Brooke’s Point, Palawan leapfrogs on improved connectivity experience with PLDT

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Brooke’s Point Mayor Georjalyn Joy Quiachon highlighted the importance of a reliable internet connection to the municipality of Brooke’s Point, Palawan as a first-class and fast-growing town with a robust agri-tourism industry as PLDT, through its B2B arm PLDT Enterprise, deployed its BEYOND FIBER solution.

The initiative is testament to PLDT’s commitment to support local government units in adapting to the new normal for the delivery of public service, governance, and extending services to their respective constituents.

“Amid our rapidly changing environment, I couldn’t stress enough the importance of staying connected to manage the negative impacts of the pandemic effectively. We thank PLDT Enterprise for offering their assistance in our bid to cope in these trying times,” Quiachon said.

PLDT Enterprise Head for SMBiz Regional Luzon Euan Rex Toralballa said that the Municipality of Brooke’s Point is part of PLDT’s new fiber-optic expansion in the Southern Part of Palawan.

“With our ongoing fiber-optic expansion, PLDT seeks to provide strong and reliable connectivity to far-flung areas to support the day-to-day activities of residents in various communities. With the BEYOND FIBER solution, we could help them overcome the challenges in connectivity and enable a seamless digital experience,” said Toralballa.

He also added that PLDT Enterprise’s BEYOND FIBER is the best-suited service for Brooke’s Point local government. It is an all-in-one solution anchored on business-grade fiber, capable of sustaining the online operations of offices, branches, and small-scale businesses.

It features the 90-90 advantage which provides organizations a minimum bandwidth speed at 90 percent of the subscribed speed at 90 percent reliability—providing a more reliable online experience, while easing the fear of downtime during peak work hours.

“The Municipal Government of Brooke’s Point will now experience a fixed-fiber optic internet service. This is for the daily administrative activities and services for their constituents,” Toralballa added.

PLDT Enterprise Vice President for Small and MicroBiz Chito Franco said that PLDT is committed to extending solutions and services to local and municipal governments to efficiently deliver COVID-19 relief.

“As the country’s leading telecommunications provider, it is our mandate to assist local and municipal governments as they realize their vision and goals for their communities. We are dedicated to helping them through technologies which could fully equip them as they cope with this ongoing crisis,” said Franco.

As a primarily agro-industrial municipality with vast productive farmlands, the local government of Brooke’s Point is investing heavily in its potential to flourish in agri-tourism.

Its strategic location and development as an open port hopes to attract the influx of tourists from the Brunei-Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region, aside from its potential to spur exportation of agricultural products from the area due to it being now part of the nautical highway.

The improved connectivity would not only benefit its citizens but also the local government to fast-track and upgrade services as they hope to close the gap for the people in far-flung areas.

“We welcome innovative ideas and adapt in the fast-changing environment as new technology is introduced… For us, there’s no way but up – always looking forward as we drive the municipality of Brooke’s Point to a better future with intelligent and healthy citizenry,” Mayor Quiachon said.

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com.

Lowest loan interest rate for teachers

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Malayan Bank launches Teachers’ Aid, a loan product created for Teachers. The 7% interest rate per year applies to all loan terms and is the lowest in the market today. Teachers’ Aid is open to all teaching and non-teaching personnel, employed by the Department of Education. Loan applicants can expect Malayan Bank’s customer-centric service with vehicles to be deployed to conveniently bring teachers from their homes to Malayan Bank branches to apply.

Up to P1 million loan open to DepEd Teachers, employees with Malayan Bank Teachers’ Aid

Bank’s newest loan product offers lowest-in-market interest rate and VIP service for teachers

A new loan product for teachers launches with Malayan Bank’s Teachers’ Aid, which offers the lowest interest rate in the market today. With only a 7% interest rate per year, across all terms, educators in the country can now loan between P5,000 to P1 million pesos to support their financial needs.

Teachers’ Aid is available to all Department of Education (DepEd) public school teaching and non-teaching personnel under DepEd’s payroll. The loan is intended to provide a ready financial line for teachers together with a unique brand of service that makes the entire loaning process easy, quick, and convenient in support of teachers’ busy and demanding work and life schedules.

“Teachers are some of the most hardworking people, and we acknowledge just how hectic their work and home life can be. We developed this product not only to give them access to funds when they need it, but also to help them ease their financial burdens in the simplest way possible. We’re helping them borrow money while making sure that they feel like a ‘VIP’ in the process of doing so,” shares Jhody D. Generoso, MSB Teacher Loans Head.

To ensure that teachers receive the ‘VIP’ treatment, Malayan Bank will deploy dedicated service vehicles to bring teachers to Malayan Bank branches from their home or school when they apply for a loan. Loans will also be released through the teacher’s preferred branch to facilitate the most convenience.

