Behold...BOHOL travel fair in Glorietta Mall Dec. 8-10

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Visit the Philippines Year (VPY) 2015. AirAsia’s super low fares to Bohol and bargain hotel and tour deals are up for grabs!

One of the top holiday destination in the Philippines - Bohol, as it launches new and exciting tourist destinations with rock bottom prices for airfares, hotels and resorts during a travel fair to be held in Glorietta Mall on Dec. 8-10.

Bohol provincial governor Edgar Chatto said the province will also formally launch its new branding “Behold...BOHOL,” which positions the province as a destination that exudes a sense of awe in every visitor.

Tarsier

The three-day event is the first time ever that tourism sector in Bohol comes together in a massive campaign to entice tourists to visit. It is part of the Bohol Tourism Action Plan developed through the collaboration of the United States Agency for International Development through its Advancing Philippine Competitiveness Project (USAID-COMPETE), the Department of Tourism (DOT), the United Nations-World Tourism Organization (UN-WTO), and the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) as well as local tourism stakeholders.

The new branding “Behold...BOHOL” was developed with the help of CNN’s branding expert Anita Mendiratta. Bohol is the first province that benefited from an outreach program of CNN. 

AirAsia, the leading budget airline in the Asian region, is the exclusive airline partner for the campaign and will offer seat sale. The airline that has been awarded the Skytrax’s World’s Best Low Cost Carrier for six consecutive years is also committed to offer year-round low fares for flights between Manila - Tagbilaran (Bohol) and Manila – Cebu.

At least 50% discount in accommodation, tours and other travel essentials in Bohol will be offered during the three-day travel fair. Boholano products will likewise be on sale.

Loboc River 

The travel fair will open in a grand program featuring the world-famous Loboc Children’s Choir. The chorale group will have a nightly concert during the three-day event.

Bohol province is dubbed as the eco-cultural tourism capital with its fascinating Chocolate Hills, pristine and white sand beaches in Panglao and Anda. It is also home to the well-loved Tarsier, considered the smallest and oldest primate in the world.

“We want to develop Bohol as the tourism superpower and a top holiday destination in the Philippines,” said Bohol governor Edgar Chatto.

He said the launch of the 'Behold... BOHOL' aims to promote the province as a complete tourist destination because every town has a unique tourist attraction to offer to visitors. 

Aside from the iconic destinations, the province is surrounded by caves, tranquil rivers, fascinating water falls, marine sanctuaries, mangroves and diving sites.

Chatto said Bohol is now promoting the powdery white sand beaches of Anda, as the next tourist destination. Road and infrastructure access to Anda are underway through the convergence program of Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that seeks to connect airports to tourist destinations. 

Anda is a must visit in Bohol for its unique and wider coastlines making it a perfect destination both for relaxing walk on the beach or water sports activities.

The town is also home to the Lamanok Mystical Island and is fast becoming a popular destinations. Lamanok can be reached within a two-hour drive from the capital, Tagbilaran. The island has a rich lush mangrove protecting the community from flooding, pollution and water surge. It hosts some mystical caves where ancient Boholanons bury their loved ones in jars.

Governor Chatto said Bohol is also home to Asia's largest mangrove forest called Banacon located north of the municipality of Getafe. It has a total of 425 hectares with only 15 hectares dry land and the rest are extensive mangrove plantation.

In a press statement, the Governor credited the strong support and cooperation of tourism stakeholders in Bohol in promoting the new tourist destinations of the province.

“ The strong partnership between the local government and the private tourism stakeholders, a well equipped manpower with innate hospitality as well as the rich natural, cultural and historical attractions of Bohol are the three main factors why we are confident to become a tourism superpower,” said Chatto.

AirAsia, the Filipino Low Cost Carrier is fully supporting the ‘Behold...BOHOL’ campaign by offering its lowest possible rates for tourists visiting Bohol.

AirAsia, the world’s best low cost airline flies three times daily to Bohol.

Kawasaki Philippines Holds Annual Dealers Convention, Launches new Fury

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Kawasaki Motors Philippines Corporation (KPMC), one of the country’s leading brands in the motorcycle industry recently held its 2014 Dealers Convention and served as a platform for the launching of several powerful machines. 

Held at the Grand Ballroom of the Manila Hotel last November 21, 2014, the great celebration was made more colorful with the presence of actress Daiana Menezes who hosted the event with Kawasaki Motors Philippines’ Dan Darang. 

