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Cebu Sun.Star
Global Ang Galing Natin! Palawan Express Pera Padala holds First International Remittance Summit
PALAWAN Express Pera Padala (PEPP) International Remittance recently hosted the inaugural Global Ang Galing Natin Summit at their head office in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan last June 30 to July 1, 2023.
The summit brought together key stakeholders in the international remittance industry and showcased the partnership between PEPP and its international remittance partners.
It introduced world-class and innovative service offerings aimed at making remittances convenient, fast, and hassle-free.
The summit facilitated proactive discussions among valuable partners, including Ace Forex HK, Al Ansari Exchange LLC, AUB, Bank Of Philippine Islands, BDO Unibank, China Banking Corporation, Continental Exchange Solutions, Inc., EMQ Ltd, Worldremit Ltd., Instant Cash FZE, Japan Remit Finance, LBC Express, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company, Pacific Limited, Philippine National Bank, Remitly, TML Remittance Center Sdn Bhd., Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, Tranglo, Uniteller Filipino, Universal Storefront Services Corporation, Western Union Processing Services, and Xoom Global Money Transfer.
These discussions centered around providing relevant, convenient, and value-added services to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families who heavily rely on remittances for their financial well-being.
During the summit, PEPP International Remittance reaffirmed its commitment to delivering world-class customer service.
The company is dedicated to simplifying the remittance process for OFWs and their families by offering customized options that cater to their specific requirements.
By placing the customer experience at the forefront and ensuring seamless and efficient transactions, PEPP International Remittance has become the go-to and the most utilized remittance service company in the Philippines.
PEPP’s Founder and President Bobby Castro shared the inspiring story of the company's humble beginnings in 1985 when he and his wife, Angelita, acquired the Palawan Pawnshop business.
Today, PEPP has evolved into a significant player in the money remittance industry, constantly adapting and innovating to meet the evolving needs of its clientele.
"This summit has been a true milestone in our journey, where we have successfully fostered collaboration, shared insights during breakout sessions, and built stronger partnerships. Our company's history is a testament to our ability to adapt and to innovate, from our humble beginnings to becoming a market leader," expressed Robert Ben Castro, PEPP’s Business Development and Corporate Services Director during the Global Ang Galing Natin Summit.
PEPP International Remittance is one of the most trusted and preferred cash pick-up network partners of top international remittance companies, renowned for its affordability, speed, and accessibility.
With an extensive network of over 6,000 branches nationwide, PEPP International Remittance ensures fast cash disbursement and constant availability of funds for remittance.
Additionally, PEPP branches are recognized for their exceptional customer service, delivered by friendly and knowledgeable staff.
The International Remittance service offers valuable benefits to OFW beneficiaries, allowing them to avail of free insurance for every international remittance claim.
In the near future, the service will also be accessible through PalawanPay, providing added convenience for OFW families in their financial transactions, including bill payments, QR payments, e-loading, and online fund transfers.
The Global Ang Galing Natin Summit not only strengthened ties between PEPP and its international remittance partners but also reinforced their commitment to providing world-class customer service.
By actively engaging in discussions and exploring ways to enhance their services, PEPP International Remittance aims to better serve the needs of OFWs and their families.
"We sincerely appreciate the support and collaboration of our esteemed international remittance partners in making PEPP International Remittance the leading and widely used cash pick-up center of international remittance companies in the Philippines. By synergizing our efforts and passion to serve the OFWs, we can truly make a difference in their lives. Together, we will continue to empower and uplift our OFWs worldwide," said Bernard Kaibigan, Enterprise Marketing Head of Palawan Pawnshop Group.
PEPP International Remittance's dedication to empowering the international remittance industry and supporting the financial well-being of OFWs underscores its crucial role in improving the lives of OFWs and their families.
The company's continuous evolution and innovation ensure the highest standards of service and security, providing a reliable and accessible remittance service. Furthermore, the company remains under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, ensuring the integrity and credibility of its operations.
Through the Global Ang Galing Natin Summit, PEPP International Remittance sets a new standard for the international remittance industry, prioritizing the needs of OFWs and their families, facilitating seamless transactions, and promoting financial stability. (SPONSORED CONTENT)
Categories: Philippines News
4 hurt in Transcentral Highway accident
FOUR were injured after the Suzuki multicab pick-up crashed into a wall after its brake malfunctioned.
The accident happened at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 21, 2023 in Transcentral Highway, Barangay Cansomoroy, Balamban town, midwest Cebu.
The multicab's driver, Geritan Espinosa Miro, 52, of Barangay Pasil, Cebu City, as well as Dave Nanoy Racaza, 21, of Barangay Guadalupe, Louie Francis Lena Syki, 21, of Barangay Guadalupe, and Danilo Aviles Racaza, 54, of Barangay Pasil, were hurt.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Hife, chief of the Balamban Police Station, the vehicle's brake failed while it was heading towards Balamban, which resulted in Miro losing control of the steering wheel and crashing into a concrete wall.
The victims were brought to Balamban Provincial Hospital for treatment. (GPL, TPT)
The accident happened at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 21, 2023 in Transcentral Highway, Barangay Cansomoroy, Balamban town, midwest Cebu.
The multicab's driver, Geritan Espinosa Miro, 52, of Barangay Pasil, Cebu City, as well as Dave Nanoy Racaza, 21, of Barangay Guadalupe, Louie Francis Lena Syki, 21, of Barangay Guadalupe, and Danilo Aviles Racaza, 54, of Barangay Pasil, were hurt.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Glenn Hife, chief of the Balamban Police Station, the vehicle's brake failed while it was heading towards Balamban, which resulted in Miro losing control of the steering wheel and crashing into a concrete wall.
The victims were brought to Balamban Provincial Hospital for treatment. (GPL, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
Man electrocuted while repairing lights in Tabogon
A MAN was electrocuted while repairing the lights in Barangay Manlagtang, Tabogon town, northern Cebu past 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 20, 2023.
The victim was identified as Landrio Bregente Taperi, 51, married, a resident of Barangay Daantabogon in the town and a job order employee of the Engineering Office of Tabogon municipal hall.
According to the police, the victim went up the terrace on the second floor of the barangay hall and onto the steel truss ceiling of the covered court to replace the damaged lights, but instead, he was electrocuted.
Taperi died after falling and hitting his head on the concrete floor ten meters below. (GPL, TPT)
The victim was identified as Landrio Bregente Taperi, 51, married, a resident of Barangay Daantabogon in the town and a job order employee of the Engineering Office of Tabogon municipal hall.
According to the police, the victim went up the terrace on the second floor of the barangay hall and onto the steel truss ceiling of the covered court to replace the damaged lights, but instead, he was electrocuted.
Taperi died after falling and hitting his head on the concrete floor ten meters below. (GPL, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
Female dormitory breaks ground in UP Cebu High School campus
A one-story female dormitory broke ground inside the University of the Philippines Cebu High School (UPHS) campus on Friday, July 21, 2023.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Angat Buhay Foundation chairperson and former Philippines vice president Leni Robredo.
The foundation's one-story dormitory, the first of its kind in Cebu, will provide shelter to 39 UPHS indigent students and one house parent for free.
The construction is expected to be finished in four to six months.
“Our dream is that this dormitory will help indigent students. Even though tuition is free, it would still be difficult if they had nowhere else to live,” said Robredo.
She disclosed that the beneficiary students will be chosen by the university’s high school department.
“So this is going to be a free dormitory for indigent students. Ang pipili po neto ay ang high school department. Ang pakiusap lang natin ay ang the most in need,” added Robredo.
The project’s construction will be funded by the foundation’s partner organization, such as the Australian Embassy, said Barry Codera, the program manager for education of Angat Buhay.
Robredo said that once the project is completed, she will look for other private partners who will help in providing the needed equipment.
“When we inaugurate the dorm, we will also meet our other private partners who would help in setting the dorm itself. Partners giving gadgets, the furnishings, and giving the kitchen equipment that is needed for the dorm,” she said.
In order to allow students who live in remote locations to attend school and lower the dropout rate in the Philippines, Robredo also stressed the need to establish more dorms in other areas.
