EASTWEST and FOODPANDA Launches ULTIMATE FOODIE CARD

Looks like the folks from foodpanda and EastWest Bank are making your foodie adventures even better as they give you the ULTIMATE FOODIE CARD that has got ton of perks, something that's never been seen in the food delivery or restaurant and banking scene. Foodies are definitely special, and what this means for all of us is better benefits on top of the convenience owning an EastWest Bank Credit Card. 

For starters, there's CASHBACK on every foodpanda transaction like 10 percent til Php400 is reached, 3 percent til 3 percent is reached, 1 percent on Overseas spend, and 3 percent on domestic. 

Dani Jaramillo the Managing Director of foodpanda Philippines says "Thank you to our local partner EastWest Bank, Visa, as we now have a shared commitment for our digital first customers. We want to give more deals for our customers to make sure they get their instant cravings. You will get weekly Cashback, as we work hard with our partners, especially the ones who do small purchases very frequently. This just amplifies what we do, and hope you love the benefits the card brings. This also supports NFC and Google Pay."

Jerry Ngo of EasyWest Bank says "Food, Easy and Free, we are now celebrating the launch of the ultimate foodie card. We are pushing the boundaries for Filipinos, positioned for the millenials, so they can spend and get rewarded immediately with the things that they like. Food, experience and entertainment, hopefully with foodpanda and Visa, can be used not just here, but abroad. It's a celebration of food, being easy and free!"

It's super easy to apply via their QR codes, which only requires you IDs and a selfie video. 

Visa also said that it wasn't easy to bring to life but there's value to partnerships with people and entities you can trust. This is the 4th product to launch with the bank and the need to change is increasing because payments are changing, it starts today with the GenZ who wants things given now. The partnership with Foodpanda and EastWest Bank makes it easy.

This really fits the need of their consumers. Time to get rewards with those foodpanda purchases huh?!

VOLTME Expands Presence: Opens Kiosk at SM City North Edsa Annex

While most businesses are closing down in the Philippines, VOLTME is still growing and making their presence felt in some of the biggest malls in the country. As one of the leading charging solutions brand in the country, they have set up shop in SM North Edsa - Annex's 5th Level facing with other electronic brands that the mall carries. They are at the middle part of the floor, with a kiosk showcasing some of the power banks, useful cables, and other accessories.

They've been very well received especially for customers who have  needs for not just city usage, but travel, trying to look for something compact, light, but still powerful. I personally am using a VOLTME Powelink Yoyo that can be long at times, but easily retracts so you can keep it handy in bags when I'm out for coverages and events. 

They also have showcased several products like the 65W REVO EVO Wall Charger which you can fit on walls, utilize it's different ports especially when you've got lots of phones and gadgets to use at one time. For those who want something small factor, the 20000mAh Hypercore Power Bank can be your best bud when you don't like running out of juice for home and office work, and still comes with dual ports as well. The VITO EZ Travel AC Desktop Power Strip on the other hand makes it easy for you to manage cables, use for your bigger items like laptops and desktops, but still have space for your other devices because it also has other ports available. Good thing is that they come with warranty so if ever you have issues with the device, you can go back to the store and get help. They are available on Shopee and Lazada, which will have special sales coming since it is the 12.12 season! 

Congratulations to the men and women of VOLTME who promised they'll be continuing their growth in other parts of the Philippines very soon!

RK Rubber Enterprise Corp. Launches 6th CINEGOMA Film Festival

If you're in the look out for indie films, there's a lot being showcased at the CINEGOMA: RK Rubber Film Festival. It's an open film festival hosted by RK Rubber Enterprise Corporation to feature student and non-professional films that tell stories of resiliency, grit, determination and the Filipino spirit. They are also making sure the film makers are going to be featured in several locations across Quezon City.

This is their 6th installment, so far from the initial 6 films independently produced when they started, they now have a little over 50 films shown in several locations. They also have some of the films released in other provinces like Olongapo City prior to this launch in Quezon City. They also did a parade to promote the CINEGOMA Film Festival around Quezon City Circle grounds with a full on band, street dancers, participants and the UST Salinggawi Dance Troupe. 6th installment not only means film, but workshops and several mainstream works that are exhibited for the filmmakers and the public.

Xavier Cortez the CEO of RK Rubber who heads the festival says "I feel pressured because of the introduction but this is the 6th year of the CINEGOMA Film Festival. Thank you to the organizers, to the employees of RK Rubber, the production department of the same corp, the logistics department and operations, to RK Rubbers Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, the RK Rubber Davao and to the media who went here for the opening of CineGoma. You are giving them voice, to those who volunteered and supported CINEGOMA and provided expertise and experience, to help make sure we get to understand how go organize this show and emman dela Cruz. We also have the sales department of Manila who got us huge projects to contribute here. If we are this big and do this every year, there will be more than 40 films that will benefit from it. Folks have never got tired of CINEGOMA because the independent and small filmmakers are being given experience, so they too can tell their stories. Each of you have stories, unique ones that can change the lives of others. Because if we do that, there will be a huge impact on communities, and I hope this 6th CINEGOMA becomes bigger in the next few years as we imagined it to be."

He adds "I feel proud that my once schoolmates are now cheering for a person who wants good things to happen with filmmakers. I get teary eyed, because they're so proud of me too. For all who participated, full length or shorts, congratulations to all of you! I'll do my best to make this better, give more opportunities for filmmakers and this is all for you!"

Here's what happened at QCX that morning:

This year's categories are separated into Student, Commercial, Pro, made with AI and RK which are meant for RK Rubber Enterprise employees only. As mentioned by Sir Xavier, prizes amount from 5,000 pesos to 25,000 pesos depending on the award category. This will run from November 24-29, and the awards will be given at the Quezon City University on the last day. Make sure you watch the films at Sine Pop and exhibitions around Quezon City during this time because after all, it's the City of Stars! (Please check schedule on CINEGOMA social channels).

This is certainly a great way to showcase their talents, and hopefully, the ones who have a lot of promise gets noticed especially the students. They were very eager to showcase their work during the festival launch. Congratulations to RK Rubber Enterprise Corporation for mounting this every year!

LADLAD PL, STRAP and VERDE Creatives Issue Statement of Support and Call for Action

A few days ago, we got to participate in a talk amongst some of our trans sisters, Ladlad Partylist, Verde Creatives, STRAP, and Commission on Human Rights, about the real issues they go through in life, and even in death which have marred their gender identity, done personal or otherwise especially by media practitioners and government workers.

Using their preferred pronouns should be fundamental, and while I don't forget this part when I write, a lot of tabloid and newspaper writers and editors continue to do that which not only feels hurtful for them, but severely invalidating. 

This is why Verde Creatives, STRAP, Ladlad Partylist and trans organizations have issued a statement about this. It's time we change things to not only promote inclusivity, but put respect especially for transpinays. Not to force, but to consider and put a spotlight and give what is due them. 

In 2025, oppression has no place in society. I'd like to send my support for not jus their cause but simply their human rights. I am also for the passage of the SOGIESC Bill, which has been filed over 26 years ago. That's an adult, and they only ask for equal rights, nothing special, which is mind boggling to say the least.

The talk was certainly a nice venue to explain procedures, on media, social media and the choices we make. I fervently hope people would NOT turn a blind eye about what they are fighting for. Be aware of Live/Dead names, understand that Transpinay lives are also human lives. All they ask is to be treated as equals.