Making a Comeback Post-COVID by Jasper Ong

As a testament to the resilience of Filipinos in times of adversity, our fellow "Pinoys" continue to find relevant ways to fuel economic activity and augment the family income. Mr. Jasper Ong, President of Hanabishi Philippines – one of the leading appliance makers in the country. Enumerates some key business insights that could help other companies adapt to current pandemic conditions and recover faster post-COVID.

Optimizing E-Commerce

From small households selling home-cooked meals through Facebook and big companies establishing their own online shopping sites, businesses have turned to e-commerce to reach customers. At Hanabishi, we quickly put a system in place once the quarantine period began. In less than two months, our e-commerce facility was up and running through our website, www.myhanabishi.com. We also provided our customers with the option to have their orders delivered or picked up at our warehouse.

Recognizing Your Company’s Strengths and Capabilities

Our business may not be directly about health and safety, but we were able to adjust to the new normal by relying on our strengths and capabilities.

We noticed that more households are making their homes the center of their lives, that they are finding ways to make their lives comfortable. They have started to pursue their passion for the arts, baking, cooking, among others to make their lives less stress-free and more comfortable. Having the best home experience became their goal.

When we learned that interest in baking products has increased, we knew that our baking equipment will be in demand so we made sure that they would be readily available through our website. The same thing goes for our cooking equipment when we noticed how Filipinos have started to bring the Samgyupsal experience to their homes.

We considered all these in reviewing our operating model. We relied on our strength as an appliance manufacturer and boosted our capability to supply what the market demands.

Implementing Short-Term Interventions and Streamlining Non-Core Assets

Cutting costs, securing liquidity, and adjusting production has helped us maintain our operations during this period. Conserving resources can help businesses last longer.

Reinventing value chains must also be considered as the pandemic has greatly disrupted the supply chain of global trade. Businesses must learn to streamline their non-core assets and activities.

Learni0ng to Adapt

As I mentioned before, we saw Filipinos flex their entrepreneurial skills in the past months. We saw them selling their own recipes online, creating new businesses to augment their income. It is inspiring to see how quickly our kababayans adapted to the new normal. Speed and adaptability are the competencies we need during a time of crisis.

Creating a Recovery Plan

Once consumer confidence returns, we must be ready to respond. Have a recovery plan that should be able to address what happens in the pandemic. Re-engineer your business to provide clarity and genuine stability amid the chaos and take time to improve the skills of your people. Our managers should be able to envision our objective. To do this, we business owners must provide them with the necessary knowledge and confidence to further their execution skills.

Recognizing That Recovery Will Be Gradual

There’s no quick-fix solution to the challenges that businesses face today. As the world adapts to the changes brought about by the pandemic, businesses should be mindful of consumer sentiment.

We have learned from past crises that it takes months and years to return to what we deem as the normal way of doing things. Recovery from the 2003 SARS pandemic, the 9/11 attacks, and the 2008 financial crisis took some time, and we can expect the same thing with the COVID situation.

More importantly, we have learned from these crises that we will eventually recover. Getting there may take some time, but we will get there. Our resilience and faith in our abilities and in one another will see us through.

For more information about Hanabishi, please visit www.myhanabishi.com/shop/ and like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MyHanabishiAppliances/

Jasper Ong is the president of Hanabishi, one of the country’s leading appliance brands. He took over the day-to-day business and management of the brand when his parents retired in 2006. He is credited for growing Hanabishi’s sales revenue by 30% year-on-year following its nationwide expansion and introduction of new product lines. He is a graduate of Manufacturing Engineering and Management at De La Salle University.

About Hanabishi

Spanning for more than three decades, Hanabishi has established its reputation as a provider of affordable yet quality home products that last, which paved the way for its tagline “Kapartner from Start to Forever.” Hanabishi Home Appliances are available at leading appliance stores nationwide. 

Herbalife Nutrition Survey Reveals Filipinos Need to Close Nutrition Knowledge Gap

Dr. Chin Kun-Wang, Member, Nutrition Advisory Board, Herbalife Nutrition  

“The results of the quiz and the survey show that there is a significant nutrition knowledge gap among Filipinos. We hope to help close the gap to empower them with the nutrition knowledge they need to make better nutrition choices. This is a good sign, so the next step is helping them achieve this. Our peak bone mass (max bone size and strength) is dependent on calcium intake and reaches its peak by age 30. However, sufficient calcium intake throughout life can reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Protein powder can be as good as protein from natural foods if derived from high-quality sources. For instance, soy protein from soybeans is a complete protein, providing a full range of nine essential amino acids for the body’s nutrition requirements.” ~Sridhar Rajagopalan, Senior Director, Sub-Region Head, and General Manager of Herbalife Nutrition Philippines

Sridhar Rajagopalan, Senior Director, Sub-Region Head, and General Manager of Herbalife Nutrition Philippines

Did you know that only 19% of Filipino consumers got 50% of the answers correct in a general nutrition knowledge quiz conducted by premier global nutrition company Herbalife Nutrition? The Philippines’ score was lower than the Asia Pacific (APAC) average of 23%.

