New Web Design Tricks That Will Draw Buyers

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Success in the field of ecommerce does not only rely on marketing and advertising. You can have a great logo and a solid digital marketing campaign. However, if you have a bad website, you can still turn off your potential customers, and all your efforts will just go to waste.

Your website is like your physical store in the virtual world. It has to entice people not only to enter but also to look around. It should give everything a buyer needs—access to high-quality products and a great customer experience.

How can a website provide these things?

What Are the Qualities of a Great Website?

You may not have a bad website, but one that’s “okay” is also not good enough. Your website has to be great. If you have a great website, internet users will think that your company is also great and want to do business with you.

A great website must:

1. Be Visually Appealing

A website has to look good to attract people. It should look professional and tidy, even with different colors and elements. More importantly, it should reflect your brand personality.

2. Be efficient

Websites should work the way they should. All the visuals can work only for so long. After some time, your visitors will decide to leave once they realize that your navigation and links are not working.

3. Be User-friendly

Digital Authority Partners said that websites should treat their visitors like a VIP. People nowadays are living fast-paced lives. Having a website that is easy to navigate can help users find the information they need right away.



4. Have Up-to-date Content

Websites should provide something fresh. Create engaging content that people can consume to keep them engaged with you. Posting content allows you to let people hear your voice and learn more about your brand.

5. Have Clear CTAs

Websites have to serve a purpose. It is vital to make this purpose clear to your visitors. Without a distinct call-to-action (CTA), you will not be able to guide people to do what you want them to do.

6. Work on Mobile

Websites should work on both computers and mobile devices. Now that people are always on the go, they use their phones and tablets more. So it is essential to optimize your website for mobile use.

7. Have All Critical Information

Websites should have all the essential information. Aside from your products and services, your website should also have all your social media accounts, contact numbers, email address, and location with a map.

8. Be Easy to Find

Websites have to show up on search engines so that people can find you. However, with so many websites, this is not easy. You have to use search engine optimization (SEO) to rank high on search engine results pages (SERPs).

How to Have a Well-designed Website

Experts continue to find ways to improve ecommerce in different ways. New website trends emerge year after year. As the population’s way of life shifts, websites have to catch up to stay relevant and reliable.

Your website should include your company profile and stories. It should also carry your products to allow people to purchase your goods. But before that, your design should be able to generate leads to turn them into customers.

Here are some tips for creating a website with a good design:

1. Focus on UX/UI

If you want your website to stand out today, you have to go over all UI/UX functionalities. It should run smoothly without any disruption. Achieving this requires thorough knowledge of web design.

Either get to know all the technicalities or hire a professional agency to help you. Improving user experience involves speeding up your site, optimizing your website, and putting all elements in the right places.

2. Use the Right Colors

Designing a website does not involve only technical concepts. It also has a bit of psychology. You need it to help you choose the right colors for your website so that you can draw out the right emotions from your audience.

People associate colors with different emotions. Some colors make a person excited and eager to buy something. Meanwhile, other colors promote a relaxing atmosphere.

3. Keep It Simple

You want your website to be attractive but not too complicated at the same time. Bombarding it with too many features may be counterproductive instead of helpful.

Determine the features you need for your website. You can add some extras like animations and graphics. However, make sure people can still easily use your website.

4. Maximize the Use of White Spaces

White spaces—or negative spaces—are blank spaces. They do not contain any images or text. These spaces may seem unsettling, but they improve your website’s appearance.

White spaces make articles more readable. They make the page easier on the eyes and encourage more interaction. In addition, blank spaces can make your CTAs more visible.

5. Add Some Videos

As mentioned earlier, you can add different elements to your website as long as they will not complicate the overall structure. Videos are an excellent opportunity to tell people about your company and demonstrate your offerings.

People love to watch videos, especially if those videos are compelling enough. They are interested in high-quality videos with images, music, and easy-to-digest information.

Final Words

In recent years, the rise of online shopping has changed how the internet serves our lives. As more and more people buy their needs online, the internet has to keep up. Websites and social media sites have to reshape themselves to fit people’s desires to serve them better. They add new functionalities such as shopping carts and chat support.

However, these features are not enough. Websites should have other things such as a great design. An eye-catching design catches people’s attention and makes people stay for a while. Hence, a website should not only look pleasing, but it should also be easy to use.

Websites are good tools for generating leads and converting them to loyal customers. So investing in one is definitely worth your while.

