Somerset Valero Makati: Setting a New Standard for Living in the Heart of the City

Somerset Valero Makati: Setting a New Standard for Living in the Heart of the City

Monday, June 24, 2024

Somerset, a renowned brand of serviced residences catering to small groups and families along with being the brand lead for sustainability expands its presence with the opening of its newest property, Somerset Valero Makati, located in the heart of Salcedo Village of the Makati CBD. Its completion will usher in an exciting addition to Ascott's esteemed portfolio in the city, which includes Ascott Makati, Somerset Millennium Makati, Somerset Central Salcedo Makati, Citadines Salcedo Makati, Citadines Benavidez Makati and Oakwood Makati Avenue. 

Nestled in the prestigious Salcedo Village within country’s premiere Central Business District, Somerset Valero Makati enjoys a prime location surrounded by office buildings and a vibrant retail scene. This new serviced residence is designed to give guests a home away from home, offering an unparalleled family-friendly atmosphere and a level of comfort and relaxation.

With a total of 176 meticulously designed and spacious units, Somerset Valero Makati offers a range of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartments. Each apartment is thoughtfully furnished and equipped with modern amenities, ensuring guests have everything they need for a comfortable stay. Whether it’s a short visit or an extended stay, Somerset Valero Makati is the perfect choice for individuals, families, and business travelers seeking a peaceful and harmonious environment.

Guests at Somerset Valero Makati will have access to various facilities designed to enhance their well-being and leisure. The well-equipped gymnasium and swimming pool offer a refreshing escape from the urban hustle and bustle. The residents' lounge also gives a welcoming and comfortable space for guests to relax, socialize, or catch up on work. 

For children and younger guests, the property also has a Cubbies Playroom for all-day fun and enjoyment. From interactive games to learning-focused activities, children can immerse themselves in a world of creativity and play while parents enjoy peace of mind knowing their kids are entertained and well engaged.

"We are delighted to introduce Somerset Valero Makati as the newest addition to our portfolio of serviced residences in the Philippines," said Cecille Teodoro, the Ascott Limited’s Cluster General Manager. "With its strategic location in Makati's vibrant business district and its focus on providing a tranquil and family-friendly environment, Somerset Valero Makati is not only positioned as the prime destination for business travelers, but also as an ideal haven for bleisure travelers seeking to seamlessly blend work commitments with leisure experiences. Its addition to Ascott's esteemed portfolio in the area further expands the diverse options available to clientele seeking exceptional serviced residences. With the inclusion of different Ascott, Citadines, Oakwood and Somerset properties in the vicinity, guests can choose from a range of renowned brands, each offering a unique experience tailored to their preferences.”

The associates, who are called Guardians, not only exude warm and attentive characters, but also create a relaxed and welcoming environment for all guests. The Guardians embody Somerset Valero’s carefree and harmonious energy as they accommodate guests. With their genuine hospitality and friendly demeanor, they go above and beyond to ensure that every stay at Somerset Valero Makati is as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. 

Somerset Valero, Makati, is set to open its doors in the 3rd quarter of 2024. Guests can reserve and advance and look out for updates by visiting the property’s official website and the following social media pages, Facebook and Instagram.

Read More

MMDA-MMFMP Celebrates Independence Day with 'Freedom from Basura' Initiative

MMDA-MMFMP Celebrates Independence Day with 'Freedom from Basura' Initiative

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), through the Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFMP), proudly held its special Independence Day celebration event during the national holiday, themed 'Freedom from Basura.' This initiative was staged to further promote environmental awareness and encourage the community to adopt good waste management practices.

Event highlights for the special day included the following activities:

Freedom (from Basura) Wall: Visitors were invited to write their commitment to a greener and cleaner Philippines on the Freedom Wall. Participants then peeled off a plantable giveaway from the wall and planted it in a seedling pot provided at the booth. This activity symbolized the collective efforts of Filipinos towards achieving environmental sustainability.

Role-Trash Trivia: Participants were given the chance to spin a roulette and answer questions or trivia related to proper waste management practices. The trivia questions were categorized into easy, moderately difficult, and difficult levels, offering a fun and educational experience for all ages. Successful participants received special prizes.

