The new Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge best enjoyed with the Globe MyLifestyle Plan

As the leader in the digital lifestyle, Globe Telecom is gearing up to welcome the newest Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge to the Philippines. With this, the mobile savvy will now be able to take their digital lifestyle to the next level as they complement these latest devices with the topnotch Globe myLifestyle plans. 

Soon, Globe customers can take their digital lifestyle to the next level with the new Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Designed to cater to the evolving digital lifestyles of Filipinos, myLifestyle plans allow customers to personalize their plans to fit their interests and bring them closer to what they love. 

With the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge, Globe customers will be able to fully enjoy the best content from Globe such as movies from online entertainment service HOOQ or the latest game updates from your favorite teams in the NBA. 

“Over the next few days, our customers will find out why it is best to get the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge as we introduce our unbeaten myLifestyle Plan offers soon. True to our commitment to provide nothing but the best content and service, and as the leader in postpaid and preferred telco carrier of the latest smartphones, our loyal customers can be assured that the Globe myLifestyle plans will let them maximize what the Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge can offer," says Erli Magtubo-Valdez, Vice President for Postpaid Business at Globe.

At the recent Samsung unpacking event in Barcelona, Spain lead by its CEO D.J. Kho, Samsung showcased the innovative new features of Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. 

Both models are IP68 water and dust resistant in up to 1.5 meters of water and for up to 30 minutes protection against dust ingress. It carries a DSLR like Real Pixel Camera that is the world’s 1st dual photodiode sensor (2PD) in mobile that provides superfast autofocus. The new models promise brighter and clearer images with f/1.7 lens and faster shutter speed that minimizes motion blur.

Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge has an expandable memory up to 200GB and faster processor, smoother graphics, 4GB RAM and a larger battery and faster charging. The S7 Edge also enhanced its Dual Edge display with the all new task edge that provides shortcuts to the most used functions.

Finally both phones allow users to experience an expanded Galaxy Ecosystem with Gear VR compatibility for a virtual reality experience and Gear S2 compatibility for on-the-go convenience.

To learn more about what new postpaid plan is right for you alongside the rest of Globe Telecom’s portfolio of postpaid plans, visit http://www.globe.com.ph, call 7301010, or visit a store nearest you.

DSWD6 reminds parents to protect kids from sexual abuse

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office VI is reminding parents to ensure the safety of their children particularly from sexual abuse.

“Sexual abuse among children could curtail their growth and traumatize them. Thus, we call on parents to be extra vigilant,” said Rebecca Geamala, regional director.

Geamala issued this statement as the whole country observed the National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.”

According to her, the department continues to encounter cases of incest, particularly in the agency managed center, Home for Girls.

Rosalina Lorque, center head of Home for Girls, said that in 2015, they have recorded 10 cases of incest. Cases of incest mean the children were victimized by perpetrators who are members of their respective family.

For the whole year, they were able to help 26 new clients. The nature of cases includes rape, three; dependents of clients, six; protective custody, four; and trafficking, three.

The following tips were given to help parents to prevent sexual abuse at home:

• Teach children that private parts must not be touched by other people even their relatives
• Teach children to say no and shout for help should they feel uncomfortable because of being sexually harassed
• Give separate rooms for girls and boys children
• Mothers should be present in the household, particularly washing up of children at least every night to check for physical signs such as bruises 
• Ensure open communication between parents and children
• Even boys should be watched. There are boy children who are victimized by sexual abuse and these are less reported.

/press release from DSWD RO 6

Get free rides at SM Storyland on Feb. 29

Get in line for SM Supermalls 30th anniversary promo on February 29, 2016!

Thirty (30) complimentary passes from SM Storyland is up for grabs for customers on the said date.

The first 30 customers who will purchase one Ride-All-You-Can or individual ticket, will receive one free complimentary pass which they can use at any mall ride on the same day.

This is SM Storyland’s treat to its loyal customers for them to enjoy on this special occasion.

AirAsia inks partnership with Davao tourism for Visit Davao Fun Sale 2016

AirAsia, the World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for seven consecutive years, has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Davao tourism represented by Visit Davao Fun Sales (VDFS) Vice Chair Fides Bernabe and Department of Tourism (DOT) Region XI Director Roberto Alabado III. The partnership aims to establish Davao as a premiere tourist destination in the Philippines with abundant resources for eco-tourism and available facilities for sports and outdoor competitions.

Philippines AirAsia Commercial Head, Gerard Peñaflor; Visit Davao Fun Sales (VDFS) Vice Chair Fides Bernabe; and Department of Tourism (DOT) Region XI Director Roberto Alabado III at the signing ceremony held recently at the Mall of Asia SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

As airline partner, AirAsia is offering low fares for its Manila-Davao flights to encourage more and more tourist to visit and enjoy Davao’s latest attractions. Among the major activities that will happen this year include, Visit Davao Fun Sale, Let’s Meet in Davao: MICE Davao program and the 9th Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge, which were launched at the recently held travel and expo tour in Manila.

