Globe files 2nd complaint vs. text spammer

In proceeding its intensified project to fight text spam, Globe Telecom filed its second complaint prior to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) against a company involved in sending out unwanted promotional text to its mobile consumers.


Named as a respondent in the most recent instance was Center for Global Best Practices (CGBP), a firm that offers different training and workshop courses.

Globe specifically raised the regulative body to get CGBP the repayment of appropriate fines and charges for sending annoying content spam to Globe subscribers. Globe also raised the NTC to permanently bar CGBP, its agents and staff members from sending out spam contents to Globe customers. Pending the resolution of an instance, an cease and desist order must be released versus CGBP.

Globe mentions that the just recently submitted grievance ought to work as a caution to other companies whose representatives additionally send out unwanted and unsolicited messages.

Lots of subscribers complain of receiving an average of 5 to 10 text junks mail a day. Globe subscribers either prepaid or postpaid should report using the Globe website with Talk2Globe Chat (http://chat.globe.com.ph), send out a message with Globe Contact Form((http://globe.com.ph/talk2Globenow) or tweet @ Talk2GLOBE on Twitter. Numbers that are mentioned to be a source of content spams are first sent warnings. Those that are consistent source of content spams are shut off from the service.

Clients that are iPhone and Android individuals may likewise change the settings on their phone to prevent getting spams.

More information could be viewed right here: http://www.philstar.com/business/2014/05/28/1328266/globe-files-2nd-complaint-against-text-spammer

OLX.ph invites Cebuanos to join the “Yesss,Yaman!”movement

OLX.ph (formerly Sulit.com.ph), the Philippines’ leading buy and sell site, is now in Cebu.

This signifies the successful rebranding of Sulit to become a more convenient platform that will inspire Filipinos to rethink what they know about online selling in the country.

“The brand change is a representation of our commitment to change how Filipinos perceive online selling. It also reinforces the great feeling of being able to get value from items that are just gathering dust in your home,” said OLX Philippines Managing Director RJ David.

OLX.ph encourages Cebuanos to take a second look inside their homes. Their potential wealth might be taking the form of unused handbags, clothes, books, speakers, and appliances all hiding in plain sight.

This, as OLX.ph opens physical offices in key cities outside Metro Manila, starting with Cebu this year, bringing OLX’s mission closer to the Cebuanos.

Cebuanos can earn money from these unused personal items by joining OLX’s Yesss, Yaman! movement and becoming part of the next one million Filipinos selling their secondhand items on OLX.ph.

“Filipinos do not have much of a tradition of selling second hand items so that most households end up with a clutter of items that are no longer used. If sold, these can turn into real value, which people can use to buy new things,” David explained. All they need to do is take a photo of the item that may still be of value to others then post it on OLX.ph. They can also use their mobile phones to post an add using the OLX app available for iOS and Android users.

Through the Yesss, Yaman! movement, Cebuanos not only earn extra cash, they also free more space in their homes and nurture their entrepreneurial spirit.

OLX.ph assures Cebuanos that the rebranding is simply a name change. All the things sellers and buyers came to love about Sulit, such as wide variety of listings, free ad posting, and multiple seller choices, will still be reflected on OLX.ph.

He added that there will be no impact to the sellers and the items they have posted for sale. Even the local management team remains the same Sulit team that has been serving its online users since its launch in 2006. Through the Yesss, Yaman! movement, Cebuanos not only earn extra cash, they also free more space in their homes and nurture their entrepreneurial spirit.

OLX.ph is the Philippines’ leading buy and sell website that is committed to change how Filipinos perceive online selling and encourage them to join the millions of people around the globe who have already used OLX to sell their things.

Flipnotes app win first ever Bohol Startup Weekend

An innovative noting application that helps users share fun memories and experiences won the first place in the first ever Bohol Startup Weekend held in the University of Bohol in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.

The Flipnotes app, which bested eight other apps last weekend, allows users to create notes that have pictures in front with the text behind it and which can be flipped using a flip function.

