Making life easier through digital transactions: Posible!

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With today’s fast-paced lifestyle, many Filipinos are left with little time to do small but important errands, such as paying utility bills or sending money to loved ones. However, thanks to the wonders of financial technology or “fintech,” it is now possible to accomplish such everyday tasks with ease, immediacy, and convenience.

Digital solutions platform Posible revolutionizes the way ordinary Filipinos live their daily lives. Through mobile communications and digital technology, more people can easily avail of financial transactions such as bills payment, money remittance, buying prepaid load, and withdrawing cash without even stepping far from home.

Not only does Posible make life easier for customers, it also offers additional livelihood for small to medium entrepreneurs. From bakeries and pawnshops to Internet cafes and laundry shops—any enterprise can earn additional income by becoming a Posible operator. 

Posible’s network of Android-based digital devices empower friendly neighborhood stores to accept and accomplish various financial transactions. Whether as a main service offering or a complementary side business, Posible offers opportunities for entrepreneurs to expand their products and services and cater to the needs of unbanked and underbanked Filipinos. 

All these fintech innovations power local communities to the future of digital finances. More features and services, such as buying tickets, mobile app pins, and even microinsurance will be made possible soon on the Posible platform. Posible devices are also equipped with a magnetic stripe, as well as QR code reader, making it adaptive to developments in digital financial transactions. 

Now, paying bills, sending money, and other digital financial solutions are even more accessible with Posible!

Amaia Land shares why now is the best time to invest in Central Luzon

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For the longest time now, Central Luzon has been consistently growing into one of the most progressive regions in the country. Home to seven provinces—Aurora, Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales—Region III is called a “super region” for the simple reason that, apart from boasting a rich cultural heritage, it has a flourishing business environment that thrives despite the challenges the country constantly faces.

This explains why local and foreign investors are drawn to properties and businesses in Central Luzon provinces—and why Amaia Land, a trusted name in the real estate industry, attests to Region III being an idyllic place for its developments.

The Ayala Land subsidiary reveals the reasons why now is the best time to invest in Central Luzon, may it be in a place of residence or in a small or large business.

First, the region is evolving into the country’s newest metropolis. With continuous growth of infrastructure in the region, it remains an attractive destination not just to foreign investors who wish to set up facilities in the country but also to locals who want to experience what the region has to offer.

Region III also boasts a significant contribution to economic growth in the Philippines, thanks to the impressive performances of Central Luzon’s emerging cities and special economic zones. Despite the domestic and external challenges that the Philippines has experienced over the past months, Central Luzon has continuously forged economic growth.

The major players in this remarkable scenario are the three freeport zones: Clark Freeport Zone, Bataan Freeport Zone, and Subic Freeport Zone, which have contributed to an improved connectivity within the region, resulting in more investments, more jobs, and increased economic growth.

Also set to drive progress in the region is an up-and-coming development, the new Clark City Government Administrative Center, which will house satellite offices of the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches of the government, along with their attached agencies.

Central Luzon’s impressive performance is supported by existing developments such as Clark International Airport, which serves as the country’s gateway to Central and Northern Luzon provinces, and is on its way to becoming the Philippines’ aviation hub. To this day, efforts to make Clark airport an “aerotropolis” continue, with the vision of a world-class airport at the center of business clusters surrounded by residential developments.

All these and more are reasons enough to invest in Central Luzon properties.

Amaia Land itself takes pride in several projects in the region, found in progressive towns and cities like San Jose del Monte and Sta. Maria in Bulacan; Cabanatuan in Nueva Ecija, San Fernando and Mexico in Pampanga; and Capas in Tarlac.

Amaia Scapes Bulacan is strategically located at the heart of Sta.Maria Bulacan. It offers affordable and expandable houses fit for growing family.

Amaia Scapes Cabanatuan promises a thriving community for Filipino families. It is highly accessible through various means of transportation making everything within reach.

Amaia Scapes Pampanga is a sprawling development strategically located in Mexico near NLEX Angeles Exit.

Amaia Scapes San Fernando is a house and land development strategically located in the City of San Fernando.

Amaia Scapes Capas sprawls on a 21.5 hectare land in Capas, Tarlac.

For those who are just looking to invest, an Amaia property in Central Luzon might be a great way to start.

Amaia continues to serve prospective homeowners with affordable and sustainable developments that aim to elevate the Filipino living experience in a well-secured environment.