The evening was capped off with musical entertainment and sing-along sessions led by comedienne Rufa Mi and Kawasaki Motors’ own Cesar Co.

About 400 Kawasaki dealers from all over the archipelago, as well as international guests from Japan and India donned on their mad max attire for the morning session and mob bosses and sexy vixen outfits to adapt to “Gotham,” theme of the evening session. 

Teench Layosa - Doval Santos, Kawasaki Motors Philippines’ General Manager for Sales and Marketing, said “the past years had been very challenging to the country’s motorcycle industry. Kawasaki Philippines’ 2014 Dealers Convention is our means to bolster the morale of our dealers to remind them that we can rise above this so-called ‘apocalyptic’ milieu by fighting head-on and launching more powerful ‘machines’ in the market.”

“It has been a while since the Fury was introduced in the market and we feel that it is high time that we excite the market once again,” adds Santos. “By adapting ‘Gotham’ as this year’s theme, we would like to drive a point that as ‘Gotham’ is the prequel to ‘Batman’, then the Fury is the prequel to the Ninja--- and that the only way to the Ninja is through the Fury,” concludes Santos. 

Bigwigs Vicente Quimbo, Founder and President of Bel Mondo Italia Corporation, makers of Novellino Wines and luxury car tycoon Mr. Wellington Soong, President of AutostradaMatore, Inc., the biggest luxury car distributor in the Philippines graced the occasion to impart their entrepreneurial advices to the attendees.

Kawasaki Dealers Convention served as a platform for the launching of several powerful machines: Avenger 220; the Rouser bloodlines --Rouser 135, Rouser 180 and Rouser 200NS and the two singles: Ninja 250SL and Z250SL. 

The highlight of the event, however was the showcase of the new Fury: Fury 125 and Fury 125RR. 

Fury 125 is still molded with its signature cross breed design concept, but with improved styling, engine and performance, while the more sporty Fury 125RR in alloy wheels is equipped with a manual clutch. The styling of the Fury is like a hybrid of a big bike, with sharper and enhanced aesthetics that can be attributed to the Ninja- styling. 

Pres. Aquino leads the green switch launch of the 1.5 MW solar-powered rooftop

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"We are marking a moment in history with the launch of solar rooftop power plant." -  President Benigno S. Aquino III

President Benigno Aquino lll, along with SM Prime Holdings President Hans Sy and Solar Philippines President Leandro Leviste, switched on the 1.5 MW solar-powered rooftop at the multi-level car park building of SM City North EDSA.on Monday, November 24.  Joining the activation of the solar panels are Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr., Energy Secretary Jericho Petilla.

Philippine retail and property giant SM Prime Holdings Inc. is building the largest commercial solar rooftop in the Philippines as part of its commitment to use clean, renewable and sustainable energy in its operations. 

After switching on the largest solar-powered rooftop in its Quezon City establishment, the mall operator unit of Sy-led SM Prime Holdings Inc. will embark on putting more solar installations in its other malls in 2015.

Solar Philippines is the company behind the largest commercial rooftop solar power  projects in the country.

"With the launch of the solar power system that will make SM City North EDSA the very first SM mall in the Philippines to become solar-powered," the President said in his inaugural address.

With a generating capacity of 1.5MW, the solar-powered rooftop can supposedly accommodate 5 percent of the mall's average consumption per day—equivalent to about P2 million in savings per month. SM Prime and Solar Philippines installed 5,760 solar panels on the roof deck of car park building of the mall.

Solar Philippines founder and president Leandro Leviste said the investment for the 1.5 MW solar-powered rooftop is approximately P120 million. 

Leviste said the investment cost for MOA's solar panels would be over P200 million and roughly P60 million for SM City Dasmariñas. 

"If MOA is double the size, double the cost. If Dasma is half the size, then half the cost," he noted.

In his speech, the President also bared SM's plans to install solar panels in SM Dasmariñas in Cavite and Mall of Asia in Pasay City.

"Of course, it is my hope that you do not stop there: that, eventually, every building that boasts an SM logo will have the same kinds of solar facilities," Aquino noted. 

“We are hopeful that both the House and the Senate will approve the joint resolution we requested sooner rather than later, in order to give the national government enough time to contract the necessary reserves,” Aquino said in his speech

SM Supermalls president Annie Garcia said the SM Group will be installing 3,243 solar panels in SM City Dasmariñas in Cavite with a capacity of 0.8 MW and 10,534 solar panels in SM Mall of Asia (MOA) with a 2.7-MW capacity.

