3 reasons why you should check out Shopee’s 9.9 Super Shopping Day

Look forward to a more rewarding and exciting shopping experience this 9.9 with ₱1 deals, free shipping with no minimum spend, and an all-new game, 9.9 ShopeePay Shop & Win up to ₱1 million! 

MANILA, 30 AUGUST 2022 - Shopee has officially launched the start of its year-end shopping season, and this year, the e-commerce platform is giving Filipinos even more reasons to check out. From Mas Mura Sa Shopee* offers, to an exciting new game that will surely thrill shoppers and not-to-miss entertainment, here are what users can expect this 9.9 Super Shopping Day: 

1. Discover Mas Mura Sa Shopee deals from August 26 to September 11 

Grab a wide range of ₱1 deals on your daily essentials and trending products by visiting the “₱1 Deals” page. Enjoy even bigger discounts when you claim free shipping with no minimum spend that you can use on your 9.9 Super Shopping Day buys.

Shopee is also the perfect place to score your favorite brand products at irresistible deals, with thousands of brands offering exclusive discounts up to 90%. Shoppers can look forward to  special offers and storewide discounts from leading brands such as P&G, Olay, OPPO, Johnson & Johnson, Unilever, Pedigree, Garnier, Huawei, Adidas, Xiaomi, POCO, Ace Hardware, Uni-Care, Abbott, GameXtreme, Belo, INSPI, and more.

The countdown to one of Shopee’s biggest sale events starts as early as August 30, where users can look forward to daily deals on featured categories. Mark your calendars to score irresistible discounts during these sale days: 

• August 30 Payday Sale for your end of the month shopping with free shipping with no minimum spend, 10% off vouchers, and earn 120 coins cashback per bill payment when you use ShopeePay

• Discover trending gadgets at Shopee-exclusive prices from well-loved brands such as Philips, 70mai & Han River at the Gadget Zone Day & Home Tech Day

• Spruce up your personal space at the Home & Living Day

• Enjoy huge savings on your parenting needs at the Babies & Kids Day

• Stock up on your home essentials at the Grocery Bestsellers Day

• Update your wardrobe like a true fashionista at the Bags & Accessories Day and Apparel & Shoes Day 

Beyond unbeatable deals on essential items and trending products, the 9.9 Super Shopping Day offers Filipinos greater value for money when they use ShopeePay. This September 9, enjoy even more rewards and mas mura perks when you pay bills, buy load, and buy from offline merchants using Shopee’s integrated mobile wallet:

• Activate and verify your ShopeePay for a chance to get free ₱70

• Settle your bills from Meralco, Maynilad, Converge, and more to earn up to 120 coins cashback per bill category

• For only ₱1, get 1GB all-access data to your favorite sites and apps, available on all networks

• For as low as ₱1, get up to 20% discount vouchers that you can use to pay at ShopeePay’s partner merchants such as Potato Corner, Gong Cha and Wendy’s on September 9

2. Win up to ₱1 million with 9.9 ShopeePay Shop & Win and more

Until September 9, get a chance to win ₱1 million with the all-new 9.9 ShopeePay Shop & Win. To join, you need to purchase on the Shopee app and claim the code from September 1 to 9 to be eligible for the draw. Viewers of the draws leading up to September 9 also stand a chance to win exciting prizes with Guess to Win, a daily in-app game that rewards one lucky viewer with ₱10,000 cash via ShopeePay. 

Start testing your luck when you tune in to the 9.9 Shopee Budol Live, happening until September 4, for a chance to win up to ₱50,000 when you play the Shopee Live version of the 9.9 ShopeePay Shop & Win game. 

3. Watch the 9.9 Super Shopping Day TV Special and bring home exciting prizes 

Be treated to an evening of entertaining performances from local stars such as Shopee’s own Primetime Queen Marian Rivera, Primetime King Ding Dong Dantes, Michael V, Carla Abellana, Bianca Umali, Victor Anastacio, Luane Dy, Ken Chan, Tuesday Vargas, Sanya Lopez, Rodjun Cruz, Sef Cadayona, Zack Tabudlo, Zephanie, Jessica Villarubin, and more during the 9.9 Super Shopping Day TV Special this September 9, 9:35 PM on GMA 7 and Shopee Live.