The 7% lowest-in-market interest rate per year applies to all loans, regardless of loan terms. Available terms for Teachers’ Aid are 12, 24, or 36 months. Loans will be paid through automatic payroll deduction system from their DepEd payroll.

Application for the Teachers’ Aid can be done in any Malayan Bank branch through designated bank employees. To apply, teachers are required to submit the following: accomplished loan application form, one month latest original payslip, permanent appointment letter, two valid IDs, and loan summary from a government financial institution like GSIS. Other documents may be requested upon evaluation of the application.

Teachers’ Aid will be available in Malayan Bank branches in the National Capital Region by October 18 with continuous roll out across the country: October 29 for Davao City, Pangasinan, Cavite and Laguna; November 5 for Baguio; November 12 for Pampanga and Bulacan; November 19 for Iloilo City; and November 26 for Cebu City.

If teachers who’d like to know more about this new loan product, they can visit any Malayan Bank branch or call the following numbers: (02) 8841-7800 loc. 166 / 0999 885 9263 / 0998 847 0584 / 0947 849 4776. They can also email customercare@malayanbank.com.ph.

For list of branches, visit www.malayanbank.com/branches.

LTFRB issues show-cause order to EDSA busway consortiums

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday has issued show-cause orders against the two consortiums operating along the EDSA Busway for failing to deploy sufficient number of buses and amid “persistent reports” of non-payment of drivers’ and conductors’ salary despite having received payments for the Libreng Sakay Program.As a result, LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra said the two consortiums were ordered to explain why their special permits should not be cancelled, suspended or not penalized for the low turnout of bus units that led to long queues at EDSA Monumento.

“Minabuti nating mag-issue ng show-cause order, directing the two consortiums running the EDSA Busway why their franchise or special permit in running the EDSA Busway should not be cancelled, suspended or that they be not penalized for deploying so few units,” Delgra explained on Monday during the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) Road Sector media briefing.

Chairman Delgra explained that the agreed cap on the maximum allowable units of bus units are at 550 buses but the two consortiums on Monday only averaged as low as 120 units.

“Nakita natin kanina nag-average lang ng 150 units ‘yung dalawang consortium. At the lower end pa nga, umabot ng as low as 120 units if I’m not mistaken. We have to call their attention and direct the two consortiums to explain why the employment of these units,” Chairman Delgra said.

On the other hand, Chairman Delgra reiterated that the two consortiums were already paid under the Service Contracting Program yet there are still persistent reports of drivers and conducts complaining of their unpaid salary despite giving full service.

“Now that we have paid so much of this to operators already, particularly dito sa EDSA Busway Consortium or anyone for that matter, hindi na nila pwedeng gawing rason ang hindi pagbabayad sa kanilang drivers,” Chairman Delgra said.

He also reminded the two consortiums are responsible as there is a “employee-employer relationship” between parties and their contractual obligation as mandated by the Labor Code for the EDSA Busway Libreng Sakay Program.

“Mayroong kakulangan ang mga bus operators dito sa hindi pagbabayad ng mga sweldo ng kanilang mga tauhan. There is an employee-employer relationship doon sa mga bus operator and doon sa mga tsuper at konduktor that they hired,” he explained.

“I’d like to remind the bus operators, this is just not a contractual obligation but it is also an obligation that is mandated under the labor code. So, kailangan nilang bayaran ‘yang sweldo na ‘yan. Kikita man o sa palagay nilang malulugi sa palagay nila, kailangan paring bayaran ang sweldo,” he added.

Likewise, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Assistant Secretary Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor also reminded operators of their obligation to the public, explaining that “public transport is imbued with great public interest” amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Alam natin na binaba dito sa NCR ang Alert Status to Level 3 kung kaya’t mas maraming pasahero ang sumakay. As Secretary Tugade always says— public health and public safety are at stake. Ipinapaalala natin sa mga kaibigang operators na itong ginagawa natin sa EDSA Busway or public transportation in general ay kinakailangan lagi tayong tumalima sa ating service level kung ilang units ang kinakailangang i-deploy at any given time,” Asec. Pastor said.

Ayuda sa mga driver ng mga pampublikong sasakyan sa gitna ng pandemya

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Imbes na direktang pagtataas ng pamasahe na makaka-apekto sa higit na nakararaming pasahero, isinusulong ng Department of Transportation (DOTr) at Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ang pagbibigay ng ayuda sa mga driver ng mga pampublikong sasakyan sa gitna ng pandemya.
Ayon kay Transportation Secretary Art Tugade, itinutulak ng DOTr at LTFRB ang mga programa na magbibigay tulong, suporta, at ayuda sa mga driver at operator, na hindi nangangailangang magpatupad ng taas pamasahe.

“Kinakailangang balansehin natin ang pangangailangan ng mga drayber sa kakayanan ng mga pasahero ngayong pandemya. Kaya imbes na direktang pagtataas ng pamasahe, ayuda sa drayber at ayuda sa pasahero ang itinutulak natin,” pahayag ni Secretary Tugade.

