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Tag: manila

  • H&M celebrates Black Friday with up to 70% off

    H&M celebrates Black Friday with up to 70% off

    Outside of traditional holidays like Christmas, Valentine’s and Mother’s Day, perhaps the most awaited day of the year in the United States, especially for shoppers and bargain hunters, is Black Friday, which is celebrated after Thanksgiving.

    After feasting on turkey with their families, Americans then head out to the nearest shopping center to get the best deals and bargains of the year, as most brands go on sale. And by sale, we mean really BIG discounts on a whole range of items.

    Black Friday is considered the starting point for the holiday shopping season, as Americans buy Christmas presents for their loved ones.

    As an early Christmas treat to shoppers and bargain hunters, international clothing company H&M is bringing the Black Friday frenzy to the Philippines for the first time this year!

    On November 25 to 27, H&M stores in the Philippines will be offering discounts on its new collection, with over 150,000 items sold at 50% to 70% off. Black Friday will be celebrated in the following H&M branches nationwide:

    1. SM Megamall
    2. SM Makati
    3. Robinsons Magnolia
    4. Robinsons Place Manila
    5. UPTown Bonifacio
    6. U.P. Town Center
    7. SM North EDSA
    8. SM Fairview
    9. SM City Clark
    10. Marquee Mall Pampanga
    11. SM City Seaside Cebu
    12. Ayala Center Cebu
    13. Centrio Mall Cagayan de Oro
    14. EVIA Lifestyle Center
    15. SM City Dasmarinas
    16. Festival Mall
    17. SM City Southmall
    18. Robinsons Place Ilocos
    19. Gateway Mall
    20. SM City Iloilo
    21. Abreeza Mall Davao

    All concepts — ladies, men’s, divided, kids, and home — will be part of this promo. Here are some of the items that will be offered at a discount:

  • China tapping 10 Philippine’s banks

    China tapping 10 Philippine’s banks

    State-owned Bank of China is in talks with ten Philippines banks including  Banco de Oro Unibank Inc. and Land Bank of the Philippines to retail the $3-billion fund committed by the Chinese lender to the Philippines.

    A team of high ranking officials from Bank of China’s main office in Beijing attended the first of a series of roadshows in the Philippines to link with local financing institutions including banks and microfinance lenders.

    Bank of China president Jun Deng said more financing institutions and legitimate lenders would be announced soon.

    “This is just the initial phase. We will be having discussions with the banks we invited. Maybe later on, we’ll disclose these banks and the development of our discussions,” he said during the Manila leg of the roadshow held Thursday at Fairmont Hotel in Makati City.

    The roadshow is a pre-event exercise in preparation for the Bank of China’s global SME cross-border trade and investment conference that will take place in Davao City in 2017.

    Bank of China will provide details on how it will disperse financing to Philippine SMEs during the Davao conference.

    The bank said it would also bring in 100 Chinese SMEs interested in the Philippine agro-industrial industry.

    “Agribusiness is one of the key areas important to China. Other interests include technology, renewable energy which is heavy on solar-based power production and the furniture industry,” said International Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines president Jesus Varela.

    Initial talks between the Chinese bankers and Filipino businessmen pointed to Mindanao as the priority area.

    The conference will also serve as a matchmaking event for SMES to have access to financing from credited financing retailers of Bank of China.

    Bank of China said while the $3-billion financing commitment would not be for the sole benefit of SMEs, the bigger portion of the fund will help SMEs grow and build a global enterprise.

    Deng said a portion of the financing would also support important infrastructure and energy projects and programs that would promote industrialization.

    Bank of China held 26 cross-border trade and investment conferences across the world that attracted over 30,000 people from political and business circles and  more than 15,000 enterprises from 60 countries over the past two years.

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  • Cebu Pacific opens 3 more domestic routes

    Cebu Pacific opens 3 more domestic routes

    The Philippines’ leading airline, Cebu Pacific, further reinforces its position in the Visayas region with the launch of three more routes.

    Starting last Nov.19 (Saturday) , CEB has officially become the only carrier flying daily between Cebu and Ormoc and Cebu and Roxas; and four times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday) between Cebu and Calbayog using the ATR 72-500 aircraft.

    With these new destinations, CEB is now up by three with a total of 36 domestic cities being served. With this further expansion, more and more travelers now have easier access to the already wide (and continually-growing) network of Cebu Pacific.

