ACC:ESS September 2016

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SEPTEMBER2016 NEWS///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 02 NAIA GETS ‘CARRIER-GRADE’ WIFI ACCESS 03 PLDT’S 9TH DATA CENTER AND 2ND IN CEBU UNDERWAY 04 PLDT partners with Roku to launch new streaming service and player in PH 04 EPLDT BOLSTERS ENTERPRISE CLOUD ADOPTION 05 DATA, ICT SOLUTIONS BOOST PLDT ENTERPRISE GROWTH 07 PLDT WINS INTERNATIONAL DISASTER RELIEF AWARD for PDRF REVIVAL

14 FEATURES////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 12 PLDT HOME UNVEILS SMART HOME WITH GLOBAL HEAVYWEIGHTS 14 ACC 2016 navigates disruptive seas COVER STORY 17 TELCOS NEED TO STOP THINKING TELCO SIDEBAR 18 INSPIRING WOMEN 20 2016 #BETHEBOSS AWARDS game-changing entrepreneurs ready to thrive in the digital world

02 REGULARS///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 01 From the Editor 01 mailbag 08 Snapshots 28 The Bandwagoner 29 Life & ArtS

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ABOUT THE COVER As the path to growth is clearly towards digitalization, this issue’s cover painstakingly conceptualized by Media resident graphic designer Mark Daryll Sambat is a representation of the disruptive means in which the Company strives to take on the leap towards this digital direction – rooted on the ideas of solidarity and camaraderie and geared towards the notion of togetherness as one ultimately reaches for greater heights amidst today’s continuous technological advancements.

EDITORIAL

The Digital Filipino

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f the 100 million Filipinos, around 39% are online.

That’s 39 million people using the internet to connect to others, look up information, listen to music, watch a movie, or even purchase stuff.

Indeed, Filipinos now spend more time on their digitallyconnected devices. Recent data showed we spend an average of more than seven hours in our mobile phones, computers, and tablets while we only watch TV for less than two hours a day.

As more and more Filipinos live digital, the PLDT Group is going full throttle in its digital pivot to deliver the best digital experience that will empower people to improve their lives.

discovery portal for perks, mobile videos, music and games.

SmartLife has also reached overseas Pinoys through SmartLife Global offered by PLDT international marketing and operations unit, PLDT Global Corp. This app especially designed for overseas Filipinos provides curated content such as movies, music, and news; easy bills payment; and load sharing to families in the Philippines.

With all these exciting activities, PLDT’s definitely got the digital Filipino covered!

Just recently, PLDT started construction of its ninth data center and the second in Cebu. Data centers serve as the basic digital infrastructure that enables enterprises to provide digital services to their own customers. The PLDT Group has also opened recently its largest and most modern data center that is located in the Makati central business district. By end-2017, the Group will have 10 data centers across the country with an unmatched capacity of over 9,000 racks.

Jay-Anne R. Encarnado

MAILBAG

The PLDT Group is also spending nearly P1 billion for the establishment of WiFi hotspots in high-traffic public areas, particularly train stations, airports, and seaports, the latest of which to be operational is the NAIA terminals which were fitted with lightning-fast 1 Gbps connection.

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PLDT is also making it easier for customers to adopt webcapable devices. For example, PLDT HOME has added a Smart Watch to its existing portfolio of web-connected devices such as the Telpad, FamCam, and TVolution.

Recently, PLDT HOME announced that it is bringing the Smart Home to Filipino families as it partners with global and local leaders in entertainment, connectivity, and retail.

Among its new partners are world retail leader Amazon, Netflix, video streaming pioneer Roku, and Filipino catch-up TV leader iWant TV. These will be a strong complement to PLDT HOME’s current array of content from various providers that include iflix and Fox International Channels.

PLDT wireless subsidiary, mobile leader Smart, has also launched recently the SmartLife app that serves as a ACC:ESS is published monthly

by PLDT Media Division for employees and friends. Address all communications to: The Editor-inChief, ACC:ESS, Ramon Cojuangco Building, Makati Avenue, Makati City.

Telephones 810-3190 and 8168515.

