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July 15, 2017

City of Dreams Manila CSR: 3rd Year of Volunteerism, HR and Community Projects

City of Dreams Manila marks its third year in helping build better lives for local communities and its human resources through long-term and sustainable corporate social responsibility programs and volunteerism.

The integrated resort’s executives and employees have been engaging in about three volunteer activities per month for the benefit of disadvantaged local communities, orphans and children and the elderly and in the preservation and development of the environment, public health and safety, among others.

In addition, City of Dreams employee volunteers also conduct free internal courses in their respective areas of expertise for interested colleagues, providing additional skills training to enable them to have an alternative source of income or a productive hobby during their free time. Among the workshops that have been held are, namely: meat processing for pork tocino and beef tapa; chocolate-making; creating floral and balloon arrangements; and basic photography.

COD Manila Property President Geoff Andres joins employee volunteers at the tree planting activity in Cavite

Property President Geoff Andres spearheads the resort’s regular CSR activities with employee volunteers to date, such as: renovating a children’s orphanage, educating orphans; visiting the elderly; tree planting; house painting and building, and regularly holding blood donation drives with the Philippine Red Cross.

The community engagements have exemplified the Christian virtue of helping those in need, feeding the homeless along the nearby highways of Pasay and Paranaque, as initiated by City of Dreams Manila’s security team who brought bags containing rice, canned goods, noodles, bread, and coffee to homeless families and other impoverished areas along Roxas Boulevard, Quirino Avenue, and Coastal Road (CAVITEX).

City of Dreams Manila's staff volunteers at My Father's House orphanage


Volunteers from the engineering team also renovated My Father’s House, an orphanage in Las PiƱas. They replaced the tiles of the kitchen area, fixed and installed door knobs and repaired swimming pool pipes. They also fixed and installed new electrical outlets and lighting fixtures. The renovation provided the orphans with a cleaner, safer, and brighter place to live in.

Lighting fixture repairs done by COD Manila volunteers at My Father's House orphanage

Replacement of bathroom fixtures by COD Manila employee volunteers at My Father's House orphanage

City of Dreams Manila team’s visit to St. Anthony Village in Baranggay Talon, Las Pinas has helped liven up the small community. Volunteers from various departments successfully painted the exterior walls of some 20 homes, as the children warmly thanked their benefactors with a song and dance presentation. 

Volunteer employees also participated in CSR activities that addressed the emotional and educational needs of orphans and less fortunate children in the community.

Orphans from Bahay Aruga are given an educational tour and guided lesson at Museong Pambata
 
Fun-filled games conducted by COD Manila employee volunteers for Bahay Aruga orphans.






T-shirt painting activity with orphans in Bahay Aruga orphanage.

For the Bahay Aruga orphanage, the kids have been treated to an educational and fun-filled trips to Museong Pambata, were taught proper grooming and hygiene practices, and encouraged to live a healthier and more active lifestyle with a Zumba class.

A display of some of the t-shirt designs by Bahay Aruga orphans together with COD Manila employee volunteers



At My Father’s House, the children were taught to express themselves through artistic t-shirt painting. Most recently, a tie-up with the Department of Tourism’s Brigada Eskwela campaign resulted in the cleaning and refurbishment of 12 classrooms in San Dionisio Elementary School, Paranaque.


Feeding program for the elderly at Anawim conducted by COD Manila employees

Volunteers likewise reached out to the Anawim home for the elderly and spent a day with the senior members of society, sharing stories and singing heartwarming songs together.

COD Manila employee volunteers and the members of Anawim home for the elderly

In caring for the environment, two tree planting programs in Noveleta and Ternate, Cavite, were also done during the first half of the year, with over 3,000 mangrove seeds planted during both activities.

COD Manila employee volunteers plant along a mangrove in Cavite

Tree planting along a mangrove in Cavite by COD Manila employee volunteers

Mangroves protect the soil from erosion and shield against cyclones and other ecological disasters. They are also ideal breeding grounds for a variety of marine animals, playing a vital role in the ecological balance of coastal communities.

