facilitated installment financing of 12.5 million units of mobile phones worth P30 billion, with iPhone being the top brand sold, accounting for P6B worth in overall sales.

Apart from mobile phones, HCPH has also financed three other top commodities over the years: televisions with 1.2 million units sold, computers and laptops with 900k units sold, and aircons with 500k units sold.

These remarkable numbers are driven by the company’s 0% interest deals across its product range. For instance, Home Credit’s introduction of its Summer Campaign’s 0% interest promo on cooling appliances and other home essentials helped Filipinos survive the unforgiving heat through the 1000+ per day air-conditioners that the company has sold since the middle of March.

New way for Filipinos to shop

Filipino customers’ shopping behavior have dramatically changed over the years with online shopping becoming a preferred way to get information and buy products. According to a study conducted by Agile Data Solutions Inc., Filipinos’ consumer behavior prefers in-store shopping over online one, with 77 percent of Filipinos still prefer in-store shopping for unknown products.  The recent pandemic, however, has also opened them to the world of online shopping deals, where customers utilize online shopping platforms to do price research and get deals, and do physical shopping for sensory appeal and visceral experience.

As Filipinos increasingly adopt the digital lifestyle, Home Credit also underwent a digital transformation journey to enhance its customer service and provide easy access to its products, deals, and locations of partners shops via mobile phones. HCPH introduced Shoppingmall.ph, an online platform where customers can discover over 50,000 deals and select them from over 500 merchants, in three easy steps.

Shoppingmall.ph gives customers the opportunity to look for the commodity they need, search for the best deals, and choose their preferred store from HCPH’s more than 50,000 partners shops nationwide.

The goal of Home Credit, which is to empower more Filipinos through more financial options, more shop locations, more cutting-edge technologies, and more customer-focused services, is still very much in line as the company approaches the next decade. It will stay every Filipino’s financial ally, para sa life, and keep making credit chances more accessible.

Go www.homecredit.ph, the official website of Home Credit Philippines, to learn more about the most recent developments. Its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts are also open for visiting. Consumers can also peruse the most recent 0% interest offers by visiting Shoppingmall.ph. They can also download the My Home Credit App from Google Play to start the application process for an installment.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have granted Home Credit Philippines the necessary licenses and supervision.

• Up to 90% of products are exported throughout Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and South America markets
• New model for digitalization for the Philippines logistics industry

Today marked the formal opening of Schneider Electric’s renovated Cavite Smart Distribution Center, a new standard for smart logistics in the Philippines and a leader in the world for energy management and automation. Schneider Electric refurbished and expanded the facility with state-of-the-art fourth industrial revolution technology with an investment of P86.5 million (1.4 million euros) to support growth driven by the energy transition and digitalization in the region and globally.

The distribution center, which occupies 19,600 square meters and is located in the Philippine Economic Zone Authority’s (PEZA) Special Economic Zone, oversees the export and distribution of Schneider Electric’s three-phase UPS equipment. These goods are essential for maintaining steady power supply to vital end markets, such as data centers, which depend on Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) 3 Phase equipment, and for guarding against data loss and hardware damage in the case of a power outage.

The Cavite Smart Distribution Center enhances Schneider Electric’s robust distribution network across Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and South America markets. The facility’s enhanced sophisticated technologies streamline operations, boost efficiency, and significantly lower energy consumption, setting a new standard in sustainable logistics.

“We are committed and passionate about our customers, which is why we have made this investment in our Cavite distribution center” said Ireen Catane, Country President of Schneider Electric Philippines. “It’s a new case that demonstrates how Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies provide the way to make significant progress on sustainability and operational efficiency. Connected to our Smart Factory and Smart Distribution Network, this new facility marks an important milestone in serving our customers across Asia and the world.”

