Wazzup Pilipinas News and Events

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Fortinet Predicts Tipping Point For Cybersecurity as Threats Become More Intelligent, Autonomous, and Difficult to Detect Than Ever Before in 2017

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The evolution of threat landscape creates urgency for increased security accountability at multiple levels to avoid impact to global digital economy

“The expanding attack surface enabled by technology innovations such as cloud computing and IoT devices, a global shortage of cybersecurity talent, and regulatory pressures continue to be significant drivers of cyber threats. The pace of these changes is unprecedented, resulting in a critical tipping point as the impact of cyber attacks are felt well beyond their intended victims in personal, political, and business consequences. Going forward, the need for accountability at multiple levels is urgent and real affecting vendors, governments, and consumers alike. Without swift action, there is a real risk of disrupting the progress of the global digital economy.” - Derek Manky, global security strategist, Fortinet

Fortinet, the global leader in high-performance cybersecurity solutions, today unveiled six predictions from the FortiGuard Labs threat research team about the threat landscape for 2017. These predictions reveal the methods and strategies that Fortinet researchers anticipate cyber criminals will employ in the near future and demonstrate the potential impact of cyber attacks to the global digital economy.

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In line with its commitment to fully maximize the use of previously-idle spectrum assets that it recently gained access to, Globe Telecom hit its target of deploying 500 LTE sites using the 700 megahertz band (L700), consistent with efforts to improve mobile internet service in the country. Majority of the company’s L700 sites were deployed mostly in Metro Manila and other highly-populated areas, where majority of customers using LTE-based handsets are located.

Joel Agustin, Globe Senior Vice President for Program Governance, Network Technical Group, emphasized the company is well on its way of achieving its target of deploying about 4,500 multiband, multi-mode software-defined radio station equipment to about 95% of cities and municipalities in the country within a 3-year period, as committed to the National Telecommunications Commission. Aside from deploying 500 LTE 700 sites, the company also activated 900 additional LTE sites using the company’s additional spectrum allocation in the 2600 megahertz band.

“With the deployment of 500 LTE 700 sites, Globe is now able to deliver a more comprehensive LTE coverage in Metro Manila, substantially improving the mobile internet experience of our customers in the region,” Agustin said, as he noted burgeoning proliferation of bandwidth-intensive multi-media content. On the other hand, deployment of 900 LTE 2600 sites mostly benefitted customers in Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, he said, emphasizing that the company is also working on further improving indoor signal and capacity in major cities in the country.

Globe began deployment of LTE sites using the 700 MHz band in June this year following a partial acquisition of San Miguel’s telecommunication assets, which also included spectrum resources in the 1800 MHz, 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz. In a bid to harness expeditiously the benefits of the company’s new spectrum assets, Globe set aside in October this year additional network investment of $300 million, bringing the company’s total capital expenditure for 2016 to $1 billion. According to Agustin, Globe plans to deploy more LTE sites in 2017 using the company’s additional spectrum assets to further accelerate its network build and enable the company to stay ahead of growing consumer demands.

The use of both LTE 700 and LTE 2600 bands, along with the company’s additional spectrum resources, supports the capacity enhancement initiative launched by the company early 2016 intended to elevate the state of internet in the country. Globe also launched early this year an initiative of creating an internet superhighway by deploying fiber optic cables in 20,000 barangays all over the country to provide faster and more reliable internet access in about 2 million homes nationwide.

However, the company’s aggressive bid to expand its telecommunication infrastructure is being hampered by circuitous permitting process for the establishment of telecommunication infrastructure such as cell sites. For instance, Globe has a backlog of 3000 sites amid difficulties in securing permits from various local government units, homeowner associations and other government agencies. As a result, the Philippines only has about 21,000 total cell sites compared about 55,000 in Vietnam.

Steve McGarrett and the Rest of Five-0 are Back in Action this January on AXN!

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Get ready for more heart-pounding action as the hit police procedural action drama, Hawaii Five-0, returns for an all new season on AXN this January.