One of COD Manila's regular blood donation drives in partnership with the Philippine National Red Cross 

The regular blood donation drives in support of the Philippine Red Cross, draw an average of 100 employees, to help provide a healthy and sufficient blood supply for the organization.

For more information about City of Dreams Manila, visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.


The adventures of Turks’ Shawarma

The year was 2007, when shawarma was barely known by food-loving Pinoys. With nothing but nursing degrees and 300-something thousand pesos to back them up, Gem Zenarosa and his wife Angel used all of their money to start a food business with doner (shawarma), kebab, and steak as the main menu. For the couple, it was the start of an adventure that catapulted them into one of the country’s fastest growing food business today.

Gem wasn’t actually sure that shawarma would be such an instant hit among Pinoys, but it did in a matter of weeks. Thanks to his gut instinct to be where diners frequently go to dine with friends and family – SM malls.

Gem Zenarosa 
The move is so unlike most upstarts who would try to sell online first before trying physical stores. The Zenarosas applied their concept for a food cart to as many SM malls as they possibly can, until SM Sta. Mesa gave the first nod. According to Gem, it was an easy decision since SM already has foot traffic that even a small business can take advantage of.

As it turned out, his decision to invest inside a mall right away proved to be the best for Turks. “We had a huge help from SM in terms of marketing our brand. In fact, they still consistently help us today – 10 years into being a tenant in their malls nationwide,” said Gem.

From a team of seven employees, Turks now employs at least 300 people in company-owned branches alone. The company gets its inspiration to stay as “the people’s favorite doner and kebab” from this present crop of hardworking employees.

“People who work for him motivates him, knowing we depend on him for our livelihood. We are treated like family, which resonates on our products and service. The business concept is like feeding your own family, that’s why we always strive to go all out for our customers,” affirmed Jhoanna Borricano, operations head of Turks.

The adventure continues for Turks. There are bigger plans to reach out to more food-loving Filipinos in the provinces, and to conquer the global food scene with its distinct Filipino take on this Mediterranean flavor. And so the journey continues for Turks, with sheer determination and confidence that the business concept will keep growing.

Turks branches are located in 47 SM malls nationwide, and is one of over 5,000 partners of SM Supermalls who offer family fun and extraordinary mall-going experiences for all. 

July 14, 2017

OPPO announces Sarah Geronimo Limited Edition F3 Smartphone

Exclusive OPPO F3 in celebration of Sarah’s 3rd year anniversary with OPPO


In celebration of Sarah Geronimo’s third year as an endorser of the Top 2 smartphone brand OPPO, the brand officially announces the Sarah Geronimo Limited Edition F3 smartphone composed of a special packaging box and Sarah’s signature at the back of the phone.

Revolutionizing the #SelfieExpert since the beginning, Sarah’s strong influence as a singer and actor is a testament of OPPO’s presence in the Philippines. The OPPO F3 Sarah Geronimo Limited Edition is a gorgeous black OPPO F3 with the actress’ signature at the back. The packaging is also in a premium box with standard charger, headphones, soft cover and pre-installed screen protector.



OPPO F3 Sarah Geronimo Limited Edition Package

The OPPO F3 is a dual-selfie camera smartphone that can let customers experience wider selfies and include more people on a groufie. Additionally, it has 4GB of RAM for multi-tasking and generous 64GB of storage for apps, photos, and videos; all in a sleek metal body and 5.5” Full HD screen protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5.



In addition, the phone’s announcement is timely with Sarah’s upcoming movie Finally Found Someone. To celebrate, fans may get a chance to win tickets to watch the movie through OPPO’s Facebook fan page. More details will be announced soon at facebook.com/OPPOPH.

"The OPPO F3 Sarah Geronimo Limited Edition is a result of our successful collaboration with Sarah Geronimo. This paved the way to our strong No.2 position in the market today and this smartphone is our gesture to support her efforts and provide a rare opportunity for a celebrity to be an icon on a smartphone,” said Stephen Cheng, OPPO Philippines Brand Marketing Manager.
Pre-order for the F3 Sarah Geronimo Limited Edition will start on July 14 to July 24, 2017, exclusively on Lazada via bit.ly/OPPOSarahG for Php15,990. First 25 to order the smartphone will get two (2) tickets to the premier screening of Sarah’s latest movie Finally Found Someone in Metro Manila.