Scheduled from March 25 to May 31, the Visit Davao Fun Sale is a city-wide sale and events extravaganza that offer affordable tour packages and big discounts to over 250 participating stores and restaurants. MICE which stands for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions is also a key tourism project in Davao according to DOT with affordable hotel rates and incentives to be offered for groups with one thousand or more participants.

Meanwhile, fans of extreme sports should visit Davao in April 23 for the official start of the 9th Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge which features a 24-hour race to the Philippines’ highest peak.

AirAsia services Manila-Davao route with 3x flights daily departing from Manila’s NAIA Terminal 4 at 6:20AM, 3:35PM and 8:10PM. The airline also offers multiple flights daily from/to Cebu, Bohol, Palawan, Kalibo (Boracay) and Tacloban. International AirAsia flights include direct services to various points in Malaysia, China and Korea from Manila, Cebu and Kalibo.

Keep updated  with AirAsia’s latest promotion and activities via twitter (@AirAsiaPH), Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsiaPhilippines) and on Instagram (@AirAsiaPh).

Globe now uses new comprehensive tool to block unwanted spams

Globe Telecom has stepped up its anti-spam/scam campaign, utilizing a more comprehensive and fully automated mechanism to rid its network of unwanted and unsolicited text messages, bringing the daily average of blocked messages from 17,000 to 300,000. 

The new mechanism involves setting up a new hardware and software solution with complex anti-spam algorithms, with a capacity that can filter up to 1 billion SMS a day. The establishment of the new platform was undertaken in partnership with Xura, a US-based technology company that specializes in digital services addressing network vulnerabilities such as transmittal of spam and scam messages.  Project cost is estimated at around $4 million. 

 “The establishment of a new mechanism to block the transmittal of these messages brings us a step closer to having a spam-free network. Globe will never allow the use of its network by individuals who want to take advantage of our customers. As Globe steps up its campaign to purge its network of spam and scam messages, we expect this number to increase further moving forward,” said Anton Bonifacio, Globe Chief Information Security Officer. The new mechanism allows the telecommunications provider to continuously optimize and expand the reach of its anti-spam/scam campaign, he added.

According to Bonifacio, the new mechanism will also address election-related spam messages ahead of national and local elections in May of this year. He added the new mechanism now covers majority of the company’s postpaid and prepaid customers totaling 53 million at the end of 2015.

To keep its customers from receiving spam and scam messages, Globe operationalized in September 2014 an automated filtering functionality that reduced the number of such messages going through the Globe network.  At the end of 2015, Globe blocked close to 37 million of spam and scam text messages. The number of spam/scam text messages blocked by the mechanism averaged around 17,000 day in the last quarter of 2015, reaching a peak of around 200,000 in July last year. 

Such mechanism has since been upgraded and expanded to effectively prevent transmittal of spam and scam messages. By design, the filtering mechanism can be reconfigured to address the kind of spam and scam messages that goes through the Globe network. Since the new mechanism was put in place early February, the number of spam and scam messages blocked from the network averages 300,000.

Aside from blocking spam and scam messages from going through the Globe network, the telecommunications provider also has disconnected from service more than 30,000 prepaid numbers found to be consistent source of spam and scam text messages.

The numbers blocked from the Globe network were subject of complaints reported through the http://www.globe.com.ph/stopspam where customers are simply required to provide all the details of spam and scam messages they received on their mobile devices. Numbers that are reported to be a constant source of spam messages are then disconnected from service.

Shop your way to Los Angeles with SM and PAL

With summer just ahead, Visayas and Mindanao residents have a chance to take a holiday in Los Angeles, the Philippine Airlines newest destination when they shop at the SM Stores in the region.

Hollywood’s glitz and glamour awaits five lucky shoppers in The SM Store
and PAL’s  Shop Your Way To Los Angeles joint promotion.  

In The SM Store and PAL’s Shop Your Way to Los Angeles e-raffle promotion, thirty- two (32) lucky winners will receive a roundtrip ticket to Los Angeles or other international and local destinations served by the airlines from the Cebu International Airport.

The famous Sta. Monica Pier at Los Angeles, USA 

Five lucky shoppers have a chance to win roundtrip tickets to Los Angeles; while three others have a chance to win airline tickets to Japan.  There will be four winners of roundtrip tickets to Manila; and 20 winners of round trip tickets from Cebu to other Vismin destinations. 

One lucky shopper will be drawn for a trip to Nagoya, Japan via PAL in the raffle promotion.

