Legarda is the first national candidate to file COC at 8 am, seeks re-election as Senator

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Three-term Senator, now Deputy Speaker , Loren Legarda filed her candidacy as Senator at the Sofitel Tent in Pasay City early morning on October 1.

Legarda currently serves as member of the House of Representatives, representing the Lone District of the Province of Antique. Prior to her election to the current position in May 2019, she was a three-term Senator and chaired the Committees on Finance, Foreign Relations, economic affairs, environment and Climate Change, among others. She has authored numerous laws currently being used during the pandemic, and, as Finance Chair for four years, ensured the funding of vital government programs aimed at improving the lives of Filipinos and making such programs more accessible to the people.

“Our pandemic recovery should respond to the health needs of our people and on our economic recovery and should be attuned to the climate pathway as we are also dealing with the climate crisis. With my 20 years of experience as Senator and my stint as Representative of the Lone District of Antique, I am confident that I can do much more to help solve the twin crisis, for the welfare of the Filipino people,” Legarda said

Legarda, who previously topped the Senate race twice, in 1998 and 2007, explained that she will be campaigning for the future generations and will continue to push for the advocacies she has always espoused for decades now.

“More jobs and livelihood, quality education, efficient healthcare system, stronger environmental protection and cultural preservation – these are what I have always championed since I was first elected Senator in 1998 and these are what I will continue to prioritize, given a fresh start in the Senate in 2022. I would like to continue what I have started and do much more – provide for the needs of all Filipinos, bring the government programs closer to them especially to the marginalized and vulnerable, and ensure an inclusive, equitable, resilient and sustainable growth and recovery for all,” Legarda concluded.

Bianca, Melai, and Enchong Bring Good Vibes on ‘PBB Kumulitan’ Show on Kumu

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Fun conversations and juicy updates about the upcoming 10th regular season of “Pinoy Big Brother” (PBB) will abound as Bianca Gonzalez, Enchong Dee, and Melai Cantiveros team up for the “PBB Kumulitan” show on Kumu.

Bianca revealed on their Livestream last (September 27) that the lineup of official celebrity housemates for “PBB Kumunity Season 10” is being finalized as they are the first batch to enter the famous house.

But before the big reveal to the public, the selected celebrities will undergo quarantine and go through psychological, physical, and COVID-19 tests to ensure their health and safety before they will be named as official celebrity housemates.

Enchong on the other hand shared that he is excited to find out who are the celebrities that Kuya will be welcoming into his home.

Meanwhile, the Online Bahay ni Kuya on Kumu for Kumunizens with bronze and silver badges ended on Monday (September 27). Two from the top 50 live streamers will be chosen as official celebrity housemates.

Who will be the personalities that audiences will see inside the “PBB” house? Watch the updates on “PBB Kumulitan” online show with Bianca, Enchong, and Melai every weekday at 5:30 pm on Pinoy Big Brother’s official Facebook and Kumu accounts. 

Join Sky Quizon of “PBB Otso” for more fun and laughter for the weekend edition of “PBB Kumulitan.”

PropTech: real estate digitalization and stakeholder convergence will advance industry

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Addressing rich-poor gap, need for equal opportunities

Experts from a variety of fields discuss the future of the Real Estate landscape in the country at the launch of the Proptech Consortium of the Philippines.

First row, L to R: Hon. Eduardo del Rosario, Secretary of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD); Jean-Marc Arbogast, Country Manager of International Finance Corporation; Rosemarie Bosch Ong, Founding Director of PropTech Consortium of the Philippines, and SEVP-COO of Wilcon Depot; Rosie Tsai, Chairperson of Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA); Anton Perdices, Senior Vice Presiident and Chief Operations Officer of AboitizPower; Hon. Carlos Dominguez III, Secretary of the Department of Finance

Second row, L to R: Agnes Devanadera, Chairperson of the Energy Regulatory Commission; Amor Maclang, Co- Founder of PropTech Consortium of the Philippines, Convenor of Digital Pilipinas, and Co-Founder of Geiser Maclang Marketing Communications, Inc.; Emma Imperial, Chairperson & Co- Founder of PropTech Consortium of the Philippines; Cathy Saldaña, CEO & Managing Partner of PDP Architects; Raymond Rufino, Chief Executive Officer of NEO

Third row, L to R: Sylvester Wong, Vice President of Asia Pacific Cities in AECOM; John Januszczak, President & CEO of UBX; David Almirol, Founder & CEO of Multisys; Engr. Juanito D. Cunanan, President of Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines; Ricardo Lagdameo, President of Damosa Land

Fourth row, L to R: Carlo Luis Rabat, President of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation; Imelda Magtoto, National President of National Real Estate Association; Mike de Guzman, President of Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance; Marcelino Mendoza, Chairperson of Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers; Wick Veloso, President of Bankers Association of the Philippines

Fifth row, L to R: John Aguilar, Host; Josephine Romero, Founding Director of PropTech Consortium of the Philippines, and Head of Strategic Partnership Magpie.IM

The increase in digitalization and the rapid adoption of technology in property development will advance the industry, especially as digital solutions and platforms are becoming the norm in business. This forward-looking outlook was discussed during the launch of the PropTech Consortium of the Philippines which gathered experts in property, banking, government, energy, and technology. Techifying real estate and related sectors can also reduce the gap between the rich and the poor, and generate employment and business opportunities.

