Converge ICT Gears Up for Nationwide Rollout

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Converge ICT Solutions Inc. announced today that it has intensified efforts to lay the groundwork for a nationwide rollout, seeking to provide its pure fiber internet connectivity for more households and enterprises.

Premier pure fiber internet provider taps experienced industry partners to fast-track nationwide rollout, eyes exponential growth with the aim to bring better connectivity for the Philippines

In a strategic partnership with several local and foreign companies such as Korea Telecoms, LSI-Fibernet Konstruk Corporation, and TE Connectivity Subcom, Converge ICT Solutions shared its mission to fast-track the completion of its massive, nationwide network rollout to the public. These efforts are sustained as part of an ongoing campaign spearheaded by Converge to provide an advanced and reliable backbone of internet connectivity for more Filipino households and enterprises.

Chosen for their wide-ranging technical expertise and extensive business portfolios in the IT industry, Converge ICT Solutions´ new partners will help build and deploy the infrastructures necessary to provide pure end-to-end fiber internet connectivity at a nationwide scale. With the combined strength of its partners´ industry credentials and financial backings, Converge is taking bold steps ahead of the curve, leading the way towards building and connecting the Filipino people with better and more reliable internet infrastructures.

This vision is something which Converge President and CEO Dennis Uy firmly believes would serve as a catalyst for social and economic progress, helping everyone from ordinary Filipino netizens trying to connect with loved ones from around the world; to small and medium businesses trying to grow their ideas, as well helping accelerate the Philippine government´s ongoing IT projects designed to serve the Filipino people. With this in mind, Converge´s humble efforts seek to help prepare, lift, and further open the Philippines to global competitiveness, leveraging its unique and strategic position in the burgeoning Asian economy.

“We have set our sights to bring the best internet connectivity by starting in Metro Manila and some key provinces in Luzon. By going nationwide, we can do more rollouts and more installations in other islands in the Philippines, helping more people connect with one another through our infrastructure” Uy shared passionately.

According to Mr. Miles Tonn Chua, Chief Operating Officer of MetroWorks ICT Construction, Inc. (a subsidiary of Converge ICT) the total flow of investments is estimated at US$ 2 billion for the next 5 years. The rollout currently being executed has the potential to reach more than 13 million of the 22 million households nationwide, particularly the major islands situated in Visayas and Mindanao. Chua shared that the project is a 5-year plan, and the network backbones are targeted to be completed by 2021 but would be operational through different phases to enable the project to become complete prior to 2021.

The partnerships are slated to implement both Full Turn Key (FTK) and Semi-Turn Key (STK) approaches, according to Chua. FTK entails an end-to-end approach, which includes supply for imported materials and provides services up to acceptance. The STK approach, on the other hand, is where the Converge Group provides owner-supplied materials, an approach that is practical especially for demographics which include National Capital Region. The partnership is currently both in ongoing implementation and final negotiation stages.

“With more projects to be completed, it will certainly contribute to the growth of Converge ICT, which is expected to be exponential,” adds Chua.

Chua also bared that they are looking to enter into more partnerships in the future to further improve its service offerings. “What the public is experiencing now as the best internet service, they can also expect that same kind in the next year or two.” the Converge COO shared.

Lamudi Housing Fair Goes to Cebu

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Lamudi is bringing together property seekers and sellers in the Queen City of the South with the launch of the Cebu Housing Fair

 Find your dream property at the Lamudi Housing Fair in Cebu

MANILA, 10 August 2018—All roads lead to Cebu as the Lamudi Housing Fair sets up at the Queen City of the South on September 8 and 9, 2018 at Ayala Center in Cebu City. Designed to bring property buyers and sellers together, this open-for-all housing fair will feature some of the biggest property brands of the country.

A first for Lamudi

Cebu’s economy has been displaying massive growth for years, driven mainly by tourism and the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) industries. According to the Department of Tourism, Central Visayas saw the arrival of over 6.3 million local and foreign tourists in 2017, with Cebu being the top travel hub of the region. Also, the Cebu IT-BPM Organization estimated that Cebu had between 150,000 and 160,000 IT-BPO workers by the end of last year, and that the Cebu City government is targeting the generation of 200,000 jobs in the industry by next year.

The presence of multiple economic zones, where companies enjoy various business incentives, has been attracting major investors, particularly in the IT-BPM sector. Moreover, the recent opening of the new Mactan-Cebu International Airport is projected to increase tourist arrivals and business investments into the province.

Hence, according to Lamudi CEO and Managing Director Bhavna Suresh, the decision to hold the brand’s next housing fair in the province was an easy one to make. With all past housing fairs being hosted in Metro Manila, the Cebu leg of Lamudi’s housing fair series will be the first provincial event for the leading online property portal.