After a near-death experience, Steve (Alex O’Loughlin) and his investigative team face a new round of criminals out to sow mayhem in the island paradise – a mysterious vigilante who murders serial killers, a vengeful father out to avenge the death of his son, an assassin that targets environmentalists, a terror group that holds high school students hostage, and even a ragtag death cult, and more!

The highly successful reboot becomes even more interesting with the complications in the lives of Hawaii’s elite special task force–Steve embarks on a rescue mission to save his mother from foreign capture while dealing with the return of his ex, Catherine (Michelle Borth), which might give their relationship a second chance; Danny (Scott Caan) struggles with parental blues for his now teenage daughter, Grace (Teilor Grubbs), and deals with the unexpected visit from his sister; Chin (Daniel Dae Kim) finds himself in the middle of a custody battle he cannot win; Kono (Grace Park) is reunited with husband Adam (Ian Anthony Dale) and starts rethinking their priorities in life; Lou (Chi Mc Bride) copes with his son’s coming-of-age journey into manhood, while Jerry (Jorge Garcia) contends with more conspiracy theories.

Hawaii Five-0 Season 7 premieres January 11, 2017, every Wednesday at 9:45pm. First & Exclusive on AXN

AXN is seen on Sky Cable Channel 49, Cable Link Channel 38, Cignal Digital TV Channel 121,Global Destiny Cable Channel 61, Dream Channel 20, and GSat Channel 51. AXN HD is seen on SkyCable Channel 247.

Globe Business Advances the Expansion of the Contact Center Industry in PH

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As innovations rise and industries become more competitive, businesses are faced with the pressure to produce the next "big" idea and still be able to provide reliable customer support. But juggling these two different aspects can exhaust a company of its resources and keep it from focusing on its vision. In order to constantly come up with better products, businesses have opened up doors for IT-BPMs—specifically, contact centers—to flourish and undertake the crux of any enterprise—its customers.

The contact center industry, which is expected to earn $25 billion in revenues this year, is especially thriving in the Philippines—contributing to 10% of the economy and creating employment for more than 1 million Filipinos. In fact, the country has been dubbed the "Ultimate Customer Experience Paradise" in the 11th International Contact Center Conference & Expo (ICCCE) where Globe Business, the enterprise information and communications arm of Globe Telecom, acted as co-presenter.

According to Benedict Hernandez, President of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP), there are many reasons for foreigners to land their investments on the contact center industry. Aside from having “a very supportive business environment”, the country is growing a young population that has mastered the English language and has a natural liking for different cultures, not to mention a “world-class service centricity”.

Although the industry’s essence revolves around customers, contact centers are now shifting to more complex jobs, leaving low-skill work like data entry, assistance and processing to machines. Mike Frausing, Globe Senior Advisor for Enterprise and IT-Enabled Services Group, mentioned during his speech at the 11th ITCCCE, “Companies are now cutting down on costs and making processes more efficient. Tasks that were once done by several people can now be delegated to gadgets, which are operated by one person,”

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The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S manufacturing non-competitive. That is if you are to believe the President-elect of the United States, Donald Trump. For the soon-to-be leader of the most powerful nation in the world to have such an opinion is scary, and quite frankly dangerous for the future of the planet.

The United Nations published a climate change report in the journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics and their conclusions are startling, they expect many feet of sea-level rise, a halting of major ocean circulatory currents, and an outbreak of super storms. They predict that we will face these major threats most likely this century. Global leaders need to take immediate action, and much can be learned from the world’s greenest cities.

Copenhagen

Denmark has built a solid reputation for its eco-friendliness. Cyclists are looked after, swimmers can enjoy city center paddling, and local ethical fashion designers are favored over factory produced branded clothing. Impressively Copenhagen has ambitions to become the first carbon-neutral capital city by 2025.

Vancouver

Canada’s west coast has it much easier than most cities being located steps away from rolling British Columbia mountains and the Pacific Ocean, but it makes the most of its natural blessings; its use of renewable energy and hydropower make the air pure and clean. Urban living is emphasized in the city, and the city’s 200 parks make it easy for locals to breath fresh, healthy air.