Email: jrencarnado@ pldt.com.ph http://issuu.com/ pldtmedia

Mon R. lsberto Public Affairs Head EDITORIAL Butch G. Jimenez Editor Jay-Anne R. Encarnado Editor-in-Chief Sennen F. Lacsamana Managing Editor Olive O. Barrozo Literary Editor

Rafael

Bayan

TTH customer Tess Nayve extended her warmest thanks to South Quezon City Customer Service Operations Zone Senior Telecom Technician Bino U. Rafael for “patiently and meticulously going through the routine of getting to the bottom of the problem” and for his “usual-willing-tohelp-anytime-attitude.” Nayve said that Rafael came over to check on her internet problem. “Nothing’s wrong with my connection. It’s the WiFi that’s posing the challenge,” she said. “He even suggested that I get a router.” Nayve also expressed her “taos-pusong” thank you to all the bosses who helped “greased the wheels of my request.” South Quezon City Customer Service Operations Zone Field Service Engineer Ryan Jake D. Bayan also served as the conduit – backstage personnel – in completing the restoration of the internet facility .CC:

Adrian T. Elumba Sarah Azucena-Reodica Katrina A. Mallari Raymond C. Co Writers

Daniel G. Moratalla Jay F. Garcia Photographers Annie O. Salazar Arnel N. Samson Circulation

Carlo D. Gonzalez Mark Daryll P. Sambat Graphic Design Contributors Elaine Alanguilan, Paul Edward Alvarez, Cherry Alaban, Melvin Artugue, Laemar John V. Chavez, Shiela Marie Daccog, Danny Handayan, Luis Maglanoc, Marjory Sy, Mary Grace O. Sze, Renelia L. Villanueva

Nonong F. Noriega Columnist

O U R V I S I O N ST A TEME N T To be the proactive strategic communications partner of our stakeholders so that together we can inspire brand love and loyalty for PLDT. #SUPERMEDIA

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The PLDT Group, led by PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, 7th from left, joins the government and the DOTr, headed by Sec. Arthur Tugade, in revitalizing the NAIA Terminal 1 as a world-class airport for welcoming airline passengers with carrier-grade WiFi connectivity.

NAIA gets ‘carrier-grade’ WiFi access The over 30 million travelers who use the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) every year will now have access to high-speed internet after PLDT and Smart recently upgraded their connectivity services in the airport to carriergrade WiFi. All four terminals of NAIA now each have a backhaul capacity of up to 1 gigabit per second, providing up to 3,000 concurrent users of Smart WiFi a seamless digital experience in checking their social media accounts, email, or keeping connected to home and office while traveling.

“This state-of-theart communications infrastructure will help boost the country’s tourism industry.

Today’s travelers are constantly online and rely on mobile apps for information and services that make their trips more enjoyable and productive,” said PLDT and Smart Chairman, President, and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Earlier, PLDT and Smart had rolled out carrier-grade WiFi service to 11 regional airports, which served about 15 million passengers in 2015. This was done under a Memorandum of Agreement with

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Department of Transportation to install highspeed WiFi service in key transport hubs all over the country within the first 100 days of the Duterte administration.

Nationwide rollout The first deployment of carrier-grade Smart WiFi was in Davao City’s Francisco Bangoy International Airport, Mindanao’s busiest, last July 19. This was followed by more rollouts in Laguindingan Airport in Misamis Oriental, Bacolod-Silay International Airport and Iloilo International Airport, Roxas Airport, Zamboanga Airport, Clark International Airport, DumagueteSibulan Airport, Laoag International Airport, General Santos International Airport, Kalibo International Airport.

Smart WiFi has also been installed in the Batangas International Port in Batangas City, and Calapan City Port in Mindoro. Upcoming deployments include the airports of Caticlan in Boracay, Puerto Princesa in Palawan, and Tagbilaran in Bohol.

High-speed internet will PLDT and DOTr officials demonstrate the downloading speeds of the carrier-grade WiFi connectivity installed at the NAIA terminal 1.

From left: PLDT EVP Eric R. Alberto, PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal, and PLDT VP for Enterprise Customer Operations Finina Gorres.

also be installed in the terminals of MRT and LRT in Metro Manila.

More high traffic areas such as city halls, schools, hospitals, and malls, among others, will be covered by the service over time.

Partnership for public good “This partnership with the government is a great example of a public and private partnership for the benefit the public. With the installation of Smart WiFi in NAIA, we are on track in meeting our commitment to the government to make available carrier-grade WiFi services in major transport hubs all over the country, which will be a boon to domestic and international tourism,” said Eric R. Alberto, PLDT and Smart EVP and ePLDT President and CEO. Smart has allocated about P1 billion for the first phase of the deployment of carrier-

grade Smart WiFi. This is part of the PLDT Group’s P48-billion capital expenditure program for 2016, which is focused on improving data connectivity throughout the country using both fixed and wireless services.

“Smart WiFi complements our mobile Internet service that we are also boosting through the deployment of enhanced LTE and 3G coverage all over the country. This is part of Smart’s three-year network improvement program, which has already integrated the use of additional radio frequency spectrum such as the 700 MHz band that we have gained access to as a result of the acquisition of the telecom business of San Miguel Corporation,” said Kat Luna-Abelarde, FVP and Wireless Consumer Operations Head at Smart Elaine Alanguilan, Smart Public Affairs

Present during the groundbreaking ceremony of the second VITRO Data Center in Cebu are, from left: PLDT AVP and VisMin Corporate Relationship Business Head Jimmy Chua, ePLDT Chief Technology Officer Dave Simon, ePLDT Group Chief Operating Officer Nerisse Ramos, PLDT/Smart Executive Vice President and ePLDT President and CEO Eric Alberto, PLDT Executive Advisor for Fixed Network Rudi Frey and PLDT AVP and Head of Corporate Relationship Management Dick Perez.