Segre-game Time: This interactive game challenged players to shoot blocks with images of different types of solid waste into the corresponding trash bins labeled for proper segregation. This engaging activity aimed to reinforce the importance of waste segregation and recycling.

Displayed Products from Solid Waste Processing Technologies: The event showcased innovative products produced through various solid waste processing technologies. Attendees had the opportunity to see Eco Bricks made by the Solid Waste Granulator and Brick Making Facility, Cocopots produced by the Cocopot Making Machine and Decorticator, Compost generated by the Biowaste Converter, and Charcoal Briquettes and Lilipots created by the Water Hyacinth Processing Facility. These products highlighted the potential of waste materials to be transformed into valuable resources, emphasizing the importance of sustainable waste management practices.

“This past Independence Day, we celebrated not only our freedom as a nation but also our commitment to freeing our environment from waste. The recent 'Freedom from Basura' initiative reflects our dedication to fostering a culture of responsible waste management and environmental stewardship among our communities. By participating in these kinds of activities, we continue to collectively contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable Metro Manila,” said MMDA-SWMO Head and MMFMP Component 2 Project Director Dir. Josias E. Syquimsiam, Jr.

The MMDA-MMFMP booth was staged at Luneta Park for a whole day during Independence Day, as the public was encouraged to join in all the festivities and participate in the various activities designed to promote environmental consciousness and community engagement. Almost a thousand IEC materials were also distributed to around 500 booth visitors during the event.

For more information about the 'Freedom from Basura' initiative and other future MMDA-MMFMP projects, please visit the MMDA website or follow us on social media.

Read More

OPPO's Multiple Research Achievements Shortlisted for Global Top AI Conference CVPR 2024, Continuously Consolidating AI Phone Technology

OPPO's Multiple Research Achievements Shortlisted for Global Top AI Conference CVPR 2024, Continuously Consolidating AI Phone Technology

Saturday, June 22, 2024

The prestigious CVPR (Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition), a leading global event in computer vision, officially commenced in Seattle. This year, OPPO made a significant impact with several of its latest research papers being selected for presentation, encompassing a range of AI-related topics. Moreover, OPPO's flagship AI phone, the Find X7 Ultra, and the newly launched OPPO Reno12 were demoed at the conference, showcasing numerous innovative AI phone features. Through these contributions, OPPO continues to influence the global advancement and democratization of AI phone.

"OPPO is deeply engaged in the CVPR each year, and this year, our achievements are particularly noteworthy," stated Billy Zhang, President of Overseas MKT, Sales and Service at OPPO. "AI has always been a pivotal area of investment for us, and the rising trend of AI phone enables us to innovate the user experience once again. CVPR provides an excellent platform for OPPO to discuss and exchange ideas with global partners about our latest advancements in computer vision and other AI-related fields. Our involvement in CVPR also underscores OPPO's strong commitment and determination in the realm of AI phone."

With Major Papers Selected for Conference, OPPO AI Research is Flourishing

This year, OPPO Research Institute and various R&D teams achieved significant recognition with 11 papers selected for presentation at CVPR. These papers span key research areas including image restoration, digital human generation, video segmentation, dynamic motion capture, dynamic scene image synthesis, multi-view 3D object detection, and 3D rendering, highlighting some of the most innovative directions in AI phone.

In the field of digital human generation, OPPO has introduced a groundbreaking approach with UltrAvatar—a method for creating drivable 3D virtual humans. Utilizing a diffuse color extraction model and an authenticity-guided texture diffusion model, UltrAvatar can generate drivable 3D virtual humans from a single image or a line of text. These virtual humans are indistinguishable from real human features, achieving a level of detail that captures every inch of skin color and texture on a person’s face, significantly enhancing the realism of virtual interactions.

Another notable contribution, the UniVS, presents the industry’s first universal large model for video segmentation. This model is uniquely capable of meeting diverse real-world video segmentation needs, allowing for the segmentation of all objects within a specified category and responding to textual descriptions for targeted segmentation.

These selected papers not only represent cutting-edge advancements in AI but also position OPPO as a leader propelling the mobile industry into the AI-driven era.

