Celebrate Valentine at Days Hotel Iloilo

Every year countless flowers are sent, boxes of chocolates are devoured, and candles burned brightly into the night on Valentine’s Days. Indeed, February 14 has become a big annual celebration of romantic love… 

This Valentine, Days Hotel Iloilo creates the perfect atmosphere to let the persons special to you feel the love in the air. Whether they’re your special someone, your friends, or your relatives, express your affection and appreciation with what Days Hotel Iloilo has to offer. 

Those in the mood for an ultimate gastronomic experience should look no further than The Promenade as Days Hotel Iloilo brings “Romantic Interlude”. It will surely be a night to remember – filled with romance, teeming with exquisite food, select wines and passionate music

This special buffet night is in partnership with Toblerone, Cadbury, CalChews, Ferrero Rocher, May Sparkling Juice, Snickers and Delfi. Rate is PhP 800/pax nett. 

For inquiries and reservations, please call 337-3297, 336-8801 to 10, 0999-887-3297 or 0917-700-3297.

Kuya J is Love

After successfully launching itself as the country’s bagong bida, Kuya J Restaurant undoubtedly gained a deluge of supporters who can’t help but fall in love with its delicious cooking. But more than that, if there’s a pivotal thing that the restaurant earned, it’s the incredible warm reception and the overflowing love of the customers. 

Kuya J's Crispy Pata

It is clearly evident how customers have expressed their approval for Kuya J after trying its heartfelt cooking. It has received overwhelming messages of appreciation and satisfaction, which are posted in social media and spread through word of mouth. Because of this, Kuya J’s heart was definitely filled with incomparable joy.

Kuya J's Lumpi Presko

But of course, this great affection from the customers stems from Kuya J’s mouthwatering dishes that are always made from the heart, coupled with remarkable service.  Come to think of it, maybe love is the secret ingredient—the reason why its customers adore its dishes and keep coming back for more. 

If it’s true, then you can only expect Kuya J to add more of it this year, as its new campaign expresses every Kuya’s love for food. You know what they say; the way to a person’s heart is through the stomach.

Kuya J's Kare-Kare

Aside from that, what exactly is in store for the brand this 2016? Well, for a start, because Kuya J has received an incredible amount of support, it will gladly give back the love by opening up 80 new stores in various parts of the country, specifically at SM Davao; Solenad 3, Sta. Rosa Laguna; SM Cauayan, Isabela; Lucky Chinatown Manila; Ayala Serin, Tagaytay; Otis, Manila, SM Cabanatuan and just recently, SM City Iloilo.

All in all, Kuya J Restaurant will be spreading a tasty kind of love throughout the year. And since we believe that in this world, all we need is love, the restaurant believes that the addition of Crispy Pata, Lumpia Presko, and Kare-Kare and a whole lot of offerings won’t hurt.

Reviving the Art of Traditional Dye-Weaving with The Indigo Project

Indigo was once widely favored by the local weaving industry as a traditional way of adding color to fabrics due to its excellent resistance from fading or running.  Yet, over the years, this natural dye was pushed to the sidelines by the emergence of cheaper and easier to obtain synthetic dyes which were quick to be embraced by textile manufacturers. 

But not all is lost.  A collaborative network of non-governmental organizations and community-based organizations in South and Southeast Asia called Non-Timber Forest Products – Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) has started working on The Indigo Project which reaches out to indigenous populations in upland and rural communities in the Philippines and Indonesia.  These artisans include members of Mangyan Alangan, Mangyan Hanunoo and Mangyan Iraya of the island of Mindoro; Higaonon of Bukidnon, Palaw'anon and Tagbanua of Palawan, T'boli of South Cotabato, Maguindanao weavers and those of Negros.

The Indigo Project promotes the development and implementation of environmental and social standards in hand-woven textiles production. It supports production and sourcing of environmentally friendly natural dyes and fibers, establishes eco-friendly product standards, and scales production of eco-textiles.

In the Philippine, NTFP-EP partnered with CustomMade Crafts Center (CMCC) as its integrated design and marketing arm to give project beneficiaries proper skills training that will allow them to combine modern technology with age-old practices.  The goal is to produce world-class materials made of natural dye and fiber that can be promoted not only locally but to the international market as well. 

Modi or Modern Indigenous, CMCC’s banner program, for instance, is a lifestyle line that fuses traditional crafts with contemporary design and function. It is a synergy of Philippine tribal artisans and city-bred designers to make culture-bound crafts up to date. CMCC, incidentally is one of the social enterprises being supported by leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom.

"When we started the Indigo Project, there were no takers. It was only Globe who really worked with us on this," says Benilda Camba, NTFP-EP Enterprise Development Coordinator.