Amsterdam

Amsterdam is presently drafting a new sustainability masterplan which will transform the city center into a green, pedestrian-friendly environment. The city center will have new parks, food markets, smart transportation and urban farms and will take strides to reduce the impact of the many droves of tourists and dense traffic.

Stockholm

Sweden is a trailblazer for eco-cities. The restaurant scene is thriving with locally sourced raw materials and freshly caught fish. Environmental studies regularly list Sweden as the world’s most sustainable nation, but it is not today or yesterday that it built that reputation. Meticulous and long-sighted plans were made to restructure the city. Green homes are typical, and recycling is encouraged—the government financially incentive recycling.

Singapore

The remarkable Supertree structure in Asia’s cleanest city is one-of-a-kind. Each one is 50 meters tall and acts as a symbol of Singapore’s commitment to eco-change. Locally, it is typical to have access to a rooftop garden; the most famous of which is the 340- meter long SkyPark on the top of the Marina Bay Sands.

Portland

Consistently recognized as America’s greenest city, Portland uses 20 percent more renewable energy than the national average. It was one of the first cities to ban plastic bags and everything from recycling to carpooling are green activities that are encouraged.

Oslo

Despite being the most populated city in Norway, Oslo still maintains its title as the greenest city. The city ranks low for greenhouse gas emissions and it is worth noting that 85 percent of their school children either walk or ride their bikes to school; those that commute use hydroelectric-powered public transportation.

Freiburg

This city is unique because amazingly it is a car-free city. Call it old-fashioned or outdated but to be a truly green city cars are not welcome. Freiburg in Germany also boast of its many solar paneled buildings and plans to reduce its carbon emissions by 40 percent by 2030.

Reykjavik

Iceland’s capital is a thought leader and pioneer of geothermal power—providing almost 90 percent of the city’s heating. The country is close to being energy independent and the government has set goals to achieve that in the next few years. The city plan has placed a priority on reducing pollution and preserving green spaces—90 percent of residents live just five minutes walk away from a green area.

Berlin

The public parks in Berlin are like a home from home; each tree is protected and many locals have an allotment garden to grow their vegetables. For many in Berlin, the bicycle has replaced the car and in DIY shops around the city residents are learning how to make furniture and clothing. The second-hand culture is active; placing less of a reliance on purchasing factory produced imported wares. Lamudi—the eco-conscious global property platform operate their thirteen country operations from Berlin; in a building that has energy-efficient lighting timers and where employees are encouraged to use the company bike for deliveries.

Globe Roaming Enables Digital Travel Lifestyle

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The best stories come when people least expect it. When it comes to traveling, whether it’s exploring offbeat paths or experiencing the best kept travel secrets across the world, it’s usually the surprises along the way that make the trip worth telling.

What better way to share life’s great adventures than with the all new Globe Prepaid Roam Surf promos? With its extensive range of offers, Globe Prepaid Roam Surf allows Filipino travelers to stay connected with the data roaming promo that fits them best. Prepaid customers can now choose from app-based, bulk data or unlimited data roaming packs depending on their needs and budget.

“The best way we can give back to our customers this holiday season is to let them enjoy their travel to the fullest with data roaming offers that suit their needs” says Globe Vice President for Emerging Strategic Businesses, Coco Domingo.

“With Globe Prepaid Roam Surf promos, more and more Filipino customers can now experience the benefits of being always connected from anywhere in the world. The fear of data roaming has now been replaced with the freedom to go and create their own adventures with Globe.”

For as low as P199/day, one can enjoy the full features of Roam Viber, including sending and receiving of chat messages, photos, stickers, voice and video messages with location sharing. Video and voice calling are also enabled, making it easier to communicate with those at home and abroad.

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NEC Corporation announced the establishment of “CYTLIMIC Inc.” (CYTLIMIC), a new company that promotes the development and application of therapeutic cancer peptide (*1) vaccines discovered using NEC’s unique advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. Moreover, NEC has concluded an agreement in respect to a third-party allocation of newly issued shares to CYTLIMIC underwritten by Fast Track Initiative, Inc., SMBC Venture Capital Co., Ltd., and NEC Capital Solutions Limited as part of reinforcing its healthcare business and commencing with the drug development business.

