IPC Cites Hybrid Cloud as Key Step Towards Business Success

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Local cloud and data center services pioneer IPC (IP Converge Data Services, Inc.) believes that Hybrid Cloud setups, a combination of public cloud infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and physical hardware-driven systems, are key business growth strategies, especially for medium to large enterprises that already have operational IT systems in place.

Businesses of today face challenges that not only dampen growth but moreso threaten their very survival. As the digital age forces companies to rely heavily on ICT (information and communications technology), business processes are changing and IT systems have become mission-critical, thus compelling CTOs to seek IT infrastructure options that bring high systems availability without breaking the bank or getting into a fight with the CFO.

A Hybrid Cloud configuration involves the use of public cloud resources combined with hosted physical machines to run and maintain specific systems for an organization. There are companies that would like to take advantage of the cloud but would also like to maintain data or applications using their own physical resources. This setup is a viable solution to a slew of business concerns, i.e. maintain control over a particular component or set of data within a system, backup and disaster recovery, security or compliance issues, and data sovereignty. In addition, the public cloud components allow companies to scale up or down as needed and pay only for what is used.

According to IPC’s director for product management & marketing Niño Valmonte, a hybrid approach enables companies to maintain control of an internally managed private cloud while relying on the public cloud as needed. Though they operate independently, they can be setup to communicate over an encrypted internet connection in order to fulfill specific tasks.

For instance, during peak periods in the retail industry such as the holidays, applications, or even portions of applications of an order entry system can be migrated to the public cloud, thus providing more stability. This will also allow for more flexibility and scalability.

“IPC is in the best position to help companies achieve a hybrid cloud setup that is efficient, secure and effective, being both a highly experienced Internet data center operator and pioneer cloud IaaS provider in the country,” Valmonte said. “We leverage our state-of-the-art data center facilities and robust network infrastructure to provide the entire spectrum of IT infrastructure solutions ranging from data center co-location, hosted private cloud infrastructure, hybrid cloud, virtual private cloud, and public IaaS.”

On the rise

Ease of use and customization possibilities are key drivers for businesses shifting to hybrid cloud setups. A study by the International Data Corporation (IDC), revealed that over 70% of enterprises in Southeast Asia are integrating hybrid cloud in their IT strategy. According to IDC, enterprises realize that adopting hybrid cloud is important to reduce cost and achieve business transformation, agility and scalability.

“2016 will be a big year for solutions built on hybrid cloud architectures with 65% of Asia Pacific enterprises to commit for its implementation,” said Chris Morris, Vice President, Cloud and Services, IDC Asia/Pacific.

IDC believes that the big drivers for increased implementation of hybrid clouds are IT’s continuing quest for optimized infrastructure, and the ability of solution builders to source application and infrastructure components from multiple providers to construct a hybrid cloud-based solution.

“With increasing cloud spending, many enterprises will have begun use of hybrid solutions without direct involvement. With the business unit managers increasingly buying their own cloud solutions, hybrid cloud architectures can proliferate, and sometimes not be aligned with the enterprise architecture,” added Morris.

Another study, made by Frost & Sullivan, shows that Hybrid IT is the “new normal” for companies in the Asia-Pacific. “At their core, successful hybrid cloud strategies support the delivery of high-value applications and services to the business, while at the same time driving cost and inefficiency out of the IT infrastructure,” the report said.

Hybrid cloud environments are becoming more popular in the marketplace, as they enable IT to remain flexible and respond quickly to market demands, as well as providing lines of business with the resources they need to succeed. Additionally, cloud users recognize that different workloads or applications perform optimally in differently configured environments: configurations that work well for one application or workload may not work for another. And many workloads share data that is drawn from different sources outside of where the application itself resides. As such, businesses are integrating a variety of infrastructures to create a complete, hybrid cloud environment.



Boosting digital shift

“Adopting a hybrid cloud strategy is definitely key to boosting digital transformation. It allows companies to utilize the cloud for scalability while keeping critical data and processes in check whether in their offices, or colocated in IPC Data Center. This way, companies enjoy a highly flexible and customizable IT environment,” added Valmonte. “Digital is the New Normal, and the time to make the digital pivot is now.”

According to Gartner, digital transformation has become a key factor in future business growth and success, and the latter will be defined by how well companies, organizations, and governments leverage the technology to enable partner and customer engagement across a wide range of digitized processes.