SM Prime Holdings, the country's largest retail and mall operator, will energize two of its chain of SM malls with solar panels by next year.

"SM City Dasmarinas in Cavite will power 800 kilowatts kW, made up of about 3,243 solar panels, while SM Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay will power 2.7 megawatts (MWs) with 10,534 solar panels," SM Supermalls President Anna Maria Garcia told reporters Monday.

Garcia said that the solar panels would start operations by May 2015 for the Dasma located mall, while the panels for MOA would be completed before the end of 2015.

SM said the Solar Rooftop project was part of its continuing commitment towards making its operations sustainable and environment friendly, along with its aim to alleviate the Luzon reserve shortage by the summer of 2015.

The panels will be installed by Solar Philippines, which is the same company that supplied the panel installations Monday at SM North Edsa.

Solar Power Philippines is Southeast Asia’s largest developer of rooftop power plants. It also put up solar panels at Binan Mall with 700-kilowatt installed capacity on Sept. 22. 

"SM will continue to partner with Solar Philippines for the next solar installations. The partners are also studying if it will be feasible to have more malls to have the same solar installation," Garcia noted.

"Of course we have to study it, how malls can afford it. It really depends on the study of Solar Philippines for us," she said.

"But we shall continue to seek ways and solutions in climate change adaptation. We shall continue to heed government's call to action," Garcia said.

The SM official shared that the solar-powered rooftop in SM City North EDSA is not the group's first venture in renewable energy (RE).

"This is SM Prime's first in the Philippines. Our giant first step in clean, RE in the country. Last year we energized SM City Xiamen in China with 1.1 MW solar energy utilizing 3,740 panels," Garcia added. 

The 1.5 Mw solar panel bank atop SM Supermall along EDSA North Ave. in Quezon City, during its launching on Monday, November 24. The panels are touted to be able to meet 5% of the mall's power requirements.

“We are hopeful that both the House and the Senate will approve the joint resolution we requested sooner rather than later, in order to give the national government enough time to contract the necessary reserves,” Aquino said.

“Most of you may be aware of current projections: If we do not adjust accordingly, Luzon might experience a shortage of a minimum of around 300 megawatts to a maximum of 1,000 MW next summer. This is not a challenge the national government can overcome alone, which is why we are working with all sectors to address this issue,” Aquino said.

“For example, through the interruptible load program (ILP), the SM Group will deload 57.9 MW during critical times when supply falls short of demand. This might not be enough to address that shortage, but it is indeed a very significant step forward, and will hopefully spur other businesses to follow suit,” he said.

The President said the government is doing everything in its power to overcome this challenge and cited the decision of the House of Representatives’ committees on energy and on ways and means to authorize the national government to contract additional generating capacity to prevent an energy shortage.

He said the government is also looking for ways to lessen the demand for electricity, especially during peak hours.

Other guests are Speaker Sonny Belmonte; Secretary Icot Petilla; Senator Loren Legarda; Mr. Hans Sy; Ms. Tessie Sy-Coson; Mr. Leandro Leviste; Ms. Anna Marie Garcia; Congressman Boy Calalay; Mayor Herbert Bautista; Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte; and Mr. Alfonso Sy.

Green Switch” Speech of PNoy during the Launch of SM Supermalls’ Solar Rooftop Project

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[Speech of President Benigno S. Aquino III at the “Green Switch” Launch of SM Supermalls’ Solar Rooftop Project, delivered at SM City North EDSA in Quezon City, on November 24, 2014]

Speaker Sonny Belmonte; Secretary Icot Petilla; Senator Loren Legarda; Mr. Hans Sy; Ms. Tessie Sy-Coson; Mr. Leandro Leviste; Ms. Anna Marie Garcia; Congressman Boy Calalay; Mayor Herbert Bautista; Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte; Mr. Alfonso Sy; Executives and Employees of SM and Solar Philippines; fellow workers in government; honored guests;

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

The success that the SM Group has achieved through the years is unquestionable: Your malls, residential and office buildings, hotels, and convention centers are scattered throughout the archipelago, and even on foreign shores. Thus, it is encouraging to see the innovation and strategic clarity that has served your business so well used in endeavors, with the commendable goal of minimizing environmental impact.

