8
BUSINESS & FINANCE
www.hello-philippines.com
November 2013 – No. 21 • UK & Europe Edition
Western Union improves employability of Filipinos Smart Pinoy UK’s got voice and talent Over 150 disadvantaged Filipinos equipped with job and life skills, thanks to AWECA Foundation School Caravan Project OVER 150 out-of-school youths and disadvantaged women acquired new job and life skills to increase their employability and confidence through the expansion of the School Caravan project – a community-based trade school operated by AWECA Foundation, Incorporated (AFI), and funded by The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) last year. The expanded project, rolled out in a span of one (1) year, offered hairdressing, beauty care and small engine repair trainings to Filipinos in Pampanga under the guidance of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Participants also underwent life skills training to improve social and personal skills as well as to instill work attitude and ethics. Beneficiaries included abused women, children in conflict with the law (CICL) and typhoon victims. All participants were given the opportunity to extend their acquired skills to others in need through community service with their peers and neighborhood. Some parents also took responsible parenting sessions learning to establish and sustain a good relationship with their children, and were reminded of the Filipino family values and traits. This was made possible by a USD20,000 grant from Western Union in 2012, as part of a USD100,000 grant over a five-year period for the Philippines to commemorate Western Union’s 500,000th Agent location opening. The Philippine Embassy in the U.S. was given the choice to direct the funds to non-profit organizations with the purpose of empowering individuals for economic advancement.
The pledge was a part of the USD500,000 commitment to fund economic and entrepreneurship programs in the Philippines, China, India, Mexico and New York City over a fiveyear period. “School Caravan aims at addressing outof-school youth and disadvantaged women problems in the Philippines, starting in the Province of Pampanga. Participants were offered a series of training sessions to acquire positive work and life values; sense of self-worth and career direction; communication and decision making skills and most importantly, sense of social obligation,” said Rollyn Palo, Executive Director, AFI. “Through increasing their economic mobility, we hope they are soon able to obtain stable employment locally and abroad and even create their own small enterprises to sustain their family’s basic-life needs, particularly for the education of children or siblings.” “For years, Filipinos all over the world have been displaying heroic acts to ensure better lives for their families. Western Union has been witnessing for over two decades the sacrifices and rewards that Filipinos have made during their journey away from home. Economic empowerment is an opportunity we can provide that befits Filipinos,” said Patricia Riingen, senior vice president for East & South Asia, Western Union. The latest Labor Force Survey by the National Statistics Office in July 2013 reveals that the unemployment rate in the Philippines rose from 7.0 percent in July 2012 to 7.3 percent this year. The majority of the unemployed were from the youth segment, particularly high school (32.8
percent) and college (35.3 percent) graduates or undergraduates. Over six million Filipino youths aged 6 to 24 years old are out of school because of the lack of personal interest and the high cost of education, according to the National Statistics Office’s 2010 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey . The School Caravan project was first supported by The Western Union Foundation in 2011, through which more than 500 out-of-school youth and unemployed individuals enhanced their occupational mobility through mobile technical training in different localities of Pampanga. http://www.census.gov.ph/content/employmentrate-july-2013-estimated-927-percent http://www.census.gov.ph/content/one-outevery-eight-filipinos-6-24-years-old-out-schoolyouth-results-2010-annual-poverty About Western Union. The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to purchase money orders. As of June 30, 2013, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of approximately 520,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories and approximately 115,000 ATMs. In 2012, The Western Union Company completed 231 million consumer-toconsumer transactions worldwide, moving $79 billion of principal between consumers, and 432 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com. ■
SMART Pinoy UK has a new face to make the Filipinos in the UK more proud of their heritage and talent. Introducing Arisxandra Libantino, a finalist of Britain’s Got Talent (BGT) and Joseph Apostol, Semi-finalist in The Voice UK Season 2 who will now represent the Smart Pinoy UK brand. Both of them were born in the Philippines and are now in the UK to live their dreams while making the country proud. 11-year old Arisxandra, who migrated with her parents to the UK at the young age of six (6), admitted that being in the British Got Talent show was “a life-changing experience”. From the normal schoolgirl that she used to be, she was now surrounded by schoolmates who would ask for her autograph. People in the neighbourhood and even in shopping malls recognize her as the BGT singing sensation and would likewise ask for her autograph. Her parents, Aristotle and Elma Libantino of Nueva Ecija honed her singing talent by teaching her proper breathing, timing, and vocal tuning. Joseph Apostol on the other hand moved to the UK with his mother when he was just 10 years old. His humble beginning took off as part of the choir in their local church. He studied music at Mid Kent College, where he further enhanced his singing talent and that undoubtedly propelled him towards stardom. Joining The Voice and being part of Team Tom Jones was a dream come true for Joseph as he was a big fan of Jazz and Soul music including R&B, where Tom Jones is known for. As he has stormed through the show, his popularity with the
HAVE YOU HEARD? SEND MONEY TO A PHILIPPINE
BANK ACCOUNT AT
0
£
FEE*
public grew a number of Medway locals and London fans taking time to stop and talk to the young man. SMART Pinoy is a local UK pay as you go SIM card that features local and international call and text services within UK, to the Philippines and the Rest of the world with affordable Data bundles. Now equipped with Smart Pinoy, Arisxandra and Joseph can easily share their voice and talent within UK and to their relatives in the Philippines. Joseph and Arisxandra are very excited to be part of Smart Pinoy as they will be endorsing a product that is rooted with their Filipino roots. They are expected to perform for their ‘kababayans’ in UK very soon with upcoming “Pamaskong Handog mula sa SMART Pinoy” this December. Now that’s a voice and talent to look forward to. ■
Send cash from an Agent Location OR Use Debit / Credit Card to send on westernunion.co.uk
Provide BANK NAME and ACCOUNT NUMBER
Money delivered as fast as one business day¹
Introductory fee of £0.00 available from June 17 – December 31, 2013. Standard fee of £2.90 will apply after December 31, 2013. * WESTERN UNION ALSO MAKES MONEY FROM CURRENCY EXCHANGE. 1 Money deposited in Philippines the next business day if submitted by 16:00 in the UK. Funds may be delayed or services unavailable based on certain transaction conditions, including amount sent, destination country, currency availability, regulatory issues, identification requirements, Agent location hours, differences in time zones, or selection of delayed options. Additional Restrictions may apply. See Send form for details. Authorized by the Central Bank of Ireland and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the conduct of payment services business in the UK. WU_Philippines_D2B_Poster_259x175_v3.indd 1
10/29/13 4:39 PM