“The digitalization of the real estate industry will allow [the practitioners] to make processes more efficient, which will benefit the end user of these developments … PropTech will be a great platform to achieve that, " Carlos Dominguez III, Secretary of the Department of Finance, said during the digital event.

Secretary Eduardo Del Rosario from the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development also gave a preview as to why adoption of technology is vital to the development of the real estate industry: “Climate change is among the biggest challenges [that housing faces]. The Philippines is strengthening its efforts into environmentally-friendly [structures]. We need to promote efficient, affordable, and clean energy for more efficient energy consumption.”

Also represented and participating in the inaugural PropTech consortium were the Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines, the Philippine Retailers Association (PRA), the Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA), the Philippine Solar and Storage Energy Alliance (PSSEA), the National Real Estate Association (NREA), the Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines (ASEP), and FinTech Philippines Association (FTA).

Citing that the anticipated post-pandemic boom in real estate requires innovative solutions, Agnes Devanadera, Chairperson of the Energy Regulation Commission, expressed that “with PropTech all the leading companies and organizations that contribute to property development will be able to help each other in managing the emerging needs of this industry. We have seen the rise of the residential sector compared to the industrial and commercial sectors, and PropTech will allow us to better plan and tackle these set of new challenges and opportunities.”

While the current health situation has put more challenges in implementing innovation, the PropTech leaders still see the Philippines rising as a technology leader in Southeast Asia. Amor Maclang, PropTech Co-Founder, pointed out that “by merging technology and real estate and other recent developments on finance, the Philippines is well-positioned to be a PropTech capital in Asia one sandbox, one experiment, one talk at a time.”

Other participants in the virtual event included Jean-Marc Arbogast, Country Manager of the International Finance Corporation; Marcelino Mendoza, Chairman of the Organization of Socialized and Economic Housing Developers of the Philippines; Carlo Luis Rabat, President of the National Home Mortgage Finance Corporation; Sylvester Wong, Vice President of Asia Pacific Cities, AECOM; Ricardo Lagdameo, President of Damosa Land; Raymond Rufino, Chief Executive Officer of NEO; John Januszczak, President and CEO of UBX; and Dr. Justo Ortiz, Vice Chairman of the Union Bank of the Philippines.

Recognizing the present inequality in some industry processes that distinguish the affluent from the marginalized, Emma Imperial, PropTech Chairperson and Co-Founder, described one of the goals of the organization: “This consortium should unite in bringing the dividends of digitalization not only for the rich but also for the poor. As technology brings more transparency and speed, we could achieve more in making the real estate globally competitive.”

Anton Perdices, Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of AboitizPower Distribution Utilities, also reiterated the need for a tech revolution in bringing sustainable solutions to the country. He said that, despite the immense challenges facing the industry, the digitalization of processes such as smart meters will lead to a “better understanding of the needs, perhaps in real-time, to be able to not only bring sustainable energy to the consumers but also tackle the challenges of climate change.”

Wick Veloso, President of the Bankers Association of the Philippines, expressed optimism in providing innovative solutions to potential home buyers: “In acquiring a new asset, finance is at the forefront of such decisions. As such the need to create more financing options for consumers will be handy in moving us forward and helping each and every Filipino to have their own investment by owning property.”

Cathy Saldaña, CEO and Managing Partner of PDP Architects, expressed the need to look ahead in utilizing emerging technologies because “this will help save cost and save time...the technology is already out there and we just have to be brave in implementing them in our design and for use in making regulations more efficient.” She reiterated, “PropTech is the future.”

One such emerging innovation is real estate tokenization wherein property is converted into trading digital assets on a blockchain. David Almirol, Founder and CEO of Multisys Tech Corp., reiterated the vital role that tech and digital security play in developing customer relationships. He said, “There is a need to create a trust mindset based on security and transparency. Ultimately in this way we will be able to protect our consumers and boost confidence in what we can bring to them, whether it is about energy, technology, finance, or real estate.”

Things Only Financially Independent Millennials Can Relate to

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Were you born between 1981 to 1996? If you answered ‘yes,’ then you’re a millennial! Millennials experienced life before smartphones, social media, and the internet, while also living and thriving in the current digital age. Although millennials sometimes get an undeserved bad rap, this generation, in fact, displays high levels of maturity and responsibility—they’re socially aware, financially conscious, and tech-savvy.

Do you consider yourself a financially independent millennial? Here’s a quick adulting checklist for all you independent millennials:

You pay your household and utility bills on time.

Tired of getting late notices for your bills? Now, you are more responsible with your spending and settle all your financial obligations on time. Through ShopeePay, you can pay for your utility bills right from the comforts of your home and enjoy up to 25% cashback. These include companies such as Meralco, Maynilad, Globe, Smart, PLDT, SkyCable, and many more.

You have enough to give to your family.