“The massive growth of Cebu City has prompted real estate developers to catch up and supply the much-needed residential, commercial, and retail spaces for home and business relocators. As we have witnessed so far, many of the most prominent names in the property industry have already made a mark in the province through various projects, from condos and subdivisions to townships and business parks,” Suresh explained.

“Lamudi believes that now is the best time to be the stage upon which buyers and sellers can interact and explore the opportunities presented by the flourishing Cebu real estate landscape,” she added.

Home buyers and property seekers at the Lamudi Affordable Housing Fair last June 30-July 1, 2018 at Glorietta.

What to expect

Aspiring new homeowners and real estate investors can look forward to completed and upcoming projects by Primehomes, Ortigas & Company, RFK Holdings, DMCI Homes, Aboitizland Inc., Primary Homes, Softouch Property Development Corp., Avida Land, Contempo Property Holdings, King Properties, and Priland Development Corporation, among others.

UnionBank and RCBC Savings Bank will also be present for buyers in need of home loan assistance to purchase a property.  Plus, the Land Registration Authority will be on hand to give attendees an update on the recent efforts of the agency in terms of protecting land owners.

Aside from being able to inquire directly about the properties on display, buyers can also take advantage of promos and discounts to be offered during the event.

In addition, real estate brokers attending the event will have the opportunity to market their brand and properties through on-the-spot registration to the website, where they can begin uploading their properties to be viewed by Lamudi’s online visitors. Real estate online sales training sessions will also be offered to brokers who are looking to increase lead generation and sales numbers.

“It is indeed an exciting undertaking for Lamudi, and one that we hope to carry out again in the coming years,” Suresh stated.

Join us for two days of property showcases, real estate auctions, and real estate online sales trainings sessions for real estate sales professionals at the Lamudi Housing Fair Cebu happening at the Ayala Center Cebu Exhibit Center on September 8-9, 2018 from 10AM to 10PM. For more information about one of the most exciting housing events of the year, visit the official website.

Trade show giants PHILBEX Cebu and Cebu Auto Show to unlock the future of Cebu

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From the recently-inaugurated Mactan-Cebu International Airport, which demonstrated the remarkable genius of Filipino architectural ingenuity, all the way to the pioneering series of construction and transportation projects underway such as the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway and its first-ever LRT subway-elevated system, Cebu is undoubtedly ushering an unprecedented economic mobility in the realm of construction and transportation.

Coinciding perfectly with the heightened spirit of enthusiasm surrounding both trade industries, Worldbex Services International – the country’s leading events and expositions organizer – is proud to present two back-to-back shows that will boost and augment the course of progress being undertaken by the region.

Now on its 16^th year, the Philippine Building and Construction Exposition (PHILBEX) Cebu 2018 is set to happen on September 13 to 16, from 10:00am to 8:00pm at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall. Meanwhile, opening only a day apart is the Cebu Auto Show (CAS) 2018. Running on its 11^th edition, CAS will open its doors to the public on September 14 to 16, from 10:00am to 8:00pm at the SM Seaside Sky Hall.

Unveiling the future of Cebuano living

PHILBEX Cebu may be the last regional leg of the iconic WORLDBEX but it certainly has no intention of holding back as it envisions to deliver an equally impactful and productive show. Taking after the guiding theme for all WORLDBEX 2018 shows, this year’s PHILBEX Cebu concerns itself with “Shaping Innovations Toward Sustainability”.

Following the success of its 2017 show which housed 105 booths across the wide expanse of the Cebu Trade Hall, this year’s PHILBEX Cebu is set to unveil over 120 booths and close to 80 exhibitors composed of both local exhibitors and foreign participants alike from countries such as China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore – all of whom are expected to showcase product and service innovations that are both cutting-edge and efficient.

Aside from presenting an extensive line-up of exhibiting companies, also anticipated to make an impression on this year’s show attendees are PHILBEX Cebu’s event highlights. Among the must-see fixtures include the Architect’s Gallery. A gathering of the region’s top architects and their respective firms, among the participants to present the latest trends and design perspectives from the industry are Abadia Architects and Designers, Archiglobal Inc., Nueast, Arkitecture, Pont Architectural + Design Studio, Philippine Institute of Architects Cebu Chapter, and the United Architects of the Philippines.

Also not to be missed are the Interior Designer’s Gallery which is presented in partnership with the Philippine Institute of Interior Designers – VisMin Chapter, the PHILBEX MiniCons, and the 3^rd Projéto Cebu Furniture Design Competition which the entrants for this year will be tasked to create a design for a studio-type condominium unit that will focus on both the wellbeing and learning efficiency of the student-inhabitants.