Enjoy the new Yukari Japanese chicken burgers at Karayama

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Experience authentic Japanese cuisine at Karayama including their famous Japanese style fried chicken that's so crunchy.

Each boneless piece of their karaage is slowly marinated in a secret recipe and then carefully breaded and fried until superbly crisp...developed to enhance the flavor of the chicken and not to mask it.

They can come in a set with rice, miso soup and cabbage, as well as a variety of sauces like the Chicken Nanban set - signature karaage smothered with creamy Japanese style tartar sauce.

Karayama also recently launched its Yukari Burgers -with variants called Taru Teri (combination of Tartar sauce and Teriyaki sauce) and Gokudare (sweet garlic soy sauce topped with mayo.

Enjoy other Japanese dishes like their ramen that can also come with their crunchy chicken karaage, plus other tasty and worthy meals.

The YouTube video below also includes an interview with Ms Joyce Carino, Marketing Associate of Full Feeling Inc. discussing about the new Yukari Japanese chicken burgers

Vibal Foundation Relaunches Filipiniana.net

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Vibal Foundation, Inc. (VFI) relaunched its digital library and research portal Filipinana.net last March 25, 2022. The website aims to become the largest source of public domain documents on Philippine studies.

What is Filipiniana.net?

Filipiniana.net stores digital versions and summaries of unpublished or out-of-print documents written in Filipino, English, or Spanish. With its relaunch, scholars and enthusiasts have free access to original source texts, transcriptions, annotated translations, and other information related to Philippine history and culture. Readers can also browse through various topics related to the Philippines and Spain.

The digital repository was first introduced in 2006 by VFI founder and publisher Gaspar Vibal. However, after a few years, the in-house team lost access to the original materials posted on the website. With a new team of web developers, editors, and staff in 2020, VFI decided to revamp the digital library in time for the quincentennial celebration.

What’s New?

Filipiniana.net is back with new content and a new user interface. In its 2022 release, readers can find four collections of documents on Filipino-Spanish relations. Each entry per collection contains the original version, English translation, executive summary, and related links.

The First Circumnavigation of the World features the annotated documentation of Antonio Pigafetta, including the discovery of the Philippines by the Spanish fleet in 1521. The Jose Felipe Del-Pan collection features his anthology of unappreciated works from 1851 to 1891–a critical period in the growth and maturity of the Filipino mind. The Works of Jose Rizal contains his literary works during the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. The Parnaso Hispano-Filipino features an anthology of literature that sums up the Filipino and Spanish experience. It contains classic plays, poems, and essays written in original Spanish text with English translation.

The relaunched website also has a Create Your Notebook feature that allows registered users to write private documents and copy and paste content from the collections to their user notebook. 

Visit Filipiniana.net at https://filipiniana.net/ to explore its new content and features.

Why Do Philippine Forex Traders Choose MetaTrader 4?

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Forex trading is getting more and more popular worldwide. According to statistics, the daily turnover of the market for the period 2016-2019 increased from $5.1 to 6.6 trillion. Experts attribute this trend to the 24-hour Forex trading ability from anywhere with an Internet connection.

To conduct transactions about 54% of traders use MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 platforms. MT4 is more popular due to its simple interface. They also use MetaTrader 4 a lot in the Philippines. To get acquainted with this platform, experts recommend choosing trusted brokerage websites (for example, fbs.com). This approach will prevent merchants from losing money.

Key MetaTrader 4 Benefits

MT4 is suitable for beginners and experienced traders. This is due to easy navigation and the availability of quality support. Among other advantages, there are:

Availability of different language versions — thanks to this, traders from different countries can use the platform in their mother tongue.

Presence of extensive charting options — MT4 provides the visitors with many useful tools for this. Such a benefit makes it possible to analyze the technical aspects of the market more deeply.

Quick access to main functions — thanks to this, a trader can receive information about the account state, the transaction history, etc. in seconds.

Expert Advisors availability — this is a built-in add-on that automatically provides business councils (where necessary).

In addition, it’s important to mark a modern communication tools presence. The advantage makes it possible to arrange multiple long chains of messages.

Ability to Personalize the Platform and High Safety Level

It’s also worth noting that MT4 can be configured individually according to the trader’s needs. The user can create personal indicators and electronic advisors. This makes the trading process incredibly convenient.

The user's personal information and ongoing transactions are encrypted using advanced digital security protocols. Thus, the account hacking or leakage of personal data probability when using MT4 is close to zero.