NEC’s “NEC the WISE” (*2) cutting-edge AI technologies combine machine learning and experimentation to produce a unique “immune function prediction technology” that is able to efficiently discover peptides that are potential vaccines in a short period of time and at a low cost.

Harnessing this technology, NEC has been engaged in collaborative research since 2014 with Yamaguchi University and Kochi University, and in clinical research with Yamaguchi University, resulting in the discovery of a peptide vaccine that promises to be effective in the treatment of hepatoma and esophageal cancer and is compatible with the genetic profile of approximately 85% of Japan’s population.

Currently, NEC is advancing its application as a new cancer drug through CYTLIMIC, by developing investigational use formulations of the discovered peptide vaccine, confirming its safety and efficacy through nonclinical and clinical tests, and investigating its commercialization with pharmaceutical companies. With initiatives such as this latest drug development business, NEC will continue to expand its “Solutions for Society” business by harnessing AI and other cutting-edge technologies to strengthen its healthcare business.

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When one thinks of Christmas, one thinks of family. It’s that time of year when members – who at times are based in different parts of the country – get together to celebrate the joys of the season.

It’s also a time to highlight cherished family traditions – the Christmas reunion, the Noche Buena spread, and gift giving. While these have undergone some updates through the years, these are the ties that bind and bring so much happiness to family members.

This year, The SM Store in Makati, Aura and Megamall celebrates the holidays with the #SMLoveYourFamily campaign.

Here, the Alunan family, style siblings Daryl and Andre Chang, fashion photographer BJ Pascual, and Eric and Bea Soriano-Dee share with us why Christmas is truly a time to love your family at SM.

Alodia Gosiengfiao To Launch Mobile Game App "Zombies vs Humans" this Christmas

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"Been keeping this a secret for so long but finally, I can announce it! Our game “Zombies VS Humans” is almost done! It is a mobile game and it will be out this Christmas!

We’ve been working on this for over a year! And this team of talented artists and programmers has done an amazing job creating this game from scratch! I am so honored to be actually part of this amazing game development company - Club Six Studios! We’re an all Filipino team (some based in the US) and hope you guys would support this as we release it in the next few weeks!

Right now, we are finalizing little details in the game play, UI and stability! Please check back for more updates!" - Alodia Gosiengfiao

If you're going to ask if the geeks with her are working on the mobile game for free, then that could be a possibility in exchange of the popularity it will give the game development studio since Alodia is undoubtedly a celebrity icon in the cosplay and gaming industry. I also know quite a few geeks who would work for free just to be close to her...hehehe

The Tower Defense mobile game app will be available in the IOS App Store soon! Android to follow. We have no idea yet if it will be available for free but Alodia promises to give updates soon since they plan to put this out on Christmas day.

"A growing number of Hollywood celebrities pursue tech-related businesses. Vin Diesel runs a game development studio. Ashton Kutcher invests in Silicon Valley startups.
Most Filipino celebrities just open restaurants. This girl bucks the trend. Alodia Gosiengfiao, the world's most popular cosplayer, announces her development studio's upcoming game.

Interestingly enough, Jessica Nigri, America's most popular cosplayer, has stated in interviews that she wants to put up a game development studio someday.

This could become a trend among top cosplayers. Considering the connections they make over the course of their careers, it makes perfect sense. The video game industry is the number one employer of cosplayers as promotional models." - Mike Abundo

*Photo credits from Alodi's FB page

App Challenge Cebu 2016 Awards Winners

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Globe Telecom, in partnership with Molave Development Foundation, awarded Team Magtutudlog Bisaya, comprised of Jonie Aranzado-Jumamil, Genesis Lagacan, and Vahn Marty Cagalawan, as the Grand Prize winner of App Challenge Cebu 2016 held last December 13, 2016 at the Cebu City Public Library. The competition was designed to encourage local developers to create educational Android apps that will teach K-3 pupils about reading and writing in Cebuano. The team bested other teams in a live pitch and prototype demonstration to a panel of esteemed judges: Ms. Michelle Tapia, Ms. Bea Lacson, and Ms. Mara Garcia from Globe Telecom; Ms. Irma Saligumba from Molave Development Foundation; Ms. Irene Pilapil from the Department of Education, and Ms. Tina Amper of TechTalks.ph.

