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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2017
Business
Ray S. Eñano, Editor / Roderick dela Cruz, Issue Editor business@manilastandard.net
FILIPINO PHONE MAKER RISES A
six-year-old Filipino company started producing mobile phones from a factory in Laguna province this year and now plans to become a major player in the so-called ‘Internet of Things’ in the country.
Star Telecom Alliance Resources Inc., the Filipino company behind mobile phones and tablets under the Starmobile brand, has already assembled 20,000 units of UNO B208 and UNO B308 featurephones at a Calamba facility since June 2017, according to Gerardo Balderrama, the sales and marketing head of Starmobile. “We are the first local brand to actually produce phones here. We are proud of two particular models—UNO B208, which retails for P599 and UNO B308 which retails for P699. These are made by Filipinos for Filipinos,” says Balderrama. “The factory is located in Calamba. And this one we are very, very proud of because this is the first time that a local brand is actually producing phones coming from the Philippines,” he says. Star also teams up with international companies to assemble other featurephones, s m a r t p h o n e s, t a b l e t s, m o b i l e p h o n e accessories, routers, APs, switches and other network devices. The technology company led by chairman and chief executive Joey Uy, president Michael Chen, chief finance officer Ulysses Lao and chief operating officer Jerry Manus, employs around 140 people in its Pasig headquarters. “We have produced 20,000 units in our Calamba plant. We are very proud of that. We are the first brand that is really able to provide jobs for Filipinos,” says Balderrama. Balderrama says aside from the 140 employees in the Pasig headquarters, the partner company that runs the Calamba facility has around 500 employees. Star started its operations from a single room in Pasig City in 2011. The company initially decided to outsource the manufacturing operations to China, but adopted a Filipino brand to appeal to local consumers. In 2015, Starmobile sold around 50,000 phones each month. Locally produced UNO B308 exhibits premium design with big TFT screen. It has a camera with flash, multimedia player and LED flashlight. It retails for P699. UNO B208 is a dual-SIM feature phone with a long battery standby time that sells for P599. It is equipped with FM radio, camera with flash and multimedia playback. Both featurephones are part of Starmobile’s Star-Tagal Christmas promo which runs until Dec. 31, 2017, where customers who purchase any Starmobile product can get a chance to win prizes. Starmobile is giving away over P4 million worth of prizes, tax-free, including Starmobile devices, home appliances, eight Honda motorcycles, two brand-new Toyota cars or P1 million in cash. Balderrama says there is a possibility that Star will venture into smartphone assembly in the future. “If it merits that the technology can be brought here, then we can discuss assembling smartphones. That is also our vision or dream to eventually produce or develop smartphones,” he says.
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PHONE MAKER
Starmobile sales and marketing head Gerardo Balderrama
Aside from the two locally-made featurephones, Starmobile also distributes other feature-packed featurephones and smartphones. “The feature phone market is still very, very strong especially in the provinces. I think, we are still looking at around 50/50 ratio,” he says. “When we see the broadband signal improve in the provinces, then we will see a higher uptake of smartphones. But I am not so sure if that is coming soon. That is also an expensive undertaking to upgrade all your sites to broadband capacity.” Balderrama says aside from the consumer segment, Star is also moving strong into the corporate sector. It recently teamed up with MLhuillier Group of Companies to design a customized Android smartphone powered by a Smart SIM for the latter’s employees and customers. He says Star signed a distribution agreement with international network solutions company TP-Link to provide network devices in the country, as the company expands its business beyond smartphones and tablets and into providing connectivity solutions to home, SMEs and enterprise clients. Balderrama says the company is also expanding its retail distribution to include sari-sari stores and loading stations. It says under the initial phase starting the second half of October 2017, Starmobile’s featurephones will be available in over 20 sari-sari stores and loading stations in Metro Manila, Cagayan De Oro and Zamboanga, providing the brand both urban and rural settings to pilot the pioneering initiative. “This year, we continue to reach new frontiers in retail as we enter into sari-sari store distribution, again becoming the first tech
brand to explore this channel in the Philippines,” he says. Balderrama says Star also strengthened its ‘Star Standards’ campaign, highlighting the company’s compliance with international industry certifications. Starmobile’s worldclass standards also apply to its featurephones assembled in its factory in Calamba. “Even though we are a local player, we are proud to say that Starmobile can stand toe-to-toe with products from international brands in terms of performance and durability,” he says. “We see this as an opportunity for us to strengthen our position as the leading quality local brand. If there is one thing at Startmobile we are very proud of, it is the fact that we can compete with the leading brands when it comes to quality,” says Balderrama. “Over the years, we have talked to a lot of people. The general sentiment of people is that they are very happy, with the phone that they got,” he says. “The reason why we are able to claim that is because of the very strict standards that we follow for quality. We have come up with the material that actually defines how we envision the products—starting from the suppliers that we choose to deal with, the parts, the software and to our partner factories who are all certified,” he says. “We ensure that these are all following the European standards for quality. That is why we are proud that our return on defect rate is at an all-time low. Very recently, we have added the tagline ‘tatagal’ on all our handsets. That is what Starmobile stands for. We believe that this is now an opportune time for us to harp on the quality that our phones have,” he says. Turn to B2
