2023v23n6 - STARTUPS

HOW STARTUPS ARE CHANGING

Words

In the last decade, the term “Startups” has been used to describe small, up-and-coming businesses. The name describes what they are — starting up. They are businesses (not just in the tech sphere) that are in the initial stages of operation.

The term has entered popular media in recent years and more so during the pandemic. Shows like Shark Tank and Dragon’s Den opened the public’s eyes to businesses asking for venture capitalist funding to sustain or expand existing startup businesses. Add to that Netflix’s highly-rated Korean drama Start-Up, which fed public curiosity about the nitty gritty lives of budding entrepreneurs looking for the next big thing.

But startup businesses have always been here. It has been a key concept of human enterprise since the very beginning and is continuously evolving.

by Gabriel Pe

A brief history and myth busting

To know how startups are changing, we first need to bust some misconceptions about the concept. At their very core, startups are small businesses. Lately, the term is commonly used to describe small tech companies catering to niche products or services.

While the term startup didn’t make it to the general vocabulary until recently, the concept has existed since immemorial. From merchant trading posts in the medieval era to entrepreneurs starting small niche shops in cities during the industrial boom, these can all be considered startups. You can even argue that all the biggest companies now were, once upon a time, startups.

The more recent concept of a “startup” became prevalent in the late 1970s. Previously, starting a company meant starting from scratch, including finding capital. But beginning in the late 1970s, a new breed of entrepreneurs was able to tap into the resources of venture capitalists, or investors willing to provide the necessary capital in exchange for equity in a new company.

Many startups emerged from Northern California, wanting to get a foot into the booming tech industry. Fast forward some years, and Silicon Valley, California, became home to some of the world’s biggest tech companies.

The massive success of tech startups has led to the now common misconception that all startups must be tech-related. In reality, this is not so. Tech startups just have the most significant impact and are most recognizable globally due to their accessibility.

The modern tech startups

The success of tech startups also paved the way for the “dot com” bubble of the late 1990s. Many investors tried to emulate the success of the early tech startups like Microsoft, Apple, and Google and aggressively sought out young companies to invest in. Eventually, the bubble burst, and many did not survive. A few unicorns, like Amazon, not only survived but thrived.

More recent tech startups have emerged not just from the US but from rapidly industrializing countries like China, Singapore, and even Indonesia. ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, is now valued at USD300-billion and is believed to be the largest tech startup in the world. In Southeast Asia, companies like Grab, Sea (Garena and Shopee), and GoTo are some of the most prominent tech startups that have become unicorns or companies valued at more than USD1billion. In the Philippines, there are a few unicorn startups. Voyager Innovation, the company behind Maya, and Mynt, the company behind GCash, have both achieved double unicorn status.

The Philippine setting

The Philippines lags behind our Southeast Asian neighbors when it comes to cultivating startups. In the past, the lack of support and funding, as well as our volatile economic and political situations, have impeded the growth of startups in the country. There was also no official government support to promote starting new business models and ideas in the country. Fortunately, that is all in the past.

In 2019, the government enacted Republic Act 11337, or the Innovative Startup Act. The law appointed the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) to come up with a Philippine Startup Development Program.

The new program aims to provide benefits and incentives for startups. It also aims to support the research and development of startups in the country. Benefits include subsidies in registration, expedited applications for registrations in government agencies, grants-in-aid, and subsidies in the use of repurposed government spaces and facilities. Also in the law is the creation of the Philippine Startup Ecozone, which aims to create spaces for startups.

Another notable provision in the law is the grant of Startup Visas, allowing more foreign investments and encouraging foreign startups to set up shop locally.

The law is a shift in government ideology and embraces the potential of startups to help the

economy. It also embraces the idea of foreign startups settling in the country.

The startup culture is rapidly growing. In 2021, the country’s startups raised over USD1-billion, a 179 percent increase from 2020.

Most of the country’s startups are in the tech sector, focusing on Fintech and digital services. In 2019, Startup Genome, the global policy advisor for startups, declared Manila one of the economies to watch globally for Fintech, estimating a boom of USD10.5-billion last year.

In its Startup Ecosystem report, StartupBlink ranked the Philippines 57th globally. This is a massive dip from its 52nd spot in 2021 and now 6th in Southeast Asia. Despite the drop, the country still has five notable cities for startup hubs: Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Naga, and Davao, all ranked in the Top 1000 cities in the world for Startups.

Manila remains the largest startup hub in the nation, ranking 100 globally. It is also ranked 48th globally for Hardware and IoT. This signifies that the country is still keeping up despite its later economic recovery from the COVID pandemic, with restrictions lasting till early last year. That said, the country needs to pick up the pace by providing more support for Startups in the coming years.

As the world continues to shift and the needs of people change. We can be sure that with proper infrastructure and support for Filipino startups, the country can compete with the best in the world. After all, Filipinos are among the most creative and innovative people in the world.

Building Digital Solutions To Uplift

The Lives Of Filipinos

How do you invest in impact? Pandemic or not, the acceleration of the Philippines’ digital transformation has been what Filipino consumers and businesses needed for a more convenient and future-proof way of life. Enter 917Ventures, whose core lies in driving innovation and growth in the country to improve lives and create opportunities for all through inclusive digital solutions.

Words by Sidney Nicole Liquigan

Globe’s 917Ventures

917Ventures is the Philippines’ largest corporate venture builder that ideates, launches, accelerates, and scales new business ideas that uplift the lives of Filipinos. It is a subsidiary of the Globe Group, one of the largest telcos in the country. Established in 2019, 917Ventures has since built an impressive portfolio of startups that seek to solve real, everyday pain points experienced by Filipinos, such as financial inclusion, access to healthcare, and e-commerce.

In late 2019, a small innovation team from Globe started brewing up venture ideas to address Filipino’s pain points. By January 2020, this team became official 917Ventures

employees. It was right before the pandemic, an exciting time to give birth to something new, something game-changing. Never mind not knowing what to create, expect, or how to approach things. It started with a passion and drive to discover, ideate, and make a lasting impact on our country. As the company’s own office

now call Area917V – was being completed, the pandemic happened. Everything shifted to virtual. Not only did the pandemic change the way everyone worked, but it also changed lives. More than ever, Filipinos needed online and digital solutions to adapt to a changed reality.

While businesses started closing down and everyone scrambled to look for ways to go about their days as normally as they could, 917Ventures took this as a challenge and an opportunity to ideate and build ventures that would help the Philippines fast-track its digital transformation journey. The goal was to address not only the existing challenges we experience every day but also provide solutions brought upon or aggravated by the pandemic.

And now, from a handful people and portfolio companies, 917Ventures has seen tremendous growth. What started as a roster of three –GCash, AdSpark and KonsultaMD – the company now has 12 companies and continues to explore new opportunities and expand its reach to impact more Filipinos. From a skeleton team to a unicorn hub in three years. And this is their story.

Globe as the Challenger

While providing Filipinos with telecommunications services, Globe recognized the need to adapt and evolve with the changing times and user needs.

However, since then, the business has been changing. It’s no longer enough to be content with its core business, and the telco industry entered a phase of decline. Globe saw the need to transform and find new avenues of growth.

Global business landscapes were evolving, and the company needed to adapt. Companies are known to fail because they don’t innovate fast enough at a mature stage. The likes of the most successful companies, such as Google and Tencent, have all pivoted, while those that did not — Kodak, Nokia, Blockbuster — met their demise.

In 2009, Globe started its transformation to be more responsive to the Filipinos’ evolving needs. With the rise of technology, the company saw an opportunity to leverage its expertise in telecommunications to develop solutions that would uplift lives of Filipinos in other areas.

Radical digitalization and new data-driven approaches were emerging for mature enterprises across the Philippines. Rules of engagement for businesses were changing as industry barriers disappeared. Customers were expecting to be serviced at every touch point. These were the changes that prompted Globe to adapt to continue thriving and remain relevant.

From Challenger to Market Leader

In 2015, Globe became #1 in mobile. Keeping the challenger mindset, the company changed the rules of the game. It started journeying its customers to be digital, even if it meant disrupting its core telco business. As the times changed, Globe made it a mission to constantly listen to what customers wanted and observe how they responded to these changes. The new Globe was set to disrupt itself and the telco landscape and start to build solutions for the new Filipino.

These changes were gradual, slowly introducing digital solutions into customers’ lifestyles. It was also Globe’s way to help lead the country towards digital transformation.

Globe was first in the world to offer free Facebook with no data charges. It also started to provide access to content by partnering with big names such as Viber, Spotify, Disney, and NBA.

Showcase

In the next few years, Globe started supporting initiatives outside its core business, starting with GCash, AdSpark, and KonsultaMD, to name a few. The company’s focus shifted to providing real solutions to real problems. Globe’s challenger mindset eventually led to the creation of 917Ventures, which then challenged the status quo and disrupt traditional industries through digital solutions.

A Venture Builder is Born Globe knew that even as it had reached No. 1, it cannot be complacent. It recognized that innovation should be sustained to maintain its position and continue improving lives. With 917Ventures, Globe is expanding its reach and impact beyond telecommunications and establishing itself as a leader in the digital space.

917Ventures identifies opportunities and hypergrowth industries where it can develop digital solutions that address the needs of Filipinos. By leveraging its “unfair advantage” of having access to Globe’s resources and expertise, 917Ventures can build startups from scratch and give the support they need to grow and succeed.

It all starts with the WHY. The purpose, the North Star. “We make sure that our people and our teams share the same purpose. We build our ventures for the people. We find opportunities where the most nagging problems are, and we solve them through tech-enabled solutions. We have placed the customer at the forefront of our mission, enabling us to adjust and adapt to their demands and needs,” said Vince Yamat, Managing Director of 917Ventures.

917Ventures’ mission is to uplift all 109 million Filipino lives by solving the pain points of both consumers and businesses through digital solutions in the Philippines and beyond. Through these solutions, 917Ventures contributes

significantly to nation-building by journeying the customers and acknowledging that they, too, as a company, are on that journey with them in identifying problems and creating the best solutions. The company aims to establish itself as a digital company that creates a positive impact on Filipinos.

From TelCo to TechCo

917Ventures builds startups from the ground up – new companies that will enable and empower all Filipinos and pave the way toward a more digital nation. Through 917Ventures, Globe is transitioning from being a telecommunications company to a tech giant. By building and scaling digital solutions, Globe diversifies its portfolio and future-proofs its business, along with providing opportunities, enabling digital inclusion, and future-proofing lives in the Philippines and beyond.

“We make sure that our people and our teams share the same purpose. We build our ventures for the people. We find opportunities where the most nagging problems are, and we solve them through tech-enabled solutions. We have placed the customer at the forefront of our mission, enabling us to adjust and adapt to their demands and needs,” said Vince Yamat, Managing Director of 917Ventures.

“We continue to focus on providing real solutions to real problems, designing the digital journey of our customers. We continue to explore different spaces we can penetrate and disrupt to help Filipinos address their most nagging pain points. We are committed to building more ventures to further accelerate the Philippines’ digital transformation,” Vince Yamat shared.

INVESTING IN PEOPLE

Creating The Next Breed Of High-potential Tech Talents and the Next Generation CEOs

Words by Marianna Cristina Soriano

In today’s ever-changing world, tech has been a pioneer in providing convenience and innovation to society. With that, the demand for skilled talents is greater than ever before. 917Ventures is one of the companies that is nurturing its high-potential tech talents to become thought leaders and changemakers to digitally transform the country.

VINCE YAMAT

MANAGING DIRECTOR

A key factor in nurturing the talents of 917Ventures is the Management Team. Vince Yamat, Managing Director of 917Ventures, has been with Globe for over 10 years. During his time at Globe, he served as Vice President and Head of Product Management. Not only that, but he was also the former Vice President of the Innovation Team of Globe, where he co-piloted hundreds of projects that supported B2C and B2B commercialization.

With over two decades of expertise in the IT, startup, and marketing industries, Vince actively helps his team ideate, launch, accelerate, and scale products that matter, and that uplift the lives of the Filipino people.

“Behind our innovations are the best and brightest, most passionate people,” said Vince. The rest of the Management Team is composed of 10 more celebrated startup and innovation experts. Vince is accompanied by groundbreakers all with the same mission to make a significant impact and build a digital nation.

GLENN ESTRELLA HEAD OF IDEATION AND ACCELERATION

Glenn Estrella is the Head of Ideation and Acceleration. Before joining 917Ventures, he was the Senior Vice President of Globe – Digital Ventures, former CEO of AdSpark, General Manager of Yondu, and Managing Director at Information Gateway, Inc (Jakarta, Indonesia).

As Head of Ideation and Acceleration, Glenn critiques a team of of venture builders and entrepreneurs-in-residence when it comes to ideas and strategies. Beyond being the guide for 917Ventures’ portfolio, Glenn sees to it that he mentors the CEOs of the future. “I love what I do at 917Ventures because it’s fun and I believe we can make a positive impact, one venture at a time by coaching and mentoring future startup CEOs,” said Glenn.

MIKEY GARROVILLO HEAD OF PRODUCT, TECHNOLOGY, AND DATA

The digital solutions that aim to solve pain points cannot be made without Mikey Garrovillo, the Head of Product, Technology, and Data at 917Ventures. Before joining 917Ventures, Mikey was with the Globe Group for nearly a decade, holding positions such as Director and Vice President. With experience that spans 20 years, Mikey has honed setting the company’s product strategy and overseeing product development, user experience, solution design, data strategy, IT security, and data privacy compliance. Mikey leads a team of tech talents, ensuring that they each build and develop solutions with purpose and passion.

NATASHA BAUTISTA HEAD OF GROWTH AND PROGRAMS

The team responsible for getting the products into the hands of customers is the Growth and Programs team headed by Natasha Bautista. Natasha has a wealth of expertise in the startup industry. She is Grab’s employee #1 in the Philippines and is responsible for bringing the company to the country. She also co-founded and was the Operations Head of QBO, the Philippines’ first innovation hub and non-profit foundation that supports startups to this day.

Natasha is nurturing the high-potential tech talents in her team by not just guiding them to create a competitive advantage amongst their ventures but also within themselves, to position themselves as leaders within the industry.

RASE EUSTAQUIO

HEAD OF PEOPLE

One of the reasons 917Ventures can find and nurture the talents in the company is largely credited to Rase Eustaquio, Head of People. Rase has 15 years of HR experience and has been working with Globe since 2011. His proficiency spans Organizational Development, Change Management, Recruitment, Employer Branding, Talent Management, and Employee Relations.

Rase has been with 917Ventures since its inception in 2019, recruiting many future startup CEOs and partnering them with mentors that will guide them to become pioneers. “Talents are the minds and frontrunners of building new futures. It’s important to not only provide them with a supportive environment but also to help them achieve their purpose toward becoming agents of change,” said Rase.

ATTY. JILL GENIO HEAD OF LEGAL

A crucial part of making the team’s efforts come to fruition is Atty. Jill Genio, Head of Legal at 917Ventures. Before that, Atty. Jill was the Philippine legal counsel for Sea Limited (SE), Garena, and SeaMoney. She was also a senior associate in the top-tier Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles law firm. In Romulo, she advised clients in the telecom, airline, retail, F&B, and real estate industries on M&A projects, capital markets, foreign investments, and general corporate law. As legal counsel of the company, she specializes in commercial contract drafting and managing the legal aspects of porfolio investments and joint ventures. Having Atty. Jill Genio on board is crucial for the business to protect itself, while also helping the people and projects to have long-term success.

PAUL BLAZA HEAD OF FINANCE

The Head of Finance of 917Ventures is Paul Blaza. Before joining the team, he was a financial analyst at PLDT and a former tax associate at EY, a global leader in consulting, assurance, tax, and transaction services. Alongside acting as Finance Lead of the company, he is also a Senior Financial Analyst of Globe Telecom. Paul specializes in tax preparation, accounting, tax research, financial planning, financial projections, and valuation. All of these are essential to ensure that venture teams and talents have the proper resources to achieve goals and go beyond expectations.

MAURICE

LEE HEAD OF STRATEGY

In comes Maurice Lee, the Hong Kong native and youngest of the Management Team at 917Ventures. Maurice entered the company as a Venture Strategist, then became Head of Ideation, and is now the Head of Strategy. He was the Strategy & Research lead at HYPE Asia, where he worked with founding teams across the region in their market expansion initiatives. He also worked with early-stage startups in Europe and Latin America, in both the capacity of an investor and builder. Today, he provides advice on deals and growth strategies for the portfolio companies of 917Ventures. He is also leading the company’s strategy and thinking around climate tech. He is the arm that helps portfolio companies and the talent within them strategically scale.

In the Management Team, there are three Entrepreneurs-in-Residence otherwise known as EIRs. EIRs act as a key sounding board, mentor, coach, and the first port of call for Venture Builders seeking guidance and advice. Not only that, but they also contribute to idea generation and lead in the validation of new ideas, including shaping product-market fit, go-to-market, and operating planning.

INA GERVASIO ENTREPRENEUR-IN-RESIDENCE CARLA SY SU ENTREPRENEUR-IN-RESIDENCE

MARTIN LUCHANGCO ENTREPRENEUR-IN-RESIDENCE

One of the EIRs is Ina Gervasio, who was part of the founding team of the largest homegrown e-commerce site in the Philippines, BeautyMnl, which houses over 45,000 SKUs from global and local brands. She helped build the business and held the pioneering role of General Manager for close to a decade. She has expertise in creating organizational structures and business systems for earlystage startups and scaling largescale businesses. Currently, Ina is the EIR for the 917Ventures edutech portfolio companies KodeGo and EdVenture.

Second is Carla Sy Su, who has launched numerous innovations under Smart Communications as Head of Brand Equity Management. She pioneered native advertising and grew programmatic strategies in digital media as Chief Revenue officer of Rappler. She also founded and led a data insights agency, The Nerve, specializing in data forensics and network theory, and created new data and omnichannel opportunities as Head of Data and Innovation in the Gokongwei Group’s data unit, Data Analytics Ventures Inc (DAVI). Carla’s 20 years of expertise enable her to ideate and build ventures for growth markets and industries such as martech, SaaS, fintech, and enablement solutions.

Last but not least is the newest member of the Management Team, Martin Luchangco. Martin started out his career in the Financial Services industry, working at Philam Life - AIA and at BPI Asset Management, in various roles in Marketing, Product Development, Business Development and Channel Management. He was also the Founder and CEO of tech startup Fetch, after which he led many roles in Grab. He has served as Head of Grab for Business Philippines, Head of GrabAds Philippines, and Head of Merchants and Partnerships, before landing the role of EIR in 917Ventures.

The three strong EIRs maintain a close relationship with their respective venture teams to guide them on what to do in times of crisis, how to learn from mistakes, and develop the skills of a CEO.

With a strong Management Team of 11 innovators, leaders, and mentors, it’s no surprise that 917Ventures and its startups are becoming more and more popular. The company’s emphasis on creating the next generation of high-potential tech talents and future CEOs is clear. It shows in the collaborative dynamic of the company, with each venture, each team, and each person having their designated mentor but being surrounded by industry leaders. The company adamantly carries out the 5C’s of 917Ventures which is to collaborate, care, connect, coach, and celebrate, through the exposure, experience, and empowerment that 917Ventures gives these talents that it is on its way to uplifting the lives of all Filipinos. As Vince shared, “...we don’t only build solutions, we also build and nurture promising talents to maximize their potential. We continuously grow and develop the team behind our successes.”

INVESTING IN INNOVATION

Building and Growing a Portfolio of High-growth Companies and Future Unicorns

Words by Dorothy Aubrey Abejo and Miguel Ber Edosma

Unicorns are not real, at least not in the literal sense. In the business world, unicorns are startups that have reached the value of $1 billion or more. With the digital transformation in full swing and businesses racing to stay ahead of the game, one company is notably taking charge and leading the way in building a portfolio of high-growth companies and future unicorns: 917Ventures.