    The lowest all-in year-round fare, one-way for Cebu to Calbayog is Php1,983, Cebu to Ormoc is Php1,647 and Cebu to Roxas is Php2,039.

    “CEB remains committed in offering the most convenient choices for passengers at the lowest fares possible. With these additional routes in and out of the Queen City of the South, more guests can now easily explore the Visayas region. At the same time, locals can now connect not only to Cebu and Manila, but to international destinations as well. Rest assured, we will continue to persist in expanding our horizons and promote trade and tourism in the destinations we operate in,” said Alexander Lao, Cebgo President and CEO.

    Moreover, the addition of these new routes will foster stronger cargo services within Calbayog and Ormoc, and soon will expand in the whole of Visayas region.

    Based on the current data released by the Civil Aeronautics Board, Cebu Pacific Air group is currently the largest domestic cargo carrier, representing 50% of the market. Nearly 165 million kilos of cargo were delivered to domestic and international destinations in 2015. We service more than 2,000 accounts, tailor-fitting products to our clients’ domestic and international cargo needs. This includes express cargo service, seamless transshipment, and 30 interline partnerships for worldwide reach.

    In 2015, over 4.4 million passengers were flown to and from Cebu. Cebu routes cover about 24.5% of CEB’s seat capacity for 2015. With the addition of these new routes, CEB now has a total of 25 domestic routes in Cebu, which caters to the ever-increasing travel demand.

    Aside from Cebu, CEB also operates flights out of five other strategically placed hubs in the Philippines: Manila, Davao, Clark, Kalibo, and Iloilo. The airline’s extensive network covers over 100 routes and 66 destinations, spanning Asia, Australia, the Middle East, and USA. CEB’s 58-strong fleet is comprised of six Airbus A319, 36 Airbus A320, six Airbus A330, eight ATR 72-500, and two ATR 72-600 aircraft. Between 2016 and 2021, CEB expects delivery of two more brand-new Airbus A330, 32 Airbus A321neo, and 14 ATR 72-600 aircraft.

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  • AirAsia launches daily Manila-Taipei service

    AirAsia launches daily Manila-Taipei service

    Travellers from the Philippines now have more options when flying to Taiwan after Philippines AirAsia started its daily Manila-Taipei service last Monday.

    Philippines AirAsia chief executive Captain Dexter Comendador himself piloted the Airbus A320 to mark the budget airline’s maiden voyage from Manila to Taipei.

    “Today heralds a brighter and much closer ties between two countries to improve trade and tourism,” he addressed the passengers midway through the flight.

    “We have introduced amazing connections for our guests to enjoy and we are aiming to go further across Asia by strengthening AirAsia’s presence in Taiwan,” Comendador added.

    The flight touched down at the Taoyuan International Airport after midnight to a welcome water barrage from firetrucks.

    The Taipei-Manila route was officially launched Tuesday at a press conference at the Grand Sheraton in Taipei, which was attended by Philippines AirAsia chair Maan Hontiveros and AirAsia North Asia CEO Kathleen Tan.

    A thrice-weekly Cebu-Taipei service was also announced with performances from Sinulog dancers. Taiwanese celebrity travel blogger Patty Woo also regaled guests with her beach adventures during her recent trip to Cebu.

    Starting Friday, Philippines AirAsia will begin regular flights from Cebu to Taipei on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

    Taiwanese tourist arrivals in the Philippines have reached 157,517 from January to August this year. Taiwan is currently the country’s sixth top visitor market after Korea, the United States, China, Japan and Australia.

    “Taiwan and the Philippines share a strong affinity with one another. They enjoy robust economic ties, many Filipinos live and work in Taiwan and more and more Taiwanese are visiting the many beautiful islands in the Philippines. We are honored to be able to bring the countries even closer together,” Tan said.

    Taiwan is known for night markets, tourist attractions like Taipei 101, and foodie adventures with its diverse culinary offerings

    Philippines AirAsia has teamed up with TourMeAway Walking Tours to make exploring Taipei more fun. From now until November 30, Philippines AirAsia travelers to Taipei may join the Hunger Game Walking Tour or the Taipei Chillout Tour for free.

  • Philippines charges bankers for ignoring cyberheist

    Philippines charges bankers for ignoring cyberheist

    The Philippines has filed charges against five officials of RCBC bank and a former treasurer who “wilfully ignored” suspicious activity that led to tens of millions of dollars vanishing after a heist on Bangladesh’s central bank.