As WORLDBEX gears up to usher in its Silver Anniversary, its decided move towards increased awareness and proactive perspectives as evidenced by PHILBEX 2018 affirms its dedication to build a brighter future for the entire nation as a whole.

Redefining leisure and productivity

Recognizing the growing demand among automotive consumers for vehicles that live up to their increasingly active lifestyles as well as their entrepreneurial agenda, this year’s Cebu Auto Show, which is also the final regional leg of MIAS 2108, will drive around the theme of “Work and Play”. 

From vehicles that are especially designed to cater to businesses as well as the rigorous schedules on-the-go professionals to the latest automotive releases that are meant to cater to the most discerning travelers and adventurers, CAS 2018 is guaranteed to cater to a wide variety of consumers and automotive enthusiasts.

Set to showcase a total of 44 booths, this year’s edition of CAS also boasts of an extensive range of product categories as well as an excitable roster of event highlights which include the much-awaited Custom and Classic Car competition, the Diecast car model swap meet, exhibitions from top car brands, and of course, an impressive motor bike display. 

More than just a market place for automotive products, CAS has come to be a pillar of the Cebu automotive industry as it ultimately serves to elevate the means of transportation of the people. In empowering the region’s automotive industry, CAS also contributes significantly in the collective development of the region.

This season, Cebu is expected to witness a dynamic economic convergence that will truly bolster the upward growth of two of its most prominent trade industries. Don’t miss out on the biggest and most anticipated expos of the year – PHILBEX Cebu and CAS 2018! 

For more information, call (02) 656-9239 or email info.worldbex@gmail.com. 

For the latest updates on PHILBEX Cebu and CAS, follow Worldbex Services International on Facebook, @worldbex on Instagram, Cebu Auto Show on Facebook, and @cebuautoshow on Instagram.

Packetworx grand launch to accelerate the adoption of Internet of Things in the Philippines

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With Packetworx, the Internet of Things (IoT) technology will be easily available for every Filipino. Through its brand campaign, “We Connect Things”, enabling IoT in the Philippines is made easy and possible.

Packetworx, the leading Internet of Things (IoT) company in the Philippines, will be launching its brand with the campaign, ‘We Connect Things’ on August 8, 2018. Its brand campaign, ‘We Connect Things,’ aims to promote Packetworx, as an enabler of IoT in the country with its full suite of end-to-end solution from devices, software applications to network connectivity.

The next Internet revolution: The Internet of Things

Internet of Things is the concept of connecting any device to the Internet and to the other connected devices. It is a network of things that sends, receives and collects information. According to a report of Software.org, a global research organization, in 2020 there will be about 50 billion devices connected to the internet. Packetworx aims to enable and equip the Philippines for this next internet revolution.

Packetworx as a driver of IoT in the country

Packetworx’s mission is to accelerate the adoption of IoT in the country. It aims to equip and enable Filipino innovators and IoT enthusiasts to create IoT devices, applications and solutions. The IoT network is free for individuals and for non-commercial use. Packetworx uses leading LoRaWAN enabled solutions that provide long range sensors and control capable devices which allow wide range of IoT applications and total cost of ownership.

Packetworx, a social enterprise for creating smart communities

To achieve its goal to an IoT-ready Philippines, Packetworx’s as a social enterprise, has three (3) major initiatives which anyone can be a part of (1) the IoT Technology Hub, the first free access co-working space dedicated IoT. It makes available computer, soldering stations, test equipment, pick and place and even reflow oven. It will enable IoT enthusiasts to develop devices, applications and solutions (2) free IoT hardware kits and free LoRa Academy curriculum for 100 schools and, (3) Free device sensors and network connectivity to 60 local government units for disaster-preparedness, air quality monitoring and safety.

Packetworx will be covering 80% of Greater Metro Manila by August 2018 and 90% of the Philippines by the end of the year. In the IoT Technology Hub there will be a series of IoT Tech talks featuring IoT experts, hackathons and seminars.

For more information on Packetworx and its products and solutions, visit www.packetworx.com.

About Packetworx

Packetworx is a technology social enterprise which focuses on enabling IoT in the Philippines. It is a member of the LoRa Alliance, a world-wide alliance of over 500-member companies that support the standardization of LPWAN with the LoRaWAN specification and has created a certification and compliance program to ensure interoperability among its members.

It is the official host of the regional LoRaWAN network for Philippines and Southeast Asia through its partnership with The Things Network (TTN), the largest community of startups, businesses and developers globally building a public IoT data network,

Christian Bables’ Signal Rock Opens in Theaters, August 15

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Christian Bables topbills Signal Rock which opens in theaters starting August 15. Signal Rock is part of the week-long celebration of Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino. The movie is directed by Chito Roño.