Easy to Install and Remove

For the program MT4 installation, a trader needs only to:

Download the setup file (.exe). It takes several minutes.

Launch the downloaded file. After that, it’s needed to follow the installers instructions.

Create a demo or real account. The trader should enter the actual personal information for it. Before the users start trading, they need to familiarize themselves with the terms and conditions.

For MT4 deleting, a trader should go to the All Programs menu and click the corresponding button next to MetaTrader 4. Then the user has to delete the data folder of the same name on drive C. To receive more information about the removal process, visit, for example, the FBS website.

MetaTrader 4 System Requirements

For launching MT4, the user’s PC should have the following characteristics:

CPU with a frequency of 1.7 GHz or higher;

free hard drive space of at least 50 MB;

RAM equals 256 MB or more.

MetaTrader 4 may be launched on Windows, macOS, or Linux. Also, there are mobile MT4 versions for iOS and Android. The platform is compatible with Chrome, Opera, Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari browsers.

SSS asks members, employers to keep online login details to themselves

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Social Security System (SSS) President and CEO Michael G. Regino today urged members, pensioners, and employers of the state-pension fund to secure their login credentials on the My.SSS portal and other personal information to protect their accounts from fraudulent transactions.

Regino issued the reminder following several complaints from SSS members that their accounts with the My.SSS were being subjected to fraudulent transactions perpetuated by scammers and other unscrupulous persons.   One of the reasons why such fraudulent transactions occur, SSS insiders noted, was the tendency of some members to share their login credentials with unauthorized persons. These login information, Regino noted, should be kept confidential by accountholders to protect themselves from scammers.   Regino likened the SSS login credentials to the Personal Identification Number (PIN) that bank depositors use to access their accounts at the Automated Teller Machines (ATM). An ATM card PIN is a multi-digit number required at bank ATMs for carrying out transactions and is initially provided by the banks. This PIN can be reset or changed to a new PIN by the card owner but is kept as a strictly confidential information by the user.    “We have asked our stakeholders not to share their usernames, passwords, and other login details on their My.SSS accounts to unauthorized individuals. Giving your username and password to another person is like sharing your ATM PIN,” Regino said. “Anyone with this information could use your My.SSS account to avail of monetary benefits without your authorization.”   The SSS chief cited a case wherein a member sought the assistance of another person while trying to create and access his My.SSS account on the Internet. It turned out that the person from whom the SSS member sought for help is a fixer and scammer who later drew a salary loan from the account without his knowledge.   Regino also advised members not to entertain unofficial online groups in various platforms, like Facebook, that allegedly offer easier access to SSS online accounts and provided technical assistance for a fee to loan-seekers.   “We do not recognize these unofficial online groups, even those found on Facebook. We consider them illegal, and they cannot facilitate SSS transactions on behalf of our members,” Regino said.   He added that online transactions and services offered by the SSS portals are free, except when a member is requesting for a replacement of the Unified Multi-purpose ID Card (UMID), which carries a minimal fee.   Regino said members may visit the E-center in local branches and they will be assisted by SSS employees in their online transactions. “All our branches have an E-center containing several computers connected to the Internet. We have employees stationed there who are ready to help our members in creating and accessing their My.SSS account as well as guide them navigating and using the online portal for their transactions.”   Regino said the SSS management also regularly update its online facilities, such as the My.SSS Portal and SSS Mobile App, to better serve its members. In 2021, the Mobile App was redesigned to make it more user-friendly and easier for members to navigate and conduct their online transactions through mobile phone facilities.   He also reminded members, pensioners, and employers that they cannot be held accountable for fraudulent transactions once a member connives with a fixer.   Under Republic Act No. 11032, or the Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Government Service Delivery Act of 2018, and Republic Act 11199, or the Social Security Act of 2018, make it illegal for members to engage the services of fixers.   SSS works closely with law enforcement agencies to curb the illegal activities of fixers. “We are determined to file charges against them who are taking advantage of our members and employers,” Regino concluded.   They may report these fixers or scammers to the Special Investigation Department (SID) through e-mail at fid@sss.gov.ph or at (02) 8924-7370.

Believe Pte raises $55M in Series C funding to continue its global mission of delivering breakthrough personal care and beauty products

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Till date, Believe has raised over US $80 million across three funding rounds and continues to treble revenue YoY 

Singapore-headquartered Believe Pte Ltd, a fast-growing consumer products company serving the global Muslim audience with brands spanning skincare, fragrances, make-up and hair care has raised Series C funding of US $55M from incoming investors Venturi Partners and IIFL AMC alongside continued participation from Jungle Ventures, Accel, Alteria Capital and Genesis Alternative Ventures. Investment from IIFL AMC is subject to approval from the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). 