IPC, through its carrier-grade, telco-neutral data centers, provides highly secure colocation services as well as its IaaS product, IPC CloudServers, or a hybrid setup that involves both. With expertise in the full range of IT infrastructure implementations, IPC is able to efficiently assist businesses in setting up their own hybrid systems.

Learn how IPC’s infrastructure-as-a-service can solve real life business problems at cloud.ipc.ph.

Globe Launches Free eLibrary to Benefit Over 15M Public School Students Nationwide

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Over a thousand educational e-books appropriate for K-12 learning will be made available to over 15 million public elementary and high school students and some 500,000 public school teachers nationwide beginning September 30 as part of the Global Filipino School (GFS) program of leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom.

The GFS Library launch coincides with the National Teachers Day celebration of the Department of Education (DepEd) at Ateneo de Manila University in Davao City where Globe is one of the participants.

“With the expansion of the Global Filipino Schools Program and awareness of the GFS Library around the country, public schools can more effectively make use of reading resources and promote digital learning to more students and teachers nationwide, particularly in schools where access to quality books is limited and usage of technology for learning is not maximized,” said Fernando Esguerra, Globe Director for Citizenship.

GFSLibrary.com is a web-based platform that provides free and quick access to digital story books for children and young adults as well as textbooks on core subjects such as Math, Science, English, Filipino, Music, Arts, among others. The ebooks may be opened via their desktop, laptop or mobile device using any basic ebook reader.

Mindanao Oil players Urged to Explain Unusual Price Reductions

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The Department of Energy (DOE) is asking the oil players in Mindanao to explain the unusual price reductions in gasoline products that may be breaching provisions under the existing law.

Based on the monitoring of the DOE-Mindanao Field Office (MFO), the price adjustment of the oil companies in Mindanao from the period of 30 August to 6 September 2016 was a huge PhP3.00 rollback, hence attracting the attention of the agency.

While price rollbacks like this are a welcome development for the consumers, the DOE cautioned that sudden and sustained huge decreases in oil prices might qualify as an “anti-competitive behavior” under the Oil Deregulation Law.

This market behavior puts both the smaller oil players and the consumers at a disadvantageous position in the long run. Smaller oil players may actually lose its market share and end up closing, allowing the remaining oil players the chance to dictate prices to the detriment of the consuming public.

Relative issues brought about by this market behavior include the peddling of petroleum products using in the “bote-bote” scheme and the alleged smuggling of oil products from nearby countries.

Currently, the DOE-MFO has already been coordinating with local government units (LGUs) concerned and the Bureau of Fire to eliminate the “bote-bote” scheme while also discouraging consumers from patronizing such activity as this may endanger public safety and health

On the alleged smuggling of oil products, the DOE is now in talks with the Bureau of Customs as this may hurt not only the oil industry players, but also the economy of LGUs in Mindanao and the rest of the country. Taxes are lost, affecting the delivery of basic services to our people.

Moreover, the DOE is closely coordinating with the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the possible convening of the DOE-DOJ Task Force to determine any violations of the law.

The DOE has given assurances of its continuous vigilance to protect the welfare of the energy consumers.

Globe Drive Versus Unauthorized Signal Boosters Yields Arrest of Illegal Seller

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Globe Telecom’s campaign against the use of illegal repeater has led to the arrest of an individual suspected of selling such equipment.

A recent joint entrapment operation between police authorities and Globe security personnel led to the arrest of Raymundo Canete, a 28 year-old resident of Block 69, Sitio Panghulo, Floodway, Barangay San Juan, Taytay, Rizal. Canete is allegedly the delivery boy of Mark Lewis Chua, a resident of Lot 17, Block 1, Ather St., Greenwoods Executive Village, Pasig City, who is allegedly engaged in selling signal booster/repeater through online selling portal OLX.

Based on a report made by QCPD District Special Operation Unit, Globe investigator Eddie Catalo sought police assistance in addressing online selling of illegal repeaters. Acting on Catalo’s report, DSOU-QCPD led by PINSP Danilo Sonbgalia conducted entrapment operation at the corner of General Santos and General Roxas Sts. (in front of PNB Farmers’) in Cubao, Quezon City. The entrapment operation led to the arrest of Canete right after he handed a set of signal repeater to Catalo in exchange for P1,000.00 used as a marked money.

