Filipino Fashion Fair 2023 in Davao

 

                          

SM Supermalls will officially open its doors for the first regional leg of the Filipino Fashion Fair slated at the Atrium of SM Lanang Premier in Davao City from February 25 to March 3.

The fashion fair aims to shape the Philippine fashion industry to make it a top player in the international fashion scene.

The event, which is organized by private fashion trade organization fashX, features the Philippine Fashion Coalition (PFC) not only to celebrate Filipino design but to make it accessible to Mindanao shoppers.

 Edgar Buyan’s Filipiniana dress in silk gazaar of banig weave patterns

PFC unifies a group of creative visionaries representing the regions of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, with a goal of standardizing and developing the industry. These designers have joined forces with SM Supermalls to create a new marketplace that champions Filipino fashion designers in the Mindanao region.

The participating brands and designers for the first-ever pop-up of PFC in Davao include: 

• Edgar Buyan
• ORIAS
• Jor-el Espina
• Viña Romero
  Debbie Co
• PQLA by Puey Quiñones
• Beatriz
• Costa del Sol
• Studio Regina Aquino
• WYC
• Egay Ayag
• Vestido
• Poivre,
• Limited pieces from the Paris collections of the fashX collective--Rajo Laurel and Dennis Lustico.

Fall in love with this Orias Solihiya Roller bag made of high-quality

genuine leather

This diverse pool of creatives will sell their exclusive and unique works— from one-off pieces to ready-to-wear clothes and accessories. This event aims to raise funds for the projects of the Philippine Fashion Coalition, as it continues its efforts to create a path and a future for its stakeholders. This activity also aims to support the makers and artisans of an all-inclusive local fashion community in the areas of textiles, arts and craft, design, and creative services.

DOST XI brings solar-powered digital library to DavNor school

STARBOOKS Operator Nikko Paña demonstrates the proper operation of the Digital Library

A total of 202 students and 11 faculty members of the Gamban Dadatan National High School (GDNHS) in Kaputian Island, Davao del Norte will now have access to a solar-powered digital library through a donation by the Department of Science and Technology Region XI (DOST XI). 

The digital library, also known as the Science and Technology Academic and Research-Based Openly Operated Kiosks or STARBOOKS, will provide the school with digitized science and technology resources for investigatory projects, K-12 resources, and other learning materials in various formats.

DOST XI Personnel Gamban Dadatan National High School teachers 

during the installation of STARBOOKS

“We thank you for giving us this opportunity. Your generosity will be very beneficial to this school since we are located on an island with no access to internet connection,” GDNHS School Head Juvelyn Parilla said. 

Davao del Norte Provincial S&T Director, Engr. Judy Donna Nueva Ecija, thanked the teachers and faculty members during the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement for their commitment to deliver quality education for their students despite the limitations in resources. 

“Ang STARBOOKS kay makatabang ug dako sa mga estudyante, mga maestra, ug sa tibuok nga komunidad. Hinaot inyong ampingan ang STARBOOKS para sa kaugmaon sa atoang mga kabataan,” she added. (STARBOOKS will significantly help students, teachers, and the entire community. Hopefully, you will take great care of it for the future of our youth).

GCash among Top 10 Apps in PH in 2022

GCash, the country’s top finance app and only double unicorn, is among the top 10 apps in the Philippines in four categories, according to the just released 2022 State of Mobile report of data.ai (formerly App Annie), cementing its position as the top e-wallet for Filipinos. 

The mobile wallet, operated by the Globe Group’s Mynt, ranked the #4 top app in downloads in the Philippines, and #5 in terms of monthly active users in the country across all categories. Notably, it was the only fintech app on the top 10 list in both categories, alongside social media, chat and e-commerce apps.

 

Meanwhile, GCash’s parent Globe was ranked the #4 top company in terms of app downloads across all categories, edging out the only other telco in the list operating an e-wallet, which was in 8th place.

 

Among finance apps, meanwhile, GCash was ranked 2nd in terms of the category breakout monthly active users, but is the top mobile wallet on the list.

 

“We are proud to be among the top 10 apps in several categories in the new data.ai report. This affirms our standing as the country’s undisputed No. 1 fintech app and inspires us to continue evolving our services to achieve our goal of Finance for All,” GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon.

 

Now valued at over $2 billion, GCash has maintained market leadership despite the entry of new players as it continues to expand its financial services and lifestyle offerings under one superapp. From payments and cash transfers, GCash now offers credit, savings, wealth and insurance products, and also features retail, food, wellness, travel, recreation and even real estate services.

 

It currently has 76 million registered users, logging staggering growth during the pandemic from around 20 million in 2019. It has also been supporting Filipino entrepreneurs with 5.8 million merchants and social sellers on board, and 855 GLife merchant partners.

 

Through its GLoan, GCredit and GGives services, GCash has disbursed over ₱57 billion in loans life-to-date to 2 million unique borrowers.

 

GCash has been ramping up efforts to expand its presence in more corners of the country through partnering with local government units.