The Company (started in mid-2019) has delivered rapid growth in its relatively short history, thereby inspiring investor interest and has cumulatively raised over US$ 80M over the last two years.

The Series A and Series B fund raises were led by Accel and Jungle Ventures with participation from Wamda Capital, a Middle East based fund. The current Series C raise in Believe's third year of operation is led by Venturi Partners, a Singapore-based investment platform founded by veteran consumer investor Nicholas Cator. Venturi Partners enables consumer-facing business startups to build disruptive brands in sectors such as FMCG, education, health-tech, home improvement, etc. in India and Southeast Asia. IIFL AMC's private equity fund that has backed several leading consumer brands will also co-lead this round, subject to approval from SEBI.

This is Venturi's second investment and is a testament to the investment platform's expertise in identifying and supporting multi-geography, high-growth consumer brands with an online and offline presence. Nicholas Cator, Founder & Managing Partner at Venturi said, "We are excited to be backing the most experienced BPC founders in the region and have been extremely impressed by their ability to build a diversified portfolio of products and a unique distribution network during a pandemic. We are convinced that with its strong team and group of investors, Believe will become the leading global halal and clean BPC house of brands."

With the likes of Swiggy, Licious, Dailyhunt, and Country Delight in its portfolio, IIFL AMC looks to back market leaders and disruptors across businesses, while keeping sight of profitability at steady state. Chetan Naik, Fund Manager at IIFL AMC, said, "Believe has demonstrated unprecedented traction and growth in a very short period via its brands focused on the global markets in the BPC segment. With its unique positioning of halal based clean products (devoid of alcohol and animal ingredients), it has addressed the latent need of a large target market in a highly focused manner. Its growth is a testament to how a relevantly positioned brand with strong product efficacy creates resonance with its consumer and creates value for all. We are delighted to partner with the exceptional team at Believe for the company's next phase of growth."

Believe is a house of brands that includes Lafz, ZM and Dr.Rhazes. The brands have received incredible customer love in Bangladesh and India with a growing base in GCC countries. They are sold in over 8 countries and are manufactured across the globe including countries like South Korea, Italy, Spain, France, Germany and UAE.

While Lafz is the flagship premium brand crafted with traditional ingredients; ZM's vegan, cruelty free, single ingredient positioning finds popularity among the youthful and aspirational.

Believe's vision to create enduring brands consistent with consumers' belief systems while ensuring highest efficacy, quality and uniqueness drives its success across distribution formats in the Middle East and Asia. This fundraise will catalyze consolidating market share in Bangladesh and India (via strategic acquisitions) while deepening reach in GCC and South East Asia (through both organic and inorganic growth) paving the path to becoming a large global CPG conglomerate.

Ankit Mahajan, CEO of Believe PTE Ltd said, "We have received tremendous consumer love all the way from launching our first product in 2019 to witnessing 2.5x growth in last 1 year. Our 2000+ family of happy Believers is our eyes and ears to the ground that help us be nimble and responsive to consumer needs. We have created a relentless marketing organization that has the ability to identify consumer needs, use of 12-member strong R&D expertise to make fantastic products and then put our international supply chain to deliver global standard products to countries across the world."

IndigoEdge, Bangalore (India) headquartered investment bank focused on new age consumer brands was the sole advisor for this transaction.

ITDI's biodiesel antifreeze to boost foreign sales

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With the DOE 2017-2040 Philippine Energy Plan targeting to maintain a B2 biodiesel blending, as shown in its long term (2020-2040) Biofuels Roadmap, local processors are having difficulty finding an antifreeze that would ensure their biodiesel gets a slice of the foreign market.

Cleotilde A. Bulan, head of the Industrial Chemicals Section at the Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI), stressed the need for local processors for a locally-produced antifreeze agent that would complement the Philippine biodiesel from coconut. The biodiesel industry sector needs "this" to ensure that the coconut methyl ester (CME) or coco biodiesel can compete in the world market. GlobeNewsWire has reported that the global biodiesel market is currently standing at the size of USD23,290 million and is expected to reach USD25,880 million by the end of 2026 (CAGR of 1.5% during 2021-2026).