Exciting prizes are up for grabs, as lucky viewers who play Shopee Shake during the TV Special stand a chance to win up to ₱50,000 and a House & Lot from Lumina Homes. A total of ₱1 million cash from Shopee and Uratex, ₱500,000 worth of Uratex products, and a brand new MG ZS Crossover SUV also await the winners of 9.9 ShopeePay Shop & Win during the show.

Visit the 9.9 Super Shopping Day for more information. 

CEBU HOSTS FIRST REAL ESTATE CONFAB

Over 700 participants mostly composed PRC-registered salespersons nationwide will convene in Cebu City for the first ever Real Estate Salespersons Congress on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2022.  The congress, initiated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)- registered Accredited Real Estate Salespersons in the Philippines (ACRES Philippines), will gather industry practitioners in the field of real estate selling to formally introduce ACRES Philippines and its Vision and Mission; recognize its interim officers nationwide; charter members and raise awareness and tackle current concerns in real estate selling.   ACRES is the country’s first and largest organization of accredited real estate salespersons. Founded in 2021, it supports the endeavors of salespersons in furthering their learnings, ethical standards, protection of their rights to free and fair practice, upliftment of their well-being, and due representation and inclusion on matters of their trade and prosperity.   At present the association has already set up nationwide chapters with interim officers in Metro Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Bicol, Sorsogon, Legaspi, Pampanga, Palawan, Tacloban, Ormoc, Bohol, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Kabankalan, Iloilo, Roxas, Aklan, Calbayog, Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, Northern Cebu, Southern Cebu, Talisay, Mandaue, Catbalogan, Davao, General Santos, Caraga, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Surigao, Ozamis, Dipolog, Pagadian, Digos, Iligan and Gingoog.  These interim officers will take oath during the congress.  Cebu was picked as the host for this year’s Congress to showcase the city’s progressive real estate industry whose vibrance could only be kept and achieved by proactive industry practitioners, including real estate salespersons.     According to Anthony Gerard Leuterio, president of A Better Real Estate Philippines (ABREP), the advisory group of ACRES, the formation of ACRES came timely as the real estate sector experiences a rebound from the economic stresses brought about by Covid-19 pandemic.   He said unifying all the salespersons involved in real estate will further advance the country’s real estate sector and make it one of the strongest economic pillars amid the headwinds.  “Since real estate is a selling business, we also need to get the salespersons onboard and actively involved them in advancing the sector alongside the brokers,” he said.   Leuterio stressed that since real estate salespersons are significant contributors in the continued expansion of the sector, they must be well represented.   “These practitioners need to have a voice too, especially when policies and laws are crafted. We need to include them so we could really a ‘Better Real Estate’,” he said.  Real estate salespersons comprise the biggest number of professionals in the real estate service.   Moreover, ACRES seeks to work harmoniously and collaboratively with the professionals in the real estate service, regulatory agencies, real estate organizations, property companies, policy makers and advocacy groups.   Leuterio said the association is keen to work with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) so it can participate on campaigns against illegal salespersons and illegal developers.   The group also wants to work with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) to promote accreditation to all salespersons involved in real estate selling activities.

“Your Song of Excellence” is back for a much bigger and better Season 2

LAST year, three musical hopefuls who have dreamt of making it big in the music industry in the Philippines accomplished their goal of achieving musical excellence through “Your Song of Excellence,” a virtual singing competition that took the country by storm.

For Grand Champions Edel Quibol, Renz Robosa, and music groujp Monzterjam, it was a dream come true that changed their lives forever.

And now, this year, from hordes of auditionees, a new set of individuals who value musical excellence will be crowned as music royalty in the Philippines as “Your Song of Excellence,” organized by Taiwan Excellence, is back for its second season, and promises to be bigger, fresher and more innovative.