917Ventures has become a vital player in the local startup scene, creating a dynamic ecosystem of high-growth portfolio companies by investing in innovation.

Here are some of 917Ventures’ portfolio companies revolutionizing the tech scene.

GCash

GONE are the days of long lines and tedious transactions at banks and payment centers. As modern technology continues to reshape the way we live, digital payments have become more prevalent in the country.

One of the most innovative digital payment platforms in the Philippines is GCash, a portfolio company of Globe’s 917Ventures and the Philippines’ first double unicorn, with over 76 million registered users.

From mobile wallet to digital ecosystem

Before the emergence of e-wallets, Filipinos relied heavily on hard cash and traditional bank transactions. In recent years, the transition to online payment and cashless transactions has become more of a norm—thanks to the likes of GCash.

Introduced to the market in 2005 as a digital wallet for Globe Telecom subscribers, it was developed to provide solutions for unbanked Filipinos. As Mynt and GCash President and CEO Martha Sazon noted, “Our focus really is not on profitability, our focus is really to grow the use cases, to tap even more underserved and unbanked Filipinos, and to prepare for the future of GCash.”

With Martha’s 12 years of pioneering breakthroughs in Globe businesses, this was something GCash achieved at a rapid speed. These days, with just a few clicks on their mobile phones, users can easily pay bills, transfer money to family and friends, and even purchase goods and services online.

Since then, GCash has undergone tremendous growth and become the largest digital ecosystem in the Philippines–with the most merchants, social sellers, and cash-in and cashout agents with stalls and over-the-counter payment centers available in urban and rural areas.

A safe and essential platform during the pandemic

COVID-19 disrupted the whole world and forced us to adapt new ways to transact. The app has become an essential tool for Filipinos during this time when online shopping was on the rise and small businesses were popping up everywhere. The need to adapt and survive prompted the rise of digital transactions, despite the fears and barriers regarding money safety.

However, buyers and sellers prefer GCash payment as a safe and convenient way to transact without the need for physical cash. It also allowed buyers and sellers to transact without having physical contact or having to travel to banks, given the restrictions from the government and local units.

During this critical time, it empowered both consumers and merchants to thrive in the new normal by being the most accessible payment method. GCash notably collaborated with the national government and other government agencies to distribute cash aid safely and more conveniently. This partnership has highlighted GCash’s potential as a critical player in promoting financial inclusion and advancing the country’s shift to cashless transactions.

Local impact and expansion to the international market

Convenience and accessibility are arguably the key factors in how GCash dominated the market, but more than that, they developed features that cater to the essential needs and day-to-

day demands of Filipinos — GInvest has made investing accessible to Filipinos at a lower cost. GSave has made it easy for Filipinos to open digital bank accounts without going through layers of documentary requirements. Other features include GLife, an all-in-one lifestyle platform for shopping, food, and retail; GInsure, a marketplace for various insurance products; and innovative lending solutions–GCredit, GLoan, and GGives which give users access to fair loans.

In addition to its domestic success, GCash has also begun making waves in the international market–particularly in Asia. Thanks to its partnership with global payments giant, Alipay, users in countries like Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea, can now opt to pay with GCash.

The power of innovation: How GCash’s success can pave the way for the future of FinTech

GCash has immensely transformed the way Filipinos transact and manage their money by offering new options that are more accessible, affordable, and convenient for the common Juan. GCash’s success shows how FinTech innovations can help ensure everyone has a chance to improve their everyday lives.

In addition to its domestic success, GCash has also begun making waves in the international market–particularly in Asia. Thanks to its partnership with global payments giant, Alipay, users in countries like Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea, can now opt to pay with GCash.

with HealthNow, AIDE KonsultaMD

EVER HEARD of teleconsulting? This innovation is changing the healthcare game in the country. Intending to democratize healthcare for all Filipinos, KonsultaMD, HealthNow, and AIDE have become some of the most wellknown names in the digital health industry in the Philippines. These startup ventures aim to provide safe, convenient, and accessible healthcare services through digital means.

It is no secret that healthcare in the Philippines is not easily accessible and available to everyone. Even basic healthcare is seen as a luxury for the majority of the population, particularly those in remote areas. “Getting healthcare should be as simple as buying load,” says Cholo Tagaysay, KonsultaMD’s CEO, who envisions solving the critical need for accessible and affordable healthcare services in the country.

According to statistics, about six out of ten Filipinos die without ever seeing a doctor. Thanks to innovations like KonsultaMD, HealthNow, and AIDE, primary healthcare services are now available online. This means users can easily consult a doctor 24/7, get e-prescriptions, schedule clinic appointments and lab services online, and have their medicine delivered right at their doorstep.

At the height of the pandemic, hospitals and other health facilities were crowded with patients. KonsultaMD played a big role in servicing Filipino families during these critical times when getting medical attention was challenging. Founded in 2015, KonsultaMD is a teleconsult service that offers 24/7 access to licensed Filipino doctors through phone calls or video consultations. With KonsultaMD, patients can receive medical advice and prescriptions without leaving their homes, providing better access to quality healthcare, especially in remote areas.

HealthNow, on the other hand, is a digital health platform launched in 2020 that offers a range of healthcare services, including telemedicine and e-pharmacy.

Another home healthcare platform is AIDE, which offers diagnostics at home and home care that includes nursing, fitness coaching, and many more.

In July 2022, KonsultaMD, HealthNow, and AIDE announced their consolidation, under 917Ventures. This newly formed trio is sought to be a powerhouse in the country, given each company’s proven success in the digital health space. By offering convenient and accessible healthcare services, healthcare is now made easier and attainable for everyone.

KonsultaMD, the largest telehealth company in the Philippines with 2 million users, 50,000 retail outlets nationwide, and 95 brand partnerships, has also made Filipino lives easier and better in many ways. This includes free consultations for foodpanda delivery partners and free mental health support via chat. Other featured new services, such as diabetes screening packages, family vaccination packages, and healthy holiday bundles are made available. And just a few months, as of writing–KonsultaMD launched a Concierge for booking appointments, lab test services, COVID-19 testing, medicine delivery, and other healthcare needs.

KonsultaMD’s rapid growth and expanding reach have also drawn the attention of investors in the digital health industry. With a user base of 2 million and over 50,000 retail outlets nationwide and now, with its recent consolidation with HealthNow and AIDE, is KonsultaMD the next Philippine unicorn?

The consolidation of these three startups into a one-stop health super app is set to revolutionize the Philippine digital health industry. KonsultaMD’s partnership with GCash, the country’s largest e-wallet and first unicorn, has further expanded its reach and made services more accessible to Filipinos.

Its CEO Cholo Tagaysay has over a decade of executive-level experience in tech and has assumed leadership positions in various startups, managing multiple markets in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Singapore. He was also the former Chief Marketing Officer of Xurpas, the only Philippine startup ever to IPO. As CEO of KonsultaMD, he leads with a strong commitment to innovation and improving the lives of Filipinos through accessible healthcare. It’s safe to say that KonsultaMD is on its way to becoming the next Philippine unicorn.

STRONG COMPETITION in the market made it harder for brands to promote services and advertise their products. With digital media, competition is stronger, and brands need to be creative and smart to succeed in the saturated market. One big challenge is standing out from others. With many products available, it’s hard for brands to grab people’s attention.

This is how Brave Connective Holdings, Inc. came up with solutions for brands aiming to level up in reaching their audiences.

In the second quarter of 2022, the Globe Group created Brave Connective Holdings, Inc. to consolidate its adtech and data capabilities as part of 917Ventures portfolio companies and has appointed Nikko Acosta as Group President & CEO. He is concurrently Globe Group’s Chief Strategy Officer

Brave Connective Holdings, Inc. is Globe Group’s holistic adtech and data ecosystem, that supports brands and businesses to get to know their audiences better, and translate the knowledge of their markets to data-driven campaigns and initiatives. One of the key ways in which Brave Connective Holdings, Inc. helps brands is by bringing them closer to their customers through the use of data, analytics, targeting, and storytelling, thereby driving insights to data-driven business decisions and actions. Through its portfolio of adtech and data companies, AdSpark, m360, Inquiro, and DeepSea (currently undergoing the spinoff process), they analyze market trends, consumer behavior, and channel capabilities to help brands and businesses create campaigns that cater to the needs of their customers.

Coming up with effective creative campaigns that impact consumers can be a challenging process. From the ideation down to its optimization, sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint your audience’s needs. Spark the interest and drive action of your consumers through AdSpark, an adtech expert and a data-driven agency, accelerating digital and mobile advertising through technology and innovation.

AdSpark helps brands connect with consumers in a more personalized manner, from getting to know the consumer down to rewarding them. AdSpark’s capability of integrating advanced analytics and actionable insights has enabled brands to create campaigns that are more tailored to their target customers’ needs and interests, making campaigns more engaging and effective for their clients.

Communication is an important factor in building customer relations. Good thing businesses can now send messages to their customers anytime, anywhere in the world, in any channels they prefer. m360, a multi-channel messaging platform, enables businesses to send and receive messages to 227 global destinations via its 700 parter mobile operators.

In the Philippines, m360 reaches 150M mobile users and 45M messaging app users like Viber for Business and Facebook Messenger, helping businesses with their digital communication needs to create more meaningful conversations and make more lasting engagements.

Inquiro, on the other hand, provides businesses of all sizes with easy-touse tools. With a suite of solutions that includes Audience Builder, Credibility Score, Acquisition Suite, and Market Scan, Inquiro enriches customer data with online and offline data attributes from millions of consumer profiles. This helps businesses understand their customers better, create detailed customer segments and profiles, and analyze their consumers’ profiles to measure their overall credibility score.

Finally, with DeepSea, brands can effectively reach a larger audience by working closely with their clients and developing software solutions that help them achieve their business goals. DeepSea has established a unified ecosystem for its users and clients by preventing wasted ad spend and irrelevant ad space through its optimized ad campaigns.

Overall, Brave Connective Holdings, Inc. has built a big impact and is continuously growing as one of the leaders in the advertising industry. Each portfolio company, AdSpark, m360, Inquiro, and DeepSea, offer unique solutions that are useful for businesses and brands looking to maximize their potential in the digital space. Founded with a clear mission to address the lack of data generated among Filipinos, Brave Connective Inc.’s achievement speaks for itself on how investing in innovation can spark a brave difference.

RUSH

E-COMMERCE refers to the trade of products or services over the internet. Several years ago, eCommerce was only a buzzword for most people. For businesses, it was just something nice to have.

Over the years, digital adoption among the global population has grown significantly. Purchasing behaviors also changed through time, with consumers valuing convenience, flexibility, and comfort more than ever; ultimately, this increased the demand for online storefronts. Since then, e-commerce has become a must-have for businesses, complementing (if not overtaking) brick-and-mortar stores.

This is true even in the local setting. Digital adoption in the Philippines has grown tremendously especially at the height of the pandemic. While this created opportunities for entrepreneurs to serve a growing market, smaller businesses lagged behind due to limited resources and lack of expertise.

This is the gap that RUSH aims to bridge.

An eCommerce Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) for Filipinos by Filipinos, RUSH equips businesses with the tools needed to connect businesses to their customers. Its affordable and comprehensive eCommerce platform called eStore levels the playing field for SMEs, allowing businesses to launch their online stores within minutes without any coding skills required. Its end-to-end enablement ensures that businesses are present at every stage of their customers’ buying journey- from discovery to delivery. It also consolidates into one platform the myriad of software subscriptions required to launch a sales website.

RUSH aims to be a catalyst for SME recovery and growth. Comprising 99% of businesses in the Philippines, SMEs play a huge role in the economy. However, the huge SME market remains underserved. RUSH eStore addresses this gap by democratizing digitalization especially for smaller businesses, empowering entrepreneurs to sustainably grow their businesses through a payas-you-grow subscription model.

RUSH now proudly serves over 1,000 merchant partners across the retail, services, and F&B industries, with an aggregated base of 6 million customers across 7,000 locations nationwide.

RUSH is poised to achieve more milestones in the future guided by the expertise of its CEO Steph Kubota. Steph is a Circle of Excellence Awardee for “Young Leader of the Year” in the 2022 Asia CEO Awards, and an experienced leader for both B2B and B2C businesses within the APAC region. With her in the driver’s seat, RUSH achieved the Globe Excellence Award in Commercialized Innovation for its pioneering innovation as the first entity to implement AWS Microservice System architecture within the Globe ecosystem. In 2022, RUSH was named by APAC CIO Outlook as one of the Top 10 eCommerce Providers in APAC. RUSH also made the global shortlist of Appealie’s Overall SAAS Awards.

eCommerce has indeed gone a long way, from being a nice-to-have to becoming a must-have. This has also opened doors for businesses to reach new consumers, grow, and scale. RUSH remains at the forefront of digital transformation, equipping businesses with the tools they need to succeed and thrive in the vast eCommerce space.

“RUSH now proudly serves over 1,000 merchant partners across the retail, services, and F&B industries, with an aggregated base of 6 million customers across 7,000 locations nationwide.”

KROMA

MEDIA HABITS and consumption in the Philippines are evolving. Since the late 1980s, television and television programs assumed dominance as the #1 source of entertainment for Filipinos. But now, online streaming platforms are emerging as a worthy competitor to televisions, and it’s all thanks to devices like smartphones and the advancement of the internet.

The accessibility of technology opens the door wide open for people to create their own content. However, this turns out to be some sort of conundrum in the long run. There was a big increase in quantity and it inspires businesses to innovate ideas to cater to these contents. KROMA enriches tradigital space with content and experiences across formats, and this objective inspires the company and CEO Ian Monsod to create and innovate digital products that would challenge people’s varying perspectives and points of view. Its determination to be the quintessential example of quality production paved the way for various solutions related to media. Its most recent is PIE channel, an interactive entertainment channel in the Philippines which currently has up to 18M reach.

Beyond digital content, we also create experiences (digital, onground or hybrid) and develop platforms / tech capabilities, etc.

As a matter of fact, its most recent films have won awards outside of the country. On The Job: The Missing 8 was nominated for Best TV Movie or Miniseries at the 50th International Emmy Awards and was the Philippines’ entry to the

95th Academy Awards. It also produced Martika Ramirez Escobar’s Leonor Will Never Die won the Sundance Film Festival’s Special Jury Prize for Innovative Spirit.

CEO Ian Monsod plays a big role in KROMA’s success. Being a former Managing Director of Warner Music Philippines, he knows quality when he sees it. This ability to eye excellence allows him and his team to provide entertainment for all audiences across multiple screens and formats like in films, series, TV shows, music, digital content, and events, further shaping KROMA to be the leading entertainment company in the Philippines.

“KROMA enriches tradigital space with content and experiences across formats and CEO Ian Monsod to create and innovate digital products that would challenge people’s varying perspectives and points of view.”

KodeGo

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY fosters innovation. Businesses put extra attention to their IT because they can help improve their process and development.

Nowadays, the world runs by data. For everything to function efficiently, businesses must learn to harness the information around them. For example, without firsthand knowledge of customer data, marketers will most likely spend millions just to target the correct customers. Not to mention the effort they need to exert just to make a sale.

Of course, IT is not only about utilizing data to make a sale. We shouldn’t overlook the fact that one of the most popular uses of IT is securing data. Since papers are outdated and much harder to store, everything is now digital. That means weak data security can result in key information being lost or stolen. This can also cause poor customer experience and reputational harm.

These all suggest that there is a need for IT. Even though there is a significant and widespread demand for it, there appears to be insufficient supply to meet the demand.

KodeGo aims to address that problem.

KodeGo is pronounced as Code Go. It is also a play on the Tagalog word Kodigo which means, well… Code. As the name suggests, it is all about Information Technology and its broad concepts available at the palm of your hand.

KodeGo is an edutech platform that offers boot camps for willing learners to hone their IT skills. It’s designed to provide a realistic opportunity for everyone to receive proper education and career advancement. Not only that, but students are also provided with mentorship, coaching, CV-building, and free job placement to ensure they have every opportunity for success. It completes the whole cycle of learning and training to getting a job.

Of course, there’s a lot more that can be done for education and the IT industry. That’s why KodeGo considers a Study Now, Pay Only When Hired program to help out students lacking the capacity or the privilege to build their skills. As of writing, KodeGo already has over 800 enrolled students and over 500 graduates, and more to come.

Edventure

THE PANDEMIC drastically disrupted the Philippine education system, prompting a sudden shift to alternative learning modes as schools had to shut down, leaving many students, their parents and guardians struggling. As they navigate the ongoing transition to education’s “new normal,” they need help.

Online platform Edventure is heeding the call for help, on a mission to design a solution that will future-proof our educators’ careers and address parents’ tutoring needs.

The pandemic makes it hard for educators to do their job. First, they have to teach online and most of the time they lack the proper tools to facilitate seamless learning. There are also outside factors such as student’s access to technology and environment that affect their attentiveness and ability to absorb their lessons. One of the harshest impacts of the pandemic was the closure of small schools, forcing teachers to find other ways to earn a living.

Students and their parents also had their own share of struggles, as they had to

quickly adjust to remote learning. But Edventure found a way to address these challenges.

It can help educators get employment and the tools needed to teach, and students to learn across a variety of subjects.

Edventure is a platform that offers personalized, 1-on-1 online tutorial sessions to students from kinder to grade 10 in the subjects Math, Science, Reading, English, Filipino, Araling Panlipunan, and more. It now has over 1,000 accredited active tutors and over 12,000 learning sessions.

Edventure also pushes the involvement of parents in education with more than 10,000 parents registered on the platform. Of course, children will have a better experience and will perform better in their studies, if they’re fully supported by their parents. It can also aid them in the development of strong relationships.

Technology and education are not too far apart. There are still a lot of things that need to be done to make education better. EdVenture takes that first step in shaping education and it will continue to do so to enable new ways for people to learn and work together.

CHANGING HOW FILIPINOS LIVE IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD

There’s no question that the pandemic has dramatically impacted the lives of Filipinos. When it began in early 2020, it opened our eyes to issues that were otherwise swept under the rug. Health, logistics, and transportation all posed challenges. Even just getting your favorite daily cup of joe seemed impossible during the pandemic.

Fortunately, when faced with adversity, human nature is inherently creative. There is a solution for each problem, and during this tumultuous time, Pinoy startups found niches they could improve and work on, turning difficulties into opportunities.

Bringing food to the community with Sarisuki

During the lockdown, sourcing daily necessities was difficult. The lockdowns meant that only one family member could go out for groceries, and essentials were limited to avoid hoarding and shortages. This struggle sparked the idea for Sarisuki, a startup offering affordable market products.

Led by former Grab Philippines president Brian Cu, Sarisuki is a social commerce startup that uses the community group buy model where buying wholesale and directly allows the company to offer products at cheaper than market prices.

According to the Sarisuki team, they provide a platform for local farmers, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to reach a wider audience, thanks to their online website and mobile app.

The app allows Ka Sari Community Leaders to set up shop. Customers can shop for groceries on Sarisuki’s vast online network and have these delivered to the nearest Ka-Suki store for convenient and free pickup.

Sarisuki’s innovative platform has transformed the way Filipinos do business, promoting financial opportunities for communities and farmers. Its founders’ belief in using technology for the greater good has positively impacted countless lives, and its continued growth is a testament to the potential of social commerce to create positive change in the world.

“Sarisuki’s innovative platform has transformed the way Filipinos do business, promoting financial opportunities for communities and farmers.”

Getting a great deal for a cup of joe with PICKUP COFFEE

t’s no secret that Filipinos love their daily cup of joe. A 2021 study by Fitch Solutions projected that each Filipino will consume up to 3.78kg of coffee annually by 2025. With this trajectory, the country would become the largest coffee consumer in Southeast Asia within the next two years.