For more details about the OPPO F3, please visit https://www.facebook.com/OPPOPH/ or log on tohttp://www.oppo.com/ph/index.html.

Globe officially moves to change the PH entertainment landscape with an extensive lineup of productions

Advocates legitimate content consumption with #PlayItRight




In its commitment to elevating its customers’ entertainment experience, leading mobile brand Globe Telecom officially announces its move to change the entertainment landscape through the launch of its extensive lineup of productions that customers can participate in, enjoy, immerse, and express themselves in.

Albert de Larrazabal


“We wanted to give our customers more ways to enjoy life, so we ventured into staging entertainment productions that goes beyond the smartphone screen with the establishment of Globe LIVE and Globe Studios” shares Globe Chief Commercial Officer Albert de Larrazabal

“Globe is all about creating experiences, and we are simply taking the experience further by going beyond the virtual and giving our customers the opportunity to experience entertainment wherever they are, whether in film, digital or in real life. We intend to elevate the quality of entertainment in the country. There’s a boundless supply of great talent in the Philippines, and with it potentially comes great movies, theater, and other exciting content to enjoy” adds de Larrazabal.



Given these original content, the company underscores the importance of the hard work that goes behind the scenes and how content piracy affects the livelihood of men and women in the entertainment industry. Hence the company introduced its advocacy #PlayItRight. With all this content and entertainment productions Globe has in line comes the responsibility of educating its customers of the hard work that goes behind the scenes. Their hard work deserves all the respect, and the campaign aims to shed light on real life stories of people behind the entertainment we consume, in the hopes of encouraging customers to enjoy content from legitimate sources.


This year, Globe is pulling out all the stops with four musical productions under its belt. Its musical run already began with the adaptation of Disney’s Newsies, which started last July 7, 2016 at the Globe ICONIC Store and will run on all weekends of July. 

In August and September, Globe is co-producing the international tours of of the award-winning titles West Side Story from August 10 to 27 and the West End production of The Sound of Music from September 27 to October 15 both at The Theater at Solaire. Capping off 2017 will be the restaging of Menken & Ahren’s A Christmas Carol in December.

Apart from live productions, Globe has also ventured into producing original video series and films through Globe Studios. In recognition of the local independent film scene, Globe Studios launched the first-ever online film fest the Globe Independent Film Festival to fuel creativity among aspiring local filmmakers. Globe has also collaborated with HOOQ to bring the most-awaited, star-studded series, On The Job (OTJ), a spin-off from the original On The Job blockbuster hit by Erik Matti.

#PlayItRight will soon play a major role in Philippine cinema with the company supporting the upcoming Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino, a nationwide week-long celebration organized by the Office of the President’s Film Development Council, where all movie theaters will exclusively screen Filipino films in line with the Buwan ng Wika.

Audiophiles and concert goers are also in for a treat as Globe brings top global music acts The Chainsmokers in September, and the first solo act of Harry Styles in May of 2018. This comes on the heels of big names that Globe brought to the country namely Madonna in 2016, and the sold-out performance of Coldplay in 2017.

Gamers are likewise treated to hours of enjoyment with highly competitive mobile games Mobile Legends, Clash of Clans, and Clash Royale, and the addictive yet physically engaging Pokemon GO.

In line with #PlayItRight, customers can access all the entertainment they crave with the new GoWATCH, which allots a separate data allocation exclusively for videos, which can be used for popular and legitimate streaming platforms YouTube, Netflix, Tribe, HOOQ, NBA, Cartoon Network, and Disney Channel Apps.




Customers may avail of GoWATCH29 for 2GB of video streaming data for as low as P29, valid for one day as an add-on to any GoSURF promo starting with GoSURF50.

For more information about the company’s entertainment lineup, visit the website at http://www.globe.com.ph/. Tickets are available now at https://www.ticketworld.com.ph

For more information on GoWATCH, visit the website at http://www.globe.com.ph/help/gowatch, call the Globe hotline at 730-1010, or visit any Globe Store.