The Bohol Startup Weekend last May 23 to 25 is a local leg of the Startup Weekend, a global movement of active technopreneurs learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures.

"It's basically a 54-hour gathering of tech developers, designers, marketers, and startup enthusiasts for the purpose of sharing innovative ideas, crafting new products, and launching startups," said event organizer Benjamin Skelton.

The Bohol Startup Weekend was organized by TechTalks.ph, Department of Science and Technology-Information and Communication Technology Office, Bohol Information and Communication Technology Council, and the Bohol Provincial Government.

Beginning with open mic pitches on Friday, attendees bring their best ideas and inspire others to join their team. Over Saturday and Sunday teams focus on customer development, validating their ideas, and building a minimal viable product before demonstrating their prototypes on Sunday night.

The Flipnotes team was awarded a 3 month virtual incubation by CebuinIT, Geeks on a Beach ticket from TechTalks.ph, Freelancer membership, access to Auza.net OSX development facilities, an iPod from Airbnb, free massage, and Ideaspace mugs and shirts.

The second place went to RentMINE, an app which provides a venue for users who want to rent out their personal items for extra cash. RED App or the Ready for Emergency and Disaster mobile application won third place.

"The success of Bohol Startup Weekend is a great leap forward for the thriving of tech startups and the growth of the ICT industry in the regions," said DOST-ICTO Deputy Executive Director Mon Ibrahim.

TechTalks.ph founder Tina Amper moreover said that the Bohol Startup Weekend helped broadened the horizon for technopreneurship in the country and push local innovative talents to the forefront.

The other Bohol Startup Weekend teams include Talk 2 Doc, an online appointment booking system for doctors; RState, an online marketplace for real estate properties; UNLOCKED Design Services;

#Rent, a private mailbox catering to young working professionals; iBuild, a search app for architectural and structural professionals; and Anda Concepts, a tourism portal dedicated to the Anda area.

The teams were judged by DOST-ICTO Deputy Executive Director Mon Ibrahim, Insights Consulting Owner David Aaron, Ideaspace Associate Director Dustin Masancay, Orange & Bronze Software Labs CEO Calen Legaspi, and Rhett Jones of Synacy.

The Gold sponsors are Ideaspace, Smart, University of Bohol, and Cebu Business Incubator for IT. The Silver sponsors are Dalareich, Islands group, Airbnb, Printbit, Freelancer, and PRworks Inc.while the Bronze sponsors are Live Lingua and Onmutu.

The media sponsors include Inewmedia.org, Auza.net, Rappler, Third Team Media, Vigattin Radio, Zero Three Two, Innopub, Istorya.net, Balikbayan Magazine, and Asian Journal Publications.

The next Startup weekend workshop will be held on June 6-8, 2014 at the University of Cebu Banilad campus.  To register or sponsor, go to www.cebu.startupweekend.org.

Globe Telecom releases advisory on text scams

Globe Telecommunications encourages its mobile clients to take safety measure and not come down with content frauds on expected "price cut", "refund", "prizes", "stranded loved ones" and various other illegal cases yet are in fact share-a-load deals. The campaign vs. text rip-off is in conjunction with its heightened drive compared to business associated with text spams.

The text scams, directed mostly to postpaid customers of Globe, tricks subscribers into sending load credits through various fraudulent claims.   

In the case of supposed “discount” or “refund”, Globe emphasized that legitimate advisories from the telecommunications provider are labeled from “GLOBE” and do not come from 11-digit numbers. Subscribers may validate unusual texts and calls with the company’s customer service agents, said Yoly Crisanto, Globe SVP for Corporate Communications.

A sample scam message reads as follows: “GLOBE POSTPAID: You’re the one selected postpaid plan that given 35% discount on your bill just forward this PIN 500 <space> 1212 send to 2915XXXXXXXX   (ex. 5001212 send to 2915XXXXXXX).” Another example states: “Globe LTE Advisory: Your postpaid account has been charged P500 for LTE use. Is this a wrong charge? Text 500 send to 2936XXXXXXX for REFUND”.