“Naiintindihan namin ang sitwasyon ng ating mga drayber at tsuper, ngunit naiintindihan din namin ang hirap ng ating mga commuter. Alam naman natin na may ilan tayong kababayan na nawalan ng trabaho. Marami rin naman sa atin ang kababalik pa lamang sa trabaho. Ngayon pa lamang sila bumabawi, kaya sa aming pananaw ay hindi napapanahon na magpatupad ng fare increase,” dagdag ni Secretary Tugade.

Ayon naman kay DOTr Assistant Secretary Mark Steven Pastor, masusing pinag-aaralan ng LTFRB ang petition for fare hike na inihain ng mga transport group noong nakaraang linggo. Daraan aniya ang petisyon sa mga pagdinig bago ang pagtukoy kung kailangang magtaas ng pamasahe.

Inihayag din ni Pastor na patuloy ang pakikipag-ugnayan ng DOTr at LTFRB sa Department of Energy (DOE) upang magkaroon ng uniform discount ang mga pampublikong sasakyan, partikular na ang mga jeepneys, sa lahat ng mga gas stations sa buong bansa.

Sumulat na rin ang DOTr at LTFRB sa DOE upang magbigay ng suhestyon kung paano maiibsan ang epekto ng tuloy-tuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis sa operasyon ng mga PUV, kasama na dito ang pagbibigay ng fuel subsidy.

“Sumulat po kami last week, ang DOTr at LTFRB sa Department of Energy upang magbigay ng suhestyon at upang humingi rin ng kanilang cooperation na magkaroon po sana ng mga programa ang DOE na maging mandatory po ‘yung mga discounts sa ating public utility vehicles sa mga gas stations nationwide,” dagdag ni Asec. Pastor.

“With the guidance nga ni Secretary Tugade, kailangan nating balansehin ang interes. Kinikilala natin at ramdam natin ang kailangan ng ating mga tsuper at operator, but at the same time, maghanap tayo ng solusyon na hindi rin matatamaan ‘yung mas nakararami pa na mga mananakay,” ani LTFRB Chairman Martin Delgra III sa kanyang panig.

Samantala, muling inaanyayahan ng DOTr at LTFRB ang mga drayber at operator na lumahok sa Service Contracting Program, kung saan babayaran sila ng gobyerno sa kada nakumpletong biyahe o trips, habang sinisiguro na mananatiling tuluy-tuloy ang kanilang pamamasada. Bilang konsiderasyon sa pagtaas ng presyo ng krudo, pinag-aaralan na rin na taasan ang insentibong ibinibigay sa ilalim ng programa.

Dagdag pa dito, hinihikayat din ang mga transport stakeholder na samantalahin ang libreng pagpapabakuna. Noong Hulyo, inilunsad ang vaccination drive para sa PUV drivers at ibang empleyado ng transport sector. Magagamit nila ang kanilang vaccination cards para makatanggap ng mga karagdagang diskuwento sa gas stations at mga kainan.

With Alert Level 3 for NCR, DOTr Pushes for Increase In PUV Passenger Capacity

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

With the downgrading of the quarantine status in the National Capital Region (NCR) from Alert Level 4 to the more relaxed Alert Level 3, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is set to recommend to the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) an increase in passenger capacity in public utility vehicles (PUVs).

“Irerekomenda po ng Kagawaran ng Transportasyon ang pagtaas ng passenger capacity sa ating mga PUVs to cope up with the increased number of individuals using public transport due to the imposition of a more relaxed quarantine status,” said DOTr Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Steve Pastor in an online media briefing on Monday, 18 October 2021.

Asec. Pastor was joined in the media briefing by Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra III and Land Transportation Office (LTO) Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante.

Asec. Pastor said that increasing the number of PUV passenger capacity from the current maximum capacity of 50 percent as mandated by health protocols, to a significant increase, subject to the health and safety protocols to be set by the IATF, will not only help commuters but also PUV drivers and operators, as well.

“Tinitignan natin na magtaas ng seating capacity sa public transportation. Bilang tugon sa lumalaking gastusin sa day-to-day operations ng ating operators, and at the same time, this will also address yung matagal na hinihiling ng ating mga kasamahan sa business sector na dapat mas mapalago ang economic activities. We can contribute to that through an increase in public transportation, and their capacity,” Pastor said.

“Nais po naming bigyang diin yung guidance ni Secretary Art Tugade na dapat po balansehin natin ang pangangailangan ng ating mga drivers, ‘yung pangagailangan ng ating mga operators kumpara sa kakayanan ng ating mga pasahero ngayong pandemya. Maalala natin na karamihan sa ating mga kababayan ay nahinto sa trabaho, yung iba naman ay babalik pa lamang sa trabaho because of the Level 3 status dito sa NCR,” Pastor added.