July 11, 2017

Anne Curtis: Fearless in saying ‘Yes’

“I never fear or regret saying ‘yes,’ especially to situations and things that can lead me to great, unforgettable experiences,” quipped Anne Curtis, one of the Philippines’ most sought-after entertainment personalities.



With such an open attitude towards life, it’s easy to see why Anne has managed to go from a balikbayan on a holiday to a prominent figure in the showbiz industry for the last twenty years.
“And I have to add that my showbiz career started right in Jollibee Boni, when I was approached by a talent scout,” the actress said. “Jollibee really reminds me of that fateful ‘Yes’ that I said twenty years ago, and look where that brought me!”
Earlier this year, Anne returned to where her impressive career began, but with a sweeter twist as the endorser of Jollibee’s best-tasting and best-selling Burger Steak. The actress calls her Jollibee endorsement as a “homecoming,” and is truly in love with her favorite 100% beefy-linamnam and saucy-sarap rice meal.


‘Best with rice’
Despite her Australian heritage, Anne remains truly Pinay at heart—especially in her favorite comfort foods. She loves a good ulam with white rice, just like millions of Filipinos who enjoy this simple yet filling combination every day.
“I know that there are some who would think that a burger patty doesn’t go well with rice, but Jollibee Burger Steak’s 100% beef patty with its flavorful mushroom sauce really is best paired with a steaming cup of rice,” said Anne.
In her latest TV commercial for Jollibee Burger Steak that began airing last July 9, Anne gives us a couple of reasons to say ‘Yes na Yes’ to this flavor-packed combination.
“The Jollibee Burger Steak is indeed the best-tasting rice meal you’ll have for this really great, affordable price,” shared the actress. “Best-tasting na ang 100% beefy-linamnam patty, saucy-sarap pa ang mushroom gravy, bagay na bagay pa with rice!”
Haven’t tried the Jollibee Burger Steak yet? Take it from true-blue Burger Steak lovers like Anne Curtis and say “Yes na Yes” to the unforgettably delicious dining experience offered by the Jollibee Burger Steak Rice Meal, available for dine-in, take-out, delivery, and drive-thru transactions, starting at P50.00*.


* Prices may vary across different locations

GetGo, KLOOK, and UnionBank make travel adventures more rewarding with exciting new promo

Traveling around Asia becomes even more rewarding as GetGo partners with Klook to provide new members with additional GetGo points for even more opportunities to #FlyForFree! 
GetGo, the country’s fastest-growing lifestyle rewards program by Cebu Pacific, continues to provide the most rewarding experiences to its members with the launch of yet another exciting promo together with Asia’s leading in-destination travel services booking platform, KLOOK, and UnionBank of the Philippines.




To make travel even more enjoyable with new adventures, newly registered GetGo members can earn an extra 250 GetGo points on their first booking with Klook. From adventure thrills at Universal Studios Japan, one-of-a-kind experiences like shipwreck diving in Bali to the Hong Kong Airport Express, and Pocket Wifi rental across Asia, things are definitely getting more rewarding for GetGo members this year!

This offer is on top of the regular 1 GetGo point earned for every P100 spent on the Klook platform. With more GetGo points up for grabs, this means more free flights with Cebu Pacific!


“The Philippines is one of our fastest growing travel markets. We are very excited to join forces with GetGo to provide even bigger and better rewards for Filipino travelers all around. With new exciting verticals such as restaurants and wellness coming to Klook, strong partnerships like these put us at the forefront to capitalize on the growing trend of intra-region travel within Asia Pacific,” said Klook Travel Co-Founder Eric Gnock Fah.


Wait, it gets better! Cardholders of the Cebu Pacific GetGo Debit and Credit Cards by UnionBank, approved during the promo period, can enjoy an additional P250 discount on KLOOK when they use their cards to book. So that’s double the perks in just one booking!



To avail of the bonus GetGo points, simply visit www.klook.com/getgo, choose the destination and the desired activity or attraction to experience, and provide the payment details and GetGo membership number in the required fields. To get the KLOOK discount, cardholders should provide the debit or credit card details in the payment section and enter the unique promo code. Promo runs until November 20, 2017 only.