Bulan explains further what antifreeze does. Also known as a coolant, it lowers a liquid's freezing point, which is why it is added to vehicles' radiators. In foreign localities, antifreeze allows cars to operate in a variety of temperatures, from frigidly cold to scorchingly hot.

By adding a mixture of chemicals and water, antifreeze helps ensure that the liquid in radiators does not freeze over during winter or boil up during summer, thus overheating the engine.

But, how does an antifreeze exactly work? How does it protect engines?

Bulan said that the key lies in coolants' boiling and freezing points. Pure water has a boiling point of 212°F (100°C) and a freezing point of 32°F (0°C). However, by using a 50/50 mixture of water and ethylene glycol, the M boiling point rises to 223°F (106°C), and the freezing point lowers to -35°F (-37°C).

By taking it a step further, using a 30/70 mixture of water and ethylene glycol, the boiling point rises to 235°F (113°C), and the freezing point lowers to -67°F (-55°C).

However, Bulan's team is working on a different antifreeze agent -- the synthesis of glycerol (a naturally occurring alcohol) acetals. Here, glycerol acts to prevent freezing damage, such as ice crystal formation.

Foreign research studies show that at lower glycerol concentrations like 10-20%, the frozen stock will be fairly solid at -80°C, while at higher concentrations (30-50%), it may remain partially liquid.

Bulan's team has since applied for a patent for the glycerol acetal and biodiesel samples. (amguevarra\\ ITDI S&T Media Service)

ITDI develops stabilizer from Okra

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The Industrial Technology Development Institute (DOST-ITDI) has developed a stabilizer from a new source - okra.

Most stabilizers or natural hydrocolloids come from plant (pectin, carrageenan, cellulose gum, locust bean gum), animal (gelatin), or microbial (xanthan gum, gellan gum) sources.

Hydrocolloids are water-loving and are used as functional ingredients to increase product consistency, improve the gelling effect, and control the microstructure, texture, flavor, and shelf life of food or non-food products.

Oliver C. Evangelista, team leader of the project on sourcing hydrocolloids from okra, said, "local markets have a daily oversupply of okra, including an excess volume of off-specs and material rejects." He added that this excess volume of off-specs makes okra an ideal source of natural hydrocolloid because this new demand will not be competing with current uses for it.

Evangelista is thus encouraging food manufacturers and processors to utilize their okra or other by-products and generate additional income by creating value-added and innovative products.

"Interested parties can visit ITDI to explore the development of new products from their waste materials. Our Modular Multi-Industry Innovation Center or InnoHub sa Pinas is equipped with multi-functional modular equipment that can be retrofitted to suit every manufacturing line," he explained.

Results of several studies on the viscosity or thickness of spray-dried okra fluid have resulted in two new products. These include banaba milk tea and toothpaste with calamansi seed oil.

ITDI has partnered with Greenstar Produce Philippines Inc. to produce these new products. Established in 2007 as a group company of Watari Co., Ltd. in Kanagawa, Greenstar processes fresh okra varieties and exports these to Japan. (AMGuevarra\\ITDI S&T Media Service)

What Should A Great Live Football/Soccer Website or App Offer?

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Football has become the most popular sport in the world due to the fact that it has a greater number of high-quality players than other sports. As each player plays with different skills, football matches can be exciting and have unexpected results. This attracts people to play, especially to watch the game.

As a football fan you definitely want to keep track of your favorite footballers. In today's world, everyone carries the modern globe in the palm of their hand, and that global community none other than a cellular telephone. Apps and web browsers are an essential component of a smartphone. You can visit football websites to keep up with your favourite footballers as long as you use any of them. Take a look at what features a great football website should offer to ensure users can know the game best.


Live streaming

One of the main features of a football website is live soccer streaming. Live streaming refers to providing a video feed of a continuing tournament to something like a subscriber on its interface simultaneously time as a game is taking place on the field.

Live streaming is a type of streaming that sends audio or video of actual stories to audiences via the world wide web. Streaming video has become incredibly common in the working world.


Live score

A favourite feature in almost any soccer websites has to be its own soccer live scores characteristic. A real-time soccer app or website is only useful if it displays the prevailing score. Time constraint, it is rarely interesting to view live matches, therefore the app provides live soccer live scoring at all times.

This feature is very important that a website can offer as through this one can easily watch soccer live score today if they can’t watch real time match. The live score helps the viewers to stay updated with the match.


Football highlights

The soccer app broadcasts football highlight clips to its fans. The whole component is ideal for crowded fans because it allows them to observe every step of the games and also get relevant data about both the team's winning and losing in a couple of moments without trying to witness the entire game consistently.


