August 1, 2023

QC sets the pace of Smart, Digitalized City and other Takeaways at the KPMG Innovation Summit 2023


The recently concluded KPMG Innovation Summit 2023 tagged “Making things happen: From Innovation to Execution” at the Fairmont Makati dove right into discussion on the promising state of technological innovation in the Philippines and launched two innovation milestones, the Global Tech Innovator and the KPMG Digital Government Center.

KPMG Philippines Chairman and CEO Sharon Dayoan 

KPMG in the Philippines Chairman and CEO Sharon Dayoan welcomed over a thousand participants, live and online, with eye-opening remarks: “In this era of unprecedented technology advancement, our world is undergoing a remarkable shi; and we are all privilege to have the chance to shape the world that we inhabit. Let us celebrate the power of innovation, technology and collaboration.”

Digitalized Government Services of Smart Cities

In support of emerging smart cities, KPMG in the Philippines launched during the summit its very own Digital Government Center, a one-stop shop that aims to help government agencies in their digital transformation journey.                                               

When it came to the first panel, Digital Government for Smart Cities, several panelists hailed the Quezon City local government as a trailblazer for automating government services and its immediate implementation of Presidential Executive Order 32 which streamlines the permit processing of telecommunication and Internet infrastructure in its city.                                       

According to panelist, Private Advisory Council on Digital Representative and City Savings Bank Head of Legal and Data Protection Officer for Private Sector Infrastructure Atty. Ernesto Herrera, “EO 32 reduces turnaround time of permit application for telecom and Internet Infrastructure requirements from the previous 2.5 years to 2.5 months enhancing bureaucratic efficiency by reducing red tape, streamlining processes across all government agencies.” 


QC City Administrator Michael Alimurung

QC City Administrator Michael Alimurung also explained in his keynote speech that the QC government spearheaded the execution of one of the EO 32’s feature which is the one-stop shop of permit applications, including that on construction permit applications which has spurred the development of telecommunication and Internet infrastructure in the country, crucial in the development of smart cites.                                       

How does having more access to data changed the capacity of local governments, given this opportunity to have wider digital highway that comes with this new EO? According to Aboitiz Chief Operating Officer for Smart Ci5es, Mr. Alvin Ng, “Data is the new oil.”

Having access to data fosters ci5zen engagement, eliminating citizen divide and driving efficiency. QC has been a great playbook in spurring ci5zen engagement and transforming the way we think about running smart ci5es in the future. It’s also about resource allocation. The more data you have, the more connected you are within any city. Governments can make decisions quicker.                 

ESG Technology is a Way of Life

ESG Technology panel discussion explored the world of existing and emerging technologies to address and monitor environmental impact, social responsibility and corporate governance. ESG Tech is all about thinking beyond profit. Not only does ESG give substantial returns on efficiency, it attracts and pays human capital especially the next generation. It practices inclusivity and diversity that goes beyond gender including age, socio-economic status and capability. ESG gives value to investors as well as the supply chain and brings in new markets.

AIM Graduate School of Business Head and Center for Sustainable Finance Executive Director Mr. Felipe Calderon says, “ESG is a way of life that goes beyond profitability. Incorporating ESG in corporate strategies enable companies to attract investors, employees, and customers. Even lenders will also be looking at ESG component of potential borrowers.”

For Globe Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer, Ms. Yoly Crisanto, the main mo5va5on for ESG incorporation is its alignment with Globe’s main purpose of sustainability and aim to uplift Filipino lives. Crisanto says, “The country is in the cusp of digital transformation. Use tech to make life convenient for citizens. We also need to adopt global best practices into the country. We take into consideration all the things that are happening globally and introduce them to our single market – the Philippines. We use technology to innovate, that’s why in Globe we have GCash, the no. 1 financial technology in the country that is doing a lot of innovation.”                                                    

Intelligent Processes through Artificial Intelligence                       

At the third panel, the Next Wave of Automaton, Analytics Association of the Philippines, President Ms. Michelle Alarcon explained “AI has been around since the 70’s and not a wave per se. Revival of the hype surrounding AI is because of the technologies particularly on computing and storage.”                              