How to win?  Simply shop at The SM Store VISMIN branches!  For every  Php 2,000 single-receipt purchase made until March 31, 2016 using your SM Advantage / Prestige / BDO Rewards cards at any participating The SM Store branches, you can get a chance to win one of the roundtrip tickets to Los Angeles and other destinations via Philippines Airlines.  You can double your chances of winning using BDO Credit and Debit Card.

There will be two raffle draws: fifteen winners will be drawn March 15, 2016 for the February 26- March 10, 2016 shopping period; and 17 winners will be drawn on April 8, 2016 for the March 11-31, 2016 shopping period.  The E-Raffle draw will be held at the MCI office, 4th floor One E-Com Center, Harbor Drive, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City in the presence of DTI and SM representatives.

Participating stores include The SM Store Cebu, Seaside Cebu,  Consolacion, Bacolod, Iloilo, Delgado, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Lanang Premier and General Santos.

Shop Your Way to Los Angeles at the Vismin SM Stores with Philippine Airlines.

Globe backs Mobile Design Award in adobo Design Awards Asia

As the purveyor of the Filipino digital lifestyle and thought leader in digital design, Globe Telecom is partnering with adobo Design Awards Asia in recognizing the best and the brightest talents in design for digital and interactive media. 

Specifically, Globe is supporting the Mobile App Design for Social Good, which will recognize entries in the mobile application format that present creative solutions to social issues.  In addition, Globe is also supporting sub-categories under Digital/Interactive category, which will recognize entries that are interactive interface, or motion designs used for digital problems.

 “With a growing number of our population now going digital, we should be able to tap on fresh talent with this new category. We are happy to collaborate with adobo magazine and the D&AD in coming out with the Mobile App Design for Social Good category to bring out the innovative spirit among many Filipinos,” Globe Senior Vice President for Corporate Communications Yoly Crisanto said.

“By supporting this award, we continue our course of being the purveyor of the Filipino digital lifestyle,” Crisanto emphasized.  

Yoly C. Crisanto

, VP, Corporate Communications, 

Globe Telecom, Inc

More entries from the Southeast Asia region are expected this year, which is expected to further enhance creative excellence in the Philippines and in the region.  Deadline for submission of entries will be on February 27, 2016 while awards night will be held on April 8, 2016 and celebrated along with adobo magazine’s 10th anniversary.

This year’s adobo Design Awards Asia will also be undertaken in partnering with D&AD, a British educational charity that promotes excellence in design and advertising.  Originally launched in 2007, the competition covers over 20 categories and is open to all creative enthusiasts, professionals, freelancers and students.  The competition has since grown to include international entries, raising the bar even higher to parallel global standards of creative excellence. Students and freelancers will get a chance to showcase their fresh ideas and be critiqued by established names from both advertising and design.

"We would like to thank Globe Telecoms for presenting this year's Mobile App Design for Social Good award. We at the adobo Design Awards Asia are very excited to have a company that is held in such high esteem as Globe to be part of this year's awards. It is very heartening for us to see you support a mobile application that aims to present creative solutions to social issues or problems,” said Angel Guerrero, founder and editor-in-chief of adobo magazine.

Miniature Paraw-Making at SM City Iloilo

Entries for the Mini Paraw Contest
Photo c/o Iloilo Paraw Regatta Festival Facebook page

In celebration of the 2016 Paraw Regatta Festival, SM City Iloilo hosted as Miniature Paraw Making Contest. Showcasing Ilonggo ingenuity at its best, these mini paraws were made from recycled materials, among others.

 And today, winners were revealed! Entry number 2 by Eros Endencio won 1st place, while entry no. 20 by Arthur Jusa Jr. and entry no. 3 by Iris Yeban won 2nd and 3rd place respectively.

The Miniature Paraw Making Contest is an official event of Paraw Regatta Festival. 

Smart Opens Pre-registration for Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge

Unrivaled mobile services provider Smart Communications has opened its pre-registration site for the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge after the Korean tech giant’s much-anticipated Unpacked 2016 event at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

Be among the first to experience the Samsung Galaxy S7 and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge when they hit the Philippine shores by signing up at smart.com.ph/Postpaid/samsung-galaxy-seven.

Set to redefine what a smartphone can do, the Samsung Galaxy  S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge pushes the boundaries of mobile technology with enhanced multitasking and camera features, expandable memory of up to 200GB, larger battery and IP68 water and dust resistant certification – all housed in an elegant body of glass and metal finish.

Samsung’s latest smartphones are also compatible with the Samsung Gear VR, the world’s first consumer-focused virtual reality headset, which Smart will soon offer to usher in the new frontier of mobile entertainment.