Signal Rock which was shot in the scenic island of Biri in Samar, revolves around the story of Intoy (Christian), a poor high school dropout who lives in a remote fishing island. Intoy’s good communication skills has landed him jobs as an event emcee in fiestas, parties, and election campaign rallies in their place. He helps his sister in Finland in a child custody battle against her abusive husband by involving the townspeople, faking legal documents, and setting up false endorsements to prove his sister’s financial capability.

Signal Rock is based on a true story of people living in a small town in the beautiful island of Samar. Direk Chito recounted the story of his friend named Nonong to screenwriter Rody Vera.

Christian talks about his character. “One similarity that I share with Intoy is our love for family. Lahat gagawin ni Intoy to keep his family intact. Iyong ginawa niyang pagtulong sa sister niya, walang katulad iyon. Like Intoy, grabe din iyong love ko for my family, my mom, and siblings.”

It was a dream come true for Christian to be working with Direk Chito. “I’m blessed! No words can express how happy I am to be finally directed by THE Chito Roño. I’m grateful to have a wonderful working relationship with him and I must say that I’ve gained a father in him.”

Christian is now busy with the movies’ promo activities which include mall shows, radio and studio interviews, campus tours, among others.

Signal Rock also stars Nanding Josef, Ces Quesada, Arnold Reyes, Daria Ramirez, and Domingo Cobarrubias.

For inquiries, please call (02) 855-4765 or (02) 405-4423, email info@asianartistsagency.com, and visit fb.com/asianartistsagency

The Rise of Cashless Payments with PESONet

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The rise of cashless payments is here with PESONet, a new electronic funds transfer service that enables customers of participating banks, e-money issuers or mobile money operators to transfer funds in Philippine Peso currency to another customer of other participating banks. 

PESONet,  seen as a catalyst to spur the rise of cash-less payments in the country, is the best payment method for bulk disbursements or payments.  It is the most convenient and efficient alternative to checks!

To encourage people and businesses to conduct their financial transactions digitally, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the payments industry launched PESONet late last year as the country’s first Automated Clearing House (ACH) under the National Retail Payment System (NRPS). 

PesoNet — an inter-bank Electronic Fund Transfer platform that can benefit companies that still transact using traditional cash or check payment systems to go electronic. 

With PesoNet, businesses can pay their suppliers, their bills, and even their employees electronically even across different banks and financial institutions. It also allows transfer of funds and other volume or bulk transactions among participating banks. 

Users can simply log on to the participating bank’s online or mobile banking platform, choose “PesoNet,” or Transfer to Other Bank, enter payment details, press send, and payment is sent to beneficiary’s account within the same day at full value.

Since its launch, response among financial institutions was encouraging. By end of July 2018, there were already 58 financial institutions that signed up as participants with 43 of them already receiving PESONet transactions. On the other hand, 22 institutions have already made PESONet available in their online and mobile phone channels.

So why switch to PESONet? 

There are many benefits that digitizing payments can bring to both businesses and individuals. According to a study by Better Than Cash Alliance entitled “The Future of Supply Chains: Why Companies Are Digitizing Payments,” real benefits “can be accrued not just by companies but also their employees, suppliers, distributors, and in many instances, the communities they work in,” by going digital with their payments. Among these are improved efficiency, increased revenue, greater transparency and security, and stronger business relationships. Specifically for the payees, they receive payments due them within the same day with no fees nor deductions. 

In the McKinsey Global Institute’s study “Digital Finance for All: Powering Inclusive Growth in Emerging Economies”, the Philippines’ share of digital payments is 2% of all payments. With PESONet now in place in the Philippines, the BSP hopes this will improve eyeing an increase to 20% in total electronic payment transactions by year 2020.

“PESONet remains part of the BSP’s commitment to harness the power and reach of the digital space to push the agenda of greater financial inclusion. The digital revolution underscores the importance of innovation and technology to ensure the delivery of financial products and services to a wider segment of society,” says BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla, Jr. 

So far, the response from the financial sector such as the banks, a vital component for PESONet, is overwhelming. Not only was there an increase in the number of financial institutions that signed up with PESONet (total of 58 participants), the volume of transactions likewise increased. The Philippine Payments Management, Inc. (PPMI) reported that by end July  2018, a daily average of 39,000 PESONet transactions are processed. In terms of value, these transactions would be approximately PhP 3 billion per day. Compared to the same period last year, these grew by 27% in volume and 26% in value.

 “These figures show a vast improvement from batch or bulk funds transfer prior to PESONet, which is already very encouraging. We hope to see more financial institutions to start using PESONet, particularly thrift and rural banks, the non-bank electronic money issuers, and government corporations as PESONet customers and businesses using PESONet for disbursements as well as collections,” explains PPMI Chairman Justo A. Ortiz.