Cardholders of Cebu Pacific GetGo Debit and Credit Cards by UnionBank can enjoy P250 discount on KLOOK when they use their newly-approved cards to book.

Bonus and regular GetGo points will be awarded to the member’s account within 35 working days after the completion of the scheduled activity. Booking cancellations or a “no show” will not earn any bonus and regular GetGo points.

So, what are you waiting for? Start the most rewarding adventure yet with GetGo, KLOOK, and UnionBank to experience an exciting and worry-free travel escapade!

Not yet a Cebu Pacific GetGo Debit and Credit Card by UnionBank cardholder? 

Visit getgo.unionbankph.com to apply and start earning GetGo points from everyday purchases.

For more information on memberships and partners, visit www.getgo.com.ph, or call +632 71-GETGO (43846)

The latest updates are also on GetGoPH's official pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.



About KLOOK
Klook is Asia’s largest in-destination services booking platform. They are dedicated to giving travelers a simple, fast and convenient access to popular attractions, experiences and services so they can discover the sounds, colors, and even tastes of places around the world. Travelers can easily customize their itineraries on klook.com or on Klook’s award-winning mobile app to satisfy their wanderlust and last-minute plans. Each day, the company inspires countless of travelers with over 10,000 activities in more than 90 destinations available at their fingertips.


July 10, 2017

Globe at Home gives families a weekend of fun activities and free movies at #StreamFest



Globe At Home launches its new GoBIG plans that come with free additional 100GB access to YouTube 



Online video content selections​ ​are​ growing so quickly that families can now ​spend an entire weekend just watching the latest movies, TV shows, and viral clips. To showcase how streaming can be a fun bonding pursuit for families, Globe at Home is holding #StreamFest, a weekend of free movies, snacks, and loads of fun activities!



Families can enjoy ​free ​screenings of popular Netflix titles like, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Designated Survivor. HOOQ will also be streaming movies like Amazing Spiderman 1 and 2, and kids will definitely enjoy the ​new Tangled series​ through the Disney Channel Apps. 

#StreamFest will also have activities hosted by top local YouTube creators such as beauty Vlogger Anne Clutz, Cosplayer Chris Cantada, and travel Vlogger Patrice Averilla of AVELOVINIT. 


#StreamFest is our way of bringing together the best in entertainment so that more families can experience it first hand. Through the streaming activities, we are able to showcase how much their connected life can be better when they are able to watch their favorite content all together. This is also our way of ​introducing our new GoBIG plans that is part of our mission to connect two million homes around the country with leading edge network technology,” says Senior Vice President of Globe At Home Martha Sazon.
Globe at Home’s #StreamFest kicked off in Cebu last July 1 and 2, and families in Manila can experience the fun at the Bonifacio High Street Activity Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig and at UP Town Center in Quezon City.



Every family can continue their ​#StreamFest at home​ by availing of the new Globe at Home GoBIG plans, which come with bigger data allocations at affordable rates, and fast and reliable speeds. For Plan 1299, customers can enjoy 300GB of data allocation per month with speeds of up to 5Mbps. Those who want to stream more can avail of Plan 1599, which has a data allowance of 400GB and speeds of up to 10Mbps, or Plan 1899, which has 500GB of data and speeds of up to 50Mbps.

All plans come with 100 GB of data exclusive for YouTube, so families can enjoy content from music videos to recipes, DIY clips, and more.



Customers also get​ six months free access to Netflix and Disney Channel apps for award-winning original content and children’s shows, and a two month subscription to HOOQ for a diverse selection of local and foreign titles.


To check the availability of Globe At Home GoBIG plans in your area, visit https://checkavailability.globe.com.ph

For more information on the new Globe at Home plans, visit the website at https://shop.globe.com.ph/broadband, call the Globe hotline at 730-1010, or visit any Globe Store.


Boy Abunda Speech Wows World-Class Speakers

He is not called The King of Talk for nothing.

But with a foreign audience composed of the best and the brightest in public speaking in attendance, the applause - and the standing ovation - was a moment to remember even for talk show host par excellence Boy Abunda.