Football news

Football is perhaps the most prestigious tournament, and it is especially popular in the United States and the United Kingdom. It is among the favourite sporting events for just any football fan.

They cannot afford to miss a single part of sports news, and as such the live football software does have the glory days characteristic of sports news. Its user can have all the details they need about football matches that are taking place all over the world right here.


Conclusion

Football seems to be the only sport that does have a series of measures and names. Every football match has a different number of players on each team. As a football supporter, users wouldn't want to play again this season played around at the universe.

It may be due to the extreme distinctiveness of each one. Football games from different nations are available on various internet sites. If it is a primary or secondary football game, you would be able to watch it online.

12Play Gives You Quick Access to Singapore 4D Lottery Online

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4D lottery is a game that is growing at a consistent rate, especially when it comes to the overwhelming credibility it comes with. It is a fun, lucrative and reliable way of earning quick cash that you didn’t think was possible. Singapore 4D online lottery games are very popular, especially when it comes to the quality of the games and the overall experience.

Out of all the available platforms that offer 4D lottery games online, 12Play is a casino that you wouldn’t regret splurging out on. The website has been around for quite a few years, taking off due to the rising demand.

Following are some of the reasons why 12Play is such a renowned and well-put-together platform.


It is accessible

With most of the online lottery platforms, people are sceptical about the user experience and availability. Thanks to 12Play and its availability, users won’t have to worry about the same anymore shortly, especially because of the credibility of the platform. It is available for free online, and unless you live in a country that has banned or restricted online lottery, you should be good to access the platform without any hassle.


It is a versatile platform

The one amazing factor about 12Play that makes it stand out from the rest is the versatility of the platform. Given that there are so many amazing features and cool games that you can access on the platform, you wouldn’t want to miss out on things at all. From 4D lottery to casino games, you can access just about anything that your heart desires.


It is a registered and licensed platform

With most of the online lottery platforms, people are often sceptical thinking that they might be a scam. And, while there are reports of platforms that turn out to be the same, we can’t miss out on the fact that 12Play is one of those platforms that doesn’t fall in the same category. It is a registered and licensed platform, abiding by all the necessary legalities.


It is a secure platform

Moving ahead from the license and registration, the next thing we have to focus on is the security and privacy functions. With 12Play, you can be assured that your personal information is safe and secure and won’t be leaked or misused. This is a common feature of this platform that makes it stand out from the remaining competitors.


It has an easy to navigate platform

Lastly, 12Play has one of the easiest to use platforms, especially when it comes to the user interface and user experience. You won’t have to worry about getting stuck in the web of ads because everything is organized and sorted out on the homepage for easy navigation.

If you are considering getting into the 4D lottery online and have been looking for a lucrative platform, 12Play is hands down the best choice. It is popular, reliable and not to mention, offers you a variety of games to choose from.

MLBB Professional League Watch Party at SM Supermalls

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Calling all mobile gamers!

SM Supermalls has partnered with none other than Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and is the official venue for the Season 9 Playoffs watch party happening on April 28 to May 1, 2022.

In partnership with SM Cinema, SM Cyberzone, and Smart Communications, Inc., enjoy an immersive viewing experience as you cheer for your favorite teams while watching the matches on the big screen! Select SM Supermalls would include SM City San Lazaro, SM City Sta. Mesa and SM City Bicutan who will be having their viewing parties on April 28-29, and SM City Taytay, SM City Masinag, SM City Manila, SM City BF Paranaque and SM City Sucat on April 30-May 1, or until the Grand Finals. Tickets are sold at only Php170, inclusive of a tub of popcorn and exclusive freebies from Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Fans may purchase tickets from SM Cinema's official website, SM Cinema ticket booths, or via the SM Cinema app.

The MLBB Professional League Watch Party is part of SM Supermalls’ 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 Campaign –your ultimate hub for aweSM new experiences dedicated for the avid online gamer, music lover, sports enthusiast, and certified social media techie!

PEMSEA Presents Solutions to Rid Rivers of Plastic Waste for Earth Day

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To celebrate Earth Day 2022, PEMSEA (Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia) released a set of studies to help manage plastic waste entering the world’s rivers.

The five studies were launched under Project ASEANO, a three-year initiative to stem the flow of plastic pollution in two pilot sites – the Imus River in the Philippines and the Citarum River in Indonesia. Funded by the Norwegian Development Program to Combat Marine Litter and Microplastics, Project ASEANO is led by the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) in Indonesia, together with the PEMSEA Resource Facility (PRF) and the ASEAN Secretariat under the purview of the ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment (AWGCME).