Pastor said that while the increase in PUV vehicle passenger capacity amid the ongoing Alert Level 3 quarantine status in Metro Manila will be significant, he assures that the proposal to be submitted to the IATF will be based on both technical and medical studies.

“The increase will be significant. I cannot give the exact figure at this point in time, dahil ang gusto po ni Secretary Tugade, ang ating magiging proposal sa IATF ay ‘di lamang based on technical expertise but also backed-up by medical studies. Ang bilin po ni Sec. Tugade, kinakailangan po na safe ang pag-iincrease natin. Sa puntong ito ay inaaral po natin itong mabuti at kumukuha po kami ng relevant data from studies and journals to back-up this proposed increase para matulungan po natin ang mga operators and drivers,” he said.

In addition, following the directive of Transportation Secretary Tugade, the DOTr will also consider the safety protocols existing in the affected local government units in its proposal to be submitted to the IATF.

Pastor said that for the meantime, the DOTr will continue its monitoring of passenger capacity in PUVs amid the pandemic.

“Kasabay din ng pagdami ng ating pasahero ay ‘yung mga nag-violate ng ating existing health protocols. Kung kaya’t nag meet kami ng I-ACT to reiterate yung directive ni Secretary Tugade that health protocols should be enforced at all times. Kaya tuloy ang pagkakaron ng random inspections, random mystery passengers to ensure po na 50 percent maximum load po tayo at this point in time habang isinaayos pa nami ang ating magiging request sa IATF to increase the seating capacity,” he said.

Philippine Post Office unveils Jaworski Stamps, commemorates the 75th anniversary of the first stamp of the Republic

Wazzup Pilipinas?!


The Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office) is set to launch the first-ever stamp featuring basketball great Robert Jaworski to kick off the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the first-ever stamp of the Republic of the Philippines.

Seventy-five years ago, in 1946, the Post Office issued the first stamp bearing the inauguration of the Philippine Republic. From this era, the Filipino people have risen up, setting the tide for world renowned talents and outstanding individuals who have made their mark in international stage.

On the occasion of the launching of Robert Jaworski Living Legend Stamps, the Post Office commemorates another remarkable milestone in the history of the country with the opening of “sALAMAT, Pagpupugay sa mga Alamat (ATribute to Filipino Legends) a three-part series of postage stamp issuances featuring 1.) Living Legends: World Renowned: 2.) Living Legends: Outstanding Filipinos; and 3.) Never Forgotten personalities that have made a mark and contributed greatly in their chosen fields here and abroad.

“This is our own llittle way of thanking and honoring these outstanding Filipinos in their chosen fields of endeavor in celebration of the 75 years of the first stamps issued in the Philippines as a Republic”. Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio said.

According to Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio, the Filipino people in this country are the most valuable asset and the real treasure a country could have.

“Naniniwala po kami na ang tunay na yaman ng Pilipinas ay tayong mga Pilipino (we believe that the real treasure of the Philippines are the Filipinos themselves) - their talents, characteristics, and the Filipino spirits”, Fulgencio said.

He added, “We are deeply honored to the family of Senator Robert Jaworski and his family for allowing us to feature his greatness in the Philippine Stamps. It is more fitting for his status as the sports “Living Legends” who personified the ‘never say die’ spirit to be the opening salvo for our upcoming stamps featuring outstanding Filipinos to give hope and strength for Filipinos in the midst of this pandemic.

“The stamp teaches us an important life lesson, that when it seems hopeless and you are about to give up, amazing things can still happen, if we keep the faith”, Fulgencio said.

The Post Office will feature new innovations in postage stamp designs to spark interest and excitement for people of all ages. The stamp shall be the medium to inspire and fully appreciate the achievements and pride of the country and people.

This forms part of the “Hatid Malasakit” campaign of the Post office to modernize the mail system in order to better serve the public. The Filipino people deserve no less than the best postal service by global standards.

Ka Leody De Guzman called out for his "mysogynistic" post

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Netizens expressed their concern over a recent statement of Ka Leody De Guzman which he posted on social media. 

His post somehow raised issues relating to his perception of VP Leni Robredo, of which commenters are worried that his statement was sort of "misogynistic" mainly because he mentioned the past female presidents Cory Aquino and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo...and how VP Leni Robredo seems to be motivated alone by the same goal to bring down the present administration. Just as how Aquino to Marcos, Arroyo to Estrada, and now Robredo to Duterte.

"Ang babaw naman po ng tingin ninyo kay VP Leni sa sinabi nyong gusto lang nyang wakasan ang pagbabalik ni Duterte at Marcos. Tutol din sya sa contractualization. Maganda din ang plano nya sa labor. So si Leni pa ang nanghati ng boto ngayon? Magaling."

"Ka Leody has raised some important points about class struggle and the continuous rule of the bourgeoisie.

Pero hold up......hindi lang si Cory at GMA ang naging problematic. Bakit puro babae ang tinira, including Leni?

