500 Public Areas Now with FREE High Speed WiFi

Wazzup Pilipinas!

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

Wazzup Pilipinas!

‘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.

ONE Championship Media Open Workout at MOA Music Hall

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The largest sports media property in Asian history, ONE Championship (ONE), held an open workout for fans and media in attendance at the Music Hall at the Mall of Asia in Manila. Athletes in attendance included ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera, bantamweight standout Mark “Mugen” Striegl and Team Lakay warriors Eduard Folayang and Joshua Pacio. Accompanying the athletes was ONE Vice President Rich Franklin.

The ONE Championship athletes took to the stage to showcase various striking and grappling skills for the audience who eagerly looked on in amazement. Leading the pack were Vera and Folayang, who reenacted the epic showdown between Vitaly Bigdash and Igor Svirid. Pacio and Striegl demonstrated world-class combat techniques and self-defense tips.

Click on the link to view the Photo Gallery: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dau9bbynyzq4o7x/AACV2uVTv1kVYDddVkbsY0IZa?dl=0

ONE Vice President, Rich Franklin stated: “The turnout is always amazing in Manila. The fans are passionate and really know their MMA. It’s always a joy doing any kind of event here. Can’t wait to be back here later this year for another awesome night of fights.”

How Alkaline Water and Diet Can Help Maintain Your Health

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Much has been said regarding the impact of an acidic body ph to one’s health particularly its connection with various diseases.

The body naturally creates acids as part of the digestive system or as a by-product of various metabolic processes. However, one’s body may experience over acidity due to factors like a diet rich in processed foods, stress, and other lifestyle factors. Chronic over acidity affects all the body’s cellular functions and is seen to contribute to cancer, heart disease, obesity, weight problems, allergies, fatigue and premature aging as well as problems with our nervous system, cardiovascular system and muscles.

To counteract the negative effects of over acidity, it is recommended that people adopt an alkaline diet and drink alkaline water. Alkaline foods are foods that create an alkaline effect in the body regardless of their actual ph levels. This means that even food like lemons and limes actually have an alkaline effect on the body. Additionally the alkaline diet involves limited consumption of meats, dairy products, white flour and white sugar which are very acidic. Instead, one should eat large quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and soy products.

Apart from eating alkaline foods, drinking alkaline water can also play a major role in balancing one’s body ph. However, most conventional alkaline water is produced using electrolysis and ionizer based technology which involves passing electric current through water laced with chemical catalyst submerged with titanium or platinum plates. This process can create trace amounts of chemicals from the breakdown of the catalyst as well as trace amounts of metals from the plates.

5th Globe Media Excellence Awards – Visayas Winners Announced

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Leading telecommunications company Globe Telecom announced the winners of the 5th Globe Media Excellence Awards - Visayas who have shown exemplary communication skills in promoting sustainable development and bringing social issues to the attention of the public via print, broadcast, or digital media.

The outstanding media professionals and digital media practitioners were feted during the awarding ceremonies held in Radisson Blu Hotel on September 22 as part of the Cebu Press Freedom Week celebration. They bested 777 other entries in the 12 categories.

“The critical role of media organizations and online communities in forming and shaping public opinion makes it imperative for organizations like Globe to institutionalize an award-giving body that recognizes outstanding, incisive, and impactful reportage. As we commemorate the value of press freedom in driving a progressive nation, we see GMEA as an opportunity to give back to our media friends and our blogger and influencer partners, the honor that they deserve as we collectively create a world that is purposive and wonderful,” said Yoly Crisanto, Senior Vice President, Globe Corporate Communications during her opening remarks.

For this year, GMEA was anchored on Globe Telecom’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals to help create a Wonderful Philippines. The winning entries did not only embody quality and relevant content but also focused on any or a combination of four areas such as care for environment, care for people, positive societal impact, and digital nation.