While many enjoy the rich and delicious artisan cups, most still rely on three-in-one packs due to their convenience and affordability. But it does not have to be that way.

PICKUP COFFEE is a new start-up that aims to change how we consume coffee. Launched in 2022, the company aims to bring affordable specialty

coffee to more Filipinos. You can get a great cup of coffee for just PHP50 and nothing over PHP100 (inclusive of UPsizes, exclusive of UPgrades).

What distinguishes PICKUP COFFEE is its promise of quality, as they use

only the best ingredients to make high-quality coffee drinks. They use Single Origin Arabica beans for their coffees and offer various beverages ranging from the classics, the usual milk-based favorites, their PICKUP Signatures, and PICKUP Teas for tea lovers. They have also collaborated with other purveyors, such as Butterboy and Malia Home Bakery, for sweet and savory bites perfect with their cup of coffee.

PICKUP COFFEE currently has 55 stores in Manila and Cebu and growing rapidly, thanks to technology. Food delivery apps like Grab, FoodPanda, and PICKAROO are helping expand their reach to deliver each one’s perfect cup of coffee.

PICKUP COFFEE in Ayala Center Cebu

Iced Americano

THE PERFORMANCE-MINDED and eco-conscious Acer Chromebook Vero 712 (CV872/T) lets students see and do more. This Chromebook for schools features a 3:2 aspect ratio and 12th Gen Intel Core processor, enabling students to do faster coding on their Chromebooks. The productivity-boosting 12-inch HD+ IPS display has a taller 3:2 aspect ratio that provides 18% more vertical space compared to an equally wide display, so more schoolwork, text, maps and photos can be seen before students need to scroll. The Chromebook’s

TÜV Rheinland Eyesafe (Hardware Solution) certified display also reduces harmful blue light while ensuring that users can still enjoy vivid colors when viewing from their devices. Plus, the powerful 12th Gen Intel Core processors let students tackle more advanced schoolwork such as coding and video editing, while also running multiple programs and apps without delays.

Acer Chromebook Vero 712

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Vero line that reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability. The new Acer Chromebook Vero 712 utilizes recycled materials in many areas of the product including 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic in the chassis and display bezel as well as 50% PCR plastic in the keycaps. Even the device’s packaging supports the company’s mission to reduce, reuse and recycle with the use of 100% recycled paper pulp.

Students can connect to the Internet quickly with reliable Wi-Fi 6E. It features a 720p webcam with Blue Glass Lens and (TNR), providing high-quality video feedback even in low-light conditions. For privacy, it includes a webcam shutter.

The Acer Chromebook Vero 712 is ready to connect to devices, displays and other peripherals. It has two full-function USB 3.2 Type-C ports for transferring data at speeds up to 5Gbps, connecting to an HD display, and can also be used to charge the device as well as other products.

ACER TravelMate B Series

ACER HAS RELEASED its latest additions to the TravelMate series of Windows 11 Education laptops, designed to improve students’ overall learning experiences and boost productivity, whether in school or at home. These laptops are shipped with Acer’s new User Sensing Software, which combines Break Reminder, Screen Distance Reminder, and User Sensing technology to help reduce digital eye strain and ensure data security. The dependable TravelMate B series laptops also conform to military-grade durability standards that can withstand drops as high as 122cm, possess reinforced I/O ports and spill-resistant keyboards to protect inner components from damage, and HD webcams that come with a camera shutter for added privacy protection. With Acer’s dedication to achieving its Earthion mission, all the education laptops possess recycled materials in their components and packaging, an EPEAT ecolabel, and are TCO Certified, the leading sustainability certification for IT products worldwide.

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Acer TravelMate B5 14

THE NEXT-GENERATION

hours of battery life make the Acer TravelMate B5 14 (TMB514-31) an excellent laptop for students of all levels balancing loads of daily work and academic requirements in one device. To make blended learning and video meetings more engaging, it features up to a 14-inch Full HD (1920x1080) display, an additional HDR camera with webcam privacy shutter, and dual digital microphones that leverage Acer’s PurifiedVoice with AI Noise Reduction technology to suppress background noise when in a call. With the latest Windows 11 update, students can access features such as Focus sessions and snap layouts, making it easier to get things done. For added convenience and functionality, the TravelMate B5 14 includes two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C connector, and Intel Wi-Fi 6E and 2x2 MUMIMO for fast and uninterrupted network connectivity when online.

Acer TravelMate B3 11

THE TRAVELMATE B3 series for education has been upgraded with the addition of two new school laptops that aim to provide added protection for K-12 students and empower them to do more in their studies. Pre-installed with Windows 11 Pro Education or Windows 11 SE and powered by up to an Intel Processor N200, the devices are packed with enhanced privacy settings and modern education applications to promote collaborative and inclusive learning among peers. With Windows 11 and Microsoft cloud services’ unified management tools and the integration of software and hardware security features in these new models, school and IT administrators can simplify and streamline the deployment and management of the latest TravelMate B3 laptops. The resilient laptops were also thoughtfully designed to minimize damage from external impacts. The lightweight laptops make it easy for young students to carry these around during their hybrid classroom experience, with the convertible model weighing 1.5kg (3.3lbs), while the TravelMate B3’s classic clamshell design stands at just 1.4kg (3.1lbs).

Acer TravelMate B3 Spin 11

THE OPTIONAL 11.6-inch FHD touch display on the Acer TravelMate B3 Spin 11 (TMB311R-33/TMB311RN-33) is protected by the Acer Antimicrobial Corning Gorilla Glass, formulated to help reduce the potential growth of odor and harmful microorganisms on the device’s screen. Users can also choose options with a dockable Wacom AES stylus to customize their school laptops according to their learning preferences. A 5MP world-facing camera further enables collaboration between students and flexibility in learning. These laptops are built to last a full day of school as the TravelMate B3 Spin 11 has up to 10-hours of battery life, while the TravelMate B3 11 can last up to 9.5-hours of use. These also feature the latest connectivity ports to facilitate collaborative engagements.

ASUS Vivobook Pro OLED

CREATE AND MULTITASK

like a pro with the world-leading 3.2K 120Hz 16:10 OLED display of the ASUS Vivobook Pro 16 OLED (K6602). Its OLED display is PANTONE-validated to deliver a superb high-quality visual experience with a cinema-grade 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. It is DisplayHDR True Black 600 certified for ultra-realistic images with a 600-nit peak brightness.

At the core of effortless content creation is performance, and the powerful components in Vivobook

Pro 16 OLED make creativity easy and fun for YouTubers, TikTokers, podcasters, vloggers, musicians, and artists. Users requiring a quick boost for an arduous task can simply switch to Performance mode

to unleash the maximum 90W TDP from the up to 12th Generation Intel Core i7-12700H CPU and 16GB RAM, with no throttling thanks to the dual-fan, triple-vented ASUS IceCool Plus cooling system. The up to 1TB PCIe SSD provides plenty of ultrafast storage for every project and loads clips or draft ideas in the blink of an eye. The studiograde up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Ti GPU also lets the user’s visual creativity flow as smoothly as ever and can easily handle gaming or entertainment tasks.

Experience audiovisual heaven with the MUX switch in the Vivobook Pro 16 OLED. Creators can enjoy maximum low-latency graphics performance when gaming. Entertainment is also enhanced

by immersive, multi-dimensional Dolby Atmos audio via the Harman Kardon-certified speaker system.

Easily connect all the latest peripherals, displays, or projectors. There’s an ultrafast Thunderbolt 4 port that supports fast charging and up to 40Gbps data transfers; a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port; an HDMI 2.1 port that supports up to a 4K external monitor; an RJ-45 LAN port that provides added flexibility for highspeed wired network connections; and a MicroSD card reader that allows fast and easy data exchange.

To complete every creator’s wish list, ASUS Vivobook Pro 16 OLED comes with a free three-month subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud.

Starts at PHP82,995 Laptop

ASUS Vivobook 16X (M1603) | ASUS Vivobook 16 (X1605)

EXPLORE A FRESH new vision with the latest Classic Vivobook laptops. The ASUS Vivobook 16X (M1603) and ASUS Vivobook 16 (X1605) feature an LCD wideview NanoEdge display and have TÜV Rheinland low blue-light certification to ensure eye comfort during lengthy viewing sessions. Ideal for smart and practical users, next-level productivity is guaranteed thanks to the large workspace a 16-inch laptop can only offer. Tick off everything on that to-do list quickly, as these Classic Vivobook laptops come with a free lifetime license to Office 2021 Home & Student.

Achieve a next-level performance with the latest AMD and Intel processors. Vivobook 16X comes with up to AMD Ryzen 7 5800H Mobile Processor, while Vivobook 16 features an up to 12th Generation Intel Core i7-1255U CPU. The 8GB of DDR4 RAM and an ultrafast 512GB PCIe SSD on both models make every task effortless, whether it’s streaming, browsing, editing, video chatting,

or just taking care of business at home. Vivobook 16X has additional RAM slots for future-proofing.

Built in a youth-friendly and compact design, Vivobook 16 features precisionengineered, lay-flat 180-degree hinges that make it easy to share content with others or fun to collaborate with workmates and classmates around a table. With a full set of I/O ports, connecting existing peripherals, displays, and projectors is a cinch. There’s a USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port, two USB 3.2 Gen

Starts at PHP37,995 | Starts at PHP33,995 Laptop

1 Type-A ports, a USB 2.0 port, HDMI output, and an audio combo jack.

To ensure maximum performance and keep Vivobook Classic series laptops cool in all situations, the ASUS IceCool cooling system uses upgraded 8mm and 6mm dual heat pipes and an IceBlade fan that efficiently accelerates heat transfer.

To safeguard users’ health and reduce the spread of harmful bacteria, frequently touched surfaces on Vivobook Classic series laptops are treated with ASUS Antibacterial Guard, which is scientifically proven to inhibit the growth of bacteria by more than 99% over a 24-hour period.

Samsung Galaxy S23 | S23+ | S23 Ultra

THE NEW GALAXY S23 ULTRA, Galaxy S23+, and Galaxy S23 mark a new era of Samsung Galaxy’s ultimate premium phone experience. Samsung Galaxy’s epic camera gives users more freedom to explore their creativity, like capturing truly cinematic Nightography videos with transformative AI. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy unleashes premium experiences, including groundbreaking AI, future-ready mobile gaming features, and powerfully sustained gameplay with the world’s fastest mobile graphics. On the Galaxy S23 Ultra, an embedded S Pen offers more possibilities for productivity, notetaking, hobbies, and more. All the Galaxy S23 series’ new standard-setting innovations are housed within a striking design that advances the company’s sustainability commitment with more components made using recycled materials.

Galaxy S23 Ultra makes it easier for any level of photographer to capture phenomenal content. It offers an advanced camera system, tailored for nearly any lighting conditions and engineered to render incredible detail. Improved Nightography capabilities transform how the Galaxy S series optimizes photos and videos in a wide range of ambient conditions. Visual noise that usually ruins low-light images is corrected by a new AI-powered image signal processing (ISP) algorithm that enhances object details and color tone.

Galaxy S23 Ultra boasts a new 200MP Adaptive Pixel sensor that captures epic moments with incredible precision. It uses pixel binning to support multiple levels of high-resolution processing at once. And because selfie cameras are more important than ever to how we communicate today, the Galaxy S23 series introduces fast autofocus and its first Super HDR selfie camera, jumping from 30fps to 60fps, for noticeably better frontfacing images and videos.

For users who want the ultimate creative control and customization, the Galaxy S23 series offers a suite of tools that differentiate any photography experience. The Expert RAW app, available exclusively on Samsung Galaxy, enables DSLRstyle image shooting and editing in RAW and JPEG.

On Galaxy S23+ and Galaxy S23, the iconic Samsung Galaxy camera also gets an upgraded look, with the removal of the contour housing.

Samsung and Qualcomm optimized the Samsung Galaxy experience with the brand new Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform for Galaxy, the most powerful and efficient platform in a Galaxy smartphone, and the fastest Snapdragon available today. Meanwhile, on the Galaxy S23 Ultra, a 5000mAh battery powers a larger camera than Galaxy S22 Ultra without increasing the device’s size.

In anticipation of the future of ultimate digital realism, Galaxy S23 Ultra comes ready to support realtime ray tracing as it comes to the mobile gaming mainstream. Users will be able to see noticeably more lifelike renderings of scenes, thanks to technology that simulates and tracks every ray of light. Plus, Samsung Galaxy’s vapor chamber, now bigger and on every Galaxy S23 series model, keeps your gaming marathon going.

Galaxy S23 Ultra’s expansive 6.8-inch edge display with a reduced curvature creates a larger and flatter surface area for the best visual experience. Samsung Galaxy’s unique Enhanced comfort feature allows users to adjust color tones and contrast levels, lessening eye strain from screen time at night. Vision booster now adjusts at three levels of lighting to combat brightness and glare in daylight.

The Galaxy S23 series also has a wider variety of recycled materials, including pre-consumer recycled aluminum and glass and postconsumer recycled plastics sourced from discarded fishing nets, PET bottles, and water barrels.

The new S series is the first to market Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2, offering durability for long-term use and consisting of an average of 22 percent pre-consumer recycled

content. Plus, every Galaxy S23 smartphone comes in a redesigned packaging box made with 100 percent recycled paper.

For users who want to extend the life of their device, the Galaxy S23 series’ premium experience can be sustained through the years with four generations of OS upgrades and five years of security updates. To enhance its longevity, users can also leverage programs such as Samsung

Care, a support service for accidental damages, repairs, and more.

The Security and Privacy Dashboard on Samsung Galaxy gives users full visibility over who has access to their data and how it’s being used. With just a glance, it’s easy to see if personal data is at risk and receive simple prompts to change settings for a more secure experience. Users can also decide exactly which applications and programs get access

to their data and how it can be used.

For an added layer of security, Knox Vault protects critical information on the Galaxy S23 series by isolating it from the rest of the device, including the OS, for added protection against vulnerabilities.

The Galaxy S23 series comes in four nature-inspired matte hues: Phantom Black, Cream, Green, and Lavender.

HONOR X7a

FEATURING A LONG-LASTING

6,000mAh battery, a 50MP Ultraclear Quad Camera system, 128GB storage, and a stunning 6.74-inch HONOR FullView Display, the new HONOR X7a smartphone comes with extraordinary battery life and powerful hardware to offer a wellrounded use experience throughout the day, and more – all at an affordable price.

Embedded in its slim and chic body, the 6,000mAh battery delivers extraordinary battery life. Featuring HONOR Smart Power Saving Technology to optimize power consumption, the latest HONOR X7a can support up to 42 hours of social media browsing, 42 hours of phone calls, or 29 hours of music streaming on a full charge, making it a reliable companion for users who are constantly on the go. Packed with 22.5W HONOR SuperCharge, just 30 minutes of charging will allow users to enjoy over 10 hours of music streaming.

The cell of the HONOR X7a comes with a higher energy density and

reduced thickness, contributing to the long battery life and the slim form factor of the device. The battery also demonstrates exceptional longevity, capable of maintaining above 80% health even after three years of use.

The HONOR X7a has also entered the DXOMARK smartphone battery rankings, earning the DXOMARK Gold Battery Label in recognition of its outstanding battery performance.

Featuring a 6.74-inch HONOR FullView Display with a 90.07% screen-to-body ratio, the HONOR X7a delivers an immersive viewing experience, whether the user is working, streaming videos, or gaming. Supporting HD resolution and a color depth of 16.7 million colors, the HONOR X7a displays visuals in stunning clarity and vibrancy, perfect for viewing photos, videos, and movies.

Certified by TÜV Rheinland for low blue light emissions, the display can be used for extended

periods without stressing the eye. The Eye Comfort Mode, eBook Mode, and Dark Mode provide additional display personalization options for further reducing eye fatigue.

The HONOR X7a features an impressive 50MP Ultra-clear Quad Camera system consisting of a 50MP Main Camera, a 5MP Wide Camera, 2MP Macro Camera, and 2MP Depth Camera, allowing users to capture their memorable life moments in vivid detail. The 8MP Front Camera makes taking highquality portraits easy, ideal for selfie lovers who enjoy snapping photos with their loved ones.

Users who enjoy keeping their media always accessible at their fingertips can take full advantage of the large 128GB storage drive, which can keep over 28,000 pictures, 11,000 songs, or 450 HD videos locally. The MicroSD card slot allows users to further expand storage by up to 1TB, bringing enhanced flexibility to meet their business and personal needs.

HONOR MagicBook X 14 | X 15

HONOR RECENTLY unveiled the upgraded MagicBook X 14 and Magic X 15 with 11th Gen Intel Core processors. The new HONOR MagicBook X 14 and HONOR MagicBook X 15 deliver superb performance and a seamless user experience to take users from work to play. Their HONOR Share and multi-screen capability make these latest additions perfect for travelers and on-the-go individuals.

Featuring a lightweight aluminum body, the HONOR MagicBook X 14 weighs just 1.38kg and is only 15.9mm thin, making it ideal for users who seek flexibility and want to use their device on the go, for work, or for play.

With a 14-inch stunning Eye Comfort HONOR FullView Display, 4.8mm ultra-slim bezels on three sides, and an 84% screen-to-body ratio, the HONOR MagicBook X 14 delivers an immersive viewing experience and superior picture quality, ensuring users can capture every detail on their screen.

For those looking for a larger screen, the new HONOR MagicBook X 15 comes with a stunning 15-inch Eye Comfort HONOR FullView Display, a screen-to-body ratio of 87%, and weighs just 1.56kg.

PHP27,990 | PHP37,990

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Perfect for those who spend long hours in front of a screen, the HONOR MagicBook X 14 and HONOR MagicBook X 15 come with TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification and TÜV Rheinland Flicker-free Certification, ensuring enhanced eye protection and a comfortable viewing experience while studying, working, or watching TV shows.

For those who love to do multiple things at once, Multi-screen Collaboration allows users to view

their smartphone screen and files on the laptop; users can simply drag, drop, and edit their files using the same keyboard and mouse.

The HONOR MagicBook X14 and HONOR MagicBook X15 support multi-screen collaboration allowing users to multitask between different devices. Users can seamlessly connect their smartphone with the laptop, dragging files across and making edits with one keyboard. A handy fingerprint reading power button enables instant access when starting the HONOR MagicBook

X 14 and HONOR MagicBook X 15 for a more secure and effortless login experience.

Powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core processor, the HONOR MagicBook

X 14 and HONOR MagicBook X 15 deliver an upgraded performance,

enabling users to run multiple tasks simultaneously at incredible speeds, offering greater productivity.

Ensuring an uninterrupted gaming experience, the HONOR MagicBook

X 14 and HONOR MagicBook X 15 have an advanced Supersized

Cooling Fan, enabling efficient heat dissipation to maintain a manageable temperature even during extended periods of use. With a massive 56Wh battery, users can enjoy up to 9.9 hours of local 1080p video playback or 9.2 hours of webpage browsing on a single full charge.

CANON imagePRESS

THE NEW CANON IMAGEPRESS V1000 is a powerful cut-sheet digital color press with expanded print production capabilities that synergize form and function. The versatile imagePRESS V1000 opens new business opportunities for commercial and in-house print

service providers (PSPs) with its ability to produce a wide variety of media on an extensive range of applications - from business cards and direct mails to booklets, posters, and other creative marketing collateral. It also comes with task automation designed to enhance work efficiency.

As the first model in the imagePRESS next-generation lineup, the imagePRESS V1000 delivers maximum productivity, consistent quality, and reliability accustomed to the Canon brand so that businesses can compete and thrive in a demanding print market.

With a strong emphasis on task automation, the imagePRESS V1000 helps PSPs ensure color repeatability and registration alignment effortlessly. The Inline Spectrophotometers (ILS) allow operators to perform advanced color adjustments such as engine linearization, color profile creation, G7® calibration, and color validation quickly with minimal operator intervention. A new Precision

Production Printer

Registration Technology helps operators ensure the alignment of duplexed sheets remains accurate and consistent during long production runs. At the same time, an optional Sensing Unit automatically detects prints with mismatched color settings and adjusts accordingly.

