Ascent: Paving the Way for Filipino Nurses to Realize their Dream

According to statistics, Filipino nurses are very active in looking for better opportunities in the US. In fact, even as early as high school, many are set to make nursing their ticket out of the country and for some, out of poverty.

However, earning one’s nursing degree and acquiring their Philippine license are just some of the first few steps before they realize their dream. Aside from having the required work experience, there are additional certifications and licenses needed to be able to practice in the US. Aside from investing time and effort, there is also a substantial amount of money needed to facilitate and complete the requirements.

Raphael Macapagal, President and CEO of Ascent, shared that he was moved with what he saw before that there are 2,000 registered nurses in the Philippines who do not have work. Being a seasoned professional in the Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) sector who managed and led companies connected to different verticals including healthcare, he saw the opportunity to bridge the gap recognizing that there are hundreds of thousands of nurses needed in the US.

“The missing piece is the US license, and this is where we come in,” Macapagal pointed out. A 100% Filipino-owned and managed recruitment, consulting, and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) company, Ascent is making it possible for Philippine-registered nurses to turn this dream into reality. Established in 2015, Ascent is making it its advocacy to not only pave the way for our Filipino nurses to achieve their goal of working in the US but also hoping that, in the process, be able to encourage them to choose to stay in the Philippines. Ascent believes in the value of being with your Family is more precious than any money.

Through the expertise of the company’s executive team, headed by Macapagal, Ascent is able to design a product that can shoulder qualified Filipino nurses to undergo the process and required tests that will allow them to acquire their US license. Through their partners, they will be also be able to provide free review until their licensure exam plus, provide them employment so they no longer need to worry about their source of income.

“This is a unique scheme and we are happy to pioneer and be able to help our skilled and deserving Filipino nurses. Through the plan that we designed, all they need to worry about is passing the exam,” he stressed.

Ascent will be processing the papers on behalf of the applicants. Simultaneously, they will be employed in one of Ascent’s partner BPOs where they will be trained and gain experience.

He explained that they hope to address and correct the misconception connected to nurses working in the BPOs. Some have the notion that working in the BPO is not doing nursing work. In reality, their scope of work is highly related to healthcare. They do clinical work, only remotely. After the Filipino nurses gain their US license, Ascent requires them to work with their partner organizations for two years.

“Being a US registered nurse will definitely give them a premium and this will reflect on their salary when they go and work with our partner organizations. We hope that through this effort we can convince them that there is an opportunity here in the Philippines. They don’t need to leave. Here, they can experience working in the US with a premium salary without having to leave their family and loved ones. There are opportunities in the Philippines,” he said.

Nevertheless, Macapagal added, if after two years they will choose to leave and work abroad, Ascent will also help them with opportunities through their connections in the US.

If you want to learn more about Ascent and how to be part of their nursing pool, visit ascent.net.ph or call 534-0033.

Salarium Unveils Major Overhaul in Core Product

Salarium, a cloud based payroll platform from the Philippines, announced a major update and overhaul to their application particularly in their attendance and approval modules. The new attendance module provide employers new features to better manage their workforce. Some of the highlights include weekly timesheet views, inclusion of hour types, shift visibility, multiple projects/tags, time disputes via messaging, and a significantly improved user interface.

The approvals module has been overhauled resulting in a mobile friendly version which gives employers the ability to pre-approve requests or override a subordinate’s requests when the user is higher up in the approval workflow.

“Salarium aims to constantly delight our users, we have always been heavily focused on R&D and this is highlighted by our nearly weekly feature release. The new attendance however is a major overhaul and replaces a significant chunk of the core application” Daniel Bahna, VP of Product. 

The attendance page will now feature a full breakdown of the daily employee attendance. Time records of clock ins and outs are now grouped by day. A new Hours Worked page where you can add Regular, OT, Night or OT during Night hours. These new features are aimed to better serve our clients by addressing their needs for better management and visibility of their workforce.

“This update enables our clients to get better insight and control on their workforce,” said Judah Hirsch, CEO of Salarium. “Continuously providing solutions that delivers significant value to the organization is our core principle. The new attendance module coupled with our other products will certainly improve not only HR management but also in automating processes.”

