Asterra to roll out affordable horizontal housing business in 2023

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Fresh from its much-hyped launch last November, Vista Land’s new affordable housing brand, Asterra, is springing yet another surprise on the Philippine real estate market: the roll-out of its horizontal housing business.

A personal project of billionaire real estate tycoon Manuel Villar, Vista Land founder and chairman, Asterra was initially envisioned to provide affordable urban living in the suburbs through residential mid-rise buildings. Designed to serve as idyllic domiciles for young professionals and starting families, Asterra condo developments will rise in select locales that tout rapid appreciation of land values.

Vista Land’s new affordable housing brand, Asterra, is rolling out its horizontal housing business.

Soon after, Vista Land announced that Asterra is set to open sixteen new projects in various municipalities in the country. In its 2023 agenda are both condo developments and the rollout of Asterra’s horizontal housing for property seekers seeking the more laidback neighborhoods of the suburbs. In the Philippines, the suburbs refer to towns and cities just outside the metropolis, whose proximity to the country’s finance and business centers defines them as “economically progressive.”

Asterra promises this fast-growing housing market new and refreshing house model designs that will feature Vista Land’s trademark balance of form and function. Modern aesthetics, superior quality construction, ample living spaces, and family-friendly amenities will also ensure that Asterra’s horizontal projects shall serve as a literal and figurative breath of fresh air for aspiring homeowners.

Vista Land announced that Asterra is set to open sixteen new projects in various municipalities 

in the country.

 Asterra promises this fast-growing housing market new and refreshing house model designs.

To date, Asterra has properties in the Greater Manila Area’s real estate hotspots such as Cavite and Laguna. New developments will likewise rise in myriad other locations that include Pampanga, Iloilo, Cagayan de Oro, and Butuan.

Asterra was initially envisioned to provide affordable urban living in the suburbs through 

residential mid-rise buildings.

 Asterra has properties in the Greater Manila Area’s real estate hotspots such as Cavite and Laguna.

In Asterra’s 2023 agenda are both condo developments and the rollout of their horizontal housing.

Estrellita S. Tan, Asterra’s COO, says that their choices of housing sites reflect the company’s greater vision—one that offers more than just affordable living spaces for every homeowner. “We want Filipinos to grow and prosper while remaining rooted in their sense of community. I think we enable this by providing homes that support our residents’ family and professional lives, social and personal relationships.”

Mang Inasal kicks off 20th anniversary with 2-in-1 AnniverSAYA Deal

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The new year is made even more exciting as Mang Inasal, the country’s Grill Expert, kicks off its year-long 20th anniversary celebration with the “2-in-1 AnniverSAYA Deals” happening at all its branches nationwide.

“2023 is a big year for Mang Inasal as we reach two decades serving Ihaw-Sarap and Unli-Saya to our customers nationwide,” said Mang Inasal’s Business Unit Head Mike V. Castro. “The 2-in-1 AnniverSAYA Deals is just the start of a thrilling year-long celebration which we want everyone to enjoy.”

Double the Ihaw-Sarap and Unli-Saya with these perfect pairings available from Jan. 1 to Feb 28, 2023. Simply present the physical or digital coupon to get the discounts.

Check out these 2-in-1 AnniverSAYA deals at all Mang Inasal stores nationwide: https://bit.ly/MangInasalBRANCHES.

Want more Mang Inasal exclusives NOW? Visit www.manginasal.com for the latest updates, https://manginasaldelivery.com.ph for delivery deals, and follow Mang Inasal on social media!

Minors, students easy prey for illegal online gamblers

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Illegal gaming operators are drawing increasing numbers of customers to their platforms, targeting even minors and students to their nefarious activities, by offering fewer restrictions to participate in online gambling.

This, despite the implementation of strict measures by authorities to curb illegal gambling. Their lack of regulation, combined with aggressive marketing tactics like cashbacks and free money for first-time players, makes it attractive to vulnerable groups, potentially leading to increased gambling frequency and wagers.

Deception by fake websites

Licensed betting sites approved by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) strictly adhere to the "know your customer" verification process to ensure that only those allowed by law can participate in the games.

In failing to abide by Pagcor's rules and standards, unlicensed online gaming sites are damaging the industry's potential, with malicious entities creating fake websites to deceive users. They also disregard other laws and regulations, including tax obligations as well as measures meant to protect the safety and privacy of bettors.

OKBet, a local gaming platform licensed and regulated by Pagcor, recently uncovered an alarming number of fraudulent websites masquerading as its online sportsbook. These malicious pages use domain names nearly identical to the official OKBet website, prompting the company to remind the public to only access its website through the correct web address, www.OKBet.com.

DigiPinas Group calls on gov’t to accelerate digital transformation efforts

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With the Philippine digital economy seen to balloon to as much as $150 billion – or about P8.3 trillion by current peso-dollar exchange rates – the government must accelerate its digital transformation initiatives to maximize the potential of the so-called e-conomy.

Digital Transformation ng Pilipinas (DigiPinas), a UBX-led multisectoral initiative for digital transformation in the government, believes that while the government is treading the right path towards a new digital world, the Philippines has yet to unlock the true potential of its digital economy.

