MoneyGram Boosts its Money Transfer Services with Globe GCASH

MoneyGram, one of the biggest money transfer companies in the world, has announced an agreement with Globe Telecom’s mobile commerce subsidiary G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI) that would further expand its reach in the Philippines through Globe GCASH.

With the partnership, Filipinos overseas can send money in MoneyGram’s locations all over the globe and have their loved ones pick up the cash at GCASH REMIT outlets in the Philippines - starting out with the Globe Stores and eventually expanding to include other GCASH REMIT outlets like pawnshops, rural banks, and community stores.

“This will add an element of convenience to the thousands of Filipino MoneyGram users worldwide as they can now send money to the Philippines using MoneyGram’s 310,000 retail agent locations in more than 197 countries”, said Alex Lim, MoneyGram country manager. “Through this strategic alliance, we are able to increase our reach in the Philippines thus helping us expand our money transfer services around the world.”

“The partnership with MoneyGram reinforces how global money transfer companies have seen and acknowledged the value offered by Globe GCASH,”, said Paolo Baltao, President of GXI. “We are truly honored. But most important to us, we just want to make sure that Filipinos who rely on remittances from their loved ones overseas will get their money fast and securely without any hassle. Filipinos overseas already worked so hard to earn the money they send. Why make it hard for the loved ones here to get the money?”

For more info on Globe GCASH and GCASH REMIT, visit www.globe.com.ph/gcash.

Nestea Beach : The Coolest Summer Fest Is Here Again

Wazzup Pilipinas !
 
The inevitable is here once more. Everyone is getting ready for their summer plans as early as now. Beaches and resorts are already hard at work on their summer outing campaigns, and the ads are a plenty already. The summer beach craze is here!

Sun, sand and sports define the typical summer but Nestlé Philippines makes the country’s hottest season everything but ordinary with the launch of the coolest beach festival in the country, NESTEA Beach. This year’s event promises to be even more fun with new innovations thrown in.

Once again, NESTEA Beach invited volleyball teams to show off their skills and vie for the NESTEA Beach Championship title.  This year’s festival promises to be much bigger, more colorful, and more exciting  with a host of lifestyle events  such as concerts, fashion shows,  beach parties featuring the hottest bands and most sought after DJs  and clean-up drives  of beaches across the country.

Explore Everest, Kilimanjaro and More with Google Maps

Google Maps has recently unveiled Street View images for Mt. Everest and other notable mountains. This takes armchair explorers like us to great heights even without the extreme cold, avalanche and what not.

 
Most of us have a bucket list of the places we want to visit in our lifetime and usually, the list is pretty long. Google Maps has a bucket list too, and it’s checking off a couple of its favorites and share them with you. If tall mountains are your thing, you’re in luck.

Now you can explore some of the most famous mountains on Earth, including Aconcagua (South America), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Mount Elbrus (Europe) and Everest Base Camp (Asia) on Google Maps. These mountains belong to the group of peaks known as the Seven Summits—the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. While there’s nothing quite like standing on the mountain, with Google Maps you can instantly transport yourself to the top of these peaks and enjoy the sights without all of the avalanches, rock slides, crevasses, and dangers from altitude and weather that mountaineers face.

Start your adventure on Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro, the dormant volcano known as the Roof of Africa. See amazing views of the highest freestanding mountain in the world covered in snow just three degrees south of the equator.

 

At 19,341 ft, Uhuru is the highest point on Mount Kilimanjaro

Next, travel to the tallest mountain in Europe, Russia’s Mount Elbrus, and see huts made from Soviet-era fuel barrels. Climbers have to take refuge in the huts built on the mountain when the weather turns wretched.

Get imagery of Mt. Elbrus and all of the other mountains, on Google Maps on your iPhone and Android device

Explore Argentina’s mighty Aconcagua, the highest peak in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. See how a base camp is set up amongst the exposed rock in Plaza Argentina and how expeditions eat, camp and prepare for their ascent.

A permanent park ranger camp, as well as a helipad and medical center are available during climbing seasons at Plaza Argentina

Finally, make your way to Everest Base Camp, where expeditions stage their attempts to reach the top of the world. Along the ascent, steal glimpses of the snow-capped Himalayan mountain peaks and the awesome Khumbu glacier.

The route to Everest Base Camp is one of the most popular trekking routes in the Himalayas and is visited by thousands of trekkers each year.

This imagery was collected with a simple lightweight tripod and digital camera with a fisheye lens—equipment typically used for Google Maps’ Business Photos program.

Whether you’re scoping out the mountain for your next big adventure or exploring it from the comfort and warmth of your home, you’ll surely enjoy these views from the top of the world. And if you want to see more, check out more on the Street View Gallery.

Epson Achieves Record 12th Year In A Row As World’s No. 1 Projector Maker With Highest-Ever Market Share

According to the latest results for 2012 released by projector market research firm Futuresource Consulting, Epson achieved a record 12^th year in a row as the world’s number 1 projector brand.