Crisanto reminded subscribers that by adding the number “2” before the 10-digit cell phone number of the recipient, the unsuspecting subscriber would have done a Share-A-Load transaction, thus the sum of 500 pesos in the two examples above would be transferred or credited to the prepaid number to which the message was sent to.

Another text scam informs customers they supposedly won in a raffle contest they never participated in and the text message provides “steps” on how to claim the prize. Another text scam involves relatives working abroad supposedly using a new prepaid number, also aimed at tricking subscribers into doing a Share-A-Load transaction.

Globe customers are advised not to respond and, instead, immediately report suspicious text messages to authorized Globe customer service channels. Customers may report mobile numbers used in sending out fraudulent or scam text messages, Crisanto said.  Globe customers may report via the Globe website through Talk2Globe Chat (http://chat.globe.com.ph); send a message through Globe Contact Form (http://globe.com.ph/talk2Globenow) and by tweeting @Talk2GLOBE on Twitter.  Subscribers can put in the number, the exact message, and the time and date the fraudulent text message was received. Such numbers will be immediately disconnected from service once the company gets validation that the same are indeed used for such unscrupulous activities.

               

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CCTV bundles and Globe Charge: innovative solutions from Globe myBusiness

Globe myBusiness recently introduced ingenious, affordable and easy-to-use remedies through providing fully-customizable and best-value products to enable the growth of numerous microbusiness, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

One of these options is the economical Globe myBusiness CCTV, with its "plug-and-play" feature, motion detections, and availability using video phone call and remote browsing via users' mobile phones. It could additionally prompt e-mail alerts and pair with other tools.

Globe has also recently introduced Globe Charge, which integrates a mobile phone and an innovative mobile card viewers into a convenient mobile point-of-sale (POS) repayment gadget.

Globe Charge can also permit customers place telephone calls, send texts and browse with their Globe myBusiness postpaid subscription opting for as reduced as P499 for a 3-month agreement period. Their Globe Charge deals are free-of-charge through the data signal of a registered Globe or TM number, or Wi-Fi connection.

A host of various other solutions are made available for MSMEs from standard telecoms solutions such as TxtConnect, which lets them send formal SMS to large teams effectively, to advanced details and communications modern technology (ICT) devices through Google Apps for Businesses, one of the most economical method to supply a workforce accessibility to enterprise-grade email and productivity devices powered by Google.

To learn more, you could see this site: http://www.globe.com.ph/press-room/globe-mybusiness-offers-innovative-solutions-for-growing-businesses

Startup Weekend Bohol reels off Friday

IT’S all systems go for the first-ever Startup Weekend Bohol on May 23-25 at the University of Bohol along Ma. Clara st. in Tagbilaran City.

Startup Weekend Bohol organizers, led by Ben Skelton and Ashley Uy, expressed their heartfelt appreciation to TechTalks.ph and the Department of Science and Technology – Information and Communications Office (DOST-ICTO) for bringing this internationally-recognized event to Bohol.

DOST-ICTO executive director Usec. Louis Napoleon Casambre and deputy executive director Monchito Ibrahim were instrumental in getting us government and academic support. TechTalks.ph founder Tina Amper, has been very supportive to the Bohol team, getting sponsors and putting us in touch with the right people.” Skelton said.

“Our visitors may be surprised by the talent on show.  I see teams coming forward to work on software, hardware and tourism enterprises. We look forward to making Startup Weekend Bohol an annual event.”

Startup Weekend is a 54-hour competition where developers, designers, marketers, technopreneurs, and venture capitalists come together to share ideas, form teams, build products, and launch startup businesses.

Startup Weekends are designed for entrepreneurs interested in receiving feedback for an idea, looking for co-founders, or who want to learn new skills, especially in the field of mobile and internet applications.

The concept, which started in the US, is now a global movement, taking digital startup businesses from ideas to investment readiness through intensive mentoring from industry experts and access to markets and investors across Asia.

Participants get acquainted with one another starting Friday night, then pitch startup concepts they are passionate about and form teams around the most popular ideas. They refine their ideas and business plans and start building product prototypes with the help of the onsite mentors, and then present what they have accomplished in a four-minute pitch and demo by Sunday evening.