The project has been suggested by Cebu Vice Governor Hilario "Junjun" Davide III after noticing that many UPHS students were not from Cebu City.
“I know that UP is a public school and there are many students here who are not residents of Cebu so they need a place to stay here,” said Davide.
In Calabangga, at the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, at a high school in Pontevedra, Capiz, and in Sorsogon, which is the most recent dormitory to be built in collaboration with the Australian Embassy, further buildings will be constructed.
Other dormitories are set to be constructed in Calabangga, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, a high school in Pontevedra, Capiz, and in Sorsogon, which are also in partnership with the Australian Embassy. (CNU Intern Denise Mae Codis)
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Angat Buhay Foundation chairperson and former Philippines vice president Leni Robredo.
The foundation's one-story dormitory, the first of its kind in Cebu, will provide shelter to 39 UPHS indigent students and one house parent for free.
The construction is expected to be finished in four to six months.
“Our dream is that this dormitory will help indigent students. Even though tuition is free, it would still be difficult if they had nowhere else to live,” said Robredo.
She disclosed that the beneficiary students will be chosen by the university’s high school department.
“So this is going to be a free dormitory for indigent students. Ang pipili po neto ay ang high school department. Ang pakiusap lang natin ay ang the most in need,” added Robredo.
The project’s construction will be funded by the foundation’s partner organization, such as the Australian Embassy, said Barry Codera, the program manager for education of Angat Buhay.
Robredo said that once the project is completed, she will look for other private partners who will help in providing the needed equipment.
“When we inaugurate the dorm, we will also meet our other private partners who would help in setting the dorm itself. Partners giving gadgets, the furnishings, and giving the kitchen equipment that is needed for the dorm,” she said.
In order to allow students who live in remote locations to attend school and lower the dropout rate in the Philippines, Robredo also stressed the need to establish more dorms in other areas.
The project has been suggested by Cebu Vice Governor Hilario "Junjun" Davide III after noticing that many UPHS students were not from Cebu City.
“I know that UP is a public school and there are many students here who are not residents of Cebu so they need a place to stay here,” said Davide.
In Calabangga, at the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, at a high school in Pontevedra, Capiz, and in Sorsogon, which is the most recent dormitory to be built in collaboration with the Australian Embassy, further buildings will be constructed.
Other dormitories are set to be constructed in Calabangga, Central Bicol State University of Agriculture, a high school in Pontevedra, Capiz, and in Sorsogon, which are also in partnership with the Australian Embassy. (CNU Intern Denise Mae Codis)
Categories: Philippines News
Hotel and resorts association launches cooking show, tourism awards
THE Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu Inc. (HRRACI) launched two back-to-back events during its 4th General Membership Meeting at Citadines, Baseline Residences, Cebu City on July 20, 2023.
The meeting was attended by representatives and managers from various hotels, resorts and restaurants, including Sheraton, Bai Hotel, Tambuli Seaside Resort & Spa and Movenpick Cebu.
Cebu Goes Culinary 2023, being the first event to be launched, started the program by introducing this year’s theme, “Malakas at Maganda: The Surge of Philippine Cuisine.”
The Cebu Goes Culinary 2023 will happen at the Sky Hall and Mountain Wing of SM Seaside Cebu for two days, September 30 to October 1, 2023.
“The event is perfect for the recovering food and tourism industry. We all know how the pandemic has ravaged businesses and such, it’s high time to rise again and this is the perfect way to showcase that we are truly back and booming,” said Carmela Malagar, HRRACI board member and director of CGM Hotel Consultancy.
Registration started Thursday, July 20, and will end on August 15, 2023.
The event will serve as a competition for culinary practitioners from different hotels, resorts, restaurants and schools.
The event has been divided into two categories: professional and student.
Competitions include Best Traditional/Modern Regional Recipe -- Puso, Flairtending, Cocktail Mixing, Coffee Concoction and Creative Cake Decoration.
Non-HRRACI members were encouraged to join the event to showcase their culinary expertise.
“This is a cooking show for all our professionals and academe, even those who are not members of HRRACI. This is the perfect venue for both veteran and budding culinary practitioners to show their skills and gain prestige,” said Alfred Reyes, HRRACI president and VP Operations and general manager for Bai Hotel Cebu.
Registration fees for the student category range from P900 to P2,500, and P1,700 to P3,500 for the professional category.
The top winners will be sent to Manila to compete in the National Food Showdown 2023.
With HRRACI being a non-profit organization, tickets will be sold at the venue for those who would like to witness the competition and exhibitions.
Prices and updates for the event will be posted soon on HRRACI’s official Facebook page.
Aside from the cooking show, the 2nd Cebu Tourism and Hospitality Awards was also launched Thursday.
The event is a recognition granted by the HRRACI to regular employees with achievements in Cebu’s tourism and hospitality industry and who have showed exemplary performance in their respective area of responsibilities.
Dr. Joseph Stephen Descallar, HRRACI board member and vice president of Academics for Asian College of Technology, said the awards symbolize the strength and resiliency of the food and tourism industry from the damage brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Here we’ll see the individuals who have continued to persevere despite all the hardships and obstacles, and it is only right to recognize these people for without them, our businesses will not continue to thrive as they are right now,” he said.
Awards include Front-of-the-House Employee of the Year, Heart-of-the-House Employee of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, and Hotel & Resort Manager of the Year.
The awards are open to both HRRACCI and Non-HRRACI members.
Criteria for nomination include Educational Attainment, Training Certificates, Awards & Achievements, and Work Tenure.
A panel interview will be conducted at the Cebu Grand Hotel on September 7, 2023.
Nomination fees range from P4,000 to P5,000 for HRRACI members and P5,000 to P6,000 for non-HRRACI members.
Awards night will be held at Robinson’s Galleria on November 15, 2023.
New members of HRACCI were also officially introduced and took their oath-taking on Thursday, such as Belmont Hotel Mactan, ELFLASH Construction Services, and NutriAsia Food Service. (Miguel Angelu Lumen, CNU Intern)
The meeting was attended by representatives and managers from various hotels, resorts and restaurants, including Sheraton, Bai Hotel, Tambuli Seaside Resort & Spa and Movenpick Cebu.
Cebu Goes Culinary 2023, being the first event to be launched, started the program by introducing this year’s theme, “Malakas at Maganda: The Surge of Philippine Cuisine.”
The Cebu Goes Culinary 2023 will happen at the Sky Hall and Mountain Wing of SM Seaside Cebu for two days, September 30 to October 1, 2023.
“The event is perfect for the recovering food and tourism industry. We all know how the pandemic has ravaged businesses and such, it’s high time to rise again and this is the perfect way to showcase that we are truly back and booming,” said Carmela Malagar, HRRACI board member and director of CGM Hotel Consultancy.
Registration started Thursday, July 20, and will end on August 15, 2023.
The event will serve as a competition for culinary practitioners from different hotels, resorts, restaurants and schools.
The event has been divided into two categories: professional and student.
Competitions include Best Traditional/Modern Regional Recipe -- Puso, Flairtending, Cocktail Mixing, Coffee Concoction and Creative Cake Decoration.
Non-HRRACI members were encouraged to join the event to showcase their culinary expertise.
“This is a cooking show for all our professionals and academe, even those who are not members of HRRACI. This is the perfect venue for both veteran and budding culinary practitioners to show their skills and gain prestige,” said Alfred Reyes, HRRACI president and VP Operations and general manager for Bai Hotel Cebu.
Registration fees for the student category range from P900 to P2,500, and P1,700 to P3,500 for the professional category.
The top winners will be sent to Manila to compete in the National Food Showdown 2023.
With HRRACI being a non-profit organization, tickets will be sold at the venue for those who would like to witness the competition and exhibitions.
Prices and updates for the event will be posted soon on HRRACI’s official Facebook page.
Aside from the cooking show, the 2nd Cebu Tourism and Hospitality Awards was also launched Thursday.
The event is a recognition granted by the HRRACI to regular employees with achievements in Cebu’s tourism and hospitality industry and who have showed exemplary performance in their respective area of responsibilities.