Medyo off and misogynistic 'to, Ka Leody."

"Bilang mga lider ng bayan ay hindi maganda na punahin nyo ang hindi mga nagawa. Mas maganda na bigyan ng diin ang mga nagawa ng ating VP sa kabila ng mga panlalait ng mga katulad mga sinasabing mga tunay na lalaki sa larangan ng politika."

"Maganda na may babala na maaaring bumalik sa dati ang lahat at hindi hayagan at tuluyang maibigay sa manggawa't taongbayan ang nararapat, pero nagtitiwala po ako na sa pinamalas ni Robredo nitong 6 na taon, iba ang paradigm niya, pinahahalagahan."

"If Ka Leody hadn't posted an Facebook status na may low key attack on VP leni, I would have brushed that “maputlang spaghetti” tirade as a joke and maybe a coincidence. Pero hindi eh."

"....Isn’t the context of what Ka Leody is saying about Leni coming from the place of Leni and her camp shunning Ka Leody and his camp despite months of actively reaching out to them in order to form a united opposition?

This is something, I think, a lot of people don’t know about and understandably so. Personally, I found out fairly recently. I think there’s something to be said about Leni reaching out to Isko and Pacquiao but not to Ka Leody."

"Utterly and totally disappointed. it's saddening that all the male presidential candidates–yes even ka leody–spitting misogynistic remarks and targeting the only woman in the race"

"Misogyny is a serious matter and must never be downplayed. That said, the criticism of the political decisions of ruling class women is not in or by itself misogyny.

Ka Leody’s post, while a response to persistent questions from a Leni supporter, not only criticized Leni, Cory and Gloria. It reserved its most profound rancor for Marcos and Duterte, and also lambasted Isko and Manny as fake opposition.

I understand nevertheless that this was received as misogyny, and when someone says that they are hurt by misogyny, we should believe them. I have no doubt, too, that Leni, sadly, has faced and will continue to face misogyny throughout her career.

As for those who are cynically or cavalierly using the charge of misogyny for overtly partisan one-upmanship, however, they must know that their actions are harmful. Their use of the charge to avoid addressing substantive criticisms would be a gesture of bad faith."

Ka Leody released a statement on the matter:

"Politika ng mga bilyonaryo" - that tells a lot. Nasa kapitalistang bansa tayo, expected na iyan. Kahit sa mga socialist countries, meron din nyan. And lately, China which is communist, has embraced capitalism - hybrid or not. What needs to be focused on is to curb the excesses."

"Hindi ako namumuna dahil sa kanilang kasarian kundi dahil sa kanilang naging pagkukulang sa masa. Sa bandang huli, hindi pa rin nila naiwaksi ang nakagawiang politika ng mga bilyonaryo." -Ka Leody

"I dont think Ka Leody was misogynistic for comparing Leni to only Cory and GMA. Cory and GMA weren't singled out because they were women, but rather because they led their respective EDSAs which focused on Ferdinand Marcos/Erap in particular instead of systemic problems.

But to be balanced, it's not fair either to say or imply that Leni is anti-farmer or anti-worker. Also isn't fair to say or imply that Leni is running only to prevent BBM from becoming president. Eh di sana inendorse niya na lang si Isko di ba"

"Ka Leody is not a misogynist candidate because he is PRO-CHOICE. Sobrang clear naman sa stances niya that he's very supportive sa abortion, divorce, and other laws that will empower women. Leni failed to recognize that abortion is both women's right and a social class issue."

"For those confused, the criticism was all about the EDSA narrative that was being spun. Ka Leody’s candidacy stemmed from the failures of the 2 EDSAs. Nothing to do with Cory and Gloria being women."

"Pakibasa ang buong context ng post ni Ka Leody. He was criticizing the narrative being spun of Good vs Evil. Gloria vs Erap. Cory vs Marcos. People should stop cherry-picking criticsms so they can cry misogyny. Leni can take it. Hindi siya pabebe."

"Malaki ang aking respeto kay VP Leni at sa kanyang track record. Ngunit sa tingin ko lang ay mahalagang bigyan ng konteksto ang kanyang pagtakbo sa puntong ito ng ating kasaysayan nang hindi tayo humantong ulit sa mga pagkakamali ng nakaraan."- Ka Leody

Fair statement. I think the apology shows that Ka Leody really listens to constituents (more than I can say about most people running) but let’s also kill this narrative that Leni is ONLY there to stop B/B/M— she offers so much more!

Also, VP Leni may be focused to preventing the Duterte and Marcoses (which we clearly saw an alliance ever since the new administration too over.) but she also has other motivations if we'll consider her past activities and beliefs. Naturally, she's passionate against the possibility of having to continue with this kind of "bastos" government led by Duterte,  that has clearly made us suffer. The pandemic could have been a blessing because we saw how Duterte is  incompetent and full of himself with very little respect to his constituents.