“Globe believes that everyone should have a share in the country's economic growth that is why we continue to focus on underserved communities which we can help by providing sustainable livelihood programs.  Through these efforts, Globe hopes to offer viable economic opportunities – and with these, new possibilities for prosperity,” said Fernando Esguerra, Director of Globe Corporate Social Responsibility. 

NTFP-EP and CMCC benefit from the information and communication technology tools being provided by Globe such as internet connectivity and mobile credit card payment facility through Globe Charge , as well as capacity building support and market access. "We're not business people, we're more involved in community development. But all this technology helps drive the business," adds Camba.

But Globe is not only all about technology.  As part of the company’s rehabilitation and recovery efforts in the Province of Aklan, Globe and CMCC has expanded the program in the province to benefit more subsistence farmers and to take advantage of the vibrant weaving industry in Aklan.  In Madalag, for instance,  from just one barangay Globe added 10 more to its list of supported barangays.  Madalag grows Indigo plants whose leaves are eventually turned into powdered dye which CMCC buys to supplement the livelihood of the communities. 

Globe helped establish natural indigo dye powdering facilities not only in Aklan but also in Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Zamboanga, and Palawan.

By preserving this craft which is a traditional expression of the art and identity of indigenous and rural peoples, NTFP-EP, CMCC, and Globe are not only able to keep such customs alive but are also able to provide the communities a way to a better life in the face of growing marginalization. 

Smart Hosts ‘DINAGYANG Virtual Party’ in Country’s First Facebook Live Video

Amidst the frenzy of revelers at the much celebrated Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo over the weekend, unrivaled mobile services leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) broke new ground as it became the first brand to pilot Facebook Live in the Philippines.

The latest feature of the world’s biggest social networking site, Facebook Live allows users to broadcast live video content as a new way to engage followers. For a more shared experience, Facebook Live also allows viewers to post their comments and interact with each other in real time. 

The feature was first introduced for use by US celebrities last August, and was then rolled out for verified accounts of public figures, news sites, brands and other users just last month.

Party at your fingertips

For its pilot Facebook Live video, Smart broadcasted a 20-minute segment of the Love Dance, one of the biggest electronic dance music celebrations at the Dinagyang Festival last Jan. 22

The live video came as a regular notification to the followers of Smart’s official account on Facebook. Upon clicking the notification, they were directed to the live video, which featured the rousing beats of Smart ambassadors and party staples DJ Ace Ramos and MC Pao. 

Viewers from all over the county streamed in and posted their reactions – mostly in awe of the new feature and thrilled to be able to join the celebrations virtually on their mobile devices: “Ang sarap pumasok sa screen at maki-party (If only I could enter the screen and join the party)!,” commented user Jaylord Ambe. “This is amazing!,” user Jr Florentino chimed in.

The next day, Smart once again tapped Facebook Live to broadcast the set of Smart Ambassador Inno Naguit at the Dinagyang Invasion, another major electronic dance music celebration, eliciting positive responses from viewers who got to share the festival experience despite being miles away.

Each Facebook Live video was automatically published on Smart’s Facebook page, which was later viewed and shared by the thousands of followers.

Forefront of mobile technology

“Smart has always been at the forefront of mobile innovations in the country, and we are very honored and thrilled to be the first brand to launch Facebook Live in the Philippines, which promises another awesome Smart Life experience for Facebook users,” said Kathy Carag, Smart Brand Head. 

“This new feature not only stretches the capabilities of Facebook, but also opens great possibilities for us to enrich the mobile lifestyle of our subscribers, who can now tune in to witness significant events and share the experience with others in real time – all with just a few taps on their smartphone,” she added.

History of Innovations

Smart’s launch of Facebook Live follows a string of mobile innovations and product offers which Smart introduced to keep Filipinos abreast with the latest technologies, enriching their digital lifestyle. 

Smart recently pioneered the ‘Shared Data’ scheme which allowed postpaid and prepaid subscribers to share data volume conveniently with their loved ones so as to keep them connected online, with access to the widest breadth of digital content – from music and videos to games and more – on their mobile devices. 

Last year, Smart led the way for Southeast Asia’s first Smart LTE Multicast of a live event through the use of the evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services (eMBMS).  After pioneering and launching the use of LTE in the Philippines in 2012, Smart also conducted the country’s first trial of LTE-Advanced in 2013, joining only a handful of carriers around the world with such capability.

Smart offers fast and reliable broadband services via its nation-widest network, which is backed by the country’s most extensive fiber optic footprint that spans over 100,000 kilometers.

Megaworld's rental income to reach PhP11B in 2016

Property giant Megaworld is expected to hit P11-billion in rental income this year as the company expects to complete more office towers, malls and commercial centers with a total gross floor area of more than 650,000 square meters by the end of the year.

Property giant aggressively expands office, mall portfolio by 650,000 sqm across townships

With this, the company, known to be the country’s largest developer and landlord of office spaces, will see its recurring income grow to more than 20% by end-2016.