This is why we are here today: to mark another milestone in SM’s history, with the launch of the solar power system that will make SM City North EDSA the very first SM mall in the Philippines to become solar-powered. I am told that, last year, you were able to energize SM Xiamen in China with 1.1 megawatts of solar energy through 3,740 panels. The system we have just launched is even bigger: with 5,760 solar panels, and is expected to generate 1.5 megawatts of solar energy, which I’m told can cover 5 percent of this mall’s average consumption per day. Given the amount of energy that the mall requires to run, such a percentage will generate savings of above P2 million a month.

We are aware that you are no stranger to initiatives like this. From moving to the use of non-chlorofluorocarbon refrigerants, to reducing the electricity consumption of 27 malls by 30.6 million kilowatt-hours in the span of a year; from participating in the Interruptible Load Program and helping to free up power when supply is tight, to this solar rooftop project, SM is indeed deservedly becoming recognized for its good practices in energy and the environment.

This is significant, in light of the challenges that will confront our energy sector in the near future. Most of you may be aware of current projections: If we do not adjust accordingly, Luzon might experience a shortage of a minimum of around 300 megawatts, to a maximum of 1,000 megawatts next summer. This is not a challenge the national government can overcome alone, which is why we are all working with all sectors to address this issue. For example, through the Interruptible Load Program, the SM group will deload 57.9 megawatts during critical times when supply falls short of demand. This might not be enough to address that shortage, but it is indeed a very significant step forward, and will hopefully spur other businesses to follow suit.

Pins hopes on joint congressional resolution

Rest assured that government is doing everything in its power to overcome this challenge. Just recently, the House of Representatives Committees on Energy and Ways and Means approved a joint resolution authorizing the national government to contract additional generating capacity to prevent this shortage. We are hopeful that both the House and the Senate will approve the joint resolution we requested sooner rather than later, in order to give the national government enough time to contract the necessary reserves.

In the long term, our goal remains the same: to ensure a reliable, preferably clean and reasonably priced, power supply. We are on our way towards achieving that goal. From 2014 to 2018, an additional 5,098 megawatts are expected to come online nationwide, while government continues to encourage investments into power.

Renewable energy is something we have all wanted to maximize. However, two limitations present themselves:

• First, that renewable energy sources are yet unable to provide what is called baseload power, which is the power requirement society needs day in, and day out.

• Second: the expense of setting up renewable energy power, which naturally translates to increased electricity prices. There is a need for government to take into consideration all these factors: for instance, how do we ease the financial burden on our countrymen, while ensuring that we have enough power for homes and industries? How do we do all this while maintaining our low-emission status? Our goal: to diversify the energy mix, and strike the right balance between renewable and traditional sources of energy.

Perks for renewable energy investments

By providing incentives such as tax holidays and duty-free importations on materials and equipment, government seeks to incentivize investments into renewable energy. Just last May, we inaugurated the San Carlos Solar Energy plant, which is the first large-scale commercially financed and commissioned solar power plant in the Philippines under our administration. Then, as today, we encourage all investors to study their options carefully and act before the cap on renewable energy has been met. Perhaps, they can also be inspired by the example of Mr. Leandro Leviste, who at 21-years old has taken it upon himself to play a role in maximizing the potential of the solar industry through Solar Philippines.

Our Department of Energy has also taken deliberate steps to promote the use of renewable energy, one of them very similar to what you have done today. Under the Solar PV Project for Private Academic Institutions (PAI), the DOE links private schools to solar suppliers precisely to install facilities like this. For the first few pilot areas under the project, schools did not have to shell out a single peso for the purchase and installation of their solar panels, which suppliers also maintain over the contract term of 15 years. Over this time, the schools are able to pay off suppliers through installments, just from the savings of electricity generated by the 1- to 2-peso difference between the cost of solar power and normal power rates.

Indeed: whether initiated by government or by businesses like SM and Solar Philippines, these kinds of projects drive home the point that renewable energy can be a competitive choice for power. The use of renewable energy sources represents a long-term investment. It plays to our country’s strengths, provides insulation from fluctuations in the international oil market and thus allows us to be more self-sufficient, generates savings in terms of electricity costs, and also contributes to the preservation of the environment and mitigates the effects of climate change.

It is because of this that I am glad to hear that SM also plans to install solar panels in SM Dasmariñas and the Mall of Asia. Of course, it is my hope that you do not stop there: that, eventually, every building that boasts an SM logo will have the same kinds of solar facilities. These are the kinds of decisions that show your corporation’s awareness of its responsibility to the environment and the society in which it operates. I congratulate you on this project, and express the firm hope that you will apply the same principles not only to more energy-related endeavors, but also and more importantly, to every aspect of the way SM does business.