FOOD FIRM INTRODUCES CORNED BEEF WITH ANGUS HIGHLANDS, the brand that introduced the corned beef with Angus in the Philippine market, has launched the new Highlands Gold Corned Beef with actor Piolo Pascual as brand ambassador. Brenda Miranda, vice president for marketing of Highlands, said: “Filipinos are very accustomed to eating corned beef but there are only a few offerings available in the market today. That’s why we wanted to provide a better option for our dear consumers.” “Through Highlands Gold, we guarantee a high quality of corned beef satisfaction which our consumers will not find in their usual corned beef, ” Miranda said. Highlands Gold is not only made from 100-percent pure beef but is made with imported and high-quality Angus. As the product is made with Angus, Highlands Gold has real and natural beef taste that moms would love, Miranda said. Compared to ordinary beef, Angus has better marbling which makes the product more delightfully and naturally delicious and tender, according to experts. They define marbling as the fine white streaks in beef which give the cut its flavor, juiciness and tenderness. The higher amount of marbling, a characteristic Angus is known for, the higher the quality is. No wonder steakhouses offering Angus steaks have good consumer following. “Being one of the country’s top and trusted brand ambassadors, Piolo is known to be discriminating when it comes to the products he endorses. He only promotes products he patronizes himself,” Miranda said. “ We are h appy to l e ar n that Piolo was already a fan of Highlands Gold even before we tapped him to endorse the brand,” she said. Pascual said he considers it a blessing to be the brand ambassador of Highlands Gold. “I’m happy when I tasted it. It is so good! It is something familiar yet new. I will never go back to my old corned beef,” he said. “And what I like best is that it’s not only made from 100-percent pure beef, it is also made with Angus beef. I love its natural and superior beef taste,” Pascual said. “Filipinos deserve corned beef with Angus.”
SM OPENS SUSTAINABLE DESIGN MALLS IN PALAWAN AND CAGAYAN SM Prime Holdings Inc., the property arm of SM Investments Corp., has opened two more malls in Luzon, showcasing sustainable designs that respond to various market and environmental changes. The SM Puerto Princesa City in the tropical capital of Palawan and SM Tuguegarao in the booming town of the North in Cagayan province are both environment-friendly as a part of SM Prime’s commitment to disaster mitigation and the reduction of the property firm’s carbon footprint. Architect Fides Garcia-Hsu, vice president of SM’s engineering, design and development said the newly opened SM City Puerto Princesa has cost-efficient, energy-saving as well as disaster-mitigation features. The three-story mall, which spans a floor area of over 69,000 square meters has high or clerestory windows to allow natural lighting and minimizing the use of electricity during day time. She said restaurant and toilet waste are treated through the sewage treatment plant and rainwater collection
is incorporated with the water recycling system which will be repurposed for toilet flushing, plants irrigation, cleaning or maintenance and other non-potable purposes that helps in the conservation of freshwater. “Recycled water will also be used in the air-conditioning system’s chilled water and cooling towers to reduce fresh water consumption. Paver blocks are strategically used in the parking areas to allow rainwater penetration in the grounds to replenish underground water table,” she said. The design for SM City Puerto Princesa made by architectural firm DSGN Associates creates a unique identity along the island’s well-known thoroughfare and within a short walk to the popular Baywalk Park and nearby pier. Landscaping and sculptural façade blend the mall into its setting while providing sheltered walkways for pedestrians along the street. On the other hand, the newly opened SM Center Tuguegarao Downtown which is SM Prime’s 65th mall has taken great
care during the design and throughout construction to preserve two large trees along Mabini Street. As a benefit, the East entrance of the mall is located between two shady tree canopies. The mall uses LED lighting and has solar panels installed on the roofdeck which can provide 484 KW of electricity. A rainwater catchment located at the entrance driveway can hold an equivalent of 215 cubic meters of floodwater equivalent to 215,000 one-liter soda bottles.
Also designed by DSGN, the SM Center Tuguegarao has blue facade that provides an accent to the main thoroughfare. Its interior is organized around an efficient “T” shaped plan that allows a clear lineof-sight to multiple shops on multiple levels at all times. Strategically placed spacious openings, flanked with sleek escalators and a centrally located elevator and stairs, provide for optimal customer convenience and access to all portions of the mall.
Beyond the mall’s aesthetics, SM believes that investing in sustainability safeguards the welfare of customers, tenants and the malls’ host communities. “More than distinct and iconic designs, SM also takes great care in considering that the designs fit a purpose, for the convenience of shoppers, for energy conservation, for higher visibility of tenants and for easier navigation which have always been the lessons from our founder, Mr. Henry Sy,” Garcia-Hsu said.
