Next generation media and blockchain technology organization introduced

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As the country and the rest of the world move toward an increased understanding, heightened awareness and appreciation for crypto ecosystems, a group of forward-thinking Filipinos with proven track records, expertise, and performance in their respective industries have come together to form the MetaDhana consortium.

(L) Mikhail Jon Peñalosa, Founder and CEO of MetaDhana Studio and (R) Michael John Peña, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of MetaDhana Studio

Mikhail Peñalosa, CEO of MetaDhana explained that the group is focused on the democratization of artificial intelligence, blockchain, game development, and creative development for Filipino creators and various crypto ecosystems.

“MetaDhana aims to push the boundaries of innovation through the marriage of blockchain and artificial intelligence within a metaverse,” Peñalosa said.

The young CEO further mentions that the consortium believes that the key to creating a true metaverse, a virtual space within digital spaces such as online games, and virtual reality is an independent, sustainable environment that can open new paradigms in storytelling, productivity, and finance when blockchain and artificial intelligence are combined.

“Because data on the blockchain is immutable and highly valuable, the training set of AI becomes more reliable and accurate,” Michael John Peña , CTO of MetaDhana, further adds.

The MetaDhana Roadmap

MetaDhana has been working on a number of projects using Microsoft Azure and OpenAI that are slated for launch in the last quarter of 2021 and first-half of 2022.

1. AI Powered NFT Metaverse. The Metazoan Chronicles: Order of the Felix is the first AI NFT Metaverse of its kind with art, lore, culture, and world created by humans that will be expanded generatively and evolve using AI and is slated to launch late October 2021.

2. Non Fungible Token (NFT) Art Drops. With an established team of more than 20 artists MetaDhana will create a series of production level quality art in partnership with multiple local writers and artists. The NFT will have utilities like, games, comics, access to Anime produced via NFT sales.

3. A Play-to-Earn NFT fighting game utilizing our proprietary fighting game engine.

4. The MetaDhana Token, a metaverse ecosystem token that combines both Blockchain and AI.

Powerhouse Metaverse Creation team

To ensure world class technical execution, MetaDhana formed a joint venture partnership with Sydney based technology firm Datachain Consulting headed by Michael John Peña, a Microsoft MVP for Azure since 2015, with over 10 years of working experience ranging from Mobile, Cloud, Web and DevOps. Michael has worked on blockchain technologies since 2014, and has been involved in various enterprise grade blockchain and AI applications such as AU based Lumachain, a comprehensive end-to-end solution for food supply chains.

To further push the concept, MetaDhana entered into a joint venture partnership agreement with Ranida Games, an established game development studio in the Philippines with millions of active players globally. Ranida will extend the tech capabilities and will publish the MetaDhana Play-to-Earn games.

For creative production needed by the ecosystem, a joint venture partnership agreement with Studio 9 Lives, an animation studio established in 2015 with clients from Japan and USA was also formed. Studio 9 Lives is known for its work in popular Netflix animated titles and many other popular Japanese Animation.

The consortium also has existing partnerships with top comic publishers, creators and artists from the Philippines, USA, and Abu Dhabi; most notably, Noir Caesar Entertainment, owned by Milwaukee Bucks player, Johnny O’Bryant III.

In addition, MetaDhana has existing working relationships with influencer agencies in the Philippines that have a talent pool of over 200 influencers. The marketing team is headed by Dexter Paglinawan a top 5% Affiliate Marketer, consultant, speaker and NFT gaming influencer with 60K subscribers on Youtube.

And lastly, MetaDhana through its owned digital marketing agency has managed and developed Products for global B2B and B2C companies and produced results via campaigns exceeding $20M in value. The agency has access to owned and rented social media assets such as Facebook Pages, Groups, and Tiktok accounts and boast combined follower count of more than 50-million followers.