The distribution center leverages a variety of Schneider Electric EcoStruxure solutions to drive sustainability and efficiency across the facility:

• Power Metering Expert monitors and optimizes energy use throughout the building, expected to reduce carbon emissions and has recorded 14% increase in production growth and 13% in energy savings.
• Digital dashboards display operational performance in real time.
• Up to 80% of finished goods are transported inbound and outbound by a fleet of EV trucks.

All of these enhancements contribute to Schneider Electric’s global sustainability commitments.

Atty. Norman Roland Ocana III, Schneider Electric Philippines Head of Government Affairs, underscored the crucial role of heeding the call of the Philippine Government to help in the country’s development towards sustainable economic growth: “A digital supply chain is a human-centric one. As we invest in smart operations, we also invest in our people and developing their digital skills to ensure they have competencies they need in this new landscape,” he said. “This is in line with the government’s ambition to equip Filipinos to be a competitive force in the digital economy.”

Impact Supply Chain Program

The Impact Supply Chain initiative from Schneider Electric includes the Cavite Smart Distribution Center. This is the next phase of the company’s supply chain transformation, with the goal of improving the environment and customer experience. Key pillars of it are:

• People – Schneider’s people are empowered to innovate and make a positive impact for customers every day.
• Planet – Schneider Electric is building a sustainable, responsible, and net-zero ready supply chain.
• Customers – Schneider Electric’s reliable supply chain delivers industry-leading quality.
• Performance – Schneider Electric drives performance through advanced technology, smart and unified processes, regional ecosystems, and collaborative design.

This year, Livestock Philippines and Aquaculture Philippines, which emphasize innovation and technology to boost the agricultural economy, especially the livestock and aquaculture industries, will be held again at Informa Markets in the Philippines. Now in its yearly cycle, the events are prepared to present technology and cutting-edge product displays from top industry exhibitors, as well as a platform for exchanging knowledge through a number of industry forums and conferences that will connect attendees with technology providers and emerging markets. It was a great privilege to acquire new ideas and information about our agricultural sector, as it plays a huge role in our economic industry. In the forum, they emphasize the massive effect of using technological advancement in the widespread innovation of our livestock and aquaculture industries. They also provided significant mind-enriching programs that will cultivate in them more profound ideas about livestock and aquaculture. Technology is indeed a great tool to help develop things right now, including our agricultural system, and it will enrich the minds of those interested in starting this livestock and aquaculture business.

This year’s Livestock Philippines and Aquaculture Philippines editions’ theme, “Harnessing Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Farm Development,” may act as a catalyst for the advancement of these two agricultural industries. These events, which place a strong emphasis on innovation and technology, have the power to establish these industries as important forces behind rural development and job creation while also demonstrating a dedication to environmentally friendly methods.

“Unlocking the vast potential of the Philippine livestock and aquaculture subsectors can be achieved by enabling the stakeholders and actors to gain access to the latest in technologies and markets, among many others. And this is one of the primary objectives of the annual Livestock Philippines and Aquaculture Philippines trade show – to make it a knowledge-sharing platform,” said Ms. Rungphech Chitanuwat, the Country General Manager of Informa Markets in the Philippines.

The Department of Agriculture, in its capacity as the key government partner of Livestock Philippines and Aquaculture Philippines, reaffirms its commitment to the shows in presenting technological advancements to local farmers and fisherfolk to improve their agricultural production and make it more profitable. Aligned with the Department of Agriculture’s mandate of “Masaganang Agrikultura, Maunlad na Ekonomiya,” these events play a vital role as a strategic avenue for fostering partnerships between the public and private sectors and providing them with technological resources for the advancement and modernization of agriculture in the Philippines.