The imagePRESS V1000 also comes with two front-end controller options, the PRISMAsync Print Server and the imagePRESS Server D3000. The PRISMAsync Print Server helps PSPs boost production capacity and provides a common workflow across Canon’s production printing offerings. An Automated Color Task feature streamlines multiple color setup

functionalities into a single action, providing hands-off automation with ease. Powered by the Fiery FS500 Pro system software, the imagePRESS Server D3000 adds new functionalities, including familiar workflow and prepress features. The Express Media Color Manager and Auto Recall combined with the ILS deliver swift color management on an intuitive interface.

Integrated with POD-SURF (Surface Rapid Fusing), the imagePRESS V1000 effectively maintains a consistent print speed of 100 ppm on coated and heavy media types up to 400 gsm, sustaining high efficiency when printing complex and mixed media jobs. When used with the Bypass trays, the optional

Multi-Drawer Paper Deck boosts the paper input capabilities to create a wide array of premium applications. Equipped with remote alerts, operators can change media and toner and remove toner waste while keeping the imagePRESS V1000 running for maximum productivity.

The imagePRESS V1000 features an innovative cooling system that cools paper immediately after fixing, for optimum print quality, minimizing the risk of waste due to warping, sticking, or bricking. A new transfer technology creates the ideal transport path for each sheet of paper during the printing process. It ensures even color distribution when operators switch between media types with different weights while printing.

OPPO Reno8 T

A NEW ADDITION to the Reno Series, the OPPO Reno8 T is a powerful and all-new Portrait Expert set to deliver allaround upgrades on camera, design, and performance.

Capture moments in clear detail with the new Portrait Expert, as the OPPO Reno8 T is the first Reno series phone to include a 100MP Portrait Camera. The camera system also features a 32MP Selfie Camera and a 2MP Microlens with 20x or 40x magnification. With higher MP, OPPO fans can capture their everyday moments in brighter, clearer, and more vivid detail. Meanwhile, the 40x magnification allows users to explore a microscopic world with details remaining as clear as ever.

The OPPO Reno8 T continues the brand’s philosophy of producing high-performing smartphones with trendy and elegant designs. Featuring Fiberglass-Leather texture – another first for the Reno Series –a vibrant Sunset Orange hue, and rounded edges, the slim, lightweight design offers a premium experience inspired by luxury leather goods. A Midnight Black variant, featuring the signature OPPO Glow design, is also available. The OPPO Reno8 T

features an upgraded OPPO Orbit Light, which can be customized based on the user’s color preference.

To give users a smooth and seamless mobile phone experience, OPPO has integrated several improved features in the OPPO Reno8 T. It comes out of the box with the latest ColorOS13, which provides users with convenient and user-friendly smart features, as well as security while using their mobile phone. The OPPO Reno8 T has also been tested to maintain 48-Month Fluency, allowing users to enjoy their Portrait Expert for up to four years without slowing down.

Boosting the all-around entertainment experience, the OPPO Reno8 T comes with flagship dual stereo speakers and Ultra Volume Mode to immerse users in their games and videos.

The OPPO Reno8 T also comes with a 5000mAh battery and 33W SUPERVOOC charging technology, which powers up the gadget to 100% in just 67 minutes. Users can also expect 8GB RAM plus 256GB ROM, as well as OPPO’s RAM Expansion technology.

PHP18,999 Smartphone

Sony Float Run

THE SONY FLOAT RUN is a pair of off-ear headphones that positions the speaker near, but without touching the ear canal, leaving the ear safely uncovered while still delivering a rich sound experience making it perfect for cyclists and runners.

The Float Run headphones focus on the cyclist’s posture and runner’s form for a comfortable and stable experience without having to compromise sound quality. Float Run offers functional features to runners, including a lightweight design with a flexible neckband that doesn’t slip when in motion. Whether you go for a quick jog or a record-breaking run, your music stays on you to keep you going. For cyclists, the pressure-free design that sits off of the ears eliminates

the worry of sweat and chafing. It even positions nicely, even with a bicycle helmet on.

With a unique off-ear design, cyclists and runners won’t have to worry about pressure or stuffiness on their ears. For extended comfort, the Float Run headphones sit on the ears of the wearer so that they can enjoy comfort for longer without disruption. Additionally, Float Run headphones only weigh approximately 33-grams so that runners can focus on their surroundings. The design is also advantageous and safe for cyclists who ride on busy roads prone to accidents because the device does not completely block the ears.

Designed to be stable and secure, Float Run headphones stay in place no matter how fast the cyclist pedals or the runner moves. Tested on a wide range of head shapes and hairstyles, the headphones will stay with the wearer due to the flexible neckband design. Float Run headphones were also tested with accessories, including hats and sunglasses. Whatever is worn, the stabilizing neckband will keep them secure.

The 16mm drivers and precise tuning combined with the off-ear style offer a more natural and broader sound, so there is no compromise on sound quality. The Float Run headphones have an open-type design that eliminates echo of the sounds your body makes, like footsteps, chewing, or heavy breathing, and allows ambient sound.

PHP7,999 Headphones

The Float Run headphones are designed to fill the user’s ears but not cover them so that they can be aware of their surroundings. The Float Run design allows music to naturally mix with ambient sound and be formed by the user’s ear shape. Float Run offear headphones keep ears unobstructed to achieve peak performance in whatever activity they are performing.

With an IPX4 water-resistant rating, consumers don’t have to worry about damage from sweat or getting caught in the rain. With long battery life and up to 10 hours of playtime when fully charged, the Float Run headphones will power long runs. In a hurry? A quick charge of 10 minutes will give an hour of play.

With a variety of controls built in, users can control playback and access their smartphone’s voice assistant without having to take it out of their pocket or bag. When their activity is over, and it’s time to get to work, the Float Run headphones have a high-

quality built-in microphone to make them just as ideal for productivity tasks. Float Run headphones conveniently charge using USB-C. Additionally, the headphones include a carrying pouch to keep the supplied charging cable and headphones together and protected.

PHP16,999 – 6GB+128GB

PHP18,999 – 8GB+256GB

Smartphone

POCO X5 Pro 5G

IN A FIRST FOR POCO X series smartphones, POCO X5 Pro 5G features an astonishing 6.67” Flow AMOLED screen. This flexible display technology makes the POCO X5 Pro 5G lighter and, at 7.9mm thin, it is the slimmest X series device ever, all the more comfortable to hold when gaming or creating content. Whether making videos, watching movies, scrolling through social media or gaming, the flagshiplevel 120Hz refresh rate delivers bright, vibrant, ultra-smooth images.

Photos and videos come to life with 100% DCI-P3 and 10-bit color depth, and Dolby Vision makes the viewing experience even better.

Imagined to go with you anywhere, the POCO X5 Pro 5G has 1920Hz PWM dimming to protect eyesight when reading and creating in low light if inspiration strikes late at night. Powerful and responsive POCO X5 Pro 5G’s Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset with advanced TSMC 6nm has an AnTuTu score of 545,093, which is even higher than the newly released MediaTek Dimensity 1080. The Snapdragon 778G 5G chipset offers a perfect balance of power efficiency and high performance, allowing the camera processing system even faster than the previous model. All POCO X5 Pro 5G speeds are updated to improve camera performance: for setup (41%), photography (69%),

and night mode (38%). Meanwhile, the image signal processor (ISP) achieves two gigapixels per second, and the chipset makes your camera even smarter with AI performance of up to 12 TOPS.

A flagship-level 108MP sensor unlocks professional-level photography, delivering ultra-highresolution imagery and capturing minute detail and color, even in dark areas. POCO X5 Pro 5G also supports 4K video shooting and includes various modes that make vlog creation more accessible, splendid, and easier to catch every winning moment.

POCO X5 Pro 5G supports more than 5.5 hours of 4K shooting with its 5000mAh battery, an undeniable plus for video creators who are always on the go. Now they can keep streaming or shooting all day and never worry about losing power. And with 67W turbocharging, a simple coffee break is all you need to quickly boost the battery level up to 30% charge in just 7-minutes.

It comes in three colors: Black, Blue, and Yellow.

POCO X5 5G

RESETTING IDEAS about midrange smartphones, POCO X5 5G has everything Gen Z users need to power through a day of work, study, or entertainment. Even if you’re taking hundreds of photos, gaming for hours, or watching highresolution videos, it will keep you covered through the day and night. Super light with a slim 6.67-inch AMOLED DotDisplay, and weighing only 189g, POCO X5 5G always feels comfortable. Gaming fans will appreciate the 120Hz refresh rate and 4,500,000:1 contrast ratio that guarantees a smooth, life-like gaming experience, and DCI-P3 wide color gamut brings images to life for a visual feast.

POCO 5X 5G is equipped with a Snapdragon 695 chipset that delivers a smooth user experience. It packs a high level of speed and efficiency and excellent download speeds. The devices offer just the right RAM and ROM combination to keep content smooth and enjoyable, with RAM optional up to 8GB and ROM up to

256GB, respectively. As multitasking users switch from one app to another, Dynamic RAM Expansion Technology 3.0 supports more apps running in the background.

Whether switching from work tasks to gaming or watching movies to scrolling on TikTok, POCO X5 5G’s long-lasting 5000mAh battery has you covered. Users can say goodbye to battery anxiety thanks to the fast-charging technology; if you are watching shows on YouTube videos, the X5 5G battery can power for a whopping 21 hours. POCO’s 33W fast charger can bring an empty battery back to 100% charge in about 68 minutes, just enough for you to take a break and grab a meal before resuming your game or catching up with the latest online videos. With a fully charged battery, you can enjoy scrolling and interacting on social media for 12 hours.

It is available in Green, Blue, and Black.

PHP14,999 – 6GB+128GB

PHP15,999 – 8GB+256GB

Smartphone

ZTE RedMagic 8PRO

THE ZTE REDMAGIC 8PRO strives to create the best gaming experience. The phone is packed with futuristic designs and features to deliver amazing performance. REDMAGIC delivers what every gamer needs to be the best they can be.

RedMagic 8PRO is loaded with the fastest chipset ever — the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 paired with Red Core 2, REDMAGIC’s dedicated gaming chip LPDDR5X + UFS 4.0. It features a True Full AMOLED Display + 2nd Generation UnderDisplay Camera for a better viewing experience.

RedMagic 8PRO is also packed with ICE 11 Multi-Dimensional Cooling System featuring a 20,000rpm high-speed turbofan that gives gamers more playing time. It also comes with 65W GaN super fast charging and a 6000mAh dual-cell battery.

Smartphone

ZTE Blade Series

THE ZTE BLADE SERIES comes in three variants: the Blade V41 Vita, the Blade V40 Design, and the Blade V40S.

The Blade V41 Vita is the marquee product of the lineup, boasting exquisite design and unlimited vitality. It has a powerful 50MP triple camera that provides crystal clear high-definition images. The heart of the Blade V41 Vita is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 810 5G Processor. Its blazingfast Octa-core 2.4GHz processor delivers high performance while keeping power consumption low for long-lasting battery life.

The next model, the Blade V40 Design, is premium, elegant, and stylish. It offers the same 50MP triple camera as the V41 Vita, which gives the model access to amazing photography with its highdefinition output. You also get the full suite of key

photography tools, such as the bokeh and macro cameras. Whether you’re shooting food, landscapes, stunning night photos, or beautiful portraits, you’ll always get crystal-clear shots. Performance-wise, the Blade V40 Design uses 4GB+3GB Dynamic RAM for smoother operation. It supports memory fusion technology which can expand the RAM by up to 7GB using the built-in storage.

The third and most affordable option is the Blade V40S. The Blade series is all about impeccable picture quality, and the V40S is no different. The main camera boasts of 50MP resolution with a large f/1.8 aperture for low-light photography. The bokeh depth camera is at 2MP at a 2.4 aperture, while the macro camera is 5MP with the same wide open 2.4 opening. It also has an anti-shake feature to help you get sharp photos even during low-light situations.

Fujifilm Apeos 2150

THE FUJIFILM Apeos 2150 series consists of four entry-level A3 monochrome multifunction printers catering to small and medium-sized businesses.

Apeos 2150 series is a fourthgeneration device that has been designed and developed to address the needs of users in the Philippines. With the One-Pass Duplex Scan function, double-sided documents can now be scanned quickly by a single-pass, thus improving energy efficiency and overall productivity. In addition, the newly added Auto Printout Rotation function helps to save time and effort by enabling easy collation of multiple print sets, as compared to time-consuming manual sorting.

New features such as automatic straightening of skewed ID card copy and scan, and paper output customization which allows paper size to be adjusted as per different processes helps to increase workflow efficiency.

The dedicated mobile application Print Utility, along with pre-installed NFC and Wi-Fi Direct, enhances the overall user experience by allowing users to print directly from their mobile phones to the device, at any time and from anywhere.

The Fujifilm Apeos 2150 series printers are built with robust capabilities that will enable SMB users to enjoy enhanced work efficiency and an increase in overall productivity.

Multi-function Printer

ACER PREDATOR

Today’s definition of a powerful gaming laptop is continuously evolving. Apart from running ray-traced games, an ideal gaming laptop must have an equally capable processor, larger storage SSD, efficient RAM for smoother loading of programs and files, and a decent display for immersive gaming and casual entertainment. This year, Acer introduced the Predator Helios 16, which aims to tick all the boxes.

PREDATOR HELIOS 16

DESIGN

Like any other gaming laptop, the Acer Predator Helios 16 is a hefty rig. The smooth black chassis looks more premium than the older generation of Predator Helios laptops. On top of the lid is the iconic Predator emblem in silver. Lifting the screen reveals the per-key mini-LED RGB backlit keyboard with a number pad. The touchpad is also Its lighting can be customized using PredatorSense, Acer’s

own application. On the left side are the Ethernet and USB ports, a microSD slot, and an audio jack for wired headphones. Meanwhile, two USB ports are on the left side. The power plug, an HDMI port, and two Thunderbolt 4 ports are on the rear edge of the Predator Helios 16. Apart from the edgy RGB lighting at the back, the gaming laptop’s rear fans feature replaceable covers that allow you to customize its look. Its full-high definition web camera and built-in microphones are located at the top.

HARDWARE

On paper, the Acer Predator Helios 16 is a gamer’s dream. It comes with a 13th-generation Intel Core i9 - 13900HX processor matched with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card, ideal for running graphics-intensive games and software. It also boasts a whopping 32GB DDR5 RAM and 2 TB PCle NVMe SSD for extensive storage. This ensures smooth multi-tasking from daily web

browsing, casual gaming, and running intensive software for video editing, drafting, and animation.

Out of the box, the Predator Helios 16 has a revolutionary 16-inch WQXGA IPS display with up to 240Hz of refresh rate for buttery smooth gaming. For audio, it comes with DTS audio-powered speakers out of the box. Lastly, dual 5th AeroBlade 3D fans are partnered with vector heat pipes and liquid metal thermal grease to keep the gaming laptop cool and improve its performance.

USER EXPERIENCE

There are a number of things that I liked about the Predator Helios 16. I was able to use it for my online school in graduate school, heavy gaming, and casual video streaming. The performance has really impressed me as I was able to run Zoom, Animaze, and multiple tabs in Google Chrome in a breeze. Its built-in FHD webcam captures good audio and video for online meetings, thanks to its built-in Temporal Noise Reduction. In terms of display, colors are punchy and bright, which makes games and movies more immersive. Loading of software and games is fast, thanks to its powerful processor and graphics card. I was able to play Cyberpunk 2077 and GTA 5 in their highest video settings with no lags. Thanks to NVIDIA’s Advanced Optimus, it automatically selects the best graphics card to use, depending on which applications are running. This optimizes the Acer Predator Helios 16’s battery life and in-game latency. Refresh rates can go high as 240 Hz. However, the refresh rate can decrease with an external monitor via HDMI cable, depending on the display settings.

Acer Predator Helios

The laptop offers decent connectivity options, perfect for content creators and gamers. There are enough ports for gaming peripherals as well as a dedicated port for SD cards. This makes file transfers faster and more efficient. Bluetooth connections are quite fast and responsive. Gamers can also choose various audio profiles on the Predator Helios 16 through DTS Audio. You can also tinker with the frequency range and distortions of the built-in speakers through Acer TrueHarmony.

Last but not least on my list is the specialized PredatorSense 4.0 key, updated by Acer, to monitor the gaming laptop’s performance. You can overclock the graphics card, customize the lighting of the RGB keyboard, and check the status of the device. Apart from adding more aesthetics, dual 5th AeroBlade 3D fans, vector heat pipes, and liquid metal thermal grease prevent the laptop from

overheating issues. I used the laptop for extensive hours, but it remained cool, unexpected for a gaming rig with powerful specifications. The only caveat I experienced is the battery pack, which I find heavier than the gaming laptop. Using it with the display brightness at 100%, volume at 50%, and Wi-Fi connection, the Predator lasted for about 8 to 8.5 hours which is pretty decent.

VALUE

The latest Acer Predator Helios 16 is definitely a must-have for content creators and hardcore gamers. The latest processor, larger memory, bigger storage, and impressive audio are dealbreakers for those looking for an all-around daily driver for their home. However, its power brick could be cumbersome. Nevertheless, this is a good investment for a gaming rig that can do work and play.

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 16-inch 16:10 WQXGA IPS display 240Hz DCI-P3 100% / 165Hz sRGB 100%; Advanced Optimus supported

Dimensions: 357.78 x 278.74 x 24.9~26.9mm

Memory: 32GB DDR5 RAM; 2TB PCle NVMe SSD storage

Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 GPU

Audio: DTS Audio; two built-in microphones; two built-in stereo speakers; Acer Purified.Voice technology; Acer TrueHarmony technology

Cooling: Dual 5th AeroBlade 3D fans; Liquid thermal grease; Vector heat pipes

Keyboard: Mini LED Per-key RGB backlit keyboard

Connectivity: KillerTM E2600 Ethernet, KillerTM Wireless Wi-Fi 6E 1675i

Camera: FHD 1920x1080 webcam with Temporal Noise Reduction

Battery: 90Wh 4-cell Li-ion battery

Operating System: Windows 11 Home; compatible with Cortana with Voice

WHAT'S HOT

 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card

The processor is very reliable for multitasking and gaming

Superb DTS Audio speakers

WHAT'S NOT BOTTOMLINE

 The hefty chassis is not ideal for people who are always on-the-go

With the Acer Predator Helios 16, you can dominate work and play without a compromise.

ASUS VIVOBOOK PRO 15 OLED

Last year we looked at the ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 OLED, a great midrange laptop with a gorgeous display and powerful specs. Now we look at its older sibling, the slightly bigger and equally powerful ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED.

REVIEWED BY GABRIEL PE

LAPTOP

DESIGN

When you take the ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED out of its box, you immediately notice that it shares the same design with its smaller sibling, the ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 OLED. It has the same metallic black cover, the same ASUS Vivobook logo on the cover, and the same I/O ports layout. The only major difference is the bigger body, it being a 15.6-inch display laptop compared to the Vivobook Pro 14 OLED’s 14-inch display.

Opening the laptop is where you’ll find the most noticeable difference. The ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED has a full-layout keyboard, meaning you have a physical number pad instead of the NumPad 2.0 found in the smaller model.

Going back to the display, the ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED has a 15.6-inch OLED display with a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut. It also has a faster 120Hz refresh

rate, which is excellent for those who want to game on the side. On top of the display is the FHD webcam with the physical cover/ shutter for extra security.

Like the 14-inch version, the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED has a lot of ports. On the left are two USB-A ports and the laptop’s LED notification lights. On the right are the DC

power, a USB Type-C with Power Delivery support, a microSD card reader, another USB-A port, a 3.5mm audio port, and the full-size HDMI port.