PLDT, through its enterprise digital enabler ePLDT, is expanding its commercial data center operations in Cebu with the construction of a second VITRO facility in Mandaue City.

This is in response to the growing requirements of enterprises in Cebu province and the rest of Visayas and Mindanao for a reliable and secure repository for their rapidly expanding volume of digital information.

This facility also answers the needs of enterprises in Luzon for additional diversity via a business continuity site outside Luzon.

Expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2017, the new VITRO facility will serve the growing demand for co-location, enterpriseclass cloud and managed services requirements of data-driven industries and businesses such as banks, financial services, call centers and BPOs, IT, content and media companies, retail enterprises, as well as the need of the public sector entities.

Like the other VITRO facilities in ePLDT’s network of data centers, the second VITRO Cebu data center will be built and operated with international certifications. It will be a four-floor level facility with a minimum of

PLDT’s 9th data center and 2nd in Cebu underway

3,600-square meter floor area situated alongside ePLDT’s existing data center in Mandaue City.

The new data center will have a minimum of 700-rack capacity to add to ePLDT’s 8,300 rack capacity by end of 2016.

This new data center will bring up the PLDT Group’s current network of data centers to nine sites. Once operational, the facility will also have a minimum of 8 layers of security and 24/7 monitoring and surveillance in all of its areas.

“Visayas and Mindanao are home to the most vibrant industries and business communities that greatly contribute to the country’s economic growth. A little more than three years after its opening in 2012, the first VITRO in Cebu is now 100% utilized, a testament to the region’s dynamic business environment.

The second VITRO data center will address the region’s local enterprises’ needs as they get more aggressive in outsourcing the hosting and management of their IT assets,” said PLDT EVP and ePLDT President and CEO Eric R. Alberto.

protect the data-driven core of their business including mission critical data, co-location, business continuity and data backup, managed data security, network connectivity management, and other IT services which will usher them into the digital age.

“Our expansion plans will complement the growing need for data center services in the region and provide a stronger foundation to sustain the momentum of businesses to become more competitive with digital services,” added Alberto.

Aside from the efficiency and expertise that come with these services, businesses will also be able to minimize costs in running and managing their own information systems and platforms through VITRO’s Opex-based hosting arrangement.

The second Cebu VITRO Data Center and the rest of the ePLDT Network of Data Centers will serve as the bedrock for the emerging data-driven enterprise in the future and the testament of modern civilization to help them optimize, harness, safeguard and

The second Cebu VITRO data center is supported

by PLDT’s robust fiber optic network spanning over 100,000 kilometers across the archipelago enabling the delivery of digital solutions nationwide. Adrian T. Elumba

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PLDT partners with Roku to launch new streaming service and player in PH PLDT recently entered into a partnership with US-based Roku Inc. leveraging the proven Roku Powered streaming solution to launch a new streaming service and player that brings the best entertainment to Filipinos’ TV experience.

“We are seeing a growing demand for internet-delivered TV services in the country and there is no better partner for us to give Filipinos the world of entertainment than Roku which after all is the pioneer in streaming TV,” PLDT FVP and Head of HOME Operations Oscar Reyes Jr. said.

In the second quarter of 2016, Roku had over10 million active accounts in 10 countries, including the US, UK,

and Australia. Roku’s streaming platform excels in viewer engagement, due to its simplicity and breadth of content.

“Roku’s powerful platform will be a strong complement to PLDT HOME’s current array of content from various providers that include iflix and Fox International Channels,” Reyes pointed out.

PLDT HOME broadband subscribers currently enjoy subscription video on demand (SVOD) through their iflix accounts which include not just western but also Asian and local TV shows and films while the partnership with Fox also allows live streaming and catch-up television of the various

Shown in photo at the signing of the partnership agreement at the sidelines of the International Broadcasting Convention (IBC) in Amsterdam, are, at right, PLDT first vice president and Head of HOME Operations Oscar Reyes Jr. and Roku’s vice president of Pay TV Andrew Ferrone. IBC is an unrivalled global destination for discussion and debate about the many different challenges facing the electronic media and entertainment industry, with this year’s theme focused on Transformation in the Digital Era: Leadership, Strategy and Creativity in Media and Entertainment.

shows on Fox channels.

