DOUBLEDRAGON CORP. OPENS 45TH MALL IN SURIGAO CITY

DOUBLEDRAGON Corporation opened CityMall-Surigao in Surigao City, Surigao del Norte in the Mindanao region last July 28, 2023, Friday, its 45th operational mall nationwide. This officially makes DoubleDragon the No.4 largest mall developer and landlord in terms of number of operational malls. In the community mall segment, the company is currently the No.1 largest community mall developer and landlord in terms of number of operating community malls in the Philippines.

The current CityMall’s GFA or gross floor area forms part of the 1.29 million square meters of fully built and completed GFA in DoubleDragon’s diversified portfolio exceeding its 1 million square meters total GFA target by 2020 set and announced during its IPO listing in the PSE last April 2014, at which point it had practically Zero leasable space.

CityMall-Surigao has a total GFA of 8,608 square meters that sits in a 1.05-hectare of prime commercial land. The then-vacant land right beside the Surigao City Integrated Land Transport Terminal was purchased for land banking way back 2015 and forms part of the string of over 100 prime land spread out across Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao that DoubleDragon acquired mostly from 2014 to 2016, when prime land prices was still mostly less than one-fourth of the land prices today.

CityMall-Surigao’s locator/tenant mix includes a full-size MerryMart Grocery, Jollibee, Chowking, Mang Inasal, Greenwich, Highlands Coffee, MerryMart Pharmacy powered by Carlos Superdrug, ALLWin Department Store, Fun Nation, PrimeHub, Vazcon Salon, Potato Corner, JM Shawarma, Party Toppers by Surigao Toopers, Keisha’s Jewelry, Master Siomai, Tori’s Buco, Redd’s Mango, RRJ, Petrol, Mr. Lee, Bobson, FreeLife, RELX and Elixir Store, Car-San Auto, Anchiko Cakes & Pastry Shop, DTI Go Negosyo, Chef Mike Japanese Cuisine booth, JYG Food Enterprises, Yesha’s Kwek Streetfood Cart, DO Marketing, Lemon District, Samantha’s Steamboat and Mister Donut.

After the opening of CityMall-Surigao today, three more CityMalls are slated to be completed in the fourth quarter this year 2023 namely CityMall-Bay Laguna, CityMall-Palo Leyte, and CityMall-Antique.

For next year 2024, a total of four more CityMalls are set to open namely CityMallGen Trias Cavite, CityMall-Guiwan Zamboanga, CityMall-Ormoc and CityMallOzamiz that would make DoubleDragon increase its operational mall portfolio to 52 by the end of 2024.

DoubleDragon’s current 45-mall network, which are now all operational to date, was constructed and opened from the first CityMall in 2015 to the 45th operating mall in a span of only eight years as of July 28, 2023. The 45 mall openings in eight years include the over two years of Covid-19 pandemic.

The CityMalls that were opened before the Covid-19 pandemic are now in batches, undergoing refresh makeover since early this year and to be completed by the end of this year in line with the goal of making the CityMalls in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao reach maturity level and attain the optimal above-industry rental yields by 2025.

AllHome is Customer Engagement Excellence Award Winner at MoEngage #Growth Summit 2023

ALLHOME , the Philippines’ leading home improvement retailer, emerged as the unrivaled winner at the esteemed Customer Engagement Excellence Awards Philippines 2023. The event, held on July 13, 2023, at Shangri-la The Fort in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), marked a significant achievement for AllHome, whose exceptional personalization of customer interactions and communication propelled engagement and retention to new heights, resulting in a staggering 3X improvement. By harnessing the power of customer data and segmentation, AllHome successfully sent targeted messages, tailored recommendations, and personalized offers, revolutionizing the customer experience in the process.

Personalization: The Key to Customer Engagement Success

CityMall’s occupancy level post-Covid19 pandemic has steadily increased and is expected to reach 10 percent by end of 2024, driven by the continued transition from traditional retail to modern retail in the countryside.

“Within the first three years of DoubleDragon’s IPO in the Philippine Stock Exchange last April 2014, we purposely and rapidly acquired majority of the Company’s landbank for CityMall when land prices in city centers of prime provincial cities were still low. Today, we have seen exponential value appreciation across the string of prime commercial properties which our DD team are thankful to have acquired a string of hundreds of prime assets across the country early on,” said DoubleDragon chairman Edgar “Injap” Sia II.