The quiz was administered as part of Herbalife Nutrition’s Asia Pacific Nutrition Myths Survey 2020, which was conducted in March with 5,500 respondents from Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. To test the nutrition knowledge of the survey participants, the quiz included a total of 48 “True or False” questions spanning nine nutrition areas - general nutrition, protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, caffeine, weight management, and breakfast. 

Dr. Chin Kun-Wang, Member, Nutrition Advisory Board, Herbalife Nutrition  

Only 7% among those surveyed said that they were extremely confident about their nutrition knowledge. Fifty-four percent claimed that they were only somewhat well-informed.

10 Rules in Boosting the Immune Health

1. High-quality protein supply
2. WHole cereals intake, rich supply of vitamin B complex
3. Vegetables, fruits, and mushroom
4. Garlic, onion, and ginger into a diet
5. Less oil and fried foods: reduce 20% of oil intake everyday could increase 40% of immune function
6. Less sugar intake. Prevent to drink or eat sugar-added drink and foods Reduce 100 grams of sugar intake everyday could increase 50% of white blood cells function
7. Probiotics
8. Multiple vitamins and minerals supplements
9. One apple or pear per day
10. Hydration





What Filipinos Got Right and Wrong About Nutrition Knowledge

Majority of the Filipino respondents (85%) falsely believe that one needs sufficient calcium intake at any age to optimize peak bone mass for bone health.

When it comes to fats, 68% got it right that fats provide the body with energy but only 42% correctly believed that it helps the body absorb vitamins.

80% correctly said that exercise helps the body rebuild muscles and increase lean muscles. However, 51% of falsely believe that protein powder is not a healthy source of protein as compared to a protein found in natural foods.

94% of the Filipino consumers were right in their belief that fruits and Vitamin C supplements can help boost immunity and resistance to infection. Among the APAC respondents, they were the highest in this belief.

Online Myths and Misinformation: Top Barrier to Gaining Accurate Nutrition Knowledge

While 47% of Filipino consumers believed that it is extremely important to be educated with proper and accurate nutrition knowledge, they also said that too much misinformation and myths online prevent them from gaining accurate nutrition knowledge (39%).

The other top barriers were lack of information from government websites and health authorities (22%) and the lack of information from healthcare professionals (17%).

Filipino consumers, however, expressed that they believe in the importance of balanced nutrition. It is among the top three nutrition advice that they were most interested in along with how to improve ailment/condition through nutrition and managing weight through nutrition.

About Herbalife Nutrition Ltd.

Herbalife Nutrition is a global company that has been changing people's lives with great nutrition products and a proven business opportunity for its independent members since 1980. The Company offers high-quality, science-backed products, sold in over 90 countries by entrepreneurial members who provide one-on-one coaching and a supportive community that inspires their customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle. Through the Company’s global campaign to eradicate hunger, Herbalife Nutrition is also committed to bringing nutrition and education to communities around the world.

For more information, please visit IAmHerbalifeNutrition.com.

OPPO Helps e-Learners Prepare for the New School Year with its Save the Children partnership and the #eSchoolwithOPPO Sale

OPPO Back To School

Best Score Ever: OPPO Helps e-Learners Prepare for the New School Year This month, the global smartphone brand reaches out to students in need, with its Save the Children partnership and the #eSchoolwithOPPO sale.

Filipino students and their parents are looking for ways to adapt to the new normal and online distance learning. However, more Filipinos are discouraged from continuing their education this school year due to a lack of affordable gadgets such as desktop computers, laptops, tablets, or smartphones that they can use to attend their online classes. More than 10 million public school students are expected to enroll this school year and challenges remain due to the limitations of online distance learning - no internet connection or gadget can be a huge cost to the student’s future.

To help students get more access to e-learning, global smart device company OPPO partnered with international children’s organization Save the Children Philippines, continuing its bid to assist students in select remote areas of Caloocan, Navotas, and Malabon to enroll in schools under the new normal.