Over 100 participants will converge at the University of Bohol starting 5 p.m. on Friday, May 23, and start their high-energy, high-impact, and high-creativity weekend experience.

Aside from the mentors and judges, also expected to attend the weekend gathering in Tagbilaran are some investors, to whom participants will be selling their best ideas for a viable product.

Tapped to assist the participants as mentors are Auza.net founder Jerome Auza, RLComm International managing director Ruben Licera, Lexmark senior operations manager Ppip Cimafranca, Sun.Star Cebu business editor Max Limpag, PrintBit founder Roy Bayonas, and IdeaSpace community development consultant Goldy Yancha.

Invited to make up the panel of judges are DOST-ICTO deputy executive director Monchito Ibrahim, Islands Group founder and CEO Jay Aldeguer, Insights Consulting founder David Aaron, Synacy CEO Rhett Jones, Ideaspace associate director Dustin Masancay, and Orange & Bronze Software Labs CEO Calen Legaspi.

Startup Weekend Bohol, aimed at generating breakthrough ideas from tech communities in Bohol and its neighboring provinces, is organized by TechTalks.ph, co-organized by DOST-ICTO, Bohol ICT Council (BICTC) and the Provincial Government of Bohol.

TechTalks.ph is an IT grassroots community founded in Cebu by Amper in 2010. It started with only a dozen people but now has over 500 members, including businessmen, developers, and designers.

Startup Weekend Bohol is sponsored by IdeaSpace, SMART, University of Bohol, CeBuinIT, Airbnb, Islands, PrintBit, Freelancer, LiveLingua.com, Onmutu.com, Yoolk, Dalareich, iNewMedia.org, Auza.net, Rappler, Third Team Media, Vigattin Radio, Zero Three Two, InnoPub,Istorya.net, and PRWorks Vis-Min.

For more information, visit bohol.startupweekend.org or follow us on facebook and twitter @swbohol.  

Globe’s Project Wonderful yields remarkable results

Globe Telecom's Project Wonderful, a collection of programs that enable its dedication to its clients, business, employees and the country, has opened up strong for the first quarter of 2014 with a 9 % development operational profits and core net income.

Preserving this drive, brand-new and appropriate deals are prodding the Brand-building pillar of Project Wonderful. With an additional ground-breaking partnership with Spotify, the world's most significant songs platform, Globe released its usable mobile net information prepare GoSURF, and also GoUNLI20, its initial stand-alone voice and mobile searching combo. Broadband brand Tattoo launched Tattoo Home, which offers a lot more advantages and opportunities. Tattoo On-The-Go has actually also introduced their large choice of new and budget friendly prepaid and postpaid tablet computer packages.

Globe Business segments such as the Enterprise Group highlighted its Business Flex and Business Plus, which equips big companies to produce and personalize postpaid strategies around the solutions which they require.

The IT-Enabled Services Team (IG) revealed its collaboration with Google to provide Google Application for Business, created to help improve job productivity of both big companies and SMEs, from anywhere on any sort of gadget.

Globe likewise expanded its visibility in Europe, with the past few facility of its office in Spain and the newest member of the Globe team of business.

For its disaster-relief and feedback efforts under the Nation-building pillar, Globe rebuilt homes, schools, and source of incomes in targeted districts highly hit by Hurricane Yolanda as Presidential Aide for Recovery and Recovery (PARR)-appointed development sponsor in Aklan.

Focusing on the core dynamic in between their consumers and workers, the company's Culture-building pillar is leading a new culture-building system called as Project DNA, which heads the allowing of a service-oriented, customer-centric workforce and encouraging them to Deliver the Next Act-- an attitude focused in supplying a genuine, a lot more caring, and fantastic consumer experience.

Kickstart Prexy speaks at 2014 Asia Innovation Forum

 Kickstart President Minette Navarrete was tapped as a speaker at the GSMA-Cyberport 2014 Asia Innovation Forum in Hongkong which focused on building a vibrant mobile ecosystem through innovation and collaboration.