Bagging the Reporter of the Year for Print award for the fourth consecutive year was Ador Vincent Mayol of Cebu Daily News who wrote “Wrinkled Hopes”. Mayol also received the Reporter of the Year for Online News Portal award together with his editor Rosemarie Borromeo for the piece “Shining through the haze". Reporter of the Year for TV went to Estela Grace Rosit of TV 5 and her editor and videographer Joveniano Yap for “El Nino sa Sugbu” while Runelyn Jamolo of DyLL Radyo ng Bayan Iloilo was named Reporter of the Year for Radio for “Bayanihan kontra maternal deaths.”

Explanatory Story of the Year for Print was awarded to Sun.Star Cebu’s “Breaking Child Labor” written by Cherry Ann Lim while Explanatory Story of the Year for TV was given to “Krisis sa Tubig” of GMA’s Alan Domingo together with his editor Rod Prado and Clanz Gabutin and videographer Jun Solon. On the other hand, Public Affairs Story of the Year award was given to “Basura Bayloan og Grocery/Recycling of Waste Materials” of Atty. Ruphil F. Bañoc - DYHP RMN Cebu.

Julia Carreon-Lagoc of Panay News Iloilo took home the Columnist of the Year Award for “Big 3 little words: humane, just, fraternal” while Ferdinand Edralin of Cebu Daily News got the Photojournalist of the Year Award for his entry “State of Emergency.”

Christian Vincent Literatus of Bisdak Explorer won Blogger of the Year Award for “Bisdak Explorer’s Top 10 Free Travel Apps for Your Next Adventure”; Joyce Torrefranca was chosen as Social Media Advocate of the Year for “I got inspired by a kid: Daniel Cabrera”; and “Bacolod Needs More Plants in Commercial Areas” of Maria Sigrid Lo won the Social Media Campaign of the Year.

All winners received a cash prize and a trophy each while their editors also received cash prizes.

The distinguished panel of judges was composed of Ma. Theresa Sederiosa - Investment and Promotions Officer of the Cebu City Government, Ahmed Cuizon - Regional Director of LTFRB 7, Romelinda Garces - Communications Officer of San Miguel Brewery, Auke Idzenga - Founder of Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation Inc., and Donna Rose Ratilla - President of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Iloilo Chapter.

Jr. NBA and Alaska Milk Brings 2016 Philippine All-Stars to a Once-In-A-Lifetime NBA Experience

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The National Basketball Association (NBA) and Alaska Milk Corporation announced today that for the third consecutive year, Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia will travel to China to watch a live NBA game as part of the initiatives in promoting healthy lifestyle and diet among children.

Ninety Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia – boys and girls ages 10-14 – will attend NBA Global Games China 2016 presented by Master Kong in Shanghai on Oct. 9, featuring the Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans playing a preseason game at the Mercedes-Benz Arena. The participants from the Philippines will be joined by Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam and for the first time by Jr. NBA Singapore standouts following the program’s introduction to Singapore earlier this year. As part of their visit to Shanghai, the boys and girls will also meet with NBA players and legends, receive additional basketball training and tour the city.

“Our Jr. NBA All-Stars will once again embark on an unforgettable journey where they will get to experience a foreign country, take part in advanced basketball training and watch a live NBA game, all while engaging with their counterparts from Southeast Asia,” said NBA Asia Vice President, Global Partnerships & Events Francesco Suarez. “This gathering creates lifelong memories and friendships for our participants, and we will continue providing even more youth with opportunities like this in the years to come.”

“I’d like to congratulate our Jr. NBA Philippine All-Stars on their success. Through Alaska Milk’s Nutrition.Action.Champion. Program and our partnership with the NBA, we have been able to help fuel the basketball dreams and life aspirations of thousands of children across the country,” said Alaska Milk Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Wilfred Steven Uytengsu. “This collaboration is an important element of our long-standing Nutrition.Action.Champion. campaign. By leveraging on this initiative, Alaska Milk was able to proactively educate families and children on the important role of drinking milk and getting into sports to achieve a healthy and active lifestyle.” 