The three-day event offers a significant opportunity for stakeholders, industry professionals, farmers, business owners, and buyers within the Philippine livestock and aquaculture sectors to deepen their knowledge of technological advancements and market trends. Some of the important areas such as safeguarding farms through secure biosecurity, animal health, sustainable swine and poultry production, aquaculture trends and outlook will be discussed in in-depth details. Apart from the exhibition, participants can engage in various programs that are free of charge such as the following:

• Technical Seminars – Exhibitors provide in-depth technical discussions tailored for the livestock and aquaculture market.
• Livestock Conference – Agencies within the Department of Agriculture, including the Bureau of Animal Industry, National Dairy Authority, Philippine Carabao Center, Agricultural Training Institute, and National Meat Inspection, cover relevant topics in the agricultural sector.
• Aquaculture Conference (May 23, 2024) – A dedicated conference focusing on the aquaculture sector brings together industry professionals to share knowledge, discuss critical aquaculture topics, exchange expertise, and explore innovative industry solutions.
• Biosecurity Asia Forum (May 23, 2024) – An exclusive forum dedicated to discussing biosecurity practices, government policies, and other biosecurity strategies and approaches to different sectors featuring speakers from Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines
• Sustainability Forum (May 24, 2024) – This forum aims to raise awareness of sustainability, particularly focusing on sustainable approaches in the livestock, poultry, ruminant, and aquaculture sectors. The events’ sustainability partners, Prestige Paper Products and Central Luzon State University are featured to host their respective panel discussion that drives the campaign towards sustainability.
• ASEAN Associations Roundtable – An expert dialogue on swine and layer sectors between invited associations from various countries like Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

Ms. Chitanuwat said that the staging of the abovementioned conferences and forums demonstrates the strong commitment of Informa Markets and the Department of Agriculture to make Livestock Philippines and Aquaculture Philippines 2024 very relevant to the two sectors, which face numerous challenges but have vast potential including ensuring food security for the entire nation, generating jobs, and creating more viable investment avenues.

Livestock Philippines is set to host again the Livestock Philippines Recognition. This recognition aims to acknowledge companies, associations, cooperatives, and organizations that have significantly contributed to the advancement of the livestock and aquaculture industries in their own simple ways. These entities are recognized for their conscientious efforts in fostering growth and creating livelihood opportunities within the community.

Moreover, within the exhibition hall, there are educational attractions that are open to visitors at no cost. These include the Eggcellent Corner, presented by the Batangas Egg Producers Cooperative, showcasing the Philippine Egg Roadmap, and highlighting the various advantages of eggs. Additionally, the Sustainability Square aims to promote awareness of sustainability practices and their positive impact on the livestock and aquaculture industries.

The Department of Agriculture will host a livestock conference in addition to showcasing ten agencies at a pavilion, including the Philippine Carabao Center, the International Training Center on Pig Husbandry, the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards, the National Livestock Program, the Bureau of Animal Industry, the National Meat Inspection, the National Dairy Authority, and the Agricultural Training Institute.The Land Bank of the Philippines and the Council for Agriculture and Fisheries will provide guests with help and direction on a range of industry-related issues.

“Livestock Philippines and Aquaculture Philippines 2024, for their support of the Department of Agriculture, as it clearly shows their commitment to enhancing to make the two sub sectors competitive and sustainable,” Ms. Chitanuwat stated.

From May 22 to 24, 2024, the Livestock Philippines and Aquaculture Philippines 2024 will take place at the World Trade Center in Pasay City. Free entry is available for the activities, which provide easy access to the exhibition and a range of seminars spread over three days. Attendees with a keen interest in the event include local farmers, trade buyers, veterinarians, and animal health professionals. Through this link: https://ers-th.informa-info.com/lsp24, visitors can access the pre-registration process, which has been further optimized to offer a seamless registration experience.

The University selected the Canvas learning management system to offer a more consistent and modern approach to digital pedagogy, improve flexibility and better management tools for lifelong learning and non-traditional learners.

Canvas’s creator, Instructure Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: INST), the industry leader in the learning ecosystem, announced today that The University of Manchester has chosen Canvas to replace its antiquated learning management system (LMS) in order to better align with the institution’s strategic objectives, which include promoting lifelong learning and increasing course accessibility and flexibility.