Interested to find out more information on Salarium visit www.salarium.com or contact sales@salarium.com

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About Salarium

Salarium is a cloud based payroll software that automates payroll from beginning to end, from each employee’s clocking in to disbursement of funds during payday. The company operates in Philippines, with thousands of employees subscribed to its product. 

FatOut’s The Royal Treatment Fans Day with Kim Chiu

One of the today's brightest stars came from humble beginnings, from a teenage girl who dreamt of being a celebrity, finally blossomed into one of the brightest stars in the industry of showbiz. Kim Chiu has proven that a simple girl from Cebu can achieve superstar status. It’s almost too easy for her to captivate anyone with her style of acting and her bubbly personality and thanks for her wide support of her fans, she is now dubbed as the Chinita Princess.

It’s time to give back to the millions and millions of fans who have supported Chinita Princess, Kim Chiu throughout her bright career. FatOut’s The Royal Treatment Fans Day is a day for you, by ATC Healthcare and Kim Chiu. So unroll your sleeves, loosen up and give yourself a kind of relaxation fit for a royalty. FatOut’s The Royal Treatment Fans Day will be a day filled with royal relaxation and a royal performance from, none other than, Chinita Princess herself, Kim Chiu! What else are you waiting for? Grab your tiaras and join this awaited FatOut’s The Royal Treatment Fans Day.

Have you been waiting for your Fairy God Mother? Then wait no more! FatOut is giving you the Ultimate Royal Treatment with The Chinita Princess, Kim Chiu! Get ready to be pampered and meet your Idol, FatOut’s newest endorser Kim Chiu! What are you waiting for? Go hit the nearest Drugstore and buy FatOut now! Don’t forget to keep the receipt so you can register online to make your entry and tickets valid! Register on this link: http://bit.ly/FatoutFansDay

AQUABEST RENEWS PARTNERSHIP WITH BPI FAMILY KA-NEGOSYO

Aquabest has renewed its partnership with BPI Family Savings Bank as an accredited franchisor for its BPI Family Ka-Negosyo Franchising Loan.

 The company was among the pioneer batch of accredited franchisors and has been recognized as a Best Listbrand by the bank. The company's prospective franchisees can enjoy favorable and flexible financing terms from BPI Family Savings Bank. 

"Our renewed partnership with BPI Family Ka-Negosyo is a testament to our company's hard work to building a strong brand and business that has helped our franchisees succeed as entrepreneurs. At the same time, it continues to make it easier for aspiring entrepreneurs to set up their dream business" says Carson Tan, Aquabest's President and CEO.

For a franchise to be included in the Best List means it is an established, profitable and franchisee-friendly brand. Most of the companies in the list are profitable, having a return on investment (ROI) of less than three years. Aspiring entrepreneurs taking out a BPI Family Ka- Negosyo Franchising Loan on Aquabest can enjoy incentives such as no collateral loan, shorter processing time and no processing fee. 

How to Choose the Right School – Put Your Future in Focus

How do you choose the right school> Do you base it on course? Specialty? Prestige?

The truth is, there is no single answer to this. But if you had to put your future into the hands of one school, wouldn’t one that combines theoretical expertise with practice experience be the logical answer?

“The role of higher education, as far as iACADEMY is concerned, is to equip students with the capability to excel inside the classroom, and more importantly, outside the walls of the institution. Our school is proud of the fact that we are able to cross traditional academic boundaries through an integrative and immersive approach to learning, across some of the most in-demand industries today,” says Ms. Vanessa Tanco, President and CEO of iACADEMY.

School of Computing

The school of computing’s academic foundation ties its programs to a real-world curriculum that is meant to make students industry-ready for their chosen career.

“iACADEMY institutionalized an extensive internship program that really focuses on the student’s talents and exposes them to the demands of the job. This ensures relevant training in the field that lets them stand out as fresh graduates,” says Mr. Mitch Andaya, Vice President for Academics.

Notably, iACADEMY is also known for producing some of the most talented graduates in Software Engineering, Game Development, Information Technology and Web Development.

School of Business

For business, iACADEMY’s courses are strongly anchored on fundamental business concepts as much as it is on the abstract ideas that drive businesses and organizations to succeed. These include thinking on their feet, smart decision-making, creativity, leadership, networking, accountability and social relevance.

