Makati City Government, Globe, GCash, and iBayad introduce Makatizen Card

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Makati to become Country’s First Connected City

The city government of Makati City, in collaboration with Globe Telecom, its subsidiary G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), and iBayad Online Ventures Inc., recently launched the Makatizen Card which will be made available to Makati’s residents and employees.

The Makatizen Card will allow the city’s 500,000 residents to access city government services and transact with the city government. They can receive cash allowances, stipends, and other cash benefits using their Makatizen Card. They can also use their cards to pay fees and taxes, as well as for personal remittances and other financial transactions. City government employees, on the other hand, can use their Makatizen Card to receive salaries and allowances. The Makatizen Card also functions as an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Card and is a valid government ID card.

Some 1,000 functioning sample cards were launched and tested at Makati City Hall this morning and Makati Mayor Abigail Binay said the Makatizen Card collaboration with Globe, GCash, and iBayad “takes us a step nearer to achieving our goal of empowering everyone, including those in the marginalized sectors of society, to enjoy a better quality of life.”

Mayor Binay noted that the Makatizen Card goes beyond providing Makati citizens with instant access to essential services of the city government, which in itself is a major leap forward for the city. She adds that “the wide range of digital and mobile services offers the people of Makati more convenient and cost-effective ways of meeting their day-to-day needs and obligations,” she said.

The mayor said the city government will extend its full support for Globe Telecom’s initiatives “geared towards strengthening its telecommunications network to promote a digitally-connected Philippines.”

“With confidence and optimism, we view this unsolicited project proposal from Globe, GCash, and iBayad as the springboard for the rapid transformation of Makati into the country’s first digital city, where citizens and civil servants are able to experience the optimum benefits of the latest innovations in information technology,” she added.

“For the Philippines to truly become a digital nation, we need to fully take advantage of new digital opportunities and innovations to enable growth in every corner of our country. We laud the vision of the Makati City government whose support of this initiative is critical to build the city-wide digital ecosystem, a step towards the realization of our dream for the Philippines to become an admired nation,” said Ernest Cu, Globe President and CEO.

Globe has been ramping up network investments in a bid to amplify benefits of its new spectrum assets and enhance mobile services particularly for data. The company has announced a capital spend of $750 million for the year in an effort to continuously improve mobile and data services. Globe is also aggressively building on its fiber broadband services, aiming to create an internet super highway nationwide. The company aims to deploy fiber optics in 20,000 barangays by 2020 which will provide ultra-fast internet access to around 2 million homes nationwide.

Globe Business, the enterprise information and communications technology (ICT) arm of Globe, is leading the way in encouraging local government units like Makati City to adopt the integration of ICT and governance as a means of improving the delivery of government services and exchange of information. The said initiative supports Globe's drive to transform the Philippines into a digital nation by instilling the importance of eGovernance to offices ranging from the local government units up to the national government.

One of the capabilities derived from an improved mobile and broadband infrastructure is the creation of a city-wide cashless ecosystem wherein e-payment methods such as e-money and debit/credit cards are utilized instead of physical cash. This will benefit not only the residents but also schools, hospitals, government offices, transportation facilities, and other micro, small, and medium-size enterprises.

GXI will serve as the financial service provider for the Makatizen Card while iBayad will deploy the mPOS terminals and build the merchant network where the cards will be accepted.

The Makatizen Card is a valid government-issued ID that comes with a Near-Field Communication (NFC) feature that allows city offices equipped with iBayad machine readers to verify the identity of residents and Makati City employees in a single tap. It stores the information which easily identifies the card holder availing of various city government services without the need to present additional documents.

“Each Makatizen Card carries the features of the GCash mobile wallet but is also customized to be used in the city-wide local merchant network. All services that they will get in Makati City, whether it is payment of taxes, cash allowances for health and other benefits, etc. will be directly credited to this GCash wallet that is linked to the card. They don’t have to carry anything except this ID and their mobile phone,” said Albert Tinio, President of GXI which operates GCash mobile money service.