Simply put, Boy took the spotlight during his scheduled speech at the Asia Professional Speakers Convention held in Singapore last month. He owned the moment, seizing it like a hungry man at an all-you-can-eat convention.

The theme of his talk, Don’t Just Be A Speaker, Be A Star, provided him the perfect platform to share his thoughts on his decades of experience and wisdom as a talent agent, star maker, and television personality. It was a moment of perfect timing - the time, the place, the topic, and the speaker came together to create a fitting debut for Boy‘s public speaking career.

Dubbed “The Fab Sermon: Don't Just Be A Speaker, Be A Star", the hour-long speech turned out to be an engaging showcase of insight and inspiration delivered with truthfulness and impact.



Right off the bat Boy grabbed the audience attention with his short introduction of himself: 

 “I am not a professional speaker. I am a talk show host, an interviewer, and like you I use the same fundamental tools, "my words, my heart, and my truth.”

And he stole the show right from there!

Ethel Odilao, a certified John Maxwell speaker, observed of Boy, “He was outstanding. He exudes confidence facing an audience of global topnotch speakers.”

Fredrik Haren, a world-class speaker himself who spoke in 23 countries last year, invited Boy to the engagement believing that delegates would want to hear him talk about the said topic.

Boy spoke before a crowd of 200 guests, several of whom were globally acknowledged speakers that regularly got paid upwards of 20 thousand dollars per engagement . By the end of his talk, Boy was rewarded with a ten-minute standing ovation. 

“It is difficult to dance ballet with the best ballerinas around,” Boy shared, “So to prepare, I went to the ballroom the night before, walked around the stage, introduced myself to the stage, measured how far I should be from the tables. That was the first time in my career that I ever did that kind of preparation. I was that unsure.”

Boy had only bullet points. No written speech. He had some power point presentation. And then he prayed. 

Never shy of expressing truth within him, Boy recalled, “In Singapore I went on stage proud of my story. I said I’m Boy Abunda. I believe in God. I love my mother. I’m proudly gay. I have a partner for life. I’m a talk show host. I’m an interviewer. I’m a teacher, a student. I am proudly Filipino. Everything else is a footnote.”

The speech was a memorable experience for Boy who wasn’t expecting to get the audience’s nod. He said he’s extremely happy to have done well, and probably for the first time in his career of great talk, he and his team humbly thought he was actually good.

A voracious reader who keeps himself informed and inspired by famous speakers, from Martin Luther King to Bill Clinton, Boy admits that he also wants to become a professional speaker like the people in the audience who gave him that ovation. He also revealed that he is in the process of organizing and aligning Filipino speakers to the international speakers association.

His team is likewise solidifying a TED talk-like concept to bear his name, as well as meeting up with foreign speakers interested to connect with his advocacies.


For Boy who has taken masters in communications and a doctoral degree in social development, Singapore talk is just tip of the iceberg.

In sharing her amazement at Boy, Odilao added, “His expertise as a star builder is exemplified in his speech as he enumerates his own version of Speakers Beatitudes and his guide list of What Makes A Star A Star.”

For that said list, Boy counted 13 Things that include charisma, presence, network, and the “immutable law” that nothing lasts forever. 

There is no slowing down for Boy Abunda. Like what he has done all throughout his storied career, he will come up with innovations, much like his never-ending ideas for slogans like Usap Tayo, Susunod, Abangan, etc. 

“The familiar is not as exciting as the unknown. I’m running after anything that is not within my realm of control.”

During his well-lauded speech he rousingly ended it by advising “don’t forget to get paid; if not at least get laid," to the delight of his audience.

July 9, 2017

Epson holds number one position for large format signage printer amongst ASEAN countries in Q3 of 2016 to Q1 of 2017

Epson’s flagship digital textile printer is number one large format printer for dye-sublimation inks in Vietnam

Epson, a leader in professional printing, has achieved the number one position in the graphics market for large format signage printers amongst ASEAN countries in the 3rd quarter period of 2016 to 1st quarter period of 2017. The most recent findings from IDC reveal that Epson has taken the top spot in this segment with a market share of 19.9%. The achievement demonstrates the company’s market leadership in the region and its pioneering innovation in large format graphics printing.