“We are on-track in strengthening our office and mall portfolio as we continue to experience robust demand for spaces, both office and retail, in our townships. Both our offices and retail spaces enjoy a very high occupancy rate of around 99% across our developments,” says Jericho P. Go, senior vice president, Megaworld.

At least 10 office towers in Uptown Bonifacio, McKinley West, The Mactan Newtown and Iloilo Business Park will be completed by year-end. These new office towers will bring in a gross floor area of 287,500 square meters.

Currently, the company has over 150 companies in its portfolio of office tenants, mostly from the Information Technology and Business Process Outsourcing (IT-BPO) sector. Through the years, Megaworld townships have become home to some of the world’s biggest IT-BPO companies such as Accenture, Wells Fargo, HP, IBM and United Health Group.

Around 11 malls and commercial centers, on the other hand, will be completed in McKinley Hill, Uptown Bonifacio, McKinley West, The Mactan Newtown, Iloilo Business Park, ArcoVia City, Southwoods City and Makati by year-end. These new developments will have a gross floor area of around 371,000 square meters.

“Our malls and commercial centers primarily cater to our growing residents and BPO workers in our townships.  Megaworld offers a “ready market” to our retail partners. In McKinley Hill, for example, where we have around 80,000 BPO workers and 12,000 residents. They are the primary customers of Venice Piazza, Tuscany and the upcoming Venice GrandCanal Mall,” explains Go. 

Iloilo City welcomes Namsadang Baudeogi Pungmuldan Troupe from Anseong City, South Korea

The Namsadang Baudeogi Pungmuldan Troupe from Anseong City, Korea performed at SM City Iloilo during the Dinagyang Festival giving Ilonggos as glimpse of the colorful Korean music and dance culture.

The Anseong delegation visited Iloilo City last year to establish friendly cooperation agreement which has opened mutual exchanges.  Anseong is Iloilo's "sister city" and is also called “City of Masters” and promotes itself as a “City of Culture and Arts” home to brassware crafts.

And two days later for the first time in the history of the Dinagyang Festival, spectators were treated to a performance Baudeogi Festival during the Sunday highlight which was the Ati Tribe Competition.

The dance troupe was formed in an effort to preserve the tradition in Anseong, the home to Namsadang. Its performance provides an opportunity for everyone to better understand Korean culture through Namsadangnori.

The performance by a group from the Baudeogi Festival is a result of the signing of a Friendly City relation between the Anseong City and Iloilo City last year. In October last year, the Iloilo City sent its Dinagyang Festival to perform at the Anseong Baudeogi Festival.

Check out these short video clips of their performance at SM City Iloilo

SONY Centre opens at the Cyberzone of SM City Iloilo

“As we open this new store, we are also opening door to consumers who want to inspire band fulfilL their imaginations." said Tetsuka Suda (below), Country Manager for Sales of Sony Philippines.  "This is a mission that Sony takes seriously” 

SONY, the world’s trusted brand for audio, digital imaging, game, mobile phones and other electronic products for the consumer and professional market, opened a new Sony Centre in Iloilo City located at the Cyberzone, 3rd Level of SM City Iloilo's expansion wing.

With the new Sony Center, Sony intends to provide a level of consumer experience equal to the superior quality of its products. 

The new store, located in prime spot in SM City Iloilo's expansion wing, makes the products more accessible to the market. 

Customers are encouraged to touch and try the products for a complete brand experience.

The market for consumer electronics is growing. High demand for mobile phones and digital cameras are major contributors to this. Sony intends to match the pace of that growth in every way it can.

For decades, Sony has been the go-to-brand for home entertainment products. Recently, however, the company expanded its lines of business to include cameras, game and most notable, mobile phones. 

“We will not be complacent. We will continuously explore way to provide the best technology for our customers.” Suda promises.

The new store is well-lit, with more than enough space to accommodate strong line-up of personal and home audio, digital imaging and mobile phones and customers. 

If this is any indication of the future of Sony, then it is looking as clear and bright as its renowned 4K technology.

Make your Ideas Happen at Outdoormaster

Ideas can spell a big difference for your business. Make sure you have the right partner in making those ideas happen, for in business, advertising is very important in attracting your target market to your brand. 

Offering affordable advertising solutions to establishments and organizations without compromising quality, OUTDOORMASTER “Make Ideas Happen,” 

The company offers advertising solutions to establishments and organizations depending on their budget yet without sacrificing their quality.

Main services include small and large format printing of street banners, birthday and event tarpaulins, board up, x-standee banners, roll-up banners, billboard, signages, pylon signs and stickers. It also specializes in laser cutting and engraving and CNC routing.

Outdoormaster works hard to set a positive reputation in producing and maintaining the best outdoor advertisement by exceeding clients’ expectations while working within budget and to create value for its stakeholders” 

Started in 2012 in Bacolod City, Outdoormaster has expanded to Iloilo since to set a mark in the competitive market.