On the other hand, iBayad Founder and CEO Paolo G. Saycon said: "For us, the Makatizen Card Project is as much a social endeavour, as it is a business venture. This undertaking is aligned with iBayad’s purpose of developing socially relevant and meaningful financial innovations that will transform the way people pay. Our objective is to accelerate the adoption and transformation of every consumer’s traditional spending behaviour from cash-centric to electronic payments.”

Makatizen Card holders can take advantage of the different financial services of GCash through the merchant network of iBayad to pay government institutions, hospitals, merchants and even transact with Jollijeeps, sari-sari stores, and ambulant vendors for easier and safer transactions.

As an additional benefit for Makati City residents and employees, iBayad will be implementing the “Makatizen Loyalty and Rewards Program” to promote continued use of the card and for them earn loyalty reward points that can used to purchase items. The card will also be used for direct and real-time crediting of salaries and benefits to the GCash wallets of employees, health beneficiaries, senior citizens, and students to improve operational efficiency and tracking of cash flow.

The Epson Story on Innovation Continues

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Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to connecting people, things and information with its original efficient, compact and precision technologies. With a lineup that ranges from inkjet printers and digital printing systems to 3LCD projectors, smart glasses, sensing systems and industrial robots, the company is focused on driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in inkjet, visual communications, wearables and robotics.

PRINTING INNOVATIONS

Business Inkjet Printers: 

Epson has transformed the way people look at printers when the company pioneered the World’s first genuine Ink Tank System printers - an innovation that stemmed from the customers’ drive for high volume printing and affordable supplies cost without sacrificing quality and reliability. Combining the best of both worlds - an inkjet printer that significantly lowered total ownership costs while producing Epson-quality prints—the Epson L-Series was born, revolutionizing the landscape of printing.

Epson Philippines’ continuous success in the Business Inkjet Printers segment was proven as the company’s market share grew through the years and quickly gained market leadership. 

“Epson has changed the market with the introduction of the Genuine Ink Tank and we have become the brand of choice here in the country and the whole of Southeast Asia as well. Since the launch of the first Epson L-Series printers, we have sold over 15 million units, and we are glad to say that 1 out of 2 printers sold last year was an Epson inkjet printer”, says Russer Cabrera, Product Manager for Business Inkjet Printers, Epson Philippines.

From 2017 onwards, Epson Philippines will continue to expand its line-up of its business segment with more features to address the printing needs of corporations and big enterprises. With Epson’s PrecisionCore technology, the new business printers can offer more options on duplex printing, A3 printing and monochrome printing, as well as high-speed Inkjet Multi-Function Printers in the A3, 45ppm & above domain, where laser copiers predominated. 

The newest Epson technology also addresses its environmental objectives by lowering power consumption, with fewer parts for maintenance and enhanced document security.

Professional Printers: 

Epson also achieved the No.1 Position for 7 consecutive years in POS (Point-of-Sale) printers, not a small feat for the small printer category. The intelligent range of Epson POS printers connect seamlessly with tablet POS solutions, operating connectivity via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet—which creates new opportunities of growth and mobility for retail businesses. 

“Epson delivers unmatched ease-of-use, exceptional connectivity and legendary quality for customers, with all the technical resources they need,” says Thea Austria, Product Manager for Professional Printers Group, Epson Philippines.

Epson’s small printer category also includes label printers, which have been developed for industrial and commercial use, addressing the new wave of printing on-demand in color.

Commercial & Industrial Printers: 

From the smallest counter top POS printer to a 64-inch commercial printer, Epson has a wide range of products that are built for the changing needs of the customer. 

The large-format printers under the Commercial & Industrial Printers category have created significant changes in work processes in various industries, such as shortening production processes, improving workflow, and tasks more economical all while being environmentally-sound. Moreover, signage printing has transformed applications that include car wraps, tarpaulin banners, wallpapers, standees and backlit posters. 

Another Epson professional printing product, the breakthrough digital textile printer, also helped put the country on the map once again, when Filipino avant-garde designer John Herrera won “Britain’s Top Designer Competition” for a collection digitally printed by the Epson dye sublimation printer. 