“Amazing, we can’t believe it,” Jonie exclaimed when he and his team won PhP 100,000 in the App Challenge. Aside from the cash prize, the team is supported with supervisory guidance and continued mentorship from Globe Telecom, Molave Development Foundation, and IREX through their Beyond Access program as they continue to build their learning app.

While the team, along with their university MSU-Iligan Institute of Technology, celebrates their win, they are also looking forward to developing their learning app further in the next few months to come. The app, which will feature familiar games to Cebuano kids, will be an essential digital tool in teaching kids how to read and write in Cebuano. Education stakeholders present at the Pitch & Awarding, including officials from the University of Cebu, the Mayor’s Office, Department of Education, and the Cebu City Library, have commented on how the app will be a welcome addition to the literacy content for the Cebuano community.

At present, a lot of students have minimal-to-no usable material for in-classroom learning or for self-study especially for fundamental skills like mother tongue literacy in K-3, thus, while they are able to speak and to understand their main language or dialect, their reading and writing abilities are limited.

On the other hand, many teachers all over the country are saddled with additional work on content development to compensate for the lack of available good-quality materials instead of being able to focus on improving student outcomes.

Cebuano is among the pre-identified major Mother Tongues for instruction, according to the Department of Education. The language is the second most widely used language, after Tagalog, and is spoken by 21 million Filipinos.

The app is expected to help address the problem by teaching the half-a-million Cebuano children their native alphabet and helping them build their vocabulary, among other things, through various activities. Learning concepts will focus on colors, numbers, shapes, family members, and/or body parts.

Team MAJA, comprised of Aldrin Navarro, Jay Arnel Bilocura, and Jae Marie Magdadaro, came in as the first runner-up in the App Challenge. Their learning app, when developed, has great potential to be added to the ever-growing body of content for the Cebuano language.

Globe Telecom, along with Manila-based Molave Development Foundation and Washington D.C.-based IREX, are closely invested in enriching education through tools, content and technology that advance basic education in the Philippines. The local developer community is very much alive and thriving, and as highlighted through the promising work of budding developers, has great potential to help shape and transform Philippine education for the better.

PPA Ready for the Holidays all the Way to the Chinese New Year

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With only five days to go before the Philippines celebrates Christmas and 12 days away from the New year, Philippine ports remain efficient and productive despite the influx of Christmas cargoes.

Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel R. Santiago, however, continues to urge the cargo owners not to relax in the cargo withdrawals and continue to take advantage of the Truck Appointment and Booking System in order to have a very smooth turnaround time for the country’s foreign cargoes.

“Philippine ports, particularly our international gateways, will be in full commercial operations except for a couple of hours on Christmas and New Year’s Day because ships continue to come and go even during holidays,” Santiago explained.

“I am urging all cargo owners and other stakeholders to maintain their current operations in order to have a swift turnaround time for their cargoes and if possible send their exports bound for Chinese ports early to prevent any hold-up when celebrations for the Chinese New year kicks in,” Santiago said.

“The domestic ports are also replicating the procedures of the international ports in order to secure safe travel of passengers relative to Oplan Ligtas Biyahe: Christmas 2016 and at the same time guarantee just in time delivery of domestic goods,” Santiago added.

As of the moment, cargo utilization at the two main gateways of the Philippines—the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) and the Manila South Harbor (MSH)—remain very healthy at 60% or approximately 49,000 twenty-foot equivalent units inside the terminal ready to be withdrawn or exported. Yard productivity at the two ports also remains high with an average of 20-25 moves an hour.

Both terminals attribute the healthy yard utilization and productivity to the Truck Appointment and Booking System as well as the high storage penalty imposed by the Authority.

Cargo volume, on the other hand, is in the uptrend since the start of the 3rd quarter due to the run-up to Christmas by about 10% a month.