“We see building structures for the recurring revenue business like fruit-bearing trees, where the buildings are like the tree, and the recurring income that eventually follows are like the fruits that keep coming for many decades. And while they produce the fruits year on year, the property like the bark of the tree also becomes more and more valuable,” added Sia.

Sun Life Grepa partners with ExpressPay to reach underinsured Pinoy population

SUN Life Grepa Financial, Inc. (Sun Life Grepa), a major insurer in the country, has partnered with ExpressPay Inc., the leader in payment services franchising, with the objective of making insurance simpler and more accessible to the underinsured population in the Philippines.

Affordable Sun Life Grepa insurance plans will be made available across ExpressPay branches nationwide.

“We are honored that Express Pay entrusted the life insurance plans of their clients to Sun Life Grepa,” Sun Life Grepa Vice President and Head of Affinity Marketing Joen M. Songco said. “Both companies are positive that this partnership will reinforce our commitment to close the significant life insurance protection gap in the country.”

Sun Life Grepa President Richard S. Lim confirms the sentiment. “We believe that financial protection knows no bounds. This partnership helps break down barriers and empowers people with the protection they need. It truly supports our mission of providing lifetime financial security to Filipinos.”

“Financial inclusion has always been one of our key priorities,” ExpressPay President Anson T. Uy said. “As we continue to innovate, ExpressPay recognizes the need to provide its clients value-added service that will enable them to be ready for uncertainties and create a more financially secure future for their families.”

The agreement was signed by Sun Life Grepa executives Richard S. Lim, President, and Joen Songco, Vice Pres -

Get that Yeba Indak Dance Workout @ Sunshine Place

SUNSHINE Place opened its Yeba Indak dance workout every Saturday from 10:00 am to 11:00 am on July 29 with Danny Vinculado as instructor.

Yeba Indak, an eight-session course, is an enjoyable and gentle dance workout, that draws inspiration from traditional Philippine folk dance steps. The exercise routine is mainly accompanied by original Filipino music, providing a unique experience to the students.

What sets Yeba Indak apart from typical workouts is its distinct focus on promoting the rich Filipino culture through music and dance. By incorporating music from renowned Filipino artists like VST & Co.,

Hotdog, and other popular OPM musicians, the program aims to rekindle interest in and celebrate the vibrant Filipino music history.

During the 60-minute session, participants can expect to perspire and get their hearts pumping as they engage in a variety of movements.

Vinculado has been working with Sunshine Place for more than five years on developing elderly-age appropriate dances only available at Sunshine Place. Among a few is Chair Dancing, seated dancing for elderly with hip, waist, leg medical concerns, and Tap Dancing as he shares his expertise on Broadway choreography.

To enroll and know more, kindly call ident for Affinity Marketing, together with ExpressPay Inc. President Anson T. Uy and Business Development Head Helena Respicio.

Formed in 2011, ExpressPay is a member of Safesoft Solutions, Inc. a leading provider of information technology solutions in the Philippines while Sun Life Grepa is a joint venture between Sun Life Philippines and the Yuchengco Group of Companies.

IN a world where customers crave tailored experiences, AllHome realized the importance of personalization as a catalyst for enhanced customer engagement and retention. The Customer Engagement Excellence Awards Philippines 2023 recognized AllHome’s innovative approach to personalized interactions and communication, setting a new industry standard.

Leveraging Customer Data and Segmentation

ALLHOME’S triumph was made possible through the utilization of customer data and segmentation, which served as the foundation for their personalized engagement strategies. By leveraging comprehensive data analytics, AllHome gained valuable insights into customer preferences, behaviors, and purchase history, allowing them to create targeted and relevant experiences.

Sending Targeted Messages

WITH the wealth of customer data at their disposal, AllHome implemented tailored messaging campaigns that resonated with individual customers. By delivering messages based on specific customer interests, needs, and demographics, AllHome effectively captured attention, fostered engagement, and drove customer loyalty.

Tailored Recommendations for Enhanced Customer Experience

ALLHOME went beyond generic recommendations and embraced a data-driven approach to offer personalized product suggestions. By analyzing past purchases and browsing history, AllHome’s recommendation engine accurately anticipated customer preferences, leading to more relevant and satisfying shopping experiences.

Personalized Offers for Increased Customer Satisfaction

RECOGNIZING the value of personalized offers, AllHome ensured that customers received exclusive deals and discounts tailored to their interests. By tailoring promotions based on customer preferences, purchase patterns, and special occasions, AllHome deepened customer loyalty and satisfaction, fostering long-term relationships.