Dr. Joseph Stephen Descallar, HRRACI board member and vice president of Academics for Asian College of Technology, said the awards symbolize the strength and resiliency of the food and tourism industry from the damage brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Here we’ll see the individuals who have continued to persevere despite all the hardships and obstacles, and it is only right to recognize these people for without them, our businesses will not continue to thrive as they are right now,” he said.
Awards include Front-of-the-House Employee of the Year, Heart-of-the-House Employee of the Year, Supervisor of the Year, and Hotel & Resort Manager of the Year.
The awards are open to both HRRACCI and Non-HRRACI members.
Criteria for nomination include Educational Attainment, Training Certificates, Awards & Achievements, and Work Tenure.
A panel interview will be conducted at the Cebu Grand Hotel on September 7, 2023.
Nomination fees range from P4,000 to P5,000 for HRRACI members and P5,000 to P6,000 for non-HRRACI members.
Awards night will be held at Robinson’s Galleria on November 15, 2023.
New members of HRACCI were also officially introduced and took their oath-taking on Thursday, such as Belmont Hotel Mactan, ELFLASH Construction Services, and NutriAsia Food Service. (Miguel Angelu Lumen, CNU Intern)
Categories: Philippines News
Ng Khai Development Corp holds education summit
NG KHAI Development Corporation successfully held its B.E.A.T (Business, Education, Arts and Technology) 2023 Educational Summit in celebration of its 30th anniversary in the business industry on Thursday, July 20, 2023.
The annual summit aims to present the newest digital solutions in aiding schools and companies to develop and utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in a responsible way.
Company president Wilson Ng said working together can greatly overcome the risks of AI.
"Artificial intelligence is coming and it looks like they may be smarter than us. But I think we know that as long as we work and sing together, we will overcome," he said.
Myles Ng, head of Human Resources office, said discovering these AI tools will be beneficial as long as people utilized their potentials appropriately.
"Try it. Explore it. Encourage it. All of these tools are gonna help us until we give it a try," he said.
Transformation on education
In the same event, Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) University president Engr. Bernard Villamor talked about “Tradition to Transformation: Unleashing the Power of Digital Innovation in Education,” where he stressed the value of digital information as AI became more widespread, touching and developing the education sector.
"Digital information is no longer an option to education, but it's a necessity," he said.
"The academe in the age of technology is not an alternative. An academe with good use of technology is transformative," he added.
Villamor also talked about the university's top digital transformations, as a trusted education provider that made the lives of the students, faculties, and administrators easier.
Enhancement not replacement
Department of Information and Communications Technology-Central Visayas (DICT 7) Director Frederick Amores mentioned the ethical concerns of AI in education, such as privacy, surveillance, bias and discrimination, and autonomy.
"There are certain risks that have to be considered," he said.
But he pointed out the benefits of AI, saying its existence is not a threat and will not definitely replace people.
"It will not replace people, it will enhance productivity. Our goal is to use it and improve," he said.
Amores also spoke about the legal framework of AI -- House Bill 7396 or “An Act promoting the development and regulation of AI in the Philippines.”
"AI is a technology that is still in its infancy, we have an opportunity to develop it and make it a useful tool for improving productivity and our quality of life," said Amores.
Partnerships
NG Khai Development Corp. partners, such as HP, Lenovo, Sophos, Samsung, Dell Technologies, Westcon Comsor, Holowits and E-Cloud Valley, highlighted their technological innovations and how it can improve the educational sector.
The event concluded with a raffle draw where attendees received prizes such as flash drives, cable chargers, Dell monitors, Samsung smartphones, LED TV and Chromebook.
The event is a two-day showcase of the latest and greatest technological innovations for education and enterprise partners. (Camille Erika Butas and GK Marie Dejacto, CNU Interns)
The annual summit aims to present the newest digital solutions in aiding schools and companies to develop and utilize Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in a responsible way.
Company president Wilson Ng said working together can greatly overcome the risks of AI.
"Artificial intelligence is coming and it looks like they may be smarter than us. But I think we know that as long as we work and sing together, we will overcome," he said.
Myles Ng, head of Human Resources office, said discovering these AI tools will be beneficial as long as people utilized their potentials appropriately.
"Try it. Explore it. Encourage it. All of these tools are gonna help us until we give it a try," he said.
Transformation on education
In the same event, Cebu Institute of Technology (CIT) University president Engr. Bernard Villamor talked about “Tradition to Transformation: Unleashing the Power of Digital Innovation in Education,” where he stressed the value of digital information as AI became more widespread, touching and developing the education sector.
"Digital information is no longer an option to education, but it's a necessity," he said.
"The academe in the age of technology is not an alternative. An academe with good use of technology is transformative," he added.
Villamor also talked about the university's top digital transformations, as a trusted education provider that made the lives of the students, faculties, and administrators easier.
Enhancement not replacement
Department of Information and Communications Technology-Central Visayas (DICT 7) Director Frederick Amores mentioned the ethical concerns of AI in education, such as privacy, surveillance, bias and discrimination, and autonomy.
"There are certain risks that have to be considered," he said.
But he pointed out the benefits of AI, saying its existence is not a threat and will not definitely replace people.
"It will not replace people, it will enhance productivity. Our goal is to use it and improve," he said.
Amores also spoke about the legal framework of AI -- House Bill 7396 or “An Act promoting the development and regulation of AI in the Philippines.”
"AI is a technology that is still in its infancy, we have an opportunity to develop it and make it a useful tool for improving productivity and our quality of life," said Amores.
Partnerships
NG Khai Development Corp. partners, such as HP, Lenovo, Sophos, Samsung, Dell Technologies, Westcon Comsor, Holowits and E-Cloud Valley, highlighted their technological innovations and how it can improve the educational sector.
The event concluded with a raffle draw where attendees received prizes such as flash drives, cable chargers, Dell monitors, Samsung smartphones, LED TV and Chromebook.
The event is a two-day showcase of the latest and greatest technological innovations for education and enterprise partners. (Camille Erika Butas and GK Marie Dejacto, CNU Interns)
Categories: Philippines News
Man dies after crashing into parked truck in Compostela town
A MOTORCYCLE driver lost his life after colliding with a stationary ten-wheeler truck carrying steel bars.
The tragedy happened early on Thursday, July 20, 2023, in Sitio Guiwanon, Barangay Poblacion, Compostela town in northern Cebu.
The victim, Jason Estenzo Jurado from Catmon town, northern Cebu, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Staff Sergeant Cristito Aresco of the Compostela Police Station identified the truck driver as Juan Paslon Anario, 47, from Pinamungajan town.
According to Aresco, the victim died after crashing his Honda Click motorcycle into the back of the 10-wheeler truck while traveling north.
The truck was parked along the roadside without any warning signs, according to the police.(BBT, TPT)
The tragedy happened early on Thursday, July 20, 2023, in Sitio Guiwanon, Barangay Poblacion, Compostela town in northern Cebu.
The victim, Jason Estenzo Jurado from Catmon town, northern Cebu, was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
Staff Sergeant Cristito Aresco of the Compostela Police Station identified the truck driver as Juan Paslon Anario, 47, from Pinamungajan town.
According to Aresco, the victim died after crashing his Honda Click motorcycle into the back of the 10-wheeler truck while traveling north.
The truck was parked along the roadside without any warning signs, according to the police.(BBT, TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
ArenaPlus partners with FIBA for the World Basketball Cup 2023
ARENAPLUS, an online sports betting platform in the country, proudly announced its partnership with International Basketball Association (FIBA), supported by TV5 Cignal Ultra, to become the official sportsbook partner for the highly anticipated World Basketball Cup 2023.
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is truly historic, as it marks the first-ever collaboration among three countries - Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines.
This momentous occasion brings immense excitement not just for ArenaPlus, but also for the passionate Filipino fans who eagerly look forward to creating unforgettable, world-class basketball memories with FIBA.
“I truly believe that basketball is indeed loved by the Filipinos; hence FIBA alongside with ArenaPlus will surely upgrade your sports appreciation and will give you distinct fun and experience while cheering your team,” said Andy Tsui, President of DigiPlus Interactive Corporation.