According to Alarcon, no one is an expert yet on Generative AI. “We can be ready. We started with RPA (Robotics Process Automaton), simple automation of task with rules that are well defined. You can think of AI as something that makes that process more intelligent. They can work with each other and go hand in hand,” says Alarcon.                                              

Concepcion Business Services President and COO, Mr. Eric Sarmiento delved on the key benefits of Robo5cs, “It forces you to re-think your existing processes which leads to more efficiency and cost avoidance of rework. Because of the relentless automation we were able to reduce repetitive work by a significant rate.”                           

Robotic Process Automation Philippines Founder and President, Mr. Allan Tan discussed how robo5cs can drive efficiency, savings and business growth. “When RPA started nobody understood the company but now companies are starting to understand its advantages. In the Philippines, 70% of processes still involve a lot of the repetitive work including data cleansing, downloading files, constructing data, and aggregating certain reports but more and more companies are starting to see the impact and cost effectiveness of Robotics.” 

Game-changing innovators on disruptive technologies

The fourth and final panel discussed disruptive strategies and mindsets behind some of the most successful disruptors in the business today including Alliance of Tech Innovators for Nation Lead Convenor and DICT Former Undersecretary, Mr. Mon Ibrahim; Fuse Lending President and CEO Mr. Tony Isidro; Digital Pilipinas Convenor and GeiserMaclang Co-founder, Ms. Amor Maclang; Inpay Co-Founder and CEO Mr. Arivuvel Ramu; Angkas Co-founder and CEO, Mr. George Royeca; Mayani Co-founder and CEO JT Solis.

11th Regional Travel Fair surpasses pre-pandemic performance, hits over PHP 110M in sales

The 11th Regional Travel Fair, organized by the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, made a triumphant return to full onsite event since the COVID-19 pandemic, generating over PHP 110 million in actual and negotiated sales during its three-day event at the SM Seaside City Cebu from 21-23 July 2023. This surpassed the previous RTF sales figure by 32.97%.
Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines’ 11th Regional Travel Fair hits over P110 million actual and negotiated sales. Photo by Marky Ramone Go.

TPB Chief Operating Officer Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles expressed her elation over the resounding success of this year’s RTF, “We are thrilled to witness the overwhelming response and enthusiasm from exhibitors and visitors during the Regional Travel Fair. The outstanding sales leads signal a bright future for the tourism industry in the post-pandemic era and reaffirm travelers’ confidence in the safety of their travels.”

Present during the event were TPB COO Maria Margarita Montemayor Nograles, Tourism Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination, and Resource Generation (TRCRG) Shahlimar Hofer Tamano, Intramuros Administrator Atty. Joan Padilla, Assistant Secretary Rica Bueno, DOT Calabarzon Regional Director Marites Castro, Director Judilyn Quiachon of the Tourism Coordination and Regional Operations, Cebu City Mayor Michael Lopez Rama, TPB Deputy Chief Operations Officer for Marketing and Promotions Atty. Charles Aames Bautista, and TPB Domestic Promotions Department Manager Teresita Landan.

The event was also attended by social media personalities Chuck Aquino and Joe Abad, popularly known as Chuck and Joe, and Marie Field Faith.

Lumad Basakanon's vibrant cultural performance wowed the crowd at the 11th Regional Travel Fair at SM Seaside City Cebu. Photo by Marky Ramone Go.

Aerial view of St. Michael the Archangel Parish Church, popularly known as Argao Church in Cebu. Photo by Marky Ramone Go.

TPB's Regional Travel Fair in Cebu offers participants an immersive experience of Southern Cebu's culture and culinary offerings. Photo by Marky Ramone Go.

With the theme #VisitCentralVisayas, the annual trade fair provided a platform for over 70 exhibitors nationwide to participate in the event. Industry professionals took the opportunity to share emerging trends and best practices, innovate travel-related business operations, and expand networks through its engaging Business-to-Business (B2B) sessions. Tourism offices from Central Visayas, including the Province of Cebu, Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Siquijor, Boho, and Negros Oriental presented their tourism product updates during the B2B session.

The fair also opened its doors to enthusiastic travelers during its two-day Business-to-Consumer (B2C) session held on July 22-23. Among the offerings were discounted tour packages to famous and emerging local destinations, airline tickets, accommodation, delicacies, and pasalubong items.