The event brought together key players in the mobile ecosystem including mobile operators, internet companies, incubators, entrepreneurs, policy makers, regulators, and academia and dealt with the role of various sectors in accelerating innovation.

                Kickstart's Navarrete, the lone Philippine representative, was a panel member in a discussion moderated by The Boston Consulting Group's Partner and Managing Director, William Yin. The other speakers were Professor Wilton Chau, Chairman of the HK Business Angel Network and William Fitzgerald, Policy Manager at Google Inc. The panel talked about building a digital entrepreneurship ecosystem, and finding the right model for success as well as the complementary roles of the private and public sectors and the need for collaboration to ensure that grassroots innovators thrive.

                Navarrete discussed the contribution of corporate venturing in helping develop innovation ecosystems in Asia, based on Globe Telecom's experience of launching Kickstart in the Philippines.

"It is tempting to think that mimicking the elements of Silicon Valley is the way for Asian countries to build innovation hubs. But Silicon Valley evolved within a unique context, and those conditions do not exist in Asia today. Asian culture, demographics and economic models are different; as are the opportunities! To build innovation hubs here, we need to break down traditional ways of acting," said Navarrete.

                She added:  "Corporations like telcos need to be better at being equal partners, irrespective of whether we are dealing with global giants or early-stage startups. Negotiating for advantage, demanding exclusivity, and monopolistic behavior are not consistent with driving innovation. Kickstart has learnt in the Philippines that we support innovators via a balanced approach: on one hand, aligning ourselves with our portfolio companies' business interests and disruptive innovation mindset; and on the other hand, leveraging Globe's considerable assets to provide startups a better shot at scale and success.”

 “Innovation has always been at the very heart of the mobile industry and we’ve seen many significant developments in this technology sector in a relatively short period of time. As we move to an increasingly mobile world, we need to continue to drive the pace of innovation in order to deliver new products and services to our customers and to create value for players across the mobile ecosystem,” said Irene Ng, Head of Asia, GSMA.

While GSMA is more frequently associated with the global communications industry and the business, regulatory and technology developments in the industry, this particular event highlighted the role of telecommunications companies in supporting innovation, noting how continued growth and competitiveness depend upon the ability of companies and industries to constantly re-invent and re-shape themselves, in tune with their customers.

PHOTO CAPTION: Kickstart President Minette Navarrete (left) with (from L-R):  Professor Wilton Chau, Chairman of the HK Business Angel Network; William Fitzgerald, Policy Manager, Google Inc.; and William Yin, Partner and Managing Director, The Boston Consulting Group.

# # #

About Kickstart

Kickstart is an incubator and investment firm which helps startups operating in the Philippines to build robust businesses and technical foundations, and to scale. Kickstart puts big company resources - - capital, facilities, expertise, and business connections - - behind the startups that it funds so they can launch faster and achieve scale and profitability sooner.

Kickstart was incorporated in March 2012 to serve as Globe Telecom's wholly-owned incubator and investment firm with a focus on digital startups. As a strategic early-stage investor, Kickstart is frequently a startup founder's first institutional investor, and an active mentor and business partner.

About the GSMA
The GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. Spanning more than 220 countries, the GSMA unites nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators with 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem, including handset and device makers, software companies, equipment providers and Internet companies, as well as organizations in industry sectors such as financial services, healthcare, media, transport and utilities. The GSMA also produces industry-leading events such as Mobile World Congress and Mobile Asia Expo. 

Globe mobile subscriber base breaches 40M mark

Business segments register double-digit growth in subscriber base year-on-year

         

Globe Telecom remains on-track with its growth momentum as its mobile subscriber base hit the 40 million mark as of first quarter of the year.

As of end-March 2014, Globe registered a total of 40.7 million subscribers, up 16% from 35.1 million subscribers versus same period last year.

The double-digit growth year-on-year trickled down to the company’s postpaid, prepaid and TM business segments. Maintaining undisputed leadership in the market, the telco’s postpaid segment posted a 12% hike in its customer base of 2.1 million in the first quarter of 2014 on the back of a steady traction for its fully-customizable postpaid plans and innovative postpaid device offers.