Its main Iloilo City branch is located along Diversion Road, Mandurriao and there's another along Jalandoni Street in Jaro, Iloilo City.

Indeed, Outdoormaster helps make your ideas happen!

Jhett Tolentino: Toast of Broadway, Pride of Iloilo

Jhett Tolentino (center) receives recognition tokens from Steven Tan, SM Supermalls Senior Vice President Steven Tan (2nd from left) and Junel Ann Divinagracia (2nd from right), Iloilo City Tourism Officer. Also present were SM City Iloilo's Mall Manager Gilbert Domingo (left)  and Kristine Rojo (right), Group Marketing Manager SM Supermalls.

SM City Iloilo celebrated world-class Ilonggo talent as it gave recognition to three-time Tony Awardee - Jhett Tolentino. He is one-half of JoanJhett Productions and is the third Filipino to receive a Tony following Lea Salonga and Robert Lopez. But he distinguishes himself at the first Filipino Voter for the Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre or Tony Awards.

Tolentino made headlines in 20145 for bagging not one but two Tony trophies as one of the producers of “A Raisin in the Sun” and “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.” 

"A Raisin in the Sun,” which stars Denzel Washington, and “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” respectively won Best Revival of a Play and Best Musical at the 68th Antoinette Perry (Tony) Awards held at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City on June 8, 2014.

Tolentino holds a Degree in Accounting and hails from Iloilo City. Aside from his Tony Awards accolades, he is also a 2014 The Outstanding Filipino Americans - New York (TOFA-NY) awardee for Entertainment and knighted to the Order of the Knights of Rizal - New York Chapter on June 19, 2015. 

Knorr celebrates National Tapa Day on Jan. 29

Celebrate National Tapa Day on January 29 with Buy 1 Take 1 Tapsilog/ Tapa Meals at selected restaurants and fastfood. Starting at the store opening hours, Knorr National Tapa Day TAPArtners will treat the first 100 dine-in customers to a buy 1 take 1 promo. 

Here are the participating food establishments and their respective branches.

Tapa King – Boni, Carpark, Chino, Cubao, E. Rodriguez, G.A. Tower, Jupiter, Link, Taft, Mega, NetPlaza, Pioneer, RCBC, Uni-oil Monumento, Tutuban, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Banawe, Harrison, Santana Grove, SMDC Welcome Rotonda, Naga Road, Las Pinas, Katipunan, La Union, Antipolo 

Rufo’s – A. Venue, Paseo Center, BF Homes, Pearl Plaza, Shaw, St. Benilde, UST, McKinley Hill, Market! Market!, SM Mezza, Eastwood, UP-Ayaland Technohub, Timog, Telus Cubao, Robinsons Galleria, Star Mall Las Pinas 

P&N Countryside Steakhouse – Robinson’s Mall Imus, Covelandia Road Binakayan Kawit, PMI Student Center Brgy. Burol Main Dasmarinas City. 

Countrysdie Sizzling House – Centralmall Salitran Dasmarinas City, Molino. 

Taps – MTS, Bolton, Duterte, Palma Gil, Damosa 

Floyd’s Famous BBQ – Delgado, The Atrium, Nelly’s Garden  Plazuela 

Merzci Bakeshop and Restaurant – Luzuriaga, Silay, Bago, La Carlota, Sagay

This promo applies to all ala carte tapsilog meals offered by the participating establishments.

Dinagyang Carnival at Megaworld's Iloilo Business Park

Megaworld's Iloilo Business Park joins Iloilo City's biggest festival with its very own Dinagyang Carnival 2016. As a tourism magnet, Dinagyang Festival is the most anticipated cultural event while Iloilo Business Park is not just city’s magnet for commerce and investment but the whole of Western Visayas. Located at the Iloilo Business Park Sales and Information Center, the IBP Dinagyang Carnival will run on January 21, 22 and 24 and extended a week after - on January 29, 30 and 31 opens 4PM onwards.

Here are some things you'll see and enjoy at Dinagyang Carnival:

• Dinagyang Carnival is partly a Zoo-inspired fun place where effigies of animals such as Elephant, Horse and Giraffe welcome visitors and onlookers at the entrance arc.
• Would you like your kids to enjoy a challenging activity? Bring them to Wild West Maze, it’s the first human maze made for kids.
• Care for some swing and slides? Check out Jumping Jellybeans Playhouse where kids can feel at home and enjoy physical activities.
• Join the pop trend, bring your kids and visit Boom Scooter Boards available for rental within the Carnival area.
• Let your kids play, jump around and have fun at the inflatable balloon house.
• Photo snaps and selfies are surely on your list, check out Dinagyang Carnival photo boards where they can play different characters.
• Be amazed by local jugglers and clowns at the carnival area.
• Right next to the carnival area is the Iloilo Business Park Sales and Information Center, the biggest lifestyle showroom in the region. While your kids are having fun, check out some of the most stunning and luxurious condominium model units offered by The Palladium and other residential towers.