    Unknown cybercriminals tried to steal nearly $1 billion from the Bangladesh Bank in February in what was one of the biggest bank heists ever.

    They succeeded in transferring some $81 million via an account at the New York Federal Reserve to four accounts in fake names at a branch of Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. in Manila. Most of the cash was quickly withdrawn and laundered through multiple channels.

    In a 97-page complaint to the justice ministry, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) said that former RCBC Treasurer Raul Tan, three retail banking officials and two workers at the branch where cash was withdrawn were guilty of money laundering because they should have noticed something was wrong and intervened immediately.

    Only about $15 million has been recovered and returned to Bangladesh, with a further $2.7 million frozen. The rest of the funds changed hands several times and vanished in the Philippines’ casino industry.

    No arrests have been made despite investigations by the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, Interpol, Bangladesh police and authorities in the Philippines.

    Tan resigned as the bank’s treasurer in April.

    The AMLC complaint, filed on Nov. 18, covers three retail banking workers and two customer relations officers at the its Jupiter branch in Makati City. The complaint was based on evidence gathered from the bank.

    “Tan was in a position to order enhanced due diligence based on the red flags,” it said.

    “Tan could have convened the anti-money laundering committee to act on these red flags,” the AMLC said, adding Tan “wilfully ignored them and failed to conduct thorough investigation,” as required by law and the bank’s regulations.

    Tan’s actions showed he had “knowledge that the funds transacted represented the proceeds of an unlawful activity,” it said.

    RCBC in a statement said its own probe had found no official from the head office involved in the transaction, which was initiated and carried out by the Jupiter branch.

    “We welcome the charges as an opportunity to conclusively prove that our executives acted properly and had no knowledge or participation in any money laundering,” CEO and President Gil Buenaventura said.

    One longtime RCBC client, casino owner and agent Kim Wong, had admitted during a Philippine Senate inquiry that he received millions of the loot from two Chinese gamblers but did not know it was stolen. He denies involvement in the heist and has returned $15 million of around $35 million he said he received.

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  • Globe’s Fintech Subsidiary Mynt Selects Amdocs to Power its Casa Service

    Globe’s Fintech Subsidiary Mynt Selects Amdocs to Power its Casa Service

    Amdocs, the leading provider of customer experience solutions, today announced that Mynt, Globe Telecom’s fintech subsidiary, has selected the Amdocs Mobile Financial Services solution to power Casa – a new service that will enable Mynt to offer retailers a cloud-based, financial-grade, white-label digital money fintech platform, providing retailers with the means to offer a wide range of financial services and generate a new revenue stream.

    The Mynt Casa service, which will be powered by the Amdocs Mobile Financial Services solution, will enable retailers to offer bill payments, money transfers, closed-loop merchant payment solutions and loyalty program management. In addition, a card management feature will support them in issuing a closed-loop companion prepaid card to any customer, even if they do not hold a bank account. Cards will be linked to the user’s mobile wallet account, allowing them to pay for purchases at retail and online stores.

    The Amdocs solution will be deployed on Amazon’s public cloud. Based on a multi-tenant system, it will enable retailers in different locations to be hosted as separate tenants on a centralized platform, wholly managed by Amdocs. Under a five-year software as a service (SaaS) agreement, Amdocs will assume complete responsibility for development, deployment, operation and maintenance of the Amdocs solution via a revenue-sharing model with Mynt.

    “Retailers in emerging markets such as the Philippines need their own e-money solution that allows them to offer financial services such as point-of-sale payments, using cashless methods such as mobile wallets, payment cards and loyalty points,” said JM Aujero, chief sales officer at Mynt. “With Casa’s easy-to-use cloud-based platform, we will be able to provide for this need in a way that is tailored to each individual retailer. At the same time, it will enable them to offer wider financial services, such as third-party bill payments and money transfers without having to invest in new infrastructure deployment and operations.”

    “The ability for retailers and merchants to offer their own financial services solutions is a huge opportunity for mobile financial services providers to drive usage and adoption,” said Patrick McGrory
    , president for Amdocs’ emerging offerings. “Casa, powered by Amdocs’ cloud-based solution, provides superior, retail-specific capabilities, combined with a time-to-market advantage that will enable Mynt to quickly roll out services to its retail partners across the Philippines.”