The company’s overall prepaid business, composed of the Globe prepaid and TM segments, recorded a 16% growth year-on-year, resulting to a total of 38.7 million customers. Globe prepaid customer base grew by 10% to 18.7 million, while TM subscribers reached the 20 million mark with an increase of 22% versus previous year’s levels.

“We open the year on a high note with all our mobile brands posting double-digit growth in their customer bases versus previous year’s levels. This testifies that our commitment to provide innovative offers to our subscribers remains sound and solid as we see more postpaid, prepaid, and TM subscribers using the Globe network,” said Peter Bithos, Chief Operating Advisor at Globe. “Sustaining momentum into the succeeding quarters, our customers, both existing and new, can expect more ground-breaking innovations, partnerships, and offers as we help create a wonderful mobile experience.”

                In the first quarter of the year, Globe offered a more robust product portfolio for its mobile subscribers which included new postpaid devices Nokia Lumia 1320, CloudFone Excite 451TV, and Huawei Ascend G526 available in the mySUPERPLAN device portfolio, GoUNLI25 for prepaid subscribers which offers unlimited calls and texts to Globe/TM, unlimited Facebook plus a choice of one free app for only P25 valid for 1 day, and affordable TM promos UnliCall15 for unlimited calls to Globe/TM for P15 valid for 1 day and UnliAllNet10 for unlimited texts to all networks for P10 valid for 1 day.

Complementing growth of the different businesses’ customer bases, mobile revenues improved by 8% to P18.5 billion with the sustained growth of the postpaid business and solid performance of the prepaid brands during the first quarter of 2014.

First quarter’s gross subscriber acquisitions once again registered a record-high of 9.1 million subscribers, 3% higher than the strong fourth quarter 2013 additions. This was mainly contributed by the record acquisitions of TM as well as increased postpaid subscriptions. The company’s Free Facebook offer drove subscriber uptake, particularly on the prepaid business. Full year net incremental subscribers leapt to 2.3 million, 12% higher than previous year’s level of 2.02 net additions.

Globe Telecom bets on highschool techies

Globe Telecom President & CEO Ernest Cu welcomes at The Globe Tower 32 high school students who were selected to participate in this year’s Globe Junior Mobile Wizard program.

High school tech savvy teens are now provided an uncommon opportunity to develop their future with Globe Telecom's Junior Mobile Wizard program during their summer break.

Spearheaded in 2012, the Junior Mobile Wizard Program is a six-week program offered during summer to provide to high school children of Globe employees, which will be helping assist in choosing Globe concept shops in Metro Manila, providing the teenagers an opportunity to discover outside a classroom environment and come to be a part of an actual business setting as they experience interaction  with Globe customers. This year, a total of 32 selected students of the program, with 25 originating from Metro Manila, 5 from Cebu and 2 from Davao. The students ages are from 15 to 17, and in 2nd to 4th year secondary school level students.

These students are entrusted to take charge to demonstrate and showcase and help Globe clients go over the latest mobile gadgets and mobile data services, in addition to the various other Globe postpaid & prepaid deals and services, giving them the opportunity to help aid clients who wish to apply for an application for the latest postpaid and broadband plans or avail of various other Globe promotions.

"Because technology is so integrated in a teenager's life, we believe that the program is a great opportunity for them to learn important social and entrepreneurial skills. We would like to capitalize in their immense interest in technology for them to experience a summer activity which we hope will teach them important lessons in life. Since they will be working alongside their parents' colleagues, they will have a taste of how Globe promotes an engaging and satisfying work culture," said Globe Telecom President and CEO Ernest Cu.

The summer program intends to impart social, business and entrepreneurial skills and abilities in these students. It started with a 2-day training at the telecommunication's head office in Bonifacio Global City. The students were then designated in 7 Globe establishments situated in many locations in the Philippines.

Globe Telecom is winningest Philippine company in 1st Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards

Globe Telecom bagged two gold and one bronze awards to emerge as the winningest Philippine company in the first Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the pioneering awards program that recognizes accomplishment in business in all 22 nations of the region. 