A fireworks displayed dubbed as "Glitters in the Park" will light up the Iloilo night scene onmJanuary 23, 7PM, location – Megaworld Boulevard.

Globe readies PH education sector for 21st century learning with innovative ICT solutions

De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde chooses Globe as ICT education solutions provider for its Brightspace Learning Management System 

Globe Telecom is priming Philippine schools for 21st century learning with the use of innovative information and communications technology (ICT) solutions that transform the delivery of education.

Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu (2nd from right) and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde President Br. Dennis Magbanua FSC (2nd from left) flash the Benilde sign during the partnership agreement signing between Globe Telecom and De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, enabling the school access to the telco’s Brightspace Learning Management System. Joining them are D2L Senior Channel Sales Manager David O’Hagan (leftmost) and Globe Head of Sales Engagement for Globe Education Solutions Bobby Khan (rightmost).

Through its IT Enabled Services Group, Globe was chosen as the ICT education solutions provider of the De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) for its Brightspace Learning Management System under the Globe Education Solutions suite. 

Globe Education Solutions is the telco’s pursuit into strengthening education delivery in the Philippines through the use of ICT. With the aspiration to mold the youth into world-class and global citizens through technological innovations in education, the Brightspace learning platform seamlessly connects digital content, learning analytics, mobile and collaboration tools, adaptive learning with an ecosystem of applications, resources, and services. Its key benefits include optimized, outcome-based, and student-centered learning; increased faculty productivity and efficiency; improved performance, attainment, and success rates; and improved student engagement and retention among others. 

"The digital shift is upon us and now is the best time to bring the benefits of technology to education. This will definitely impact not only the delivery of education but the learning experience of students today and in the future. Our partnership with De La Salle Benilde demonstrates our commitment to transform learning in the country and bring the PH education sector to greater heights and in a global scale,” said Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu. 

DLS-CSB President Br. Dennis Magbanua FSC adds, “The digital solutions powered by Globe Education Solutions enhance teachers' and students' learning experience beyond the classroom walls. Globe has the capacity and expertise to make a real difference in this vital sector of the society and we look forward to the innovative solutions and services that Globe has in store for DLS-CSB.” 

Globe Education Solutions (GES) offers a world-class system for education that fits your school's needs. These are the school management system Educube from Globals providing improved efficiencies of school operations such as enrollment, grading, accounting, inventory and other processes; eBooks from Flipside Publishing Services, Inc. through content conversion and creation, ebooks aggregation, and distribution; and learning management system Brightspace from D2L which supports flexible, personalized, and a mobile-ready learning experience.

For more information on Globe Education Solutions, visit www.globe.com.ph/education or send an email to educationsolutions@globe.com.ph.

Jericho Rosales says "Salamat, Kuya J"

To say that Kuya J Restaurant introduced itself last year is an understatement. 

Because Kuya J actually made its presence felt, so much so that the entire Philippines would want to get a taste of its famous Crispy Pata, or at the very least, crave its mouthwatering goodness. Unless you’re living under a rock, Kuya J’s campaign, which featured its bidang endorser, Jericho Rosales, was everywhere. From billboards, building façades, banners, and LED screens, down to posters, newspapers, TV screens, online, and even in mobile phones, you can see Echo offering that lip-smacking Crispy Pata. It’s no wonder why the SM Partners Summit awarded Kuya J for Best in

Marketing in Visayas and Mindanao.

What’s even more incredible is that prior to the successful launch of their campaign last September 2015, Kuya J only had 18 fully operating stores. Thereafter, they’ve opened 12 more in a span of only 3 months, making it a grand total of 30 stores by the end of 2015. Now, if that didn’t make your jaw

drop, we don’t know what will.

Here’s another jaw-breaking fact: All of Kuya J’s blockbuster success is attributed to the exceptional performances and fiery passion of the entire Kuya J Team, headed by the seasoned restaurateur, Winglip Chang.

Chang is highly known in Cebu for his knack of constantly bringing food and restaurant services to a whole new level. With over 30 years of remarkable experience in the food industry, it’s no surprise that Kuya J Restaurant has become and continues to be one of the fast rising Filipino restaurants in the country.

But of course, let’s also give credit to where credit’s due; Echo played an awardwinning role in Kuya J’s campaign. Aside from being an endorser, he became a real life Kuya for the brand. He served customers, made sure that everything is alright in the restaurant’s kitchen, treated his family, friends, and co-workers for lunch, entertained his fans and the list goes on. Ultimately, he became the person that everybody looked up to, both in and out of Kuya J Restaurant. Now that’s what you call a Kuya.