Among participating PESONet financial institutions include ANZ Bank, Bank of America, Bank of China, Citibank, CTBC Bank, Deutsche Bank, Development Bank of the Philippines, Eastwest Bank, HSBC, JP Morgan Chase Bank, Maybank, MUFG Bank, Ltd, Mizuho Bank, PNB, PSBank, Robinsons Bank, Shinhan Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, UCPB, Unionbank and Yuanta Savings Bank.. 

After PESONet, the BSP and the payments industry offered more options for the consumers to shift to e-payments with the InstaPay. Compared to PESONet, which normally handles volume/bulk financial transactions, InstaPay transactions are done real time 24/7 through the internet and/or mobile banking channels of participating financial institutions limited to P50,000 per transaction and without limit on the number of transactions. Funds transferred through PESONet and InstaPay are received without deductions.

For more details about PESONet,  visit PESONet participating banks’ websites, www.pesonet.info or visit www.bsp.gov.ph.

Ronnie Henares and Jojit Paredes are back together in rare reunion concert “Twofus…Reunion of Friends” September 1 at The Theatre at Solaire

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"Twofus…Reunion of Friends” will bring you back to memories of special moments of your life. 

It will be the 70’s all over again on September 1, 2018, 8 pm at the Theater at Solaire Resort and Casino when Ronnie Henares and Jojit Paredes get together for a one-night rare reunion in “Twofus…Reunion of Friends.”

Today’s audiences instantly recognize Ronnie Henares as a mainstay in the popular comedy series “Pepito Manaloto” where he surprised people with his comic flair. Ronnie is also widely recognized as the manager in tandem with wife Ida, responsible for transforming steel-throated “Ang Bagong Kampeon” champ Chona Velasquez into the classy musical superstar Regine Velasquez. Others developed under their Primeline Management & Production, Inc., were Lani Misalucha, Zsa Zsa Padilla, Nanette Inventor, Tux, Gino Padilla and the list goes on.

Jojit, on the other hand, has since opted for a quieter life in the States.

But in the 70’s, Ronnie and Jojit were the musical heartthrobs of the day. They were, in a manner of speaking, the equivalent of Leif Garrett and Rex Smith in the Philippines, with throngs of screaming and swooning fans.

How it started

Close buddies from their La Salle grade school days, Ronnie Henares and Jojit Paredes together with Jim Paredes became lead vocalists of “Les Violents,” a high school band formed by the Paredes cousins. The band was formed to enter a "Battle of the Bands" competition sponsored by De La Salle High School. They won Second Prize. “The high school band was the start of my musical partnership with Ronnie,” recalls Jojit. “We were invited to perform at all sorts of parties and gatherings.”

One of those gatherings was a weekend at the Laurel beach house in Matabungkay, Batangas upon the invitation of Lynnie Laurel. In the midst of the merriment, Ronnie and Jojit grabbed their acoustic guitars and started singing for the guests who were impressed by the two’s harmonious vocal blending.

The Twofus (pronounced as “Two of Us”) was born. 

With boyish good looks and (social) class-transcending appeal, the Twofus would become a big hit among college and university campuses, the invites coming initially from exclusive private schools and later from public schools as well.

Soon, Ronnie and Jojit would invade radio, print, and television. They shuttled back and forth gigs on prime time TV, musicals, live shows, road tours, concerts, and radio shows. When the Twofus was introduced to Tower Productions, they turned composers for the first time, writing the movie theme for the fan flick starring Tina Revilla “Funny Girl.” 

Ronnie and Jojit then became part of the highest rating prime time show that time, “D’ Sensations” which featured Vilma Santos and Boboy Mortiz. “One afternoon after a radio interview at the program of Ike Lozada in ABS-CBN, he brought us to meet Tony Santos, the famous director of the ‘D’ Sensations,’ the no. 1 primetime TV show at that time,” remembers Jojit. “Direk Tony Santos asked us if we could do an impromptu song and he’d put us on live. We took a deep breath and went for it. At first the audience fell silent as acoustic guitars were not yet amplified and the boom mike was picking up peripheral noise. When we finished the song, the audience went wild demanding more.”

For a couple of years, Sunday evenings televiewers were enthralled by the Twofus. In record time, Ronnie and Jojit cemented their status as national teen idols.

But the time to pursue different paths eventually came. Ronnie Henares went into hosting, singing, dancing, acting, directing, producing, and managing the careers of future superstars. Jojit Paredes enjoyed a solo caeer as an actor, singer, and recording arist until he decide to explore new adventures in America. 

The road back

Some good teams, however, never lose their appeal.