    Amdocs also separately announced the availability of its Mobile Financial Services Card Management System (CMS). CMS supports any service provider in issuing both closed loop and open loop prepaid and debit cards to their customers, even to those who have no bank account. The card can be linked to a consumer’s mobile wallet with a stored value and/or loyalty point account as the source of funds. They can use the card to pay for purchases at a retail point of sale terminal, withdraw cash from an ATM, or for online shopping.

     

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  • Swedish retail giant H&M opens 18th Philippines Store in Centrio

    Swedish retail giant H&M opens 18th Philippines Store in Centrio

    Swedish retail giant H&M Hennes and Mauritz, Inc. has opened its 18th store in the Philippines at Ayala Centrio Mall in Cagayan de Oro City.

    H&M Country Manager for South East Asia Fredrik Famm leads the countdown for the ribbon cutting of their Centrio Store

    H&M Country Manager for South East Asia Fredrik Famm leads the countdown for the ribbon cutting of their Centrio Store

    Over a thousand excited shoppers queued as early as the day before to be the first to see only its second store in Mindanao after Davao.

    The crowd lines up to get a glimpse of the new store

    The crowd lines up to get a glimpse of the new store

    H&M Cagayan de Oro has more or less 1,500 square meters of store space and opens regularly from 10am-9pm.

    It carries a full assortment of H&M products including ladies, men’s, kids, shoes, accessories and lingerie, and also has complete sports, denim and underwear departments for both men and ladies.

    Ed Montalvan and other media are given a quick tour of the store prior to its 27 Oct opening by AList Dir Cybill Guynn (RMB, NPN)

    Ed Montalvan and other media are given a quick tour of the store prior to its 27 Oct opening by AList Dir Cybill Guynn (RMB, NPN)

    Alert environment-conscious shoppers will find an array of Conscious and sustainably-produced products, and will be delighted to avail of the option to donate used clothes for a discount voucher they can use for their next purchase under H& M’s Garment Collecting Program..

    Fredrik Famm, H&M Country Manager for South East Asia, sees a lot of potential in his assigned region, especially the Philippines.

    Fredrik Famm, H& M Country Manager for South East Asia, fields queries from the media with Danreb Mejia, H&M Head for Communications & Press

    Fredrik Famm, H& M Country Manager for South East Asia, fields queries from the media with Danreb Mejia, H&M Head for Communications & Press

    “By the end of the year we will have around 20 stores in the Philippines,” Famm said an exclusive media interview prior to the 27 October Centrio store opening. “We have big plans for the coming years given the country’s growing population, growing middle class, growing disposable income, and growing fashion interest.”

    “We’ve been in the Philippines for exactly two years since October 2014,” he said. “It’s been an amazing journey, we’ve been very well received, so we now have 18 stores in the country, it’s been a very quick expansion, and Filipino customers have embraced us in an amazing way.”

    The country’s robust economy has obviously been the driver for the store’s fast expansion.

    “We see a lot of potential in the Philippines, there is a lot of fashion interest, we see that segment is growing very quickly, and we see we have something to offer that is not yet fully present in the market,” Famm said. “We offer fashion, quality and price, and our products are made in a sustainable way. We think we can manage this mix better than most of our competitors.”

    H&M Centrio offers the same fashion at the same price you find in H&M stores all over the world

    H&M Centrio offers the same fashion at the same price you find in H&M stores all over the world

    H&M has sold out collections and there have been long queues whenever they open a new store. Apparently, fashion conscious Pinoys who’ve been abroad have been delighted to find the same merchandise at the same prices in H&M’s Philippine stores.

    “The fashion you see in Cagayan de Oro is the same that you can see in London, Paris, New York,” Famm stressed. We believe fashion is global and everything travels fast these days via internet and social media. We want customers to have the same experience when they enter our store in Cagayan de Oro as what they experience when they enter a store in Europe or US.”

    Thus, the chain has experienced sold out collections and long lines whenever they have opened a new store in the Philippines.

    Centro Mall Manager Natalie Mae Crisostomo (left) with Veronika Spanikova , H&M Construction Manager for South East Asia & Joy Tan, Construction Project Manager for H&M Philippines (photo by Mike Banos, NPN)

    Centro Mall Manager Natalie Mae Crisostomo (left) with Veronika Spanikova , H&M Construction Manager for South East Asia & Joy Tan, Construction Project Manager for H&M Philippines.

    “We want Cagayan de Oro customers to be able to find the same fashion in bigger cities in Europe and the US. We have the same collections everywhere and we build our stores the same way,” he added.