More than anything else, Kuya J Restaurant is grateful for what they have accomplished right now. 

And for sure, they will continue to make a name for themselves, or maybe even more, this year.

Smart, MyPhone launch PhP 888 handset

Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) and MyPhone, the Philippines’ pioneering mobile phone brand, launched an Android Prepaid Smartphone kit aimed at increasing the smartphone adoption in the country, where only around 4 in 10 Filipinos or 40 percent owned a smartphone as of end 2015, based on a recent report by Swedish ICT provider Ericsson.

Available for a one-time payment of only P888, the handset comes with a Smart Prepaid Sim packed with Free 100MB valid 30 days for 12 months, as well as a load rebate of P30 for an accumulated top-up of P100 every month for 12 months.

Through its latest Prepaid Smartphone offer, Smart not only expects to entice new smartphone users and Smart Prepaid subscribers, but also to sustain the mobile data usage within PLDT’s wireless segment, which grew by 139 percent and has led to a combined broadband and mobile Internet revenues of as much as P15.6 billion in the first nine months of 2015.

Smart Prepaid Smartphone  is available at all Smart Stores, Smart Online Store (store.smart.com.ph) and all MyPhone retail outlets nationwide. It has a quad-core processor that runs the latest Android operating system Lollipop, which allows for efficient multitasking – from browsing news sites, emailing, and using popular apps like Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and chat apps like Viber, Messenger, and WhatsApp.

Smarts Prepaid Smartphone also features a dual-SIM functionality and comes preloaded with the hottest apps like iflix, Southeast Asia’s leading internet TV service, and Spinnr, Smart’s award-winning music streaming app, among many others.

The phone is also equipped with 5MP main camera and 2MP front camera, as well as an 8GB expandable memory that can be used to save top apps and mobile games like Clash of Clans, Boom Beach and Bejeweled, among many others

Experience Dinagyang Festival 2016 at SM City Iloilo

Celebrate Iloilo’s Biggest Event of the Year at SM City Iloilo! Your favorite shopping, entertainment and lifestyle destination is the venue of exciting happenings this Dinagyang season!  

On January 16, teen heartthrob Marlo Mortel will visit his Ilonggo fans 5pm at the Event Center.

The Iloilo Arts Festival will be an attraction on January 20, 4pm at the new wing of the mall. The event will be a showcase of dancesports and folk dances.

To set the mood, Festival Parades will be held around the mall on January 16-17 at 1pm and 3pm and on January 22-24 at 5pm and 7pm.

The best of Iloilo and Western Visayas will be featured in the Iloilo Travel Mart from January 17-24 at the Event Center. The fair will be mounted by the Iloilo Tourism Officers Association(ITOA).

M2M featuring UP Modus and Mike Sorilla fashion show on January 23 at the new wing will be a display of Ilonggo talent and craftsmanship in fashion. The event will be at 6pm.

The Iloilo Visual Arts Collective(IVAC), an association spearheaded by respected and  nationally and internationally known artists of Iloilo, will mount a weeklong exhibit at the new wing of the mall. Big names such as Ed Defensor, Rock Drilon, Harry Mark Gonzales, KristofferBrasileño, PG Zoluaga, Alan Cabalfin, Gina Apostol, Oscar Peñasales, Vic Fario, Martin Genodepa, Pierre Patrcio, Larry Calderon, Dodjie Tan, Marzz Capanang Mia Reyes and Alex Ordoyo will display their works with themes about culture and heritage.

Another world-class Ilonggo in the person of Mr. Jhett Tolentino will be at the mall live on January 22, 4pm at the new wing. Mr. Tolentino is the Tony award-winning Filipino who happens to be an Ilongg, and he is town to share his precious time with his fellow Ilonggos.

Anseong City of South Korea will bring the ANSEONG MUNICIPAL NAMSADANG BAUDEUGI PUNGMULDAN: A Korean Cultural Presentation on January 22 & 23, 3PM at the New Wing. A new attraction for this year, the presentation is the Korean city’s answer to Dinagyang Festival’s visit and performance and performance in the said city late last year.

Shoppers can also visit the Tattoo Bar at  Lower Ground Floor, near Café Iloilo and have their souvenir photos taken at Upper Ground Floor, near MangInasal and Lower Ground Floor, front of Gongcha and Rose Pharmacy on January 18 – 24 / 10 AM – 9 PM.

While the happenings are going on inside the mall, the great outdoor party will happen outside, at the SM City Iloilo Carpark area starting with the Dinagyang Marathon on January 17, 5am at the main entrance area of the mall.

Luces in the Sky, the 7thDinagyang Fireworks Display will color the skies on January 21 at 7pm. The Dinagyang Food Festival and Street Party will happen on January 21-24, 5pm onwards in the carparkarea as well, and the biggest party this Dinagyang will unfold on January 22 with the Love Dance Party, 5pm to 2am.