PPA has likewise maintained the tight security in the domestic ports since the All Saints Day celebration to ensure safety, security and comfort of passengers while inside the terminals.

“I reiterated to our port personnel to take all the necessary measures to reduce any inconvenience and to make sure that our ports are safe at all times,” Santiago said.

PPA has likewise assured importers, exporters and cargo owners that ports have enough capacity with the coming Chinese New Year wherein Chinese-owned firms shut down operations for a couple of days for the festivities.

Have a Cheesy Christmas at Burgoo!

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Imagine this luscious, heavenly, creamy cheesecake to be the centerpiece of your Noche Buena and Medya Noche table! Yes Burgoo American Bar and Restaurant is now selling your favorite Cheesecake in time for this Christmas season so the whole family can enjoy it at the comfort of their homes and also to giveaway to friends and loved ones.

Save as much as 20% discount for the whole cheesecake! It comes in two sizes: 8” Raspberry and Oreo Cheesecake priced at P1,800 while get 6” of these flavors for only P1,350. Other cheesecake varieties available are Black & White and Fudge Brownie Cheesecakes for P1,950 (8”) and P1,470 (6”). These impeccable and superior cheesecakes are made upon order only to ensure quality and freshness. Please order at least 3 days in advance at Burgoo Rockwell (8981815) to get these cheesecakes for take out or pick up only. However you can still coordinate at Burgoo Rockwell if you’ll like your cheesecake to be picked up at other branches located at Tomas Morato, The Podium, Gateway Mall, SM Mall of Asia, Robinsons Galleria, The Block, SM Marikina, Fairview Terraces by Ayala, SM Southmall, The District Imus, and Starmall Prima in Taguig, and Solenad 3 in Sta Rosa Laguna.

Also don’t miss Burgoo’s sumptuous variety of appetizers to share, sandwich and burgers, soups and salads, stone-baked pizzas, delicious pasta, mouth-watering chicken and chops, seafood sensations, premium steaks and ribs, and other luscious desserts this Christmas celebrations. At Burgoo it’s always a family treat!

Gumbo Muffins for Gift Giving and Noche Buena

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Does it seem like a chore to shop for gifts especially during the Christmas Season? Looking for something new and fresh especially for those people who seem to have everything. Give them these superb and delicious Gumbo Muffins! Made only from the highest and quality ingredients, they’re perfect for gifts, potluck or even family gatherings for Noche Buena Medya Noche.

Available at all Gumbo branches at SM Mall of Asia (5560238), The Block 442-0106, Mega Atrium (6353015), Robinsons Manila Midtown (5671820), Gateway Mall (440-4632) and Robinsons Magnolia (7209632) for take out or pick up only, these muffins comes in a box of 6 for P150.00 and box of 12 for only P275.00 Also, try these these sumptuous and mouth-watering dishes at Gumbo such as Seafood Jambalaya, Bayou’s Stuffed Crabs, Shrimp Etouffe, Bourbon-Style Baby Back Ribs, Southern-Grilled Chicken Caesar, Cajun-Style Fried Chicken, Seafood Boil, Family Feast, among others for dine in or take out, perfect treat these holiday season!

OFWs Now Able to Provide Medicines to their Family Through Globe and RiteMed Partnership

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Globe Telecom’s International Business Group recently partnered with RiteMed Philippines, Inc. (RiteMED) to offer a service that allows overseas Filipinos to purchase RiteMED medicines while abroad and be able to deliver to their dependents in the Philippines.

“This is just one of our initiatives to show our customers that we are expanding beyond communications and on to relevant life services to empower and improve lives of Overseas Filipinos”, says Senior Vice President for International Business Group Nikko Acosta.

“RiteMED recognizes the dedication and sacrifices of our fellow Filipinos working abroad to serve their families here in our country. Our partnership with Globe will enable us to assist our kababayans to ensure that their families are well taken care of by providing safe and reliable access to affordable and high quality medicines,” adds Vincent Patrick Guerrero, General Manager of RiteMED.

