Globe Telecom announced that it has expanded its operations in Asia with the establishment of GlobeTel Japan, Inc. With this office in Tokyo, the company is in a better position to serve the communications needs of customers in the Philippines as well as the 180,000 overseas Filipinos in Japan.
“We will continue to provide affordable and high-quality telecom services to our kababayans in Japan. We will also be adopting new business models to deliver meaningful products to overseas Filipinos,” said Nikko Acosta, Globe SVP for International Business.
With the changing competitive landscape in Europe, Globe also announced it will close its offices in the UK, Italy, and Spain. However, to continue serving its customers in the said countries, Globe maintained its popular telebabad service, DUO International, in the said markets through existing partnerships with telecom providers.
The three offices are UK Globetel Limited and Globe Mobile Italy s.r.l., both opened in 2013, and Globete Internacional European Espana S.L. which started operations in 2014. They are all members of the Globe Group of Companies.
In accordance with its international business alignment, Globe will retain its offices in the USA, Singapore, and Hong Kong, as well as retail presence across key markets such as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. For more information on the international services of Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph/international.
Asian eCommerce company, Zalora, has relaunched its scholarship program, now on its second year.
The theme for the Zalora Scholarship this year is “Function Vs Fashion: How the Two Coexist in (Major) Trends Over the Decades”.
The online retailing company says the fashion-meets-function trend is growing rapidly now, more than ever as wearables flood the market. One prime example is the activewear industry as fitness wear becomes more than just clothes for working out.
The Zalora Scholarship will award six tertiary students from the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong and, for the first time, Taiwan, with a grant and internship at Zalora offices.
Applicants may submit their entry in the form of an essay or infographic. Winning entries will be selected based on creativity, innovation and relevance to the theme as well as analytical skills and academic results.
Michele Ferrario, CEO of Zalora Group said: “As Asia’s online fashion retailer, we’re dedicated to continuously recognise and support the most promising talents in the region who desire for a career in fashion. We believe this will not only help develop and groom the future leaders of this industry but also contribute to the growth of eCommerce in Asia.”
Zalora welcomes applicants from all tertiary institutions that fall under Zalora Partner Institutions in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Taiwan. One student from each of these countries will be offered a scholarship.
Applications will close at 11:59 PM (GMT) on July 31.
It’s a good time to be looking for a job in the Philippines. According to the latest Monster Employment Index (MEI) data for May 2016, online hiring activity has registered positive growth for the first time ever this year.
Overall recruitment activity has increased 11% between May 2015 and May 2016. This is a 14% improvement from the previously reported -3% decline year-on-year for April.
Tracked by employment website Monster.com, the MEI Philippines is a gauge of online job posting activity, recording the industries and occupations that show the highest and lowest growth in recruitment activity locally.
The Retail sector reported a whopping 106% year-over-year growth in online hiring activity – the steepest growth registered of the industries monitored by the MEI. This is up from 49% year-over-year reported in April.
The Production/Manufacturing, Automotive and Ancillary sector continued to register the sharpest year-over-year decline at -34% in May. This is an improvement from -56% registered between April 2015 and 2016.
Across occupational groups, HR & Admin roles took the lead in the growth of hiring activities at 39% year-over-year. This is huge 34% improvement from the 5% registered in April.
Online hiring in Hospitality & Travel roles remained the weakest, registering -55% year-over-year decline.
“A recent survey by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) revealed strong employment among Filipinos. Preliminary reports have also shown that local unemployment stands at around 6.1% in April 2016, down 0.3% from April 2015. As Philippines continue to position itself as one of Asia’s growth areas, foreign investments are likely to continue to pour into the country to spur growth and hiring,” said Sanjay Modi, Managing Director, Monster.com – APAC and Middle East.
“The Philippines’ retail sector continues to exhibit strong growth partly due to increased consumer spending power, fuelled by increasing income in the BPO sectors. It was recently reported that the hospitality sector had contributed P1.39 trillion to the Philippines economy, despite slower recruitment across these roles. This has likely resulted from the slower turnover within the sector after its hiring spree last May, which worked out well for the sector. Until the need arises, employers are in no hurry to add to their headcount.”