    Providing fashion for every age group at affordable prices has endeared the store to fashion conscious Pinoys eager to make their own individual fashion statements.

    “We believe customers are looking for the same fashion all over the world. Looking at the diversity that we have, everyone must be able to dress their own personality,” Famm said.

    “Every day you have new fashion arriving in the store, and that’s what makes us extremely competitive.  We want customers to find something new every time they visit us so customers should be able to come back every week and find something interesting.”

    Pinoy shoppers who’ve shopped in H&M stores all over the world will be further delighted to know they’re paying the same prices for the same merchandise they’ve been buying aboard.

    Souvenir shot with Danreb Mejia, H&M Head for Communications & Press

    Souvenir shot with Danreb Mejia, H&M Head for Communications & Press

    “We aim to have the same prices all over the world except for local differences due to customs duties, taxes, logistics, or exchange rates, but more or less we have the same price levels especially within the Philippines,” Famm assures.

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  • Consumer credit seen to grow in Philippines

    Consumer credit seen to grow in Philippines

    Consumer credit demand in the Philippines remains strong, supported by President Rodrigo Duterte’s push to sustain economic growth, a loan provider said Friday.

    Home Credit Philippines expects to hit its target 500,000 clients this year and double its client base to one million in 2017, according to its chief executive, Annica Witschard.

    “Obviously, there’s going to be some ups and downs in the global economy but the Philippines has a strong track record of growth and I don’t seen anything that’s going to stop that in the coming years,” she told ANC’s “Market Edge with Cathy Yang.”

    Companies like Home Credit thrive with only three out of every 10 Filipinos having access to banks and only five percent with credit cards, she said.

    Home Credit Philippines, the local unit of Home Credit Group, plans to expand to more retail stores in 17 provinces nationwide to offer non-cash, no-collateral in-store financing.

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  • Philippines based mobile payment service Abra joins hands with Codapay

    Philippines based mobile payment service Abra joins hands with Codapay

    Philippines-based mobile payment service Abra has announced a partnership with Singapore-based e-payment gateway Codapay.

    With this new deal, Abra users in the Philippines will be able to purchase Steam wallet codes, Skype credit, Amazon gift cards and Battle.net cards by paying with Abra at Codapay’s retail site, Codashop.

    “It is Abra’s goal to provide its users a better way to send and receive money, and to pay for things online. I am incredibly happy to partner with Codapay, a company whose vision of financial inclusion aligns with ours,” said Bill Barhydt, founder and CEO of Abra, in an official press statement.

    Founded in 2014, Abra leverages on blockchain technology to store digital cash on users’ smartphones. Credits in the mobile wallet can be topped up via any accredited Abra teller (which incurs a small fee) or through the users’ bank accounts. Users can also transfer cash to other users via the app — including cross-border money transfers between Philippines and the US.

    To date, it has raised a total of US$14 million in three funding rounds.

    While mobile payment services such as Smart Money and GCash have been operating in the Philippines for a decade, the country is experiencing a surge in mobile payment adoption due to the increasing smartphone penetration rate and growth of e-commerce (which is set to hit US$1.01 billion in revenue this year).

    Additionally, a Mastercard survey revealed that 17 per cent of consumers and 15 per cent of consumers in Philippines have made mobile commerce purchases and p2p transactions respectively.

  • PayMaya Philippines, JCB team up to widen JCB cards acceptance in the Philippines

    PayMaya Philippines, JCB team up to widen JCB cards acceptance in the Philippines

    PayMaya, the Philippines’ pioneering financial services provider, and JCB International Co., Ltd. (JCBI), the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co., Ltd., have forged a new partnership for JCB Merchant Acquiring and Card Issuing business in the Philippines. The partnership deals with the acceptance of JCB cards at online merchants that use PayMaya Checkout as the payment gateway. PayMaya and JCBI also plan to issue co-branded cards in the future.

    PayMaya Business is focused on delivering solutions that power businesses of all types and sizes to accept all kinds of payments. The services PayMaya Business provides are PayMaya Checkout, a system that enables online shops to accept card payments, PayMaya Swipe, a mobile point-of-sale device that can simply be attached to any mobile device so merchants can accept card payments, and PayMaya Touch, a payment solution which allows businesses to accept swipe, dip, and contactless card payments.