“We envision MetaDhana to truly be a launchpad, a new way for creators to engage an audience and monetize their work. We aim to educate and propagate a universal protocol, a world for game developers to design and earn, a space where comic and E-book creators, readers, and even game players earn, all within blockchain and AI powered technology,” Peñalosa closed.

Visit www.metadhana.io for more information.

ePLDT Awarded SAP Business One Top Partner in Philippines, Southeast Asia

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ePLDT Inc., through its subsidiary ABM Global Solutions (AGS), today announced that it has been awarded as SAP® Business One (B1) Top Partner in Southeast Asia and the Philippines.

The SAP® Business One Top Partner award was granted based on ePLDT’s achievement in attaining the highest revenues among its associates in the region.

“We thank SAP for the recognition as its top partner for SAP B1 not only in the Philippines but also in Southeast Asia. We are honored to receive this award as we commit to our shared goal of enabling business through innovative business management solutions,” commented John Gonzales, Vice President and Head of PLDT Enterprise Digital Solutions.

ePLDT, through its subsidiary AGS, is a partner of SAP® Business One. As such, it has access to tools, training, resources and benefits that it needs to deliver solutions and services, such as SimplERP and SAP® HANA Migration Services, that allow businesses to optimize operations and maximize profitability.

SAP® S/4HANA is an intelligent ERP solution that eliminates common obstacles associated with legacy ERP applications, such as batch latency, complex landscapes, and manually driven processes. ePLDT has been leading the Philippines market in bringing the said service to local enterprises.

“Businesses today need to work with trusted technology partners to make the transition to become intelligent enterprises and thrive in the ‘never normal’. By doing so, they can do more with less, deliver a best-in-class customer experience, build resilient supply chains, while inventing new business models and revenue streams,” said Edler Panlilio, Managing Director, SAP Philippines.

"We at AGS are really grateful to receive these awards from SAP. This is a big milestone for us, and receiving such recognition inspires us to strive even harder in reaching more businesses in different industries with innovative digital solutions that we offer in collaboration with SAP," said Raymond Lacdao, AGS Chief Operating Officer.

As part of the ePLDT group, AGS is also well positioned to cover complementary services designed to enhance and maximize the experience of existing SAP users. Services like application managed services, disaster recovery and backup, analytics, cybersecurity, and connectivity are well within the ePLDT portfolio.

“The intelligent use of Information and communications technology defines successful businesses. We express our gratitude to SAP for these prestigious recognitions and we at ePLDT and AGS will always be determined to ensure that enterprises have the most innovative solutions that will elevate their drive for growth and success,” said Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups.

About ePLDT

ePLDT, Inc. is the industry-leading enabler of digital business solutions in the Philippines. Since its inception at the turn of the millennium, ePLDT has led the industry in the development of end-to-end technologies for enterprises across the country and the Asia Pacific region.

To learn more, visit epldt.com.

IABC Philippines CommChat Series’ Et Tu Brutus shares experiences of Millennial Leaders and Change Makers

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In media and pop culture, the Millennial has become known for many things. The Me Generation, the millennial is the tech-savvy digital native who is depicted as entitled and narcissistic but also socially conscious, flexible and creative.

It’s time to take a closer look at millennials as the new generation of managers, directors and entrepreneurs.

Hosted by the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines or IABC Philippines, the recent CommChat webinar titled Et Tu Brutus: Millennials Leading in the New Normal explored the different experiences of four millennials and their experiences as leaders.

