“Far but not apart”, PHLPost releases Valentine’s Day stamps

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Today, February 10, the Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) will start issuing Valentine’s Day postage stamps as part of its effort to make the season of the hearts more memorable inspite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Themed “Far but not apart”, this year’s stamp feature’s digital art of male and female person with facemasks overcoming physical distance by constant communication in whatever means to send messages of love and affection under a big heart shape ribbon.

The words “Pilipinas” and “Valentine’s Day” were also printed in the stamp. The price of P12 on each stamp is located at the upper corner. Young graphic artist Ryman Dominic Albuladora design and layout the stamps.

PHLPost has printed 25,000 pieces of limited Valentine’s Day stamps.

The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in limited face to face activities and gatherings.

“The celebration of Valentine’s Day might be a little different this year, but there are a lot of ways to show love and affection to our dear ones”, PHLPost said in a statement.

One way is to send flowers and letters of gratitude to someone special in our life.

Via its #ExpressPadaLove2021, post offices in Manila, Quezon City and some other areas will accept orders via door to door through its Domestic Express Mail Service (DEMS) of flowers, chocolates, stuffed toys and other gift items.

The public can also call for orders, through telephone numbers (02) 8527-0135/ 0927-245-0835/ 0906-8976930. Payments can made via Electronic Postal Money Order (EPMO) or G-Cash at Mobile No. 0935-3674207.Stamps and official first day cover of “Valentine’s Day Stamps” are now available at the Philatelic Counter, Manila Central Post Office, all Mega Manila Post Offices, Postal Area 2, San Fernando, La Union, Postal Area 4, San Pablo, Postal Area 5, Mandaue, Postal Area 6, Iloilo, Postal Area 7, Davao, and Postal Area 8, Cagayan De Oro. For inquiries, please call 8527-01-08 or 8527-01-32 or follow/like the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PilipinasPhilately/ for updates

5 Marketing Strategies and Tips For Start-ups

Wazzup Pilipinas!


Running a startup is both satisfying and stressful. There are many ways to reduce your stress when it comes to running a startup. The best way is to ensure that the startup is cash positive and profitable as soon as possible. Focusing on marketing will help you to achieve this goal.

Let’s check the best strategies to improve your marketing and make your startup successful.

1. Sell better by knowing your customer

As your start-up in new on the market, you have the opportunity to get to know your consumers better than the other old companies. You could sell your product at a cheaper rate compared to others as it is easier for you to price it appropriately while at the same time keeping the quality in check. You could show off your skills and talents through the way you sell your product. With comparison, the only thing you could achieve is the showing the customer the difference in the features of your product. Whereas, what you should actually do is exhibit your product in such a manner that the customer could see the benefit for himself/herself and would want to choose your brand over any other.



2. Keep proper track of your budget

Make sure to plan your budget well in advance. You should be well aware of what and how much your start-up could afford. Always see to it that the in-flow of the money is higher than compared to out-flow. This part could get little tricky for a few people as it isn’t easy to know the amount of money required to finish get the desired results. Therefore, it is essential to have a, well experienced person who could manage the accounts for your start-up.



3. Follow the audience

In this era of social networking and fast mode, it is very important to keep in touch with the latest trends and ideas roaming in the social media platform. You should follow your audience and keep a note of all the new demands. The social media platforms are a great way in which you could get to know your customers and build a, connect with them. This is not only pretty cost-efficient, but also an effective way of increasing your product name. You should also make sure that your website looks good, is modern and responsive and most importantly fast. You can opt for a hosting company that targets your geographic location even if you don’t live there. Many web hosting companies offer this type of trial, and you should take advantage of it.

For example, if you are in the Philippines and your market is in the UK, you can go for the best UK web hosting companies to host your site.



4. Advertise as much as you can

A good advertisement can be a huge big asset to your start-up. Advertisements can be a little expensive at time, but it could be very helpful. Use as many platforms and social networking sites you can to advertise your product. This a market strategy, if people time and again hear about your product, see your product, find out from others about it, etc it somehow manages to stay somewhere in the back of their mind. Then may actually have no need of the product your selling, but due to the power of advertisements, they eventually end up buying it. This strategy makes sure that you and your product somehow manage to seep into the minds if the customer and make a place for yourself there.



5. Make the difference.

As your start-up is a new business, setting foot in the market, you have the power to stand out and attract more and more customers. Around 10 years back, market was way different than what it is now. You have all the facilities and the ability to do something new. Read about the companies that are your completion, try and plan things to make your start-up better, make use of the internet and use learn new marketing ways, etc. To sum it up, think outside the box and give the start-up your best shot.

 

ePLDT launches program in collaboration with Microsoft to increase employability for people with disabilities in Asia Pacific

Wazzup Pilipinas!


ePLDT launches program in collaboration with Microsoft to increase employability for people with disabilities in Asia Pacific

The program enables disability inclusive hiring where ePLDT is employer-partner


ePLDT, an industry-leading enabler of digital business solutions in the Philippines, announces its continued collaboration with Microsoft with its inclusion as employer-partner for the Microsoft Enabler Program to foster a disability-inclusive workplace within the ePLDT Group.

The Microsoft Enabler Program, launched in September 2020 across South Korea, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand, highlights Microsoft’s commitment to ensure inclusive-designed technological advances. It pioneers disability-inclusive workplace across the Asia Pacific region, giving utmost importance in building accessibility and a culture of inclusion at work.

The ePLDT Human Resource and Strategic Partnerships and Alliances Team is in coordination with Virtualahan, a social organization in the Philippines that enables PWDs to secure gainful employment by providing them with intensive digital skills and mentorship in collaboration with Microsoft’s enabler program.

“With ePLDT as employer-partner, we join Microsoft in its vision of and commitment to enabling and empowering persons with disabilities in the workplace, while steadfast in the belief that there are no limits with what people can achieve,” says Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

“We welcome this development, as ePLDT carries on and expands our initiatives together with like-minded partners like Microsoft,” according to Fe Arlene Villanueva-Bassig, ePLDT Group Head for Workplace Management. “With approximately 650 million persons with some form of disability across Asia Pacific, it is but fitting to create experiences and opportunities that everyone can fully participate in.”

The Microsoft Enabler Program is another step in company’s journey, that started in the 1990’s, to improve disability inclusion and accessibility. The launch was participated in and extended to by partners who all raised their hands to reinforce the commitment to pull this program of disability inclusivity together.

Andres Ortola, Microsoft Philippines Country General Manager, says, “We are firmly invested in making sure technology and innovation are inclusive and accessible to all Filipinos. Furthermore, we aim to close the digital skills gap across the world and the Philippines, to help individuals and communities find employment. This program provides crucial technology skills that are globally recognized and in demand. Having ePLDT onboard helps scale up its impact and ensure we empower everyone to achieve more regardless of how they communicate, see, hear, or move.”

ePLDT’s thrust is to develop deeper and more meaningful partner relationships beyond business. “This program is not new to us, since 2018, ePLDT has embarked in supporting the country’s Magna Carta rights for disabled persons. As part of this campaign we have started by creating conducive workplace environment, supporting Handicapped Care Association, Inc. in the Philippines,“ says Fay Ocampo, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Alliances during Microsoft Enabler Program launch together with other APAC employer partners, supporting 6 Non-Profit Organizations (NPOs) in Asia Pacific.

Microsoft’s partners in the region commit to extend opportunities for the PWDs by providing job shadowing, training, mentoring and internship attachments in technical roles. These opportunities will be offered in close coordination with the NPOs who will match the most suitable PWD profile, skills, qualifications and ambitions with the requirements.

For more information, visit epldt.com.