                “We are very proud of this achievement. Everyone in Globe has been tirelessly working to achieve excellence in customer service and innovation.  These awards are a reward for those efforts and are proof that we are on the right track,” said Ernest Cu, President and CEO of Globe. 

                Globe is hailed as the Customer Service Leader of the Year – All other nations for launching a strategy that highlights the use of its Twitter support channel, @talk2GLOBE, and the newly introduced Globe Community to allow meaningful, efficient and personalized service available to its customers wherever they are, 24/7.

 Globe Prepaid GoSakto also bagged a Gold Stevie under the New Consumer Product of the Year – All Other Nations category. GoSakto provides the user interface through which customers can create thousands of possible promo bundles via a step-by-step creation process.

Both the online customer service channel and GoSakto also earlier received global recognition from the 8th Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service and the 19th Annual Global Mobile Awards, respectively.

Meanwhile, the International Business Group’s Globe Seafarer subscriber information module (SIM) won the bronze Stevie award for New Consumer Service of the Year – All other nations.  The exclusive subscriber SIM for the Filipino maritime community addresses the need of traveling Filipino seafarers to regularly get in touch with their loved ones at affordable call and text rates from anywhere in the world without the use of expensive satellite equipment. 

“We are delighted that the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards have debuted with such a stellar group of winners,” said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards.  “We look forward to celebrating the winners and presenting them their awards. We extend our most heartfelt congratulations to all of this year’s Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners.”

The Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards are the newest of the Stevie Awards programs which are widely considered to be the world's premier business awards, conferring recognition for achievement in the workplace in programs such as The International Business Awards for more than a decade.

Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word for “crowned,” the awards will be presented to winners at a gala banquet at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul, South Korea on 30 May. 

Gold, Silver and Bronze Stevie Award winners were selected by more than 50 executives around the world who participated in first-round judging the week of 14 April.  A second international panel of judges will choose five Grand Stevie winners from among the Gold winners in early May.  The Grand Stevie winners will be announced at the 30 May banquet in Seoul.

About the Stevie® Awards

Stevie Awards are conferred in five programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, The International Business Awards, The American Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.  A sixth program, the German Stevie Awards, will open later this year.  Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.  Learn more about the Stevie Awards at www.StevieAwards.com.

Globe Business rolls out bowling tourney for hotel IT clients.

Information technology professionals from Cebu’s premier hotels recently took to the bowling lanes as Globe Business powered the Cebu Hotels IT Association Bowling Tournament, where the enterprise ICT arm of Globe Telecom gathered a select group of the province’s bowling enthusiasts into a well-attended evening of fun and friendly competition.  Exceptional performances were seen from the contingent of Waterfront Hotel, especially from Glenn Gucor who emerged as the tournament’s champion, as well as colleague Jefry Ouano, Alegre Beach Resort’s Alan Renegado, Crown Regency’s Neil Morala and Imperial Palace’s Cesar Tano.  Globe Business Head of Regional Marketing Jasmine Garrido shared the company’s pleasure to have sponsored the tournament which drew enthusiastic response and participation from its clients representing Cebu’s IT sector. Globe Business organizes numerous engagement activities throughout the year aimed at fostering stronger relationships with their clients and further demonstrating the personalized service that the company provides as an information and communications technology partner. For more information on Globe Business, visit www.globe.com.ph/business or call (032) 4152177.

 

AirAsia re-connects Kuala Lumpur direct to Cebu, Philippines with 3x weekly flights

Seats with RM0 base fare one way available from 5^th May onwards at www.airasia.com with flights commencing on 24^th July 2014

KUALA LUMPUR, 4^th May 2014 – AirAsia will be re-commencing direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Cebu, Philippines with 3x weekly frequency effective 24^th July 2014. Promotional seats will be available for booking online at www.airasia.com from RM0 base fare one way from Monday, 5^th May onwards.

