Why Every SME Needs a Shipping Partner?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippines has been ranked third in Southeast Asia and 16th worldwide for having the most number of internet users, making Filipino owners of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) more aggressive in competing in the e-commerce industry. But can these booming enterprises be up to par with more established ones?

With the country’s high penetration rate and rising social media usage, there is no doubt that these up-and-coming businesses will be able to boom in the industries they choose to penetrate, according to Quito San Agustin, country manager, Zyllem Philippines.

He added, “But while these enterprises can take full advantage of the power of the internet, they—like all other startup companies—need to have more partners on their team to deliver what their customers demand and grow exponentially along the way.”

San Agustin explains that having a good delivery service provider as a partner is crucial to the success of these SMEs, especially those who run online stores.

“The truth is, the possibilities are endless when you have a reliable partner that does the job for you. For one, they can help you beat the deadlines of your own customers and deliver their orders when and where they want it. Second, your shipping partner is not just delivering these orders; they are also giving you more time to talk to your customers without worrying whether the previous document has been delivered or not,” San Agustin emphasized. “The good news is, there is a reliable delivery service provider that will help you ship your customer’s documents or parcels within the day at very low costs.”

Globe Unit Innove Signs Deal with Govt to Provide Budget and Treasury Management System

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Globe unit Innove Communications recently signed a partnership agreement with the government to provide a Budget and Treasury Management System. Photo above shows Innove President & CEO Gil Genio (extreme right, seated) signing the deal, along with (seated from left) DBM Executive Director for Procurement Service Jose Tomas Syquia, DBM Secretary Florencio Abad; and FreeBalance President & CEO Manuel Schiappa Pietra. They are joined as witnesses by (from left, standing) Commission on Audit Director Luzvi Pangan-Chatto; Deputy Treasurer Sharon Almanza, Globe Head of eGov Anthony Lau; Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu; FreeBalance Vice President for Marketing Matthew Olivier; Free Balance Resident Project Director for BTMS Pradeep Aggarwal; Australian Department of Foreign Affairs Counsellor & Team Leader of Philippine-Australia Public Financial Management Program (PFMP) Daniel Featherson; and DBM Undersecretary and Overall Project Manager of BTMS Richard Moya.

Innove Communications, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, recently entered into a partnership agreement with the government to provide a Budget and Treasury Management System (BTMS) to effectively execute and monitor annual budgets in a manner that is more transparent to the public.

The project, worth P495 million, involves the implementation and operation of a fiscal management solution which will be used by the Department of Budget and Management, as well as Bureau of Treasury and Commission on Audit. This system will eventually be rolled out to the rest of the government agencies and operating units. The new system will improve the timely execution of budgets to the agencies and provide timely information on the actual utilization of funds.

23rd PTAA Travel Tour Expo: A Record-Breaking Success As Always

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) recently held the 23rd Travel Tour Expo on February 5 to 7, 2016 at the SMX Convention Center of the Mall of Asia complex in Pasay city. Leading the opening ceremony were PAL president and COO Jaime Bautista, PTAA president Michelle Victoria, Sen. Sonny Angara, DOT Tourism Promotions Board COO Ramon Enerio, and TTE 2016 Co-Chair Nitz Ragaza.

The Travel Tour Expo is an annual event organized by the PTAA and has always been a record-breaking success as every year it grows bigger and better. There are always a lot of discounted fares and other clever promos available only during the expo dates.

This year, the PTAA also mounted the International Travel Trade Expo (ITTE) which is a business-to-business (B2B) travel trade expo aimed at linking the growing Philippine market to overseas travel. The B2B hub is more cost-efficient for the players in the travel industry and aims to foster stronger ties among travel operators and industry suppliers to create more competitive products and services.

"Collaboration among stakeholders, even with indirect competitors, is expected t reshape travel in the next decade and beyond" say Michelle Victoria, President of PTAA. "We aim not only to strengthen business but also significantly improve travel experience." 

"While we welcome more opportunities with the growing tourism sector in the country, we also need to brace ourselves with tougher competition ahead. We hope to regain the trust of  our valued clients through innovation and we could only achieve this through collaboration." she adds.

Apl de Ap: What's Ap with the Newest Philippine Tourism Ambassador?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

“Places to go, things to see, welcome to my home, my country. Beautiful sights, I want you to see. It’s more fun in the Philippines. It makes you feel like you’re in a dream.” - Apl de Ap

The above are just a few of the words included in the lyrics of the new Department of Tourism jingle sang by Allan Pineda Lindo, better known as Apl.de.Ap, a Filipino-American rapper, record producer, break dancer, philanthropist and judge at the Voice of the Philippines talent search. Popularly known as one of the members of the Black Eyed Peas, he is often invited to perform and grace special events and occasions.

Apl de Ap was asked by the Philippine government, specifically the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) of the Department of Tourism (DOT), to promote tourism for our motherland. The Philippines is such a beautiful place that everyone needs to explore and experience its sandy beaches, green forests and wildlife, delicious cuisine, and hospitable people.

He was also awarded the Presidential Award for Filipino Individual because he has not shied away from acknowledging his Filipino roots and continues to embrace his heritage, even in his work. From his humble beginnings to his extreme fame he still retains the Filipino hospitality and "bayanihan" spirit.

This is why Apl de Ap is very much appropriate to become an Ambassador for the Philippines.

Big D's Smokehouse and Comedy Cartel presents Rib Ticklin' Comedy

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Get ready for a rip-roaring laughter from the Comedy Cartel as they return to Big D's Smokehouse at
Eastwood City's , City Walk 2 (above Starbucks & beside 711) this Friday February 19, @ 9:30pm.