With a total prize pool amounting to a whopping P1,000,000 worth of cash and products up for grabs, plus a recording deal with major recording company Ivory Music, one of the biggest independent record labels in the country, “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 will be the perfect platform for those who dream of becoming a real-life recording artist.

For this year, “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 will have a fresh set of judges who will once again meticulously assess the performances of each of the contestants. Tasked to do this are #YourSongOfExcellence2022 jurors led by pop-rock royalty and singer-songwriter Yeng Constantino, music producer and songwriter Paulo Zarate, multi-awarded vocalist of local rock band Wolfgang and singer-songwriter Basti Artadi, and award-winning singer and composer Noel Cabangon. They will be joined by acclaimed TV, film and theater actress Bituin Escalante, one of last season’s judges.

And also, a new set of musical categories will be introduced for “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2. The categories include #EpicRock for singers who love to belt out rock and pop rock music, #HeartsAtHome for those who love going ballad in their performance, and #FreshVibes for those whose singing talents cover acoustic music.

“Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 is open to all male, female, and group amateur and professional singers. They must be Filipino citizens and residing in the Philippines, must be 18 years old and above upon submitting their audition video, must present a valid government or school I.D. and must not have an existing recording contract.

Is that dream of becoming a musical star still alive? Here’s your chance to make that dream a reality. Register for “Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 via https://bit.ly/YSOE2022Auditionor email your audition video at yoursongofexcellence2022@gmail.com.

Deadline for submission of audition entries is on August 10, 2022. To know more of contest mechanics, visit https://bit.ly/YSOE2CONTESTMECHANICS.

“Your Song of Excellence” Season 2 is organized by Taiwan Excellence, with premier brands Aromase PH, Asus PH, and Predator Gaming as sponsors, with Ivory Music as music partner and Far Eastern University as performing arts partner.

Major brand partners include Acer Philippines, Annie's Way 安妮絲薇果凍面膜第一品牌, FECA PH, Johnson Fitness Philippines, LUFTQI空氣淨化專家, Transcend Philippines, Zyxel.ph, Dacian, and Tatung.

Keeping Laundered Clothes In During the Ghost Month

The Ghost Festival, also known as the Zhongyuan Festival in Taoism and Yulanpen Festival in Buddhism, is a traditional Taoist and Buddhist festival held in certain East Asian countries. According to the Chinese calendar, the Ghost Festival is on the 15th night of the seventh month. I read this in Wikipedia. 

I am a Buddhist but I never practiced this in the month of August. So when my sister told me about taking all our clothes hanging at our balcony, and  put them inside so ghosts won't use them accidentally, I was really in  question of the matter that I had to do research about it. Turns out that it is indeed practiced in some parts of Asia, and ghost month is quite interesting, really. Others would even leave food outside their homes for the ghosts, and special food which are favourites of their dearly departed,  in case their ghosts would drop by. 

Since the Philippines doesn't have so many Buddhists or Taoists, I have  not heard of this practice, only when I came here that we hear about these things, even if I am a Buddhist, simply because SGI Buddhism didn't really focus on these traditions.

So, yeah, we have kept our laundered clothes in, and I don't do laundry at night so I won't have to hang them outside to dry. 

Rex Education and PEAC Sponsor Future Teachers In ‘Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan’ Scholarship Program

This coming school year, 14 young and promising students will be pursuing teacher education and taking up the challenge to rekindle our aspiration of bettering lives through education.

Rex Education and the Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC) are sending 14 scholars to Centers of Excellence by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) under the PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan Scholarship Program, an initiative that hopes to strengthen the quality of teachers in the country by seeking out and encouraging students to take teacher education programs in Mathematics and Sciences.

“Teaching is such a noble career—it is the profession that creates all other professions. But in reality, with a lot of career options to choose from, Education is not always the top-of-mind choice of students. Great teachers inspire great students. This is why we want to encourage the best and the brightest to work with us, commit to the profession, and start creating a ripple effect as we enhance teachers’ quality today,” said Don Timothy Buhain, chief executive officer of Rex Education.