This partnership is dedicated to ensuring that every Filipino basketball fan enjoys an exceptional and entertaining FIBA World Basketball Cup experience.
ArenaPlus firmly believes in providing kababayan’s with the best and world-class basketball experience they truly deserve.
Its goal is to bring heightened excitement and top-quality basketball entertainment to kababayan’s, fostering connections within communities and spreading joy throughout the nation.
Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc. President Rafael Jasper Vicencio guarantees the best quality betting experience.
“We assure you that we will add more hype and escalate your FIBA experience. Together with our first athlete endorser, who is present here today, Scottie Thompson, you already know that we only provide quality and best betting entertainment service," said Vicencio.
The brand invites all basketball fans and enthusiasts alike in celebrating the pinnacle of basketball excellence at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, taking place in August and September 2023.
ArenaPlus expressed excitement in making history and forging basketball memories that will be treasured by fans for years to come. (SPONSORED CONTENT)
The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is truly historic, as it marks the first-ever collaboration among three countries - Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines.
This momentous occasion brings immense excitement not just for ArenaPlus, but also for the passionate Filipino fans who eagerly look forward to creating unforgettable, world-class basketball memories with FIBA.
“I truly believe that basketball is indeed loved by the Filipinos; hence FIBA alongside with ArenaPlus will surely upgrade your sports appreciation and will give you distinct fun and experience while cheering your team,” said Andy Tsui, President of DigiPlus Interactive Corporation.
This partnership is dedicated to ensuring that every Filipino basketball fan enjoys an exceptional and entertaining FIBA World Basketball Cup experience.
ArenaPlus firmly believes in providing kababayan’s with the best and world-class basketball experience they truly deserve.
Its goal is to bring heightened excitement and top-quality basketball entertainment to kababayan’s, fostering connections within communities and spreading joy throughout the nation.
Total Gamezone Xtreme Inc. President Rafael Jasper Vicencio guarantees the best quality betting experience.
“We assure you that we will add more hype and escalate your FIBA experience. Together with our first athlete endorser, who is present here today, Scottie Thompson, you already know that we only provide quality and best betting entertainment service," said Vicencio.
The brand invites all basketball fans and enthusiasts alike in celebrating the pinnacle of basketball excellence at the FIBA Basketball World Cup, taking place in August and September 2023.
ArenaPlus expressed excitement in making history and forging basketball memories that will be treasured by fans for years to come. (SPONSORED CONTENT)
Categories: Philippines News
Enjoy all-day casual gaming with newly-launched vivo Y36
MANILA, PHILIPPINES - The mobile gaming market has seen a drastic transformation. Tap-and-swipe games are now considered outdated as mobile games now provide more interaction and experience. Demand for advancements in numerous gadgets, including smartphones, has significantly increased.
vivo developers have been attempting to completely eliminate the distinction between mobile gaming, computer gaming, and console gaming as more games now support a multi-platform experience.
With high hopes, the brand has aimed to raise the bar for what a midrange mobile device is capable of. As a result, it came up with its newest phone, the vivo Y36.
With augmented hardware and software, vivo Y36 makes significant advancements in many areas of the smartphone device.
Enjoy uninterrupted gamingGamers and avid vivo users can now enjoy an uninterrupted gaming experience with vivo Y36. The phone has a massive 5000mAh battery that can last for hours - truly perfect for rank and casual games!
Also, they do not need to worry about the battery draining as it has a 44W flash charging feature that can power up the phone up to 30 percent in just 15 minutes. Securing victories, again and again, is more fun with vivo Y36.
No more lags and glitches when you playEach gamer's most dreaded fears are unexpected lags and glitches as they reduce their chances of winning.
vivo Y36 has 8 gigabytes (GB) of RAM and is equipped with the Turbo Memory Booster, which includes up to 8GB extended RAM, Interface Preserver, and RAM Saver. With these features, say goodbye to lags and glitches.
Also, users do not need to worry about downloading too many games with the phone's 256GB storage that is expandable up to 1 terabyte (TB) using a micro-SD card.
What’s more, vivo Y36 is packed with Multi-Turbo 5.5 and Ultra Game Mode feature which magnify the phone’s gaming performance when you need it.
Awesome screen display and gaming sampling rateThe screen is an essential part of a smartphone as it is what the users engage the most. A high-end screen improves the user experience, especially in gaming.
Well, this is not a problem with vivo Y36!
vivo integrated a 6.64-inch Full HD+ dotch display on their Y36 unit to effectively offer users a more immersive and smoother visual experience.
It is also equipped with a 240 hertz (Hz) gaming sampling rate and 90Hz refresh rate to provide vivo users and gamers with an opportunity to speed up as well as be quick at controls like aiming, shooting, etc.
Overall, vivo Y36 is a device capable of bringing customers a smooth and seamless gaming experience.
Available in two colorways, Glitter Aqua, and Meteor Black, customers can now purchase the vivo Y36 4G (8GB + 256GB) for only Php 12,999 at vivo Philippine's official website, e-stores such as Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok, as well as physical stores nationwide. (SPONSORED CONTENT)
Categories: Philippines News
Ceb Among Strongest, Most Valuable Filipino Brands for 2023
Cebu Pacific (CEB) ranks third among the strongest brands in the Philippines for 2023, and one of the country’s most valuable brands overall, according to a study by a London-based brand valuation consultancy firm.
CEB received a Brand Strength Index score of 81.0, corresponding to a rating of AAA-, according to Brand Finance’s 2023 report on the most valuable and strongest Filipino brands.
CEB also placed 20th among the Philippines’ most valuable brands for this year—the first time the airline made it in the list—with a brand value worth US$194 million.
Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy firm, published the annual list of the most valuable and strongest brands following a survey of over 100,000 respondents worldwide to assess their perception of more than 4,000 brands.
The survey was complemented with an analysis of the companies’ investments in marketing and research and development, as well as ratings by review sites, social media engagement, customer churn, market share, among others.
According to Brand Finance’s report, the Philippines’ strongest brands are determined based on a balanced scorecard that evaluates the marketing investment, shareholder equity, and business performance of each company. (PR)
CEB received a Brand Strength Index score of 81.0, corresponding to a rating of AAA-, according to Brand Finance’s 2023 report on the most valuable and strongest Filipino brands.
CEB also placed 20th among the Philippines’ most valuable brands for this year—the first time the airline made it in the list—with a brand value worth US$194 million.
Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy firm, published the annual list of the most valuable and strongest brands following a survey of over 100,000 respondents worldwide to assess their perception of more than 4,000 brands.
The survey was complemented with an analysis of the companies’ investments in marketing and research and development, as well as ratings by review sites, social media engagement, customer churn, market share, among others.
According to Brand Finance’s report, the Philippines’ strongest brands are determined based on a balanced scorecard that evaluates the marketing investment, shareholder equity, and business performance of each company. (PR)
Categories: Philippines News
BPI posts P25.1 billion Net Income in first semester
BANK of the Philippine Islands capped its first half of 2023 with net income of P25.1 billion, up 23 percent, delivering a return on equity of 15.5 percent.
Drivers of the strong financial performance were average asset base expansion, margin growth and lower provisions.
Total revenues for the first semester of the year ramped up 13.8 percent to P65.6 billion, on the back of the 27.4 percent increase in net interest income to P50.1 billion, attributable to average asset base expansion of 9.2 percent and net interest margin widening by 56 basis points to 4.03 percent.
This was tempered by the 15.4 percent decline in non-interest income to P15.5 billion due to the property sale gain recognized in the prior year.
Removing the impact of this one-off transaction, non-interest income would be higher by P2.2 billion or 16.3 percent, led by the increase in fees from credit cards, various service charges and securities trading. (PR)
Drivers of the strong financial performance were average asset base expansion, margin growth and lower provisions.
Total revenues for the first semester of the year ramped up 13.8 percent to P65.6 billion, on the back of the 27.4 percent increase in net interest income to P50.1 billion, attributable to average asset base expansion of 9.2 percent and net interest margin widening by 56 basis points to 4.03 percent.