Additionally, the CVPR 2024 NTIRE RAIM (Restore Any Image Model) challenge, co-organized by OPPO Research Institute's Y-Lab and the Visual Computing Laboratory at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, was a resounding success. This challenge encouraged researchers to address real-world industrial challenges, develop methods for accurate high-quality image restoration, and promote the application of these technologies in industry. The NTIRE RAIM challenge attracted participation from over 200 teams globally. And finally, Team MiAlgo's research emerged as the winner, clinching first place in the competition.

Going forward, OPPO will robustly support the AI developer ecosystem, fostering close academia-industry collaboration to bridge the two.

Find X7 Ultra Debuts at CVPR, Sparking Interest in AI Phone Innovation

OPPO's flagship AI phone, the Find X7 Ultra, made a remarkable debut, quickly becoming a highlight of the event. Additionally, Liang Jie, the senior imaging algorithm engineer at OPPO Research Institute's Y-Lab, was invited to present a report on OPPO's imaging technology at the conference. The powerful AI imaging capabilities of the Find X7 Ultra and OPPO's innovative generative AI applications captivated both the academic and industrial AI communities. 

This year signifies OPPO's official foray into the AI phone era, with the Find X7 Ultra emerging as the most advanced AI phone from OPPO to date. It boasts the OPPO HyperTone Image Engine, the most sophisticated computational photography system currently on the market. This engine enables OPPO Find X7 Ultra to produce exceptional photos with minimal computational footprint, turning every shot into a masterpiece.

The OPPO AI Eraser feature, launched alongside the Find X7 Ultra, showcased to CVPR attendees OPPO's ability to seamlessly integrate AI technology into consumer devices for user-friendly experiences. The OPPO AI Eraser allows users to easily remove unwanted elements from an image and generate replacement content with a single click. Since its introduction, this feature has revolutionized photo editing, averaging 15 uses per day per user, making it one of the most popular features.

OPPO also showcased several exploratory features through real device demos at CVPR, highlighting the future direction of OPPO's AI technologies. Among these was the Style Transfer Demo, which utilizes the ShaderNN lightweight deep learning architecture. ShaderNN represents the first inference engine supporting the full graphics stack (OpenGL & Vulkan) for real-time mobile graphics and imaging applications, showcasing OPPO's strengths in on-device generative graphics AI processing.

Solidifying Foundations, Continuously Promoting the Democratization of AI Phone

At the beginning of the year, OPPO strategically established OPPO AI Center, directing company resources towards enhancing AI capabilities. This initiative has not only integrated and strengthened OPPO's research across various AI fields but also aimed to deliver the ultimate AI phone experience. It has bolstered OPPO's technical foundation in the AI phone sector and showcased impressive research outcomes at this year's CVPR.

This year's CVPR also marks OPPO's continued presence at top international AI conferences, following the participation at events such as MWC, Google Cloud Next '24, and Microsoft Build. OPPO is actively collaborating with global partners to advance the development of AI phones.

In early June, OPPO officially announced its strategy to make AI phones accessible to everyone, targeting the equipping of approximately 50 million OPPO smartphones with generative AI features by year's end, spanning all OPPO’s smartphone product lines. This move underscores OPPO's long-term commitment and strategic determination to enhance AI integration in smartphones.

Looking forward, the innovative research outcomes from OPPO, combined with advanced technologies from partners like Google, Microsoft and MediaTek, will further propel OPPO’s mission to spearhead a global movement in the democratization of AI phone.

Read More

Bayad drives discourse on business innovation during the 15th Mansmith Market Masters Conference

Bayad drives discourse on business innovation during the 15th Mansmith Market Masters Conference

Thursday, June 20, 2024

Bayad President and CEO Lawrence Y. Ferrer joins the discourse on the “5 Skills of Market Masters Strategists” during the 15th Mansmith Market Masters Conference held on May 8, 2024 at The Fifth, Rockwell Center, Makati, Metro Manila. 

Organized by Mansmith and Fielders, Inc., a leading training and consultancy company in the Philippines, the said event gathered a panel of renowned industry leaders in the retail, healthcare, fintech, clothing, advertising, esports, electronics, and lending sector.

Ferrer then shares insightful business practices as he spotlights the subject “Innovating Skills: Winning and Thriving in the Market Landscape”.