“OPPO remains steadfast in making the best and affordable technologies more accessible to the Filipinos all the more during this most difficult time. With the opening of the new school year approaching fast, we understand the plight of every Filipino student in this current situation. We are committed to supporting Filipinos in achieving their dreams and uplifting the future of the nation. As our way of help to the Filipino students, we are extending every form of help we can offer, and are encouraging others to do the same.” ~Raymond Xia, OPPO Philippines Marketing Director

OPPO Save the Children

In addition, OPPO recently donated 100 brand-new sets of OPPO A12e units and 100 brand new units of rockspace Torch Bluetooth Earphones to help students access education materials through the internet. The brand also announced its special back-to-school #eSchoolwithOPPO sale, through which students can purchase OPPO products at an affordable price point.

A better educational experience for students in need

Collaborating with Save the Children, OPPO is helping raise a total amount of PHP500,000 to help provide Basic Learning Kits to more than 500 Filipino students for their upcoming online classes, under the organization’s Project ARAL. This kit will include art materials, notebooks, pencils, and other learning tools needed to ensure a better educational experience for the beneficiaries.

OPPO is calling on the public to take part in the donation drive, by logging on to https://donate.savethechildren.net/campaigns/projectaraloppo, and choosing their preferred method of donating, through Save the Children’s official Paymaya and GCash, Shopee, and bank deposits.

More access to virtual learning

Starting July 2020, OPPO is offering students and parents a special price drop of A5s, A5s Smart, A9 2020, Reno2, and Reno2F, available in OPPO concept and online stores, dealer partners, and e-commerce partners Shopee and Lazada through the #eSchoolwithOPPO Back to School Sale.

The all-time best-selling A5s features a 6.2-inch Corning Gorilla glass screen for an immersive visual experience. It is also packed with 4230mAh battery for longer use and a Smart Bar that will enable you to organize your learning tools and multitask conveniently. The OPPO A5s (3G+32GB) and the OPPO A5s Smart is now available for Php 5,990 and Php 4,990 respectively.

Those who wish to take up their gadget game a notch higher may opt for A9 2020, currently priced at Php12,990. It has a 6.5” waterdrop screen, a 5000mAh battery that can last more than 11 hours even with heavy usage, and 8GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM for storage for your online classes.

Additionally, Reno2 and Reno2F are also available for the more discerning users, now priced at Php15,990 and Php25,990 respectively. The Reno series offers a 6.5” screen size giving you the most satisfying visual experience. Its 48MP Quad camera features can capture subjects in clearer, crisper details regardless of the light setting, inspiring you more to think bigger and better. Both offerings also come with a built-in video editor, Soloop, especially useful for students in multimedia arts.

For more details about #eSchoolwithOPPO and the fundraising initiative, visit https://bit.ly/saveandoppo and OPPO Philippines’ official website at www.oppo.com/ph or official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines or Save The Children’s official website at savethechildren.org.ph.

The #eSchoolwithOPPO offers will be available in all open OPPO Concept Stores nationwide and official dealer partners including e-commerce partners’ Lazada and Shopee. For more updates on promos and discounts plus the list of partner dealers, visit OPPO Philippines’ official website at www.oppo.com/ph or via official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines. 

Through its multiple efforts, OPPO remains true to its commitment to support parents and children, as they continue to pursue their education.

About OPPO

OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first smartphone - "Smiley Face" - in 2008. OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO provides its users with ColorOS and Internet services like HeyTap and OPPO+. OPPO operates in more than 40 countries and regions, with 6 Research Institutes and 4 R&D Centers worldwide, as well as an International Design Center in London. The recently opened, first-ever R&D center outside of China, in Hyderabad, is playing a pivotal role in the development of 5G technologies. In line with OPPO's commitment to Make in India, the manufacturing at Greater Noida plant has been increased to 50 million smartphones per year. According to IDC, OPPO has ranked 4th among the top 5 smartphone brands in India with an 88.4% year on year growth in Q4 2019.

A celebration whenever and wherever with the all-in-one McDo Party Box



Bring home the celebration with the new Mcdo Party Box! Your McDonald’s favorites plus party amenities in one box for hassle-free party planning!

Party planning is now easier than ever with the accessible, hassle-free, and convenient way of setting up a celebration whenever and wherever with the all-in-one McDo Party Box, now available for as low as Php 1,699. 

The McDo Party Box is complete with food and party amenities for the whole family to enjoy moments and milestones worth cherishing, plus it does not require advance ordering or pre-booking, so you can easily get your party essentials in a snap via the McDelivery App, website, Drive-thru, Take-out, and Pick-up.

Celebrate the family’s milestones with an exciting party to remember - even right in the comforts of your home! Party planning is now easier than ever with the accessible, hassle-free, and convenient way of setting up a celebration whenever and wherever with the all-in-one McDo Party Box, now available for as low as Php 1,699. 