“We desire and aim to play a major role in shaping the future of tourism by creating a one-stop shop venue for industry collaboration and partnerships,” said Tourism Undersecretary for Tourism Regulation, Coordination, and Resource Generation (TRCRG) Shahlimar Hofer Tamano who delivered a keynote speech at the event on behalf of Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco.

Meanwhile, TPB members, industry stakeholders, influencers, and media partners were also treated to a post-tour trip to the heritage towns of Argao and Carcar for an immersive experience of southern Cebu’s culture and culinary offerings.

The RTF was made possible with the support of the Department of Tourism Region VII, Provincial Government of Cebu, and City Government of Cebu. The event was also sponsored by partners from the private sector – SM Seaside City, 2GO, Jpark Island, Cebu Pacific, Air Asia, Philippine Airlines, NUSTAR, Fili Hotel, CAVA, Bluewater Maribago Mactan, and Marco Polo Cebu.

TPB anticipates an even bigger and better Regional Travel Fair slated in October this year in Ilocos Region.


Araneta Group expands retail footprint with The New Gateway Mall 2

Araneta City's latest transformational project, the New Gateway Mall 2, is coming to life with the gradual opening of exciting stores and attractions.
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Latest development elevates City of Firsts experience with unparalleled shopping, dining, and entertainment offerings
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The P5-billion expansion of the multi-awarded Gateway Mall promises to revolutionize the modern urban experience in the metro. This development extends Araneta City’s flagship mall to more than 200,000 sq.m. of additional choices for shopping, dining, entertainment, and leisure spread over the multilevel mall.

The New Gateway Mall 2 introduces a comprehensive array of over 400 brands, offering the latest concepts in fashion, technology, gaming, entertainment, leisure, health, and wellness. Now open are brands such as Anta, Converse, Puma, and Skechers, with more brands continuing to open.

Mallgoers can also indulge in a plethora of culinary delights, making it a must-go destination for food enthusiasts. With about 150 restaurants and food outlets, the New Gateway Mall 2 is designed to be an adventure for food lovers. Dedicated zones such as the Restaurant Collection, Coliseum Plaza, and Palenque by Claude Tayag will highlight some of the best dining choices and sought-after food brands such as a mano, Mamou, Grace Park, Wolfgang's Steakhouse, Shake Shack, Abe, Tung Lok Seafood, Manam, Boteyju, Burgoo, Classic Savory, Vikings, Tim Ho Wan, and a lot more.

"Opening the New Gateway Mall 2 reinforces Araneta City’s commitment to its pioneering legacy in commercial development," Rowell Recinto, Chairman of the Management Committee said. "The New Gateway Mall 2 is truly a mall like no other, and we want to give our patrons memorable and gratifying experiences here at the City of Firsts."

The contemporary architecture of glass and steel gives way to an inviting urban oasis inside that features two gardens — the Sensory Garden, and the Culinary Garden — and The Lagoon, which offers a relaxing ambiance for mallgoers.

On top of the mall is the 1,000-capacity Sagrada Familia Church with a design uniqueness inspired by a mitre, the traditional headwear worn by Bishops. Additional cues are provided by The Oculus in Manhattan, New York City with the all-white structure that features a high ceiling, glass panels, and stained glass windows that invite natural light for a soothing and calming ambiance.

Another highlight is the 700-square-meter Quantum Skyview, an activity area that features the country's first ceiling-mounted LED display that offers a captivating visual experience like no other. With its central location, the Quantum Skyview offers unique possibilities to any event in the area. Recent activities such as pre-concert Korean pop (KPOP) fan meetings, book launch, and the 2023 PPOP Manila Convention were able to offer an experience not available elsewhere and such can be replicated in public events, product launches, and other activations.

The New Gateway Mall 2 is also home to Shopwise International Grocery Shopping, a non-membership grocery with an impressive selection of international brands. Also opening soon are Paeng's Gateway Bowl for sports enthusiasts, and the Pop District Center, a first in the Philippines, which will provide an in-mall venue for everything and anything pop culture.

More food brands, retail outlets, and mall attractions are expected to open at the New Gateway Mall 2 before the end of 2023.