Bring your whole family and friends and hear rib-tickling comedy performances along side the best melt in your mouth smoked ribs and other house specialties! Tickets at P200.00 only! For seat & show reservations, call or text 0917-8860706.

See you there!

121 Bar & Grill and Comedy Cartel Presents Thursday Comedy Test Mic!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Test mic, 121 too! Try out your comedy skills and deliver your jokes at the Comedy Cartel's Thursday Comedy Test Mic show! 

Come on over at 121 Bar & Grill on Feb. 18, Thursday, 9:30pm at the 3rd floor of the BGC Stop Over bldg at 31st street (beside the Jollibee and Chowking stores that are across St. Luke's Hospital at the Fort.). 

This is open to performers of all comedy formats and genres (stand-up, sketch, improv, ventriloquism, gags, music w/ comedy, props comedy etc.).

The stage is yours to perform at!

Bring your punchlines and your friends to this free show and check "doing comedy" off your bucket list! 

See you there! ‪#‎comedycartelPH‬

Top Reasons Why You Should Visit Davao

Wazzup Pilipinas!
Davao continues to be among the premier destinations in the country as its tourism department lines up three key institutional programs for 2016 namely the Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS) for 2016, the 9th Mt. Apo Boulder Face Challenge, and the MICE Davao Programs that gives the most competitive support incentives for organizers who want to hold conferences and events in Davao city.

The effort aims to position Davao as the "islands to highlands" destination of adventure, beach holiday, food and culture, shopping and as a premiere MICE destination. The programs are all in partnership with the local government of Davao, Samal and the concerned provincial tourism offices.

At a press conference held during the first day of the PTAA Travel Tour Expo at SMX Convention Center located at the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay, the key people involved in the project discussed the many potentials in recognizing Davao as among the great choices to travel this year and onwards.

This year's Visit Davao Fun Sale (VDFS) 2016, scheduled on March 25 to May 31, remains to be a city-wide sale and events extravaganza in davao featuring discounts and promos in all sectors of tourism from tours, accommodation, shopping, dining, relaxation and adventure.It's the first of its kind in the country involving several industries to make the tourist experience complete and the city branding unified.

50 Shades the Musical Parody is Until February 21

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Why settle for typical Valentine’s weekend fare when you can catch 50 Shades! The Musical Parody?

A great alternative to the usual dinner and movie date night, 50 Shades! The Musical Parody promises a wild and sassy evening of comedy for both women and men, with plenty of BDSM (Best Damn Songs and Music). The show opens on February 12, 2016 at the Carlos P. Romulo Theater of RCBC Plaza in Makati.

Fifty Shades of Grey has topped best-seller lists around the world with over 125 million copies sold worldwide and a 2015 blockbuster movie. A sexy, hilarious romp, 50 SHADES! The Musical Parody is a laugh out loud night of fun that audiences won’t want to miss!

The musical opens with a ladies book club deciding to read Fifty Shades of Grey. Through their interpretation of the novel, the audience is led on a hilarious roller coaster ride of this unlikely bestseller. The show is full of dance numbers, 11 original songs and a live band backing the performance. Original songs include “How Much Can I Take?”, “I Don’t Make Love”, and “There’s a Hole Inside of Me”.

“I think Pinoys are going to love 50 Shades! It is such a crazy, hilarious, and racy show,” said Albert Samuels, the show’s co-writer and director. “50 Shades! is so funny and so sexy at the same time. It will be an incredible night out for Filipino audiences. Come to the show, and get ready to laugh your heads off.”

Valentines Day Suicide at SM Megamall: SM Officials Make More Effort to Hide Than to Clarify?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Don't you feel that there's something fishy going on. How come I only see the online portal of the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper reporting about the "suicide" or "accident" in SM Megamall building B involving a female who fell to her death from a floor of the mall.

I was waiting for a popular early morning show to mention the incident, but it was baffling that they didn't. As I look on the social media feeds, only online publications or those Facebook groups are the only ones commenting or reporting about the incident.

Steven Tan, a high-ranking official of the mall said on his official statement that “A woman fell at Building B in SM Megamall. She was immediately rushed to the hospital by the mall personnel. The mall security and the local authorities are currently investigating the matter. We will cooperate for further inquiry.”

However, based from the photos posted in social media by netizens, the victim was not immediately rushed to the hospital. In fact, she was covered up by a tarpaulin.

The sad situation is that we are not really sure if the victim accidentally fell or if she really committed suicide. Some reports say she was just fooling around on top of the railings and even shouted "Walang Forever!" before she slipped and fell to her death.

Top 20 Funniest Highlights Hilarious Everyday Moments

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Everyday is comedy material, proven by hilarious moments caught on camera and curated for the public’s viewing pleasure courtesy of Top 20 Funniest.

Coming in this season is its new “voice,” Charlie Schlatter. Top 20 Funniest debuts its third season to its viewers in Asia through Sony Channel.

Its first season was thematic, with each episode running a countdown of videos following a specific theme. The second season were clips arranged according to specific categories. The third season presents its clips more similar to its last season’s format with the best viral video clips to home movies, pranks, surveillance videos, event footage and news bloopers.

Get ready to giggle, guffaw and flat out laugh roll on the floor with these candid scenes caught on cam.

Enjoy Top 20 Funniest Season 3 all weeknights at 7:55pm beginning February 20, first and exclusive on Sony Channel.

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