Epson professional printers combine high volume and high speed production printing with quality print output along with affordability, which has helped its growth in the region. The company has continued to lead in the commercial and industrial printer markets for photo graphics, signage, textile and label printing amongst printing providers, retail stores and the like, expanding in the Southeast Asia region.

At the core of Epson’s professional printers is its PrecisionCore printhead technology consisting of the Thin-Film Piezo print chip built using precision MEMS manufacturing technology for high performance printing. Using no heat, the PrecisionCore print chips enable the development of superior Epson ink formulations that can print across a variety of media ranging from posters and signage banners and other creative installations. Multi-size dot control delivers precision printing for high-volume and high-speed printing applications.

Alongside this achievement, Epson has continued to expand its digital textile printing business in the region, with its flagship digital textile printer model, the SureColor SC-F9270 emerging as the number one large format printer in the graphics market in Vietnam for dye-sublimation inks in 2016.

There continues to be growing demand for large format printing globally. According to IDC, large format printer (LFP) shipments and revenue grew by more than 4% year over year in 2016. And in the digital textile printing industry, Smithers Pira forecasts 17.5% annual growth for digital textile print, with a revenue growth forecast at an annual average of 12.3% for 2016 to 2021. 

“The signage, textiles and label industries are high growth markets, and we aim to continue to drive growth in the region. Especially in the textiles industry, we aim to accelerate the industry shift to digital to support the demand for short-run print jobs. We will continue to leverage our strengths in our core technologies to introduce new innovations that will help our customers to strengthen their business and lower their overall total cost of production,” said Shuji Hamaguchi, Regional General Manager (SE Asia), Professional Printing Division, Epson Singapore.



Experience the thrill of Spider-man: Homecoming with OPPO

Get a chance to win movie tickets and watch the latest movie with OPPO F3 Black Edition


msmyrnz

Catch the web-shooting action of Spider-man: Homecoming with OPPO F3 Black Edition. O-Fans can get a chance to win two (2) movie tickets to watch the much-awaited movie by simply joining OPPO’s giveaway contest. Participants will simply visit the OPPO Philippines Facebook fan page to join and follow the simple instructions to earn raffle entries.

Experience as well the OPPO F3 Black Edition’s sleek metal and gorgeous matte black body, along with its dual selfie camera that lets you capture wide selfies to a larger area. The 16MP front camera with beautification 4.0 allows the best natural looking selfies even at night thanks to its screen flash feature. All these on a 5.5” Full HD JDI screen, 4GB of RAM for multitasking and ample 64GB storage for heavy data users.


Movie ticket giveaway

Fans of OPPO Philippines Facebook page simply needs to visit http://bit.ly/OPPOSpidey to enter the contest to earn raffle entries. Participants can join until 11:59PM of July 11, 2017 and winners will be announced by the following day, July 12, 2017. A total of 150 winners will win two (2) movie tickets to watch Spider-man: Homecoming with a friend.



About Spiderman: Homecoming

A young Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland), who made his sensational debut in Captain America: Civil War, begins to navigate his new found identity as the web-slinging superhero in Spider-Man: Homecoming. Thrilled by his experience with the Avengers, Peter returns home, where he lives with his Aunt May (Marisa Tomei), under the watchful eye of his new mentor Tony Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.). Peter tries to fall back into his normal daily routine – distracted by thoughts of proving himself to be more than just your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man – but when the Vulture (Michael Keaton) emerges as a new villain, everything that Peter holds most important will be threatened.

The OPPO F3 Black Edition is available nationwide in any OPPO concept and dealers stores for a special discounted price of Php15,990, under the Back-to-School Promo until July 31, 2017. All unit comes with a pre-installed screen protector and soft transparent case for added value and protection.

For more details about the OPPO F3, please visit https://www.facebook.com/OPPOPH/ or log on to http://www.oppo.com/ph/index.html.

In farming, millions start with one quality seed

Philippines is primarily an agricultural country. The popular folk song "Magtanim ay 'Di Biro" (Planting rice is never fun) tells about the difficulties of the life of the farmers, bent over the entire day, to plant.