IABC Philippines CommChat Series’ Et Tu Brutus panelists and organizers: (from top row, left to right): Dave Devilles - IABC PH Membership, Learning and Engagement Committee Chair and VP for Sustainability, CSR and Employee Relations of Union Bank of the Philippines; Ferds Bondoy – IABC PH Secretary and Digital and Publicity Committee Chair and Regional Integration and Chief Executive Director of ComCo Southeast Asiar; Orange Dorico – IABC PH Volunteer and CommChat Host; Belle Tiongco – IABC PH President and Co-Founder of Football for Humanity; Panelists - Tricia Jimenea - Business Development Director, Partner and Co-Founder of ComCo Southeast Asia; Shawntel Nieto - Founder and President of the Society of Sustainability Practitioners, the One Cainta Food Program, and SustainaRumble Podcasts; Aljo Quintas – Social Protection and Poverty Reduction Policy Specialist and Incoming Project Coordinator for the United Nations Development Programme; Milo Alejo - Co-Founder and President of Kamino Algae Technologies Inc., and Sharlyn Beltran – IABC PH Communications Officer;

Possibilities, Progress and Passion

“First, always be open to possibilities,” shared Tricia Cusi-Jimenea, Business Development Director, Partner and Co-Founder of ComCo Southeast Asia and a Founding Member of the Filipino Communicators Collective in Dubai, UAE. Moving to Dubai after taking postgraduate studies in Australia and working on award-winning projects with a trailblazing team in the Philippines, Tricia was challenged as companies were looking for native English or Arabic speakers. This made her even more determined to prove what a Filipino can do in the global arena.

Tricia Cusi Jimenea - Business Development Director, Partner and
Co-Founder of ComCo Southeast Asia

“Next, prepare yourself for progress,” she continued. Cultivating progress prepares you when opportunities present themselves. She and her former mentor and colleague decided to form ComCo Southeast Asia, a PR and Social Media agency which she believes is the culmination of the founders’ shared belief in the power of communication to impact people’s lives positively and to build a life-changing legacy.

“Lastly, pursue your passion,” she said, adding, “It’s giving back to the community. With the Filipino Communications Collective, we aim to update the narrative of Filipino professionals working in the UAE. We do a lot of upskilling and training, as well as celebrating our successes in more mainstream channels such as industry publications and networking events.”

Believe in your power to effect change

“What matters is that you understand what kind of change you want to see at the end of the tunnel. Use your passion as fuel but always put much thought and grounding into your vision,”opined Shawntel Nieto, “… that will give your passion direction and will give your career and your life a well-aligned and true trajectory.”

Shawntel Nieto - Founder and President of the Society of Sustainability Practitioners, the One Cainta Food Program, and SustainaRumble Podcasts

Shawntel is the Founder and President of the Society of Sustainability Practitioners, the One Cainta Food Program, and SustainaRumble Podcasts, and the newest Philippine Country Manager of CSRworks International. Through her organizations, she has provided food, water, electricity and education to over 500,000 people across the Philippines.

Shawntel talked about how the youth can break walls by having a vision and believing in their power to effect change.

Cultivating the Right Culture

“Cultivating the right culture is a priority of the company,” stated Milo Alejo, Co-Founder and President of Kamino Algae Technologies Inc. His firm will enable sustainable communities and industries through micro-algae products and services. This means not only improving the cost, quality and yield of algae but most importantly caring for the team culture, from the choice of people, to looking after their health and wellbeing, along with their professional development.

Milo Alejo - Co-Founder and President of Kamino Algae Technologies Inc

With his team of dreamers and fighters, Milo aims to provide products and services to resolve the environmental crisis. This includes developing a product for feeding poultry and livestock, and a service called bio-remediation to help companies manage their carbon footprint. While a single mature tree can capture 21 kilograms of carbon dioxide in a year; in the same amount of space and time, microalgae can capture 144 kilograms of carbon dioxide.

Milo also hopes for the company to contribute to job generation, especially in rural areas, and to increase the availability of jobs for those in the hard sciences, like marine biology and agro-engineering.

Don’t be too hard on yourself

“You know as millennials, we have very high standards for ourselves and the things we do… don’t be too hard on ourselves, especially during COVID-19, we really need to protect our mental health,” shared Aljo Quintas,a Social Protection and Poverty Reduction Policy Specialist and Incoming Project Coordinator for the United Nations Development Programme. “We need to have that understanding that we have our limitations, we just have to do our best to maximize every opportunity that comes along.”