“We offer business administration but with strong focus on financial management as well as marketing and advertising – all of which are the pillars of a holistic approach to business in today’s modern landscape,” explains Mr. Lucky Malveda, Dean of iACADEMY’s School of Business.

More importantly, iACADEMY makes sure that students are given a chance to learn from working professionals who are updated with the trends and constantly evolving nature of the industry.

School of Design

The study of design is as much about nurturing creativity as it is exposure to technology and real-world experience.

“Many people tend to think that the tool males the artist, but the reality is entirely the opposite. We coach students in the use of industry-standard software and equipment to unlock their creative potentials, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Our main objectives are to hone their talent and nurture their imagination to help them succeed as artists and designers,” says Mr. Ryan Abeledo, Chairperson of Multimedia Arts and Design.

It takes a more focused and practical approach to a course that is traditionally based on the subjectivity of a student’s talent. Across its different areas of discipline, specifically Animation, Multimedia Arts and Design, and Fashion Design and Technology, iACADEMY makes sure that students graduate armed with the necessary skills to become game changers in their careers.

“Given the competitive nature of design, we also want to give students a global perspective on how they can succeed,” adds Mr. Dane Romley iACADEMY’S Creative Director, whose expertise stems from having worked as one of the animators in the longest running cartoon series in the world, The Simpsons.

Senior High School Curriculum

In line with the government’s thrust to improve the nation’s education system, iACADEMY is now also offering Senior High School Program that will give students a more comprehensive educational background as they enter higher education.

That said, iACADEMY takes it a step further by creating a senior high school program that is focused on the school’s core competencies in computing, business and design; thus giving students more exposure and experience for the creative and technical expertise required to excel in their field. It also enables to make better decisions for their future careers.

“Right now, students are in the best position to learn how to become the game changers of their chosen industries. And while a theoretical academic approach is important, the competitive nature of today’s industries prompts a more comprehensive and holistic approach to education to prepare students for what lies ahead,” ends Mr. Jake Aragon, iACADEMY’s Senior High School Principal.

TLC for the Women who Take Care of Everyone

As the holidays approach, Riantique Global Inc. president Ria Castrillo shares some words of wisdom with all the busy women who wear the hats of mother, professional, nurturer, friend and wife: “Liking the way you look is vital to health and happiness. Beauty comes first from within. No matter how much makeup you have slathered on yourself, if you are unhappy, that will still show making you less beautiful.”

Beauty is more than just skin deep, according to Castrillo: It is the outward expression of all that you feel inside. “When you are happy content, that inner glow and beauty will radiate outward,” Castrillo said. “Happy people have younger hearts, younger arteries and a younger real age. Happy people recover more quickly from surgery, cope better with pain, have lower blood pressure and have longer life expectancy than unhappy people.”

So, yes, tis the season for the Up&Up skincare products Riantique exclusively distributes in the Philippines, like Up&Up Skin Lifting Serum by Yuyu Healthcare Inc. This breakthrough skincare product offers a non-surgical solution for enhancing beauty and restoring the skin’s youthful glow in an instant.

“Not only does your health benefit from happiness, there's nothing like a contented smile, a look of ease and, I believe, this will make you feel years younger.” Castrillo said. “This holiday season is the time for being with your friends and family—something made even more special when you like with the way you look and are happy. This will make the gatherings lighter, brighter and merrier, especially if you are the host at your gathering. Being confident in how you look will see expression in the way you set your table, prepare the food and handle the night's festivities with grace and confidence.”

“Stress may come along during the holiday season,” she said. “It's the time of the year when traffic is horrible, the time for late night gatherings before going off to hear the dawn Mass. You will have a busy work schedule, one where you must meet the demands of year-ending work, then fitting in last minute shopping somewhere in between these activities that will leave you tired, haggard and burnt out.”

“The Christmas season is all about joy and giving,” Castrillo added, especially for women who are wives and mothers as well. “We will handle it best by organizing our schedules and being well-prepared for the stresses of the holiday season in advance.” So begin by preparing your skin, she advises: “Up&Up Cream is the perfect line filler and wrinkle reducer for those who prefer a fast, safe and practical way to keep their skin youthful. It is the best non-invasive and instant anti-wrinkle solution in the market today.”