“Digital textile printing offers unrivaled creative freedom, reduces time to create new designs that are more sustainable and environmentally-friendly,” adds Ms. Chu Bacsal-Pajarito, Product Manager for Commercial & Industrial Printers, Epson Philippines.

VISUAL IMAGING INNOVATIONS

Epson has achieved what no other projector brand has done --- be on top as World’s No. 1 for 16 consecutive years.

In Southeast Asia, Epson projectors also claim top spots in most countries, including in the Philippines. With a 55% market share, it surpasses all other projector brands combined.

In 2017, Epson aims even higher, with new models addressing new applications like interactive learning for the education sector, high-brightness requirements for large venues, rental and staging, and the increased demand for offices and the corporate sector. The past years have seen Epson Philippines launch projectors catering to business usage, as well as the World’s 1st 25,000 lumens laser projector. The interactive features of Epson projectors have also been highly commended for enhancing Video Conference Systems, an ideal solution for concept-sharing and corporate trainings for participants are situated in different locations.

In past years, entry-level models continue to dominate the projector market in the Philippines, but recently, there is an increasing adoption of high brightness projectors in event usage, as well as laser-based projectors. Home projectors are also in-demand as a niche market rises to cater to hobbyists who require large-screen images.

“The future of Epson projectors remains bright as we continue to refine original microdisplay and projection technologies, and create outstanding visual experiences and a natural visual communications environment for every aspect of business and lifestyles,” explains Ms. Lyn Lizarondo, Product Manager for Visual Imaging Systems, Epson Philippines. 

WEARABLES INNOVATION

The champion product in Epson’s range of wearable technology is the Epson Moverio. As early as 2011, Epson introduced the first Moverio, the BT-100. The technology behind Moverio is rooted in the same world-leading 3LCD technology used in Epson projectors for projecting the images on the lenses of the smart glass.

Just last 2016, Epson announced the launch of the latest addition to its Moverio line, the Moverio BT-300. The Moverio BT-300 features Epson’s own cutting edge silicon-based OLED (organic light emitting diode) digital display technology, enabling the device to be the lightest see-through binocular smart glasses on the market, thus setting the new standard for augmented reality smart eyewear. 

The Epson Moverio is about Augmented Reality or seeing the actual world, with computer generated graphics augmented on it, much like what the Pokémon Go craze was all about. 

But the development of the Epson Moverio is not just for games. Leveraging Epson’s precision engineering capabilities, Epson specifically designed the Moverio to work well in enterprise and industrial environments.

“The Moverio BT-300 continues Epson’s commitment to binocular smart eyewear and real optical see-through overlay. Moreover, the Moverio BT-300 adds a new dimension to professionals for improving their efficiency and accuracy at work, enabling workers to share their experience virtually or provide hands-free movement for hands-on work,” elaborates Mr. Jester Cruz, Department Head for Product Management Division and Product Manager for Moverio, Epson Philippines. 

ROBOTICS INNOVATION

At Epson, robots are no longer a future dream. Robotics is already part and parcel of how Epson operates and manufactures. With Epson being named SCARA robot market share leader for 6 successive years, Epson goes forward by expanding applications which robots support people in a wide variety of situations through efficient, compact, precision technologies refined over the years. 

“Epson intends to lower the barriers to automation, expand the market and build a competitive advantage. Globally, Epson has already started by advancing the company’s robotic vision, force sensor, and accelerometer technologies. The long-term goal is to sell robots packaged with software that control robot motion and operations. Such packages will dramatically reduce the amount of time it takes users to install robots,” explains Mr. Ng Ngee Khiang, Regional General Manager (SE Asia), Robotics Division, Epson Singapore.

About Epson

Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 72,000 employees in 88 companies around the world, and is proud of its contributions to the communities in which it operates and its ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impacts. http://global.epson.com/

Epson’s corporate presence in the Philippines commenced in 1998. It grew rapidly into a billion peso company in a span of a few years from its establishment due to its client-oriented approach in its business management style by its dedicated and innovative staff members and officers. Epson Philippines has an extensive network of 77 Authorized Service Centers nationwide with more than 200 dealers and more than 800 shops across the Country. 