Together with Globe International Business Group, RiteMED has created an avenue for Globe customers to have an easier access to the most trusted branded generic line of medicines for their families back home.

With this partnership, customers can easily call or approach a distributor’s agent, select the medicines from a catalog, fill out a physical order form and then pay in cash. Globe Distributors send order details through an interim Order Management System (OMS) wherein partner retailers receive the orders then call the Philippines’ recipients to validate the orders. They deliver the medicines and update the OMS. Upon delivery, customers are advised by the Distributor’s agent.

Globe is also gearing up for the launch of an online solution for this type of service. Soon, customers will be able to purchase RiteMED medicines directly using the online solution where they can pay using cash via agent or credit card. Partner retailers will call the recipients, deliver the medicines and update the online solution once orders have been received. Customers will be informed via SMS/Email upon delivery.

Aside from medical supplies, Globe provides international hotline support to overseas customers to ensure proper customer service is in place regardless of location. Customers can call Globe’s international hotline at 58036610 anytime to check on their order’s status.

“Through this first of its kind partnership, Globe customers can now enjoy the best operational assistance to deliver the brand’s connectivity services namely, the embedded SIM cards for laptops and tablets that work like data roaming through a Globe network,” stressed Nikko Acosta.

For more information, you may go to www.globe.com.ph.

For First Time, NBA Players and Media will Join Fans in Selecting Starting Lineups for NBA All-Star 2017

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For the first time ever, NBA players and basketball media will join fans in selecting the starters for NBA All-Star 2017 in New Orleans. NBA All-Star Voting 2017 presented by Verizon will tip off at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 25 before an exciting lineup of five Christmas Day matchups on ABC and ESPN.

Fans were first given the opportunity to vote for NBA All-Star starters during the 1974-75 season. This year, the league will extend the platform to include two other important constituents of the game – NBA players and NBA media. Fans will account for 50 percent of the vote, while all current players and a panel of basketball media will account for 25 percent each.

Players and media will be able to complete one full ballot, featuring three frontcourt players and two guards from both the Eastern and Western Conference. Players may vote for their teammates or themselves.

NBA fans may submit one full ballot each day through NBA.com, the NBA App (available on Android and iOS), Twitter, Facebook and Google Search, as well as via Sina Weibo and Tencent Microblogs in China. All current NBA players will be available for selection.

How to vote:

NBA.com voting page at NBA.com/vote: Fill out one full ballot per day (per day is defined as once every 24 hours) on NBA.com/vote from a desktop or mobile browser. Fans can select up to two guards and three frontcourt players from each conference when choosing starters.

NBA App: Access the ballot and vote through the app, which is available on Android and iOS. Fans can fill out one full ballot per day, and select up to two guards and three frontcourt players from each conference when choosing starters.

Twitter: Tweet, retweet or reply with an NBA player’s first and last name or Twitter handle, along with the hashtag #NBAVOTE. Each Tweet may include only one player’s name or handle. Fans may vote for 10 unique players each day throughout the NBA All-Star voting period.

Facebook: Post the player’s first and last name along with the hashtag #NBAVOTE on your personal Facebook account, or comment on another’s Facebook post. Each post may include only one player’s name. Fans may post votes for 10 unique players per day throughout the voting period.

Google Search: Search “NBA Vote All-Star” or “NBA Vote Team Name” (ex: NBA Vote Celtics), and use respective voting cards to select teams and then players. Fans may submit votes for 10 unique players per day throughout the voting period.

Fan voting updates will be shared on Thursday, Jan. 5, 2017, and Thursday, Jan. 12. Voting will conclude on Monday, Jan. 16 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Starters will be announced live on TNT on Thursday, Jan. 19, during a special one-hour edition of TNT NBA Tip-Off presented by Autotrader.com at 7 p.m. ET, featuring Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. The special will air prior to TNT’s exclusive doubleheader featuring the Washington Wizards at the New York Knicks (8 p.m. ET) and the Minnesota Timberwolves at the LA Clippers (10:30 p.m. ET). The Eastern Conference and Western Conference All-Star reserves, as selected by NBA head coaches, will be announced the following week on Thursday, Jan. 26.