Essentially, Ferrer emphasized customer-centricity, data-driven strategies, leveraging technology, and corporate culture as the cornerstone of every successful business.

Ferrer underscores “Your customer is your north star. Focus on the customer and all else will follow.”

“Innovation is not solely the responsibility of the Product or IT team. Everyone can innovate in their respective organization segments. It is vital to empower the workforce by enabling them to develop their skills, and by giving them a safe environment to fail and learn while recognizing their efforts.” added Ferrer.

Furthermore, Ferrer also presented Bayad’s enterprise payment solutions, supporting the country’s value-driven digital transformation.

“All our efforts in Bayad are anchored on our goal of helping both consumers and businesses to thrive.”, says Ferrer.

For institutions interested to partner with Bayad, you may send an email at partnerships@bayad.com. Bayad remains committed to providing nationwide coverage, comprehensive support, and efficient processing solutions.

Read More

Elevate Secures $5 Million to Launch FDIC-Insured USD Accounts for Filipino Freelancers

Elevate Secures $5 Million to Launch FDIC-Insured USD Accounts for Filipino Freelancers

To offer the highest USD-Peso Exchange rate in the market

Elevate, a Y-combinator-backed fintech startup headquartered in London and Dubai, has successfully raised $5 million in financing to expand its operations in the Philippines. Since 2021, they’ve raised a total of $10 million in equity and debt from investors, including Y Combinator, Goodwater, Global Founders Capital and VSQ. Elevate’s product launch in the Philippines aims to address the financial challenges faced by Filipino freelancers.

Elevate’s innovative platform is designed to simplify the process for freelancers in the Philippines to receive payments in US dollars (USD). It supports free and fast deposits from US and international employers and popular platforms like Upwork, Fiverr, PayPal, Deel, and Toptal.

For those transferring assets from USD accounts to Philippine-based banks, the platform offers the most competitive foreign exchange (FX) rates in the market. By partnering with multiple large global FX providers integrated with banks in the Philippines, the platform ensures access to the best rates available, making it a cost-effective solution for maximizing earnings.

In addition to facilitating USD transfers, Elevate offers a Mastercard debit card that users can utilize for online spending. 

"We are thrilled to bring our innovative financial solutions to the Philippines, a market with a burgeoning freelance community," said Elevate's CEO Khalid Keenan. "Our goal is to empower freelancers by providing them with secure, efficient services and the best USD-peso FX rates that address their unique needs."

A key differentiator for Elevate is its partnership with its sponsor bank, Bangor Savings Bank, a 172-year-old institution in Maine, USA, with over $7 billion in assets. Unlike other electronic money accounts such as Wise and Payoneer, Elevate accounts are FDIC-insured through Bangor Savings Bank, providing users with the security of knowing their funds are protected up to $250,000 in the event of bank failure. This partnership makes Elevate the only service enabling individuals in countries like the Philippines, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to open FDIC-insured U.S. bank accounts.

“The introduction of FDIC-insured accounts through our sponsor bank, Bangor Savings Bank, is set to revolutionize the financial landscape for Filipino freelancers, offering them unprecedented security and convenience in managing their international earnings,” he added.

Since its launch in early 2024, Elevate has already attracted over 150,000 users globally, highlighting the strong demand for its services among freelancers and remote workers.

With 1.5 million Filipinos registered on online international freelancing platforms and an additional 1.3 million working in BPOs, mostly for US companies, the Philippines is a hotspot for remote work. Notably, in 2023, the Philippines surpassed India, the US, Brazil, and other countries to become the leading country for workers on Deel, a popular remote work platform. The Asia-Pacific region, including the Philippines, has been the fastest-growing area for remote work, alongside EMEA.

Looking ahead, Elevate plans to expand its customer support, content, and compliance teams in the Philippines in Q3/Q4 of 2024. The company also anticipates significant demand from other tech-savvy, educated workforces in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand, as remote work continues to offer new opportunities across Southeast Asia.