PLDT Enterprise Rolls Out eLearning Program to Aid Millennials' Studies

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PLDT Enterprise, via their Digital Mobility team, leads innovation in eLearning or digital technology-backed education as it recently launched SMART's new eLearning Program for the academe and training institutions. This consists of a suite of products that leverage the benefits of internet-based technologies in schools.

This erases the perception that many people have of technology such as gadgets as mere distractions to students' studies. The products in this suite are specifically developed to benefit not only students and teachers, but also administrators, parents, among many others.

"Our view is that the devices will serve more as effective study aids, and act less as distractions," said Gio Abaquin, Head of Digital Mobility, Disruptive Business Group (DBG), the emerging technologies business unit of PLDT Enterprise.

"Today’s millennials have learned to accept the role that devices play in their daily lives. It is important to bring in this new technology into the classroom, for both the obvious, physical reasons, such as lighter physical loads versus heavy books and notebooks, as well as for technological benefits," Abaquin explained.

"Mobile learning supports the learning process rather than being integral to it. Mobile learning can also be a useful add-on tool for students with special needs. It can be used as a ‘hook’ to re-engage disaffected youth," Chet Alviz, Head of SMACS (Social, Mobile, Analytics, Cloud and Security) added.

For the eLearning App, there will be package options such as app-only, app with SIM, as well as tablet bundles.

More than a Learning Management System (LMS), the SMART eLearning program creates an end-to-end Digital Campus Experience. SMART is set to roll out the eLearning program with select schools.

The whole suite offers PLDT iGate, SMART WiFi, SMART M2M SIMs, SMART Prepaid SIMs, customized website with eCommerce capability to help establish online presence, Vehicle and Personnel trackers for the school transport as well as for student use, customized App, including evolved learning solutions such as SMART's eLearning LMS and Microsoft Office 365. All these can be accessed by authorized teachers, admin, and students in and out of the campus.

“We are very pleased to have included in our service portfolio an educational digital tool that not only benefits students, but also the entire school ecosystem. Parents, for example, will be able to gain access to their child’s developmental progress.
​ ​Educators, on the other hand, will be able to freely interact with both students and parents on the more important aspects of today’s learning experience,” added Nico Alcoseba, Head of PLDT’s Disruptive Business Group.

PLDT Enterprise stressed digital technology-backed education is ever more rising and it believes the Philippines has a high potential for growth in eLearning adoption. Ambient Insight, an international market research firm that specializes in eLearning and Mobile Learning, said in a statement that in Asia alone, the market for learning and training programs supported by electronic technology is expected to reach $11.5 billion by 2016, or more than twice the $5.2 billion in 2011.

The two countries with the highest growth rates in the world are Vietnam and Malaysia, respectively at 44.3 percent and 39.4 percent. Also in the top 10 are Romania and China. The Asian region is also known for a high adoption in mobile technology, due to proliferation of low priced mobile devices.

Currently, the Philippines ranks at seventh place in terms of growth rate in e-learning. The country joins Thailand, India,Kenya, Slovakia, and Azerbaijan with growth rates of between 30 percent and 35 percent.

This shows that the Philippines is well on the way towards adapting eLearning for educational institutions – and even in businesses. SMART's goal is to be at the forefront of that digital change, at home, at work, and even in school.

LRT, MRT Common Station Now A Go After 7 Year Deadlock

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The seven-year deadlock is finally over.

After years of legal entanglements, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) has inked a consensus among shareholders to identify a single location of the Common Station, which will connect the three urban transit lines: LRT Line 1, MRT-3, and the proposed MRT-7, which will run from North Avenue to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

The Common Station, which will be built between SM North EDSA and Trinoma with access to both malls and major roads such as EDSA, will provide a common concourse or atrium wherein train commuters can conveniently transfer from one line to another.

An agreement between the DOTr, Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA), SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SMPHI), Universal LRT Corp. (ULC) and Light Rail Manila Consortium (LRMC), North Triangle Depot Commercial Corporation represented by Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be signed tomorrow, Sept 28 to finalize the agreement.