Seized from Canete were 1 unit of signal booster, 1 unit of repeated amplifier and 1 unit of signal antenna. Police authorities recommended the filing of appropriate criminal case against Canete and Chua.

National Telecommunications Commission Memorandum Order No. 01-02-2013 prohibits the sale, purchase, importation, possession or use of signal boosters operating on the 800 megahertz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz frequency bands without the approval of the regulatory agency. Violation could entail penalties and even imprisonment. Online selling of illegal repeaters is also in violation of Section 4 (a) of RA10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012. According to Ronald Uychutin, Globe Vice President for Security and Anti-Fraud and Investigation, the use of repeaters or signal boosters, without any permit from the NTC, causes network interference that that could result in dropped calls, garbled lines, and weak signal.

Globe Broadband Lets You Relive Your Favorite Netflix Originals at Flick Street

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Last quarter, Globe Broadband announced one of its biggest content partners to date, Netflix. In celebration of the partnership, fans can experience their favorite Netflix Originals for real, through various immersive executions located at Bonifacio High Street in BGC.

Kicked off at Globe Telecom’s 917 celebration (September 17) – and running through September 30, fans can relive the iconic settings of Orange is the New Black, The Get Down, and Stranger Things. Participate in all booth activities and post your photos to your social media accounts using #GlobeNetflix to win exclusive and exciting Globe – Netflix merchandise.

Take your mugshot with Piper and the rest of the Orange is the New Black inmates.

For as low as P1299, fans get to enjoy free 6 months of Netflix, as part of their Globe Broadband plan on top of speeds of up to 10 Mbps and 100GB data allowance (on DSL). At Plan 1599, customers can enjoy a free Chromecast that will let them watch their favorite Netflix Originals on any HDMI-capable TV, speeds of up to 15 Mbps, and 150GB data allowance. Sign-up now until September 30 at the Bonifacio High Street pop-up store to enjoy priority handling.

Customers can learn about the new Globe Broadband plans by visiting www.globe.com.ph/broadband.

Senator Urges Government to Wage War Against Malnutrition

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“There is a real and silent war that the government must embark on; it is the war against malnutrition.”

This was the statement issued today by Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros as she pushed for the passage of a legislative measure to scale up nutrition support for infants in the crucial first 1,000 days.

Hontiveros’ Senate Bill No. 1145 otherwise known as the “Healthy Bulilit Law” mandates the Department of Health (DOH) and the National Nutrition Council (NNC) to increase nutrition support to all children in the first 1,000 days. The said bill was deliberated on Tuesday by the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, which the senator chaired.

The neophyte senator characterized a child’s first 1,000 days as crucial and intervention at this time is key to combatting nutritional stunting.

“Amid the government’s anti-drugs campaign, it must not neglect to look after the well-being of our children. Currently, under-nutrition remains the underlying killer of children as it makes them vulnerable to bout of infections, low birth weights and wasting. The government must launch a war against malnutrition. This is the real war that must be won,” Hontiveros explained.

The senator also expressed alarm regarding the grave effects of malnutrition on the Philippine economy. Citing a report by the Save the Children International, Hontiveros said that the economy lost at least P328 billion or the equal of 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2013 due to the impact of childhood stunting on workforce productivity and education.

Hontiveros said that under-nutrition undermines economic development. She said malnutrition leads to lower level of education, reduced labor power and productivity as a result of premature deaths and additional education due to grade repetitions.

“This must end. We need to strengthen the government's commitment to provide children all the necessary nutrients to ensure their healthy growth. We must ensure that we have healthy bulilits who will grow up to become healthy Pinoys and Pinays," Hontiveros said.

500 Public Areas Now with FREE High Speed WiFi

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Globe GoWiFi now powers airports, bus terminals, MRT stations, LGUs and major cities.

Almost half of Filipinos are now online. Approximately, 55% of the online population use smartphones, 43% use their laptops or personal computers, and 24% use tablets approximately 8 hours a day. Evident on the evolving digital lifestyle of Filipinos, Internet access is very important when choosing a mall or a cafe and prefer using the free wifi than consume their existing data coverage.