Aljo Quintas - Social Protection and Poverty Reduction Policy Specialist and Incoming Project Coordinator for the United Nations Development Programme

A believer that government work is a commitment to public service, he has a project nearing completion though not without challenges, Listahanan, or the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction, the official database of poor households in the Philippines. It is used by project implementers to identify eligible beneficiaries and enable the implementers to give services to vulnerable sectors.

“This is the wisdom shared by our young speakers,“ IABC Philippines President Ms. Belle Tiongco said. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times – Charles Dickens once said. In the midst of the pandemic, hope grows, and by sharing and discussing the good we do, we are able to do something good for society. Let’s keep the conversations going.”

To know more about IABC Philippines, please visit https://www.facebook.com/iabcph or e-mail iabcphilippinesat30@gmail.com.

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About IABC Philippines

IABC Philippines is the first IABC country chapter in Asia. It is an association of top business, industrial and organizational communicators and professionals. IABC supports the highest professional standards and practice of exceptional quality and innovation in organization and business communication. It advocates for continued professional growth, learning, and communication excellence, linking Filipino practitioners with colleagues and practices worldwide. Its two major communication excellence industry awards are the Philippine Quill and the CEO EXCEL Awards. IABC is a member of the Global Alliance of Public Relations and Communication Management.

Canva makes virtual learning more fun and interactive with Canva Eskwela

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Canva introduces Canva Eskwela, a page featuring free and visually engaging content especially tailored for educators and learners in the Philippines.

As Filipino teachers and students kick off yet another school year in virtual classrooms, online design platform Canva offers resources to make learning and interacting more engaging this back-to-school season with Canva Eskwela.

For many Filipino teachers, connecting with their students has become extra challenging with the absence of physical interaction, making learners more prone to fatigue and lack of focus. With Canva Eskwela, teachers can create fun and compelling presentations as well as activities to encourage more lively class discussions.

The Canva Eskwela page features free and visually engaging content especially tailored for educators and learners in the Philippines: from desktop organizers and lesson plan templates, to presentations and ice breakers to make virtual classes more interactive and fun.

“Through Canva Eskwela, we want to express our deep appreciation for our teachers and students who push themselves to teach and learn as we navigate the new normal. We know it is especially challenging for our teachers to reach out to students and inspire them to get excited about school while we continue to hold classes online,” expressed Canva Country Manager Yani Hornilla-Donato. “We want to support them through locally relevant digital education resources that they can easily access for free.”

Canva is known for being user-friendly and accessible even to those with no design background and it is even more convenient for educators to create content from scratch with Canva Eskwela so they can save time and focus on other tasks.

With Canva for Education, students and teachers can also access easy-to-learn resources such as videos and audio recordings that contain tips and guides on designing their materials. Teachers can also find a community where they can share stories and best practices and support one another on the Canva for Filipino Teachers Facebook group.

To sign up for Canva Eskwela for FREE, go to www.canva.com/education/canva-eskwela/.

PhilPop 2021 DigiCamp integrates workshop-based approach to this year’s virtual edition

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Despite the challenges of adapting to a virtual setting, PhilPop 2021 DigiCamp: Music Breaking Borders has successfully integrated strategic innovations to its curriculum that would help aspiring singer-songwriters enhance their skillset and be part of a progressive learning experience.

Facilitated by some of the Philippines’ most respected educators, artists, and music leaders via Zoom, the country’s premier songwriting competition continues to hold a series of lectures and workshops for a period of four months (from July to October 2021) to put a spotlight on the next generation of OPM stars and future music industry fellows.

PhilPop Program and Marketing Manager Gab Cabangon reiterate that the team has always believed in the importance of opening several opportunities for the attendees to learn different aspects of music outside of songwriting. “We wanted to give the fellows options, guides, and tools that could help them with the direction on their music journey. The additional skills that they learn from this could help them evolve as practitioners in the music industry and further fuel their passion and love for the craft of music. Lastly, it wouldn’t hurt to also encourage songwriters to learn how to write songs to make society a better place for everyone.”