Layman versions of the studies are publicly downloadable. The studies cover the social implications of plastic pollution mitigation, assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices on plastic waste and offer maps of the Imus River watershed while identifying hotspots of plastic waste. Waste entering this river system is liable to flow into the ocean via Manila Bay.

The studies were led by two academic institutions based within the Imus River watershed – Cavite State University (CvSU) and De La Salle University Dasmariñas (DLSU-D). “We wanted to understand not just what types of waste enter the Imus River, but how the people who live near the river itself perceived plastic pollution as well as local efforts to combat it. Through this, we were able to contextualize possible policies and initiatives that might once more make the river safe for bathing, fishing and recreation,” explains Dr. Edwin Lineses of DLSU-D.

East Asian countries produce over half of our world’s marine plastic pollution and waterways like the Imus River act as conveyor belts that discharge waste to the oceans.

“Project ASEANO is developing practical measures to reduce the entry of plastic waste into rivers, while carefully assessing the interlinked dynamics between residents, local economies and the environment,” explains ASEANO Project Manager Thomas Bell.

Project ASEANO promises to share proven and cost-efficient actions to help local communities better manage plastic waste from source to sea. The project enhances capacity, monitoring, evaluation and inter-LGU cooperation for various groups tackling river pollution. Its solutions are designed to be replicated and upscaled across the region.

“For almost three decades, PEMSEA has been developing and sharing solutions to revive the seas of East Asia,” concludes PEMSEA Executive Director Aimee Gonzales. “This Earth Day, buhayin natin ang ating mga ilog (let’s revive our rivers). Promoting integrated river management, just like integrated coastal management, translates to more productive waterways and healthier communities.”

Next Gen Vape System Fipo invites you to create endless possibilities

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Summer is looking to be full of exciting, new adventures as a new vape brand in town, FIPO, invites adult smokers to leave their worries behind and create endless possibilities!

FIPO only had the best of times in mind as it co-presented a summer-themed party, dubbed FIPO SUMMER NIGHT OUT, last April 2 at URBN QC. Party-goers were in for a raving good time as they were welcomed with great music and drinks.

The best part was adult smokers were given exclusive gifts from FIPO that they could enjoy as they danced the night away.

FIPO is the latest innovative next gen vape system that lets adult smokers define, elevate, and celebrate unique moments of indulgence.

Designed with its users in mind, it sets itself apart from other devices with features that keep the experience friendly, enjoyable, without any second guessing – a comfortable grip, a next-level smart indicator system, trusty battery that can power through a full pod, all orchestrated by an intelligent chip that ensures superior vaping experience all the time.

With three exciting pod flavors and five bold device colors to choose from, users can mix and match to express their own unique selves.

Like their pod system designed for celebrating unique moments of indulgence, it’s easy to say that FIPO’s Summer Night Out has served its purpose by putting out a statement – FIPO has arrived and it’s here to show you the best of times.

FIPO is available in their official Lazada store. Follow @fipo.ph on Facebook and Instagram to discover FIPO’s pod flavor selection, device range, and special offers.

Hamilo Coast safeguards 20-hectare mangrove forest

Wazzup Pilipinas!?


Hamilo Coast through its developer, SM Prime’s Costa Del Hamilo, Inc. safeguards a 20-hectare mangrove forest, the largest of its kind in Nasugbu, Batangas. Together with the World Wildlife Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF-Philippines), Hamilo Coast continues to preserve over 50,000 mangrove trees to date as it remains committed to its advocacy for environmental and social sustainability.

Microsoft announces new research and technology to make hybrid work work in the Philippines

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Microsoft Corp. Recently released its second annual Work Trend Index report, “Great Expectations: Making Hybrid Work Work.” The company also announced new features across Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365, Surface Hub, and Microsoft Viva to empower hybrid work and address employees’ new expectations for the workplace. 

 

After sitting on the cusp of hybrid work for more than a year, many companies are at a long-awaited inflection point: the lived experience of hybrid work.  

 

One thing from the research is clear: We are not the same people who went home to work in early 2020. The past two years have left a lasting imprint, fundamentally changing how people define the role of work in their lives. The challenge ahead for every organization is to meet employees’ great new expectations head on while balancing business outcomes in an unpredictable economy.  