The Monster Employment Index Philippines is a monthly gauge of online job posting activity, based on a real-time review of millions of employer job opportunities culled from a large representative selection of career websites and online job listings across Philippines. The Index does not reflect the trend of any one advertiser or source, but is an aggregate measure of the change in job listings across the industry.
Perry Ellis International, Inc. announced today that it has entered into a license agreement with Chun Yuan International Company granting rights to design and distribute Original Penguin by Munsingwear® fashion bedding and home products in the Philippines. Distribution will include department stores, home specialty shops and E-Commerce sites. A special capsule collection will launch in Spring 2017 with a full collection introduction in the fall.
Original Penguin is an iconic American brand that mixes sportswear and contemporary fashion appealing to a style-savvy consumer who’s into details, but doesn’t take himself too seriously. Original Penguin pays homage to its brand heritage, while staying culturally relevant in their global markets. The brand reworks their archive of mid-century classics to reflect today’s lifestyle without compromising that heritage or the craftsmanship that established the Original Penguin name.
“We are thrilled with this partnership with Chun Yuan International and look forward to working with their team to offer Original Penguin’s lifestyle products in the Philippines. This addition will complement our solid market position and benefit our 25+ free standing stores and continue the expansion of our global reach,” commented George Feldenkreis, Executive Chairman of Perry Ellis International.
Kevin Lee, President of Chun Yuan International stated, “We are excited to partner with Original Penguin, a leading global brand with the well-known Penguin icon that is highly appreciated by the young generation in the Philippines.
The Philippines’ Globe Telecom, via its Globe Business group, has deployed NetApp SolidFire’s all-flash scale-out storage platform to support its virtual private cloud and dedicated private cloud services.
Globe Business provides a suite of products and services for mobile, fixed, broadband, data connections, internet and managed services.
In order to accelerate its cloud offerings and give it a better competitive edge, Globe Business turned to NetApp SolidFire to modernize its data center infrastructure.
With NetApp SolidFire’s scale-out design, customers can scale and control performance and capacity independently, without downtime or disruption. Data can be protected using NetApp SolidFire’s always-on data-at-rest encryption and real-time replication.
“With its flexibility and cost efficiency, more and more companies in the Philippines are taking advantage of cloud computing,” said Mike Frausing, Globe senior advisor for enterprise and IT enabled services group. “As they demand higher performance versus just capacity, we realized that adding more disks to the rack was too expensive and inefficient.”
Frausing said that with NetApp SolidFire, Globe customers have confidence that their needs for guaranteed levels of performance can be met. “We can offer reliable cloud services at a better price, providing a competitive — and a domestic — alternative to foreign cloud providers.”
Malaysian online payment service iPay88 has entered a collaboration with online payment company PayPal to promote and support cross-border trade for iPay88 merchants.
For small businesses in particular, cross-border eCommerce provides a chance to sell to the world, and iPay88 believes the collaboration will enable its merchants to leverage PayPal’s 184 million active accounts and presence in more than 200 markets.
Executive director KL Chan says iPay88 has nearly 10,000 e-merchants, including SMEs and conglomerates, but there is also a large, untapped market of businesses and companies still considering moving into eCommerce. “This collaboration with PayPal is timely as it will help capture this market effectively by offering both online banking and credit-card payment options.”
Merchants signing up for a PayPal account can now do so through iPay88. Approvals will be sent to merchants within three working days. Aside from the quick sign-up process, iPay88’s online merchants will also be able to benefit from PayPal’s multi-currency checkout.
Chan estimates the collaboration will drive extra revenue for iPay88 in 12 months.
“It has always been a challenge for businesses, especially small ones, to expand and sell overseas,” says PayPal Southeast Asia GM Rahul Shinghal. “PayPal is committed to helping them grow by leveraging the power of eCommerce, which gives them a level playing field when competing with larger export houses.”
A subsidiary of NTT Data Corporation, iPay88 was set up in Kuala Lumpur in 2006 and has an established presence in Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam.