SM Youth is bringing the hottest young models Janna Lee, LA Aguinaldo, Richard Juan and Tommy Esguerra with Hideo Muraoka of SM Men’s Fashion on January 23 at 4pm. 

The GMA Kapuso Mall Show will follow at 7pm.

On January 24, DJ Kate Chavez will set the mood starting at 4pm at the new wing. Kenzo Gutierrez and Kyle Secades of PBB All In will entertain their fans at 7pm while Manila band Up Dharma Down will take the stage at 11pm at the Carpark area.

And yes! Enjoy your shopping with the Dinagyang Festival Sale on January 18-24. Up to 70% discount on selected items while you enjoy the festival costumes exhibit and attractions around the mall. A Dinagyang Assistance Center is also located at the new wing.

Amidst the most awaited Ati tribes competition in the downtown area, one place is set to give Ilonggos and tourists alike the ultimate shopping, lifestyle and entertainment experience this Dinagyang season.

You only live once, so let’s party at SM City Iloilo!

Special thanks to Pepsi , San Miguel, Fiesta Souvenir Sunlife, Shirts, Krispy Kreme  and Picture City.

Globe brings Asia’s first-of-its-kind e-commerce platform in PH to benefit enterprises, SMEs

Globe Telecom is bringing Asia’s first-of-its-kind commerce platform in the country that will enable Philippine enterprises and SMEs access to cloud-based solutions and applications. 

In partnership with AppDirect, a global commerce platform for selling cloud services, Globe has launched Globe AppMarket, a portal where business customers have the ability to find, try, buy and manage essential business solutions in one place with one bill and one login. It offers a collection of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications such as CRM, Web Conferencing, Marketing/e-Marketing and Online Storage. 

Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu (2nd from left) seals the agreement with AppDirect Regional Director for Asia Lincoln Jack Lincoln (2nd from right) to offer Philippine enterprises and SMEs cloud-based applications via the Globe AppMarket. Joining them are Globe IT Enabled Services Group VP for Sales Rey Lugtu and AppDirect Senior Account Manager for North America Chris Messick. 

“Cloud has changed the way businesses around the world distribute and use software. Partnering with AppDirect’s robust, enterprise-grade platform will securely handle every aspect of cloud services monetization and management for Globe, including provisioning, billing, product integration, identity and access, and application management,” said Mike Frausing, Globe Senior Advisor for Enterprise and IT Enabled Services. 

“The Asia-Pacific market is a strategic part of our business.  Local and trusted service providers in the region such as Globe Telecom will play a key role in helping Philippine businesses gain access to the software they need, and we will lead the way in powering the cloud economy in the region and globally,” shared Lincoln J. Lincoln, AppDirect Asia Regional Director. 

AppDirect is the cloud service commerce leader in making software and products accessible globally. The AppDirect cloud service commerce platform unites providers, developers and consumers of cloud services into a single ecosystem. This makes it easy for businesses to find, buy, manage and monitor cloud services from a central location and delivers new opportunities to distribute, sell, and market cloud services.

E. Juntado Elementary School Students receive SM Cares Bears of Joy

Kinder students of E. Juntado Elementary School in Calumpang Molo, Iloilo City were among the beneficiaries of the the SM Cares Bears of Joy from SM City Iloilo. The project was launched in November 2015 during SM City Iloilo's Christmas 2015 launch.

For only P200.00, shoppers purchased a pair of Christmas Bears wherein they got to keep 1 and the other will be donated to the mall’s selected beneficiary/charity organization. 

Through the One Meal group’s assistance to identify the said beneficiary, the SM Cares projects aim to make more children happy by supporting the charity drive, the bears surely brought joy to every child who received it.

The SM Cares Bears of Joy is a reflection of sharing as every bear comes from a shopper who bought it for donation. An ancillary channel of love sending warm hugs from one person to those in need.

Globe boosts growth of PH outbound travels with support to country’s biggest travel expo

 Globe Telecom is looking to support the growing number of Filipinos travelling abroad either for business or leisure purposes with its partnership with the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) for the 23rd Travel Tour Expo, with Globe as official telecom partner. Globe will be showcasing its flagship data roaming service Roam Surf which offers full 24 hours of unlimited data roaming service that enables worry-free internet connectivity from over 80 countries around the world for its postpaid and prepaid customers.

Globe Telecom Senior Vice President for Consumer Mobile Marketing Issa Cabreira (center) formalizes the partnership of the telco with PTAA President Michelle Victoria (2nd from left) for the 23rd Travel Tour Expo with Globe as official telco partner. Joining them are (L-R) 23rd Travel Tour Expo chair Lulu Velasco, Globe Vice President for Roaming and International Business Coco Domingo and PTAA co-chairman Marciano Ragaza III.