As the larger model, the ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is a bit heavier, weighing around 1.8kg. But surprisingly, it’s a bit thinner, measuring 18.2mm thin.

HARDWARE

The ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is powered by a Ryzen 5000-series processor, with our unit running on the Ryzen 7 5800H processor. It is similarly paired with an NVIDIA RTX 3050 graphics. Our review unit had 512GB of NVMe SSD as internal storage and 16GB of DDR4 RAM.

While it doesn’t have a Ryzen 9 5900HX processor, the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is still super powerful. It earned 4397 on 3DMark Time Spy and 30 873 for Night Raid. Geekbench 6 pegged it at 1815 for single-core performance and 7033 for multicore. Lastly, PCMark 10 scored it 5704 for overall performance, earning 8168 for productivity and 7036 for Digital Creation. Honestly not bad for a laptop of this size.

It also handles gaming quite well. It averaged 140 to 160FPS at Valorant on

the high setting. Dota 2 pegged it at 84 to 92FPS at the highest setting. It can even handle AAA titles like CyberPunk 2077, averaging 41.26 at High settings with NVIDIA’s DLSS enabled.

Battery-wise, it has a 70Whr battery inside. While I didn’t run any battery benchmarks, I used the laptop on my trips to school. I found that at 60Hz and somewhat high brightness, the laptop lasted around 6 to 7 hours, depending on the workload. So you’ll need to bring the power brick if you’re expecting a long day. The included 120W power brick charges the laptop up to 50% in just half an hour and up to 82% at the hour mark.

Battery health measures kick in then, as it takes another 30-mins to charge up to 92% and fully charges at just over two hours.

If you don’t want to bring an extra power

brick, you can use a USB-C charger to top it up. You can even use a power bank to keep it running; just make sure your

USER EXPERIENCE

The ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED was made for someone looking for an allaround device. It can handle tough games and content creation with video and photo editing.

Writing this review was a bit challenging as I couldn’t help comparing it to its smaller sibling the ASUS Vivobook Pro 14 OLED. Honestly, the specs and most of the performance were almost identical. Everything that I loved about the Vivobook Pro 14 OLED is still in the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED, just with a larger display and faster refresh rate.

The display was great, not only for Netflix and Disney binge-watching but also for gaming. The colors looked great thanks to the OLED display. What makes the screen even more appealing is the additional settings in the MyASUS app which include color temp and even OLED flickering and transparency settings.

The cooling is similarly great. Even during benchmarking and gaming, the laptop stayed cool. The fans were very quiet, allowing me to sneak in some game time at the library.

A thing I noticed was that I preferred the NumPad 2.0 on the smaller laptop

compared to the physical number pad. I found the number pad to be a bit more cramped than regular keyboard number pads. This isn’t really a deal breaker since I hardly use the number pad.

Another thing the smaller Vivobook Pro 14 OLED does better is portability. The added 400 grams may not look like a lot on paper, but you’ll notice it when you’re lugging it around.

If asked about a weaknesss of the ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED, it would be the speakers. They’re not the loudest, but the quality is still great. There’s no muddiness nor hollowness whatsoever.

VALUE

Starting at PHP67,995 for the Ryzen 5600 version, the ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED is a great all-around laptop. Our review unit is priced at PHP74,995. Its powerful specifications rival mid-range gamingoriented laptops with the added benefit of being more portable. The only drawback is that its price is similar to the highest spec’ed Vivobook Pro 14 OLED.

If you want a bigger screen, a faster refresh rate, and a physical number pad, then go for the Vivobook Pro 15 OLED. But if you’re on the go and prefer a lighter laptop, then the Vivobook Pro 14 OLED would better suit your needs.

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 15” 2.8K 120hz 16:9 600nits OLED display, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, certified DisplayHDR 600 True Black, PANTONE® Validated, and TÜV Rheinland

Processor: AMD Ryzen™ 7 5800H Mobile Processor

Graphics: NVIDIA® GeForce®

RTX™ 3050

Memory: 16GB DDR4

Internal Storage: 512GB M.2

NVMe™ PCIe® 3.0 SSD

OS: Windows 11 Home

Ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support display/power delivery, 2x USB 2.0

Type-A, HMDI, 3.5mm audio port

Battery: 70Wh lithium-polymer battery. 120W Power adapter

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6(802.11ax)

(Dual band) 2*2 + Bluetooth 5.1

Dimensions: 359.8 x 234.3 x 18.9mm

Weight: 1.8kg

WHAT'S HOT

 Powerful

 Great OLED display

 Speakers are not the loudest

WHAT'S NOT BOTTOMLINE

The ASUS Vivobook Pro 15 OLED retains its title as a great all-around laptop for everyone.

HONOR X7A

SMARTPHONE

HONOR impressed us with the launch of their mid-range smartphone, the HONOR X9a. Barely a month since its Philippine launch, they’re back at it again, this time with a new entry-level X-series smartphone, the HONOR X7a.

REVIEWED BY GABRIEL PE

DESIGN

The HONOR X7a retains some of its predecessor’s image (HONOR X7) with the double camera bumps at the back and the teardrop notch selfie camera. It comes in three unique colors Midnight Black (our review unit), Titanium Silver, and Ocean Blue.

The phone is mostly plastic but feels durable, thanks to the heft of its massive battery. The midnight black colorway is glossy but not a fingerprint magnet. Additionally, the included jelly case should be able to address that concern.

The HONOR X7a has a 6.74-inch FullView Display that offers decent colors despite being just an IPS LCD panel. It has a 720 x 1600 resolution and a 90Hz refresh rate. The display is also TUV Rheinland certified for low blue light emissions.

On top of the phone is the sim card tray. On the right are the volume buttons and the power button that doubles as the sidemounted fingerprint reader. At the bottom are the headphone jack (pretty nice), the USB-C charging port, and the single downward-firing speaker.

HARDWARE

Powering the HONOR X7a is a MediaTek Helios G37 processor with a PowerVR GE8320 GPU. It’s not a powerful processor, and it showed during testing, scoring 133040 in Antutu V9.5.4 and 190 for single-core, and 785 for multicore in Geekbench 6.

Our review unit also had 6GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage that can be expanded via a MicroSD card.

If you’re used to a much more powerful smartphone, you’ll notice the processor chugging. Still, I found that it can run some light games like League of Legends Wild Rift and Pokemon Go (more on this later).

Moving on, the camera surprised me. While I expected the phone to struggle, given its price range, it honestly performed well. The 50-megapixel main

shooter was able to deliver good shots in daylight. While lacking vividness, images turned out all right with a bit of photo editing. However, low-light shots were a bit inconsistent; some shots had too much noise, while others turned out social media-worthy.

Additionally, the Honor X7a also features a 2-megapixel ultrawide camera, a 2-megapixel macro camera, and a 2-megapixel depth sensor. The selfie camera is an 8-megapixel shooter.

USER EXPERIENCE

What makes the HONOR X7a unique is its supermassive 6000mAh battery which HONOR claims can last three whole days.

Taking that claim to heart, I took the phone for a weekend of Pokemon Go. Why Pokemon Go? Well, I really like the game, plus it takes a toll on the battery forcing the display open most of the time. Honor X7a was able to handle the challenge like a champ.

I started the weekend with 100% battery ending Saturday at around 87% after two hours of playing. Sunday was a different story when I decided to play the whole day for an in-game event. The phone kept on going after I had already exhausted myself walking around SM North EDSA for about 5 hours. I was able to finish the day with still around 51% battery life. This was amazing!

It took another two days before the phone finally needed to recharge, but those two days were just light usage (an hour or so of Netflix at night).

Sample shot using HONOR X7a’s camera

The battery is charged using the included 22.5W HONOR SuperCharge charger. Unfortunately, charging time is lackluster, especially considering the massive battery. On the plus side, the phone has a 5W reverse charge feature

if you’re willing to share your juice with your friends.

Another thing I noticed was that the display was bright even under direct sunlight. The phone’s cooling system was also great and barely warmed even after hours of gameplay.

If the battery is its most impressive feature, the processor seems to be its major weakness. The Helios G37 was visibly struggling during my time with it. You’ll notice some stutters even when you’re just scrolling through the setting menu. Fortunately, setting the refresh rate to always high instead of dynamic alleviates the problem.

SPECIFICATIONS

Display: 6.74-inch HD+ (720 x 1600)

FullView Display with 90Hz refresh rate

Processor: Mediatek Helios G37

OS: MagicUI 6.1 over Android 12

RAM: 4GB/6GB

Internal Storage: 128GB expandable via MicroSD

Camera: Front: 8-megapixel; Rear: 50-megapixel (main), 2-megapixel (ultrawide), 2-megapixel (macro), 2-megapixel (depth)

Battery: 6000mAh with 22.5W HONOR SuperCharge, 5W reverse charge

Connectivity: 4G, Bluetooth 5.1. Dual-Band WiFi

Dimensions: 167.48 x 76.85 x 8.27mm

Weight: 196g

WHAT'S HOT VALUE

The HONOR X7a retails for PHP7,990 — in my opinion, a higher asking price than other similar smartphones. Still, it has one clear advantage over the rest, the 6000mAh battery that handily beats the rest of its competitors. Its processor choice may not be the fastest in its class, but I’ll take more screen time over trying to find an outlet or carrying a bulky power bank when I’m outside.

 Battery monster

 Processor holds the phone back

 A bit hefty

WHAT'S NOT BOTTOMLINE

The battery king of 2023 so far.

Sample shot using HONOR X7a’s camera

Aston Martin Manila has launched the DBX707, one of the world’s most powerful ultrahigh-luxury SUVs, and currently the most powerful on Philippine roads. The new DBX707 is an SUV like no other. It elevates Aston Martin to the pinnacle of the segment with a unique combination of blistering performance, supreme dynamics, unmistakable style, and absolute luxury. Engineered with an abundance of character and compelling capability, DBX707 is the ultimate SUV in every respect.

Chairman and president of Aston Martin Manila, Marc Louie Tagle, says, “A testament to Aston Martin’s dedication to igniting the passion for the ultimate driving experience, the DBX707 is another masterpiece that marries technology with masterful craftsmanship. From its trademark luxurious fittings to the boosted turbo engine, The DBX707 takes our discerning clientele to the next level, and it is an honor for us to bring this to the Philippine market.”

The first local unit of the DBX707 comes in a unique Apex Grey color with Phantom Grey Seats, with an exclusive Q Collection Color accent, Electron Yellow. This environment matches its sporty exterior, with its yellow brake calipers, smoked tail lights, and black chrome Aston Martin badge. Also elevating the driver and passenger experience are the heated steering wheel, as well as front and rear seat ventilation options. Take note that this is a dealership-configured unit, and whoever wants to customize their very own DBX707 can do so via indent order.

Aston Martin Manila marketing head Fiel Tan disclosed that the base price for this flagship vehicle is a whopping Php 33,500,000. “It is extremely competitive for its segment, packed with the performance features that come with it.

Its size, coupled with 900NM of torque is enough to make any car enthusiast’s heart race behind the wheel.”

Tagle emphasized that the introduction of the DBX707 to the streets of Manila will take any future owner to the pinnacle of luxury; powerful, elusive, and exclusive.

Starting with the powertrain, Aston Martin’s engineering team set about realizing the full potential of the DBX’s 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8. Its engine now features ball-bearing turbochargers and a bespoke engine calibration to liberate more power and torque. Also new is a 9-speed ‘wet clutch’ automatic transmission. Capable of managing much-increased torque loadings compared with a regular torque converter automatic, it allows engine output to be lifted to an immense 707PS and 900Nm.

The adoption of the new wet clutch transmission brings further benefits, such as much faster gear changes compared to the torque converter transmission. The feel of the shift is more immediate and direct, which gives the driver an increased sense of control and responsiveness. Launch capability is also improved, which contributes towards the DBX707’s 0-62mph time of 3.3 seconds.

Integral to the DBX707’s suite of performance enhancements is the standard fitment of Carbon Ceramic Brakes. Measuring 420mm front and 390mm rear, these CCB discs are gripped by 6-piston calipers. Revisions to the braking system’s hydraulic sizing and booster tune improve pedal feel and braking response for greater precision and driver confidence. Improved brake cooling has been achieved by taking air from both the main cooling intake and the underfloor, with high-performance brake pads delivering excellent friction consistency across a wide temperature range.

Wheels and tires are 22in as standard, with an optional 23in alloy wheel offered in a choice of textured black or satin black with diamond-turned highlights. The adoption of a 23in wheel also brings dynamic benefits, with the larger diameter tire offering improved steering response, better primary body control, and improved lap times.

Key to the DBX707’s exceptional handling is its air suspension system that retains the basic architecture and triple-volume air chambers of the DBX V8. It features new damper valving and recalibration of dynamic spring volume switching to improve body control and steering response. The electronic power steering system has also been adjusted to improve steering feel, with

greater effort build-up off-center to help the driver build a clearer picture of increasing cornering loads and available grip.

To underline the DBX707’s driverfocused credentials there have also been some changes and enhancements to the Dynamic Drive modes. “Race Start” is available in GT Sport and Sport+ modes to maximize off-the-line acceleration and truly showcase enhanced performance. Revised active logic in the all-wheel drive system transfer case achieves greater harmony and precise control between the driveline and the ESP system, for a more natural, sports car-like driving experience.

In the spirit of placing the driver in control, DBX707 introduces a revised lower console containing new drive mode selection switches. Now, the driver has immediate fingertip control of key dynamic modes and setting. These include dedicated buttons for

suspension mode, ESP, manual gear selection mode, and active exhaust switch, which opens the valves of the new quad tailpipe sports exhaust system without needing to be in Sport drive mode.

New front-end treatment sees the DBX receive a larger front grille and an all-new design of DRL complete with new air intakes and brake cooling ducts, plus a new front splitter profile. The satin chrome grille features double vanes, and the six horizontal bars are now split to create more visual interest and make this range-topping model immediately identifiable.

Dark satin chrome window surrounds and new louvered bonnet blades co-ordinate perfectly with the front grille and gloss black splitter, continuing along the flanks with gloss black side sills, which now feature a deeper and more heavily sculpted profile to give the DBX707 a ground-hugging stance.

Rear-end treatment is just as dramatic. Enhancing both aesthetic form and aerodynamic function a new lip spoiler has been added to the roof wing to reduce lift and increase high-speed stability, with a significantly enlarged twin rear diffuser rising to meet the new large-diameter quad exhaust system. A new rear bumper complete with integrated quarter panel vents accentuates its muscular physique.

Sport seats are fitted as standard, although Comfort seats are available as a no-cost option. All seat options come with 16-way electric adjustment plus heating in front and rear as standard. Its interior features a dark chrome

finish to switchgear as standard. Bright chrome and carbon fiber can be specified as an option. Piano Black veneer is standard with carbon fiber or bronze metal mesh veneer finishes available as an option.

What sets Aston Martin apart from its competitors is its ability to manufacture vehicles that are powerful and intense, without having to sacrifice luxury and comfort. Aston Martin celebrates its 110th Anniversary this year, and the brand’s dedication to developing its product range, while never losing sight of its very particular clientele that exudes class, power, and luxury is evident in the DBX707.

“ What sets Aston Martin apart from its competitors is its ability to manufacture vehicles that are powerful and intense, without having to sacrifice luxury and comfort. ”

NISSAN TERRA SPORT

A new variant with a more sporty, premium look, and feel

o jumpstart an exciting 2023, Nissan Philippines just announced the arrival of the newest variant of the Nissan Terra, the Nissan Terra Sport. This latest addition to the Terra lineup is designed for adventurous heads of families who crave exploration and seek out thrilling experiences for themselves and their loved ones.

The new Nissan Terra Sport has been reimagined with black exterior trims and a new black alloy wheel design that give it a sleek and bold appearance. The interior trim is also all-black, adding a touch of sophistication to the SUV’s design.

“The Nissan Terra Sport is a perfect representation of Nissan’s innovative and exciting DNA,” says Nissan Philippines president Juan Manuel Hoyos. “With its rugged yet sleek styling, it perfectly embodies Nissan’s commitment to providing customers with vehicles that are not only functional but also stylish and fun to drive.”

The Nissan Terra Sport comes in both 4x4 and 4x2 configurations and the full suite of Nissan Intelligent Mobility features such as intelligent around view monitor, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot warning, intelligent rear view mirror, lane departure warning, intelligent forward warning with emergency braking, hill start assist, hill descent control, and driver attention alert. It also includes an 8-inch touchscreen display complete with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity plus a premium BOSE 8-speaker setup. Exclusive to the new Nissan Terra Sport are 2 new colors: Stealth Pearl Gray and Fiery Red.

Along with the other variants of the Terra, the new Terra Sport also comes with Nissan’s class-leading 5-year warranty on parts and labor, giving customers security and peace-of-mind.

The new Nissan Terra Sport along with all of the other Terra variants will be available across Nissan dealerships nationwide at these prices:

Variant SRP

Terra Sport 4x4 AT PHP 2,459,000

Terra Sport 4x2 AT PHP 2,119,000

Terra VL 4x4 AT PHP 2,399,000

Terra VL 4x2 AT PHP 2,059,000

Terra VE 4x2 AT PHP 1,889,000

Terra EL 4x2 MT PHP 1,709,000

*Additional Php 15,000 for Aspen Pearl White

For more information about the new Nissan Terra Sport, customers can visit any Nissan dealership nationwide or log on to nissan.ph. They can also download the Nissan Assist app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store to book a test drive.

MITSUBISHI STRADA S-LIMITED

Celebrating 100,000 units sales of the Strada nameplate

itsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation (MMPC) celebrates having sold more than 100,000 units of the Strada by releasing a special variant of the tough and capable pick-up, the Strada GLS S-Limited.

Distinct by design and undeniably unique, the GLS S-Limited will be released in a very limited quantity for the Philippine market. With just 75 units available, this special variant is set to be an iconic mark to celebrate the model’s 100,000-unit sales milestone.

Fitted with a front bumper, step board, and gloss black rear bumper all in red accents, a tailgate spoiler, and LED headlights and DRL, this limitedrelease model is designed to stand out with its unmistakably sporty and bold stance.

Awaken the racer in you with the unique “01 Design” featuring special two-tone silver and red decal racing stripe accents that give the tough pickup an even more dynamic look.

Similar to current Strada variants, the GLS S-Limited is equipped with features both for convenience and safety. It comes with black leather seats with red stitching, and with 8-way power adjust for the driver’s seat. The leather door trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather hand brake lever, and leather gear shift knob are also outlined with red stitching.

The combined enhancements of the Strada GLS S-Limited are designed to awaken the racer in you, through a distinctive-looking truck capable of taking you to new heights, to wherever adventure drives you.

“We are very excited to achieve yet another milestone for Mitsubishi Motors in the Philippines. This one, like the S-Limited, is a special one.

This is a milestone that wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our loyal customers. Since offering the Mitsubishi pick-up 32 years ago, there have been more than 100,000 customers who have appreciated the Strada. Having been a brand that’s dedicated to listen and deliver to the needs of Filipinos, we are more than grateful for the support and for keeping Mitsubishi Motors part of their lives. Modern, tough, reliable, like this capable pickup, is what the brand stands for,” remarks MMPC president and CEO Takeshi Hara.

The Strada GLS S-Limited is available in White Diamond color and is priced at Php 1,481,000.

Explore and know more about the new fighter, check out the MMPC’s official website, or view it at any Mitsubishi Motors dealership nationwide.

Pilipinas Shell launches the new and improved Shell V-Power that cleans 100% of performance-robbing deposits and restores up to 100% of engine performance.