The DPWH also assured that the underpass being built will seamlessly integrate with the Common Station.


Resolving the dispute

Getting all parties to agree is among DOTr’s Secretary Arthur Tugade targets within the first 100 days, and it involved engaging all stakeholders in meetings in order to reach a consensus. In a meeting last Sept. 8, the country’s top CEOs: SM’s Tessie Sy Coson and Hans Sy, Ayala’s Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, San Miguel’s Ramon Ang, and Metro Pacific’s Manny Pangilinan agreed that a unified station is necessary to make commuting more convenient to the public.



Legal tussle

The Common Station project started in 2009 and has been on hold due to legal issues. The LRT Authority 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.

The agreement to be signed tomorrow will pave the way for a filing of a joint motion to the SC to lift the TRO.

Hearing on Bills for Maternity Leave and Nutrition Support for Infants

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Asserting that there is an inextricable link between the well-being of mothers and the health of their children, Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros today chaired two consecutive committee hearings that deliberated two of her health legislation; the bills seek to expand the paid maternity leave of working women and scale up nutrition support for infants.


Healthy Bulilit Act

Senate Bill No. 1145 or the Healthy Bulilit Law was deliberated in the Senate Committee on Health and Demography.

Hontiveros explained that her bill 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. She characterized this period as crucial and intervention at this time is key to combatting nutritional stunting. The senator said undernutrition remains the underlying killer of children as it makes them vulnerable to bout of infections, low birth weights and wasting.


Philippines lost P328 B to undernutrition

Hontiveros, citing a report by the Save the Children International, also said that the Philippine 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.

"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.


150 days of maternity leave for working women

Hontiveros' Senate Bill No. 215 or the Expanded Maternity Leave Law Act of 2016 was heard by the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations and Gender Equality, which the senator also chairs.

The senator said her bill seeks to provide women workers in the public and private sectors, married or not, 120 days of maternity leave, and an additional 30 days for solo mothers. The additional 30 days can be allocated to alternate caregivers such as their common law partners, or relatives up to the 4th degree of consaguinity. It can also be extended to adopters or any person who has adopted a minor.

"It's time to introduce radical reforms to our maternity law to bring it at par with international standards. In Asia, we are lagging behind Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia.

The government must respond to our women workers' pre and post-natal health needs. The government must also recognize and provide full support for women's reproductive work," Hontiveros said.


"Centennial gifts"
Hontiveros said that as the Senate celebrates its 100 years, she hoped that the passage of her bills will be some of the institution's "centennial gifts" to the Filipino families. "There is no better gift than the gift of a secure and healthy future. Let us bring forward real changes in the lives of our women and children," she concluded.

More Complete Online Shopping Experience with New Shopify Partners

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The online community is getting bigger and wider nowadays, and with the help of the rampant pace of social media and technological enhancements such as hi-tech gadgets and online apps to simplify business, it comes to no surprise that even online shopping is now a trend. Entrepreneurs that delved into the eCommerce industry are currently trying to market their brand and products or services they offer the best and most efficient way they can.

Last year, Globe myBusiness has established a solid partnership with Shopify - the number one eCommerce platform in the world. With Shopify enabling business owners to have their own online shop and business eCommerce management platform, this gives opportunity to expand their business without the hassle. In case you find it difficult to set up your shop, Top Shopify developer NZ can help you out.This last quarter of the year, they will be offering new add-ons for Globe myBusiness customers through their partnerships with logistics services (Xend), design and set-up services (Ropo), digital advertising services (AdSpark) and payment services.

Aside from Globe myBusiness partnering up with several existing customers to set-up their store inside Globe Gen3 stores around the metro, the existing Shopify sellers no longer need to look for external agencies for services such as the aforementioned add-ons. Everything in the eCommerce world that every SME would need, Shopify has them. It’s an all-in-one package for all Globe myBusiness customers.