In Filipino culture, it’s considered an act of love and a way to show gratitude when children extend monetary support to their parents. With enough savings, you can give back to your parents by helping them financially and even have sufficient funds for yourself. Sending money to your loved ones is easy and free with ShopeePay. To transfer money, just click “Transfer” on your ShopeePay wallet and input the recipient. You can also make your transfers more special with themed virtual cards! Before transferring cash, make sure that your ShopeePay is verified.

You have your own place.

...and you’re way ahead of your rent. There’s nothing more satisfying than being able to afford your own place where you can relax and enjoy the fruits of your labor. Did you get a loan to fund your apartment’s security deposit? Through ShopeePay, you can settle your loans on time and with ease from third-party lenders such as Dragonloans, Home Credit, SkyPay, and Cashalo.

You know where to find the best deals.

You’re practical and are always on the lookout for the best deals out there. With ShopeePay, you can maximize discounts, cashback, and “Buy 1, Take 1” promos at thousands of partner merchants nationwide. You also don’t miss out on ₱1 deals which can be used for adulting essentials like groceries, food, and gas. ShopeePay partner merchants include Puregold, Potato Corner, Seaoil, Lawson, National Bookstore, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Tiger Sugar, and more.

You donate to charitable causes.

Another Filipino trait most millennials possess is generosity. Even with the global situation right now, you’re still giving towards others. ShopeePay lets you donate to these partner organizations: Caritas, Gawad Kalinga, GMA Kapuso Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross Philippines, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Save Philippine Seas, Save The Children, UNICEF, Virlanie Foundation, World Vision, and many more.

Want to know more about ShopeePay and its benefits? Check out https://shopee.ph/m/shopee-pay for more details.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

Connectivity Makes SMDC’s Glam Residences an Ideal Investment Today and for Years to Come

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For any person looking to make a sound investment in this post-pandemic world, there is a fair amount of caution taken. After last year’s global economic slowdown, people have become guarded when it comes to investing their hard-earned cash.

In terms of the property then, it is only logical that people who are looking to invest in real estate want some reassurance that they are making a sound investment. That is what Glam Residences from SM Development Corporation (SMDC) has to offer.

SMDC’s Glam Residences is an iconic 45-storey, master-planned development

that is set to rise along EDSA in Quezon City

In a report prepared by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) called “The Metro Manila Greenprint 2030: Building a Vision,” a goal cited to help the country leverage investments into positive gains revolved around connectivity. “Build on the potential of Metro Manila’s multi-centered spatial structure to be green and time-saving, by enhancing connectivity among and within urban centers, and by selectively designating new urban centers, as Metro Manila integrates with its peri-urban hinterland,” the report says.

Located right off Quezon City’s rising CBD – the Triangle Park – SMDC’s Glam Residences is in the thick of all commercial activities in northern Metro Manila and offers that critical connectivity that the report states. This integrated development’s location is home to office towers, shopping malls, hotels, renowned medical centers, numerous parks, and strategic transport hubs that offer easy access to vital points of Metro Manila.

The importance of transport hubs in relation to real estate properties is further validated by an Asian Development Bank (ADB) study in 2019, which states that residential parcels within 1km from the MRT 3 line appreciated in value by 223%, 20 years from the commencement of construction of the MRT 3 line. 

Inspired by Hollywood Glamour, the bespoke interiors highlight a mixture of textures like marble and steel, in hues of gold, grey, white, and blue   

That same MRT 3 line, with a station a few steps away from Glam Residences, has just increased its number of operating trains from 15 to 21 while doubling the operating speed of those trains from 30 to 60 kilometers per hour. It’s projected that this will improve waiting times between trains from the current rate of seven to ten minutes going all the way down to just 3.5 minutes.

One of the principles cited by the MMDA report was to focus future large-scale investments in mass rapid transit (e.g. MRT and LRT) and real estate around existing urban nodes. Another of those principles was to enable mixed-use development in the center of these nodes to promote public transport ridership by minimizing the need for long non-commuting trips for shopping, entertainment, schooling, etc. It goes without saying, then, that SMDC’s Glam Residences lives up to these principles.

Glam Residences will also be just one station away from the unified Grand Central Station that will connect the MRT 3, MRT 7, LRT 1, and the Metro Manila Subway lines. This will provide easier access to other CBDs, schools and entertainment districts all over the metro, and to regional and global gateways like the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and the international airports in Bulacan and Clark. 

On the top-most floor is a sky lounge that offers panoramic views of the pulsating

Metro Manila skyline

Aside from the impeccable location, SMDC’s Glam Residences is an upscale vertical community that matches the cosmopolitan lifestyles of working millennials. With thoughtfully designed amenities including a lap pool, Jacuzzi, and rooftop lounge and bar, millennials can come home to a rewarding respite after those hectic workdays. Other benefits include an indoor gym, children’s play area, function rooms, and the development’s very own mall at the ground floor.

With the location and amenities combined, and its immediate access to major transport hubs, SMDC’s Glam Residences is certainly a sound investment opportunity today and for years to come.

For more information about SMDC Glam Residences, visit  https://smdc.com/properties/glam-residences/glam-residences/.