(L-R): Pilipinas Shell head of mobility marketing Arvin Obmerga; Shell V-Power Fuels brand manager Miguel Estrada; Shell’s newest brand ambassador Piolo Pascual; Pilipinas Shell vice president and general manager for mobility Randy Del Valle; and Shell fuels scientist for Asia Pacific Andreas Schaefer

IMPROVED SHELL V-POWER

otorists now have another reason to visit Shell with the new and improved Shell V-Power that cleans 100% of performance-robbing deposits and prevents future build-up on vital engine parts. Removing these deposits can restore up to 100% of engine performance.

The Shell V-Power launch was held at The Fifth at Rockwell, Makati City, joined by Shell fuels scientist for Asia Pacific Andreas Schaefer who shared about the product’s latest formula that has been specially designed with powerful cleaning agents that can remove deposits from key fuel system components and restore up to 100% of engine performance.

“Vehicle manufacturers strive to increase modern vehicles’ performance and efficiency. More efficient engines require fuels to perform under tougher operating conditions, exposing them to gunk buildup and corrosion over time. With that in mind, Shell V-Power has been developed to work even more effectively even in challenging conditions,” Schaefer said.

“We are always looking to ensure we deliver our best-ever products and services for our customers. That’s why we are proud to launch the new and

improved Shell V-Power to help our customers make the most of their journeys on the road,” said Pilipinas Shell head of mobility marketing Arvin Obmerga.

Shell V-Power, the company’s best-ever performance fuels for cars, has undergone more than five years of research and development. This latest development is in line with Shell’s mission to make life’s journeys better through its evolving range of fuels and a retail experience that puts forward convenience, quality, and choice for its customers.

The Philippines is one of the first markets to launch the new and improved Shell V-Power with further roll-out planned for 2023.

Pilipinas Shell head of mobility marketing Arvin Obmerga delivers his opening remarks

Shell fuels scientist for Asia Pacific Andreas Schaefer demonstrates how the new and improved Shell V-Power has been developed to work even more effectively even in challenging conditions

ISUZU DEALER OF THE

YEAR

Isuzu Makati bags overall championship for 2022

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) recognized the exemplary performance of its dealers in the recent 2022 Dealer of the Year Awards (DOYA) held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom last January 27, 2023. The annual DOYA event acknowledges the hard work and commitment of the sales and aftersales force of Isuzu dealers.

Top Isuzu dealers and individuals were given recognition by IPC for

the achievements and outstanding performance they exhibited throughout the year 2022. In addition to the mostanticipated Dealer of the Year Award, Excellence in Sales, Parts and Service Operations Awards were also presented to the dealers who attained the highest scores in accordance with the criteria set by IPC. Individual awards such as Sales Executive of the Year and Truck Elite of the Year were also given to sales executives who displayed exceptional skills and contributions to the Isuzu brand.

The following dealerships and individuals were hailed as winners:

2022 Dealer of the Year

Champion – ISUZU MAKATI

2nd Place – ISUZU CAGAYAN DE ORO

3rd Place – ISUZU BACOOR

2022 Excellence in Sales Operations

1st Place – ISUZU ALABANG

2nd Place – ISUZU CALAPAN

3rd Place – ISUZU CAGAYAN DE ORO

2022 Excellence in Service Operations

1st Place – ISUZU CAGAYAN DE ORO

2nd Place – ISUZU MAKATI

3rd Place – ISUZU BACOOR

2022 Excellence in Parts Operations

1st Place – ISUZU MAKATI

2nd Place – ISUZU ISABELA

3rd Place – ISUZU CAGAYAN DE ORO

2022 Sales Executive of the Year

Rica Anne M. Quico from Isuzu Alabang

2022 Truck Elite of the Year

Diana Rose T. Araneta from Isuzu Pasig

Isuzu Makati under Isuzu Gencars, Inc. bagged the overall grand champion of 2022 Dealer of the Year Awards, as

well as 1st place in Excellence in Parts Operations and 2nd place in Excellence in Service Operations. Isuzu Gencars, Inc. chairman Edgard Cabangon expressed his heartfelt gratitude to IPC for the awards and support that their dealers continuously receive. Isuzu Gencars, Inc. president Lerma Nacnac also acknowledged the hard work and cooperation of the whole Gencars team, including other dealer branches under Gencars.

IPC president Tetsuya Fujita extended his gratitude and appreciation to all dealers for their hard work and continuous support to IPC in 2022, significantly contributing to the brand’s 23 consecutive years of being the Number 1 Truck brand in the country. He also expressed his enthusiasm to lead the IPC network, declaring: “As the leading truck brand in the industry, we will continue innovating new products that will assist in the progress of the country while displaying more responsibility to the society and the environment through our Road to Progress vision.”

IPC has a total of 48 dealer branches nationwide. With the DOYA capping off IPC network’s 2022 performance, the challenge to maintain the Number 1 Truck Brand title remains for the year 2023. IPC executive vice president Shojiro Sakoda congratulated all the winners and boosted everyone’s morale, noting: “Our resilience has gotten us this far, so together, let us grab this chance to make 2023 another year of remarkable growth and productivity!”

Visit Isuzu Philippine’s official website at www.isuzuphil.com and follow their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ IsuzuPhilippines for the latest news and updates.

Gaming

Words by Jose Alvarez

An important life lesson to learn is that something is never too far from controversy. Video games have been undergoing controversies since their very inception in the 1970s. Some of these controversies have even been powerful enough to attract the attention of governments. Any game can be controversial because of the content or even the very people creating the game being embroiled in scandals. The controversy surrounding Hogwarts Legacy has to do with J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series. As of this writing, social media has become ground zero for whether or not you should even play the game in the first place.

We all know that Rowling went from poverty to a billionaire in less than a decade, writing about the adventures of Harry Potter. Rowling’s remarks in 2020 soured many people on the franchise and the author herself when she made remarks that sparked controversy regarding the transgender community. This immediately cast the controversy spotlight on Hogwarts Legacy since it was in development at

the time. Rowling herself is not involved in the game’s creation, although she will receive royalty checks. But the franchise is bigger than just its creator, just like CocaCola is bigger than John S. Pemberton.

Casting aside the fog of controversy, does the game live up to the expectations of gamers, and is it good enough to overshadow all the controversy surrounding the game?

Gaming

You start as a fifth-year student at Hogwarts, 100 years before the events of the main book series, thrown into the midst of a conflict between the wizarding world and an uprising of goblins. For those familiar with the extended Harry Potter universe or even if you’ve read a single Harry Potter book, other than Hogwarts, there are familiar locations in the game that you can visit, such as Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and the Forbidden Forest. Familiar characters such as Peeves and Nearly Headless Nick also make appearances in the game.

Ancestors of the main characters, such as Professor Matilda Weasley, are also in the game, and a host of brand new characters, like Professor Eleazar Fig, also play a major role in the plot. You can also customize your own appearance and choose your own house (Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, or Hufflepuff). One of my favorite characters, Charms Professor Ronan, instantly charmed me (pun intended) with his witty dialogue.

Combat is rather interesting, as you customize which spells you can use in battle, and enemies are smarter than you might expect. It’s not just mindless, repetitive blasting of enemies either— you learn sets of spells that you can upgrade and use in combination with other spells. You can set your foes ablaze with Incendio and do some pretty devastating crowd control with Wingardium Leviosa and Depulso, sneak around with Disillusionment, or toy with foes with spells such as Crucio. One of my favorite spell combinations while facing a group of enemies is an upgraded Confringo, which hits an enemy and fires off extra fireballs afterward. The choices for combat are numerous and depend on how you play games in general.

You attend classes just like any other Hogwarts student to advance the plot and learn new spells. Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Potions, Herbology, and more are available. You can craft items to buff yourself and debuff enemies. You can care for, tame, and ride different magical beasts; some can even be used in combat. The Room of Requirement, another familiar area to Harry Potter fans, can also be customized with various cosmetic items and magical creatures scattered around Hogwarts and Hogsmeade.

For me, one of the significant letdowns for this game is the lack of multiplayer or even co-op modes, which would have been fantastic for a Harry Potter game. Quidditch, another of my favorite parts of the series, is absent in this game. Still, perhaps the success of Hogwarts Legacy could encourage the developers to create a standalone Quidditch game in the future. As of this writing, multiplayer mods are in development, so it is possible that some form of multiplayer could be present in this game down the line.

The game, in my opinion, will always be followed by the reputation of its creator. On the other hand, people will buy the game because they enjoy Harry Potter and may separate art from artist more easily. Objectively, the game is a great (re)start for those wishing to explore the wizarding world. The lack of features that fans were hoping for can be addressed in later updates and/or DLC. This won’t be the last controversial game, but it is definitely one of the most hyped games of the year so far.

AI CHAT & CREATE

New chatbot from Rakuten Viber allows users to ask questions and design images

Rakuten Viber, the global leader in private and secure messaging and voice-based communication, launches a new chatbot, AI Chat & Create, providing users easy access to AI text and image generators. By integrating advanced models of generative AI, such as DALL-E and Davinci, the Viber app allows users to ask the chatbot any question or test the chatbot’s creativity by designing unique images.

To utilize the latest AI tools taking the world by storm, consumers must set up a new account for each AI service they want to try. The consumer often needs to be tech-savvy with a basic understanding of AI’s workings. With an influx of interest in AI, Viber’s goal is to make AI more accessible and easy to employ for its users. Viber acts as the interface between the complex technology and the user, allowing everyone to take part in the fun without having to provide access to their email or create a separate account for each service. With just a few taps, users can transition between chatting with friends to using the bot, sharing their art, or answer a question effortlessly.

“Excitement about generative AI technology currently has many of the tech industry’s attention and every day more and more people are exposed to the wonders that can be achieved with this technology. However, access to

some of these tools is not very simple for everyone and now, we are offering the easiest way to try out various AI services in the comfort of a Viber chat, inside the app, without the need to register to a special service or further hassle and completely free,” says Ofir Eyal, CEO of Rakuten Viber. “We provide access to these industry-leading AI tools directly on the app and user tools directly on the app and users can quickly share their creations or answers. Right now, the chatbot offers two options - one for images and one for text - and we’re looking continuously to expand the offering in the near future.”

Due to organic growth, the chatbot has over 86,000 subscribers and over 250,000 viewers and is constantly growing. If you don’t know where to start, click ‘Inspire Me’ for the chatbot to share an example of its capabilities.

The AI Chat & Create chatbot can be found by searching in the chat function of the Viber app or on its explore page. From there, users can subscribe to the chatbot and have unlimited access to the AI technology at their fingertips.

Try it for yourself here: https:// vb.me/8ab600

The 2023 Cyber Threat Landscape

New research from Sophos details the 2022 cybercrime trends shaping the 2023 cyber threat landscape, from info stealers to ransomware attacks

The commercialization of cybercrime drove an uptick in nearly all types of cyberattacks in 2022. The result? A booming malware economy where no organization is immune to cyber threats.

The Sophos 2023 Threat Report details the current cyber threat landscape, including which ransomware groups to watch for and the tools, tactics, and procedures (TTPs) used by today’s adversaries to execute attacks.

Scott Barlow, Sophos global vicepresident of Managed Service Providers (MSP) and Cloud Alliances, shares what to expect in the 2023 cyber threat landscape:

The commercialization of cybercrime isn’t slowing down.

Although ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) isn’t a new phenomenon, the widespread adoption of the “as-a-service” model has made nearly every cybercrime component available for purchase. Many bad actors specialize in one element of an attack (like initial ransomware infection or data extraction) and market and sell their tools and services on forums on the dark web.

Cybercriminals also use these forums to identify and recruit talent, growing their “organizations” and adding new

capabilities. The proliferation of subcybercrime markets makes the most sophisticated tools and tactics available to every cybercriminal.

Demand skyrockets for info stealers and stolen credentials.

Infostealers and info-stealing malware like keyloggers and remote access trojans (RATs) have always played a vital role in the cyber threat landscape. But the rise in demand for stolen credentials placed an even brighter spotlight on info stealing. Even though attackers historically relied on virtual private networks (VPNs) and remote desktop protocols (RDPs) to gain network access, stolen credentials provide more entry points and can be used to move laterally. For example, a bad actor can leverage stolen credentials to impersonate employees

of an organization and bypass authentication measures.

The credential theft marketplace is also an effective way for attackers to get a foot in the door to the world of cybercrime — it’s a small investment without many obstacles standing in the way of gaining access. It’s a safe bet that demand will remain high for all types of stolen credentials in 2023, which means complete visibility across customers’ infrastructures is critical to defending against attacks.

Adversaries continue to leverage “living off the land binaries.”

In the past, threat actors used livingoff-the-land binaries (LOLBins) to camouflage malicious activity postexploitation. But more recently, fraudsters found new ways to leverage these binaries to help execute system commands, bypass preset security features, and move laterally across networks using native Windows components.

The most common LOLBin we saw in 2022 was the Windows command shell (cmd.exe) that most backdoors

and shells use to launch malware. Attackers often used Windows scripting platforms like mshta.exe and wscipt. exe to download and execute malicious content, run Windows API calls, and collect data. Threat actors constantly find new ways to exploit LOLbins and evade security measures, so it’s essential to monitor this activity in 2023 and leverage machine learning (ML) solutions that reduce the complexity of the problem.

3

Attacks reach beyond Windows.

In the past, cyberattacks most often targeted Windows operating systems. But we’ve seen a growing number of attacks on Linux-based systems, macOS platforms, and even mobile applications. Financial fraud rings have unfolded alongside the rise in mobile attacks, some expanding globally. These organized crime campaigns involve specialized criminals like fake

social profile builders and fraudulent web and application developers who execute social engineering tactics.

In these scenarios, fraudsters develop fake social profiles to convince users to invest in illegitimate cryptocurrency and financial markets. And while malware attacks on Android aren’t a new trend, iOS users are now also susceptible to these attacks because fraudsters have learned how to bypass Apple’s security measures. Strong user authentication, phishing training, and regular penetration testing can help maintain mobile application security.

Cybercriminals are showing no signs of slowing down — just look at the 167% rise in data breaches from Q2 to Q3. In addition to encouraging good cybersecurity hygiene and deploying layered protection, it’s crucial to know when to outsource functions like threat detection and response.

“In addition to encouraging good cybersecurity hygiene and deploying layered protection, it’s crucial to know when to outsource functions like threat detection and response.”

ShipIt

The easiest way to send packages abroad

Filipinos often express their love for family members living abroad by sending gifts and care packages, but the process of international shipping can be difficult. ShipIt introduces a new platform that aims to make the process more accessible and easy to use, especially now that the express delivery industry in the Philippines is booming, and there’s no doubt that the country has great potential for international logistics opportunities.

Established by 1Export in 2021, ShipIt has already sent over 2500+ packages to more than 50 countries. ShipIt launched a new platform www.shipit.ph that introduces an easier way to send your love beyond borders. Shippers can now seamlessly book, pay, and schedule

their shipments online, eliminating the need for a manual process.

“The vision for ShipIt is to automate the entire process of international shipping and transform what used to be a taxing procedure in order to make it easier for customers to send packages abroad without leaving their homes, just like how local delivery services do it.” Says Mel Nava, CEO of 1Export. “We want to introduce a faster, cheaper, and more efficient shipping system in the Philippines. Before the introduction of the website, every step was done manually. Shipping in person takes hours, even days. With ShipIt, it only takes minutes.”

Apart from the cheap shipping rates, boxes are offered free of charge to all

shippers booking online, along with packing services. Additionally, ShipIt picks up packages within Metro Manila at no cost.

Booking a shipment online at www.shipit. ph says goodbye to countless forms for addresses and documents for customs. Users only have to input the necessary information such as item, quantity, weight, and address online to generate a rough estimate before proceeding with payment. After securing payment, packages may be delivered or picked up. Multiple addresses can also be saved online for shippers with repeat transactions. Tracking details are always provided once packages are successfully shipped out.

The usual experience with shipping abroad can be tedious and inconvenient.

“Packages are usually held at customs because of different things and requirements. To make it easier and hassle-free for OFWs and their families, we do everything we can and prepare the documents they need. So during the holidays, for example, families can immediately get the packages within 5-7 days and feel the love during holidays or any occasion,” Nava adds.

The ShipIt website features a rate calculator which instantly shows estimated shipping costs based on the customers’ package weight and dimensions. For shippers unsure of the box size, shipping rates to all countries are found online and on their social media pages, too. Shippers can reach ShipIt through Facebook or Instagram to ask or inquire about the rates and contents of their packages.

“It’s my first time ever shipping out of the country but the experience

was easy and hassle-free with ShipIt. I didn’t even have to leave the house, which was convenient at these times. Hurray for no lines, no waiting, and seamless transactions and payment modes, which is how I always expected shipping internationally to be,” says V. De Guzman, a first-time shipper.

ShipIt also offers a wide range of service options for commercial shipments through ShipIt Fulfillment, ShipIt Amazon, ShipIt Forwarding, ShipIt eBay, and ShipIt Import.

No matter where your loved ones are in the world, ShipIt makes sure they receive the love they deserve.

FINANCIAL ORGANIZER

ORGANIZER

The digital organizer from Sun Life Philippines is an editable file that gives users the freedom to track and control their finances and financial goals. Not only can it be personalized based on priorities, but it can also be used for logging pertinent details about one’s protection needs, health insurance, and investments. With this, they can stay on track with their financial goals, be it purchasing a family home, funding the children’s education, retiring comfortably, or traveling to a dream destination. It can also help them prepare an emergency fund, which can be used in case unexpected situations arise, such as falling ill or losing a job.

The Sun Life Financial Organizer covers three essential pillars that contribute to a brighter life:

The Life section enables one to track the financial solutions that can help him achieve financial security, protection, and liquidity. This can provide an overall perspective on his traditional and investment-linked life insurance plans.

The Health section is where one can enter the financial solutions that help him live a healthier life. This includes products that offer health funds and protection in the event of medical emergencies. He can also record his critical illness products here, as well as other health protection plans that have a variety of benefits, such as hospital income.

Meanwhile, the Wealth section monitors the financial solutions that can help fund milestones and make the most of life. This may include financial products that can assist in wealth management and estate planning, such as mutual funds and life insurance.

Those interested in becoming financially prepared in 2023 can download the Sun Life Financial Organizer for free at www.sunlife.co/financial-organizer.

A digital tool designed to help people better manage, plan, and protect their financial future

SCAN NOW, PAY LATER WITH

NOW IN ALMOST 1,000 STORES NATIONWIDE

Over the past two years, usage of quick response (QR) codes saw a significant increase because of their safety and convenience features. Today, QR codes have quickly become the more frequent and preferred payment method for consumers as they offer less contact and faster online or offline transactions.

While some critics believe this will naturally decline as our “contact worries” ease, data indicate that it will continue to grow stronger. Some research firms even suggest that QR code scanning usage can increase to 99.5M by 2025. According to a report by Statista Research, 31% of respondents in the Philippines indicated that they used QR codes to make payments in 2021. This number is set to have grown bigger in 2022.

This year, more Filipinos can shop in cardless installments at offline stores nationwide, using QR codes to elevate the in-store shopping experience.

Launched in the 2nd quarter of 2022, the BillEase in-store QR code aims to extend financial inclusion to underserved Filipinos and help merchants thrive by offering alternative payment options in the offline segment. After less than a year, the number of partner merchants has seen drastic growth and now sums to nearly 1,000 shops in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Skipping the usually tedious credit card application process, BillEase app users can shop and avail of services in cardless installments at partner merchants. These include home essentials and furniture partners such as Ofix PH, WarehouseDad, and KitchenAid. Health and fitness partners include Gold’s Gym and Olympic Village, while fashion and beauty brands include BNY Jeans and Giordano. The BillEase in-store QR code can also be used to pay in easy installments at food and beverage partners such as Pancake House. Meanwhile, tech geeks can shop at electronic partners like DataBlitz and Power Mac Center.

Here’s how you can start shopping in cardless installments via BillEase:

1. Simply download the BillEase app on your smartphone or visit https://billease.ph

2. Complete the registration process in 5 minutes and upload one valid ID, proof of income and billing, and two character references.