PLDT HOME has also been increasing the speed of its Fiber plans with the most recent upgrade reaching as high as 1 Gbps to satisfy the growing appetite of subscribers for bandwidth-heavy apps like video streaming. ”Roku’s partnership with PLDT is yet another proof point that all TV

will be streamed, and that Roku is leading the way,” said Andrew Ferrone, vice president of Pay TV at Roku.

“By leveraging Roku’s streaming platform to launch a brand new TV service PLDT will dramatically cut down it’s time to market, so Filipino consumers can enjoy the best entertainment on their TV at home.” CC:

ePLDT bolsters enterprise cloud adoption In line with its commitment in enabling enterprises to maximize the potential of cloud technology, ePLDT has expanded its portfolio of solutions to include Cloud Professional Services.

The new service line from ePLDT, provides enterprise customers access to expert consulting and support for their cloud environments.

It is also introduced on top of the PLDT Cloud Infrastructure-as-aService offering, allowing customers to get the expertise when and where they need it. ePLDT’s Cloud Professional Services focuses on three main areas: Expert Cloud Consulting, with ePLDT handling the creation of a cloud strategy roadmap

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and evaluating systems for migration so top-tier customers can optimize the cloud’s benefits; Expert Cloud Deployment and Migration, which lets customers outsource the transition of select enterprise applications and services to the cloud for improved efficiency and scalability; and Expert Cloud Systems Operations (SysOps), which includes managing and monitoring customers’ daily cloud functions such as capacity, network, backup and storage, maintenance and troubleshooting.

The introduction of these services aims to further boost cloud adoption in the Philippines.

“While more enterprises are interested to move their systems to the cloud, they are worried by the complexity of deployment and by the intricacies

involved in converting from a traditional IT setup to a cloud system. Moreover, the skills required to operate and manage these systems are not widelyavailable in the market,” said Nico Alcoseba, Head of PLDT Disruptive Business Group. “ePLDT’s Cloud Professional Services aims to fill that skills gap by providing customers the strategic guidance and operational expertise they need to maximize the potential of their cloud systems and reap its benefits. Whether they are new to the cloud or simply migrating additional applications to the cloud environment, customers can take advantage of ePLDT’s expertise and make their transitions with ease.” CC:

Data, ICT solutions boost

PLDT enterprise growth PLDT has continued to post double-digit growth in the enterprise segment in the first half of the year, buoyed by data and broadband services which accounted for nearly 60% of enterprise revenues.

PLDT reported over P15 billion in revenues from its enterprise business during the first half, a 10% increase from the same period last year following its aggressive roll out of enterprise data-driven services and solutions.

“We are seeing sustained double digit growth as of August this year, further solidifying our position as the preferred digital enabler among the country’s industries and government entities. Our robust growth also reflects the emerging requirements of industries, and businesses to become more connected and utilize innovative IT solutions to run their operations,” said PLDT EVP and Head of the Enterprise Group Eric R. Alberto.

“We have aligned our efforts with industry roadmaps to better serve the anticipated needs of companies to keep up with the digital economy.

The PLDT Group has steadily put in place the infrastructure necessary to support this growing digital ecosystem that businesses need to thrive in a globally competitive environment, and formed strategic partnerships with IT leaders to serve and

grow our portfolio of digital services for the benefit of our country’s enterprises.”

Consistent with PLDT’s initiatives in its digital pivot, enterprise revenues from data and broadband services jumped by 23% year-onyear to over P9 billion in the first half with mobile internet revenues surging by 121% during the period.

Consolidated corporate data and data center revenues also bolstered the growth in the enterprise segment posting a 17% year-onyear increase to P8 billion as PLDT continued to expand its data center services.

The PLDT Group recently opened its biggest data center in the Makati central business district with a capacity of close to 3,600 racks. By the 2017, PLDT will have 10 data centers with the launch of the VITRO facilities in Davao, Clark and Cebu, to reach an unmatched capacity of over 10,000 racks.

Through PLDT’s Enterprise segments

we are seeing sustained double digit growth as of august this year, further solidifying our position as the preferred digital enabler among the country’s industries and government entities.” - eric alberto PLDT ALPHA and PLDT SME Nation, serving large and small-andmedium businesses, PLDT continues to enable businesses with digital services to help increase efficiencies and help them serve their customers better through solutions like PLDT Cloud, M2M, Managed ICT services, and tailor-fit packages suited for different needs of corporations and entrepreneurs.

Effectively helping companies expand operations and supporting entrepreneurs grow their small businesses, both segments posted double-digit growth.

To further provide the needed infrastructure to carry the rapidly rising data traffic generated

by subscribers, PLDT continues to fortify its domestic and overseas fiber optic cable network and putting up ICT projects in various regions in the country.

Aside from the data centers, PLDT is also opening up international links via new landing stations across the country.

“We are systematically putting in place the various pieces needed to create a vibrant digital ecosystems.