Ronnie and Jojit got together last year and recalled how successful the US reunion of Twofus was. “It was heartwarming seeing familiar faces that we haven't seen in ages plus fans from our youth that packed the afternoon matinee and evening shows, and how much fun we had performing for them and watching them participate in the show,” says Ronnie who suggested that he and Jojit reunite in Manila with their artist friends and the Manila crowd that loves 70's music.

“These days we need a dose of yesteryears when love songs were tender, lengthy laugh trips were highly contagious and dancing expressed the soul’s joy and rhythm...more importantly when friendships lasted lifetimes,” adds Ronnie wistfully.

Ronnie Henares and Jojit Paredes will prove just that in their reunion concert on September 1, 2018, 8 pm at The Theatre at Solaire Resort and Casino. “Music lovers are going to love this concert,” Ronnie and Jojit or the Twofus, say in chorus, “The audience can expect to hear the hits of the times which aren't performed anymore in any of the entertainment venues in the country.”

Take a wonderful trip down memory lane with Ronnie and Jojit to an era when love songs were beautiful, tender, and had well thought-out lyrics and upbeat tunes made it impossible for you not to groove to the music.

The Twofus will captivate old and new audiences alike with hits from Chad and Jeremy, Mamas and the Papas, Everly Brothers, Beatles, Lettermen, Lovin Spoonfuls, Cascades and more.

Joining in on the fun are long time friends of Ronnie and Jojit like music icons Jim Paredes and Boboy Garrovillo of the APO Hiking Society, funny lady Mitch Valdes, and the 70’s top dancing duo, the AldeguerSisters. “No stone is being left unturned to ensure we give the audience a fun-filled night of music, laughter and dance while celebrating long lasting friendship and the good old days,” says Ida R. Henares of Primeline Management & Production, Inc.

"Twofus…Reunion of Friends” gathered together the best production team that includes director and writer Floy Quintos, musical director Roy del Valle, art director Christian Henares, the team of Sisa Hernandez Kalson for production, Francis Libiran for the wardrobe, and the very best session back up singers and musicians.

Making this major throwback party for friends and music lovers of the 70’s possible are presenters Solaire Resort & Casino, PrimelineManagement & Production, Inc., and University of Perpetual Help, sponsors KARADA, PLDT 90 and Smart, M&Co cosmetics, donor HCB Institute, and media partners RJ FM 100.3, 91.5 WIN Radio, and The Philippine STAR.

Relive the good old days with friends and family at “Twofus…Reunion of Friends.”

Playtime just got super with Jollibee Kiddie Meal’s new Teen Titans Go! To the Movies collectibles

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Awesome superhero adventures await young children with the new Jollibee Kiddie Meal toys – Teen Titans Go! To the Movies. Jolly kids can join forces with Robin, Beast Boy, Raven, Cyborg, and Starfire to fight crime and save the day.

These cute collectibles of the entire superhero squad are just in time for the newly released animated film, Teen Titans Go! To the Movies.

This August, grab your Teen Titans Go! To the Movies collectibles with every purchase of a Jollibee Kiddie Meal.

Once sidekicks to better-known heroes, the Teen Titans have emerged as a young superhero team out to wage their own war against the forces of evil. Now, kids can enjoy an action-packed playtime of battling evil villains with cool toys that feature the heroes’ signature moves.

Get ready to shoot discs at enemies alongside Teen Titans leader, Robin. Just put Robin in position, insert the discs, and press the button to shoot.

Watch the shapeshifter, Beast Boy, transform into a pterodactyl by attaching his mask and wings. Afterwards, just press a button to flap his wings and take flight for battle.

Choose from Cyborg’s cool weapons which can be interchanged when assembled. Using a knob at the back, you can also move Cyborg’s arms to use his weapons at full force.

Cast mystical spells with Raven with just the switch of a button to make her eyes glow. Then, move the knob up and down to watch her levitate.

Jump off into outer space with Starfire with the press of a button and flip the switch to see her eyes glow as she releases powerful starbolts.

Collect all Teen Titans Go! To the Movies heroes with every purchase of a Yumburger (P80), Yumburger Meal with Drink (P100), Jolly Spaghetti (P95), Jolly Spaghetti Meal with Drink (P105), 1-piece Burger Steak (P95), 1-piece Burger Steak Meal with Drink (P105), 1-piece Chickenjoy with rice (P120), or 1-piece Chickenjoy Meal with Drink (P130), each with its own Jolly Joy Box. 

Get started on your superhero adventures with the Teen Titans Go! To the Movies, available from August 1 until August 31, 2018. Visit your nearest Jollibee branch to collect the whole team!

SEAOIL Philippines’, Oh my GAS! SeaOil Lifetime Free Gas promo is back!

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SEAOIL, the largest independent fuel provider in the Philippines, will award another four lucky motorists with a lifetime supply of free gas. 