For more details, please visit our website (www.epson.com.ph) or our Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/EpsonPhilippines). 

Epson Southeast Asia

Since 1982, Epson has developed a strong presence across major markets in Southeast Asia. Led by the regional headquarters Epson Singapore, Epson’s business in Southeast Asia spans an extensive network of 11 countries with a comprehensive infrastructure of close to 500 service outlets, 7 Epson solution centres and 7 manufacturing facilities. http://www.epson.com.sg 

For product inquiries and technical support, please contact Epson Customer Care at: Metro Manila: (02) 441-9030; Toll Free: 1-800-1069-37766 (PLDT), 1-800-3-0037766 (DIGITEL) or visit the Epson Customer Care website: http://customercare.epson.com.ph 

Real Beauty at ROMA Wellness & Beauty Center

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What better way to treat yourself and de-stressing from the long work week? It’s important to take time out of your busy schedule to take care of yourself, and a day at the spa or wellness center is the perfect way to unwind, be relaxed and beautify yourself again

Visit ROMA and will surely make you feel rejuvenated!

ROMA Wellness Center is expert on aesthetic services and has several skin care experts changing the lives of thousands of people who have been reborn with their new you. 

ROMA Wellness Center  is offering the most up to date facial care, anti- aging, skin whitening, hair removal, face contouring, skin rejuvenation, body slimming & re - shaping, pampering treatment and other services like sclerotheraphy, keloid treatment, wart removal and acne injection.

Miss Rochelle Anne Pulig - General Manager of  ROMA Wellness Center

ROMA Wellness Center, manage by Miss Rochelle Anne Pulig had a soft launched last May 26 at the ground floor of Sea Residences Pasay City and was attended by several media practitioners.

Getting a facial will renew your skin to give you a healthy and youthful glow. I enjoyed the facial cleansing and non-surgical face contouring at Roma Wellness Center.

ROMA Contour is a service that has strong anti-aging effect. It helps fatigued skin regain firmness, tone and radiance. It also smoothens fine lines and wrinkles, increases collagen production and lightens scarring and skin imperfections. Immediate results, visible after the first treatment.

Ultrasonic Lipolysis is a nonsurgical procedure that removes accumulated fat deposits in your body using ultrasound technology.

The center offers a complete line up of non-surgical services, slimming and weight management & health spa — truly your one-stop-shop aesthetic choice.

ROMA Wellness Center is committed to be the trusted choice in non surgical aesthetic enhancements. With a proven track record and a complete line of beauty experts, ROMA Wellness Center espouses beauty with credibility.

Visit and like their Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Roma WellnessAndBeauty

and contact  (632) 771-2730 / Mobile (63) 0926-0276225 / 0947-5438509 

for more information and for your appointment.

Suki Day: Suy Sing, trade partners bring Pinoy grocers to world of success

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There is a world of exciting rewards and wonderful opportunities that await independent Filipino grocers, especially those who have made the country’s leading one-stop grocery distribution company—Suy Sing Commercial Corporation—their trusted partner in running their business.

During the Suki Day 2017 held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, thousands of loyal ka-Suy Sings became virtual tourists and adventurers as they visited “United States”, “Japan”, “Nepal”, “Indonesia”, “China”, “Switzerland”, “Netherlands”, “Argentina”, “Norway” and other tourist destination-themed booths to discover the “World of Success” that they can experience with Suy Sing.

Executives of Suy Sing and its trade partners, namely (from left) Del Monte Phils. Inc. Customer Development Group Head Patrick Belen Diño; Nestle Phils. Inc. Sales Director Jojo Dela Cruz; Procter & Gamble Phils. Inc. Sales Director Bryan Wong; Alaska Milk Corp. VP-Sales Francisco Idian; Peerless Product Manufacturing Corp. VP-Sales & Marketing Jasper Tiu; Suy Sing executives Elma Ainza, Virginia Lim, Tina Tan, and Reina Sy; Unilever Phils. Inc. Chairman & CEO Benjie Yap; Century Pacific Food Inc. President & CEO Christopher Po; Nutri-Asia Inc./First PGMC Enterprises Inc. President & COO Angie Go Flaminiano; Monde Nissin Corp. CMO Ruffy Tiam-Lee; and Mondelez Phils. Inc. Country Head Ashish Pisharodi pose with the success sign during the opening of Suki Day 2017.