    The partnership will benefit all JCB cardmembers in the Philippines and overseas. JCB is a pioneer in the Japanese payment card industry with over 70M cardmembers and 95M in total worldwide. JCB cardmembers will be able to use their JCB cards at online merchants that use PayMaya Checkout as their payment gateway.

    In 2017, JCB cardmembers will also be able to transact in big retail outlets in the Philippines but also in micro- and small-medium enterprises including local boutiques, food carts, and community stores which offer a unique shopping experience through PayMaya Swipe and Touch. These outlets prefer more affordable and easier payment acceptance solution like PayMaya Swipe, Checkout, and Touch.

    Kimihisa Imada, Deputy President of JCBI, said, “The Philippines is one of the most important markets for JCB’s global business expansion and we are pleased to welcome our new partner to the JCB network. I am certain that this partnership with PayMaya will bring more benefits and convenience to all JCB card members, especially in the e-commerce space. We are also looking forward to exploring further business opportunities such as ‘PayMaya-JCB Card’ issuance soon.”

    “At PayMaya, we strive to shape the future of commerce and drive local business growth through digital payment innovations. We are strengthening this commitment by collaborating with strategic partners such as JCBI, which help us enable merchants to accept payments from more consumers here and abroad. We are thrilled to see the progression of our alliance with JCBI as we continue our mission in redefining the payment landscape in the Philippines,” said Orlando Vea, President and CEO of Voyager Innovations and PayMaya Philippines.

    The JCB “Uniquely Yours” Experience

    JCB is a major global payment brand and a leading payment card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 31 million merchants and over a million cash advance locations in 190 countries and territories. JCB cards are now issued in 21 countries and territories, with more than 95 million card members. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to provide responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide.

    The unique benefits of PayMaya Business

    PayMaya handles the requirements of merchants in enabling their online and card payment acceptance–no need to talk to banks, expert programmers, or payment aggregators separately.

    For online payment, PayMaya Checkout API is easy to integrate in websites or apps. The process involves three simple steps: integration to sandbox environment, testing, and production.

    PayMaya provides simple pricing and fast settlements. Merchants are not required to settle monthly fees or present bank statements. They will only pay for the transactions they make. The package comes with access to a dashboard of transaction reports for sales performance tracking.

    The Philippine Airline’s mobile website and its recently launched online boutique, and the online gadget store Kimstore are powered by PayMaya Checkout.

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  • Denny’s Manila marks restaurant’s Philippines debut

    Denny’s Manila marks restaurant’s Philippines debut

    American diner Denny’s has arrived in the Philippines, opening at Uptown Parade in Bonifacio Global City (BGC).

    The Denny’s Manila restaurant is the first of several planned for the brand’s newest international market.

    Mall owner Megaworld Corporation founder Kevin Tan says on Instagram that the store is one “one of my favorite restaurants in the world”. He was on hand for the store’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.

    Denny’s started out as a coffee and donut stand in 1953. It went public in 1968 and was listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
    At BGC, it is open all day every day serving American breakfasts, pancakes and omelettes.

    Denny’s also has stores in China and Korea.

  • Manila Fame Welcomes Exhibitors, Int`l Buyers To Bigger Show

    Manila Fame Welcomes Exhibitors, Int`l Buyers To Bigger Show

    The Philippines premier design and lifestyle event, Manila FAME 2016, is expanding the show with more venues, extended hours, and more SME exporters, while showcasing new artisans, designers, and products.

    The 64th edition of Asia-Pacifics second-longest running trade exhibition, from October 20 to 22, 2016, will be held in four large venues to accommodate the growing number of participating SME exporters and the deluge of international trade buyers joining every edition to source unique products of the Philippines’ artisans, its embassy said in a statement, here, Saturday.

    The upcoming show will be held at the World Trade Center (WTC) Main Hall, which will house the holiday and home exporters, and the WTC Tent, which will feature fashion, textile, and apparel brands. The Philippine Trade Training Center (PTTC) will exhibit arts and crafts, and start-up and retail companies, while HallONE will be the venue for the Design Week Philippines – (DWP) Creative Marketplace.

    Design Week Philippines, held concurrently with Manila FAME, is a multifaceted fete of arts and design aimed at fostering creativity and spurring innovations. It is overflowing with activities that speak of Filipino ingenuity and design breakthroughs that strengthen the Philippines position as Asias design capital.

    In addition to the special DWP events to be held in HallONE, more activities initiated by the Design Center of the Philippines will take place in Manilas historic center, Intramuros.