Business
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2017 business@manilastandard.net
BANANA MAGNATE DECRIES EXPULSION FROM PDP REP. Antonio Floirendo Jr., whose family owns the Anflo Group of Companies that include Tagum Agricultural Development Company Inc. and Pearl Farm Beach Resort, says he continues to support President Rodrigo Duterte despite the decision by the national hierarchy of PDP-Laban to expel the banana magnate from the administration’s political party. Floirendo, the second of six children of the late ‘banana king’ Antonio Floirendo Sr., represents the second congressional district of Davao del Norte province. Anflocor, the Floirendoowned conglomerate, has interests in various businesses in Mindanao. Tadeco, its flagship company, is a major exporter of fresh Cavendish bananas to Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, China and the Middle East. Floirendo says in a statement that on Oct. 6, “the national hierarchy of the PDP-Laban, without due process as mandated under the par ty ’s constitution and by-laws, issued an ‘immediate termination’ removing me from the group. But it is only now that I am coming out to refute the charges because news about this was released just recently,” he says. ”The letter cited three violations which were attributed to me without even asking in writing my side on the issues. Worse, they imputed against me certain partisan activities I did not even have a clue whatsoever, and accused me maliciously of disloyalty, sowing disunity and discord, and using media to air my grievances,” says Floirendo Floirendo was served notice of expulsion from the party on the following grounds: disloyalty to the party and its leaders; organizing and participating in an unauthorized and unsanctioned party convention; and manifesting grievances to the public fora and media press releases instead of mandated mechanisms for settling internal disputes. “For a party that has always embraced honorable policies, principles and philosophies that are democratic, legal, moral, and ethical, certainly the issuance of expulsion without even the accused person being given space and time to defend oneself is contrary to what the founders have preached and stood for. It is also notable that one of its present leaders has resorted to fabrication of stories and lies just to advance his interest and his personal crusade against me and my family,” according to Floirendo, without naming specific persons. ”Already at the tail-end of numerous false allegations by this individual who had benefitted avariciously from our family, my being accused of imagined transgressions violates the accepted rules on impartiality, which is what the Party has always fought for,” he says. ”Judging by the action of the signatories, it looks like the claws of authoritarianism has finally pierced the sacred ground the Party has zealously guarded against freebooters, carpetbaggers and opportunists,” he says. ”But despite this unstatesman-like demeanor of a few, let me just reiterate that my full support is still with our President and I shall keep within me the true ideals and virtues of PDP Laban,” says Floirendo.
FILIPINO...
From B1
Balderrama says this early, Star is also exploring Internet of Things including appliance products that consumers at home can benefit from in the future. “Right now, IOT is not that advanced here, but I think in a few years, we will start seeing what IoT can do and even now we are preparing for that,” he says. “We are very proud of the product line that we have. And we are looking forward to ending 2017 very strongly. We are also very positive about what 2018 will bring,” says Balderrama. Roderick T. dela Cruz
TRAFFIC GRIDLOCK SPURS DEMAND FOR DORMITORY By Cecilia Yap and Ian Sayson
A
YALA Land Inc., which built Manila’s financial district, is expanding into workers’ dormitories as developers target people fed up with battling some of the world’s worst traffic.
The company is investing P3 billion($58 million) building five dormitories on four sites in the Makati and Taguig business districts, comprising 1,500 units that can house as many as 6,000 people, Ayala Land president and chief executive Bobby Dy said in an interview. The first dormitory will be ready next year, and has received interest from firms wanting to lease entire floors to keep workers close, he said. “It caters to a segment of the market who would want to stay close to their place of work to improve their productivity and their quality of life,” Dy said. “There’s really a need for this kind of product if you look at the commute times in the last couple of years.” Metro Manila was voted the world’s worst city to drive in, according to Waze Inc.’s 2015 driver satisfaction index and congestion costs the economy about P2.4 billion a day. President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration is embarking on a $170 billion infrastructure program that will include adding 1,900 kilometers of railway in a bid to ease traffic gridlock. The move into dormitories could also help Ayala Land meet its target to get half of revenue from recurring earnings by 2020. The builder is leaning on its track record of developing highend properties to compete with SM Investments Corp., which has already moved into developing dormitories. Ayala Land will likely look to build dormitories in other cities where the company has estates, Dy said. “The first mover in dormitories will capture the biggest share of a growing and promising market,” said Rachelle Cruz, analyst at AP Securities Inc. “It’s a new strategic area for property companies seeking recurring income.” Dormitory venture SM Investments, owned by billionaire Henry Sy, has bought a majority stake in Philippine Urban Living Solutions Inc., which in 2016 opened its largest dormitory project called MyTown New York with 653 beds. The dormitory builder, whose initial shareholders include Franklin Templeton Investments, is expected to have 12 dormitories operating in the next 12 months, up from three now. Dormitory-style accommodation, or so-called co-living, is also taking off in other Asian cities such as Hong Kong, where stratospheric housing costs are pricing young people out of the property
Ayala Land Inc. president and chief executive Bobby Dy
market. “Dormitories could generate the same return as an office building,” said Jan Paul Custodio, senior director at property consultant Santos Knight Frank. “It’s like a budget hotel with yearround occupancy and charging by the head.” Ayala is on track to more than double its mall space to 3 million square meters by 2020, from 1.2 million at the end of 2013, Dy said in the interview. Office space is on target to triple to 1.5 million square meters and hotel rooms to 6,000, he said. Shares of Ayala Land have risen 34 percent
