The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) presents #PHITEX2016: Bigger Business

The most important annual travel trade event, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) presents a more enhanced Philippine Travel Exchange (PHITEX).

With the theme #PHITEX2016: Bigger Business, the event is set to accommodate more than 200 international buyers from across 37 countries worldwide and 199 local sellers from 132 companies across the Philippines.

“PHITEX has been instrumental in boosting the Philippines’ image as a top tourist destination. The event also strengthens international relationships among the industry’s key players to further the growth of Philippine tourism,” remarked PHITEX Deputy Secretary General Susana J. Del Mundo.

Highlight of the event is a series of business-to-business sessions between foreign buyers and local sellers. This year, the number of sessions has increased to 40 as compared to 28 in the previous years. This aims to broaden their chance of interaction and to encourage more in-depth discussions on tourism and trade opportunities.

PHITEX 2016 gives the buyers an opportunity to meet the Philippine sellers where they will be introduced to the Philippines’ best offerings in terms of travel and tourism products and services. This can be considered a momentous time for Philippine sellers for they will be given an edge to offer globally competitive tour packages to the international market and learn of other countries’ trade strategies to apply in their own practices. 

Buyers from as far as the United States, Norway, Italy, Denmark and Germany and even from neighboring Asian countries such as South Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam were given an opportunity to experience fun and exciting pre-tours with hotel inspections around the country’s capital, Metro Manila. 

The pre-tours conducted last September 3 included a visit to the famous walled city of Intramuros to get a glimpse of history during the Spanish colonization. Buyers visited Fort Santiago, which houses the Rizal Shrine museum where memorabilia of the Philippine national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, are displayed. They also visited San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, San Agustin Museum, and enjoyed a brief cultural show at Casa Manila. Buyers also inspected some of the city’s most luxurious hotels, namely New World Hotel Makati, Makati Shangri-la Hotel, Fairmont Makati, Marco Polo Ortigas Manila, Shangri-la at the Fort and Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila, to name a few.

The post-tours are just as exciting since it will feature the Philippines’ premier destinations including world-class accommodations, entertainment and convention venues and business facilities. Buyers get to choose a tour that fits well with their interests and offerings. The Ilocos module includes a tour to the northern region of the country, where there is an interesting blend of local and Spanish cultures. Another module takes the buyers a trip to Southern Luzon and experience exotic beauty of beaches nestled against the jungle. 

Buyers can further discover the wonders of Palawan which is recently named as the Best Island in the World. They can ride a paddleboat to Puerto Princesa Underground River, considered one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Some buyers can also travel to the east where Bicol, a region for adventures – volcanoes, beaches, coves, and lakes - will also be awaiting the guests. 

The Cebu/Bohol post tour will give the buyers an opportunity to catch a glimpse of historical landmarks, a taste of lechon in Cebu, and an iconic view of the majestic Chocolate Hills in Bohol. They can also take a selfie with tarsiers in Bohol.

For a unique mix of diversity, heavenly retreat and exciting adventure, buyers may also opt to join the Davao module.

“PHITEX will only grow stronger and more competitive through the coming years with the continual commitment and dedication of everyone – our partners, buyers, sellers and exchange visitors. Your immeasurable support only fuels us to push and go further. I believe that through our cumulative effort, we create and become the greater nation,” said DOT Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo.

Now on its 15th year, PHITEX has gained popularity and recognition in the global tourism market. By making the event bigger and better, TPB is giving foreign travelers more reasons to visit the Philippines again.

Led by Philippine Airlines as the official flag carrier, and Marriot Hotel Manila, PHITEX 2016 is also supported by TTG Asia as the official media partner, Manila Bulletin and Philippine Daily Inquirer. Other sponsors include Resorts World Manila, Tourism Infrastructure Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), Duty Free Philippines, Philippines Craft Distillers (LAKAN), Marco Polo Manila, SedaBonifacio Global City, Bellevue Resort, Sofitel Philippine Plaza, Fairmont Makati, Makati Shangri-la Hotel, Radisson Blu Cebu, Park inn by Radisson, Plaza del Norte and The Mind Museum.

OPPO is now 2nd bestselling smartphone brand in PH

OPPO is now the second bestselling smartphone brand in the ASEAN’s fastest growing mobile market, the Philippines,  as reported by German-based market research organization GfK.