Farmers are the 2nd poorest work force in the country next to fishermen, reason for which the current generation shies away from pursuing a career in agriculture thinking that it is a difficult and unrewarding profession.

However, farming is a field where there are endless opportunities. In fact, vegetable farming could help you get out of poverty. Recently, I had the chance to experience to be a farming in one day. I joined the East-West Seed “Great Journey” listening tour in Bulacan to meet and greet farmer nominees in the Search for 35 Farmer Heroes, as part of East-West Seed’s 35th anniversary celebration. East-West Seed is an integrated vegetable seed company and one of the 10 largest seed companies in the world. The winners of the search will serve as ambassadors and role models in the vegetable farming industry.

East-West Seed hopes to be able to influence more people to get into vegetable production. 

Two of the Farmers Heroes nominees shared their interesting and profitable vegetable farming journey:



Johnny Gatuz, 55, a former OFW, shared with us how he now makes more money by growing papaya and other high-value crops in Brgy. Kaingin, San Rafael, Bulacan than when he was an Overseas Filipino Worker ( OFW ) in Saudi Arabia.

His father was a traditional farmer and they hardly made ends meet. This prompted Johnny to seek for the proverbial greener pastures and worked as a construction worker in Saudi Arabia where he worked for five years as a construction worker. While there, he realized that the life of an OFW is not easy at all coupled by the fact that he was not also earning significantly. He flew back home, fell in love, got married and fell in love anew with farm life.




He started by renting out a one-hectare farm land which he planted with pumpkin, okra and sitaw.

As a newbie farmer, he wasn’t earning enough. His breakthrough came when he discovered East-West Seed and started using their seeds in his farm. His yields doubled and the quality and consistency of his crops were so much better.


Johnny now owns several hectares of farm land, farm machinery, a tractor, his own motorcycle for transporting his crops to the market. He also has sufficient savings for his family.



To pay it forward, Johnny hires his neighbors to help him during planting and harvest seasons. He is also very generous in training other would-be-farmers and is, in fact, responsible for converting a jobless, “tambay” neighbor into a successful vegetable farmer.




Rowena Manalo, 41, of San Ildefonso, Bulacan was also raised in a family of farmers.

At a young age, she and her siblings were already trained how to do farm work. As she reached adulthood. She worked as “biyahera” of the vegetable harvests. As a “biyahera,” she transports the bundled produce from the farm to the market, specifically the “bagsakan” which is the Balintawak Market in Quezon City.

Such was her simple life until she fell in love and married Jun, also a farmer, when they were both 21.

Inspired by the success of other farmers, Rowena and Jun decided to have their own piece of land where they could also plant vegetables as their means of livelihood.

As other start-up farmers, the young couple rented out a half-hectare farmland and with a very small capital of P5,000 which they borrowed, they bought ampalaya and sitaw seeds and went straight ahead with planting these I their small farm lot.


But their journey was not easy.

“Lagi kaming umiiyak noon. Kasi tuwing dumadaan kami sa mga taniman, nilalait, iniinsulto at pinagtatawanan kami ng mga beterano ng magsasaka at sinasabi nila na ano ba ang alam naming sa pagsasaka. Hindi sila naniniwala na kaya naming palaguin ang aming sakahan,” Rowena said as she started to tear up.

“Bayaan mo, pagdating ng araw, atin lahat ang lupang ito,” her husband Jun would always tell her.

Her husband’s word proved to be prophetic as the couple now owns seven hectares of land, two tractors for rent, a grocery, agri store, a water refilling station and their own lovely house.

Rowena attributes their success to three things: their faith in God, the love in their marriage that never wavered and their love for the farm and hard work.

“Nagsimula kami sa binhi ng EWS na sitaw at ampalaya at nagulat kami dahil mas nagging mabunga at maganda ang quality ng aming mga ani. Sinundan naming tio ng talong at mais,” Rowena said, recalling their “breakthrough” moment.

Last 2015, Rowena shared that they hit their first million through an abundant yield high-quality mais grande.

There is something so humbling about seeing these farmers working hard to give us the most basic of our needs. Johnny and Rowena, with East-West Seed show us vegetable farming is a very profitable business and it is an industry that continues to grow.