Aside from enjoying your McDonald's favorites to feast on, the McDo Party Box is the party planner’s ultimate starter pack because it also comes with exciting amenities such as party hats, activity tray mats, assorted mystery classic Happy Meal toys, balloons, and a limited edition McDo pillow as a special treat, especially for the celebrant!

There’s a McDo Party Box bundle for every kind of celebration, and there are up to four (4) bundles to choose from -  two (2) sets are good for five (5) pax available at PHP 1,699, and the other two (2) sets are good for ten (10) pax priced at PHP 2,999. You can indulge in some of the well-loved favorites by taking your pick between the McSpaghetti bundle, or the Chicken McNuggets bundle, both of which also comes with the original Chicken McDo, BFF Fries, and Regular Coke.

Don’t miss out, and experience fun-filled celebrations made easy with the McDo Party Box that’s now available in select stores nationwide. You can simply order via Drive-Thru, Take Out, or McDelivery (bit.ly/McDeliveryPartyBox), App, Chatbot, or by calling the hotline 8888-6236 (for NCR), without the need to do any advance ordering or pre-booking.

For more information, visit the link bit.ly/McDoPartyBox. For updates, follow McDonald’s Philippines official Facebook at fb.com/McDo.ph, Twitter at twitter.com/McDo_PH, Instagram at instagram.com/mcdo_ph, and Viber Community group at McDo PH.

Immunity System Boosters available at SM Supermalls

VitaCinc and PedZinc are few of the vitamin brands available for kids and adults at Watsons. They are available at all Watsons branches in SM Supermalls.

Fruits, especially the citrusy ones like lemons, are natural health boosters for our bodies. Fresh fruits are available daily at SM Supermarket in SM Cherry Antipolo, SM City Masinag, SM City San Mateo, and Savemore SM Center Angono. Lemon stands like Lemon Stop in SM Center Angono provides healthy instant refreshment without the guilt.

Our immune system is our body’s built-in defense against illness and disease. To best protect our bodies from harm, every component of our immune system needs to perform in sync. Eating a healthy diet, keeping stress under control, getting plenty of quality sleep, exercise, proper hygiene, are just a few of the basic steps to maintain a healthy immune system. 

Shops at SM Supermalls are stocked up with health essentials to help us enhance our body defenses against diseases.

Fresh lemons in packs of 6 are available at SM Supermarket Masinag, San Mateo, Cherry Antipolo and Savemore SM Center Angono. Prices subject to change without prior notice

Newly-opened Lemon Stop at SM Center Angono provides instant refreshment packed with health benefits.

Turmeric is one of the classified superfoods by health experts. Yamang Bukid Turmeric Tea is packed with more benefits from other superfoods blended to its tea powder. It is good for colds, cough, sore throat even for weight loss. 



Turmeric Tea from Yamang Bukid is available at SM City Masinag, SM City San Mateo and SM Center Angono

Vitamins are aplenty at Watsons. Multivitamins, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Ascorbate, Zinc are few of the popular vitamins that are proven to strengthen our body’s immune system. Aside from adult vitamins, there are also vitamins for kids mostly in syrup or chewable form. While almost all vitamins are readily available, it is best to consult a physician before taking any of these. 

VitaCinc and PedZinc are few of the vitamin brands available for kids and adults at Watsons. They are available at all Watsons branches in SM Supermalls.

Although there are restrictions now when it comes to exercising outdoors, there are workout equipment that is available at sports shops at SM. Treadmills, jump ropes, resistance bands are just a few of the available equipment which can help us push ourselves to keep moving while we are in quarantine. 

Trax Ultra Slim Runner from Chris Sports SM City San Mateo at P 49,998.00 completes your personal gym at home. 

This SKLZ Jump Rope Conditioning Trainer is available at Chris Sports in SM City San Mateo for P 789.00

Stay connected with the latest updates of your favorite shops through official social media accounts of your nearest SM Supermall.

Shopee and Google Launch Google Ads with Shopee, a First-of-its-kind Marketing Solution for Brands to Drive Sales Online

Shopee and Google Launch Google Ads with Shopee, a First-of-its-kind Marketing Solution for Brands to Drive Sales Online. Google Ads with Shopee offers specialized marketing support for brands to boost their e-commerce presence in Southeast Asia and Taiwan.