Globe Telecom has been continuously helping Filipinos expand their digital lifestyle needs. Efforts such as the recently announced extensive reach of fast internet access to 500 public areas in the country is just one of them. From airports to bus terminals, 13 (out of 16) MRT stations, as well as Ayala Malls, Starbucks chains and select convenience stores, to name a few.

Launched in 2015, GoWiFi, Globe Telecom’s premium open national WiFi network, is now serving close to 3Mn customers per month enjoying speeds of up to 100Mbps, with YouTube Accelerator, for free for 30 mins per day. As a national wifi network, the service is open to any customer with a wifi enabled device. They just register their mobile number, Globe or non-Globe, for them to enjoy the free premium 30 minutes access. If customers would want to extend their connectivity, they can easily purchase GoWiFi's best value mobile data offers starting at Php 20 with up to 500MB volume allocation and an additional 250MB YouTube Accelerator valid per day. Purchase GoWiFi credits can be used in any GoWiFi hotspot!

Connecting to this WiFi is very easy. Enter the verification code sent to your registered mobile number and ask to proceed using the free access. A confirmation will be sent to the subscriber once connected. As soon as the first 30 minutes is consumed, the user will be redirected to the purchase page which has these details below.

As of last month, Globe GoWiFi also expanded its free wifi access to 29 bus terminals such as DLTB and Philtranco Bus Terminals along Edsa, Bataan Transit, ES Transport and Genesis Bus Terminals. Other hotspots include Ayala Malls and fast food chains as well.

“This year, the Globe GoWiFi rollout project will be having two separate phases; first phase has a target of 478 total sites, which we have surpassed already, nationwide and by year end to have a total of 1,000 sites including but not limited to areas such as NCR namely in QC, Manila and the LGUs, Davao, Cebu, Bulacan, Cavite, Cagayan Valley, Cagayan De Oro, Nueva Vizcaya, Dumaguete, Zamboanga and now available in Boracay,” said Albert de Larrazabal, Chief Commercial Officer of Globe.

“Here in Globe, we believe in the power of internet access to support the nation’s state of the internet and therefore helping the businesses and families wherever they go,” added Albert. “Expect an extensive reach of our free access to wifi to more public places by the end of this year.”, he stressed.

This is an ongoing expansion for fast and free internet nationwide by Globe. The company is currently working on widening its reach to more establishments, other malls, public transportation hubs, schools and hospitals.

Liza Miller’s Two Worlds Collide in Younger Season 3 on Sony Channel’s Rofling Sundays

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‘Age doesn’t matter’ is given a different perspective in the latest season of Younger which premieres this October 2 on Sony Channel.

Forty-year-old single mother Liza Miller (Sutton Foster) was able to reinvent her career and her love life as a much younger woman. Now living two separate lives, Liza has to make sure no one discovers her secret.

Complications further arise in the returning season as a love triangle between Liza, her boyfriend, 26-year-old tattoo artist Josh (Nico Tortorella), and her boss, closer-in-age Charles (Peter Hermann) develops. While Liza begins to doubt her on-and-off relationship with Josh, she finds Charles interesting and starts falling for him.

Questions suddenly make Liza’s double life more difficult to handle. Will she choose Josh, who knows her secret and makes her life fresh and exciting? Or will she choose Charles, who can give her a more stable future? And the biggest question of all: Will Liza finally reveal her secret as new threats emerge? Will she have the guts to reveal it before more people find out?

With help from best friend Maggie (Debie Mazar) and colleague Kelsey (Hilary Duff), Liza has to face a tough call and decide as she deals with her dilemma and struggles with her situations as they become even more confusing.

Younger Season 3 premieres the same week as the U.S. telecast on October 2, every Sunday at 7:30 pm. First & Exclusive on Sony Channel

Sony Channel is seen on SKYCable Channel 35, Cignal Digital TV Channel 60, GSat Channel 48, Global Destiny Cable Channel 62, and Cable Link Channel 39.

SAP Modernizes Data Warehousing with the Launch of SAP BW/4HANA

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SAP SE recently unveiled SAP BW/4HANA, a next-generation data warehouse application for running a real-time digital enterprise. In addition to traditional on-premise deployment, the new solution will soon be available on Amazon Web Services (AWS) and the SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud service so companies can conveniently modernize their data warehousing environments and accelerate their digital journey into the cloud.