NEC Corporation is a Japanese multinational provider of information and communication technology products and services with headquarters in Tokyo.
The 117-year-old firm started operations in the Philippines some 20 years ago when the local subsidiary NEC Philippines was incorporated in January 11, 1996. Gervacio points out that the global firm has been in the country as far back as the 1960s through a Manila Representative Office. In July, it will be celebrating its 20th anniversary with a conference and exhibition in Manila.
A technology giant recognized for its cutting-edge innovation, NEC delivers IT and network solutions to business enterprises, government and individual customers in the form of software, hardware and related services. Through a combination of its advanced technologies in ICT, it is providing safety for the public and thereby helping to establish safer cities.
Under the strategy of “Solutions for Society,” NEC offers product solutions for biometric such as facial and fingerprint recognition technology. The use of it for security and authentication purposes has become increasingly common due to its accuracy and efficiency. An example of use is the e-passport system where it has been implemented in many countries around the world, including Southeast Asia.
The system incorporates NEC’s world-class biometric technology in facial and fingerprint recognition for secured identity protection and eradicates duplication. Ranked world No.1 by United States’ NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology), NEC offers facial recognition and fingerprint technologies deployed in solutions such as NeoFace® Watch and NeoFace® Smart ID.
With terrorism and security threats being a growing concern in public areas and international borders, these solutions have helped law enforcement agencies and security organizations all over the world identify individuals and tighten security measures.
With cyber attacks on a rising trend in a borderless world, NEC’s powerful advanced cyber security solutions can protect organization’s IT and security systems from various cyber threats even before it occurs.
It recently opened its Cyber Security Factory in Singapore which complements NEC’s Security Operations Centers located in strategic parts of the world including Japan and Australia, with an aim to provide an inter-connected network to share intelligence on cyber threats and deliver 24/7 security to customers.
NEC is known mainly to electronic experts, but its platforms and solutions are everywhere from the sky above, on land, and deep in the bottom of the ocean waters.
Up in the sky, NEC satellites are orbiting the earth and their cloud solutions are a boon to computer and phone interface and exchange. The NEC radio systems are responsible to bounce signals to our cell phones.
On land, the Private Automatic Branch Exchange (PABX) allows connection to a local number, while the Key Telephone System (KTS) enables multiple users control over multiple telephone lines without the requirement for an operator, system attendant or receptionist.NEC Point of Sales(POS) Solution can also be found at major retail stores nationwide.
NEC’s presence can also be found in the bottom of the seas because the company’s thousands of kilometer long cables are lying in the ocean depths, which are responsible for transporting through fiber optic the data and communication exchanges from one country to another.
Globe Telecom in collaboration with Google now offers the new generation Chromecast, with the promise for a connected life for the home.
Globe’s broadband subscribers can avail of the new and improved Chromecast for an add-on of only P99 (about $2) per month.
The company said its customers today are no longer just tied in using their smartphones and PC’s at home for personal consumption, they also demand better content to share and experience on a bigger screen.
The new Chromecast offers the solution to “cast” content from their personal device such as movies, shows, music, games to a bigger screen TV using their HDMI connection.
The solution is now equipped with better connectivity with the latest 802.11ac dual band Wi-Fi and three antenna structure for a more faster, stable and less buffering streaming using the latest mobile devices.
Aside from being a better hardware, the new Chromecast is also fully compatible to cast with the latest entertainment apps including Globe exclusive digital content partners such as HOOQ, NBA and Spotify.
“With our continuous partnership with Google, we stay true in providing new and meaningful innovations to fully maximize the digital lifestyle of our customers,” said Martha Sazon, Globe SVP for broadband business.
“The latest installment in this is the new Chromecast, now with better features and compatibility to our content partners such as Spotify, HOOQ, NBA to a more immersive casting experience,” said Sazon.
The Philippines’ Globe Telecom has entered the entertainment production business with a new studio and content partnerships aimed at developing content tailored for mobile consumption.