The company grew from a 22.9% market share in 2011 to hit its highest-ever market share of 26.2% for 2012; meaning that over one in four projectors sold in the past year was an Epson. Sales of Epson projectors in 2012 were so strong that they were greater than the combined sales volumes of the second, third and fourth ranked projector brands.

“We are very honored to achieve the position as the no. 1 projector brand for the 12th time, and we feel as excited as the first time,” says Koichi Endo, the Managing Director of Epson Southeast Asia regarding the results. “More importantly, we build on our success by using what we have learned to find even more ways to satisfy our customers’ needs. As a result, Epson has the widest range of projector models to satisfy every customer requirement or budget.”

 

Epson Philippines Corporation (EPC) recently launched four new 3D and six new integrated interactive projectors, each with its own set of market-leading capabilities and features.

EPC recently launched:

• The EB-W16 and EB-W16SK: Epson’s first 3D projectors for educational and business users – The EB-W16 is an active 3D model, and the EB-W16SK is a passive 3D model composed of two stacked projectors

• The EH-TW6100and EH-TW8100: Two high-end 1080p home theatre 3D projectors able to generate the world’s brightest 3D images.

• The new EB-400 series: An upgrade of Epson’s EB-400 short throw projector series to include integrated interactive functionality

• The EB-1400Wi/1410Wi: Epson’s first ultra-short throw, integrated interactive projector for business users.

Epson’s new 3D projector models support all 3D formats without the need for additional hardware, unlike “3D Ready” projectors that require a separate format converter to play content in 3D formats used by Blu-Ray players or 3D TV broadcasts.

“As the world’s No.1 projector maker, we are proud once again to demonstrate how we raise standards in performance, innovation, and functionality and exceed the expectations of our customers through these new projectors,” says Epson Philippines Corporation (EPC) President/Country Manager Toshimitsu Tanaka.

Globe Libreng Tawag for Sabah Evacuees in Tawi-Tawi, Sulu

A growing number of Filipino evacuees arriving in Tawi-Tawi and Sulu to escape the ongoing armed conflict in Sabah, can now directly communicate with their families and friends through the Libreng Tawag booths set up by Globe Telecom.


“Most of our “Kababayans” who are arriving from Sabah in batches don’t know anyone in the area. We want to give them, at least, some moments of comfort by getting them connected with their loved ones, relatives and even friends for free thru “Globe Libreng Tawag.” We want to help in our own little way,” said Rob I. Nazal, Head of Globe Corporate Social Responsibility.


The Libreng Tawag booths are located in the Red Cross office in the two provinces as well as in the Mahardika Institute of Technology in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi. The booths shall be on standby from 6am to 6 pm daily for a week.

 



More than 500 Filipinos who fled Sabah and took refuge in the Turtle islands arrived in Tawi-Tawi onboard a Navy vessel while hundreds more remain in the evacuation centers in Cenderwasih, Embara Budi, and Fajar Harapan in Felda Sahabat.

It is expected that more Filipinos will be returning to the Philippines in the following days as many of them are undocumented and are afraid of being rounded up by the Malaysian authorities.

Manila Vanilla at the Mabuhay Restop

Wazzup Pilipinas !
 
It was a night where my friends and I enjoyed an amazing pop-cultural entertainment coupled with delicious home-style Filipino dishes from different regional specialties.

Mabuhay Restop boast of being a sincere promoter of Philippine culture and heritage in the most creative ways possible while trying to make a difference. Not only was the Manila Vanilla musical comedy a great source of laughter, it also opened our eyes to the many idiosyncrasies of Filipinos. We had the pleasure of watching a show that we were able to relate to after a delightful meal. It was indeed hard to laugh out loud with a full stomach while we were thrilled by a night filled with laughter.

Avida Land Says Its Homepossible!

Wazzup Pilipinas ! It's Homepossible with Avida Land!

Buying a home is always the most difficult task because a lot of factors are involved.  It's the first thing that almost every newly-wed couple often plan for. To invest on a house they can truly say their own and be proud of. The very first thing you have to consider is if you have enough budget to pay for it either through a one-time payment or thru financing/installment basis.

Renting an apartment is never a good start as all your hard-earned money just fly away fast before you could say "Save some for tomorrow!"

Majority of us believe that you need to have a lot of money already at hand to be able to purchase a real estate property. Well, Avida Land says otherwise!

Binondo Church: Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz

Wazzup Pilipinas !
 
It would be my first time to visit the Binondo church in Manila. I had the opportunity to pass the church  but I never went inside to appreciate its inner beauty. I was there in Binondo to buy some "hopia" from Eng Bee Tin, so I took a few minutes of my time to take a peek inside, pray and make a wish. They say your wishes come true when you make the wish at a church that you visited for the first time, so I tried my luck that day and hoping that beliefs like those could take some effect on my life even for a small percentage.