With SAP BW/4HANA, customers will have a much simpler and more powerful way of achieving real-time analytics through a new foundation for logical data warehousing that provides the interactivity with historical and live data residing in a diverse IT landscape, whether within or outside the enterprise. To answer demand for open, highly scalable IT systems, SAP BW/4HANA will provide an open data warehousing environment for rapid application development, a modern user interface, advanced multitemperature data handling and support for cloud-ready offerings including AWS and SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud, with other third-party cloud platforms expected to follow.

Agreement on Location of LRT1, MRT3, and MRT7 Common Station Signed

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An agreement identifying a single location for a Common Station geared to provide a seamless intermodal connectivity between LRT Line 1, MRT Line 3, and the proposed MRT Line 7 has been signed earlier today, ending an impasse over the seven-year old railway project.

This event is considered as a milestone agreement between the government and private sectors, proving that indeed, full cooperation between public and private entities may greatly contribute to providing an efficient service to the nation.

According to Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade, gaining mutual agreement amongst the major shareholders on building the Common Station is something that he once thought would be difficult, but was proven wrong by the private sectors’ expression of support to the government.

“I remember very well before I assumed the position, I was advised that one of the most difficult agenda I will tackle was the issue of a common station… And lo and behold, they are all here, showing their oneness and support on something that can bring good fruit not only to the business but more importantly to the country,” he said.

The agreement was signed by DOTr Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, Secretary Mark Villar of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPHI) President Hans Sy, Vice Chairman of the North Triangle Depot Commercial Corporation and Chairman of Ayala Land, Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) President Ramon Ang, Light Rail Manila Consortium (LRMC) Vice Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, and Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) Deputy Administrator Emerson Benitez.


Convenience to commuters is top concern

Commuters’ convenience is top concern in finalizing details of the Common Station’s engineering design, wherein train commuters can conveniently transfer from one line to another via the common concourse or atrium.

The DPWH assures that the vehicular underpass currently being designed to decongest the North Ave. – EDSA intersection will be built to seamlessly integrate with the Common Station.

It was made clear in the event that the final site of a Common Station will be between SM North EDSA and Trinoma malls, and that all parties will meet again to finalize its engineering design.

Just before the signing, Secretary Tugade and the shareholders agreed to set target date at the end of this year for the ground breaking. Completion is between two and a half to three years after the ground breaking.

“There’s difference between signing and doing, but apparently we have come to an agreement. Assuming that the architectural and engineering designs are done and agreed with, hopefully we can ground break before the end of this year,” Tugade said.



Sign of good things to come

Sec. Tugade expressed his sincerest gratitude to the shareholders for coming together and agreeing to reach a compromise in the name of public service. “I thank you all for trusting this government. I thank you all for believing. But more importantly, I thank you all for giving us a chance to do something,” he said during the signing in Makati. “For so long as there is mutual trust, a lot will be given and a lot will be taken. And I think it’s all about trust and believing in the government.”

For his part, Hans Sy, president of SMPHI said “We’re participating to show our good faith, and to express that we support programs that are geared to benefit the public.”

Speaking for ALI, Jaime Zobel de Ayala added that he is looking forward to participating in more government projects and working together with other businessmen. “It’s a pleasure for us to be one participant together with these other groups in making this critical component and critical junction for three railway systems to come together.

I think if we can continue to cooperate and coordinate this way there are many other things that we can take down,” he said.

Ramon Ang of SMC also expressed his gratitude for the initiatives taken by the DOTr Secretary. “I’d like to thank Secretary Tugade’s effort and leadership to finally put everybody together and make this thing happen,” he said.

“Very beneficial to the public,” said MPIC chairman and LRMC vice-chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, “especially that this has been delayed for years now,” he added.


Reaching an agreement

Upon assumption into office, Sec. Tugade vowed to get all shareholders agree on a single location for the Common Station within his first 100 days. It was during a Sept. 8 meeting with the country’s top CEOs that an agreement was reached.

The Common Station project started in 2009 but has been put on hold since. The LRT Authority initially inked a deal with SMPHI to build the station near SM North EDSA. Five years later, the DOTC decided to build the Station near Ayala’s Trinoma citing reasons to cut costs. The Supreme Court (SC) intervened and issued a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) in favor of SMPHI to stop the construction of the Common Station.