This new mall completes Araneta City's Gateway Square, a 400,000-square-meter mixed-use superblock that includes the Gateway Malls, Gateway Office, Gateway Tower, Novotel Manila Araneta City, Smart Araneta Coliseum, Parking Garage South Building, and the soon-to-open ibis Styles Manila Araneta City.

"The New Gateway Mall 2 is part of Araneta Group's plan to build a community that delivers a unique live-work-play experience. It serves as a foundational connection to other properties in the Gateway Square and ultimately, in Araneta City, offering opportunities for an experience that can be personalized in a contemporary environment," Recinto said.

Aside from the New Gateway Mall 2, other developments continue to rise in Araneta City including Cyberpark 3, the latest office building at the 8-hectare Cyberpark development, and ibis Styles Manila, the first ibis Styles branded hotel by international hospitality company Accor in the Philippines.

Bring your Ideas to Life, Everywhere with the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 series

With the game-changing S-Pen and a suite of creative tools and apps, Dynamic AMOLED 2X screen for an epic viewing experience, and an upgraded processor for peak performance, you have every reason to pre-order the Galaxy Tab9 series to let those ideas flow, anywhere, anytime!

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Let your creative ideas come to life with the Galaxy Tab’s latest premium tablet, 

the Galaxy Tab S9 Series!

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Bring Your Ideas to Life with the S-Pen, now IP68 certified

Samsung is giving you more creative freedom with game-changing updates to the S-Pen so you can fully relish using it in your work and leisure activities simultaneously. As the ultimate Galaxy Tab S9 series’ productivity and creativity partner, S-Pen is now the first-ever water and dust-resistant IP68* certified S-Pen in Galaxy Tab history.

The S-Pen can now be charged in both directions while in its cradle and can also write on search bars, browsers, and app stores as well. You can utilize the new multi-window and pop-up view to reply to messages immediately, take your journaling experience to the next level with GoodNotes, and turn on DeX Mode to simulate a desktop experience on a tablet with the Book Cover. It also has one surprising update: with Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, you can now co-edit a document using Samsung Notes.

You can also indulge in the creative powerhouse of Clip Studio Paint and ArcSite for digital art and graphic design, and enjoy a pro-level video editing app for creators, the LumaFusion.

The new standard of immersive display and audio

The Galaxy Tab S9 series now sports a Dynamic AMOLED 2X and 120 refresh rate for more immersive epic viewing that’s perfect for a portable entertainment experience on 14.6-inch display for Ultra, 12.4-inch for the Galaxy TabS9+, and 11-inch for the Galaxy Tab S9.

The Galaxy Tab S9 series display also renders new Outdoor Visibility with its intelligent outdoor algorithm that automatically detects high illumination and maximizes a vivid viewing experience. It has enhanced eye protection too, so screen time is more comfortable even for long hours.

You also get to enjoy a cinematic sound experience with the spacious audio supplied through 20% bigger quad speakers with immersive Dolby Atmos sound and an AKG speaker system that has a variety of customizable sound options for video calls, games, and music.

Faster Performance for peak gaming and creativity

The Galaxy Tab S9 series has the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon ® 8 Gen 2, making it the fastest processor across all Galaxy Tablets with a 28% higher rate in single core, 41% on multiple core, and 35% on GPU compared to the previous model. Enjoy effortless and more extraordinary gameplay with the new Ray Tracing that renders hyper-realistic images.

The cutting-edge internal vapor chamber technology makes the Galaxy Tab S9 series the most heat-efficient devices in the Galaxy Tab lineup with its two-way heat dissipation technology that supports marathon streaming, gaming, or video editing sessions.

Certified Premium Durability in Galaxy

The Galaxy Tab S9 series is also the world’s first water-resistant IP68* certified Premium Tablet with a rigid frame made of Armor Aluminum, a thinner and slimmer design of 5.5 mm for the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra. It can withstand bumps and shocks, and endure 30 minutes under 1.5 meters of clear water with the material used for the flagship device. With seamless integration into the Galaxy Ecosystem, the Galaxy Tab S9 series comes with Multi Control for quicker copying, pasting, or dragging of texts and images, Quick Share to transfer files from your Galaxy smartphone and Second Screen to mimic PC capabilities.