I am in favor of presidential candidates that would offer something new but I must also consider if they would be capable enough to accomplish their promises. I don't want another Duterte laying out too good to be feasible objectives. They should be able to explain how their going to do them.

Check out KaLeodyKabataan to know more about him. Ka Leody is historically the first socialist labor leader to run for PH presidency. Here are some of his stances on key issues: 

Labor leader and presidential aspirant Ka Leody de Guzman announced on Saturday his senatorial lineup for the 2022 elections. 

Namely, Luke Espiritu, David D'Angelo, and Roy Cabonegro...with the more familiar personalities as guest candidates ( which includes Neri Colmenares, Risa Hontiveros, Chel Diokno, and Leila De Lima. There's two more guest candidates that are unfamiliar for me.

"Let's be realistic, please. Do you honestly think Ka Leody's votes will make a dent on another opposition candidate's votes? I mean, as big as Manny's or Isko's?"

I'm actually torn between voting for Ka Leody and VP Leni since we do have a better chance of winning if we do root for the more popular presidential candidate from the opposition, or anybody that has not shown any sign of being an enabler of the Duterte administration, or has expressed alliance with the Marcoses. This will be really tough for the voters.

Now what about Ka Leody's Senatorial line-up?

"We had been nominated to run for the Senate by the common people. It was never our intention but when we are asked to serve we gladly accept it. It is a great honor that I was able to be part of such great people headed by Ka Leody. Salamat po. Padayon!" - David D'Angelo 

I know David personally, so I could vouch for his character and passion...and he does have a genuine desire to serve and rally behind important issues that need to be raised for both awareness and implementation towards a better society. As what I've said about Ka Leody, will my friend be able to also successfully fill the seat of a Senator? Is he qualified to become one? 

I don't know about you guys, but I believe it's time we vote for new names/faces into government, and not always the same traditional politicians that have been around for years yet were not that very vocal and active in airing their sentiments to the rightful authorities or those officials up there at the higher, if not the top, positions in government. 

We need someone who will not compromise their beliefs just to avoid confrontation or gain more allies or supporters, but listens and takes into consideration all the voices understanding that the people of this country could be compared to a classroom full of students. Each and everyone needs to be given the corresponding attention and importance. Enough of the majority wins ideology. We've witnessed how the majority has not always been right. Remember the 16 million votes for Duterte, and how the likes of Bato, Bong Go, Imee Marcos, and other personalities won as senators? We should also look at how our representatives in congress got a slot. 

Unfortunately, we're too obsessed with voting only the familiar ones. Sadly, the election has become a popularity contest...and we're forgetting that those with funds or with powerful people helping finance the candidates run are getting the unfair advantage...and not too many are truly researching or getting to know the candidates thoroughly....minus all that hype brought about by their lavish campaign propaganda.

We need to become more critical of our choices. Otherwise, we're back to the same hell that we are experiencing right now.

We need less enablers.. That's should be our primary concern. Maybe these new faces could make the difference or not. So, let's find time to do our research since it's our future that is at stake.

Powering the Next Revolution: PLDT Enterprise successfully wraps up Philippine Digital Convention 2021

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

PLDT Enterprise has successfully staged the Philippine Digital Convention 2021, sharing significant insights to entrepreneurs and company decision-makers to leverage on emerging technologies that will help empower their businesses.

Titled “REVOLUTION,” this year’s three-day digital convention that happened from October 6 to 8, presented avenues to explore novel ways of doing business, opportunities to unlock greater possibilities through adopting relevant solutions, and how to successfully pivot amid the current economic and industry conditions. 

To fulfill their goal of driving technological enablement to the delegates, PLDT Enterprise invited thought leaders and industry experts to impart perspectives that would catalyze a new wave of revolution, where businesses of all sizes can maximize the power of technology. 

Given the exponentially growing business landscape, companies need to assess critical areas in their businesses to remain competitive. It has become pivotal to evolve and elevate their game by proactively identifying new ways that can help them maximize growth opportunities. 

It is thus imperative for entrepreneurs to look at trends happening now and be prepared for what’s coming next.

As such, companies need to constantly reinvent themselves to remain relevant with their desired customers and achieve their desired business outcomes through the use of technology.

PHOTO: The PH Digicon 2021 Virtual Event Platform

Reinvent.

The Philippine Digital Convention is the most prestigious digital thought leadership event hosted by PLDT Enterprise.

This year’s PH Digicon featured over 120 industry leaders and experts, sharing their expertise on topics such as technology predictions, industry evolution, emerging technologies, among others.

On the first day of the convention, the delegates were welcomed in an interactive virtual platform where they would discover groundbreaking opportunities to reach greater heights in their respective industries during the digital event. 

The three-day convention highlighted plenary sessions, which presented a full roster of prominent and esteemed personalities from different companies and industries all around the globe.