By slipping the Galaxy S7 or the Galaxy S7 Edge in the Gear VR lens, users can instantly transport themselves in 3D and CG animated worlds, as well as 180 or 360-degree live action scenes – offering an immersive and interactive viewing and gaming experience.

To get updated on Smart’s offers for the Samsung Gear VR, register at smart.com.ph/Postpaid/samsung-gear-vr. 

First to introduce mobile innovations

Prior to the Unpacked 2016 event, Samsung challenged netizens to “Change the way you think about your phone,” “Change the way you capture every angle,” “Change your idea of what a camera can do,” and “Change your idea of what a phone can handle.”

“With these fresh devices, Samsung has really made good on its promise of going beyond the limits in terms of experience, creativity and performance,” said Kathy C. Carag, Smart Brand Head.

“As the country’s leading mobile network, Smart takes the lead in introducing the latest mobile innovations and products to Filipinos, and we just can’t wait to make these new products available and pave the way for everyone to enjoy new and awesome mobile experiences anytime, anywhere.” 

To stay updated on the Smart’s latest offers, follow Smart’s official accounts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications), Twitter (@LiveSmart) and Instagram.

SM City Iloilo turns-over Molo Plaza Playground

SM City Iloilo, represented by SM Regional Operations Manager for Visayas 3 Majella Liboon, formally turned over the PhP1M Molo Plaza Playground to Brgy. San Pedro, Iloilo City. 

Together with Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Iloilo City Councilor Jay Treñas, Brgy. Captain Pochoy Lapascua os San Pedro, Molo formally received the donation.

Molo Parish Priest Fr. Boy Celiz led the blessing of the playground. SM bears were also given to some children of Molo.

This is SM City Iloilo’s contribution to the beautification project of the city, as well as to complement the Molo Church, Plaza and the Molo Mansion. 

DOH 6 to conduct oral polio vaccination

Health authorities worldwide are so close in eradicating poliomyelitis, also known as polio or infantile paralysis, a highly contagious disease affecting children under five years old.

From 350,000 children infected by polio in 125 countries in 1988, cases have decreased by over 99% or 359 in 2015, according to World Health Organization.

Now, there are only two countries where poliovirus transmission has not stopped — Afghanistan and Pakistan. Philippines, on the other hand, has been freed from polio since 2000.

But due to low oral polio vaccination (OPV) coverage and inadequate surveillance for acute flaccid paralysis, the country remains at risk of polio importation or re-emergence of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV).

To mitigate this risk, the Department of Health will conduct an OPV catch-up immunization activity from February 22-26, 2016 in 65 priority provinces, including Iloilo, Capiz, Negros Occidental and Antique in Panay Island.  

 “We are so close in eradicating polio in the world and to succeed, we need everyone’s commitment. Remember that there is no cure to polio. The only way to protect our children from this is through vaccination,” stressed Dr. Patricia Grace Trabado of Iloilo Provincial Health Office.

The polio viruses primarily spread via feces. It can infect children through food, water or objects contaminated with feces from an infected person. Its signs and symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiff neck and sudden onset of floppy arms or legs.

Data from WHO revealed that one in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis, usually in the legs. Among those paralyzed, 5% to 10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.

In Iloilo alone, health officials committed to vaccinate 173,929 children aged five and below in 43 local government units in Iloilo alone.

“No children must be left behind. This means that those children in far-flung areas must be reached,” she said.  

The OPV catch-up immunization is in preparation for the nationally synchronized switch from trivalent OPV to bivalent bOPV on April 27, 2016.

tOPV was developed to boost one’s immunity from three strains of wild poliovirus. But due to eradication of type 2 wild poliovirus in 1999 and with type 3 poliovirus down to its lowest level, bOPV will be introduced to prevent the remaining strains. 

Ultimate SU-TU-KIL Experience at Isla Sugbu Seafood City in Cebu City

When travelling to a new place, sampling the native specialty cuisine is a must on anyone’s itinerary; as we all know that it’s one of the best ways of getting a taste of the local culture.  

Now, if you happen to go wandering off in the Visayas region, specifically in Cebu, you will inevitably discover the mouthwatering world of “Sutukil”. 

Sutukil is a conventional style of cooking rooted from the Visayan culture. It is a combination of three words, which means three different types of cooking, particularly with fresh seafood. 

“SU” came from the word “sugba,” which means, “to grill”. Take your pick of seafood, grill it, then it’s ready to eat. “TU” is branched from the word “tuwa,” which means, “to stew”. This style is similar to the “tinola,” wherein you simmer your choice of seafood in broth, then add your leafy veggies. “KIL,” which stands for “kilaw”is the most adventurous of the three. Most people know this type as “eating raw seafood”. It’s basically like eating salad, only that you eat fresh fish or shrimp that is soaked in vinegar. 