Marlon Barnuevo, PhilPop finalist 2013 and one of the resident coaches, considers PhilPop 2021 DigiCamp: Music Breaking Borders as one with the most mature curriculum for a songwriting camp. “Aside from the fact that most of the coaches came from the acclaimed Elements Songwriting Camp, all the past PhilPop boot camps provided valuable knowledge that allowed the teaching contents to be refined into what we are currently delivering now.”

Given the virtual format of this year’s Bootcamp, the coaches have tweaked some of their best practices to adhere to a more inclusive learning environment. As a college educator, Marlon has been doing full-online modality since the pandemic started, so there was a little adjustment on his part when it comes to delivering lectures for the PhilPop DigiCamp participants.

“PhilPop has also successfully adapted the synchronous-asynchronous method of delivering lectures, which is now a very common approach in all academic institutions around the country,” Marlon beams with pride. “What I had to adjust to, and what I sorely miss is the absence of face-to-face fellowship activities. In all the previous camps, it has always been a tradition to hold jamming sessions every evening over food and drinks. This form of fellowship is what’s missing in this year’s camp.”

In order to compensate with the need to make the songwriting mentorship more interesting, PhilPop coaches provided a workshop-based approach to give participants an inclusive and well-rounded perspective on different areas and fields in the music industry such as songwriting, music production, digital marketing, and advocacy writing—to name a few.

A first-time coach herself, University of the Philippines instructor and Baihana member Krina Cayabyab shares that aside from making slides and presenting music during her lecture, she made her sessions more informative by giving clearer pointers that are essential for interacting with the current creative and digital economy.

“I believe this virtual setting has given more flexibility and opportunity for the participants to sink deeper into their work and absorb discussions further, and make the most out of these in their own time, capacity, and space,” says coach Krina. “Though it might be challenging in some circumstances, collaborating with fellow participants and meeting them virtually, I think, still achieved much of the DigiCamp’s objectives. It’s really like accomplishing tasks through today’s reality, and the DigiCamp has made it happen as effectively as it can ever be.”

Award-winning R&B singer-songwriter, producer, and composer Thyro Alfaro is generally satisfied with how the participants took the new format this year despite the prolonged period of remote learning. “I think they’re enjoying the process,” the two-time PhilPop winner explains. “I can hear it in their songs that they’re really applying what we’re teaching.”

Yumi Lacsamana, another acclaimed pop/R&B multi-hyphenate and two-time PhilPop grand champion, echoes Thyro’s observation, pointing out how her mentees have managed to adapt easily in a virtual setting. “It’s not the same but it’s more challenging on their part collaborating with the other fellows virtually. And the outcome is pretty good.”

Yumi emphasizes that some of her best moments during the DigiCamp as a mentor includes seeing the participants grow as artists and turn their songs into a fully realized material that has potential to be massive. In terms of personal adjustments, Yumi makes the most out of her time holding a more relaxed conversation with the participants regarding what needs to be improved on their songs. “It felt like we’re not in a camp. It’s more of like we’re just in a video call talking to a friend and asking/giving an advice.”

Notwithstanding some minor drawbacks of remote learning, the DigiCamp proves to be a game-changing alternative for the traditional setup as it supported collaborative and higher-level learning through breakout room sessions, and fostered a virtual learning experience that allows participants to learn at their own pace. To quote Marlon Barnuevo, “If I were to gauge how much the participants were able to ‘step up and deliver’ through the quality of their most recent song submissions, I’d be proud to say that the entire PhilPop team has been very successful in meeting its goals.”

PhilPop 2021 DigiCamp: Music Breaking Borders is an initiative of the PhilPop Music Foundation, chaired by Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan. This year's virtual event is co-presented by MAYNILAD, SMART, MULTISYS, TUNECORE and BELIEVE.