And staying true to Samsung’s commitment to minimize environmental impact, the Galaxy Tab S9 series sports a newly-designed 100% recycled packaging box and various recycled materials for their internal and external components compared to the Galaxy Tab S8 series. Storage has also doubled with the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra now available for up to 1TB, while the 265 GB variant is now partnered with 12GB of memory from 8GB of the Galaxy Tab S8 series. The Galaxy Tab S9 Plus also upgraded from 8GB memory and 128GB of storage to 12GB memory for 256GB and 512GB of storage, while the Galaxy Tab S9 now has 12GB memory on its 256GB option.

Get your hands on the Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra 5G for P112,990 for the 1TB variant, P93,990 for the 512GB variant, and P85,990 for the 256GB variant. The Galaxy Tab S9+ 5G is priced at P78,990 for 512 GB and P70,990 for 256GB, while its Wi-Fi variant is available at P69,990 for 512GB and P61,990 for 256 GB. Lastly, the Galaxy Tab S9 5G is P63,990 for 256GB and P56,990 for 128GB while the Galaxy TabS9 Wi-Fi is available at P54,990 for 256GB and P47,990 for 128GB.

Pre-order benefits include freebies and savings of up to P40,000 which covers a free storage upgrade, a free Book Cover Keyboard worth up to 19,000, a free one-year subscription to Microsoft 365, and a free four-month subscription to YouTube Premium.* Customers can also get up to P8,000 additional discount if they purchase via Trade-In.

To pre-order the Galaxy Tab S9 series, visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/tablets/galaxy-tab-s9/ and https://www.samsung.com/ph/tablets/galaxy-tab-s9/buy/.

To learn more about the Galaxy Tab S9 series, please visit: https://www.samsungmobilepress.com, https://news.samsung.com/global or https://www.samsung.com/galaxy-tab

*DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-172193 Series of 2023, DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-171399 Series of 2023

July 31, 2023

Sony Philippines Marks World Nature Conservation Day with Sustainability Initiatives

Known worldwide for its groundbreaking innovations, Sony is not only pushing the boundaries of technology, but is also leading the charge in supporting sustainability and conservation efforts. In the Philippines, Sony takes great pride in its initiatives that aim to inspire others to be conscious of their impact on the environment.
Sony Philippines employees helping plant mangroves in Santiago Island Bolinao Pangasinan

Sony is deeply aware of the significant responsibility it bears as an environmental steward. The company stands at the forefront of environmental conservation efforts, consistently taking proactive measures to reduce its ecological footprint and safeguard precious natural resources. The passion for environmental conservation also runs deep among Sony Philippines’ employees, who actively engage in diverse initiatives that drive positive change for the planet.

In recent months, Sony Philippines has partnered with several communities and organizations to kickstart impactful environmental efforts like their tree-planting activity at the Masungi Georeserve, and their conservation and sustainability activities such as ocean clean up, mangrove planting, and donations in Santiago Island in Bolinao Pangasinan, to name a few.

To preserve biodiversity and help care for the area, Sony Philippines’ volunteer employees went on a hike on Masungi Georeserve’s Legacy Trail and planted fruit bearing trees. This activity aims to help combat the effects of greenhouse gas, reduce soil erosion, and lessen the ozone layer pollution, among others.

Meanwhile, Sony Philippines also conducted a comprehensive conservation effort in Bolinao Pangasinan in partnership with Hands on Manila and the Samahan ng Maliliit na Mangingisda ng Brgy. Victory (SMMV). Through this initiative, 70 sacks of non-biodegradable waste were collected through the coastal clean-up activity, while 3125 mangrove propagules were thoughtfully planted along the shoreline of Brgy. Victory, Santiago Island, promoting coastal restoration and protection. Sony also donated community kits containing rechargeable headlamps, aqua shoes, whistles and goggles.
Coastal clean-up in Brgy. Victory, Santiago Island Bolinao Pangasinan

In line with the World Conservation Day, Sony Philippines aims to be at the forefront of sustainability and environmental responsibility, and aims to continue its unwavering commitment to make the planet a better place. By engaging its employees and partnering with local communities, the company aims to set an inspiring example for everyone to practice in their personal lives and hopefully, extend the ripple to each volunteer’s home.

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