this year, outpacing the 21 percent gain in the Philippines’ benchmark stock index. This year, the company has also ventured into serviced offices or co-working spaces for freelancers and startup ventures to help boost recurring earnings. “As the Philippines enters a demographic sweet spot, there will be increased urbanization,” Dy said. “There’s going to be more workers and that will continue to make cities attractive. The demand for this kind of product will not disappear even with an improvement in infrastructure.” Bloomberg
TOURISM BOOM SEEN IN NORTH PHILIPPINES A L L the four regions of Nor th Philippines (NorthPhil) comprising the Cordilleras, Ilocos and Pangasinan, Cagayan Valley, and Central Luzon are bracing for a tourism boom arising from the government’s ongoing “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program. Part of this massive infrastructure buildup covers the country’s airports, which NorthPhil hosts the most number and stands to benefit the most. NorthPhil hosts the international airports in Clark, Subic and Laoag; principal domestic airports in Baguio City in the Cordilleras, Basco in Batanes, and Tuguegarao in Cagayan; and the community airports in Bagabag in Nueva Vizcaya, Baler in Aurora, Cauayan and Palanan in Isabela, Iba in Zambales, Itbayat Island in Batanes, Lingayen and Rosales in Pangasinan, Plaridel in Bulacan, Poro Point in La Union, and Vigan in Ilocos Sur. Most of those provinces form part of two super-regions – the North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle and the Metro Luzon Urban Beltway, both also accessible by sea. All of NorthPhil can be reached by land from any of its three international airports, especially Clark with its everincreasing number of international and domestic flights and a passenger volume expected to reach 1.5 million by end-2017. And unlike the international airport in Manila, Clark has so much
Villa Dolores Beach Resort emerges as a new beach destination in Bagac, Bataan, with its modern penthouses and cottages. The resort located in Barangay Saysain is one of the nearest beach destinations west of Metro Manila, according to the resort’s marketing consultant Jojo Gamboa. The resort features beachfront rooms and cottages that features Mediterranean and Modern concepts.
land for expansion. From Clark, the rest of northern Luzon can be reached by land through three major road arteries of worldclass quality – the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, North Luzon Expressway and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, which is due for completion early next year – thus making tourism traffic more convenient than any other
region of NorthPhil’s magnitude. All such developments are swiftly increasing the super-region’s absorptive capacity for tourists and tourism investments, making the four regional offices of the Department of Tourism join hands in intensifying the marketing campaign for NorthPhil as a single destination. “Moreover, the DOT offices in CAR,
Region 1 [Ilocandia], Region 2 [Cagayan Valley] and Region 3 [Central Luzon] have partnered with the private sector [Association of Tourism Officers of Central Luzon and Cebu Pacific Air] in promoting our super-region through the NorthPhil Tourism and Travel Expo, with the SBMA [Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority], CDC [Clark Development Corp.], TIEZA [Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority], NLEX Corp. and the provinces of Aurora, Bataan, Zambales and Pampanga, and the Angeles City Tourism Office as sponsors,” said DOT Region 3 officer-incharge Carol de Guzman-Uy. “Through the expo, we will showcase the finest tourism wonders of North Philippines in one venue—the SM City Clark, Pampanga – on Nov. 17-19,” De Guzman-Uy said. The event, being organized by the Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corp., adopts the theme of the United Nations World Tourism Organization. The theme International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development highlights the contributions of tourism to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. “Thus, the NorthPhil Expo also aims to raise awareness on how sustainable tourism can improve the people’s quality of life through developmental governance and community support,” De Guzman-Uy said.
World
Cesar Barrioquinto, Editor / Jimbo Gulle, Issue Editor
HIROSHIMA NUKE MEMORIES LIVE ON WITH THURLOW OTTAWA, Canada—Setsuko Thurlow was 13 years old and standing only a mile away from ground zero when the United States dropped an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in 1945. More than 62 years after that horrific day, she will jointly accept the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of this year’s laureate, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), an organization in which she has played a major role. “I remember a bluish-white flash. My body was flung into the air, and I remember a sensation of floating,” she said in an interview with AFP, describing the day of the bombing. Thurlow suddenly found herself pinned under a collapsed building with dozens of other people. A stranger eventually pulled her out. “The city I saw was almost indescribable,” she said. It was 8:15 a.m. in Hiroshima and the sun had been up for nearly two hours, yet darkness covered the ruins. “It was like the morning had turned to night,” Thurlow said. “The dirt and particles from the mushroom cloud had prevented the sun’s rays from getting through.” AFP
FIRST CHARGES FILED IN PROBE ON MEDDLING WASHINGTON—A Washington grand jury on Friday approved the first charges in the probe led by independent American prosecutor Robert Mueller, CNN reported, citing sources briefed on the matter. The approval of the charges -- details of which remain unclear -- would mark a major step forward in the sweeping investigation into potential links between US President Donald Trump’s campaign and Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential vote. A federal judge ordered that the charges stay sealed, the cable news network said, reporting that anyone charged could be taken into custody as early as Monday. Reached by AFP, both Mueller’s office and the US Department of Justice declined to comment on the CNN report. Mueller, a former FBI director, was tapped in May to head the Russia probe -- one of several ongoing investigations on the matter -- shortly after Trump’s shock sacking of then-FBI director James Comey. That Mueller had impaneled a federal grand jury to investigate potential Russian meddling was seen as a step toward possible criminal indictments. Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing but his abrupt firing of Comey is reportedly an area of interest to investigators, along with Trump’s eldest son’s meeting with a Kremlinlinked lawyer during the campaign and Trump’s meetings at the White House with Russian officials. AFP