Binondo Church, also known as Minor Basilica of St. Lorenzo Ruiz, is located in the District of Binondo, Manila fronting Plaza Calderón de La Barca, in the Philippines. It is located in Manila’s Chinatown at the western end of Ongpin Street, Binondo.


This church was founded by Dominican priests in 1596 to serve their Chinese converts to Christianity. The original building was destroyed by a bombardment by the British in 1762 during their brief occupation of Manila at that time.

8 Spices: Thailand Dishes Just The Way You Like It

Wazzup Pilipinas !

When doing some windows shopping, bargain hunting or simply looking for a much needed accessory for our gadgets in any of the famous malls in Metro Manila, we would normally take a break by eating at one of the many fast food or fancy restaurants in and out of the mall.

I recently discovered a restaurant that brought back memories of my stay in Bangkok, Thailand. It offers authentic Thai cuisines that has the real spicy flavors and taste that's truly Thai.

Situated at the Veranda of Robinsons Galleria in Pasig, the 8 Spices restaurant is a wonderful choice that should take us way from the usual Chinese or American dishes we would normally encounter.

Espressamente: Truly Excellente!

 

Wazzup Pilipinas !

I fell in love with coffee when I started working. It seems its everyone's way to keep our body off the stress before, during and after a working day. Ironically, coffee has caffeine that almost everyone knows puts you high, and more often than not alive and kicking.

Coffee at Espressamente was remarkably good! Its got just the right kick to wake you up and keep you on your toe. Complement that coffee with their sweet temptations, then you're really on the move.

Sugar, and caffeine, rush!

Cantinetta: The Italian Restaurant for My Pizza and Pasta Cravings

Wazzup Pilipinas !

I adore pizza and pasta dishes only when the restaurant that serves them could capture the fine taste that's so elusive for me. I'm really quite picky with my pizza and pasta that I prefer to eat something else if it doesn't suit my taste. I go for quality food and would not sacrifice it over quantity. There's a reason why great food costs more and it should not be because of  just the restaurant brand or the ambiance.

I really try to avoid eating something that lacks the flavor that may come from the sauce or the cheese. It's amazing that Cantinetta was able to provide what I was looking for.

But they don't just serve pizza  and pasta but also other superb Italian dishes that will definitely give you a memorable dining experience.

Mister Donut Introduces the Pon De Ring

Wazzup Pilipinas !
 
Mister Donut now has a new tasty, sweet and chewy treat for us. They are called Pon De Rings - which happens to be famous in Japan for years already...and soon to be another best seller at all Mister Donut outlets.

It actually made me wonder why its only now that we are offering this here in the Philippines. It was formally introduced to the media at the Mister Donut Cafe located at the Greenhills Shopping Center in Greenhills, San Juan, but soon it will be sold at the rest of the branches.

Though they say the chewy attribute of the Pon De Ring would only last for 5 hours tops, the sugary treats are still quite good and tasty afterwards.

Casa Alegria : Tagaytay's Newest Bed and Breakfast Accommodation

Wazzup Pilipinas !

I got an opportunity to visit one of the newest options to stay in Tagaytay: Casa Alegria.

Experience one of Tagaytay's newest but beautiful getaways. Nestled in an area of Tagaytay where you can get a great view of the Taal lake and volcano, it is a true modest accommodation just waiting for a few more "upgrades" (rather developments). It has the potential to become a great place to stay. With its architecture that is a brilliant reflection of the modern lifestyle, the place will surely enchant visitors in and out of the country.

The bed and breakfast hotel has already three rooms available (and more coming soon) at a promotional offer of Php 2,500 per day, which is already a great deal considering how pleasant the accommodations are.

Join me as we tour Casa Alegria and its facilities.

Rufo's Kalayaan Avenue Has Moved To Rufo's A.Venue

Wazzup Pilipinas !

 

Thanks to Rufo's Famous Tapa for the sumptuous meals my friends and I had earlier.

I am now reminiscing my college days when my classmates and I enjoyed the many "silog" meals at the Intramuros hole in the wall eateries.

But this time, its a homecoming treat to a past where I had to struggle quite a bit in order to pass an Engineering course at the Mapua Institute of Technology.

The days were never complete without the many "silogs" choices (Tapsilog, tocilog, porksilog, chicksilog, hotsilog, longsilog, etc.)

SumoSam Opens its 26th Branch in SM Manila

Wazzup Pilipinas !
 
After their 25th branch opening at Olympia, Makati (just right at the back of the Manila Peninsula hotel) SumoSam has opened another branch at the heart of Manila. This time its at the 4th level of SM Manila which is just right at the back of the infamous Manila City Hall, and also just a few more steps away form the walled Intramuros where my Alma Mater, Mapua Institute of Technology is located.

The branch is conveniently situated just a few steps away from the cinema area of SM Manila, so that means its another great dining choice for cinema lovers who want great Japanese cuisine.

SUMOSAM SM CITY MANILA is now the 26th branch to date, and I believe more branches are already on their way. This just proves that many appreciate the dishes served at Sumo Sam !