Sutukil is pretty much a straightforward method of cooking that has become famous in the Queen City of the South.  And, if your taste buds are looking for the real-deal Sutukil adventure, then you should dive into Isla Sugbu Seafood City. 

The seafood restaurant, which is operated and managed by 101 Restaurant City Inc., headed by its President, Winglip Chang, guarantees every food lover a Sutukil standard that’s always a notch higher.

Why? For one, you have a wide array of fresh and live seafood to choose from, some of which are exclusively available in Seafood City alone. 

Two, its wharf-like ambiance makes it the perfect place for your Sutukil experience. Three, every dish that comes out of the open kitchen promises a delicious burst of authentic seafood flavor in every bite. And four, Isla Sugbu Seafood City offers strict food safety measures that assure you of fresh and clean seafood dishes. 

And make any SuTuKil experience more enjoyable and unforgettable, Isla Sugbu Seafood City has come up with 4 SuTuKil packages.

Package A: Fish sugba, Shrimp Tinuwa and Fish Kilaw

Package B: Squid Sugba, Shrimp Tinuwa and Fish Kilaw

Package C: Fish Sugba, Fish Tinuwa and Shrimp Kinilaw

Package D: Squid Sugba, Fish Tinuwa and Shrimp Kinilaw

Isla Sugbu Seafood City Sutukil package includes appetizer, dish of the day and a rice platter for Php1,600 net for 4 pax.

Now, if you’re visiting Cebu and ready to take on the extraordinary and flavorful Sutukil adventure, make sure to put Isla Sugbu Seafood City on top of your itinerary.

ISLA SUGBU SEAFOOD CITY

The Grand Convention Center of Cebu, Archbishop Reyes Avenue, Cebu City

Telephone: +63 32 260 - 8000

Facebook: The Grand Convention Center of Cebu

Instagram: @TheGrandCon

Twitter: @TheGrandCon

Globe board OKs P22/share cash dividend; allots capex of up to $750M for 2016

Globe Telecom said its board approved the declaration of a first quarter cash dividend of P22 per share for common shares.  The dividend will be paid to shareholders on record as of February 22, 2016, with payment date on March 4, 2016. 

“The dividend payout is in line with the policy of distributing 75%-90% of prior year’s core net income,” said Rizza Maniego-Eala, Globe Acting Chief Finance Officer, adding the quarter’s dividend payment totals about P2.9 billion. On an annualized basis, the dividends represent a payout of 77% of 2015 core net income. 

Notwithstanding its dividend payment, Globe is also allocating a capital expenditure of up to $750 million for 2016, of which majority will be related to data, including  spend for deployment of LTE mobile and LTE @Home, increased network capacities and coverage as well as enhancement of fixed line data infrastructure and transmission facilities.  The company’s aggressive stance to continue investing in its network reach and capacity is geared towards enhancing its customers’ digital lifestyle.

Globe Telecom’s spending for its network infrastructure is one of the highest among Asian operators over the last two years, as it devotes up to 24% of annual revenues for its infrastructure build. Based on publicly available regulatory reports, Globe had a capex to revenue ratio of 28% in 2015, and 27% in 2014 for both wireless and wireline, which were higher than the Philippine telecommunications industry average of 23% in both 2015 and 2014.

Globe Telecom posted consolidated service revenues of P113.7 billion, 15% higher than the P99.0 billion reported a year ago, supported by solid growth in data consumption across all segments as well as consolidation of the results of Bayan Telecommunications in the second half of the year.  Net income in 2015 totaled P16.5 billion, up 23% from P13.4 billion recorded a year earlier.

The company said that sustained customer uptake in both mobile and broadband and increasing demand for mobile data and high-speed internet connectivity also provided support for Globe Telecom’s revenue growth. Even excluding Bayan’s revenues in the second half of 2015, the company’s consolidated revenues reached P110.8 billion, up 12% from a year earlier.

Digital marketing workshop for Cebu companies slated on March 14-15

TechTalks.ph and Frame316 will be holding a Content Strategy Masterclass in Cebu City this March 14-15 to help Cebu companies take advantage of the shift from traditional to digital marketing.​

The two-day, hands-on workshop aims to align a company’s current marketing efforts to that of a digital content approach. The event will run from Monday, March 14, 9am to 5pm and Tuesday, March 15, 2016 – 9am to 12noon. Meanwhile, the location is yet to be finalized.

Speaking at the event will be Robert Cristobal, founder and creative storyteller of Frame316.

Although Cristobal warned that companies should “ready for the challenges ahead in adapting to digital trends,” he is hopeful that the “Philippine digital marketing ecosystem will exponentially grow.”