3. Wait for application updates that will be received via email.

With an approved account and initial credit limit, instore customers can shop at any partner store. Follow these simple steps to complete your BillEase scan now, pay later experience:

1. At the payment counter, open the BillEase app on your smartphone and log in to your account.

2. Click the scan icon on the top right corner and scan the store’s BillEase QR code.

3. Input the amount, settle the required down payment, and confirm the transaction.

Aside from in-store QR shopping, BillEase offers a range of financial services such as personal loans,

e-wallet top-ups, prepaid load, gaming credits, and a customizable shop now, pay later option in interest-free or interest-bearing installment plans.

“At BillEase, we are committed to constantly innovating our offerings to empower all unserved Filipinos with the financial future they deserve. By being present where our customers are, we can also empower our offline merchant partners to offer a buy now, pay later option. This increases engagement across all platforms and gives a true omnichannel shopping experience,” said Georg Steiger, chief executive officer and co-founder of BillEase.

BillEase is a top-rated consumer finance app in the Philippines with a focus on expanding access for mass and emerging middle-income consumers. Established in 2017, BillEase is a product-focused fintech company leveraging machine learning technology in building financial products and global best practices in credit underwriting to meet the needs of unbanked customers in Southeast Asia.

For a complete list of in-store BillEase merchants, simply visit https://billease.ph/shops/

Leading life insurer Pru Life UK recently released a policy paper called InsurTech: Driving Broader Insurance Access, giving a better understanding of how insurtech, such as online shopping platforms, can be used to broaden Filipinos’ access to life and health protection products.

Authored by leading law firm Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles, the policy paper reviews the current regulatory framework for the electronic commerce of insurance products and looks at how online shopping platforms can serve as insurance intermediaries. “The full potential of online shopping platforms has up to now not yet been maximized, likely because online shopping platforms are not insurance-specific. As InsurTech evolves the way of doing the insurance business, insurers need to keep up,” says Atty. Cynthia Del Castillo, senior partner and head of the Capital Markets Practice at Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc & de los Angeles.

“It is our purpose at Pru Life UK to help Filipinos get the most out of life. We are inspired to lead the discussions and concerted initiatives with many like-minded partners to leverage mobile and online apps and platforms to drive up financial/insurance awareness, literacy, and inclusion to help many more Filipino families in the country,” shares Pru Life UK president and CEO Eng Teng Wong.

A key recommendation of the paper is for the Insurance Commission to consider allowing online shopping platforms, including electronic wallets that are serving as e-commerce platforms, to act as an “intermediary” for the sale and distribution of insurance products, including investment-linked insurance products, under a three-tiered classification of intermediaries as follows:

• Those that provide advice and client servicing, such as insurance agents and brokers

• Those that offer advice but not client servicing but require a degree of knowledge of insurance products, such as online insurance aggregators

• Those that merely provide a platform that connects the insurer and the consumer for online distribution of insurance products and do not provide advice and/or client servicing, such as online shopping platforms, online marketplaces, and e-wallets

“Digitalization has accelerated almost every aspect of our lives. However, the insurance penetration in the Philippines as a percentage of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is less than 2 percent. This is amongst the lowest in Asia. By harnessing the combined strengths of financial advisor workforce and the power of mobile and online apps and platforms, we can quickly broaden the reach and accessibility to many more affordable life and health insurance solutions, including investment-linked plans,” shares Wong.

Wong is also FinTech Alliance Philippines’ Insurtech Committee Chairman, leading the organization’s role in engaging, building, and expanding a sustainable digital finance ecosystem.

FinTech Alliance Philippines, the country’s leading and largest digital trade organization, supports Pru Life UK’s policy paper on how insurtech can bring innovation to the insurance sector and impact the regulatory practices of insurance markets.

Pearson, a leading learning company, is launching its first internationally-recognized Esports Qualification in Southeast Asia

The esports industry has seen tremendous growth over the recent years, both in terms of the number of fans and revenue streams. As Southeast Asia is seen to be the fastest-growing esports market in the world, every country in Southeast Asia is well poised to be the esports and gaming hub in the region. Singapore hosted the annual Dota 2 The International 2022 (TI11) last year, while the MLBB M4 World Championship recently took place in Jakarta. Singapore is also hosting the first Olympics esports week in June, and the 2023 SEA Games Esports Event will be held in Cambodia.

With the ongoing boom in the esports industry, it is expected to translate into increased demand for skilled talents. Thus, the Esports Qualification is designed to be a skills-focused program to allow students to develop skills and knowledge in esports and cross-curricular content. The transferable skills will then give the students the opportunity to explore different areas of esports and create a progression to long-term careers in the esports industry.

As a leading learning company, Pearson is partnering with the British Esports Federation to introduce the first Esports Business Management Qualification in Southeast Asia. AcadArena, Southeast Asia’s notable

Campus Gaming and Esports Education organization, will also join Pearson as a strategic partner to kickstart the qualification in the region.

The Esports Qualification consists of 22 units which are designed to provide deep insights into the business of esports. It will be a hybrid learning session taught by experienced educators in schools, universities, polytechnics, vocational teaching colleges, and similar higher education institutions approved by Pearson. These qualified educators have the flexibility to create their own teaching materials, assessments, and resources. In addition, Pearson also provides free online courses to help educators adapt to the blended and online learning delivery, as well as to provide them with best practices to support their students.

The Esports Qualification will be a 100% projectbased assessment graded based on practical aspects. Individuals can develop core skills such as communication, adaptability, problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, leadership and more. With this qualification, individuals can also widen their career opportunities as there will be a need for skilled professionals with the evolving esports landscape in the areas of marketing, event

management, business development, and talent management.

“Perception is the biggest challenge we have been facing when it comes to esports qualification. Most parents think that esports is simply sitting in front of the computer and playing games while many qualified educators think that they can’t teach esports because it can’t be taught as a subject. Therefore, Pearson’s aim is to change these perceptions and let everyone know that esports can also be designed to educate like any other course, and what we are doing as an education company to make it happen,” said Annabel Lawday,

Pearson is in talks with a number of key education providers for potential partnerships in the region to introduce the Esports Business Management Qualification to boost signups from more esports players and enthusiasts. Pearson is looking to incorporate this skills-based qualification into the regional curriculum. However, for schools that have set their curriculum, Pearson can work with them to offer this qualification as part of the timetable or as an extracurricular activity.

stakeholder engagement manager, Workforce Skills Division at Pearson.

GLOBAL COFFEE

Henry & Sons to bring new life to local coffee market

Henry & Sons, the leading supplier of premium coffee products and services in the country, continues its mission to bring the local coffee industry to the international spotlight with their commitment to providing premium and quality education to aspiring baristas.

The company recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the National University Laguna to establish the Global Coffee School (GCS) in Calamba City.

GCS courses are recognized and offered in over 40 cities worldwide. The company provides comprehensive educational courses to equip aspiring baristas with the necessary skills and knowledge to create the best coffee products.

Courses include instruction on brewing methods and techniques, the science of coffee production, and different types of coffee drinks. Baristas will also be given hands-on experience with the most up-to-date coffee equipment, enabling them to develop their skills and gain the confidence needed to become top coffee professionals.

“With the rising demand for specialty coffee in the ever-growing coffee market, Henry & Sons is determined to provide aspiring baristas with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed,” said Michael Harris Conlin, Henry & Sons president and CEO.

Conlin, a former Philippine National Barista Champion and semi-finalist in the World Barista Championship, said the collaboration aims to elevate Laguna Liberica to a global coffee brand and teach aspiring baristas in

COFFEE SCHOOL

Laguna the skills they need to become sought-after in the coffee industry.

Last year, Conlin represented Laguna’s Liberica and Benguet’s Arabica at the Global Coffee Championship in Korea. Laguna’s Liberica won silver in the latte competition, while Benguet’s Arabica bagged bronze in the brewer competition.

According to experts, the Philippine coffee industry is expected to generate USD6.3-billion this year or PHP345billion. However, 97% of the coffee in the country is imported.

“Our local coffee farmers do not benefit from the billions of revenue generated by the coffee industry. If this continues, Philippine-grown coffee is at risk of extinction. This is a loss not only for our economy but also for our culture and heritage,” Conlin said.

The program aims to help Mabato coffee farmers introduce their products to the international market and provide stability and sustainability for their livelihoods. At the same time, it encourages people to buy coffee sourced from local farmers to support them.

In July 2017, Henry & Sons opened The Giving Café (TGC) to provide a haven for coffee lovers. The café serves

comfort food, such as champorado, sopas, and arroz caldo, and Chinese dishes, including yang chow, Taiwanese fried chicken, and sweet and sour pork. Recently, Henry & Sons’ opened two new TGC branches at the University of the Philippines Los Baños and SM Marikina.

TGC is part of the company’s social enterprise program established to support the Foundation for Sustainable

Coffee Excellence (FSCE) in its drive to make the Philippines a major player in the global coffee industry through sustainable local coffee farming.

The FSCE has been supporting farms in La Trinidad, Benguet, for some years now to help and provide farmers and their families with essential needs such as irrigation, medicines, and educational assistance.

From L-R: Toby’s Estate Philippines general manager Raoul de Peralta, Henry & Sons president and chief executive Michael Harris Lim and Young-in Traders president Henry Yeo are all smiles as they pose for a photo with the winner of the first ever Crop of the Year Competition—Joseph Carlos (second from right) of Barangay Wangal, La Trinidad.

STEP UP SA PANGARAP

A movement for working students

Mapúa Malayan Digital College (MMDC), together with the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) and McDonald’s, has launched Step Up sa Pangarap – a pioneering movement that brings together the academe and industries to celebrate, support, and empower working students across the country.

Step Up sa Pangarap kicks off with a series of stories of working students to inspire the community. The main

highlight of the campaign will gather working students from across the country for a three-day virtual summit to be held on May 10-12, 2023. Featuring a roster of speakers composed of industry leaders, influencers, and former working students who found success in their respective careers, the event will empower the working student community on how to achieve their goals and provide them with access to coaches and mentors who can help further prepare attendees for the real world.

In the photo (R-L): How MMDC is making it work for its students – a panel discussion with Ms. Karen Davila with Engr. Dennis Tablante, Mapua Malayan Digital College Executive Director, Jenny Chua, Mapua Malayan Digital College Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships, Dr. Jonathan Dayao, Vice President for IT and Administration, and Mr. Noel Torregoza, Instructional System Design Director of MMDC

The online summit will particularly discuss three key areas where our working students can be successful:

• Step Up sa Career – A deep discussion on the skills to acquire and steps to be taken towards further career development

• Step Up sa Buhay – A comprehensive talk that tackles the importance of work-schoollife balance and how to achieve it

• Step Up sa Pera – An in-depth session that covers all the bases of how individuals can stay on top of their finances and make smart investments towards their future

Following the summit, the movement challenges working students on how they can best apply their learnings. Participants will be encouraged to join the “Step Up sa Tagumpay” Awards by submitting entries on how they plan to apply their learnings from the virtual summit and “Step Up” in their careers, lives, and finances. The most compelling stories stand to win MMDC scholarships and other awards at the awards night to be held online on May 25, 2023.

The Challenges of Today’s Working Students

According to a report from the World Economic Forum, data analytics, information security, software development, and business development are among the top industries where the demand for professionals will grow significantly by 2025. While these statistics are indicative of emerging workforce trends brought on by rapid digitalization across the world, many real-world challenges stand in the way of today’s learners hoping to begin or advance their careers. Skills gaps exist between industry needs and the technical skills that graduates have, and in the case of non-graduate undergrad employees, options for career advancement remain limited due to the lack of a college diploma.

In a survey conducted by MMDC through TheNerve on what students looked for in a college, career opportunities emerged as the top reason for potential returnees to enroll. While many working adults may express the desire to finish their college education, factors such as the inability to balance work, personal life, and school, the lack of time to commute to a physical campus, and the availability of funding prevent them from doing so.

“At McDonald’s, we are committed in fostering a working environment where everyone is supported, empowered, and enabled to reach their full potential. It starts with job security. As a company with close to 50,000 employees, and the first QSR that has practiced direct hiring (no contractualization) since we began operations in 1981, we have seen how this, together with development opportunities like the Step Up sa Pangarap Program, allows our crew to grow and develop to become future leaders. At McDonald’s, we believe that providing the best employee experience results in a better experience for all.” says McDonald’s Philippines corporate relations director Adi Hernandez.

A new partnership begins between Mapua Malayan Digital Colleges and McDonald’s Philippines. In the photo (R-L): Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, President & CEO of Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mindanao, Adi Timbol, Corporate Communications Director of McDonald’s Philippines, Jenny Chua, Mapua Malayan Digital College Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships, Engr. Dennis Tablante, Mapua Malayan Digital College Executive Director

Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, President & CEO of Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mindanao discuss the landscape of the education sector that inspired Mapua Malayan Digital College

A Better College Experience for Future Working Students

For many Filipino working adults, getting a chance to finish a college degree to become more competitive in the workplace might seem like a goal that’s out of reach. With so many responsibilities to juggle and so little time to spare between them, going to a physical campus to sit in class and devote the energy to study seems almost close to impossible.

Recognizing these and other considerations of working students, as well as the growing opportunities in today’s in-demand industries, MMDC leads the celebration of our working students across the country. Together with IBPAP and its employer partners, MMDC is rallying a community of employers and industry associations to ensure that working students become successful in the fields of Business Administration and Information Technology.

“The Philippines is a global leader in IT-BPM services for a reason—the Filipino talent,” said Celeste Ilagan, IBPAP chief policy & regulatory affairs officer. “In turn, the sector has become one of their biggest champions and through the years, we’ve worked with the government and the academe to ensure that they are provided every opportunity to develop their skills and remain competitive. With our goal to grow Philippine IT-BPM into a US$59 billion industry with 2.5

million full-time employees (FTEs), the plan is to further accelerate our efforts in talent development through more initiatives like Step Up sa Pangarap and stronger collaborations with partners like MMDC.”

Grounded on the Mapúan brand of academic excellence, MMDC’s innovative Projects, Problems, and Cases educational model and digitalfirst approach to learning are designed for flexibility. This model also equips students with real-world experience as well as the technical and soft skills needed in the workforce. All these at a very affordable and competitive price to ensure that the majority of the working students will have access to this relevant and effective learning experience.

“Returning students need to understand, just getting a degree may not help you.

Writing a paper about theories from 50 years ago isn’t going to open new career opportunities. Instead, getting a degree that delivers competencies in demand today and tomorrow will unlock opportunities to further one’s career. As an outcomes based and digital-first college, the MMDC educational model was designed to be flexible and accessible to address the factors keeping potential working students from coming back to school, said Derrick Latreille, chief learning officer of MMDC and co-founder of Ayala Education. “Since we opened our doors, almost 60% of our learners are currently working students. Through this campaign, we aim to empower more potential returnees across the country to pursue a college degree that will make a difference in their career, at an institution that supports their needs.”

A new partnership begins between Mapua Malayan Digital Colleges and IBPAP. In the photo (R-L): Dr. Dodjie Maestrecampo, President & CEO of Mapua Malayan Colleges Laguna and Mindanao, Ms. Celeste Ilagan, Chief Policy and Regulatory Affairs Officer of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines, Jenny Chua, Mapua Malayan Digital College Vice President of Marketing and Partnerships, Engr. Dennis Tablante, Mapua Malayan Digital College Executive Director

TRANSFORMATION SCREENS, CITIES,

Michael Ngan, country general manager insight into what technologies will

TRANSFORMATION FOR OUR CITIES, AND REALITY

manager of Lenovo Philippines, shares his become mainstream in 2023 and beyond.

Smarter, more integrated technology has transformed our daily lives. We are seeing tremendous change as the use of artificial intelligence and edge computing expands rapidly, bringing power and efficiency to countless industries and activities. In this new year, what surprises are in store for us in our ever-changing relationship with technology?

Below, we look at some of the technologies that are emerging. These innovations are set to change our world even more in the near future.

1. ‘Holographic’ technology will deliver to remote workers the best of two worlds

In our new hybrid workplace, technology will step up to create meetings where ‘holographic’ attendees feel almost as real as those present in person. Technologies that can bring teams together, even if they are working across multiple continents, will become increasingly important in the future’s hybrid, remote, and increasingly global workplaces.

Augmented and mixed reality will provide a new way for organizations to make an impact during presentations, product launches, or meetings with other organizations, with life-size ‘holograms’ that can interact with virtual objects (for example, to show off a new prototype or to explore a ‘digital twin’ of a real-world object).

Lenovo’s concept Cyber Space technology demonstrates how this ‘phygital’ (physical and digital) approach might work, with a specially coated glass that is semi-transparent and semi-reflective, allowing people behind it to interact physically with life-sized objects.

2. Shape-changing devices will mold the way we live, work, and play

In an age of multitasking and devices designed to shoot and edit videos, stream content, play games, and do everything else, screen size remains valuable. In the future, phones in our pockets may be much smaller — reversing a long-seen trend in smartphones — but ‘extend’ or ‘unfold’ to become larger when we need to use them. With the press of a button, an unassuming, familiar device can be transformed into a productivity machine.

This year, Lenovo also showed off a proof-of-concept Rollable PC, which features a 15.3-inch screen for increased productivity (for example, offering additional screen space for coders). The screen expands on command thanks to motors inside the laptop, allowing workers to increase productivity and flexibility with the touch of a button.

And for those who need portability, privacy, and extended screen space, don’t be surprised if you see more people “wearing” their screens

3. The metaverse will change the way we work

The metaverse will edge closer to reality – but it won’t be about cartoon avatars and games. Instead, metaverse technology will be driven by the world of work, not just play.

Solutions like Lenovo’s ThinkReality VRX headset are hitting the market to allow workers to collaborate in virtual reality while enabling rapid, cost-effective training programs.

Lenovo believes that the future of the metaverse is collaborative and truly open, with easy sharing of ideas and technology, rather than being restricted inside ‘walled gardens’ controlled by a single company.

4. Shops will get smarter

Artificial intelligence will increasingly shape the world around us – and accelerate daily activities such as shopping.

In the near future, AI servers may analyze multiple video feeds from cameras in store aisles to detect large quantities of items being removed simultaneously, as well as monitor deliveries to the store to ensure that inventory remains high. This will allow stores to keep track of goods more efficiently, adjust to supply and demand more quickly, improve profit margins, and ensure customers get what they pay for.

When customers ‘click and buy,’ AI cameras will keep a close eye on them to ensure they get what they ordered, removing an inconvenient aspect of the modern, selfcheckout shopping experience.

5. Multi-access edge computing (MEC) will power smart cities

In the future, intelligent cameras will manage traffic in smart cities, reducing pollution, congestion, and road accidents. At the same time, edge computing servers will enable everything from holographic teaching to augmented reality shopping.

Why edge computing? Using multi-access edge computing (MEC), requests are processed within the smart city itself rather than having to travel to a distant data center, allowing queries to be answered in milliseconds. Edge computing could even assist cities in meeting pollution targets by controlling traffic lights so that cars drive more efficiently in the future.

6. Hybrid work will enable new technologies

This shift is already underway, according to a Lenovo survey of 500 CTOs, with 43% saying their company’s technology architecture has been ‘improved,’ and elements like smart devices (76%) and smart internetof-things (70%) gaining importance in the last year.

Businesses will shift to a more fluid model where a third party will provide the entire office experience and related solutions and services. Lenovo now provides a managed employee experience where businesses can

rent a workplace solution rather than just hardware or software, such as IT infrastructure and support, performance analytics, and cloud and data infrastructure services.

Our relationship with technology has forever changed — how we live, work, play, and learn has been turned upside down. That said, Lenovo is committed to enabling this transformation through our human-centric solutions, leading to smarter work and better results.