“This platform is aimed at improving flexibility, functionality, and capabilities for teaching and learning for all of our learners, including continuing professional development (CPD),” said Professor Danielle George, Associate Vice President Blended and Flexible Learning, The University of Manchester.  “Canvas is praised for its intuitive interface, strong support, flexibility, integration capabilities, and the ability to share content, all of which are in line with the strategic direction of the University. Adopting Canvas by Instructure as our LMS will strengthen our commitment to lifelong learning.”

The choice to move providers was made after a careful analysis and a number of usability testing of all the options. Faculty and student response was overwhelmingly that their learning management system (LMS) should be doing more to improve efficacy, efficiency, and their pedagogical approach to creating online content. Canvas courses will be launched by the university for the 2025–2026 academic year.

The University of Manchester has invested in the full suite of Instructure products for higher education, which includes: Canvas LMS, Canvas Catalog, Canvas Studio, Canvas Credentials and Impact by Instructure a tool that supports change, drives adoption and helps institutions evaluate the impact of its edtech solutions based on data and analytics. Additionally, The University of Manchester will manage the migration of its courses with Instructure’s partner, K16 Solutions, and their automated migration functionality. Using the Canvas Archiving solution, they can also move the data from their former LMS into Canvas and retain years of historical data for accreditation purposes.

“As education keeps evolving and is constantly challenged by emerging technologies, we are proud to partner with The University of Manchester to support their efforts and aim to foster a flexible and modern lifelong learning experience not only in the United Kingdom but for thousands of international students around the world,” said Daniel Hill, Managing Director for Europe, Middle East and Africa at Instructure.

With 44,000 students, 12,000 faculty members, and 550,000 alumni from 190 countries, the University of Manchester is regarded as one of the UK’s most internationally diverse universities. Furthermore, it is an important collaborator in Manchester’s citywide lifelong learning program, which was recently recognized by UNESCO as a City of Lifelong Learning.

The University of Manchester is a prominent member of the Russell Group and one of the best universities in Europe.

Learn more at www.instructure.com/en-au 

• The Network announced three new investment deals facilitated through their Working Capital Facility to provide financial support to three local impact enterprises Magnus Renewable Tech Corp., Agro-Digital PH, and Suds Sustainable Pods to scale their operations.
• Impact Pioneers Network recently partnered with Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), Dungganon Bank, and a local angel investor to unlock growth capital for impact enterprises from various sectors in the Philippines.
• The Network also unveiled that early-stage impact enterprises in the Philippines can now apply for loans through the gender-smart working capital loan facility throughout the year.

In order to give three impact firms in the Philippines expansion money, Impact Pioneers Network (IPN), the nation’s first impact investing network, forged important alliances with Dungganon Bank, Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), and an angel investor.

Magnus Renewable Tech Corp., Agro-Digital PH, and Suds Sustainable Pods have all benefited from these partnerships by obtaining loans without the need for collateral to help them expand. “The Network and our partners aim to accelerate sustainable development and empower communities nationwide through innovative solutions,” stated Priya Thachadi, co-founder and CEO of Villgro Philippines, one of the Network’s co-managers, “by unlocking crucial financing to impact enterprises like Magnus Renewable Tech Corp., Agro-Digital PH, and Suds Sustainable Pods.”  

Magnus Renewable Tech Corp., an enterprise focusing on solar energy solutions based in Negros Oriental, will utilize the working capital provided to increase solar energy access to communities nationwide. “The facility allows us to fund a pilot project which opens up a huge opportunity for Magnus,” said Karl Ivan Estadola, CEO and Co-Founder of Magnus Renewable Tech Corp.

Agro-Digital PH, an innovative digital platform empowering farmers and enhancing agricultural productivity, will harness the loan to advance its technology and broaden its farmer network. Agro-Digital PH CEO and Founder Henry James Sison emphasized, “The working capital loan facilitated by the Network ensures our ability to expand markets and uphold service delivery. It is a critical lifeline for our operations.”