    Extended exhibit hours for more buyers, visitors

    Manila FAME will extend its operating hours by an hour to 7.00pm from the original 9:00am to 6:00pm. The change was made in response to requests from trade buyers for longer business hours that would allow them to meet with all their target suppliers, examine new products at the show, and maximize their visit in Asia, which will have other trade events scattered across the region.

    New special showcases and daily events on whats hot

    Exciting showcases to look forward to at the October show include New Generation Weaves, Bamboo and Coconut Special Setting, Lamps and Lighting, and Icon Setting: Peacock Redux.

    Lively daily events to update trade buyers on on-trend designs and products as well as inspiring and creative workshops and business fora will be staged for a multi-sensory, comprehensive, and diverse trade show experience.

    Furthermore, the 64th Manila FAME will be made even more momentous with the celebration of the ASEAN Master Craft Design Festival and the participation of the ASEAN master craftsmen who will present their creations in a special pavilion called ASEAN Crafts to the World.

    The first group of the ASEAN master craftsmen, coming from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Viet Nam, will unveil new designs and progressive applications of native materials and traditional techniques in home furnishings, gifts and housewares, garden accessories, and fashion apparels.

    “CITEM is continuously shaping Manila FAME, not just to meet the demands of the changing industry with its new generation of buyers, entrepreneurs, consumers, designers, and artisans, but to exceed expectations, bring new ideas to the table, and most of all to showcase what the Philippine SMEs can do with training and assistance,” CITEM Executive Director Rosvi C. Gaetos said.

    Manila FAME is a bi-annual showcase of craftsmanship in Philippine products. It features finely selected furniture and home furnishings, holiday gifts and accessories, designed and crafted in the Philippines for the global market.

    Organized by the Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), Manila FAME is the only trade event in the Philippines approved by the Union des Foires Internationals (UFI), or the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, a Paris-based association of trade fair organizers founded 90 years ago in Milan, Italy, on April 1925.

  • Indonesia To Participate In Manila Fame Expo

    Indonesia To Participate In Manila Fame Expo

    Several Indonesians will be among the master craftsmen from selected ASEAN countries to participate in Manilas premier design and lifestyle event in Pasay City, the Philippines, from October 20 to 22, 2016.

    The ASEAN Master Craft Design Festival, titled Manila FAME, which is being held at the World Trade Center and the Philippine Trade Training Center, will feature an exhibition called ASEAN Crafts to the World that will unveil the first collection of crafts developed through the project “Improving the Current Status of ASEAN Mastercraft Designers”, Alma Argayoso, the Philippine Embassys Trade Representative to Indonesia, said here recently.

    Another highlight of the festival is an exhibition that will feature the works of the first group of ASEAN Master Craftsmen Lim Masulin from Indonesia, Roselyn Long Lah from Malaysia, Al Valenciano from the Philippines, Tuong Phi Duc from Vietnam and Rush Pleansuk from Thailand.

    Lim Masulin, the featured artist from Indonesia is an entrepreneur, inventor and avid connector of the creative industry. He is best known as managing partner of Poiema Creative Group with brands like BYO Living, Chamero Couture and others.

    Indonesias craftsmanship will be highlighted in this years Manila FAME as it will feature not only Lim Masulin but also Indonesian architect Cosmas Gozali, who will curate the ASEAN Master Craftsmen exhibition.

    Fourteen Indonesian companies are also set to participate in the expo with the support of the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMESCO), Argayoso added.

    The project is organized by the ASEAN Handicraft Promotion and Development Association (AHPADA) and funded by the ASEAN – Republic of Korea Future Oriented Cooperation Program.

    “The project aims to strengthen and enhance the use of design in reinforcing cultural identity in design development, merchandising, packaging, and marketing of ASEAN products by supporting and sustaining the Master Craftsmen in the region,” according to Argayoso.

    The group will showcase home furnishings, gifts and housewares, garden accessories, and fashion merchandise.

    Meanwhile, the Master Craftsmen from the second set of ASEAN countries – Brunei, Cambodia, Laos PDR, Myanmar, and Singapore will observe the exhibition and prepare for the projects next phase which will then feature their collection of crafts.

  • 15 New Generation SMEs To Be Featured In Manila FAME

    15 New Generation SMEs To Be Featured In Manila FAME

    In support of local handcraft ateliers under the Design for Exports Program, the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM) has recently enjoined 15 local manufacturers in a product development program.