 

The direct flight was previously operated by AirAsia Zest (flight code Z2) and will now be operated by Malaysia AirAsia (flight code AK), AirAsia is the only airline providing direct flights from Kuala Lumpur – Cebu. The 3x weekly direct flights will operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, marking AirAsia’s third Filipino destination connected with direct flights from Malaysia, apart from Manila and Kalibo (gateway to Boracay Island).

 

Special promotional seats from RM0 base fare with applicable taxes and fees from RM80 one way are available for booking at AirAsia’s website from 5^th – 11^th May 2014, for the travel period from 24^th July 2014 – 30^th April 2015. Booking is also available on AirAsia’s mobile apps through iPhone, Android devices, Blackberry10 and the Windows Platform. Search AirAsia on the respective app stores to download and start booking, or visit AirAsia’s mobile site atmobile.airasia.com. 

 

Spencer Lee, Head of Commercial of AirAsia Berhad commented, “As a truly low cost airline, AirAsia is committed towards our tagline, ‘Now Everyone Can Fly’ and connecting communities in the region. We have created new markets for various destinations that we serve, and Cebu will be no different as it is the gateway to many adventure activities and enables visitors to delve into the history & culture of Philippines. We are proud to continue to operate this route as part of our extensive list of exciting destinations.”

 

Cebu, Philippines is dubbed as the Queen City of the South and has much to offer for all types of visitors. Diving enthusiasts will find Cebu the next best destination withMalapascua Islands in the north, Mactan Island close to Cebu city off the east coast, Moalboal off the west and Sumilon in the south with wrecks, colourful corals and extensive marine life to discover.

 

One of the best highlights for those travelling to Cebu would be the opportunity to swim with whale sharks in Oslob, merely a 1.5hour drive from Cebu City.

 

Cebu City is the oldest city in the Philippines, and history buffs would be able to experience age-old monuments such as the Santo Nino Shrine; Magellan’s Cross, where it is was brought over by famous explorer Ferdinand Magellan who planted the cross on the spot when they arrived in Cebu in 1521. Cebu is also where the oldest established university in the Philippines, Museum University of San Carlos is located and it houses a generous collection of artifacts from the Spanish colonial times and provides an avenue into understanding the vibrant history of Cebu City.

 

The city also offers many adrenaline-packed activities such as viewing the city skyline from 38 floors above with the Sky Walk Extreme, where you can walk around on a translucent glass flooring on the edge of the Crown Regency Hotel & Towers with an overhead safety harness at the main outer rim of the building; Edge Coaster, the world’s very first and only amusement ride of its kind with ride around the building while strapped into a rail seat. If that’s not enough, one can also choose to zip-line between two towers with the Tower Zip, Philippines’ first and only urban zip-line!

 

Apart from that, Cebu is also home to many wonders of nature like Kawasan Falls – with beautiful crystal clear and cool waters for the whole family to relax in; as well as the nearby island of Bohol which will enable visitors to experience the scenic geographical landscape of Chocolate Hills, Bohol’s most famous tourist attraction.

AirAsia is also having special promotional fares from Kuala Lumpur – Manila, as well as Kota Kinabalu – Manila with all-in-fares from as low as RM162 one way, with the same booking period from 5^th – 11^th May and guests will be able to travel immediately until 3^rd August 2014.

 

Stay tuned to AirAsia’s Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsia) for updates on latest promotions, activities and AirAsia news.

 

***ENDS***

Kuala Lumpur - Cebu Flight Schedule (re-commencing 24^th July 2014) :

Route	Flight No	ETD	ETA	Frequency
Kuala Lumpur - Cebu	AK 950	1040hrs	1440hrs	Tuesday, Thursday,Saturday
Cebu – Kuala Lumpur	AK 951	1505hrs	1855hrs	Tuesday, Thursday,Saturday

About the AirAsia Group

 

AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with 88 destinations. Within 12 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 220 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to over 150. The airline today is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries as well as China, India and Australia. AirAsia was named the World’s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax for five consecutive years from 2009 – 2013 and the ‘World’s Leading Low Cost Airline’ at the 2013 World Travel Awards.