The operator has announced the launch of Globe Studios, which will develop original video productions for modern audiences accustomed to consuming and sharing content through social media via mobile pones.
Globe Studios is backed by local and Asian media houses including Viva Films, Reality Entertainment, Quantum Films, Spring Films and Astro of Malaysia.
“Consumption of mobile entertainment has grown exponentially over the past years. Today, customers no longer wait for their favorite shows on their TV screens. Instead, they dictate what they want to watch when and where they want to,” Globe chief commercial officer Albert de Larrazabal said.
“With Globe Studios, we will now produce our own clips, series and even movies. Backed up with the biggest director partners and entertainment companies in the industry, we are set to show what customers want today.”
In addition, Globe has announced the launch of Globe Live, which will produce live shows and events. Globe Live’s first production will be a Philippine staging of the Broadway musical Green Day’s American Idiot.
To support its media ambitions Globe has formed new content partnerships, including becoming the first mobile and broadband Philippine partner for Netflix.
Indonesia and the Philippines, as immediate neighboring countries, have many to offers in the fields of among other things trade, culture and security.
In fact, the Philippines is a significant trade partner as its contributed around US$2.3 billion in trade surplus to Indonesia last year.
Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Johny J Lumintang said recently that the surplus was the third largest for Indonesia in its international trade.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority revealed that the countrys imports from Indonesia during the period between January and December 2015 stood at $2.927 billion, while exports to Indonesia were only valued at $628.2 million.
However, the figures declined from the previous year when Philippines imports and exports from and to Indonesia reached $3.037 billion and $759.658 million, respectively.
Three major Indonesian products imported by the Philippines, include automotive, coal, and coffee, with total values of $619.8 million, $519.4 million, and $208.6 million, respectively.
There are great demands for coal for Filipino power plants, the diplomat said.
The two nations have also intensified bilateral cooperation in various fields such as in economic, politic, socio-culture, and sea patrol security.
“With the Philippines, Indonesia should not compete but cooperate as our products are mostly similar,” the ambassador said.
Indonesias Trade Attach in Manila Irawan said 16 Indonesian food and beverage products have been marketed widely in Filipino supermarkets.
Philippine President Benigno Aquino (R) speaks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo (L) at the presidential palace in Manila.
Among the products as Kopiko 78 Degree, Indofood instant noodles, Bimoli and Mitra cooking oil, Tiger and Oreo biscuits, Extra Joss, You C-1000, Fruit Tea, nata de coco, Kopiko candy, Energen, and Diabetasol biscuits and powder milk.
Indonesias food and beverage product market share in the Philippines is 8.13 percent.
Last year, the Philippines imported food and beverages worth US$ 452.1 million from Indonesia, and exported US$15.8 million.
Having economic growth at 6.9 percent, the Philippine is a potential market as its population is also big, he said.
He hoped more small and medium scale industries products could be marketed in the Philippine.
Eight food and beverage producers participated in the ASEAN Salon International de l Agroalimentaire held in Manila on May 31-June 2 2016.
In the meantime, The Philippine government is also eager to promote its products in Indonesian markets.
Filipino retail brands were exhibited at the “Lifestyle Philippines” event in Jakarta, on June 10, 2016.
“Lifestyle Philippines” was a branding initiative led by the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Jakarta which aimd to promote and create more awareness of Filipino-made products.
During her remarks, Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Maria Lumen Isleta stated that, It is an initiative to which our Embassy with the support of the Filipino community, have given our best efforts because we believe it can contribute to the friendship and close cooperation between our two countries.
The event included a fashion show featuring Karimadon and Rusty Lopez, two iconic brands in the Philippines that have begun to create a following in the Indonesian forward-clientele market.
Other brands displayed were Plains and Prints, Cruzzini Barong Tagalog, and Barong Batik, a fashion innovation that has successfully fused Philippine barong and Indonesian batik, a creation that many diplomats and dignitaries have begun to favor for its elegance.
Apart from apparel, the event also showcased Filipino food products, hand-woven crafts, cosmetics and neutraceutical, tourism and travel, as well as education services.