PHOTO: ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise and International Business Groups Jovy I. Hernandez

ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head of PLDT and Smart Enterprise and International Business Groups Jovy I. Hernandez opened the plenary session by introducing what revolution means and how it will impact society moving forward.

“We need to emerge from this crisis stronger. We cannot just rebuild and recover. We have to rediscover and redefine ourselves and our businesses. To harness technology and effectively navigate the new world of business, this revolution is mandating us not only to refresh our strategies but more importantly to rethink and rewire our mindsets and attitudes,” Hernandez shared.

Hernandez added that this period would give birth to more revolutionary technologies such as artificial intelligence, genome editing, 3D printing, autonomous vehicles, and IoT. 

“Now is the time to reimagine the world of business as we would like it to be. This is not pure imagination. It is up to all of us to make dreams into reality,” he said.

For the first plenary discussion, the first power panel discussed embracing revolutionary technology as an imperative for companies to thrive amid the shifting needs of customers in the post-pandemic era.

The thought leaders who took part in the plenary session include Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC); John Harrington, Nokia Senior Vice President, Head of Asia-Pacific and Japan; Nicholas Ma, President of Huawei Asia Pacific Enterprise Business Group; Yasuo Suzuki, President of NTT Global Data Center, and Dave West, President of Cisco Asia Pacific, Japan, And Greater China.

PHOTO: PH Digicon 2021’s official host and moderator Cathy Yap-Yang with Yasuo Suzuki, President of NTT Global Data Center, John Harrington, Nokia Senior Vice President, Head of Asia-Pacific and Japan, Manuel V. Pangilinan, Chairman of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), Dave West, President of Cisco Asia Pacific, Japan, And Greater China, Nicholas Ma, President of Huawei Asia Pacific Enterprise Business Group

They shared valuable insights on how their respective companies had overcome the challenges of the pandemic and what it means to have a revolutionary leadership to steer businesses and organizations to success.

“In many ways we have to adopt the revolutionary aspects of leadership, adopting abrupt changes in certain areas that are really needed but at the same time maintaining the values that are important to our company, to PLDT and the overall First Pacific Group,” he said. 

PH Digicon 2021’s celebrity speaker Charlize Theron also spoke about her experiences in different aspects of life, as an award-winning Hollywood actress, film and TV producer, entrepreneur, and the UN Messenger of Peace.

PHOTO: PH Digicon 2021 celebrity headline speaker Charlize Theron

Theron left a piece of encouraging advice to women leaders since women’s empowerment has been a relevant issue in the business industry.

“Be resilient, find your crew, find your team, find and surround yourself by people who make you better, who challenge you, who push you… And I think understanding the value of leadership is not something that happens in a vacuum; doesn’t happen with one person.”

“It really happens with your village, it happens with constantly being hungry for that voice out there that might be of different than yours… Surround yourself with people who are like-minded but also different people that you can learn from. And never, ever, be too proud to say that you were wrong,” said Theron.

After the first plenary session, there were also tech leadership forums where significant perspectives on top technology trends and advancements in various industries were conferred.

PHOTO: PH Digicon 2021 Tech Leadership Forums’ official host and moderator broadcast journalist Danie Laurel

Three of the key themes discussed for the first day of the PH Digicon 2021 include adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT), empowering the retail industry through an all-new digital experience, and enabling the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry through solutions and technologies. 

 

Rediscover. 

Meanwhile, the second day was opened by key executives from the private sector together with the government in an exclusive roundtable discussion to examine the prospects of priming the Philippines as the next hyperscaler destination and data center hub in the Asia Pacific.

Present during this portion include Department of Trade and Industry Sec. Ramon Lopez, Philippine Bureau of Investments Executive Director Ma. Corazon Halili-Dochosa, MPower Senior Vice President and Head Roberto R. Almazora, Yasuo Suzuki of NTT Data Center, and Structure Research Head of Research Jabez Tan. 

They discussed the measures and technology investments currently done by both public and private institutions to lay the digital foundation of the Philippines for its bid to be the next strategic hyperscaler destination in the region.

The panel stressed that the Philippines has consistently increased its attractiveness to hyperscalers with critical investments in submarine cable systems in place, its stable political and business climate, increasing access to renewable energy, and the availability of a highly-educated and talented workforce and its high internet and smartphone penetration.

"The pandemic has pushed us to maximize the use of digital platforms, which accelerated the growth of our data center market. Our country's digital landscape makes it an ideal setting to support the growth of the hyperscalers as well as data center operations," said Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Mon Lopez.

PLDT VP and International Facilities Investments Management Head Gene Sanchez, on the other hand, said that PLDT is looking at all the building blocks necessary to make the Philippines the favored hub in Asia. 

“The Philippines is already part of the big chain, but we need to make us more favorable. We have embarked on implementing an international submarine network—a plan that would support hyperscaler requirements. That means we will be able to scale up submarine capacity at will,” Sanchez said.