Aligned with the Globe purpose, Globe myBusiness is definitely making businesses flourish. Their partnership with Shopify, Xend, Ropo and AdSpark strengthens the business customers by creating an avenue for them to feature their products in a more diversified digital platform.

Neon Island, a Filipino online clothing store founded in 2013 by Aira Medina and Chi Gibbs, together with Craft Carrot Art Tools, Inc., a provider of quality art materials and craft supplies for professional artists, hobbyists, and DIY enthusiasts, are one of the businesses that is featured during WWG at the ICONIC store in BGC, Taguig City. They are able to maintain the small footprint thanks to Shopify. Their inventory is properly stowed and accounted for using the eCommerce app. Selling their products are simplified using a tablet for browsing products to closing the deal.

“The main objective of this project is to reiterate the company’s advocacy to help improve the lives of every Filipino. Through this project, we are able to help our SME consumers / customers to have a better marketing strategy to promote their brand,” said Barbie Dapul, Globe myBusiness VP. “And what better way to market their brand but to put them at one of Globe Telecom’s biggest event of the year - the WWG.” Dapul added.

Shopify, the number one eCommerce platform in the world partnered with Globe myBusiness to help the SMEs tap the eCommerce industry, has launched the smallest store project with other business partners’ stalls in all Gen3 stores and its surrounding locations.

Globe Telecom Completes TV White Space Trials to Improve Internet Connectivity

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The first Philippine telecommunications company to adopt the TV white space frequency for broadband use, Globe Telecom has successfully completed a TV white space trial for wireless backhaul.

“The TV White Space provides us with another means to bridge the Digital Divide in remote rural areas where traditional means of backhaul such as fiber or multi-hop microwave terrestrial backhaul does not make it economically viable for telecommunication providers to deploy broadband facilities,” Globe Senior Vice President for Network Technologies Strategy Emmanuel Estrada said.

Estrada said the trials were in support of the company’s bid to maximize available spectrum given rapid increases in data consumption as it aims to improve the internet experience of its customers. The trials were undertaken in partnership with the Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology over the last 8 months in several areas in the country including Cebu and Bohol, Estrada said.

The trial run was undertaken by Globe in partnership with NuRAN Wireless Inc., a Canadian-based leading supplier of mobile and broadband wireless solutions. During the trials, NuRAN’s equipment generated up to 10 Mbps over distances of 7 and 12 kilometers. With the achievement of this important milestone, NuRAN will begin rolling out units in 2016 for broadband public access.

TV White Space refers to the unused TV channels between the active ones in the VHF and UHF spectrum. These are typically referred to as the “buffer” channels. In the past, these buffers were placed between active TV channels to protect broadcasting interference. It has since been researched and proven that this unused spectrum can be used to provide broadband Internet access while operating harmoniously with surrounding TV channels. Utilizing TV white space for propagation of internet service is a relatively new technology as TV broadcast began transitioning from analog to digital, which paved the way for the availability of more TV channels or frequencies that could be utilized for broadband use. NuRAN’s technology focuses on UHF bands from 470 to 698 MHz.

Once in place, the technology is expected to provide an alternative wireless network that will provide data connectivity in far flung areas in Visayas and Mindanao. Estrada said increasing demand for wireless data traffic and growing pressure to network capacity has spurred an interest to utilize these unallocated portions of the radio spectrum. The TV white space’ long range of reach means utilization of this frequency for broadband use would require less number of cell sites to provide coverage for a given geographic location compared with existing wireless technologies, he said. This means that the use of the TV white space spectrum for propagation of broadband technologies is more cost efficient for telco providers.

Globe Telecom Joins Sustainable Global Companies With Its New Purpose

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Going beyond achieving business success as the Philippines leading mobile communications provider, Globe Telecom is embarking on a purpose-led transformation for a more sustainable organization, steps that admirable companies globally have likewise taken.

Globe president and CEO Ernest Cu unveiled the company's purpose of 'Treating people right to create a Globe of Good' at the recent Wonderful World of Globe XII event held at the Globe Iconic Store in Bonifacio Global City.