To signify how the company and its trade partners help the PInoy grocers’ business soar to new heights, executives of the country’s leading consumer goods manufacturing companies gamely donned their captain’s hats and stood in front of an airplane to unveil the much-awaited Suki Day and welcome aboard thousands of excited Ka-Suy Sings.

Booths featuring world-renowned landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Eiffel Tower, Great Wall of China, Mount Everest and the Himalayas attracted crowds of attendees with their selfie-worthy colorful backdrops. Exciting games and prizes, entertaining shows and gimmicks, special deals and promos, and new products and freebies also made Suki Day more fun and rewarding for thousands of attendees.

Singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid serenades the audience with his most-loved ballads.

Stressing the vital role of Filipino grocers in not only making their business reach a world of success but effectively managing it for the long run, Guthrie Jensen engaged business owners in a Mastering Management seminar as part of Suy Sing’s Suki Success Series. Participants learned to manage their business, themselves, their people and productivity by setting goals and making plans to achieve them, assigning responsibilities to accomplish tasks, motivating employees, and evaluating work.

To highlight the celebration, Suy Sing served a delicious lunch buffet in a dining area where hundreds of tables filled most of the spacious World Trade Center. The company also treated the guests to a delightful and entertaining show courtesy of singer-comedian K Brosas, actor-comedian Chokoleit, and some unsuspecting members of the audience who took part in hilarious contests.

Hosts Robi Domingo and Iya Villania welcome the ka-Suy-Sings to Suki Day 2017

As main program hosts, Robi Domingo amused the audience with his hugot lines while Iya Villania serenaded the 25- to 55-year “S Factor” awardees with a song number. Capping off the afternoon’s entertainment was singer-songwriter Ogie Alcasid who sang his signature ballads and dished out his own brand of humor.

Suy Sing executives congratulate the lucky winner of a brand-new 2017 Mitsubishi Adventure.

Lots of exciting prizes, including round-trip tickets to Japan, Apple iPhones, other gadgets and appliances were raffled off to Ka-Suy Sings. One very lucky grocer even went home with a brand new Mitsubishi Adventure in the grand raffle draw. Bags full of grocery items and The North Face backpacks were given to grocers who completed the booth hopping activity.

Among the celebrities who visited the different Suki Day booths were Rocco Nacino, Gabby Concepcion, Claudia Barretto, Gerald Anderson, Maja Salvador, Janella Salvador, and Dominique Roque.

Trade partners also reap success

With over 70 years-worth of experience in nationwide grocery distribution, Suy Sing has definitely brought a world of success not only to its customers, but also to its trade partners.

“Suy Sing is one of the most ideal partners a supplier can have. They help us most in getting our products into the smallest stores all over the Philippines. They have a very strong base of customers and we really appreciate the distribution and aggressive marketing that Suy Sing is doing,” said Angie Go Flaminiano, president and COO of Nutri-Asia Inc. “I want to congratulate Suy Sing on their anniversary and wish them continued success and to thank them for supporting Nutri-Asia throughout these years.”

For more information on how Suy Sing can bring your grocery business to a world of success, call the Suy Sing customer hotline at 706-8888, the provincial toll-free number at 1-800-10-7068888 or visit www.suysing.com.

International Thyroid Awareness Week 2017

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International Thyroid Awareness Week, (ITAW) an international information campaign on social media and awareness events in various countries was recently culminated with the theme “It’s not you. It‘s your thyroid”. The event was held at the Trade Hall, Robinson’s Novaliches, Quezon City, May 27, 2017.

ITAW 2017 highlighting the similarities between the symptoms of thyroid disorders and the effects of today’s fast-paced lifestyles, and the tendency for people to blame themselves for the symptoms of the condition through the ‘It’s not you. It’s your Thyroid’ campaign.