GfK’s latest survey showed that OPPO increased its market share from 3.2 percent in July 2015 to 8.6 percent in July 2016, more than double its share from last year. The smartphone brand also rose from third spot in June 2016 at 8.5 percent, to second last July.

“Our increasing shares show how we are able to capture what Filipinos want in a mobile device. We not only meet consumer demands for quality smartphones, but we also offer them at more affordable prices. This is an important factor that paved the way for our growth over the past year,” said Stephen Cheng, OPPO’s Brand Marketing Manager. 

OPPO attributed its rising popularity to its F1 series, whose selfie-enhancing features won over the Filipino’s fondness for taking pictures of themselves. The company introduced the F1 phone in February this year, followed by the F1 Plus in April.

Introduced only last August, the F1 series’ latest addition, the F1s, sold out three days after its launch in concept and dealer stores nationwide.

Because of the reception to the F1s, OPPO is optimistic that the company will eventually dominate the Philippine selfie market.

“OPPO will continue pursuing its growth in the market by indulging the Filipino fascination for taking selfies,” Cheng said.

About OPPO:

OPPO is a global electronics and technology service provider that provides customers with the latest and most exquisite electronic devices and mobile Internet service. OPPO delivers customers with the most delightful electronic experience that is full of surprises, through meticulous designs and smart technology. For more information, please visithttp://global.oppo.com.

Blessed Mother Teresa has been declared Saint Teresa of Calcutta

Mother Teresa has been declared Saint Teresa of Calcutta on September 4, 2016, the eve of her death anniversary by Pope Francis at Vatican City. 

Mother Teresa has been declared a saint by Pope Francis on Sunday at a canonization ceremony held in Vatican City. The canonization on September 4 comes on the eve of her 19th death anniversary. 

For much of her life, Mother Teresa was known as the "living saint," she will now be known as Saint Teresa of Calcutta.

After winning the Nobel peace prize in 1979 for her work with the poor in Calcutta, India, Mother Teresa built 600 orphanages and shelters around the world. Mother Teresa died on September 5, 1997. On October 19, 2003, Pope John Paul II beatified Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

A symbol of service and compassion, Mother Teresa showed the world the extraordinary power of love. Her life is “an epitome of grace, compassion and love”. 

Mother Teresa dedicated her entire life to serving the poorest of the poor as well as the destitute and forsaken. She saw herself as ‘small pencil in the hands of the Lord’ and went about her work quietly, offering smiles and warm human gestures

Mother Teresa inspire many to give their ‘hearts to love and their hands to serve.’ Her saintly life will forever inspire humanity to commit to the cause of those who have no voice, no community, no home and no love.

"Let us imitate Mother Teresa who made works of mercy the guide of her life and the path towards holiness" 

- Pope Francis

At the Vatican, a portrait of Mother Teresa is displayed on the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica. Mother Teresa is shown in her signature blue-trimmed white sari. The portrait was commissioned by the Knights of Columbus and painted by American artist Chas Fagan, 

Reinventing Ink with Rob and Thom on HP’s YouTube channel - Every print matters: Get HP Original Inks for ink that outperforms

HP Original Ink proves that every print matters in a series of YouTube videos called Reinventing Ink with Rob and Thom, starring HP Head of Marketing and Design Rob Le Bras-Brown and Chief Inkologist Thom Brown.

Whether for work reports and school projects, or important photos and letters, reliable and accurate printing is a must to ensure the professional quality of important documents. When it comes to getting more value out of prints, those in the know trust only HP Original Ink.

Equal parts funny and informative, the series highlights how HP continuously innovates its products, making sure that they get the job done right the first time, every time.

The online videos showcase how HP Original Inks are designed to outperform, as it is more reliable and accurate than competing brands, especially compared with refill ink.

Delivering superior quality every time, HP inks ease the worry of users and makes sure that they will not have to deal with printing problems anymore. Prints look as good as the day they were printed, even decades after, while special moments captured in photos last a lifetime for generations to treasure.

Proving its reliability further, HP Original Ink and Paper also resists water, making sure that prints and photos survive and are protected from accidental spills. The brand also makes magic happen as it prints twice as many pages compared to refill ink. What’s more, HP thinks beyond the tried and true, including an anti-curling additive to its original inks to ensure that output always lays flat.