For inquiries about Amaia properties in Central Luzon and other locations, check out www.amaialand.com or like www.facebook.com/AmaiaLand.

Workbank spearheads free training for Filipinos in partnership with SCALE"

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Essential skills. Employers these days are looking beyond the polished and impressive curriculum vitae. There are skills that enterprises need for better business efficiency. Workbank, a jobs and careers site, believes in investing in Filipino job seekers through free training and seminars, which will allow them to find the right opportunities.

By partnering with SCALE, Workbank is able to further strengthen its efforts by equipping Filipinos with these soft skills that will set them apart from other job candidates. Training and mentorship will scale up their employability.

In a recently concluded training Workbank spearheaded and in collaboration with SCALE, Filipino job seekers were able to elevate their holistic skills increasing their chances of getting employment the soonest possible time through the free training held last month.

The training was divided into two types: SCALE Basics and SCALE Pro.

SCALE Basics is a training program that prepares individuals to build their foundational skills such as Purpose, Values and GRIT. This is geared toward inexperienced job seekers who may have just graduated from college. SCALE Pro, as the name suggests, is intended for working professionals who want to build soft skills such as communication, analytical and critical thinking, and work ethic.

These soft skills are skills not taught in schools or universities. Students buried their noses in books to be able to master their specialization. SCALE focuses on building soft skills, which are a combination of values, people skills, communication skills, social, emotional and digital intelligence.

Workbank, for its part, strengthens the integrity of its pool of talents building credibility among companies and organizations who use the platform to find the right individuals with certain skill sets.

Workbank said this is just a start because it has committed itself to invest in Filipino job seekers so they will be able to tread the right career path and find the right fit for them.

For more information, visit www.workbank.com.

Nonoy Zuñiga Presents

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OPM Pop Icon and Hitmaker Nonoy Zuñiga will be doing a series of shows as his tribute to versatile performing artists and his way of promoting local talents. 

On August 9 & 16, 2019, a jazz singer and actor-comedian Joey San Andres who has been playing with his band, The Mailbox for several years will be featured in the initial shows of NONOY ZUÑIGA PRESENTS at Johnny Be Good in the Level 3 of Glorietta 3, Ayala Center of Makati City. Showtime is at 9pm. 

To recall, Nonoy and Joey grew up in Kamuning, Quezon City and in their younger years both were choir members of Sacred Heart Parish Church.

Their passion for music continues up to these days even if Nonoy Zuñiga graduated Doctor of Medicine from the University of Sto Tomas and Joey San Andres holds a high position in the government service while managing his restaurants. 

In a special participation is Queenie Rehman a singer-model and actress. She is also a beat boxer and a finalist in 2012 Miss World. 

NONOY ZUÑIGA PRESENTS is a series of shows that will be an avenue for promoting versatile and very talented performers of the country. 

For more details please call up 09165681357 or 09282801551.

Tickets will be available at the entrance of Johnny Be Good, just look for Ms Amy de la Cruz.

High-impact tech startups get boost from INQBATION Startup Showcase 2019

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QBO Innovation Hub, J.P. Morgan team up to find startups elevating PH startup landscape 

Filipino startups making a difference. Department of Science and Technology Secretary Fortunato de la Peña (middle) graced the recently held INQBATION Startup Showcase, an initiative of QBO Innovation Hub in partnership with J.P. Morgan where 15 high-impact startups showcased their ideas and stories of success. 

There is no problem too difficult for a plucky startup with a purpose. 

Startups have gained increasing recognition for offering solutions to problems, and startups in the Philippines are no exception. Tech startups that are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities are also gaining ground, with some setting their sights on regional expansion even in the early years of their inception. 

Kumu, a livestream and community platform, which only started last year, has exhibited an explosive 2000% growth rate since it started. The app has been downloaded almost one million times and is currently the only Filipino company to be included in Google Play’s Top 10 grossing social apps. Roland Ros, the company’s co-founder, shared that revenue has been exponentially growing 300% quarter on quarter, as it has found a way to monetize global Filipino millennial and Gen Z users. Hundreds of content creators are now earning part time income on the app as well, with a growing base of full-time creators earning as much as 50,000 pesos a month. 

Senti, a data and sentiment analysis platform, started as a one-man university research project that sought to better understand local jargon and dialects. The company has since grown to become one of the most highly-recognized AI and natural language processing companies in the Philippines. Ralph Regalado’s brainchild is now home to half of the country’s Google Developer experts and is helping to create high-value tech jobs in the lucrative AI field in the Philippines. Senti has since expanded to Singapore and Malaysia because of its success. 