To help raise awareness of thyroid disorders, Merck help to ensure that people have the information they need to recognize potential thyroid disorders and see their doctor, rather than blame themselves and accept how they’re feeling.

The International Thyroid Awareness Week is focusing on a small organ.

This little organ regulates processes that are essential to survival. Creating and raising awareness of thyroid disorders is the aim of ITAW.

The human thyroid gland weighs between 18 and 60 grams — hardly more than a letter — but it regulates metabolic processes that are essential to survival. If it is not functioning correctly, the body’s metabolic balance is disturbed. This has serious consequences for our health and our sense of well-being. However, there are many things we can do to prevent that from happening.

Participants were given basic information on the function and importance of the thyroid gland, as well as thyroid disorders (hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism) and their symptoms.

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ located at the base of the neck, in front of the windpipe. It is the “master controller” of metabolism, and plays a key role in our health and wellbeing. It makes, stores and releases thyroid hormones into the blood, thus regulating metabolism. These hormones are essential for the proper functioning of all bodily tissues and organs. They enable our body to use its stores of energy efficiently, thereby controlling temperature and allowing our muscles to work properly.

Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid gland, is a common condition. It is caused when the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. This under-production of hormones slows down the body’s metabolism, often leaving patients feeling cold, tired and depressed. If you suffer from hypothyroidism then you are also likely to notice you have gained weight, despite following a sensible diet and exercising regularly.

National Coordinator of the Philippines, Iodine Global Network, Dr. Teofilo San Luis gave a lecture entitled “The Thyroid Masquerade”. He said thyroid diseases can be confusing to both patients and physicians because they manifest in different ways.

This year’s ITAW campaign  also highlights the striking similarities between the symptoms of thyroid disorders and the effects of today’s fast-paced lifestyles.

Merck and DOH wants to make it clear that thyroid disorders lead to symptoms that are often misinterpreted by those affected. 

Women in particular tend to attribute symptoms such as changes in weight, restlessness, lethargy, mood swings, a lack of concentration or sleep disorders to their general lifestyle rather than a possible thyroid disorder. 

An underactive thyroid gland is more common in women than in men and its occurrence rises with age. An overactive thyroid gland is 10 times more common in women than in men. It is most common in the age group of 20-40 years, but may occur at any age.

It is based on results from an international survey commissioned by Merck, in collaboration with Thyroid Federation International (TFI), which reveals many women blame themselves, and their lifestyle choices, for symptoms such as weight changes, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, and excessive tiredness, not realizing that a thyroid disorder could be the underlying cause.

This campaign is to help people recognize that they may be wrongly blaming themselves for their symptoms. Some of the symptoms of too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism) are constipation, lack of motivation, lack of concentration, depression, or weight gain. The symptoms of too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) include weight loss and irritability. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can lead to anxiety, menstrual difficulties, and difficulty sleeping.

The International Thyroid Awareness Week (ITAW) 2017 had many activities for all participants. The event was open to the public and admission was free.

ITAW2017 participants enjoyed the afternoon with fun and educational activities, with free doctors’ consultation, video viewing with to know more about thyroid, a quiz , photobooth, some pampering treats, free hair and make-up, nail art, eyebrow threading, massage, art for kids, zumba dancing, and free milk tea! Exciting prizes were given away to kids.

To end the evening, the Commitment Pledge, a promise to raise awareness of the importance of thyroid health and to be part of the solution to thyroid problems that affect millions of Filipinos.

The International Thyroid Awareness Week (ITAW) 2017 aims for all to think carefully about whether you or someone you know might be suffering from a thyroid disorder. If you suspect this to be the case, go to your doctor and ask to be screened with a simple blood test. In the hands of a healthcare professional, thyroid disorders can be well managed.

The International Thyroid Awareness Week (ITAW) 2017 was presented by Merck in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Thyroid Association (PTA), Healtway, Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism (PSEDM), and the Iodine Global Network (IGN).

For more information, visit www.thyroidaware.com or follow “Unmasking Your Thyroid” on Facebook (www.facebook.com/thyroidph).