Our network provide pervasive and robust connectivity, while our data centers serve as a solid foundation for the country’s technology infrastructure and business enabling solutions,” Alberto also said. Adrian T. Elumba

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“Paano ko malalagay sa pangalan ko ang pinamamanang lupa ng tatay ko?”

PLDT Global partners with MyLegalWhiz to provide legal assistance for global Filipinos PLDT Global Corp.

(PGC), the international marketing, sales and operating unit of PLDT, has recently partnered with MyLegalWhiz to provide online legal assistance to overseas Filipinos worldwide.

This partnership empowers Filipinos abroad to access an online facility called MyLegalWhizOFW that offers legal knowledge, assistance and guidance on the rights of Filipinos whether living in the Philippines or abroad.

“Committed to serving working and migrant Filipinos worldwide, we have formed this partnership to enable them to seek affordable legal assistance anytime online, sparing them from worrying too much about complicated legal problems,” said PLDT EVP and Head of Enterprise, International, and Carrier Business Eric Alberto.

“This credits-based innovative service is really beneficial to

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Filipinos overseas, especially those who have concerns on properties, businesses, and extended families in the Philippines.”

Overseas Filipinos may access the new service by visiting the online portal at https://ofw. mylegalwhiz.com and signing up. They will receive an activation link via email that they can use to log on to the website, where they can submit their legal inquiries and receive legal guidance from LEA, which stands for Legal Engineer Assistant.

LEA helps in doing legal topic research, explanation of legal terms, and even helps in drafting legal forms.

Payment for the service is credits-based, through an e-wallet with a minimum loadable amount of P500 or $10/$12. Credits can be used for receiving legal responses and downloading legal forms.

“PGC had always been helping the global Filipino to stay connected with their families and friends back home. The MyLegalWhizOFW service is an extension of our services to overseas Filipinos who may have legal queries or struggling with legal issues at home,” said PGC President and CEO Alex Caeg.

“Through this 24/7 legal service, they can ask about family laws,

labor laws, and general laws. If they need help on legal issues, personal assistant LEA will assist them in making legal forms, equip them with the relevant legal knowledge, and if needed, connect them with a lawyer.”

“Serving overseas Filipinos is a great honor for us,” said MyLegalWhiz founder Atty. Dexter Feliciano.

“Over the years, we have been helping nonlawyers acquire valuable legal knowledge before seeking formal legal advice, and we would like to extend our services to Filipinos abroad who need our help.” Olive O. Barrozo

Pldt Global Corporation had always been helping the global Filipino to stay connected with their families and friends back home.

Showed here from left are: BITC Chairman Anthony Jenkins, UK TV personality Sarah-Jane Mee, Philippine Ambassador to the UK Evan Garcia, PDRF President Butch Meily, Chief Technology Officer, iDT Labs (UPS International Disaster Relief Small Biz Award winner) Salston Arthur Masally and outgoing Business in the Community Chief Executive Stephen Howard

PLDT wins International Disaster Relief Award for PDRF revival PLDT recently won the UPS International Disaster Relief Award at the Business in the Community’s 2016 Annual Responsible Business Gala in London.

PLDT’s award winning initiative in reviving the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) was set up to establish a more developed synergy, creating a more distinguished platform which aims to have an effective method of collaboration between the private sector, national and local government, and international agencies.

Initially set up after typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana), PLDT revived PDRF to effectively mobilize the resources of the private sector in response to Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan).

PLDT’s lead in revitalizing PDRF has transformed a once small organization into a leading private sector disaster management platform, not only in the Philippines but around the world.

As PDRF becomes a model in the international sphere as a private business network, countries like Myanmar and

Sri Lanka are looking to PDRF in designing their own private sector-led consortiums focused on dealing with disasters.

PDRF recently completed the world’s first ever national private sector emergency operations center at Shell House in Makati City. Among those who presented to the judges’ panel were PDRF President Butch Meily and PDRF CFO, Smart CFO and PLDT Group Controller June Cheryl Cabal-Revilla.

“The Philippines faces many natural hazards.

One of the key lessons of Haiyan is the need for collaboration, thus the need for PDRF. Super typhoon Haiyan is one of the worst disasters to hit the country,” PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan said. “The business

community owes it to our fellow countrymen to prepare for and to respond in the case of emergencies lest we one day wake up to the realization that we had the chance to act and did not.”

clear replicability, is already inspiring other groups around the world and has demonstrated great impact for the society in The Philippines, whilst also having clear business benefits,” Arriaga said.

Managing Director of UPS for UK, Ireland and Nordics Luis Arriaga, who also chaired the judging panel, underscores the importance of creating a disaster preparedness model that is replicable as exemplied by PDRF’s relief operation plans, inspiring other countries to do the same. “The Philippines Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) is an impressive example of collaborative business action to address international disaster relief and resilience. The PDRF has

“The Responsible Business Awards provide the proof that from the largest global multinational to the smallest local firm, business is a powerful force for good in society,” Business in the Community Chief Executive Stephen Howard said. “This year we have seen some profound examples of what business can achieve when it puts responsibility at the heart of its operations.