This was tempered by the 15.4 percent decline in non-interest income to P15.5 billion due to the property sale gain recognized in the prior year.
Removing the impact of this one-off transaction, non-interest income would be higher by P2.2 billion or 16.3 percent, led by the increase in fees from credit cards, various service charges and securities trading. (PR)
Categories: Philippines News
DoubleDragon’s Hotel101 signs Master Service DEALs with Orience, PSI Consultants, L&L RSM Law
DOUBLEDRAGON Corp. worldwide hotel expansion subsidiary Hotel101 Global Pte. Ltd. Wednesday, July 20, 2023 signed Master Service Agreements with Orience, PSI Consultants and L&L RSM Law as the exclusive advisory service providers to process the residency applications by investment option for buyers of at least three units in Hotel101’s first European project, Hotel101-Madrid located in Valdebebas Madrid, Spain.
A Golden Visa for Spain, officially known as the Spain Investor Visa is a residence permit issued to non-European citizens who make a substantial investment in Spain such as buying a real estate asset worth 500,000 euro.
The Golden Visa applications are for evaluation and approval of the proper authorities of the Government of Spain, at its discretion, but the purchase of Hotel101 units may be used by the foreign buyer to comply with the 500,000 euro Spanish real estate investment requirement.
The Golden Visa processing and advisory fee that cost about 6,000 euro will be free of cost for those who will purchase three Hotel101 units in Madrid Spain from the start of the unit pre-selling until Dec. 31, 2023 or until the units are fully sold out, whichever comes first. Hotel101-Madrid is set to become one of the Top 5 largest hotels in Madrid, Spain.
Hotel101-Madrid is set to be the first homegrown Filipino hotel chain to enter Spain. (PR)
A Golden Visa for Spain, officially known as the Spain Investor Visa is a residence permit issued to non-European citizens who make a substantial investment in Spain such as buying a real estate asset worth 500,000 euro.
The Golden Visa applications are for evaluation and approval of the proper authorities of the Government of Spain, at its discretion, but the purchase of Hotel101 units may be used by the foreign buyer to comply with the 500,000 euro Spanish real estate investment requirement.
The Golden Visa processing and advisory fee that cost about 6,000 euro will be free of cost for those who will purchase three Hotel101 units in Madrid Spain from the start of the unit pre-selling until Dec. 31, 2023 or until the units are fully sold out, whichever comes first. Hotel101-Madrid is set to become one of the Top 5 largest hotels in Madrid, Spain.
Hotel101-Madrid is set to be the first homegrown Filipino hotel chain to enter Spain. (PR)
Categories: Philippines News
Cebu City Tourism Commission to offer free ride from Mactan airport to Cebu port terminals soon
THE Cebu City Tourism Commission (CCTC) will soon deploy two bus units that will take local and foreign tourists from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) to Cebu’s port terminals for free.
CCTC head councilor Joy Pesquera made this pronouncement on Thursday, July 20, 2023, during the first day of the Cebu Tourism Summit of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry held in SM Seaside City Cebu.
CCTC is currently in talks with MCIA and will also seek permission from the Cebu Port Authority to allow these buses to pick up and drop off passengers.
Pesquera said these buses are meant to improve the tourism experience of tourists when they arrive in Cebu. This free transport is also meant to provide them seamless mobility.
“We want to maximize Cebu as a hub and at the same time help airlines provide good service to their passengers. This is also to make our missionary routes to Baguio, Laoag, Cotabato and Tawi-Tawi sustainable,” said Pesquera, explaining that passengers from neighboring islands can easily take these buses going to the airport.
The buses will ply with a 30-minute interval.
Pesquera said the CCTC will make use of the buses already owned by the Cebu City Government. They have yet to identify the cost of the project as they are still studying the cost of the gasoline and of dressing up the buses.
The CCTC head said they plan to roll out this project this year.
New parks
Besides providing convenient transport to Cebu’s major gateways, Pesquera also announced the plan of CCTC to co-manage the idle Ayala Heights in Barangay Sirao, Cebu as they want to turn it into a park.
Pesquera said Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has already reached out to Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) for the possibility of co-managing the Ayala Heights project and opening it for public use.
“We need more parks. This can be a venue for activities like camping and other outdoor events,” she said.
Ayala Heights is a 200-hectare property owned by ALI originally developed as an ultra high-end residential project. Its development was halted because of geological issues.
Ayala Heights was developed in the latter part of the 1990s at a time when Asia’s economy was badly hit by a financial crisis. It is supposed to be another luxury residential project similar to Maria Luisa Estate Park, among others. (KOC)
CCTC head councilor Joy Pesquera made this pronouncement on Thursday, July 20, 2023, during the first day of the Cebu Tourism Summit of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry held in SM Seaside City Cebu.
CCTC is currently in talks with MCIA and will also seek permission from the Cebu Port Authority to allow these buses to pick up and drop off passengers.
Pesquera said these buses are meant to improve the tourism experience of tourists when they arrive in Cebu. This free transport is also meant to provide them seamless mobility.
“We want to maximize Cebu as a hub and at the same time help airlines provide good service to their passengers. This is also to make our missionary routes to Baguio, Laoag, Cotabato and Tawi-Tawi sustainable,” said Pesquera, explaining that passengers from neighboring islands can easily take these buses going to the airport.
The buses will ply with a 30-minute interval.
Pesquera said the CCTC will make use of the buses already owned by the Cebu City Government. They have yet to identify the cost of the project as they are still studying the cost of the gasoline and of dressing up the buses.
The CCTC head said they plan to roll out this project this year.
New parks
Besides providing convenient transport to Cebu’s major gateways, Pesquera also announced the plan of CCTC to co-manage the idle Ayala Heights in Barangay Sirao, Cebu as they want to turn it into a park.
Pesquera said Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has already reached out to Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) for the possibility of co-managing the Ayala Heights project and opening it for public use.
“We need more parks. This can be a venue for activities like camping and other outdoor events,” she said.
Ayala Heights is a 200-hectare property owned by ALI originally developed as an ultra high-end residential project. Its development was halted because of geological issues.
Ayala Heights was developed in the latter part of the 1990s at a time when Asia’s economy was badly hit by a financial crisis. It is supposed to be another luxury residential project similar to Maria Luisa Estate Park, among others. (KOC)
Categories: Philippines News
PH GETS 3M foreign tourists in 7 months
A TOTAL of 3,000,079 visitors from foreign countries have arrived in the Philippines from Jan. 1 to July 19, 2023, surpassing the international arrival count of 2.65 million for the whole of 2022.
This figure reflects the “continued recovery and the gains” of the country’s tourism sector, a top official from the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
The country’s inbound tourism receipts from January 1 to June 30 also went up to P212,467,522.100.14, which is 502.02 percent higher than the P35,292,495,457.14 tourism revenue generated in the same period last year.
The tourism sector had experienced a drought for nearly two years due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
“We are glad to report that in roughly seven months, we have already achieved the three million international visitor mark, reflecting continued robust recovery and the gains of the Marcos administration towards the resurgence of Philippine tourism,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco in a statement.
“Tourism provides employment and livelihood to millions of Filipinos. We are grateful for the renewed interest worldwide in the Philippines which offers a multitude of reasons to love travel across our islands,” she added.
Frasco also expressed gratitude to Filipinos who continue to travel domestically, supporting local communities and families who are all part of the tourism value chain.
Top arrivals
Of the over three million international arrivals, 91.36 percent or 2,740,802 are foreign tourists, while the remaining 8.64 percent or 259,277 are overseas Filipinos.
The country had most tourists from South Korea, at 741,658 or 24.72 percent of the total arrivals; followed by 550,569 or 18.35 percent from the United States; 146,062 or 4.87 percent from Australia; 143,227 or 4.77 percent from Japan; and 132,018 or 4.40 percent from Canada.
Other visitors were from China, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia.
In 2022, the country’s international arrivals reached 2.65 million, surpassing the agency’s target of 1.7 million foreign visitors, which translated to P214 billion or roughly $4 billion in estimated revenues, exceeding the targeted revenue of P155.03 billion by 38.06 percent.
