Education stakeholders gathered on August 13 for a virtual event to celebrate the collective accomplishments of the Department of Education (DepEd) and USAID Philippines in improving early grade reading and literacy in the country this past year, amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through its ABC+: Advancing Basic Education in the Philippines Project, USAID worked with DepEd to improve reading and literacy, math, and social and emotional skills for early grade children (K-3) in Regions V (Bicol) and Region VI (Western Visayas). USAID also worked in coordination with the Bangsamoro Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education for…
Author: Kaye David
A year has passed since Reader’s Digest’s first virtual Most Trusted Brands Awards. A lot has happened in that time, but COVID-19 is still affecting millions of people and their livelihoods. But we at Reader’s Digest were not going to allow the pandemic to stop our 23rd annual survey of Philippines’ Most Trusted Brands and Personalities from going ahead. Upholding the new norm during these challenging times, this is the second year we are presenting our award ceremony in a virtual format. You can view it at https://www.trustedbrands.asia/virtualawards/ Perhaps more than any other year, trust has been the guiding…
Rates of the very rare clotting disorder, thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome (TTS), following a second dose of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 Vaccine are comparable to the background rate in an unvaccinated population. The data, published in The Lancet on July 28, demonstrated the estimated rate of TTS following a second dose of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 Vaccine was 2.3 per million vaccinees, comparable to the background rate observed in an unvaccinated population. It was 8.1 per million vaccinees after the first dose. The rate after the second dose is comparable to background rates observed in unvaccinated populations. Sir Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President, BioPharmaceuticals…
Summer’s upon us once again! How are you dealing with the sweltering heat? As we stay home, the challenge is looking cool and crisp for all our online meetings and managing hulas and sweat stains. To look and feel fresh this summer, you need lightweight and non-sticky beauty products that won’t just hold up throughout the day, but also protect your skin from the harsh heat. Focus on looking for gentle, hydrating ingredients. From hair care to makeup, Shopee Beauty has all your summer makeup and skincare needs! Starting April 21, enjoy up to 90% off when you buy your…
Clean homes don’t just miraculously clean themselves and in the whirlwind of busy lives, it’s important to learn effective tips and tricks to keep your house clean and healthy. This includes making sure you’re more vigilant with the cleaning materials you use, as well as how you clean them. While we go above and beyond in disinfecting the things that come inside our homes, we must also give that same attention to the ones already inside. What’s one of the dirtiest objects in your house? It’s–guess what–that small squishy soft sponge you use to wash the dishes. Some of the…
Every year, people celebrate Earth Day to raise global awareness and inspire millions of individuals to take action to protect the environment. As part of the international efforts to drive action among the community, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launched Shop Green to encourage Filipinos to support sustainable products through Shop Green, an online sale from April 19 to 25. In 2015, the General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which listed responsible consumption and production, climate action, and sustainable cities and communities as part of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). However,…
Now that a lot of us are staying home, we have to juggle working remotely, completing household chores, taking care of our family, and somehow squeezing in some rest and relaxation—every single day! If you’re feeling overwhelmed, technology can help you become more efficient and help make each day easier. Smart gadgets, for instance, can streamline your work and entertainment for you. With just a single device you can control various household appliances and accessories simply by connecting them to the internet or to each other through Bluetooth. This will help you complete your daily to-do list more efficiently, keep…
As we spend more time at home in today’s new normal, there’s nothing like maximizing bonding moments and quality time with our family members and the people that we live with! Everyone knows, too, that bonding time is best when there’s food involved. Great memories are made when everyone’s happy and feeling good from good food—that’s why Jollibee is introducing something that everybody can enjoy together, the new Jolly Crispy Fries Bucket! This new offering is actually the bigger version of the famous Jolly Crispy Fries that people love to snack on, and is good for sharing for up to…
As COVID-19 community lockdowns and mobility restrictions drag on, MSMEs have sustained their businesses in creative and innovative ways more than one year on. From K-pop stores to online bakeshops, small business entrepreneurs bring simple joys and pleasures to the comfort of one’s home. One of these online shops is Cheotnun PH (@cheotnunph on Instagram), which is a Philippine-based Kpop shop where people can order various K-pop products. The shop also offers “pahanap” (sourcing) or “pasabuy” (group buy) services for Kpop items not found in their site. Some of the albums and merch sold by the shop are from K-pop…
Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, wraps up the year-end shopping season with a record-breaking 12.12. On December 12, 12 million items were sold in the first 24 minutes and at its peak, one million items were bought in a single minute. Martin Yu, Director at Shopee Philippines, said, “We are humbled to end the year on a high note with a groundbreaking 12.12 Big Christmas Sale. Given the unprecedented year that 2020 has been, we wanted this to be a special day not just for Shopee, but for the people we serve. E-commerce has become…