I congratulate PLDT for the practical action it has taken to build a fairer world and more sustainable future.”

Meily and PDRF CFO, Smart CFO, and PLDT Group Controller Chaye Cabal-Revilla present PLDT’s revitalization of PDRF in front of the BITC panel.

The event at the gigantic O2 arena was the culmination of the 2016 Responsible Business Awards, run

by The Prince of Wales’s charity Business in the Community to celebrate the innovative ways that businesses in the UK and abroad are making a sustained difference and transforming communities.CC:

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snapshots

MVP leads MOA signing with PLM for ICT innovation efforts Continuing its advocacy of creating opportunities for a better quality education, the PLDT-Smart Foundation (PSF), in partnership with One Meralco Foundation (OMF), recently signed a memorandum of agreement in accordance to the turn over of donation to the Pamantasang Lungsod ng Maynilad (PLM). Led by PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, PSF and OMF donated furniture and equipment for the engineering laboratory, which PLM names as the MVP Technology Center – a five-story distribution of different commitments from the MVP Group’s donation. This includes a number of computers, which the Information Communications Technology (ICT) offices within the university may effectively use.

Around 2,500 students from the school of engineering are to benefit from the newly established technology center. The MVP Technology Center is a visible manifestation of a continuous effort that moves towards achieving greater innovations in the field of engineering and ICT. Photo shows Pangilinan, center, leads the MOA signing along with (from left): Board of Regents Chairman Benjamin Espiritu, PLM President Ma. Leonora De Jesus, PSF President Esther Santos, and OMF President Jeffrey Tarayao.

PLDT ComRel turns over desktop computers to PNP PLDT, through its Community Relations (ComRel) Division, recently turned over seven desktop computers to the Philippine National Police (PNP), Police Regional Office (PRO) 3 in the City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Consisting of 11,277 police commission officer and police non-commission officers who are tasked to enforce the law, prevent and control crimes, maintain peace and order, and ensure public safety and internal security.

The police regional office administers seven provincial police offices and two city police offices in need of computer sets to store confidential data of personnel as well as periodic updating and utilization of other police function. Shown here during the turnover ceremony are PLDT ComRel Head/Consultant Evelyn M. Del Rosario and Regional Director Police Chief Superintendent Aaron Nagtalon Aquino. Witnessing the event are, from left: Regional Logistic Division Chief, PSSUPT Edgar De Mayo Cacayan, Regional Chief Directorial Staff PSSUPT Graciano Jaylo Mijares, Deputy Regional Director for Operation PSSUPT Renato Carbonell Angara, and ComRel volunteers and staff.

EmpDev head engages HR summit participants with rich introspection The interplay of corporate quotients - IQ, EQ, TQ, CXQ and AQ got an audience of 600 HR practitioners nationwide engaged with rich introspection during EmpDev Head Nonong Noriega’s talk in the 9th Philippine HR Summit. Shown here is the awarding of plaque following the plenary session with Powermax Consulting President Rene Espinosa who said, “Nonong Noriega brought the house down with his splendid facilitation of the last session packed with incisive insights, inspiring thoughts, high-voltage interaction, peculiar wit and humor, and a thousand and one ineffable x factors.”

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feature The cozy, modern interior of the new PLDT Sales and Service Center (SSC) Imus.

PLDT’s innovative flagship store now serves Imus customers

With the PLDT Imus SSC Management staff are Heads Anna Fernando and Paolo Lopez.

Shown at the façade of the new PLDT SSC Imus during the ribbon cutting ceremony are PLDT Cavite Zone Head Arnel Guinto, VP and Head of Customer Care and Sales Support Paolo Lopez, Business Development Head Louella Aquino, VP and North Luzon Customer SvcOp District Head Gerry Castro, HOME SSC Management Head Anna Fernando, and Property and Facilities Management FVP Martin Rio, from left, respectively.

Drumbeaters and PLDT’s giant LED billboard, the first of its kind in Imus, welcome customers to the brand new PLDT SSC.

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brand new PLDT Sales and Service Center (SSC) was inaugurated recently in the historic city of Imus Cavite, adding another dimension to the celebrated site of two major Katipunero victories during the Philippine revolution in the late 1890s.

Equipped with the latest digital devices for customers to try and experience and efficient personnel to assist them, the flagshipinspired SSC will cater to the requirements of subscribers in Imus and its surrounding towns.