 “We are flying to Cebu to conduct a masterclass that aims to equip business people to take their first step towards a content-centric digital approach, and we hope to add value to the advertising community by providing a practical approach in making that shift,” he added.

The workshop will centre on digital brand building and will cover topics such as: identifying your brand message; qualifying your audience; identifying & creating the right content for the right audience; distributing your message to the right channels; and nurturing and conversion of your audience to buyers.

“Digital marketing makes use of trends and techniques to push a brand to a wider audience to meet corporate targets – whether increasing revenue, promoting engagement, or becoming a market leader,” said Tina Amper of TechTalks.ph.

The workshop is geared towards helping companies with existing marketing teams but need extra push with their strategy, branding, and implementation of tools and platforms to meet company goals. It also seeks to help organizations with heavy advertising budgets but are unable to deliver desired results, those seeking other channels to optimize results or to expand in new markets, as well as organizations planning to set up a marketing/sales structure or optimize revenue management activities.

“Marketing Professionals, Marketing/Advertising/Sales Teams, Content Creators, Advertisers, Creative Directors, Search Engine Marketers, Communications/PR Professionals, Media Managers and Decision Makers are encouraged to join the event,” said Amper.

For those interested, tickets are available at:  http://www.techtalks.ph/

A 50 percent discount  on the registration fee ​can be availed if you register and pay by February 20​. The discounted fee would be 7,500 pesos from a regular rate of 15,000 Php + VAT. A 30 percent discount at 10, 500 Php is available when you register and pay before  March 5. ​Meanwhile, groups of 2 or more get additional 5% discount.  Discounts are subject to availability and are in a first come, first served basis.

TechTalks.ph is a non-profit organization that supports tech startups and promotes ICT careers in the Philippines. They are on a mission to help grow the tech ​startup ecosystem. TechTalks.ph also organizes the international conference, GeeksOnABeach.com.  ​

Frame 316 specializes in content curation, creation, and distribution using stories to amplify brand communication. They deliver these stories through content marketing video, blogs & social media content. They have worked with Microsoft, Pfizer and GMA Network. For more information about the training workshop, visit www.techtalks.ph, contact info@techtalks.ph or call Daryl Gonzaga at​ 0949 -​514-​8278​, 0949-514-8278​.

The Great, The Talented, The Show Violinist at SM City Iloilo on Valentines Day

Jake Juleous Brian Gacang, the multi awarded Show Violinist, is set to be at SM City Iloilo on February 14, 2016, 3pm at the Event Center.

Juleous graduated as a cultural scholar at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation with a degree of Bachelor of Arts Major in Music. He is also an Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM) board passer with Distinction.

Juleous, was born and raised in Toledo City, Cebu. In recognition to the honor he repeatedly brought to the City, he was conferred an award as “Outstanding Toledano in the Field of Arts and Entertainment 2012”.

Juleous, is not the typical violinist you already encountered. He is a complete entertainer. From cocktails to the biggest concerts with a crowd of 5,000 people, he can make them awe, scream and party. It has been his signature to perform with his violin while grooving to the music and even singing.

Over the years, Juleous already made a number of performances with local and international artists in the Philippines and abroad.

For the second time, Juleous performed a four day-five venue concert tour in September 2014 on an event dubbed as “Live Solo Gig in Hong Kong by The Show Violinist, Juleous”. After multiple performances in that City, he never failed to prove that he is worth watching for.

His unique kind of talent did not only made it to India and other Asian countries but also in Europe as he performed in France, Spain, Germany and The Netherlands.

As he always said, “It is an honor to represent our country, the Philippines.”

The event, dubbed as Love Rhythms, will also feature international choral champion USA Troubadours.

You can visit his Facebook account: JjbGacang and Facebook page: The Show Violinist for more info. For booking and inquiries, please email it to jma@talentmarketers.net or call 02-464-9350.

Globe Telecom boosts PH as Asia’s top tourist destination in the world with new TPB tie-up

Globe Telecom, through its International Business Group, has renewed its partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) of the Department of Tourism to promote the Philippines as one of Asia’s top tourist destinations via its Visit the Philippines Again (VPA) 2016 campaign. 

As the tourists’ preferred connectivity partner in the country, Globe elevates the local travel experience with the Traveler SIM and the Relive Wonderful Philippines video contest

With the partnership, Globe will once again offer its Globe Traveler SIM to millions of tourists and returning OFWs for free for affordable and worry-free connectivity during their stay in the country. Globe is TPB’s first Philippine telco partner to offer affordable communication services to millions of foreign tourists and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) returning to the country with the Globe Traveler SIM, a local prepaid SIM that offers affordable local rates for mobile data, calls, and SMS services. 