The Impact: Three times Improved Engagement and Retention

ALLHOME’S commitment to personalization yielded remarkable results. By customizing interactions and communication, the company witnessed an astounding threefold improvement in customer engagement and retention rates. Customers felt valued and understood, forging a strong emotional connection with the brand and driving their loyalty.

The Future of Customer Engagement

ALLHOME’S victory at the Customer Engagement Excellence Awards Philippines 2023 serves as a powerful reminder of the vital role that personalization plays in building customer engagement. In an increasingly competitive marketplace, companies must recognize that customers expect tailored experiences and relevant communications. By harnessing customer data and segmentation, businesses can unlock unprecedented opportunities to create meaningful connections, drive customer loyalty, and gain a competitive edge. AllHome’s triumph at the Customer Engagement Excellence Awards Philippines 2023 is a testament to its unwavering dedication to personalized customer interactions and communication. Through the utilization of customer data and segmentation, AllHome has redefined the customer experience, delivering targeted messages, tailored recommendations, and personalized offers that have revolutionized engagement and retention rates. As the retail landscape evolves, AllHome’s victory serves as a beacon, inspiring other businesses to prioritize personalization, customer data, and segmentation in their pursuit of exceptional customer engagement and success.

Boosting Healthcare: PHL’s First Online Compounding Pharmacy Updates Website

THE Philippines’ first online compounding pharmacy, Apotheca Integrative Pharmacy (AIP), recently introduced new and improved features to its website by relaunching their own e-commerce platform to better serve its healthcare practitioners and patients. The platform, launched in 2022, is now even more reliable to make access to compounded medicine not only more convenient but also more secure.

Amid the rising need among doctors and patients for an alternative to physical consultations brought about by fear of getting exposed to Covid-19, digital health services have been gaining traction in the Philippines. A recent poll of 660 doctors in the Philippines revealed that 62 percent of those surveyed are currently using at least one telemedicine application with 57 percent using only one application while 40 percent are using two or three applications and three percent are currently using four applications or more. Using the latest technologies not only makes communication between patients and doctors faster but also decongests hospitals and keeps both health practitioners and patients safe.

AIP, which is celebrating another milestone on its 10th anniversary as the first online compounding pharmacy in the Philippines, hopes to make its updated platform more seamless for doctors and patients to communicate with. Doctors can now include their clinics in the AIP directory as well as their social media pages on the site. Doctors and other health practitioners also have access to the latest explainer and reference videos related to the personalized medicine industry, making the AIP site a one-stop shop compounding pharmacy website for registered healthcare providers. Doctors may also request for preferred formulations based on their patients’ needs.

Patients can likewise get more out of AIP’s updated website. They can create their own account to order, include their doctors’ prescriptions and recommendations, and have their medical records neatly consolidated in one place. Using their account, patients can now track the delivery status of the medicine through this improved website by making the order experience seamless. For an even more personalized experience through the updated website, patients can now specify their medications.

AIP announced that they are now extending their exclusive discounts for PWDs and senior citizens to their website, making the online compounding pharmacy experience even more accessible. Recognizing the importance of convenience, AIP has implemented a seamless process for users to avail of discounts. By simply uploading a copy of their PWD or Senior Citizen ID booklet on the website, patients can now enjoy the same savings and privileges from the comfort of their own homes.

To protect users’ personal and banking information, the updated AIP website implements several security measures. AIP uses industry-standard encryption to ensure sensitive information sent online is protected. Verification and limited account access have also been put in place to protect the patients’ profiles and avoid unauthorized access and data breaches.

“We have always supported the needs of our healthcare professionals and patients with the right tools and technologies. At the core of Apotheca Integrative Pharmacy is the goal to consistently collaborate with medical professionals to help solve Filipinos’ health needs. This upgraded website is an extension of that mission—It will bring AIP and compounded medicines closer to more doctors and patients in a more accessible, secure manner that is in line with the current e-commerce considerations of our users. As the effects of the pandemic reveal more patients now turning to online doctor purchase of medicine and doctor consultation, we aim to be their reliable partner in health as the first online compounding pharmacy in the Philippines,” shared AIP Founder and CEO Richard Lista. Access health and wellness options customized for the patient’s specific needs and vetted by healthcare professionals and visit https://apotheca.com.ph/.Follow its social media accounts for the latest updates and facts at @ApothecaCorp on LinkedIn, @ApothecaPH on Instagram, and @ApothecaPH on Facebook.