“This is the sixth of the SSCs that PLDT has been launching nationwide since 2015,” said PLDT Business Development Head Louella Aquino. “It will allow us to serve more customers in Cavite as we provide them with a convenient and trendy place where they can get to experience the most up-to-date products and services, as well as apply for fixed and digital

services and pay telephone and broadband bills.”

Greeting customers in front of the SSC is a 12X15 feet LED billboard, the first of its kind in Imus.

Like the other PLDT flagship SSCs built in various cities around the country, the Imus SSC lobby has a couple of 32” interactive screens with custom-made PLDT games and apps and a 50” LED TV that entertain customers and their families while awaiting their turn to transact business.

The upgraded 24” HD-quality Infotouch, a staple in every PLDT SSC, is also readily available in this store, enabling subscribers to inquire about their bills, request for repairs, and update their knowledge of PLDT products and services on their own.

According to PLDT VP CustCare and Sales and Service Center Head Paolo Lopez, “It is an honor for us to serve the people of Imus as well as Cavite with this SSC. We would like to provide them with the most innovative products and best customer service. The SSC will assist them as they pursue their respective lifestyles in the digital age.” CC:

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High-Touch, High Tech

with Intellicare

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PLDT ALPHA, Smart provide mobility facilities through iPads

LDT ALPHA and Smart has digitally enabled the service delivery of Intellicare complimenting the health management organization’s commitment to harness the power of digital technologies, such as data analytics.

In this partnership, Smart is providing Intellicare greater mobility capabilities through iPads equipped with Smart Postpaid and Smart Bro LTE subscriptions, for field-based Patient Relations Officers—the face of Intellicare for most members—so that they can access the company’s mobile app to effectively relay key data to patients and their families.

“We thank Intellicare for entrusting us with their ICT and mobility requirements,” responded FVP and Head of PLDT ALPHA Jovy Hernandez. “Beyond providing solutions for its operations and services, we will continue to give Intellicare peace of mind as it focuses on driving positive change through innovative, compassionate care for its member-patients and the wider public.”

Intellicare, the health management organization (HMO) of Asalus Corporation, helps Filipinos make smarter investments in total wellbeing. Since 1995, Intellicare has built on expertise and technology in delivering superior healthcare services with a personal touch to a growing membership base.

Two decades later, almost a million subscribers and some 3,000 corporations trust Intellicare’s

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holistic “High-Touch” vision of personally ensuring every patient’s overall wellness.

Intellicare SVP for Marketing and Sales Jeremy Matti

There is a huge untapped market of Filipinos without healthcare plans who could benefit from Intellicare’s holistic approach to total well-being. And to reach this great underserved segment of the population, Intellicare will continue to rely on robust, extensive network capabilities from a trusted end-toend ICT provider.

Intelligent, tech-driven care Healthcare will only cost more in the foreseeable future. Rising prices of medicines, equipment, and consultations now eat up a larger part of Filipino family budgets. The latest government data estimates that 70% of these expenses are drawn from the savings of Filipino households instead of health insurance.

Complementing this empathic approach to care is Intellicare’s commitment to “High-Tech,” harnessing the power of digital technologies, such as data analytics.

“Each number that comes into our database is studied from point zero, all the way to 100%,” said Intellicare SVP for Marketing and Sales Jeremy Matti. “Everything—and we speak of data integrity here—has to be accurate in order for us to find solutions and decisions that can improve healthcare cost here in the country.”

“Availability of information is of primary importance. We want them to access our system via the use of the iPad, so that we will be able to explain properly to our members their benefits,” said Intellicare AVP for Membership Services Josephine Agregado. “And most of all, since lives are at stake, we want to make sure that we can deliver our service quickly.”

Interconnectivity solutions This bundled service joins other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions that PLDT supplies to Intellicare. The HMO is currently using PLDT ALPHA’s Dedicated Internet Access (iGate) service and International IP Virtual Private Network (IP VPN) solution to enable interconnectivity for the company, and ensure critical data redundancy as part of a business continuity plan.

“In our line of business, wherein we are operationally distributed across the archipelago, we have to make sure that we have an infrastructure that can connect all of our offices nationwide so that all of the information will be able to flow anywhere,” said Intellicare VP for Operations and Head of Information Technology Arnie Dantis. CC:

Regine and Nate Alcasid enjoy bonding over the Telpad.

For Modernday Mom Regine VelasquezAlcasid:

me s p l e h y “T ec hn olog .” m o m r e t t e b a e m o c be

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oms are super women.

Aside from being the driving force of the household, many moms also play different roles in the work place and in the community. They are the ultimate multi-taskers, often having to sacrifice ‘me’ time for the sake of the family.

of products and services that are designed to give moms like me peace of mind through the power of technology. So far, super helpful talaga siya for me especially when I have to be away for work.”

it as a WiFi remote for the Telpad or smart phone cameras so it’s easier to take selfies or groufies wherever they are.