For this year, the DOT’s target for foreign visitors is 4.8 million, the same level before the Covid-19 pandemic struck the world.
In May, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023 to 2028 that aims to transform the country into a tourism powerhouse in Asia.
The plan includes ways to address essential issues of tourism development, such as the development of infrastructure, connectivity, as well as digitalization, the equalization of tourism, development and promotion, the enhancement of overall tourism experience as well as the strengthening of tourism governance.
Frasco said programs under NTDP will be anchored on Filipino culture, heritage and identity.
The DOT launched on June 27 its new tourism campaign slogan “Love The Philippines.” (TPM / SUNSTAR PHILIPPINES)
This figure reflects the “continued recovery and the gains” of the country’s tourism sector, a top official from the Department of Tourism (DOT) said Wednesday, July 19, 2023.
The country’s inbound tourism receipts from January 1 to June 30 also went up to P212,467,522.100.14, which is 502.02 percent higher than the P35,292,495,457.14 tourism revenue generated in the same period last year.
The tourism sector had experienced a drought for nearly two years due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
“We are glad to report that in roughly seven months, we have already achieved the three million international visitor mark, reflecting continued robust recovery and the gains of the Marcos administration towards the resurgence of Philippine tourism,” said Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco in a statement.
“Tourism provides employment and livelihood to millions of Filipinos. We are grateful for the renewed interest worldwide in the Philippines which offers a multitude of reasons to love travel across our islands,” she added.
Frasco also expressed gratitude to Filipinos who continue to travel domestically, supporting local communities and families who are all part of the tourism value chain.
Top arrivals
Of the over three million international arrivals, 91.36 percent or 2,740,802 are foreign tourists, while the remaining 8.64 percent or 259,277 are overseas Filipinos.
The country had most tourists from South Korea, at 741,658 or 24.72 percent of the total arrivals; followed by 550,569 or 18.35 percent from the United States; 146,062 or 4.87 percent from Australia; 143,227 or 4.77 percent from Japan; and 132,018 or 4.40 percent from Canada.
Other visitors were from China, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Malaysia.
In 2022, the country’s international arrivals reached 2.65 million, surpassing the agency’s target of 1.7 million foreign visitors, which translated to P214 billion or roughly $4 billion in estimated revenues, exceeding the targeted revenue of P155.03 billion by 38.06 percent.
For this year, the DOT’s target for foreign visitors is 4.8 million, the same level before the Covid-19 pandemic struck the world.
In May, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. approved the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) 2023 to 2028 that aims to transform the country into a tourism powerhouse in Asia.
The plan includes ways to address essential issues of tourism development, such as the development of infrastructure, connectivity, as well as digitalization, the equalization of tourism, development and promotion, the enhancement of overall tourism experience as well as the strengthening of tourism governance.
Frasco said programs under NTDP will be anchored on Filipino culture, heritage and identity.
The DOT launched on June 27 its new tourism campaign slogan “Love The Philippines.” (TPM / SUNSTAR PHILIPPINES)
Categories: Philippines News
NTC reminds extension of SIM registration about to expire
THE National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) is once again calling on all cellphone users to register their SIM cards as the extension granted for the registration is set to expire on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
According to the most recent NTC data, 103,670,164 people, or 61.70 percent, have registered their SIM cards as of July 17.
The NTC revealed that 7,359,116 of them have signed up with Dito Telecommunications, 47,267,960 have signed up with Globe, and 49,043,068 have signed up with Smart.
According to the data of NTC in December 2022, there were a total of 168,016,400 subscribers.
Those who have yet to register may follow the following procedures:
First, check the SIM registration website of the service provider such as Globe, Smart and Dito.
Second, provide your 10-digit mobile number and click the “Register” button. You will receive a text message containing a One Time Pin (OTP), which you must immediately input on the registration website.
Once your OTP has been validated, you can proceed with the registration. Among its requests are complete name, birthday, gender, address, and nationality.
To validate information, pre-paid users will be asked to also submit a selfie and a government-issued ID such as passport, national ID and Social Security System ID, among others, as part of the requirements.
Once done, one can click the “Submit” button to complete the process. After the process, a reference number will appear on your screen confirming that your SIM card has been registered. (ANV / TPT)
According to the most recent NTC data, 103,670,164 people, or 61.70 percent, have registered their SIM cards as of July 17.
The NTC revealed that 7,359,116 of them have signed up with Dito Telecommunications, 47,267,960 have signed up with Globe, and 49,043,068 have signed up with Smart.
According to the data of NTC in December 2022, there were a total of 168,016,400 subscribers.
Those who have yet to register may follow the following procedures:
First, check the SIM registration website of the service provider such as Globe, Smart and Dito.
Second, provide your 10-digit mobile number and click the “Register” button. You will receive a text message containing a One Time Pin (OTP), which you must immediately input on the registration website.
Once your OTP has been validated, you can proceed with the registration. Among its requests are complete name, birthday, gender, address, and nationality.
To validate information, pre-paid users will be asked to also submit a selfie and a government-issued ID such as passport, national ID and Social Security System ID, among others, as part of the requirements.
Once done, one can click the “Submit” button to complete the process. After the process, a reference number will appear on your screen confirming that your SIM card has been registered. (ANV / TPT)
Categories: Philippines News
Pag-Ibig Fund lowers interest rates on housing loans
STATE-RUN Pag-Ibig Fund has lowered its interest rates on housing loans, making home financing more attractive and affordable to Filipinos.
Under the new rates, the Pag-Ibig housing loan now carries a lower interest of 6.25 percent per annum under a three-year repricing period, down from the previous 6.375 percent.
Interest rates for repricing periods of five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years have also been reduced to 6.5 percent from 6.625 percent, 7.125 percent from 7.375 percent, 7.75 percent from 8.00 percent, 8.50 percent from 8.625 percent, 9.125 percent from 9.375 percent, and 9.75 percent from 10 percent, respectively.
The new rates came into effect on July 1, 2023.
Meanwhile, the agency’s home loan rate under its one-year repricing period remains at 5.75 percent per annum, while its special interest rate for home loans of minimum-wage earners under its Affordable Housing Program remains at three percent per annum, the lowest in the market.
According to Pag-Ibig Fund’s chief executive officer Marilene Acosta, the agency was able to reduce its home loan rates due to its strong fiscal standing, record-high collections and high-performing loans ratio.
“With our performing loans ratio at a high 92.53 percent and collections from both membership savings and loan payments at a record-high, we are able to effectively fund the high demand for our home loans without the need to borrow from the market. As a result, we were able to reduce the interest rates on our housing loan, despite the upward market trend,” said Acosta.
From January to May, Pag-Ibig collected P31.97 billion in home loan payments, which is 15 percent or P4.22 billion higher than the amount collected in the same period last year.
The amount is also a record high in terms of home loan payments collected by the agency for any January to May period, the agency said. (KOC)
Under the new rates, the Pag-Ibig housing loan now carries a lower interest of 6.25 percent per annum under a three-year repricing period, down from the previous 6.375 percent.
Interest rates for repricing periods of five, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years have also been reduced to 6.5 percent from 6.625 percent, 7.125 percent from 7.375 percent, 7.75 percent from 8.00 percent, 8.50 percent from 8.625 percent, 9.125 percent from 9.375 percent, and 9.75 percent from 10 percent, respectively.
The new rates came into effect on July 1, 2023.
Meanwhile, the agency’s home loan rate under its one-year repricing period remains at 5.75 percent per annum, while its special interest rate for home loans of minimum-wage earners under its Affordable Housing Program remains at three percent per annum, the lowest in the market.
According to Pag-Ibig Fund’s chief executive officer Marilene Acosta, the agency was able to reduce its home loan rates due to its strong fiscal standing, record-high collections and high-performing loans ratio.
“With our performing loans ratio at a high 92.53 percent and collections from both membership savings and loan payments at a record-high, we are able to effectively fund the high demand for our home loans without the need to borrow from the market. As a result, we were able to reduce the interest rates on our housing loan, despite the upward market trend,” said Acosta.