Teachers are some of the most impactful champions of education—Edukampyons—since they are the closest to the students and can directly impact their education. The scholarship program, launched in October 2021, rings true to REX’s Edukampyon advocacy that aims to champion, strengthen, and advance teacher education.

The students who will receive scholarship grants and pursue their specialization in the Sciences from Ateneo De Naga are the following: Lellian Joy L. Alegre, Leschell Mae L. Llagas, Jyla Mir P. Dangca, April Mariella B. Nieves, Maia Niña T. Enimedez, Sheila May B. Ceguerra, Denise Angela P. Rebueno, Kazzandra Jhean R. Alvarez, and Ma. Bernadette Jane S. Aguay.

The students who will pursue their specialization in Mathematics from Ateneo De Naga are Florence M. Pangilinan and Jassi Mary E. Sayson.

Three students will also pursue specializations in Mathematics at Capitol University: Jenika Rosandra S. Diaz, James Elvin A. Ipulan, and Maria Ruth Precious O. Lindawan.

REX and PEAC hope that this batch of scholars under the PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan will be the first of many, so that more students, Centers of Excellence, and other education champions contribute to the highest quality of teaching in the country.

“We want to champion teacher education. We want to make teaching an attractive proposition for our young. And at the same time, ensure that the program will have a very strong values formation program, so that our scholars will have a very strong sense of social responsibility and contribute to nation-building,” said Doris Ferrer, Executive Director of PEAC.

An effort to address the challenges faced by the education sector

The PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan is one of the many efforts and collaborations REX enters into to help address the challenges faced by Philippine education.

“We all agree that the quality of teachers facilitating learning has to do a lot in making sure that the quality of education itself is also improved. So any intervention that is designed to provide the Department of Education (DepEd) with better inputs in terms of teachers will truly be a welcome contribution,” said Diosdado M. San Antonio, DepEd Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction.

International competitiveness reports and activities participated in by the Philippines in 2018–2019 suggest a big gap in quality that should compel critical attention from the government and the education sector.

In a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2018, 81% of the 15-year-old Filipino students who were surveyed scored below minimum proficiency levels in reading, mathematics, and science compared to most countries that participated. Grade 4 students obtained the lowest scores in mathematics and science among the 58 countries surveyed by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement’s (IEA’s) Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in 2019.

While limited resources and a challenging learning environment are realities many Filipino learners have to deal with on a daily basis, there is much to improve in terms of uplifting the quality of education that students receive. Quality teachers who nurture students at the basic education level can therefore have a ripple effect in improving Philippine education.

“Improving teacher quality in schools will mean attracting and selecting the best candidates into the teaching profession. To strengthen teacher quality, [we] should begin from selecting the right people into the profession. Policies in teacher recruitment and hiring should be aimed at increasing the attractiveness of the career, such as incentivizing high achievers to pursue teacher training and eventually enter into the profession,” read the World Bank Philippines Report 2021.

“This small act that we are doing at present, can have a great impact in all our futures. Invest in our teachers to-be today, so we can enjoy a bright and progressive tomorrow,” said Buhain.

Follow the Rex Education Facebook Page for updates about the PEAC–REX Edukampyon Iskolar Para Sa Kinabukasan scholarship program. For more information about Edukampyon, visit www.rex.com.ph/#/edukampyon.

PHOTO CAPION: (L-R) Mr. Diosdado M. San Antonio, Undersecretary for Curriculum and Instruction, Department of Education; Ms. Doris Ferrer, Executive Director of Private Education Assistance Committee (PEAC); Judge Benjamin D. Turgano, President of the Association of Christian Schools, Colleges, and Universities (ACSCU); Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Commissioner Dr. Aldrin Darilag, CHRP, RMT, RN and wife; Dr. Fe Juarez, Executive Vice President of Capitol University; Ms. Jeanne Fontelera, Chief Marketing Officer of Rex Education; Dr. Ester B. Ogena, Former President of Philippine National University, and Founding Chair and President of ASEAN Teacher Network; Mr. Don Timothy Buhain, Chief Executive Officer of Rex Education; and Rev. Fr. Roberto Exequiel Rivera, SJ, President of Ateneo de Naga University