“Staying connected is a priority for the millions of travelers around the world and we are very happy to offer our services to those who are visiting the Philippines through the Globe Traveler SIM, still available for free this 2016,” said Nikko Acosta, Senior Vice President for International Business Group at Globe. “We are privileged to once again partner with the TPB this year to help boost the travel experience with affordable call, text and data services, enabling them to stay in touch as well as share the beauty of the Philippines to the rest of the world through social media. With Globe, we ensure that even travelers get to live and embrace their digital lifestyle as their connectivity partner while in the country.”

Aside from supporting the Visit the Philippines Again 2016 campaign through the Traveler SIM, Globe is launching Relive Wonderful Philippines in parallel to the tourism campaign. Relive Wonderful Philippines is a video contest where international visitors (Non-Philippine residents and OFWs) can submit a video showcasing why they love the Philippines and what they want to do in the country again. The winner of the best video will win a ticket to fly back to the Philippines with a companion to their destination of choice complete with hotel accommodation and allowance from Globe. More details can be found at www.globe.com.ph/traveler-sim.

With the steady growth of international visitors and the increasing number of OFWs returning home, Globe partnered with the TPB in 2015 to offer the Globe Traveler SIM for free, giving tourists and balikbayans access to seamless connectivity at low-cost rates. Data on Globe Traveler SIM usage from August to November 2015 revealed that 90% of the Traveler SIM users came to the Philippines for vacation, and the top 3 countries with the most number of visitors were from Korea, China, and Singapore. The same data also showcased that 97% of Traveler SIM customer base used data and 85% for local calls.

To get a free Globe Traveler SIM, tourists and OFWs simply need to present their passport of OFW E-Card at the Globe booths in NAIA, Cebu, Davao, Kalibo, Iloilo, and Clark International Airports. They can also reserve via www.globe.com.ph/traveler-sim/reserve-now.

"This year will be another competitive year for Philippine tourism, as TPB intends to remain aggressive in securing its rightful share of the tourist market. Because of our competitive fire, we are confident that more foreign travelers will choose to visit the Philippines over any other destination and more will be delighted to return to the country this year," shares Domingo Ramon C. Enerio III, Chief Operating Officer of the Tourism Promotions Board.

He adds, "With our renewed partnership with Globe, we at TPB are excited for tourists and balikbayans to enjoy fast, affordable and reliable mobile connectivity through the Traveler SIM. It is one's perfect companion to stay connected and updated in the Philippines are we are very happy that Globe is part of our commitment to make one's stay in the country more fun and wonderful."

According to a recent report by the Department of Tourism, the Philippines registered a total of 2.6 million international visitors from January to June 2015 with total earnings amounting to P111.05 billion generated from various tourism activities.

VPA2016 is a retail-based campaign to drive urgency and excitement among foreign travelers to visit the Philippines and return for more fun, friendship, feel-good adventures, and fabulous memories to cherish in 2016. Foreign travelers will be treated to many new and exciting attractions and spectacular travel destinations that showcase the beauty of the Philippine islands and the warmth of its people. Offering more fun that keeps foreign travelers coming back for more, returning visitors will also be given exclusive travel deals and special incentives. They can avail of special discounts on flights, hotel accommodations and tour packages after simply presenting proof of previous visits.

With the Globe Traveler SIM, users can receive calls and texts from abroad for free and cut costs on mobile data by subscribing to TravelSurf, which allows them to surf the Internet on mobile for an affordable rate of US$11 for seven (7) days or US$23 for 30 days, giving them access to e-mails, social networking sites, apps, and travel blogs and reviews for a worry-free stay in the Philippines. Users can also call abroad for as low as US$0.40 per minute. Getting a local SIM will afford the user a more cost-efficient way to connect than using an international number which charges international call, text and browsing rates.

For more information on the FREE Globe Traveler SIM and the Relive Wonderful Philippines video contest, please visit globe.com.ph/traveler-sim. For jetsetters, backpackers, and thrill-seekers, Visit the Philippines Again 2016 provides a year-round calendar guide for all adventures, whether it be food trips, walking tours, or festivals. For information on activities and events, please log visit www.itsmorefuninthephilippines.com.

KonsultaMD: Bringing medical information closer to the people

Self-medication is a common practice in the Philippines where a large percentage of the population relies on folk medicines, unfounded advice from family and friends, traditional cures, or even the internet instead of going to a doctor or medical practitioner.  

This behavior is a result of lack of experienced healthcare professionals in the country in addition to under-resourced public hospitals, poor health infrastructure, limited accessibility, and high cost of medical consultation.  Currently, the Philippines only has about three doctors for every 100,000 patients in rural areas and seven doctors for every 100,000 patients in urban areas.