Another startup that has made a positive impact is Investagrams, a social fintech platform which helps Filipinos invest in the stock market through in-app tutorials, virtual trading, social networking, and other tools designed to make investing in equities more accessible, easy and fun. Only three years old, Investagrams now has over 360,000 users. Investagrams caters not only to seasoned traders and investors but also to regular Filipinos, from millennials to retirees, and even overseas workers seeking to increase the value of their savings. The startup also regularly conducts programs on financial literacy and equities investing that has attracted thousands of participants, with the goal of increasing participation in the stock market among Filipinos (currently at less than 1%) to at least 5% in the next five years. The fintech startup founder and CEO John Christian Bisnar announced that the company is expanding to Singapore. 

Kumu, Senti, and Investagrams, along with 12 other startups, are just some of the rising stars in the Filipino startup scene featured in INQBATION Startup Showcase 2019. 

“The INQBATION Startup Showcase draws attention to awesome Filipino startups that are creating innovative and scalable solutions for real world problems, and we hope that investors, corporations and partners across the globe will take notice,” said Katrina Chan, Director of QBO. “The startups we featured today grew with QBO and J.P. Morgan through the INQBATION program and are creating tremendous impact. We’re glad to give them the spotlight they deserve and invite more partners to join us in uplifting our burgeoning local startup community.” 

The event is organized by QBO Innovation Hub, a platform for the startup community to collaborate, develop talent, and grow, that was created through the joint effort of the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, IdeaSpace, and J.P. Morgan. 

“It was a privilege and a pleasure to help create opportunities for these startups,” said Carlos Ma. G. Mendoza, Senior Country Officer for J.P. Morgan Philippines. “We are proud to have supported this program as it enabled small businesses and positively impacted underserved communities.” 

“The vision for this program is for QBO and J.P. Morgan, as well as other partners, to open up more opportunities for startups and founders to grow,” explained Rene “Butch” Meily, President of QBO. “We want to give people who are creating scalable, positive impact through their startups a better shot at success.” 

INQBATION Startup Showcase 2019, an initiative championed by QBO Innovation Hub and J.P. Morgan, provides startups with access to resources, mentorship, and network to help them scale up their business. Photo shows from left to right: INQBATION Startup Showcase Program Lead Ross Fallorina; Kumu President Rexy Dorado; Washub head of Operations Brean Abrea; OneWatt Chief Technology Officer Paolo Samontanez; Learntalk Managing Director Nicolo Luccini; DTI-EMB Assistant Director Agnes Legaspi; Streetby CEO Rhey Minoza; DOST- PCIEERD Senior Science Research Specialist Engr. Edward Paul Apigo; MAD Travel Co-founder Rafael Dionisio; DTI-EMB Director Senen Perlada; J.P. Morgan Philippines Head of Communications Patricia Anne Javier-Gutierrez; QBO President Rene “Butch” Meily; J.P. Morgan Philippines Senior Country Officer Carlos Ma. G. Mendoza; QBO Director Katrina Chan; Investagrams CEO JC Bisnar; Lexmeet CEO Atty. Marlon Valderama; Exora COO Matt Tan; Payo CEO Liron Gross; Senti CEO Ralph Regalado; Container Living Lead Innovator Mac Evangelista; Pushkart.ph CEO Joshua Aragon; and QBO Head of Operations Natasha Bautista. 

Meily added that by showcasing startups that have the potential to change lives as well as succeed as a business, they hope to get more companies and institutions to realize the value of supporting local startup ecosystem. 

Aside from the startups mentioned, the showcase also featured AdMov, Cropital, Pushkart.ph, Exora, Learntalk, OneWatt, Payo, Lexmeet, Streetby, Washub, Container Living, and MAD Travel. 

QBO said that it will continue to support startups in different ways including INQBATION, an acceleration program where the country’s most promising but underserved startup founders receive mentorship, training, exposure, resources and other support tailor fit to their needs. The INQBATION program was created in order to help highly promising Filipino tech startup companies scale up, fundraise and become globally competitive-- in the process generating jobs, developing the technology sector and creating impact. 

QBO envisions more organizations becoming more involved with Filipino startup companies— whether as mentors, investors, or customers—and being able to help more local startups attain success. 

For more information about the INQBATION Startup Showcase 2019, visit https://www.qbo.com.ph/incubation/.