“The national government is definitely on the right track towards achieving a new digital world where everyone is included. But while the Internet is considered the greatest equalizer, the national and local governments play an important role in driving digital services that fully cater to their constituents on a more intimate scale,” said DigiPinas Spokesperson Mikan Leachon.

According to a 2022 study conducted by Google and Temasek on Southeast Asia’s e-conomy through 2030, the Philippine digital economy is currently valued at $20 billion. It is expected to grow on a steady upward trajectory, ballooning to as much as $150 billion in the next decade.

Digital retail, online travel, online media, digital payments, and online transportation and food deliveries make up most of the values derived from the e-conomy. According to the study, more and more Filipinos are adapting to the digital trend.

The reopening of Southeast Asian economies created a significant impact on consumers and the digital economy with the pandemic normalizing online transactions. Google and Temasek data point to a continued growth path for digital transactions despite the resumption of onground economic activities.

Given this, the Philippine government must quickly address the demand for digital government solutions to complement this uptrend.

“The Philippines is going through a digital revolution and the government has to step up its game to enable this to succeed. The current administration’s desire to pursue digital transformation is a welcome development, we just have to turn this idea into a reality. DigiPinas is able and willing to support the government in this initiative,” Leachon said.

DigiPinas champions the enforcement of policies related to digital transformation, geared towards solving age-old problems such as low digital adoption, lack of awareness, gaps in access, digital skills gap, and complex regulations.

It aims to equip each government partner with digital tools and solutions to bring their services closer to their constituents.

UBX, the leading open finance platform in the Philippines, is leading this initiative, providing its expertise in digital financial solutions to the national and local governments, especially those that are in the far-flung and rural municipalities.

“We are eager to partner with various government agencies – both national and local governments – and equip them with the right solutions for digital transformation,” Leachon said.

JobStreet shares in-demand skills that will benefit jobseekers in 2023

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The year 2023 is an interesting year for the job market, considering the evolving work environment and the growing demand for hybrid work setups. As hirers and employees transition to their most optimal work arrangement, this likewise requires candidates to upgrade their skills to stay competitive in the coming year.

With this, leading online job platform JobStreet by SEEK shares skills that will enable candidates to become future-ready, seek better opportunities, and put themselves at an advantage over other talents.

Digital literacy is critical

Hirers are more likely to look for jobseekers who are able to use and work with digital tools and devices. Therefore, candidates are encouraged to upgrade their digital skills since they are an integral part of business operations. Gaining essential digital skills opens a lot of opportunities. You can improve this by taking free digital courses, increasing your online presence, learning emerging digital platforms, and staying updated on tech trends, among others.

Adaptability is key

As businesses adjust to the changes brought by the pandemic, employees are also expected to become more adaptable, which allows them to efficiently embrace and deal with different situations at work.

According to JobStreet, hirers value candidates who are able to adapt to changes in processes and operations, modify plans when necessary, learn new tools and technologies, and welcome new roles and responsibilities.

“The world is so unpredictable, we learned that very well with the recent global pandemic that took us all by surprise. As industries evolve, it matters not who is the most skilled in the field, but more so, who can adapt quickly,” said JobStreet Philippines Country Manager Philip Gioca, “since trends and demands from different careers change over time, candidates who are in for the challenge and can pivot immediately have a great advantage.”

Refresh your interpersonal skills

The pandemic has impacted our social life, keeping us away from our friends and colleagues. With hybrid work becoming a trend among industries, jobseekers are encouraged to strengthen their interpersonal skills. This helps create meaningful and strong working relationships among colleagues as well as improves the productivity and morale of the entire team.

JobStreet advises candidates to start by embracing team assignments or projects, being active listeners with seniors and colleagues, and having empathy and support in every way possible to help them grow.

Multi-task efficiently

More often than not, performing several tasks simultaneously and successfully is a valuable skill sought by hirers. However, mastering how to multitask can be tricky when done the wrong way, especially for people who find it difficult to work in between tasks.

The coming year is an opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and enhance skills like multitasking. To practice this effectively, JobStreet suggests jobseekers to list down the tasks, identify the most urgent items, and focus on what’s most important at a time while keeping track of other tasks. Remember to not do multiple challenging tasks at once as it may lead to not accomplishing anything at all.

Master time management

Time management is also a major skill that contributes to productivity and is desired by many employers. Especially for a hybrid work setup, companies are looking for candidates who can efficiently manage their tasks and deliver quality work according to timelines. It helps to create your plan and organize your tasks for the day, and do not forget to give yourself scheduled breaks to minimize stress and fatigue.

“With hybrid working becoming normalized, we are expecting more hirers to look for talents who already have and are open to learning both hard and soft skills that are relevant to their industry. We hope to inspire more candidates to seek better opportunities by also acquiring new knowledge and improving their skill set,” shared JobStreet Philippines Country Manager Philip Gioca.

To learn more about how you can advance in your career in 2023, visit https://www.jobstreet.com.ph/career-resources/.