PLDT’s current international cable network comprises 15 global subsea cable systems, which will further be expanded with its investment in additional subsea cables such as Asia Direct Cable, Jupiter, and Apricot that are expected to be operational by the end of this year to 2022.

Moreover, PLDT Group also announced that it is set to build the first hyperscaler data center in the country designed to serve the hyperscale requirements of global tech giants.

Right after the incisive roundtable discussion, the delegates were engaged in the second plenary session where key PLDT executives talked about how industries adapted to the shift brought by the global health crisis and how they stayed resilient amid these unique challenges.

PLDT Enterprise FVP and Enterprise Revenue Group Head Mitch Locsin, PLDT FVP & Enterprise Revenue Group Head Vic Tria, and Vice President and Enterprise Revenue Group Head for PLDT Enterprise Ding V. Villarino highlighted the role of innovation in various industries and how it ultimately advanced the economy forward despite the difficulties that companies had faced.

PHOTO: PLDT Enterprise FVP and Enterprise Revenue Group Head Mitch Locsin, PLDT FVP & Enterprise Revenue Group Head Vic Tria, and Vice President and Enterprise Revenue Group Head for PLDT Enterprise Ding V. Villarino

Furthermore, the panel discussion featured how businesses have successfully outmaneuvered the disruption brought by the pandemic and how they are continuously adapting their business models to facilitate growth and success in the better normal.

Several prominent Filipino tycoons spoke during the discussion, including Penshoppe Group Chairman and CEO Bernie Liu, Jollibee Group Chief Business Officer Joseph Tanbuntiong, JG Summit Holdings Inc. President and CEO Lance Gokongwei, Century Pacific Food, Inc. Executive Chairman Chris Po, and Alliance Global Group Inc. CEO Kevin L. Tan.

PHOTO: JG Summit Holdings Inc. President and CEO Lance Gokongwei, Penshoppe Group Chairman and CEO Bernie Liu, PLDT and Smart President and CEO Al Panlilio, Jollibee Group Chief Business Officer Joseph Tanbuntiong, Alliance Global Group Inc. CEO Kevin L. Tan and Century Pacific Food, Inc. Executive Chairman Chris Po

PLDT Inc. and Smart Communications President and CEO Al Panlilio also participated during this session and shared his insights and key learnings on what makes a revolutionary leader.

“It’s people-first mindset [for] both employee and customer, making sure they’re healthy, they’re safe, and decisions made around huge considerations for the people. From a leadership point of view, you have to be authentic, clear, and transparent to your people.

“In this pandemic, it is about leading bravely. We can never tell what will happen; thus, we must be more informed and, hopefully, make the right decisions… We have always pushed for a purpose, and that is to remain relevant to our customers,” said Panlilio.

In the afternoon, the tech leadership forums zeroed in on banking and e-commerce and strengthening an organization’s cybersecurity posture to stay resilient amid risks and attacks. 

Likewise, key industry leaders also shared how the education sector has been adapting to these challenging times and what they could do to improve the delivery of enriched education experience to the students despite having an all-digital classroom. 

 

Revolutionize.

The third and final day of the convention focused on the preparations for the next revolution in various industries and several business technologies that would continue to disrupt different market sectors.

The tech forum sessions focused on nurturing intelligent cities and what sustainable practices the public and private institutions must do to successfully transform urban areas into smart cities with ease and efficiency.

In addition, the convention also shared insights with regards to improving the delivery of health care services and how technology can be used to better equip healthcare facilities and healthcare workers to provide efficient, accessible, and inexpensive health care services to patients.

The closing plenary session has taught the delegates the fundamental requirements they should initiate to transform and stay competitive both locally and abroad.

PLDT Enterprise Core Business Solutions FVP & Head Jojo Gendrano underscored that to fully embrace digital transformation, companies need to have a clear and well-communicated strategy to lay the vision of what their customers want and where they want to take them in the company.

“The next step is structuring a team that is fit to transform the organization is important with clear lines of ownership and accountability set. And next is to pick partners that you can trust… On the side, if you want to be a brand and product leader, investments in resources like R&D are needed to achieve that differentiation. And lastly, things will not always go our way and this is where resilience comes in,” Gendrano noted.

 

Be the Revolution.

For business owners – whether of small or large enterprises - looking to be part of the digital revolution, the Philippine Digital Convention encourages you to step ahead, explore opportunities and learn how you can transform your organization to be at par with global industry leaders.

By consistently searching for insights, learnings, and being willing to embrace digital transformation, you will experience how industry players are incorporating digitalization into their business activities and how it propelled their organizations to succeed.

Relive the three-day convention like no other via the PH Digicon 2021 content on demand exclusively available at phdigicon2021.com. 

For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com.

COvER PHOTO: PLDT Enterprise held REVOLUTION: the Philippine Digital Convention 2021 last October 6 to 8 which gathered global technology leaders and industry experts in one platform.