THE NEW ETIQUETTE FOR HYBRID WORK

Poly, part of HP’s portfolio of hybrid work solutions, has partnered with Debrett’s, the renowned authority on modern etiquette, to create a guide for global etiquette in the hybrid workplace. It offers updated advice for the hybrid work era at a time when etiquette in the office – whether at home or at work –has never been more important.

The comprehensive guide offers insight into everything from how to behave on video calls and how to dress yourself and your background, to body language tips and the importance of eliminating distractions. Key takeaways include:

Give a Royal wave. Ending a video call can sometimes feel a bit awkward. To make calls feel more friendly and inclusive, you can soften the abrupt finality of pressing ‘End call’ by giving colleagues a wave goodbye.

No meeting munchies.

You should try to avoid eating – you don’t want people to focus on the contents of your lunch rather than what you’re saying. It’s preferable to eat before you join a meeting.

Eliminate virtual background clutter.

Indulge in a little set-dressing before your call. Evaluate your video background. Try to eliminate chaotic bookshelves, discarded clothing, empty takeaway containers, and distracting artwork. You want your colleagues to focus on you, not your background.

Say no to stoic sickness syndrome.

Do not struggle in to the office if you have a cough or cold or anything contagious. Nobody will applaud your stoicism.

Beware of the danger of diversions.

Your home is full of diversions. Be it domestic chores, the garden, or visits to the fridge – it’s all too easy to wander around doing jobs or making snacks, which ultimately distracts you from your job and impacts your productivity.

Avoid video motion sickness.

Stay in a fixed position during video calls. Carrying your device while you answer the door or wander around the office during video calls risks giving your colleagues a bad dose of motion sickness.

Dress for success.

People will choose to wear more relaxed, comfortable clothing when working from home, but it’s important to be aware of the psychological impact of truly letting yourself go. Aim to dress as if you are in the room with other meeting attendees.

No meeting multitasking.

It’s inappropriate to multitask during meetings – for example looking at your phone. It is also very bad form to carry on working while on a call; everybody will realize your mind is elsewhere and hear the incriminating clatter of your keyboard.

Mute your work mates.

Noise in the office can be distracting when joining calls. It’s quite acceptable to politely ask your colleagues to keep their voices down and to turn down their radio or music.

“With people increasingly splitting their time between the office and home, how we conduct ourselves at work has changed drastically,” says Liz Wyse, etiquette advisor at Debrett’s. “It is clear that hybrid working offers many benefits, including greater flexibility and a better work-life balance. However, that’s not an excuse to let etiquette slip, and standards should stay the same regardless of where you’re working from. What’s the dress code when working from home? How do you eliminate distractions and present a professional façade online? This guide seeks to answer these questions so that both staff and employers can get the most out of a hybrid working arrangement.”

“The shift to hybrid work was so abrupt, we’ve not really considered how our behavior should change to accommodate this new way of working. Should we be amending our behavior to make hybrid work and hybrid meetings feel more normal? Thinking about how to make hybrid meetings feel more natural will create an equal meeting experience, whether people are in the room or dialing in from home, which can come down to employers providing staff with the right technology and training,” observes Samir Sayed, managing director for ASEAN, Korea, Emerging Markets & Pakistan for Hybrid Work Solutions at HP.

Embrace long pauses.

Don’t be alarmed by long pauses during meetings and scramble to fill them with chatter; they are an invaluable way of giving people space to interject or expound.

Looking ahead, instead of giving everyone the same equipment, organizations should understand how people like to work and collaborate, and the spaces they use – including their home office setup. This can be used to tailor the equipment provided, allowing employees to look their best, be heard, feel included, and avoid distraction, irrespective of where they’re working from.

ALORICA PH LAUNCHES 3RD SITE IN DAVAO

Global customer experience (CX) provider Alorica recently expanded its presence in Davao City with the unveiling of its newest facility, Alorica Davao 3, inside the bustling Matina IT Park. Spanning over 3,000 square meters of operational floor space, the building showcases the company’s impressive growth in the area, where it already employs over 4,500 people. With the site’s opening, Alorica is poised to hire even more and contribute further to Davao’s economic development.

Alorica Davao 3 can house an additional 5,000 new employees, making it a key office location for attracting top talent. Boasting its own recruitment hub with the capacity to process 150 on-site job applications, the site would enable the company to meet the surging demand for its digitallycharged CX solutions.

Creating new opportunities with its continuous growth prospects

Alorica regional president of AsiaPacific Mirei Magallona hosted the site launch event attended by the Alorica Davao leadership.

“This launch is a celebration of Alorica’s successful growth and continued commitment to Davao City. It adds to our existing presence here with two contact centers already in operation,” said Magallona. “I am proud of our local team’s exceptional performance, enabling us to serve more clients in various industries including in highgrowth sectors, such as technology and e-commerce. With the grand opening of Alorica Davao 3, we are looking forward to providing residents with opportunities to grow their careers with us. This new site holds great potential, not only for Alorica but also for the many locals who choose to pursue their professional aspirations with our organization.”

Alorica has seen substantial growth across its workforce in the region,

with employee numbers rising from 2,474 at the height of the pandemic in December 2020 to 4,538 CX representatives less than a year later.

In keeping with its commitment to supporting employee welfare and financial security, Alorica offers a robust benefits package that encompasses a range of perks. This includes night shift pay, a rice stipend, a 13th-month salary, paid leave, holiday and overtime pay, a mental health program, and free medical insurance upon full-time hire. Probationary employees can also look forward to having more options for HMO coverage for themselves and their dependents upon regularization.

Showcasing Mindanao’s culture, ethnicity, and work ethic

Developed with the employees’ wellbeing in mind, Alorica’s new facility strives to create an inclusive and engaging work environment for its people, emphasizing the company’s award-winning culture of connection and empowerment. The uniquely built lobby was designed by Kublai Milan, a renowned Mindanao artist, highlighting the Mindanao style.

(L-R): Roy Sy, senior director of customer experience; Mirei Magallona, regional president of Asia-Pacific; and Atty. Ma. Jamea Garcia, regional vice president for human resources, led the ribbon-cutting and opening ceremony of the new Davao facility.

Alorica strengthened its presence with the opening of Alorica Davao 3 at Matina IT Park. The facility is set to grow to 5,000 employees by end of Q1 2023.

AXA PH TECH CHIEF AMONG TOP 100 LEADERS IN ASEAN

AXA Philippines chief technology and transformation officer Carlos “Caloi” Santos was recently awarded as one of the top 100 tech leaders in ASEAN and Hong Kong by CIO 100 2022 at a special ceremony at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

“In these times of rapid change in our customers’ needs, we see it fit for technology to adapt,” Santos shares. “This award recognizes how AXA Philippines values and works on its digital transformation, as well as how it leverages its capabilities to provide better service to its customers and be more attuned to their needs.”

AXA Philippines aims to meet the ever-changing needs of customers through constant digital improvement and enhancement. From the beginning of the AXA customer journey, the company offers an online Financial

Needs Analysis (eFNA) service on its website via the Coach Finn platform alongside its traditional face-to-face FNA services. The company also developed the Emma by AXA PH app, which serves as every customer’s digital insurance and wellness partner and is always available to help users with its wide range of services and resources.

AXA Philippines also has insurance products available for online purchase that not only meet one’s varying needs but are also made easy to get while being affordable. Available via the website are Health Start Lite, which is a health insurance plan, and Goal Getter, a single-pay variable life insurance plan. For your protection, you can also purchase AXA’s travel insurance called Smart Traveller, as well as car insurance in the form of AXA’s Motor Car Insurance Online product.

Customers can also set automated payment arrangements for their credit cards, making transactions even more convenient.

CIO 100 is regarded as a symbol of enterprise excellence. The awardgiving body recognizes the top 100 senior technology leaders and teams that drive innovation, strengthen resiliency, and influence rapid development. It is one of the Global Award Programs featured by Foundry, a company that innovates with and generates data to drive demand for technology marketers worldwide. The winners of the CIO 100 2022 awards were announced at a live awards ceremony, which hosted over 200 executives from ASEAN, Hong Kong, and the rest of the region.

For more information on AXA Philippines, visit www.axa.com.ph.

EPSON PHILIPPINES LAUNCHES

NEW HQ, UNVEILS LATEST HEAT-FREE BUSINESS INKJET PRINTERS

Marking its 25th year in the country, Epson Philippines hosted a launch event with the theme “Unlock the Future” at its new office space in Pasig City. The event signaled two significant milestones for the organization: the official opening of its new Philippine headquarters, complete with solution centers, and a new series of heat-free business inkjet printers designed to drive Epson’s continued growth in the B2B space.

Enabling growth and development in the Philippine market

The Philippines has long been an important region and a growth market for Epson, and the global technology leader has developed a strong presence in the local market throughout its two decades of operation in the country. For Epson Philippines, its move to

the new headquarters embodies its commitment to continue its contribution to the growth of the Philippine market as well as the enrichment of Filipino lives through efficient, compact, and precise innovation designed to create a sustainable future. To further empower customers across the Philippines, Epson has transformed its new space to accommodate its new Solution Centers.

“With the move to our new office, we have consolidated our resourcing in one place. We have housed everything under one roof so our customers and partners can access all our products right here at our new Solution Center,” said Masako Kusama, Epson Philippines Corporation president.

“Moreover, it is from our new headquarters that we will aggressively

put into action Epson’s commitment to a more sustainable future as we continue to create breakthroughs that will change the way our customers conduct business.”

Keeping sustainability at the forefront of innovation

As Epson grows, sustainability continues to be a major part of Epson’s DNA and the core of its business. The company believes that global efforts to advance sustainability can have a greater impact if they collaborate with communities and organizations that share the same core values.

One of Epson’s long-term partnerships is with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), where both organizations have developed projects

focused on marine conservation, climate change education, and sustainable production systems for low-income communities.

As an organization, Epson has also prioritized transforming its operations to make way for more sustainable policies. One of its latest manifestations was transitioning the Epson plant in the Philippines to run on 100% renewable energy. Moreover, with problems like resource depletion and global warming, Epson recognizes the demand for products and services that use resources efficiently. To close the resource loop, Epson is taking initiatives to reduce product size and weight, use recycled materials, and extend service lives— especially with its printing solutions.

“Epson’s heat-free technology is our response to urgent environmental issues as we contribute to reducing CO2 emissions,” said Koichi Kubota, director of Seiko Epson Corporation. “Reducing heat in the printing process of our Epson inkjet printers delivers unparalleled benefits not just to our customers but also to the environment.”

Ushering in the new era of printing in the B2B space

The climate crisis remains front of mind for many young working adults. Sustainable solutions within the workplace are a much-needed first step toward addressing this concern. As much as a paperless future is becoming common, the demand for paper will still exist. Epson needs to align its products with sustainable initiatives to reduce environmental impact.

Epson also unveiled the Workforce Enterprise AM Series, the technology leader’s new range of heat-free business inkjet printers in the mid-speed range. This completes the lineup of Epson’s offering to help businesses of every size realize an environmentally conscious office. Powered by Heat-Free technology, the new series marries innovation and sustainability—offering more productive ink usage, reducing

overall cost, and offering a smaller footprint that comes with enabled solutions, thus setting the standard for more sustainable printing solutions.

The Workforce Enterprise AM Series of Linehead Inkjet printers are set to be available in the Philippine market this Q1 2023 with a three-product lineup: AM-C4000, C5000, and C6000.

To continue its promise to customers for even more productive, efficient, and sustainable printing solutions, Epson will end the sale and distribution of laser printer hardware in Southeast Asia by the end of 2023. “A new era of printing has indeed arrived, and we are proud to finally have come to this moment and become

the leader of sustainable printing solutions in the market,” concluded Epson Southeast Asia regional managing director Siew Jin Kiat, who led the ceremonial unlocking of the Philippine headquarters. “With the launch of our new Philippine headquarters and our latest line of enterprise inkjet printers, we sincerely look forward to unlocking the future.”

(L-R) Siew Jin Kat, Regional Managing Director, Epson Southeast Asia; Koichi Kubota, Representative Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer, Seiko Epson Corporation; Hon. Robert Jaworski Jr., Vice Mayor, City of Pasig and Masako Kusama, President and Director, Epson Philippines Corporation

WATSONS PH UNVEILS 1,000TH STORE

As Asia’s No.1 health and beauty retailer, Watsons celebrated an important milestone with the opening of its 1,000th store in the Philippines, adding to a total of 8,000 Watsons stores across 15 markets in Asia and Eastern Europe. The new store opening coincides with Watsons’ 20th anniversary in the Philippines, one of its fastestgrowing markets.

Spanning almost 1,000 square meters, the new flagship store is located in The Block, SM City North Edsa Block in Manila. As the biggest store in the country, it showcases the most comprehensive array of health and beauty products in an engaging way that will take the shopping experience to the next level.

Dominic Lai, group managing director of A.S. Watson Group, officiated at the store opening event saying, “This new flagship store is important in the nation-wide expansion in this beautiful country as it’s a clear demonstration of Watsons’ determination to strengthen our connection with customers via seamless O+O platforms. O+O

platform strategy is at the core of our business to create an integrated experience, to better serve customers anytime, anywhere.”

“Besides celebrating the 1,000th store opening, today marks Watsons’ 20 years of commitment to serving our customers in the Philippines. Over the years, we’ve been working to deliver our purpose to help customers Look Good, Do Good, Feel Great.”

A New Standard for O+O Retail

To respond to the customers’ needs, Watsons’ new flagship store is not only designed to offer a modern and stylish shopping environment, but also to create an immersive and interactive O+O experience for its customers.

Leveraging an extensive store network in the Philippines, Online Express delivery service is available so that customers can have their products delivered to their doorsteps in three hours. Alternatively, they can choose to pick up orders at the store within 30 minutes via Click & Collect Express.

This new Watsons store is a model for the future of beauty shopping with special discovery areas. There’s a Skinfie Lab, a skin analysis tool that creates personalized skincare recommendations based on selfies. The tool, which is also housed in the Watsons app, is able to detect a range of facial attributes from a customer’s selfie, including acne, fine lines, pigmentation, and overall skin condition. Meanwhile, makeup lovers

can use #ColourMe Virtual Makeup try-on, to experience hundreds of lipsticks, mascara, eyeshadow, brow products, and foundation.

Expanding Digital Health Services

To help customers Look Good, Do Good, Feel Great, Watsons has its first state-of-the-art clinic powered by The Medical City that features virtual consultation and remote physical examination. Vaccination services for flu, HPV, and pneumonia will be available at the clinic soon.

Watsons Supplement Finder is also available to support the pharmacy service and help customers get personalized recommendations on the best vitamins and supplements for them.

Teresita Sy-Coson, co-chairman of SM Investments, congratulated Watsons on the double celebrations, “Our long-term partnership with Watsons has realized our promise of bringing the best-in-class health and beauty products to all Filipinos. It’s our pleasure to celebrate this remarkable milestone with Watsons and we will continue to work closely to raise the standard of health and beauty in the Philippines through Watsons’ seamless O+O platforms.”

1,000 Ways of Doing Good

“Looking ahead, we’re committed to continuing our expansion in the Philippines, as well as the rest of the world. Besides bringing pleasurable O+O shopping experience to our customers, we want to engage our customers to do good to the community and the planet with us through our sustainability programs,” Lai concluded.

To inspire its customers to live a sustainable lifestyle, Watsons offers over 1,500 Sustainable Choices products under Clean beauty, refill packs, better packaging, and better ingredients for customers so that they can contribute to creating a better world. Watsons has also mobilized its customers to create a bigger impact with community programs such as sponsorship of free corrective surgeries for cleft children under Give-a-Smile is targeted to empower 3,300 families in the Philippines by 2030, and the Alagang Pangkalusugan community medical outreach program will likewise be supporting 20,000 people with free medicines in the coming years.

The celebration activities will continue throughout the year as Watsons shows appreciation to customers, partners, and colleagues through the #WeLoveYou1000Ways campaign. There will be member-exclusive benefits and special offers, both offline and online to show the brand’s appreciation to loyal customers of Watsons Club.

GENERAL ELECTRIC AN 1892 STARTUP

Words by Jose Alvarez

What exactly is a startup? A generally agreed-on definition is that a startup is a young company founded to develop unique products or services and bring them to market through a scalable business model. Startups often seek to disrupt their industries and have us rethink how products and services are made, delivered, and more. Uber and Grab, for instance, sought to disrupt the taxi industry. Like all things, startups can succeed or fail. Those that succeed usually influence or even change industry standards, while those that fail serve as cautionary tales for entrepreneurs looking at staking their claims in various industries.

Startups often initially receive funding from their co-founders and seek outside investment to improve the product or service. Some examples of outside investment may include money from friends and family, venture capitalists, crowdfunding, or even traditional business loans. The startup then becomes a pillar of the industry or the community, having a local, national, or even international presence.

My research led me to ask: what was the very first startup company? While startups became more popular with the advent of the Internet in the late 1990s, the answer to this question harks back to over a century in the past: General Electric.

Thomas Edison, considered one of the greatest inventors and businessmen of his time, founded various companies in several industries in the late 19th century. Many had to do with electricity, namely lamps, dynamos, electric motors, lighting fixtures, sockets, and more. Edison had the backing of powerful financiers such as J.P. Morgan, and members of the Vanderbilt family. Morgan and Anthony J. Drexel merged all of Edison’s research and companies under the Edison General Electric Company in 1889. Upon merging with the Thomson-Houston Electric Company in 1892, General Electric was born.

Edison’s research, combined with financial backing from Morgan, Vanderbilt, and other financiers, helped create the first startup company. General Electric began to buy up more companies and patents to improve their products and services. Riding the success of the Gilded Age in the United States, General Electric was one of the original 12 companies listed on the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1896. In fact, it can be argued that the Gilded Age of the late 19th and early 20th century was one of the best times to do business not only in America but the world in general.

This also leads to another question: when is a company no longer considered a startup? Alex Wilhelm of TechCrunch developed the 50-100-500 rule in 2014 to determine when a company is no longer a startup: revenue exceeding $50 million, 100 or more employees, and a valuation of $500 million or more.

For a company as old and large and diversified as General Electric, it would take a long time to determine when they surpassed each milestone. However, common sense would dictate that General Electric had more than 100 employees by the time it was listed on the Dow Jones in 1896. Given that the company had immense backing from some of the wealthiest people in the world at the time, it is not unreasonable to assume that its revenue and valuation also surpassed those numbers when adjusted for inflation around that time as well.

General Electric entered radio and television, forming the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) in 1919 after purchasing the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company of America. RCA was used to sell radios. In turn, RCA formed the National

Broadcasting Company (NBC) in 1926. By 1930, General Electric was ordered to divest itself of RCA due to antitrust violations. This would not stop General Electric from diversifying into other industries.

The company entered the energy industry, developing aircraft turbo superchargers for military use during World War I and World War II. By the 1960s, they had also diversified into computers, even helping to create the Multics operating system in conjunction with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the most prestigious research universities in the world. In 1970, they exited the computing industry, despite being the second-largest user of computers in the United States outside of the United States federal government.

General Electric reacquired RCA in 1985, specifically to bring back NBC. This

USD6.28-billion deal was the largest non-oil acquisition in business history at the time. The 1990s and 2000s had many acquisitions and divestments, too numerous to list here. General Electric was considered the most valuable company in the world in 2000. By 2018, Dow Jones removed General Electric after 122 years from its index. However, the company continues to be in business to this very day due to brand recognition and diversification from its original business.

Not every startup can become General Electric, but it helps to be one of the best inventors and businessmen of the era partnering with some of the world’s wealthiest people. Many recognizable products and services you use today were once provided by startups. Since business is ever-evolving and consumers’ needs are always changing, who knows what startup could succeed in the future?

Thomas Edison, a co-founder of G.E., was the first recipient of a United States patent for an incandescent lamp, in 1880.