MYANMAR REAPS ABANDONED ROHINGYA FIELDS RANGOUN, Myanmar—Myanmar’s government began harvesting rice from farmland abandoned by Rohingya in northern Rakhine on Saturday, officials said, a move likely to raise concerns about the prospect of return for more than half a million refugees who have fled communal violence in the area. The border region has been emptied of most of its Muslim residents since late August, when Myanmar’s military launched a crackdown on Rohingya rebels that the UN says likely amounts to ethnic cleansing. Hundreds of villages have been burned to the ground, with more than 600,000 Rohingya -- a stateless group in mainly Buddhist Myanmar -- fleeing across the border for sanctuary in Bangladesh. Under intense global pressure, Myanmar has agreed to repatriate “scrutinized” refugees who can prove their residence in Rakhine. But details of the plan remain thin, seeding concern about who will be allowed back, what they will return to and how they will live in a region where antiRohingya hatred remains sky-high. On Saturday the government began harvesting 71,000 acres of rice paddy in Maungdaw -- the Rohingya-majority area hardest-hit by the violence -- according to state media and a local official. “We started harvesting today in Myo Thu Gyi village tract,” Thein Wai, the head of Maungdaw’s Agricultural Department, told AFP. AFP
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2017
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mst.daydesk@gmail.com
CATALONIA WAKES UP UNDER MADRID CONTROL B ARCELONA — Catalonia woke up Saturday under the direct control of Madrid as the Spanish prime minister took drastic measures to quash secession, deposing the region’s leaders and dissolving its parliament hours after lawmakers declared independence. In a dramatic escalation of a political crisis that has stoked alarm in Europe and sent shockwaves through Spain, Mariano Rajoy also decided to call snap Catalan elections on December 21 to “restore normality” to a region in turmoil. All eyes this weekend will be on whether Catalonia’s separatist executive willingly steps down and independence supporters carry out their threat of peaceful resistance to Madrid’s takeover. In the Spanish capital, protesters were due to hit the streets Saturday against Catalonia’s declaration of independence, which while lacking any legal basis has caused strife in a region deeply divided on whether
to split from Spain. On Friday in Barcelona and other Catalan cities, thousands celebrated their regional parliament’s motion for independence, which passed with 70 votes for, 10 against and two abstentions in a 135-seat chamber that anti-secession MPs had deserted in protest. Demonstrators in Barcelona broke out in ecstatic shouts of: “Independence!” as the result was announced, while separatist MPs cheered, clapped and embraced before breaking out in the Catalan anthem. But others glumly assessed the fallout to what they viewed as a hugely damaging and illegal vote.
“They’re forgetting part of the people, the majority,” said Josep Reina, a 34-year-old salesman. The move to take over Catalan powers is likely to anger many in a region of some 7.5 million people that enjoyed considerable autonomy, with control over its education, healthcare and police. It is the first time that the central government has curtailed regional autonomy since dictator Francisco Franco’s repressive 1939-75 rule. Independence supporters have warned they will resist the temporary measure, implemented under Article 155 of the constitution, devised to rein in rebel regions. “We won’t cave in to Rajoy’s authoritarianism nor to 155,” tweeted the far-left CUP party, an ally of Puigdemont. The resistance could come in the form of street protests and strikes, all of which have already happened since October 1 when an outlawed independence referendum was marred by police violence as cen-
tral authorities tried to stop people from voting. Catalan leaders hold up the unregulated referendum that had been banned by the Constitutional Court as a mandate for independence, saying 90 percent voted “Yes” even if only 43 percent of voters turned out. Federico Santi, Europe analyst at political risk consultancy Eurasia Group, warned there could be “more serious clashes between national police and pro-independence activists,” echoing widelyheld fears. Speaking after the parliament proclaimed an independent republic, Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont urged activists to “maintain the momentum” in a peaceful manner. Other measures adopted by the government include the dismissal of the director of the Catalan regional police force, the Mossos d’Esquadra, as well as Catalan government representatives in Madrid and Brussels. AFP
YOUTH PROTEST. Students hold placards reading ‘goodbye’ as they protest during a demonstration in Barcelona on Thursday. Thousands of students rallied in Barcelona in support of Catalan independence and against plans by Spain’s central government to curb the region’s powers. The demonstrators carried red carnations and wore red and yellow Catalan independence flags tied around their necks, and they made their way through the center of the Catalan capital chanting: “Occupation forces out!” AFP
INTRIGUING DETAILS IN ‘JFK’ FILES, BUT NO BOMBSHELL WASHINGTON—Cuban and Russian spies, false leads, strippers, bizarre Central Intelligence Agency murder plots and a furious Federal Bureau of Investigation director. Newly released secret records are full of intriguing details surrounding the assassination of American president John F. Kennedy. But Kennedy scholars say the thousands of documents do not appear to contain any bombshell revelations about the November 22, 1963 murder that shocked the world. President Donald Trump ordered the release on Thursday of 2,800 classified Kennedy assassination records but held back other “sensitive” documents under pressure from the CIA and FBI. That last-minute decision left many Kennedy historians frustrated -- and provided more fuel for the thriving conspiracy industry around the shooting of the charismatic 46-year-old president in Dallas, Texas. “I was very disappointed,” said Philip Shenon, author of “A Cruel and Shocking Act: The Secret History of the Kennedy Assassination.” “Most of the documents that were released last night are documents we’d already seen before,” Shenon told AFP. “We just saw them in redacted form previously.” “The really important documents, sort of the super-secret documents, most of them are not part of the release,” he said.