 

To help leaders navigate the shift, the 2022 Work Trend Index outlines five urgent trends from an external study of 31,000 people in 31 countries, including the Philippines, along with an analysis of trillions of productivity signals in Microsoft 365 and labor trends on LinkedIn:  

 

2. Employees have a new “worth it” equation. 67% of employees in the Philippines say they’re more likely to prioritize their health and wellbeing over work than before the pandemic. And the Great Reshuffle isn’t over: 46% of Gen Z and Millennials in the Philippines are likely to consider changing employers in the year ahead. 
3. Managers feel wedged between leadership and employee expectations. 69% of leaders in the Philippines say their company is planning a return to full-time in-person work in the year ahead, compared to 50% globally. 46% of managers in the Philippines say leadership at their company is out of touch with employee expectations and 81% of managers in the Philippines say they don’t have the influence or resources to drive change for their team.   
4. Leaders need to make the office worth the commute 48% of hybrid employees in the Philippines say their biggest challenge is knowing when and why to come into the office yet only 38% of leaders have created team agreements to define these new norms.    
5. Flexible work doesn’t have to mean “always on.” 66% of workers in the Philippines are open to using immersive digital spaces for meetings in the next year, compared to 52% globally.   
6. Rebuilding social capital looks different in a hybrid world. With 60% of hybrid workers in the Philippines considering a shift to full-remote in the year ahead, companies cannot rely solely on the office to recoup the social capital we’ve lost the past two years. 43% of leaders in the Philippines say relationship-building is the greatest challenge of having employees work hybrid or remote.    

“There’s no erasing the lived experience and lasting impact of the past two years, as flexibility and well-being have become non-negotiables for employees,” said Jared Spataro, corporate vice president, Modern Work, Microsoft. “By embracing and adapting to these new expectations, organizations can set their people and their business up for long-term success.”  

 

As the company marks five years since the launch of Teams, more than 270 million people rely on Teams for hybrid work. 

 

Making hybrid work work for everyone will require intentional leadership around how, when and where to work — and technology has a key role to play. Today the company is introducing new product innovation designed to improve the hybrid work experience. 

• Available in public preview at the end of the month, Teams Connect shared channels enable collaboration with people inside and outside the organization from a shared workspace. 
• To bridge the gap between digital and physical workspaces, a new meeting layout for Teams Rooms, front row, is now available in preview. 
• New touch-enabled display solutions for Teams Rooms from Neat and Yealink are in the process of being certified for Teams Rooms on Android. These devices combine audio, video, touch display and compute in a single unit — allowing easy deployment and enhanced collaboration experiences. The new AI-powered Microsoft Surface Hub 2 Smart Camera uses automatic framing technology to dynamically adjust your Teams video feed to provide remote team members with a dynamic view of in-room interactions.  
• The language interpretation feature in Teams enables live interpreters to convert what the speaker says into another language in near real time. The meeting organizer can assign interpreters and select up to 16 source and target language combinations, while attendees will hear the translation. 
• Microsoft Whiteboard in Teams offers a rich set of new capabilities that bring visual collaboration to life, including collaboration cursors, more than 50 new templates, contextual reactions, and the ability to open existing boards and collaborate with external colleagues in Teams meetings. 
• To improve hybrid brainstorming, completion of action items and making decisions together without having to switch context or apps, Microsoft is introducing Loop components in Outlook mail. RSVPing for a meeting in Outlook now allows attendees to note whether they plan to join in person or virtually. 
• Microsoft is introducing a new offering in Microsoft Teams Phone called Operator Connect Mobile, in partnership with some of the world’s largest telecom operators. This assigns a single business-provided mobile phone number for desktop and mobile devices, making it seamless to move calls across networks and devices with no interruptions. 
• With vibrant and fun styling, over 1,800 new 3D fluent emojis can infuse expression and playfulness into messages. And with the skin tone selector, users have the option to pick emojis that better represents themselves. 
• To support flexible work styles, two PowerPoint experiences, cameo and recording studio, are being brought together. This will make it possible for presenters to deliver presentations with PowerPoint Live in Teams, whether or not they attend the meeting. 
• A new feature called the Inspiration library is coming to Microsoft Viva in public preview as part of the Viva Insights app in Teams. The library is designed to give employees, managers and leaders easy access to thought leadership and best practices from top sources such as “Harvard Business Review” and “Thrive.”  

To learn more, visit the Official Microsoft Blog, Microsoft 365 Blog and the new Work Trend Index report.