From January to May, Pag-Ibig collected P31.97 billion in home loan payments, which is 15 percent or P4.22 billion higher than the amount collected in the same period last year.
The amount is also a record high in terms of home loan payments collected by the agency for any January to May period, the agency said. (KOC)
Categories: Philippines News
Mandaue city chamber pushes for digitalization for businesses to stay alive amid market changes
THE Mandaue Business Month (MBM) 2023 was launched on Thursday, July 20, 2023, and business leaders aim to use the event as a platform for digital adoption, as enterprises must stay on top of their game amid changes in the market brought by the internet.
Kelie Ko, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), said businesses must adopt technology or else everyone will perish.
“This is the new era. If you don’t digitalize, then you die,” said Ko, quoting Ana Maria Aboitiz-Delgado, senior executive vice president and chief customer experience officer, as well as chief digital channels officer of UnionBank of the Philippines.
“Some people think digitalization is expensive. Some think digitalization is difficult. But what we are trying to do is tell them that it might not be and resources are available,” he added.
Ko led the launching of the start of MBM 2023 activities on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at the City Sports Club Cebu in Cebu City. This year’s MBM carries the theme, “Empowering Business for the New Era.”
Mandaue’s potential
For his part, MBM 2023 chairman Mark Anthony Ynoc invited the business community to join them in various events starting from August to October 2023, as these will showcase Mandaue’s potential as business haven and world-class industries that continue to contribute to the city’s economic development.
“We are indeed entering into a new era. Technology has ushered these changes and there is a need to equip business to cope up with the challenges. New business models, artificial intelligence, changing geopolitical landscape and borderless economies are becoming a norm and we have to face them head-on,” Ynoc said in his speech.
MBM 2023 will again feature its flagship programs—the Business Summit on August 23, at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu in Nivel Hills, Cebu City and the Business Seminar on August 24 at the City Sports Club Cebu. The summit will include relevant and crucial presentations from key industry players, highlighting successful business ventures and innovative strategies that will propel further Mandaue City’s
economy.
This year’s presentations will focus on the “digital takeover” and how businesses must adopt the online shift in the travel industry in a post-pandemic world.
Other events
MBM 2023 will also feature the Sugbo Negosyo Exhibit on August 16-20 at SM Seaside City Cebu at the South Road Properties. It will be held in collaboration with the Cebu Provincial Government and the Department of Trade and Industry.
The other events include Tree Brew Life, Lord of the Pins (a bowling tournament) on August 17-19; MCCI Talent Fest, Property and Investment Expo, and MCCI Chamber Night in later dates.
There is also the return of Bakery World Cebu, the biggest bakery and food service exhibit in the Visayas this year. MCCI last hosted the event in 2018, and it is expecting 187 exhibitors and around 800-1,000 delegates to join this year’s event that will be held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on September 14, 15 and 16.
“There will be seminars on food safety and how to use new processes and technologies. We will have a photographer to the stars and a food photographer to teach us about food photography,” Ko said.
MCCI has invited a seasoned keynote speaker and travel trend spotter, Sarah Mathews of Trip Advisor for the Asia Pacific region, and she will present the latest data on most of Asia’s tourist spots and their conversation, according to Ko. One of Matthews’ published suggestions for the Philippines was that the country must always stay authentic to its own culture to attract tourists and keep them coming back.
Unlike some countries that use artificial schemes to elevate their rankings, Ko said tourist spots must be improved and fully equipped to help small and micro entrepreneurs. (EHP WITH CNU INTERN HAZEL FAITH SAYMO AND NWSSU INTERN JURALYN BESO BALDOMARO)
Kelie Ko, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), said businesses must adopt technology or else everyone will perish.
“This is the new era. If you don’t digitalize, then you die,” said Ko, quoting Ana Maria Aboitiz-Delgado, senior executive vice president and chief customer experience officer, as well as chief digital channels officer of UnionBank of the Philippines.
“Some people think digitalization is expensive. Some think digitalization is difficult. But what we are trying to do is tell them that it might not be and resources are available,” he added.
Ko led the launching of the start of MBM 2023 activities on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at the City Sports Club Cebu in Cebu City. This year’s MBM carries the theme, “Empowering Business for the New Era.”
Mandaue’s potential
For his part, MBM 2023 chairman Mark Anthony Ynoc invited the business community to join them in various events starting from August to October 2023, as these will showcase Mandaue’s potential as business haven and world-class industries that continue to contribute to the city’s economic development.
“We are indeed entering into a new era. Technology has ushered these changes and there is a need to equip business to cope up with the challenges. New business models, artificial intelligence, changing geopolitical landscape and borderless economies are becoming a norm and we have to face them head-on,” Ynoc said in his speech.
MBM 2023 will again feature its flagship programs—the Business Summit on August 23, at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu in Nivel Hills, Cebu City and the Business Seminar on August 24 at the City Sports Club Cebu. The summit will include relevant and crucial presentations from key industry players, highlighting successful business ventures and innovative strategies that will propel further Mandaue City’s
economy.
This year’s presentations will focus on the “digital takeover” and how businesses must adopt the online shift in the travel industry in a post-pandemic world.
Other events
MBM 2023 will also feature the Sugbo Negosyo Exhibit on August 16-20 at SM Seaside City Cebu at the South Road Properties. It will be held in collaboration with the Cebu Provincial Government and the Department of Trade and Industry.
The other events include Tree Brew Life, Lord of the Pins (a bowling tournament) on August 17-19; MCCI Talent Fest, Property and Investment Expo, and MCCI Chamber Night in later dates.
There is also the return of Bakery World Cebu, the biggest bakery and food service exhibit in the Visayas this year. MCCI last hosted the event in 2018, and it is expecting 187 exhibitors and around 800-1,000 delegates to join this year’s event that will be held at the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino on September 14, 15 and 16.
“There will be seminars on food safety and how to use new processes and technologies. We will have a photographer to the stars and a food photographer to teach us about food photography,” Ko said.
MCCI has invited a seasoned keynote speaker and travel trend spotter, Sarah Mathews of Trip Advisor for the Asia Pacific region, and she will present the latest data on most of Asia’s tourist spots and their conversation, according to Ko. One of Matthews’ published suggestions for the Philippines was that the country must always stay authentic to its own culture to attract tourists and keep them coming back.
Unlike some countries that use artificial schemes to elevate their rankings, Ko said tourist spots must be improved and fully equipped to help small and micro entrepreneurs. (EHP WITH CNU INTERN HAZEL FAITH SAYMO AND NWSSU INTERN JURALYN BESO BALDOMARO)
Categories: Philippines News
PH makes historic World Cup debut game vs. Switzerland
THE Philippines makes history today, July 21, 2023, 1 p.m. (PH time) as it makes its first World Cup appearance.
The Philippines takes on No. 20-ranked Switzerland in its opening match in Group A in the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup at the Dunedin Stadium in New Zealand. The Philippines is coming in as a huge underdog in the group being the lowest ranked team at No. 46.
The Filipinas, however, is led by a very experienced and capable coach in Alen Stajcic, who once helped Australia reach the quarterfinals in the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada. The Philippines also has a lot of talent in its rosters with players that play club football internationally, the likes of Sarina Bolden, Jessika Cowart, Dominique Randle, Jacklyn Sawicki, skipper Tahnai Annis, Sara Eggesvik, Quinley Quezada, Carleigh Frilles and Katrina Guillou.
The Philippines reached the semifinals in the AFC Asian Cup and won the AFF Women’s Championship.
The Philippines was very busy in its preparation for the World Cup. It played in the Southeast Asian Games, the Olympic qualifiers and exhibition matches with Wales, Iceland, Scotland and No. 3-ranked Sweden.
Switzerland is making just its second World Cup appearance after making it back in 2015. Led by coach Inka Grings, Switzerland will heavily rely on the talents of Paris Saint-Germain striker Ramona Bachmann and FC Barcelona winger Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic.
In 2023, Switzerland also faced Poland, China, Iceland, Zambia and Morocco in exhibition matches.
Host New Zealand was off to a hot start in Group A after beating No. 12-ranked Norway, 1-0, in an upset. Hannah Wilkinson scored New Zealand’s lone goal in the 48th minute.