“Most brands in the Philippines are expanding their online presence as e-commerce becomes a vital part of the retail ecosystem. Shopee is committed to providing the best environment for every brand to succeed online. Google Ads with Shopee extends our efforts by deepening our integration with Google and making it easier for brand partners to promote their official stores and products online. We are delighted to have a like-minded partner like Google and we look forward to deeper collaborations in the future.” ~Ruoshan Tao, Head of Marketing at Shopee Philippines

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, teamed up with Google to launch Google Ads with Shopee, a first-of-its-kind marketing solution for brands to drive sales online. The launch reflects a shared commitment between Shopee and Google to accelerate digitization and enable e-commerce growth for brands across the region. Through this integration, brands on Shopee can access specialized marketing tools to boost their online presence, create deeper engagements with customers, and flexibly manage and measure their marketing campaigns.

Google Ads with Shopee meets the growing demand among brands for specialized marketing tools to support their increasing e-commerce presence. Key benefits include:

1. Convenient ad campaign creation on Shopee Brands Suite: Brands can now create Google shopping ads directly on the Shopee Brands Suite, adding to the existing range of marketing solutions and tools offered by Shopee. It will allow brands to promote their official stores and products more efficiently across all channels.

2. Increased flexibility and control: Brands can directly create and manage online ads for their official stores and products on Shopee on the Google Ads platform. It allows greater flexibility as brands can tailor ad campaigns to meet different business needs.

3. One-stop monitoring: Brands can monitor the performance of all their Google ads via the Shopee Brands Suite. The one-stop access to data, brands can seamlessly measure success and optimize the effectiveness of their marketing efforts on Shopee.

“The e-commerce industry in Southeast Asia has experienced massive growth in recent years and is forecasted to exceed 150 billion USD by 20251. It has been further accelerated by the pandemic, with more consumers shopping online, as well as both big brands and smaller sellers quickly pivoting to further building their e-commerce presence.” He further added, “We are excited to launch Google Ads with Shopee, making it faster and easier for brands to connect with their customers online, and provide them with flexible tools to measure and optimize their campaigns.” ~Samuele Saini, Sector Lead for Apps, e-Commerce, Entertainment at Google

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

About Shopee

Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It was launched in 7 markets in 2015 to connect consumers, sellers, and businesses in the region.

Shopee offers an easy, secure, and engaging experience that is enjoyed by millions of people daily. It offers a wide product assortment, supported by integrated payments and logistics, as well as popular entertainment features tailored for each market. Shopee is also a key contributor to the region’s digital economy with a firm commitment to helping brands and entrepreneurs succeed in e-commerce.

Shopee is a part of Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a leading global consumer internet company. In addition to Shopee, Sea’s other core businesses include its digital entertainment arm, Garena, and digital financial services arm, SeaMoney. Sea’s mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology.

National Ice Cream Month Promo's from Dairy Queen

Fan Fave Treats

To celebrate its pride and core, Dairy Queen is lining up a Blizzard of sweet treats for all the ice cream lovers out there! 

To kick-start the month-long celebration, Dairy Queen has brought back all the Blizzard favorites with the launch of the DQ Fan Fave Blizzard Treats. Available in three flavors:

• Milk Tea Brownie Latte
• Caramel Almond Cluster
• Sweet Corn Crunch

Frozen Blizzard favorites will surely capture the hearts and palates of all the DQ fans out there.

The fun doesn’t stop there. Dairy Queen has released two NEW Blizzard Cakes:

• Sweet Corn Crunch Blizzard Cake
• Milk Tea Blizzard Cake

Milk Tea Blizzard Cake

Sweet Corn Crunch Blizzard Cake

DQ’s shareable and refreshing new take on the classic Mais con Hielo and everyone’s beloved Milk Tea. The new Blizzard cakes are delectable frozen treats made with 100% Ice Cream and are available in 8” and 6” sizes. Exclusive treat for GrabFood users: get P100 off on your 8” Milk Tea Blizzard Cake when you order through the app from July 10 to 23 only.

Piso Blizzard To-Go Promo

The highlight of the month will happen on National Ice Cream Day itself. On July 19, Dairy Queen will bring back its much-awaited Piso Blizzard To-Go Promo for just one-day. For every purchase of the Blizzard To-Go (16oz) ala carte, customers can buy another one for just P1 only! Promo is available for dining, take-out, and delivery via GrabFood and Lalafood. 

July just got better with Dairy Queen! Celebrate National Ice Cream Month with DQ and get all these new offerings via dine-in, take-out, delivery through 8911-1111 or GrabFood, foodpanda, and Lalafood.

For more information about the latest news, offers and promos from Dairy Queen, follow them on Facebook and Instagram, Twitter and through their official website www.dairyqueen.com.ph

Mark your calendars on July 19!