The Warren Commission, which investigated Kennedy’s murder, determined that Lee Harvey Oswald -- a former Marine Corps sharpshooter -- acted alone but that conclusion has failed to quell years of speculation that others were involved. Hundreds of books and movies such as
the 1991 Oliver Stone film“JFK”have examined scores of conspiracy theories, pointing the finger at Cold War rivals the Soviet Union or Cuba, the Mafia and even Kennedy’s own vice president, Lyndon Johnson. While the records released on Thursday by the National Archives contain
reams of new information it will be months before the rest of the files are seen -- if ever. Trump gave the CIA, FBI and other agencies six months -- until April 26, 2018 -- to make their case for why the remaining documents should not be made public. AFP
FAREWELL, KING. A mourner holds up an image of the late Thai king Bhumibol Adulyadej as she waits with others for his funeral procession to continue in Bangkok on Friday. Thailand’s new king picked bits of bone and ash from his father’s remains to be enshrined as royal relics, after the cremation of the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej capped an extravagant funeral that brought the nation to a standstill. AFP
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph
Gadgets & Games
TRUEMONEY REACHES 1M CUSTOMER MARK IN PH T
RUEMONEY Philippines recently achieved one of their biggest milestones to date. In less than a year of operations in the country, the company already reached its 1 million transacting customer mark.
TrueMoney is a Fintech brand of Ascend Money, a digital finance venture of the C.P. Group from Thailand, one of the largest diversified conglomerates in Asia, and Ant Financial (Alipay), the payments arm of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group. Humble Beginnings and Rapid Growth It wasn’t so long ago when TrueMoney Philippines was just a business concept on a set of PowerPoint slides. Within the first few months, TrueMoney Philippines grew its workforce from one person to hundreds of employees spread across several regions in the country. The team also launched its core technology system and began offering services on a pilot basis to several partners. In a few months’ time, it already built what is now one of the largest payment and remittance networks in the country, with over 5,000 TrueMoney Centers. “Our mission is to provide everyone with ACCESS to affordable and innovative financial services, particularly those who are underbanked and underserved today,” says TrueMoney Philippines CEO Xavier Marzan. “That means being pervasive and going to where these underserved segments are.” Today, TrueMoney Philippines al-
ready provides services such as payment of e-commerce purchases, bills payment, buying of load and credits, and remittance to multiple provinces nationwide, including far flung areas in Albay, Bataan, Benguet, Bohol, Bukidnon, Cagayan de Oro, Camarines Sur, Cavite, Cebu, Davao, Ilocos, Isabela, Laguna, La Union, Metro Manila, Misamis Oriental, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Pampanga, Pangasinan, Quezon, Rizal, Tarlac, and Zambales and more! “Where we are today is just the starting point,” Marzan says. “We are constantly growing our network of partner centers to cover more greenfield areas.” With an empowered footprint of TrueMoney Centers in strategic corridors, TrueMoney introduced its Money Padala (remittance) service a few months ago. For TrueMoney’s Partner Agents, this meant a more diversified portfolio of services and a greater potential of earning higher income. For its customers, it meant convenience and affordability as TrueMoney’s cashto-cash Money Padala service is one of the lowest sending rates in the country. While the average rates for domestic remittances today range from 3 percent to more than 10 percent for some providers, TrueMoney rates go as low as only 2 percent of the transaction
amount—without any additional charges to the recipient. So say for remittances of P1,000, the total cost of sending is only P20. The recipient also gets the entire amount without any additional charges. To reinforce its drive to serve the masses, TrueMoney has also worked with talk show host Boy Abunda in promoting the new brand in the Philippine market. “This is just the first step,” Marzan adds. “In the coming months, we will be launching additional payment partners and expanding our portfolio of
services. Given our industry, we need to constantly stay ahead of what the market demands. We need to be at the forefront of innovation to address current gaps in the market with new products as well as to solve difficult challenges in an emerging market like ours with new capabilities.” To know more about TrueMoney and how to become a TrueMoney partner agent, visit www.truemoney.com. ph or call (02) 7189999. You may even text them at 09778063775 (Globe) or 0998565999 (Smart).