The Philippines’ matches in the Fifa Women’s World Cup will be televised locally through CignalTV via One Sports and through its app Pilipinas Live.
“This is an exciting development for football fans in the Philippines with the Filipinas’ matches in the Fifa Women’s World Cup to be shown live on free television and other platforms of Cignal TV,” said Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta in an article at the official PFF website.
“Cignal stepped up and made sure that the Filipinas’ historic campaign will be available in the Philippines. This is not just a historic moment for the Filipinas but for the entire country and having a broadcaster ensures that we all enjoy the moment together.” (EKA)
The Philippines takes on No. 20-ranked Switzerland in its opening match in Group A in the 2023 Fifa Women’s World Cup at the Dunedin Stadium in New Zealand. The Philippines is coming in as a huge underdog in the group being the lowest ranked team at No. 46.
The Filipinas, however, is led by a very experienced and capable coach in Alen Stajcic, who once helped Australia reach the quarterfinals in the 2015 Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada. The Philippines also has a lot of talent in its rosters with players that play club football internationally, the likes of Sarina Bolden, Jessika Cowart, Dominique Randle, Jacklyn Sawicki, skipper Tahnai Annis, Sara Eggesvik, Quinley Quezada, Carleigh Frilles and Katrina Guillou.
The Philippines reached the semifinals in the AFC Asian Cup and won the AFF Women’s Championship.
The Philippines was very busy in its preparation for the World Cup. It played in the Southeast Asian Games, the Olympic qualifiers and exhibition matches with Wales, Iceland, Scotland and No. 3-ranked Sweden.
Switzerland is making just its second World Cup appearance after making it back in 2015. Led by coach Inka Grings, Switzerland will heavily rely on the talents of Paris Saint-Germain striker Ramona Bachmann and FC Barcelona winger Ana-Maria Crnogorcevic.
In 2023, Switzerland also faced Poland, China, Iceland, Zambia and Morocco in exhibition matches.
Host New Zealand was off to a hot start in Group A after beating No. 12-ranked Norway, 1-0, in an upset. Hannah Wilkinson scored New Zealand’s lone goal in the 48th minute.
The Philippines’ matches in the Fifa Women’s World Cup will be televised locally through CignalTV via One Sports and through its app Pilipinas Live.
“This is an exciting development for football fans in the Philippines with the Filipinas’ matches in the Fifa Women’s World Cup to be shown live on free television and other platforms of Cignal TV,” said Philippine Football Federation president Mariano “Nonong” Araneta in an article at the official PFF website.
“Cignal stepped up and made sure that the Filipinas’ historic campaign will be available in the Philippines. This is not just a historic moment for the Filipinas but for the entire country and having a broadcaster ensures that we all enjoy the moment together.” (EKA)
Categories: Philippines News
Obiena leaps up to world No. 2 in men’s pole vault rankings
FILIPINO pole vaulter EJ Obiena has risen to No. 2 in the world men’s pole vault rankings after a spectacular run of podium finishes in numerous tournaments this year, including the recent Asian Athletics Championships where he won the gold medal.
According to the latest rankings released by World Athletics last July 18, Obiena—who has already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics—has 1,432 points and trails the top-ranked Armand Duplantis of Sweden who has 1,569 points. Obiena, though, is just four points clear of the third-ranked Christopher Nilsen of the United States.
The 27-year-old proudly announced his latest achievement on social media, saying: “Your very own skinny kid from Tondo, alumni of CKSC (Chiang Kai Shek College) and UST (University of Santo Tomas), is now WORLD NUMBER TWO.”
“Thank you to everyone who made this possible, and my deepest gratitude to those who went to war so that I could continue this dream,” Obiena’s post continued.
Obiena has been on a roll, setting a new tournament record in the Asian Athletics Championships, with a performance of 5.91 meters last July 16 in Bangkok, Thailand. He has also made it to the podium in all eight events he has competed in this year, surpassing the 5.80-meter mark in five of those meets. (JNP)
According to the latest rankings released by World Athletics last July 18, Obiena—who has already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics—has 1,432 points and trails the top-ranked Armand Duplantis of Sweden who has 1,569 points. Obiena, though, is just four points clear of the third-ranked Christopher Nilsen of the United States.
The 27-year-old proudly announced his latest achievement on social media, saying: “Your very own skinny kid from Tondo, alumni of CKSC (Chiang Kai Shek College) and UST (University of Santo Tomas), is now WORLD NUMBER TWO.”
“Thank you to everyone who made this possible, and my deepest gratitude to those who went to war so that I could continue this dream,” Obiena’s post continued.
Obiena has been on a roll, setting a new tournament record in the Asian Athletics Championships, with a performance of 5.91 meters last July 16 in Bangkok, Thailand. He has also made it to the podium in all eight events he has competed in this year, surpassing the 5.80-meter mark in five of those meets. (JNP)
Categories: Philippines News
Division B’s Crossfit-Subtero-2006 upsets Cebu Landmasters-2003 in SHAABAA
THE Crossfit-Subtero-2006 kicked off its campaign in Division B of the 26th Sacred Heart Ateneo Alumni Basketball Athletic Association (SHAABAA) basketball tournament in the most rousing of fashion, as it toppled the reigning champions, Cebu Landmasters-2003, 63-61, on July 19, 2023, at the Magis Eagles Arena in Mandaue City.
Batch 2006 turned it on in the fourth period as it uncorked a 13-4 run in the first five minutes to turn a 41-45 deficit into a 54-49 lead. But the battle-tested Batch 2003 refused to give in and tied the ballgame at 61-all with just 43.7 seconds to go after a floater by Justin Huang and two freethrows from Darylle Tan.
Batch 2003 even had a shot at retaking the lead after stopping 2006’s offensive but Huang lost control of the ball, leading to Luis Yu III driving the ball inside before dropping it to a wide-open Uriel Lim who made a layup to give 2006 a 63-61 lead with 16 seconds remaining.
Batch 2003 still had a shot at winning the game but its offense went awry, forcing Huang to shoot a tough triple that missed at the buzzer.
Mark Blanco and Luis Yu III had 13 points each for 2006, while Frank Dinsay added 11 points and 10 boards. Tan led 2003 with 15 points and 17 rebounds.
In the other Division B game, the Efficascent Boost-BRC-2010 defeated the Bigatin Trading-2008, 79-66.
It was a close game for the first three periods as 2010 entered the fourth ahead by just three, 57-54. However, it found its second wind in the final stretch to hack out the lopsided win.
Gabe Branzuela had 22 points, five boards, six assists and two steals for the winning side. Jasper Diaz also had a fantastic game with 18 points, 10 boards and four steals. (JNP)
Batch 2006 turned it on in the fourth period as it uncorked a 13-4 run in the first five minutes to turn a 41-45 deficit into a 54-49 lead. But the battle-tested Batch 2003 refused to give in and tied the ballgame at 61-all with just 43.7 seconds to go after a floater by Justin Huang and two freethrows from Darylle Tan.
Batch 2003 even had a shot at retaking the lead after stopping 2006’s offensive but Huang lost control of the ball, leading to Luis Yu III driving the ball inside before dropping it to a wide-open Uriel Lim who made a layup to give 2006 a 63-61 lead with 16 seconds remaining.
Batch 2003 still had a shot at winning the game but its offense went awry, forcing Huang to shoot a tough triple that missed at the buzzer.
Mark Blanco and Luis Yu III had 13 points each for 2006, while Frank Dinsay added 11 points and 10 boards. Tan led 2003 with 15 points and 17 rebounds.
In the other Division B game, the Efficascent Boost-BRC-2010 defeated the Bigatin Trading-2008, 79-66.
It was a close game for the first three periods as 2010 entered the fourth ahead by just three, 57-54. However, it found its second wind in the final stretch to hack out the lopsided win.
Gabe Branzuela had 22 points, five boards, six assists and two steals for the winning side. Jasper Diaz also had a fantastic game with 18 points, 10 boards and four steals. (JNP)
Categories: Philippines News
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