Vinchy Sy-Quia discussing Konsulta MD with the Iloilo Bloggers

Thus, KonsultaMD was created to bring positive change to the Philippine healthcare industry with its 24/7 health hotline designed to make medical information more accessible, efficient, and affordable to majority of Filipinos.KonsultaMD is being operated by Global Telehealth, Inc., an affiliate of leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom and Salud Interactiva, a leader in the health hotline space in Mexico.  

KonsultaMD addresses two of nine areas in the healthcare spectrum identified by a global consultancy and research firm as having the biggest potential for disruption and transformation – “care anytime, anywhere” and “cost of care/operation innovations.”

With KonsultaMD, Filipinos from all walks of life especially those at the base of the pyramid, will have access to a reliable source of medical information anytime they want and wherever they are in the country without spending a lot of time and money.

“We are addressing the pain points in Philippine health care by pulling together a team of skilled and licensed Filipino doctors who are readily available to provide medical assessment, basic healthcare and permissible medication over the phone.  Not only do we feel that the local market is ready for this kind of service, we feel there is a great need for it considering the low doctor to patients ratio in the country,” said MaridolYlanan, CEO of Global Telehealth, Inc. 

KonsultaMD provides straightforward help with health and medical-related questions. This includes medical information to common but important questions on pregnancy, infant and/or toddler care, fever and other general ailments, signs and symptoms, diet, and other concerns.

However, KonsultaMD does not replace face-to-face interaction between doctors and patients but only serves as a means of interim care so that the public can have immediate and affordable medical attention.

KonsultaMD is a team of licensed Filipino doctors that are trained, experienced,
and ready to make sure you have 24/7 access to high-quality medical information

KonsultaMD is available to Globe and TM customers at affordable subscription plans. Globe Postpaid customers only need to pay a subscription fee of Php150 per month which can be used by up to four additional household members.  Globe Prepaid and TM customers may subscribe for Php15a week, Php60 a month, Php120 every 2 months or Php180 a quarter.  Subscription fee is waived for Platinum Elite members. Calls using Globe or TM are charged Php1 per minute while calls within Metro Manila via landline are currently free. Non-Globe users have to pay the standard NDD rate for calls outside Metro Manila or regular mobile to landline rate, whichever is applicable.

All Globe consumer postpaid, prepaid and TM customers may subscribe by signing up at www.konsulta.md, by calling (02) 79880 or by visiting a Globe Store.  Platinum Elite members may subscribe via their Platinum Relationship Manager. Non-Globe users may visit a Globe Store.

SM and BDO foundations donate school building in Passi City

Ms. Maureen Abelardo, BDO Foundation President and Ms. Debbie Sy, SM Foundation Inc. Executive Director(3rdand 4th from left,respectively), leads the formal ribbon cutting with Passi City officials  and other VIPs

SM Foundation together with BDO Foundation turned-over a two-storey, 4-classroom building at the Efraim Santibañez National High School in Brgy. Sto. Tomas, Passi City, Iloilo. The ceremony was held last Jan. 15, 2016 with the presence of Passi City LGU ans school officials as well as representatives of the two foundations.

The 2-storey 4 classroom building donated by BDO and SM Foundations to Efraim Santebañez National Highschool in Passi City, Iloilo

SM and BDO Foundations responded to the DepEd's plea for help from private organizations to help rebuild schools that have been damaged by killer typhoon Yolanda back in 2013. While some initial repairs were done by LGUs, many of the buildings were beyond repair.

The school building complete with toilets and furniture was turned over in the presence of the donors - Maureen Abelardo, President of BDO Foundation ,Ms. Debbie Sy, Executive Director of SM Foundation, Carmen Linda Atayde, Exec. Director for Education of SMFI and Engr. Gilbert Domingo,  Mall Manager  of SM City Iloilo  representing SM Prime Holdings, Inc. 

 Passi City Mayor Jesry Palmares, SMFI Executive Director Debbie Sy and BDO Foundation President Maureen Abelardo during the MOA signing

The recipient school was represented by Head Teacher & School Principal, Nelson Palma of Efraim Santebañez National High School witnessed by local and DepEd officials.

SM City Iloilo PR Manager Troy Camarista with graduating scholars of SMFI Annie Ross Sarroza, Jasmine Joy Cang and Gladys Pumarin. (Inset) SM Supermalls Regional Marketing Manager Kristine Yap

Also present during the turn-over was Passi Iloilo Mayor Jesry Palmares, Vice Mayor Bonifacio Barbero and other city officials, SMFI Assistant Vice President Eleonor Lansang SM Regional Marketing Manager Kristine Yap and SM City Iloilo PR Manager Troy Camarista. 

The property where the school stands, is a donation of the Santibanez family of Passi City. The new structure is another addition to school buildings contributed  by  SM  Foundation and partners  to the Adopt-A-School  Program  of  the Department of Education.