    The program focuses on new generation weaves, basketwork, and related wares.

    These product collections will be presented during the Manila FAME: The Design and Lifestyle Event on October from 20 to 22 at the World Trade Center, Pasay City, the Philippines embassy said in a statement, here Saturday.

    “The appeal of Philippines crafts lies in our raw materials and the unparalleled skill of our artisans. Through the DTI-CITEM efforts, we can further enhance this advantage and capitalize on it to help maintain – or even raise our position in the global handicrafts export industry,” CITEM Executive Director Rosvi C. Gaetos said.

    In recent years, when the global demand for basketwork has been steadily increasing, and eco-friendly designs are also gaining popularity among international buyers as these are considered sustainable, the Philippines remains the 4th largest exporter of basketwork and other related wares in the world.

    CITEM will provide the 15 companies full design and product development assistance to maximize their business opportunities in the global houseware industry through material and product development, market intelligence, and buyer matching. CITEM envisions the local manufacturers will enter niche markets as the current target market in weaves and related crafts is already dense.

    “We just cannot continue making only products. We need to create products full of soul, and that are unique, meaningful, and useful,” ED Gaetos was quoted as saying in the statement.

    The 15 handcraft ateliers currently undergoing product development using locally-sourced natural materials are from craft communities of Bicol, Pampanga, Cavite, Negros, Davao, Cebu, and Metro Manila. Companies that are making use of Philippine fibers (Abaca, Banana, Buntal, Cotton, Pineapple, Raffia), leaves (i.e. Pandan and Water Hyacinth), reeds, vines, bamboo, rattan, and wicker are Calfurn, Catalina Embroideries, Inc., Larone Crafts, Inc., Hacienda Crafts Company, Inc., Maria Vinecraft, Inc., Obra Cebuana, Inc., Shelmed Cottage Treasures, That One Piece Enterprise, and Tagum Agricultural Development Corporation (TADECO).

    The companies that make use of wood and metal are Basket and Weaves Handicrafts Mftg., Chanalli and Native Crafts and Arts Industries Inc., and Masa Ecological Development, Inc. (MASAECO) makes use of paper, pi�a fiber, and mulberry bark, while Asia Ceramics Corporation and Kilus Foundation are making products made of ceramics and synthetic materials.

    As part of the program, CITEM organized a presentation on the market and product directions consistent with global design and trends in basketry to a group of Manila FAME exhibitors, designers, and students. Attendees were introduced to the lifestyle and color forecast for 2017 and beyond, that largely embarks on elements of, light, natural, earthly colors and turquoise accents.

  • Villar Group expanding All Day stores

    Villar Group expanding All Day stores

    Sta. Rosa, Laguna, Philippines – The Villar Group, through its retail arm All Value Holdings Corp., is investing an additional P1.4 billion to fund the continued expansion of its All Day supermarket chain.

    The company opened yesterday its third branch, located in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

    This followed the opening of the first two stores in Vista Mall in Taguig and Starmall Edsa-Shaw.

    In an interview during yesterday’s opening ceremony, All Value chairman Manuel B. Villar Jr. said two more branches were expected to open before the end of the year. Plans are underway to build four to five more branches in 2017.

    “Each branch may cost us about P180 million or less,” Villar told reporters.

    He said the sites of All Day Supermarkets are leased from Vista Malls of sister company Vista Land & Lifescapes, while the inventory is largely consigned by suppliers.

    Villar said the fourth branch, located in Vista Mall Bataan would be even bigger. It is targeted for opening this month.

    The fifth and last outlet to open this year will be in Vista City in Daang Hari. Target date for the opening is December.

    All five stores will have a total floor area of about 20,000 square meters.

    For next year, the target is to open All Day Supermarkets in Mega Manila.

    “All of our supermarkets are successful. The response from consumers is very good. They have an upscale look but the prices are low so they cater to the masses,” he noted.

    All Day Supermarket offers a wide assortment of goods, bigger floor areas, nice store interiors and new services. It also opens as early as 8 in the morning.

    The supermarket’s goods are guaranteed fresh by their accreditation from the National Meat Inspection Service.

    It sells fresh meat, poultry and produce as well as seafoods. It also offers a “paluto” section that cooks food the way customers like it.

    There is also a Quick Fix Section dedicated to every family’s hardware and repair needs, which means that customers don’t need to leave the supermarket for their hardware needs.

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