Flavors Philippines featured products with potentials to be exported here such as Goldilocks polvoron, Mama Sitas sauces and mixes, Leslies snack products, Destilleria Limtuacos spirits and liquors, among others.
Artisanal food products sourced from the various regions in the Philippines such as dried fruits and nuts, jams and marmalades, bottled sardines, and chocolate dipped dried mangoes will be at the exhibition as well.
Woven Chic, a special section on hand-woven crafts will show indigenous textiles from the Philippines, traditional dresses, linens, and modern and traditional pieces of jewelry.
“This initiative hopes to increase trade with Indonesia, which in 2015 stood at US$3.6 billion. The Philippines exported about US$628.27 million of goods and services to Indonesia, while the Indonesia had US$2.93 billion trade with its counterpart,” Philippine Embassy Trade Representative Alma Argayoso said in a statement recently.
“The regional integration in ASEAN presents opportunities for Philippine companies to expand to Indonesia and other ASEAN markets, and we certainly would like to actively take part in supporting Philippines companies in their regional expansion. We look forward to make Filipino products more available in the Indonesian market, particularly since there are many Indonesians who have visited and studied in the Philippines who look for our products,” she added.
Ayala Land will team with conglomerate Aboitiz group to develop a commercial district on the central Philippine island of Cebu, part of a broader investment push outside its home base of Manila.
The duo will manage the 10 billion Philippine peso ($215 million) project through a joint venture. The development will take place in the city of Mandaue, according to a filing by Ayala with the Philippine Stock Exchange. Its first phase will consist of office buildings, commercial facilities and residences on 17.5 hectares, targeted for completion in 2019.
Though Cebu is known mainly as a resort region, it has become a hotbed of call centers and other outsourced businesses in recent years. Other companies are moving in as well, helping drive up income levels in the area. SM Group, the Philippines’ largest retail group, is already involved in the construction of a large-scale commercial facility on the island.
Ayala Land, a core member of conglomerate Ayala Corp., has a track record of developing business districts in the Manila area. It has expanded into housing development in recent years as the Philippines’ middle class has grown.
IDC reported that the country saw a 20 per cent year-on-year increase, or 3.5 million smartphones shipped to retail stores in 2016.
Indonesia’s growth was only 3 per cent during the quarter, while Malaysia was down 20 per cent, Thailand flat, Singapore down 13 per cent, and Myanmar down 1 per cent.
Dominguez attributes the Philippines’ growth to “stronger support from telco operators” in the form of higher subsidies.
“For instance, MyPhone’s partnership with Smart Communications paved the way for an affordable (US$19) prepaid smartphone kit that comes with mobile data allocation. Apple’s shipments also grew partly due to lower cash-out requirement and more attractive data and app bundles for iPhones offered by telcos,” IDC market analyst Jerome Dominguez said in an interview with Tech In Asia
Puregold Price Club chairman Lucio Co has been named top Philippine retailer for 2015.
He received the ‘Patron of Micro-retail Entrepreneurship’ award from the Philippine Retailers Association.
Co’s contribution to the growth of micro-retail entrepreneurs, particularly through Puregold’s Tindahan ni Aling Puring program, fulfilled the PRA’s criteria for the country’s model of a successful retailer in terms of growth and good ethical practices.
The recognition marks the PRA’s 19th ‘Outstanding Filipino Retailers & Shopping Centers of the Year’ awards.
PRA president and COO of Duty Free Philippines, Lorenzo C. Formoso, presented the trophy to Co, together with tourism secretary Ramon Jimenez, trade secretary Adrian Cristobal, and Blims Lifestyle Group chairman Samie Lim.
Formoso said during his opening speech that the association has awarded a couple of hundred retailers over the years, to encourage industry excellence that adopts world-class quality while maintaining local identity.
“We can expect a brighter future ahead,” said Formoso, adding that the Philippine retail sector has become dynamic since it opened to foreign investors in 2000, citing Philippine Statistics Authority data on the increase in retail trade as percentage of national output.
The PRA also recognised the most promising retailers, the best shopping centers and supermarkets, and the best retailers in specialty, home improvement, food and fashion categories. Ceremonies were held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom.