6 MUST-HAVE APPS ON YOUR PHONE TODAY'S dynamic lifestyle requires interventions that are quick, functional and easy to use. Technology and the birth of diverse applications have made things way easier for everyone, even altering our lifestyles. There is now a perfect app for travel, leisure, dining, accommodation, even attractions. Take a peek at the top 6 lifestyle apps that are now constant in everyone’s phone: Grab & Uber—Who have not hopped in on a Grab or Uber car? The ridesharing revolution in the Philippines latched on the on-demand service vehicle app has grown into a multi-billion peso industry especially in the Philippines that is yet to have its own efficient mass transport system unlike its Asian neighbors. For commuters, getting a convenient, comfortable ride is now at the tip of their fingers. For car owners, they no longer need to buy a second car to use during “coding
days”, they just need to “Grab” it or “Uber” it. Eatigo—Filipinos today are now known as the dine-
out generation because of their current time-strapped and on-the-go lifestyle and the Eatigo app happens to be the favorite restaurant reservation app of this generation. Eatigo aims to connect empty tables with empty stomachs and offers 50% discounts on every restaurant, every day—from your favorite hole-in-the-wall to the popular fine dining places. Reservation is fuss-free at its more than 2,000 restaurants across Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India and the Philippines.Through the eatigo mobile app, diners can browse for restaurants via the curated categories: top 50 restaurants, new restaurants or use“here
& now” to see nearby restaurants. Once a restaurant has been selected, the diner can then reserve a table through the hassle-free booking process.The app is completely free to use—no subscriptions, no vouchers, no hidden fees. Great selection of dining outlets with amazing discounts, that’s why Eatigo has hit the charts for the top food app.
Spotify—This music and podcast streaming app has been rocking the world of music-lovers of all ages since it was launched October of 2008. Available in Europe, most of the Americas, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Asia, Spotify allows music to be browsed through or searched by parameters such as artist, album, genre, playlist, or record label. Users can create, edit, and share playlists, share tracks on social media, and make playlists with other users. Spotify provides access to more than 30 million songs. As of June 2017, it had more than 140 million monthly active users and more than 60 million paying subscribers as of July 2017. Netflix—Boasting a massive library of video content at an affordable price, Netflix has dramatically changed today’s viewing habits. Founded in 1997, Netflix started online streaming after 10 years when their titles were only limited to 1,000. Its success exploded in the first quarter
of 2017 with 98.75 million subscribers and breached the 100-million subscriber mark shortly after its first-quarter report in April. Netflix is now available in more than 190 countries and is responsible for at least 35% of downstream internet traffic in North America in 2016, double the traffic of Google’s YouTube and more than eight times as much as Amazon Video over the same period. AirBnB—Travelers swear by AirBnB as the most seamless app to book your accommodation. You choose your location, your price range, amenities and the type of accommodation you want, key in your preferred dates and number of persons staying and AirBnB gives you a shortlist that would match your requirements and preferences. Easy peasy! Lalamove—Who would have thought that an app that’s created for van hiring would totally revolutionize this industry?That’s exactly what Lalamove achieved. Created in December 2013 and then known as EasyVan, its main purpose for existence is to leverage on the sharing economy and satisfying a specific logistical need which is van hiring. Shortly after in July 2014, EasyVan expanded to Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan and numerous cities in Southeast Asia. It has since been re-baptized as “Lalamove” which was seen as a more appropriate name when the fleet of vehicles evolved from just vans to motorcycles and trucks of varying sizes. Lalamove has become synonymous with quick and reliable delivery, the “Lalamove way.” As our lifestyles take us on the fast lane, the lifestyle apps above make sure we got everything in control to just sit back and enjoy the ride.
SENNHEISER BRINGS LATEST IN GERMAN AUDIO TECH TO PH IF heaven had a sound, this would probably be the closest thing to it. Leading German audio specialist, Sennheiser recently introduced its full suite of new audio solutions, including the HE 1 headphone, a P3-million pair of audiophile headphones during lavish rites at the Manila Private House Club at the Bonifacio Global City. Following the success of the legendary Orpheus, Sennheiser is presenting the Philippine debut of Sennheiser HE 1, the new reference headphone system that promises unprecedented audio. This electrostatic headphone system combines a unique amplifier concept with carefully selected materials and highest quality craftsmanship. Its technical highlights include a frequency response that extends beyond the range of human hearing, resulting in the lowest total harmonic distortion that has ever been measured in an audio reproduction system. Sennheiser is shaping the future of audio in the country by relaunching locally with its latest campaign, Sennheiser Sound Heroes, and introducing high end audio headphones, amplifiers, portable music and entertainment wireless headphones, DJ, headphones, gaming headsets, as
well as mobile recording microphones for smartphones. Highlight of the brand’s collection include the highly acclaimed HE 1 headphones—a 3-Million-peso pair of—as well as 3D audio recording devices under the brand’s AMBEO initiative, a framework that develops various 3D audio hardware, software, and workflows. Sennheiser Sound Heroes is an initiative spearheaded by Sennheiser in Asia, particularly in Korea, Singapore, and now the Philippines. The project will follow 12 local creative personalities on a journey to discover new audio experiences with Sennheiser products, culminating with a trip to Sennheiser’s headquarters and flagship stores in Germany. These 12 personalities