These enterprises demonstrate the crucial role of market-driven models in addressing urgent social and climate challenges in the country. “We are excited to support growing enterprises like Agro-Digital and Magnus Renewable as they truly address relevant issues such as enhancing agricultural productivity and clean energy.  These enterprises provide real hope in the development of our country,” said Raymond Serios of Dungganon Bank, Inc. & Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation, Inc. “As a member of the Impact Pioneers Network, we hope to be working with similar enterprises so that we can maximize our reach and ensure that more and more Filipinos benefit from the work of these social enterprises.”

Suds Sustainable Pods, known for its innovative personal hygiene and household cleaning products packaged in water-soluble film, also received a working capital loan from an individual angel investor from the Network to scale up operations and further diversify its product line to lessen plastic pollution. “Their support has allowed us to allocate resources towards optimizing essential business processes that strengthen compliance and operational efficiency. This empowers us to continue expanding our reach and deliver greater value to our stakeholders.” said Jean Magboo-Yuzon, Co-Founder of Suds Sustainable Pods.

The Network, alongside its investors, shares its commitment to fostering positive social and environmental change through innovative impact investing approaches.

Economic development is also aided by impact investing. Impact investment encourages equitable opportunities and economic progress by funding companies that uplift local communities and generate jobs.

The Network highlights this important component with its gender-smart working capital facility, which is now accepting applications from early-stage impact entrepreneurs in the Philippines throughout the year. This institution will promote firms owned or run by women, offering short-term, collateral-free loans up to PHP 250,000 to those making a direct impact on the environment or society.

Please visit www.impactpioneers.ph to learn more about Impact Pioneers Network and its partners.

For its sixth iteration, New Bold University (NBU), hailed for emulating the avant-garde philosophy of Silicon Valley’s Singularity University, is returning to the forefront.

“Visionary NXT: Branding Masterclass for the Next Big Brands.” is slated to take place at The Astbury in Makati City on May 10–11, 2024. Its goal is to equip up-and-coming firms with cutting-edge marketing tactics that are crucial for dominating their respective markets. “Visionary NXT” is positioned to be a crucial conference for the upcoming generation of brand leaders as NBU keeps providing local business owners with insights from both the global and local markets.

This two-day event, which is in its sixth year, seeks to give business owners, startup founders, and marketing professionals the skills and resources they need to completely change the branding landscape. It gives attendees the tools they need to make a significant difference in their particular industries while offering practical techniques for brand success.

With the many disruptions in the marketplace, the dynamics of branding and marketing have shifted. NBU’s response to these challenges offers strategies and visionary thinking needed in today’s market. It seeks to cultivate a community of 1,000 visionary brand builders in the next two years who will lead the charge in creating disruptive and socially impactful brands.

NBU’s Founder, Ralph Layco, envisions this initiative as a pivotal moment for the branding community. “Visionary NXT represents a significant evolution from our previous masterclasses. We are not just exploring brand strategies; we are inspiring a new generation of brand pioneers who will lead the charge in driving innovation and change. They need guidance and new strategies, and most importantly, the mindset to disrupt their categories. We are here to guide and empower them,” said Layco.

Featuring a lineup of industry titans including Colourette Cosmetics CEO and NIV Della Beauty Innovations, Inc. Founder Nina Dizon, Tala by Kyla Founder Janet Kyla, Rolling Media Founder Jozelle Tech, Good Diva Marketing Founder Mariella Tiano, Agyle Brands Founder Guita Gopalan, and Noah and Eve Center and NBU Founder Ralph Layco, who are set to deliver invaluable insights into brand strategy, innovation, and growth. The group from Kaya Founders will also join the event.

Attendees may anticipate an engaging program that includes networking opportunities, coaching sessions, and workshops aimed at promoting teamwork and creativity.

The Man, The Maverick, Mink.ph, and Hiraya Pilipina brand creators spoke at a series of online brand talks staged in advance of the much-anticipated event in May in order to create the scene and spark interest.

Participants who are interested can reach out to NBU via their official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/newboldu.