For the second year in a row, the “Lifetime Free Gas, Oh My Gas!” promo, still the only one of its kind in the world. 

“Last year’s ‘Lifetime Free Gas’ promo was so successful, and was received so well that we decided to run it again this year. This is not just to thank our loyal customers, but also to celebrate the successes of SEAOIL over the past years,” said SEAOIL CEO Glenn Yu. 

SEAOIL is also celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.

Aside from a lifetime supply of gas, SEAOIL customers can expect to win over 100,000 instant prizes through peel-off cards. Thirty (30) P10,000 worth of SEAOIL gift cards will also be raffled off in the monthly draws.

How to join “Lifetime Free Gas, Oh My Gas!” promo

• To join the “Lifetime Free Gas, Oh My Gas!” promo, a customer must gas up at least P500 worth of Extreme 97, Extreme 95, Extreme U, Extreme Diesel fuels and/or Seaoil Lubricants at any Seaoil stations nationwide. 

• Seaoil customers may either register their promo codes at www.lifetimefreegas.com or drop their raffle coupons at the dropbox registration of Seaoil stations where they gas up.

• They can also register the raffle code first before dropping the coupon at dropboxes provided, which grants them double chances of winning.

  

This year, the company also announced new brand influencers, true SEAOIL believers who bring credibility and recall to the brand. They are international car racer Marlon Stockinger, TV host and radio DJ Joyce Pring, and Atoy Llave, founder and owner of A-Toy Customs, the leading car customizer in the Philippines.

SEAOIL has also forged a strategic partnership with independent fuel company, Caltex Australia (CAL). The partnership will support the company’s plans for growth in the next five years. CAL is a 100% publicly-owned company in Australia and does not share any ownership with the local Caltex.

The “Oh My Gas” promo runs from August 18 to November 18, 2018. Winners of this year’s promo will be determined via three monthly draws on September 19, October 19 and November 29.

Pinoy cyclist dons Barong Tagalog in Prudential RideLondon 2018

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Filipino cyclist Tetsuya “Jun” Minagawa recently completed the Prudential RideLondon Brompton World Championship Final in London, United Kingdom. Donning a traditional Barong Tagalog as his official cycling attire, Minagawa cycled a 1.3-mile circuit around the world-famous St. James’ Park in the capital. 

Jun Minagawa tastes victory as he bites into his finisher’s medal wearing the Barong Tagalog

Minagawa joined more than 500 smartly-dressed cyclists from around the world who went through a Le Mans-style dash to unfold their bikes before they set off on an eight lap circuit. 

This is the fourth time that the Brompton World Championships was featured in Prudential RideLondon, dubbed as the world’s greatest festival of cycling. Cyclists dressed unconventionally, wearing tuxedos, pants, and unconventional footwear--no Lycra or the choice fabric used in cycling uniforms is allowed in the category.

Minagawa represented the Pru Life UK in Prudential RideLondon 2018 after winning the Brompton Philippine Championships in PRUride PH 2018 in January at McKinley West in Taguig City.

He also completed the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100, a day after the Brompton championship.

Other cyclists who represented the Philippines in Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 category are Philippine National Road Race Champion Jermyn Prado, John Kenneth Cruz, Ryan Lamayo, and Bertrand Dominique Teplitxky. Representatives to the Surrey-46 category are  Philippine National Road Race Champion (Under-23) Ismael Grospe, Jr., along with Genesis Maraña and Aidan James Mendoza.

Citi sees continued growth opportunities in Asia

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Global fund managers turn to the region in the face of volatility and uncertainty

Citi remains bullish about the growth prospects in Asia, as global investors turn to the region in the face of volatility in Europe and North America and general uncertainty in the markets. 

Citi shared key investment trends and macroeconomic views during the Citi Investor Conference 2018 at the Citi Plaza building in Taguig.  

“Global fund managers are looking carefully at Asia, and China is a big part of that,” said Julia Raiskin, head of Investor Sales, Asia Pacific, at Citi. “Interest in the region is partly due to the inclusion of 200 large cap Chinese stocks in the MSCI, as well as the opening of the China Bond Connect.”

(L-R) Citi Investor Sales Asia Pacific head Julia Raiskin, Citi Philippines Country Treasurer and Global Markets and Securities Services head Paul Favila and Citi Asia Pacific Economic and Market Analysis head Johanna Chua

According to Raiskin, global fund managers are investing in equities and fixed income as top choices, with local currency bonds becoming increasingly attractive. “Investors are looking into more liquid markets – Hong Kong, Australia and, gradually, ASEAN,” she said. “Intra-Asia flows are also increasing with key corridors flowing from China, Japan and Korea to ASEAN.”