Anchored on its new corporate vision of leading a Philippines where families’ dreams come true, businesses flourish and the nation is admired, the company hopes to fulfill its vision by creating wonderful experiences, helping its customers overcome challenges and discovering new ways to enjoy life, Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu revealed.

Following its massive network modernization program in 2011, Globe saw unprecedented business growth driven by game-changing initiatives including a digital lifestyle play, innovative offers and content partnerships with iconic global brands. Underpinning business growth is a robust network that has nationwide 3G and 4G coverage. Globe is also aggressively rolling out LTE coverage in major business districts and key commercial areas in the country, intending to give the country first world mobile internet experience.

“Our 60% share in mobile data revenues showcases the relevance that we have brought to the industry. We’ve changed the way people consume mobile content in this country because we have made it accessible, affordable and convenient for customers to subscribe to fantastic services. In music for instance, people are now more inclined to do streaming rather than torrenting,” said Cu.

Not content with being an industry leader and game-changer, Globe is taking its performance and impact to its customers to a higher level. “How do we take it to the next step? Early this year, we decided to take on an infinite goal. Reaching a desired market share and beating competition are finite concepts. We have decided to create a new purpose which will redefine Globe in the years to come,” he declared.

“How can we treat people right? By giving them wonderful experiences, giving them choices, helping them overcome challenges and solving their problems, making their life easier, helping them enjoy life more, giving them great customer service, treating them the way we want to be treated and helping them make their dreams come true,” he explained.

For instance, “despite all the constraints, Globe continues to strive to provide first world internet in country. This is why the company is undertaking an aggressive expansion of its network infrastructure and capacities using long-idle frequencies such as the 700 megahertz (MHz) band in a bid to significantly improve the internet experience of its customers,” said Cu. He emphasized Globe is maximizing the use of these idle 700 MHz band in fulfillment of its commitment to the National Telecommunications Commission to improve the overall internet experience of its customers.

Parallel to this, Globe also began rolling out a capacity expansion program for its corporate data network to address the bandwidth requirement of its enterprise clients as they make use of various data solutions to improve business efficiency, enhance productivity, and boost competitiveness, Cu disclosed. In an effort to create an internet superhighway nationwide, Globe also plans to extensively deploy fiber optics to make home broadband experience at par with mobile internet or even better. To date, the country is facing challenges in delivering fast and reliable wireline internet experience due to lack of fiber connectivity owing to right of way and permitting issues with the local government. Globe hopes to work closely with the government to address these issues in order to jumpstart ICT development in the Philippines.

Cu stressed the company’s new purpose is expected to further enhance the company’s circle of happiness philosophy: that happy and engaged employees deliver wonderful customer experiences and strong business growth for happy shareholders. He said that when employees are committed to serve customers, this translates to a strong brand experience that people love and connect with.

Philippine Volcanoes Meet & Greet at Pioneer Street Market

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Our Philippine national rugby team who are more popularly known as the Philippine Volcanoes recently had a meet and greet with fans at one of the newest foodie haven called Pioneer Street Market located inside the compounds of HMR.

The big guys of this Rugby team can be prominently seen with all those huge muscles and posterior, while the few women composing the female team are also physically buffed and ready to face any opponent in the ultimate aim to win the games they will compete in.

Since I was late in arriving due to the rush hour time of the event, I managed to appreciate only the challenges given to the players after the press conference. They had a Monster Burger eating challenge, and a Beer Drinking challenge, for fun where the emerging winners are still from the Men's team.

We also indulged on the yummy Peri-Peri Chicken meals served by Fuego Amigo along with iced tea as we listened to the husband and wife team providing entertainment with their songs.

I also had the opportunity to dine on the famous Auntie May's Angus Beef Salpicao along with their thirst-quenching lemonade, and brought home a Monster Burger with one huge Australian beef patty. I personally witnessed how it was actually cooked and prepared with all the garnishing from start to finish.