For those looking to reduce their carbon footprint, Rob and Thom explained that HP Original Ink cartridges are made of 50% recyclable materials. Materials such as old ink cartridges, water bottles and hangers, instead of being thrown in the trash, are recycled into HP Original Ink cartridges. With this environment-friendly product, users can print without the guilt.

Trust only the leader in innovation and choose HP Original Inks.

Find out why Original HP Inks are the better choice and watch Reinventing Ink with Rob and Thom on HP’s YouTube channel.

Know more about HP Original Inks by visiting the company’s website at http://www8.hp.com/ph/en/ads/supplies/ink.html.

Globe pioneers the first online film festival in the Philippines - Globe Independent Film Festival #GIFF

Globe launched the first online film festival in the Philippines - Globe Independent Film Festival, or GIFF.

Through its film productions arm Globe Studios, Globe's GIFF sets the bar for film festivals by maximizing the online platform to reach a wider audience.

Veering from traditional film fests, and advocating Filipino talent and championing original content, 

GIFF adds a whole new dimension to digital entertainment by bringing the film entries online. This way, more people will be able to access and watch on demand, right on their device.

Open to all amateur filmmakers, GIFF will be accepting entries for any of these 5 genres: Narrative, Documentary, Animated, Experimental, Music Video, and Webisode. 

Film submissions will be evaluated by an esteemed panel of judges from the entertainment industry namely, Antoinette Jadaone, Bianca Gonzalez,Philbert Dy, and Sid Maderazo. 

Dan Horan, Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business

Dan Horan, Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business said : 

“The launch of Globe Studios gave us a whole new way of bringing wonderful entertainment to our customers. With GIFF, our vision for Globe Studios is realized – to be able to advocate local talent and eventually collaborate with them for content. GIFF allows us to fuel creativity among filmmakers and we look forward to the entries and bring these amazing films closer to every Filipino.” 

In the course of the film fest, the public will be able to watch the shortlisted films on GlobeStudios.ph, the Globe Studios YouTube channel, at the Globe ICONIC store, or at select cinema screenings.

Winners per category are set to bring home up to P200000.00 and will be announced at GIFF’s culminating event in November. Interested groups can learn more about the complete mechanics by visiting www.GlobeStudios.ph. 

As a special showcase, GIFF kicks off the film fest with 5 laudable short films led by 5 esteemed Filipino directors. 

Available on GlobeStudios.ph and the Globe YouTube channel, everyone can watch the following titles:

• How to Find Love directed by Quark Henares
• An Open Door by Paul Soriano
• Trapik by Dan Villegas
• Ang Painting ni Tatay by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo
• Bestfriend by Bb. Joyce Bernal

In addition to the major film categories, GIFF also launches another program: “The Globe 5-Minute Video Challenge”. 

This joint initiative with the Singtel Group and its telco associates comprised of Singtel, Optus, AIS, Airtel, and Telkomsel, the 5-minute video challenge is part of the group’s efforts to drive content innovation across its markets and it will be conducted at two levels – local and regional. 

 Quark Henares, Paul Soriano and Dan Villegas

Epy Quizon hosting the Globe's GIFF launched held at the Globe Icon Store, Bonifacio Global City, September 1, 2016

Globe invites aspiring or experienced local filmmakers to submit 5-minute entries based on the theme “Connecting Lives”. The entries will be judged on criteria such as originality of content, storytelling and cinematography. The top two video entries from the Philippines will win P350000.00 each and will automatically qualify for the regional level of the competition. 

“We are making a big push in digital content as consumers have radically changed the way they consume entertainment. For many of Singtel’s more than 600 million customers, the mobile phone is also the only way for them to access the Internet. A pan-regional competition makes a lot of sense, as the power of content is its ability to transcend geographical and language barriers. Our customers will be able to enjoy access to a rich variety of original content created by the most talented content-makers from the region,” said Mark Chong, CEO, International, Singtel 

The grand finals will be held in Bangkok, Thailand on Nov. 21, with cash prizes of $30000.00 and $15000.00 to be awarded to the grand winner and runner-up, respectively. The regional winners will also get the opportunity to promote their videos on each associate’s mobile and video platforms to customers in the Group’s markets across Asia, Africa and Australia. 

To find out more about The 5-min Video Challenge, visit www.the5minvideo.com.