Gracee's Lifestyle Journal

Deel, a global HR company, today announced the global launch of its physical spend card, now accessible for contractors in 20 countries, with many more planned to land soon.  This brings contractors one step closer to accessible global purchasing power, allowing them to gain instant access to their earnings, shop worldwide, pay securely, and hold their money in a more stable currency.  The Deel Card acts as a spend card (both virtual & physical), empowering contractors to make purchases and payments with ease wherever they are, and avoiding the hassle of waiting for funds to clear in their bank account before they can access them. Now, with Deel Card, they can start spending their hard-earned income immediately. Contractors usually face challenges when it comes to managing finances. Deel Card gives them the flexibility to spend their funds the way they want. Furthermore, receiving funds and spending them in USD can be difficult for those without a US-based bank. Now, the Deel Card

Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) have emerged as transformative forces in the modern business landscape, and promise significant benefits for early adopters, but they are not without disruptive impacts—including the possibility of disproportionately affecting more vulnerable members of society.  The League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) is organizing the highly anticipated 2024 CSR EXPO to rally CSR practitioners to collaborate and harness the potential of technology and innovation while overcoming their risks. This year’s conference is on July 3 and 4 at Dusit Thani Manila, while the EXPO is on July 4 and 5 at the Glorietta Activity Center, both in Makati City.  Aptly themed “Reimagining a New and Inclusive Future”, this year’s Expo will bring together leaders, experts, and representatives of different industries to tackle significant topics ranging from how technology can enhance CSR practice and ESG reporting to AI’s role as a catalyst for innovation and as a source

From small mom-and-pop shops around the corner, sari-sari stores, and small businesses started by young entrepreneurs, the importance and impact of these micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) cannot be overstated. These businesses account for 99.5% of the total number of companies in the country and employ 62.8% of the workforce.  However, the same segment is often exposed to a wide range of risks , from theft, illnesses, or natural disasters. Compared to larger businesses, they struggle to manage these risks more due to limited resources. Understanding how these businesses are major drivers for economic growth, regional insurtech Igloo together with Growsari, a leading B2B MSME enabler that powers Philippines sari-sari stores, introduced the Personal + Business Protection Plan that provides financial assistance to these neighborhood convenience stores in case of unwanted incidents arising from natural calamities such as floods due to heavy rain. “Igloo and Growsari share the s

Now that you have acquired The All-New Winner X, you are probably thinking of breaking your new ride by taking it on a road trip or a long ride. After all, long rides aren’t just great for breaking in your new motorcycle, it also allows you to explore new places, gain new experiences in a way that’s relaxing and open.     This hot weather offers ideal conditions for a long—and potentially cooling—ride. But what are the best destinations for such a ride, particularly if you're from Metro Manila?                                  Honda Philippines, Inc. (HPI), the No.1 motorcycle manufacturer in the country, has come up with some suggestions for the best destinations for a memorable long ride.    Tagaytay   Tagaytay is one of the most iconic destinations for a long ride, and for good reason. It offers a host of unforgettable attractions, including cool weather, delicious local cuisine like bulalo, historic sites such as Taal Volcano, and even an amusement park in the form of Sky Ranch

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) proudly celebrates the third anniversary of the Mobile Materials Recovery Facility (MMRF), an innovative project that has revolutionized waste management practices across Metro Manila. Launched on June 10, 2021, the MMRF initiative has already made significant strides in promoting proper waste segregation, recycling, and community involvement in environmental stewardship. The MMRF project, tagged as “Recyclable Mo, Palit Grocery Ko,” employs a commodity exchange system where residents can trade recyclable materials such as single-use plastics for essential goods. This initiative is one of the waste diversion programs under the Metro Manila Flood Management Project (MMFMP) Component 2 which aims to “Minimize Wastes in Waterways” by increasing waste diversion, and by encouraging active participation in proper waste management. In line with the objective of MMFMP, the MMRF initiative diverts waste that could otherwise reach the waterway

Paying bills is an inevitable part of life, and it always gives us a great sense of relief once we are able to settle them on time. This is why Bayad, the country’s pioneer brand in the outsourced bills payment collection service, has become even more proactive in its expansion efforts of bringing one-stop-shop financial services closer to Filipinos. Apart from providing customers’ assurance that their household utilities won’t get cut off, they can also settle their government contributions, cover for their insurance premiums, load for tollway RFID services, load their prepaid and postpaid accounts, and even settle their loans in just one go. Furthermore, all these services are not just offered at Bayad Centers, but are also offered via Bayad App (Bayad’s mobile application), via Bayad Online (Bayad’s website application), and via Bayad Partners (leading over-the-counter and digital payment channel providers). With its continuous development as a multi-service fintech institution, Bay

With the growing importance of digital tools in the evolving education landscape, Far Eastern University (FEU) recognizes the need to adapt to innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) in the academic setting. To fully utilize its benefits without compromising academic standards, the university updated its Academic Integrity policies with a set of guidelines on the responsible and ethical use of AI for its faculty and students. The guidelines aim to implement policies regarding transparency and limitations of use and place utmost importance on maintaining FEU’s principle of student-centered pedagogy and learning. “AI has been here for a long time, and FEU welcomes its use as an educational tool. However, it should not serve as a replacement for actual students’ performance. That’s why we needed to come up with a policy highlighting academic integrity, and we also conduct workshops to guide students on the proper use of AI tools,” said Maria Teresa Trinidad P. Tinio,

DoubleVerify ("DV"), the leading software platform for digital media measurement, data, and analytics, today released its DV Global Insights: 2024 Trends Report and, for the first time, an accompanying DV Global Insights: 2024 APAC Report . This comprehensive analysis draws on more than one trillion video and display impressions delivered across APAC, EMEA, LATAM, and North America, from January to December 2023, including desktop, mobile web, mobile app, and connected TV (CTV). The study also incorporates a global survey conducted by Sapio, polling 1,000 advertisers across these regions. Key findings include: Generative Artificial Intelligence (Generative AI) is driving a significant increase in new ad fraud schemes and variants at the global level. In 2023, DV’s research revealed a 23% surge in new fraud schemes and variants compared to the previous year while unprotected advertisers globally saw a fraud/SIVT violation rate as high as 17%. CTV had the highest fraud rate of

Leading in Customer Experience. Vietnam’s #1 Coffee Chain, Highlands Coffee, has been named as the top F&B brand in customer experience by KPMG. Highlands Coffee is one of the 18 brands under the Jollibee Group, one of the world’s fastest-growing restaurant companies. Highlands Coffee, Vietnam’s #1 coffee chain and one of the global restaurant company Jollibee Group’s brands, has been recognized as the highest-ranked food and beverage brand on customer experience in the 2023 Customer Experience Excellence Study (CEE) by KPMG in Vietnam.  The CEE report, which was commissioned by global consulting firm KPMG, engaged Vietnamese consumers across eight sectors, including Restaurants & Fast Food, Entertainment & Leisure, and Travel & Hotels. Brands were ranked based on KPMG’s Six Pillars of Experience methodology, encompassing Integrity, Empathy, Resolution, Personalization, Expectations, Time, and Effort, offering businesses valuable insights to enhance customer experience