For more information, visit https://www.elevatepay.co/

Read More

ChildFund Philippines celebrates transformative impacts, strengthens partnerships to support more children

ChildFund Philippines celebrates transformative impacts, strengthens partnerships to support more children

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

ChildFund Philippines recently shared its milestones and impacts in supporting Filipino children, youth, and local partners, emphasizing collaborative action as a key driver in safeguarding and supporting Filipino children and youth.

 

ChildFund Philippines recently gathered partners from communities and civil service organizations to share milestones in supporting Filipino children and youth. (L-R: Allan Lee Nuñez, Advocacy and Child Protection Specialist of ChildFund Philippines; Carla Santos, President of The Civil Society Network for Education Reforms; Dr. Ma. Bella Ponferrada, Nutrition Specialist of UNICEF; Dr. Elizabeth Protacio-De Castro, Executive Director of the Psychosocial Support and Children's Rights Resource Center; Francis Joseph Dela Cruz. Partnership Advocacy Adviser of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities; Anand Vishwakarma, CEO and Country Director of ChildFund Philippines; and Kim Garcia, Business Development Officer of ChildFund Philippines.)

During their event "Connection for Impact," which gathered partners and stakeholders, ChildFund Philippines announced its goal to reach 5 million Filipino children and families by 2026 and every year thereafter. This will be its contribution to ChildFund International's global goal of reaching 100 million children and families by 2030.

The event also featured a panel discussion with children and youth advocate groups from The Civil Society Network for Education Reforms, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, UNICEF, and Psychosocial Support and Children's Rights Resource Center. These groups emphasized the crucial role of collaboration between various sectors in creating a sustainable future for Filipino children and youth. 

"We aim to scale up our efforts to address the evolving challenges faced by Filipino children and youth," said Anand Vishwakarma, Country Director of ChildFund Philippines. “Together with our partners, we are driven by the urgent need to create broader and more sustainable impacts through collaborative efforts.”

 

During the event held at Marco Polo Ortigas, Anand Vishwakarma, CEO and Country Director of ChildFund Philippines, announced the organization’s goal to reach 5 million Filipino children and families by 2026 and every year thereafter. 

 

In 2023, the organization reached 21 provinces, 35 cities and municipalities, 365 barangays, and in partnership with 11 local partners, supporting a total of 54 million children, youth, and adults. 

ChildFund supports children and youth through various life stages, focusing on education, health, skilling and livelihoods, child protection and participation, and climate action. “From birth to age five, children should be healthy and secure. From six to their teenage years, they need proper education to build personal agency. By young adulthood, they should have developed skills for employment,” said Dong Waña, Program and Sponsorship Director of ChildFund Philippines. 

ChildFund supported 610 learners with disabilities through Project Advancement of Children's Inclusive Education through Virtual Engagement (ACHIEVE) and developed an e-learning platform that improved children's participation. They also established neighborhood play programs in remote communities with limited access to early childhood care and development. Additionally, the youth are supported in making informed decisions about sexual and reproductive health through inclusive services and information. Under its new Job Opportunity Building for Youth (JOB for Youth) program, the organization has so far provided industry and technopreneurship training to 396 youths..

In terms of disaster preparedness, the Children and Youth-led Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CYDRM) Program aims to engage children and youth in disaster risk management and climate action initiatives. ChildFund also continuously promotes transparency in disaster relief through Project Relief Allocation Management, Distribution and Monitoring (RAMDAM), integrating technology-based interventions and climate-adaptive innovations.

The organization launched #FunOfAKind campaign that encourages people to volunteer their “time, talent, and treasure” to ChildFund’s programs, supporting children and youth. This will allow the organization to: 

● Improve culturally relevant and developmentally appropriate learning experiences for indigenous children in BARMM through an inclusive education program called Bajau Ongka-kumpit for Access and Transition to School (BOAT School), 

● Enhance social and emotional learning for children and promote safe learning environments, 

● Withdraw more children from the worst form of child labor, 

● Engage more youth in leading their own Anti-Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) initiatives; and, 

● Rally for wide adoption of the RAMDAM disaster response app by national agencies.

"The challenges faced by Filipino children are complex," said Vishwakarma. "By working together – government, businesses, non-government organizations, and concerned citizens – we can achieve far better outcomes for them."

For more information on how to get involved, visit https://childfund.org.ph/get-involved/.