According to the United Nations World Travel Organization (UNWTO), Filipinos have been identified as one of the fastest-growing travel spenders among emerging markets in 2013, with the country’s outbound expenditure growing by 18 percent, second highest in the list of top travel spenders following Turkey, which registered a 24 percent growth.

Organized by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association, Inc. (PTTA) in cooperation with the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board, the Expo is the biggest event for the travel and tourism industry and is expected to gather over 300 exhibitors targeting travel and tourism trade practitioners, corporate and business travelers, holiday travelers, incentive and convention planners, government and business leaders, as well as direct buyers and investors. It will be held on February 5-7, 2016 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Founded in 1979 with an aim to foster unity in the travel industry and promote the welfare of its members and the traveling public, the PTTA is a group of outbound travel agencies and inbound tour operators. For this year’s installment of the Travel and Tour Expo, the public can also expect games, entertainment, raffle activities and presentations from participation exhibitors and sponsors aside from great travel deals and offers.

“We are off to a great start this 2016 with our partnership with the PTAA.  With our shared vision of providing the best and most convenient travel experience to the growing Filipino travel population, PTAA and Globe will come together to not only house the most hassle-free and value-for-money travel deals but to ensure that Filipino consumers understand that their trips can be made even more wonderful with our banner roaming product Roam Surf,” says Coco Domingo, Vice President for Roaming and International Business at Globe.

Domingo adds, “Roam Surf is the perfect data roaming service for Filipino travelers who want to enjoy the digital life they are accustomed to once they travel abroad. Roam Surf provides true 24 hours of unlimited data while roaming and eliminates the worry of bill shock because of its flat rate of only P599 per day. With Roam Surf, users can surf, post updates on their social networks, use their apps, share files, and even stream music and videos to complete the travel experience. Roam Surf also comes with a free 30-day travel insurance coverage for a worry-free travel that only Globe can give.”

With Globe RoamSurf, Filipino travelers abroad have access to full 24-hour data roaming service for only P599 per day. This means that data roaming connectivity does not end at 11:59pm. Roam Surf also allows customers to enjoy a complete browsing experience with no limitation or usage restriction, allowing users to do music and video streaming, as well as file sharing with no additional cost.

Subscription to Roam Surf is simple. Postpaid customers simply need to turn their data roaming on their mobile while prepaid customers can subscribe either while in the Philippines or already at the country of destination by dialing *143# toll-free.

To supplement the worry-free travel experience, Roam Surf customers will also get access to free travel insurance coverage to protect them from travel-related incidents such as lost luggage, damaged mobile devices, terminated or delayed flights, and other travel inconveniences.

To know more about Globe Roam Surf and other roaming promos, visit www.globe.com.ph/international, dial *143#, download the GServices app on Google Play or App Store, or call the Roaming Hotline +6327301212.

Virtual hotel operator Nida Rooms mobile app

Nida Rooms Philippines, the first virtual hotel operator and hotel room consolidator that is a subsidiary of Global Rooms Limited (GRL) launched its newest mobile app. 

Nida Rooms’ mobile app allows customers to instantly see thousands of affordable hotel rooms at their preferred locations in major Philippine cities.  This gives  the consumer access to hotel inventory, pricing and location in one screen view on their smartphone.

Nida Rooms’ country manager Malou Pangilinan said that small medium enterprises or SMEs will benefit from the Nida Rooms business concept of providing convenient, consistent, comfortable, and affordable hotel experience for business travelers as well as local tourist in many locations nationwide.

She said that they have pre-qualified and selected their hotel partners based on stringent quality standards that Nida Rooms upholds.  Partner hotels in the Philippines are now able to sell their rooms through a new smartphone mobile app distribution channel that is non-competitive with their traditional online travel agents (OTAs) or their walk-in customer business.

Furthermore, smaller boutique or no economy hotels with no web presence or relationship with OTAs, are instantly able to access the smartphone consumer by joining the Nida Rooms network.

In-line with its aim to provide “A Good Night. Every Night”, Nida rooms work closely with hotel managers in order to  provide consistent, essential services for its customers.

Nida Rooms Philippines team Chandran Ravie, Senior VP- Philippines, Malou Pangilinan, Country Manager- Philippines, Antonet Tan, Relationship and Training Manager, and Paul Castro, Business Development Manager/ Acquisition Manager

You can book your room anytime through the Nida Rooms mobile app. You can download it for free from the Google Play Store while the mobile application from the Apple Store will be available soon.

Nida Rooms, the first and only Virtual Hotel Operator (VHO) in the Philippines has over 50 partner hotels nationwide. Through its direct sales force of over 150 relationship managers and daily increasing hotel sign-ups, Nida Rooms expects to reach over 1,500 partner hotels in the Philippines by the second quarter of 2016 giving it majority market share in the mid and economy hotel market segments in the country