include singers/actors, Khalil Ramos and Jay Gonzaga; radio DJs, Dannie Farmer and Jazmin Reyes; influencers/bloggers, Cha Ocampo, Rhea Bue, Issa Pressman, Deegee Razon, Ira Denise Oyco; vlogger, Maqui Castelo; party emcee, Marga Bermudez; and concert photographer, Magic Liwanag. As part of the campaign, Sennheiser is also raffling off a chance to join the Sennheiser Sound Heroes in Germany— simply purchase Sennheiser products from participating authorised retailers from Nov. 1, 2017 until Feb. 28, 2018 to be eligible. More details can be found on the campaign site: http://en-sg.sennheiser.com/ sennheisersoundheroes2017. “The Philippines is home to a large music-loving community. The demand for high-fidelity sound reproduction continues to rise, whether for movies, music, or games,” said Sennheiser Asia’s Managing Director, Martin Low. “The Sennheiser Sound Heroes project a unique brainchild of Sennheiser’s to keep in tune with this ever-growing, discerning community.” Highlights of new products entering the local market include three wireless music and entertainment neckband headphones for people on the move: CX 7.00BT (P9,490), MOMENTUM In-Ear Wireless (P12,590) and
MOMENTUM Free (P12,590). All three models feature Bluetooth and NFC integration, a three-button remote, and an integrated high quality in-line microphone for making calls and controlling music. Other notable wireless Sennheiser headphones include the award-winning active noise cancelling Bluetooth wireless travel headset, PXC 550 Wireless (P24,190) and HD 4.50 BTNC (P12,590) wireless noise cancelling headphone for active lifestyles on the go. The latest Sennheiser Gaming models such as the GSP 300 (P5,990) PC/console gaming headset and GSX 1200 Pro (P14,990) gaming audio amplifier will also be introduced to avid Filipino gamers. Apart from consumer audio products, Sennheiser is also introducing a series of microphones for mobile journalism and action cameras in the form of the MKE 2 elements (P7,629), a high quality waterproof action microphone for GoPro® HERO4 cameras; the HANDMIC DIGITAL (P12,019), a rugged, dynamic handheld microphone for interviews and music recording on iOS, Mac, and PC, made in partnership with Apogee’s analog-to-digital conversion technology; and ClipMic digital (P8,229), a clip-on microphone for mobile recording with iOS devices.
BGC NOW POWERED BY PLDT FIBR LEADING telecoms and digital services provider PLDT has recently completed its program to roll out fiber-powered broadband facilities in the Bonifacio Global City, a thriving business and residential center in Taguig City, providing its residents with Fibr-fast internet speeds. All residential buildings in BGC are now Fibr-powered by PLDT HOME. Among these buildings are One Serendra, Two Serendra, Bellagio One, Two and Three, Arya Residences, The Icon Residences, The Beaufort, One McKinley Place, 8 Forbestown Road, Essensa East Forbes, Pacific Plaza Towers. These include all upcoming residential buildings in BGC such as the Grand Hyatt Manila Residences, Uptown Parksuites, High Street South Block’s One and Two Maridien, and Verve Residence Towers, East Gallery Place, West Gallery Place, and the Park Triangle Towers. “As a cosmopolitan community, BGC residents have a strong need for high-speed broadband to support their digitally-driven lifestyles. PLDT HOME Fibr fulfills this demand,” said PLDT FVP and Head of Home Business Marco Borlongan. BGC residents can now enjoy ultra-fast broadband speeds for lag-free browsing, gaming and streaming via the game-changing Roku Powered™ TVolution. This entertainment box offers Cignal TV, and over 100 streaming channels including Netflix, iflix, and YouTube. The powerful connection from PLDT HOME Fibr will also enable families to enjoy the benefits of PLDT’s SmartHome security devices such as the home monitoring system Fam Cam, the cyber security platform Fam Zone, and the multi-functional kiddie gadget Smart Watch. “They can also now sign up for the country’s first-ever Whole Home WiFi service—the first intelligent Home Wi-Fi technology in the Philippines, designed to blanket the entire home with wireless connectivity,” Borlongan added. A former military base, BGC is now one of the country’s fastest-growing commercial business districts and residential communities. It is home to many of the country’s leading corporations and a preferred location for many global brands and foreign investors. BGC is also a popular cultural and leisure destination for city dwellers, with its open spaces, sports fields, parks, art installations, museums, cinemas and diverse array of dining options.
BAYABORDA IS NEW GM OF MICROSOFT PH STARTING Dec. 5, Hans Bayaborda will helm Microsoft Philippines as Managing Director/Countr y General Manager, taking over from Bertrand Launay, who served in the Bayaborda interim. Hans joins Microsoft Asia Pacific from HPE, where he served as Country General Manager at Hewlett Packard Philippines Corporation, and was responsible for growing the business and building organizational capabilities and talent. At Microsoft, Hans is responsible for delivering Microsoft’s overall business growth, and its leadership and vision through solutions and services that span security, intelligence, cloud, productivity and communications to help customers realize their digital transformation objectives. An industry veteran for more than 20 years, Hans has extensive experience in the telecommunications and IT industries, and has served in leadership positions in various large organizations, including Oracle, Bayantel, Globe, and Smart Communications. “It is a great honor to be part of Microsoft, an organization with a rich history of helping businesses succeed around the world,” said Bayaborda. “Now more than ever, it is an exciting time in the IT industry with Microsoft leading the way in accelerating digital transformation for every organization in the Philippines.”