Citi notes that intra-Asia trade corridors have the potential to pick up slack from China and U.S. supply chains that may be threatened. 

“This region represents a much bigger opportunity as it is currently under-penetrated,” said Johanna Chua, head of Asia Pacific Economic Analysis at“Citi. Industries are well developed, but the long-term savings industry and asset management is not. So we’re seeing bigger allocations towards Asia from fund managers.” 

Philippine equities are underweight in Citi’s global equity allocation due to broad-based, cyclical upswings and the performance of other economies, explained Chua. But recent data has been good, given increased government spending and the peso stabilizing. “There’s a lot of traction growth,” Chua said. “The growth story is there.”

To spur further growth, Citi says the key is more foreign direct investments. “We need more FDI. The Philippines is still conservative with regards to foreign financing,” Chua said.

Infrastructure is seen as a key growth driver, especially the government’s ongoing ‘Build, Build, Build’ program. Additional growth drivers include services exports such as tourism, manufacturing with preferential tax treatments, and agricultural development and energy.

“As the contracts of the IPPs (Independent Power Producers) expire in 2020, power and energy will potentially be huge growth drivers for the Philippine economy,” said Paul A. Favila, head of Markets and Securities Services. 

Overall, Citi explained that last year was a good year for everybody and moving forward, 2018 is progressing well. “There are a lot of good things going for the Philippines,” said Chua. “It’s one of the only economies without any fuel subsidies and domestic demand story in the Philippines has traction, especially on the investment side.”

Citi’s GDP growth projection for the Philippine economy is 6.9% in 2018.

Home Credit PH welcomes three millionth customer

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One million new customers added in last 7 months as HCPH continues its rapid growth in PH

Home Credit, the Prague-based consumer finance company that has captured the attention of mallgoers and gadget lovers alike with its affordable in-store loans, has a very good reason to celebrate after it recently signed its three millionth customer.

(L-R: HCPH Sales Associate Mayeth Valencia, HCPH CEO Annica Witschard, 3 millionth customer Virginia Dela Torre and husband Almer, HCPH Chief Marketing and Product Officer Franchette Chingcuanco-Cardona)

Lucky winner Virginia and her husband Almer were in the process of applying for an in-store loan for a flat screen TV when HCPH surprised them on the spot. Home Credit Philippines’ Chief Executive Officer Annica Witschard and Chief Marketing and Product Officer Franchette Cardona were personally there to reveal the surprise and congratulate the “winning” customers who got 5,000php worth of GCs and the perk of having the rest of their loan waived. 

HCPH has come a long way since its establishment in Manila in 2013. From starting with less than 30,000 customers in its first year, the company quickly grew in the next few years, hitting the one million customer mark in 2017 before finishing the year with two million customers. A few more months later, HCPH’s customer base now stands at three million.

“We credit our success to the thriving market here in the Philippines. There is a strong demand for financially-inclusive products, and we are more than happy to cater to this demand by offering loans even to first-time borrowers and those without formal accounts,” Annica shared when asked about the company’s growth.

According to the latest data from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, 77 percent of adults have no formal accounts such as savings accounts with banks. HCPH taps this group of consumers by making applying for an in-store loan easy even if they have no credit history. The customer simply needs to approach a Home Credit Sales Associate, provide two (2) IDs, and wait for ten minutes to process their application.

In addition, the company has also been rapidly expanding in terms of stores and the range of products it finances. It now has more than 4,000 stores and has a presence in more than 50 provinces and Metro Manila. In terms of product portfolio, Home Credit Philippines has also been actively expanding its lineup. In addition to mobile devices and gadgets, its roster also includes home appliances, hardware tools, e-bikes, musical instruments, and sporting goods.

When asked about their reaction for being named the three millionth first-time customers, Almer shared his happiness by saying, “Napaka-ganda ng Home Credit dahil napapaluwagan nila yung mga tao na hindi usually na-aafford na bumili ng ganitong mga bagay.” Virginia added, “Napakadali ng proseso. Biyaya talaga ito.” [Home Credit has a good program because it helps people who can’t usually afford to buy these things. The process is very easy. This is really a blessing.]

Besides in-store loans, the company also offers cash loans which, according to Annika, are used by some of the customers to start small businesses so they can make a better living for their families. Others use their cash loans to pay for other needs like school tuitions or finance house renovations.

“I am optimistic that there are more opportunities for growth for us. Home Credit Group has more than twenty years of global experience and we plan to continue applying this in the Philippines together with our own learnings from operating in the country,” she added.

When asked about future plans, she expressed that Home Credit Philippines’ progress proves that there is still so much room for growth here. She closes, “This is just the latest step in our journey; there are many more milestones up ahead,” she said.