Thank you, and good day.

New WD My Passport Wireless connects to Smartphones, Tablets, Cameras and more

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My Passport® Wireless External Hard Drive Expands Storage for all Devices With No Need for Wires or Internet.

Western Digital  company and a world leader in connected storage solutions, today unveiled My Passport Wireless, an easy to use Wi-Fi enabled storage drive that allows consumers to save, access and share stored content wirelessly with any smartphone, tablet, computer or other device.

For the frequent business traveler to the family on a road trip or creative professional working in the field, the My Passport Wireless drive is a simple way to connect all computing and mobile devices to content without any wires or Internet connection. Additionally, when users need to transfer large amounts of data, the My Passport Wireless drive provides the option of using a high speed USB 3.0 connection.

Jim Welsh, executive vice president, WD Content Solutions Business and worldwide sales shared to the media, marketing people and guests during the launch,  “As we celebrate its 10th anniversary, the success of WD’s My Passport line of portable hard drives is unprecedented.”

"Our new My Passport Wireless drive continues the evolution, resolving a common problem for today’s mobile consumer; too many devices with limited storage and no way to offload their content and free up space on-the-go. Now, consumers will have one drive to easily store content from all their devices and enjoy that content anywhere they go,” he added.

The My Passport Wireless drive broadcasts its own wireless network that allows up to eight devices to connect at the same time and access any content stored on the drive. Available in 500 GB, 1 TB or 2 TB models, users now have the ability to store and access up to hundreds of hours of movies and music, as well photos and other digital files, from their smartphones and tablets that are typically limited by minimal storage capacity. 

The portable wireless drive features Wireless N with MIMO technology for enhanced wireless performance so that users can access and transfer files quickly, as well as stream up to four HD videos simultaneously. The built-in rechargeable battery provides up to six hours of continuous streaming and up to 20 hours of standby power making the drive a perfect travel companion. 

With the My Passport Wireless drive users have anywhere, anytime access to their favorite digital content by using WD’s award winning WD My Cloud® mobile app for iOS® or Android™ mobile devices. The WD My Cloud mobile app easily connects to a My Passport Wireless drive for simple product setup, and once setup the mobile app provides intuitive navigation, sharing and playback of the drive’s content. The WD My Cloud app also helps unify all of a users’ content under a single app and user interface, by allowing access to content on the My Passport Wireless drive, the WD My Cloud family of personal cloud storage, and on major public cloud services such as Dropbox, OneDrive and Google Drive from just one app. 

In additional to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, the portable wireless storage drive is an ideal companion for cameras with its integrated SD card slot. Whether shooting large commercial photography and video production or just taking photos and videos of the family while on vacation, the My Passport Wireless drive will never let you miss a moment because your memory cards are full. The built-in SD card slot lets users copy their content from the SD card to the My Passport Wireless drive to make room for more memorable moments. Additionally, with integrated FTP, the drive connects to compatible wireless cameras so that users can automatically transfer photos from their cameras to the drive as they are taking them.

Price and Availability

The My Passport Wireless drive is currently available at select retailers and distributed by EA Global Supply Chain Solutions, Inc. and Iontech, Inc. in the Philippines. MSRP is Php 7,590 for 500 GB, Php 9,590 for 1 TB and Php 11,990 for 2 TB. The WD My Cloud mobile app currently is available for download for free from the App Store™ and Google Play™.

Western Digital celebrates its 10th Anniversary, and the new My Passport Wireless Launch November 20, Thursday, held at the Marco Polo Hotel with media and marketing guests.

About WD: 

WD, a Western Digital company, is a long-time innovator and storage industry leader. As a storage technology pacesetter, the company produces reliable, high-performance hard disk drives and solid state drives. These drives are deployed by OEMs and integrators in desktop and mobile computers, enterprise computing systems, embedded systems and consumer electronics applications, as well as by the company in providing its own storage products. WD’s leading storage devices and systems, networking products, media players and software solutions empower people around the world to easily save, store, protect, share and experience their content on multiple devices. WD was established in 1970 and is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.wd.com.

Western Digital Corp. Irvine, Calif., is a global provider of products and services that empower people to create, manage, experience and preserve digital content. Its companies design and manufacture storage devices, networking equipment and home entertainment products under the WD, HGST and G-Technology brands. Visit the Investor section of the company's website (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.