Surplus and Bambu were named the best retailers under the fashion category (apparel and shoes & bags, respectively); Uniqlo Philippines, best foreign brand fashion retailer; Tropical Hut Hamburger best food; SM Hypermarket best hypermart, Robinsons Department Store best full-line department store, LCC Expressmart best regional retailer; and SM Megamall best large shopping center.
Other finalists and winners include Robinsons Place Malolos, SM Sta Rosa, Ace Hardware, Krispy Kreme Stores, Dairy Queen, Philippine Pizza, Pacific Mall Legaspi, Newport Manila, Eastwood Mall, Lucky Chinatown, Urban Athletics, Grassroots Philippines, Runnr, Pet Express, The Travel Club, National Book Store, Abenson, Our Home, Mothercare, Esprit, Birkenstock, Clarks, Fitflop, Lacoste footwear, Karimadon, Freeway, Onesimus and La-Z Boy Gallery.
Globe Telecom in the Philippines and the mobile payments company Fortumo have sealed a partnership to launch enhanced direct carrier billing in the country.
With this collaboration, over 52 million Globe customers will be able to use their mobile phones to make payments in various app stores, as well as for digital services and games.
Direct carrier billing, significantly increases the amount of users who are able to make online payments. In the Philippines, only 3% of Filipinos have access to a credit card while smartphone penetration has reached 40% and is forecasted to grow to 70% during the next two years.
With Fortumo and Globe, more people will be able to make payments online through carrier billing compared to bank-based payments.
Dan Horan, Globe senior advisor for consumer business said the continuous rise in smartphone penetration alongside the drastic adoption of the digital lifestyle has made more and more Filipinos dependent on their mobile devices. Customers continue to be on the lookout for a better mobile experience including conveniences such as making payments.
“With Fortumo, we will be able to provide our customers an improved experience by providing the convenience of making payments on any app store, including the in-app purchases,” said Horan.
In addition to digital content, Fortumo’s direct carrier billing platform also supports payment processing for financial services, such as topping up virtual credit cards or wallets. This is achieved through token-based, two step charging.
Travelife is a leading training, management and certification initiative for tourism companies that are committed to sustainability. Travelife was founded with the support of ABTA in the UK and ANVR in the Netherlands in 2007 as a thorough responsible tourism certification scheme for tour operators and hotels.
Khiri Travel in Indonesia and Laos have both been awarded Travelife Partner status following a major social and environmental audit. Khiri Travel is the first in both Indonesia and Laos to earn Travelife Partner status.
Travelife certification for tour operators and travel agents comes in three rising stages: Engaged, Partner, and Certified. Khiri Travel Indonesia and Laos are two-thirds of the way to full certification. Khiri Travel Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam achieved full Travelife Certification in 2015.
Travelife is a leading training, management and certification initiative for tourism companies that are committed to sustainability. Travelife was founded with the support of ABTA in the UK and ANVR in the Netherlands in 2007 as a thorough responsible tourism certification scheme for tour operators and hotels.
Richard Brouwer, CEO of Khiri Travel, said: “Travelife Partner status shows a great pioneering spirit and dedication by the Khiri teams in Indonesia and Laos. Khiri Travel is committed to measurable sustainability because it boosts customer satisfaction, staff motivation and business efficiency. Khiri Laos and Indonesia will keep working towards full Travelife Certification.”
Naut Kusters, General Manager for Tour Operators and Travel Agents for Travelife said: “Khiri Travel in Indonesia and Laos are on the right path. Sustainability management is about commitment and consistent sustainable business practices. This includes a tour operator’s products, how they monitor and manage their impacts, and how they support their suppliers on their road to sustainability. I expect that the lead of Khiri will be an incentive for other companies to join the route towards sustainability.”
The three-stage Travelife process acknowledges OECD corporate social responsibility guidelines including labor conditions, human rights, environmental responsibilities, biodiversity and fair business practices.
The Travelife standard for tour operators is also formally recognized by the UN-supported Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC).