Read More

Life at Trava: A growing community at the heart of sustainable suburban luxury

Life at Trava: A growing community at the heart of sustainable suburban luxury

Suburban luxury and sustainability may seem like two incompatible concepts, but the tides are changing. Many people are looking for homes that offer the best of both these worlds — private, spacious, and sustainable suburban homes.

This paradigm shift in homeowners’ priorities and aspirations propelled Greenfield Deluxe to develop Trava, a vibrant community taking shape in Greenfield City in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

Nestled amidst sprawling landscapes, Trava stands as the epitome of sustainable suburban living. The 33-hectare premier residential development, a flagship project of Greenfield Deluxe, showcases an exceptional blend of luxury, sustainability, and unparalleled amenities, creating an oasis of tranquility and well-being for those who seek a refined and elevated lifestyle.

Trava: Ushering in a new era of sustainable suburban living

GDC’s Trava shows that a blend of sustainability and modern architecture masterpieces are possible

Living at Trava is more than just owning a home—it's a lifestyle choice that embraces sustainability, luxury, and a profound connection with nature. By combining cutting-edge design, luxurious amenities, and a commitment to the environment, Trava sets a new standard for upscale living in Greenfield City and beyond.

The architects and designers behind Trava’s master-planned community drew inspiration from the surrounding natural beauty of Greenfield City, ensuring that the development harmonizes with its environment. Verdant green spaces, lush landscaping, and carefully curated outdoor areas provide residents with a tranquil suburban oasis. 

Ultra-luxe residences with eco-friendly features

The artful details and mindful sustainability of Trava’s ultra-luxe residences will surprise and delight homeowners who want their homes to be an extension and reflection of their impeccable taste.

Trava’s model units, meticulously designed by National Artist for Architecture Leandro V. Locsin and partners, provide a glimpse into an unparalleled living experience when we integrate sustainable features into our homes.

With a modern take on tropical architecture, each model unit boasts clean lines, open spaces, and abundant natural light, which is both aesthetically pleasing and well-suited to the local climate. Spacious floor plans, floor-to-ceiling windows, and exquisite finishes add another level of luxury and sophistication.

Trava’s model units also incorporate sustainable construction materials such as engineered wood, which is more durable and environmentally friendly than traditional lumber. The roofs in each model unit are also ready to integrate solar panels, making it easier for residents to generate clean energy and reduce their carbon footprint.

Aside from these two features, each model unit has floor-to-ceiling windows with low-emissivity glass, which minimizes the amount of ultraviolet (UV) and infrared light that enters the home, reduces energy costs, and protects the interiors from fading. Each model unit is also coated with odorless paint, which contains fewer allergens and toxins, creating a healthier indoor environment.

With the ongoing construction of new homes, a growing community is already taking shape at Trava, one that embraces sustainable design principles throughout its development. The community incorporates green building materials, green spaces, rainwater harvesting systems, and energy-efficient lighting, ensuring a harmonious coexistence with the natural environment.

Underground utilities mean no electrical wires and posts loom overhead, creating a cleaner and more modern look while reducing the risk of power outages and accidents. Permeable pavers lining the pathways allow rainwater to infiltrate the ground, reducing runoff and flooding in the neighborhood. The rainwater is then reused for maintenance purposes, such as watering plants and cleaning facilities.

World-class amenities and facilities for modern families 

At the heart of Trava lies a vibrant community where residents can connect, socialize, and enjoy an array of shared amenities designed to cater to the needs and aspirations of modern families.

Residents have access to a world-class clubhouse, the community’s social hub, complete with a state-of-the-art fitness center, swimming pool, function rooms, and outdoor recreational areas. Its landscaped courtyards, walking trails, and outdoor seating areas also provide ample opportunities for relaxation and recreation. The children’s playground helps parents ensure the little ones have a fun and safe space to play and interact.

Indeed, Trava embodies the essence of sustainable suburban living, offering a perfect blend of comfort, convenience, and a strong sense of community. Here, residents can escape the hustle and bustle of city life, while reaping the benefits of modern amenities and a vibrant environment.

To learn more about Trava, click here. For inquiries, call +63 917 534 7336.

Read More