Like Up&Up Skin Lifting Serum, Up&Up Cream contains the safest chemicals and the finest botanical blend to regenerate skin cells and stimulate collagen and elastin production for visibly firmer and young-looking skin around the face and neck area, according to Riantique’s lovely head honcho.

“The magic combination is using Up&Up daily, in the mornings so you look fresh all day,” she said. “An organized schedule will help you overcome the busy schedule you need to get through and wearing a smile at your busiest time is the key.”

The best Christmas gifts for friends and loved ones, according to Castrillo, “is my presence. An email, text message or sending a Christmas card letting them know I am here for them despite our respectively busy days.”

After that comes the gift: “I would prefer that the gift is personalized so my friends and loved ones will feel that the gifts are specifically for them so they may feel all the thought, love and effort I have put into these gifts. Then I will choose a box of Up&Up, which will really be useful and helpful since it is a skin-perfecting serum that helps smoothen skin, fills in lines and whitens and brightens the skin so the person who get such a gift can use it to uplift her skin as well as her mood.”

Model Marina Benipayo also gives her own advice on the importance of staying lovely as the years pass: “I would like to think that we are responsible for ourselves, that we feel and look good—no matter what age. Aging is a natural process, yes, but the environment and stress we have to handle hastens the appearance of wrinkles. We need products that target our skincare needs and suit our lifestyle. Up&Up makes my wrinkles less noticeable. Is easy to use and fulfills the promise of youthful-looking skin.”

“Preparing for the coming season’s parties and gift-giving takes a lot of planning and time management,” Benipayo said. “Making Up&Up a habit will ensure that, come Christmas, our skin looks as if we haven’t gotten stressed over anything at all.”

She would also give Up&Up skincare products as gifts to her loved ones and friends to share the joy it has brought her: “Any woman would be happy to receive Up&Up since it gives them the chance to discover and experience beautiful, radiant and wrinkle-free skin like never before.”

Thousands of Young Athletes Compete at the 20th Alaska Football Cup Championship

Celebrating two decades of an active, healthy lifestyle 6,150 young athletes compete at the 20th Alaska Football Cup Championship

Two decades of commitment with the world’s most popular sport, Alaska Milk holds the 20th Alaska Football Cup at the Alabang Country Club in Ayala Alabang Village for a three-day event on November 28 – 30.

The biggest football event for young athletes attracted players of all ages, from as young as six years old. They have gathered in one venue to participate in one of the longest-running and most successful grassroots-development programs in the local football scene.

“This marks another monumental event for Alaska. We have 410 teams and a total of 6,150 football players together in one venue, all united by their love for football,” shares Wilfred Uytengsu, President and CEO of Alaska Milk Corporation. “It is of great pride to witness how the Alaska Sports Program has engaged young athletes into this kind of culture, and how they live by the values inherent in sports,” he further adds.

The Alaska Football Cup is one of the highly anticipated annual football tournament for today’s young athletes. The weekend event will be played with more than 800 seven-a-side games, in 29 football fields, and officiated by over 168 game officials.

School teams and football clubs from all over the Philippines including Masbate, Baguio, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Davao, Palawan, Legaspi, Laguna, Batangas, Bukidnon, Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac, Ilocos, Bicol, Romblon, Davao Sur, Compostela Valley, Quezon, Cavite, Albay, Pangasinan, Bacolod, Iloilo, Mindoro and Metro Manila will participate.

Alaska on developing the child’s “winning form”

Alaska Milk encourages sports engagement, as it instills the values of determination, discipline, hard work, team work and sportsmanship during the early stages of a child’s life. Participation in sports like football helps them achieve the “winning form”, which has been Alaska’s goal for children since it launched its first football cup tournament in 1995.

Football provides an active alternative for children in place of passive activities such as watching television, surfing the Internet, or spending too much time on social media. The National Nutrition Survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) reported that health issues are best addressed by adopting an active lifestyle along with healthy diet, and regular drinking of milk, at least twice daily.

Sports tournament like this develops the athletic and social skills of participants through healthy competition among the same age group, while it boosts physical and mental development. 

Become an inspiring athlete too and join Alaska’s sports @- NUTRITION. ACTION. CHAMPION.

For general information about Alaska Milk Corporation visit www.alaskamilk.com.

For general information about the 20th Alaska Football Cup visit www.alaskapowercamp.com/football ; 

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