Regine also shared how the watch helps teach Nate to become more responsible and aware of his surroundings. Nate’s Smart Watch can come to the rescue using the anti-lost feature. He simply has to click on a button and the connected device will make a sound so it can be located. The Smart Watch will also vibrate if Nate goes more than 10 meters away from the paired device so if the Telpad or smart phone is with Mommy Regine or Daddy Ogie, it will remind him to go back to them.

“Nate really loves his Smart Watch,” Regine said. “As a parent, this is a gadget na approve sa akin kasi I can really see that it helps us bond better as a family.”

New members of the PLDT HOME family Following his mother’s footsteps, Nate was recently launched as the new ambassador for the Smart Watch.

Forefront of strongest connections at home As the leader in digital “We’re very excited to Nate sports his innovations for the home, PLDT have Nate on board,“ favorite gadget, the HOME designs its products and PLDT VP and Home Smart Watch from PLDT HOME. services to help parents like Marketing Director Regine effectively multi-task Gary Dujali said. while ensuring the safety of their “He represents the kids of his What’s a mom got to do? families. Two products which generation—perennially curious, The answer is technology. These promote peace of mind among smart and dynamic. Together days, smart gadgets and working moms are the with his mom, we look forward high-speed internet can Fam Cam and Smart to reaching to more families and empower moms to be in Watch. educating them about the ways control of the family’s technology can help bring them safety and security.

The Fam Cam is a closer.” home monitoring Just ask Asia’s Songbird system which allows Regine added, “Siyempre, I’m super and modern-day mom parents to check proud of my baby boy! PLDT HOME Regine Velasquez – on their children is close to our hearts and as a Alcasid. Mom to fourremotely, and even family, we are proof that technology year-old Nathaniel James, communicate with them. can really help make our lives more fondly known as The Smart Watch, a safer and easier.”

PLDT VP and HOME Marketing Nate, Regine exemplifies personal favorite of Nate, Director Gary Dujali says the modern-day Filipino is a multi-functional PLDT HOME subscribers Nate represents the kids of mom who strikes the gadget which kids can his generation— perennially who upgrade to a Telpad plan curious, smart and dynamic. balance between her use to take photos, play automatically get a free 1Mbps hectic work schedule and music, and even record HOME DSL speed boost, and her role as a family woman. voice messages. for only an additional P199 per month, they can already top up “Technology helps me become According to Regine, they use the with a Smart Watch. The watch is a better mom,” she revealed.

Smart Watch to easily talk to Nate also available to existing Telpad “Specifically, I get a lot of help because he can directly answer subscribers. Simply order online from PLDT HOME.” Regine, who calls using his watch when it is and it will be delivered for free. For is also an ambassador for the connected to their Telpad or a more information, visit pldthome. brand, added, “They have a suite smart phone. The Alcasids also use com/telpad/smartwatch. CC: Balancing multiple responsibilities is a challenge, even for the toughest moms, but what’s probably most difficult is achieving peace of mind especially when they have to be away from the young ones.

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PLDT & Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V Pangilinan raises a toast with the business partners at the launch of the new Smart Home recently. The new partners and their products/service offerings include U.S.-leading video streaming platform from Roku Inc. for Internet TV; global internet television network Netflix for an extensive library of award-winning TV and movie titles; e-commerce giant Amazon for online shopping; and iWant TV, the leading player in the over-the-top (OTT) content platform in the Philippines. PLDT has also partnered with iflix, Alcatel, Cignal, D-Link, Family Zone, Fox, Huawei, Intel, Microsoft, PayMaya, and Sony.

THE FUTURE OF THE FILIPINO HOME IS HERE

PLDT Home unveils Smart Home in partnership with global heavyweights

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LDT HOME is bringing the Smart Home suite of services to Filipino families with a string of partnerships with leaders in retail and entertainment.

“This is a new era in digital as we make Filipino homes stronger, safer, more comfortable and more enjoyable via PLDT’s Smart Home which has powerful connectivity and an integrated suite of innovative, reliable and family-friendly products and services,” PLDT FVP and Head of Home Operations Oscar A. Reyes Jr. said. “This is made possible with several local and global partnerships that we entered into recently which are aimed at enhancing and enriching the lives of millions of digitally connected Filipinos powered by PLDT Home and Smart Communications for mobile services.”

New world-class partners As an industry leader in the Philippines, PLDT HOME continuously pursues strategic and global partnerships to stay ahead of the game. The company also announced key alliances with new partners including U.S.-leading video streaming platform from Roku Inc. for Internet TV; global internet television network Netflix for an extensive library of award-winning TV and movie titles; e-commerce giant Amazon for online shopping; and iWant TV, the leading player

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in the over-the-top (OTT) content platform in the Philippines.

The partnership with Amazon will soon open the door for Filipino book lovers to enjoy the popular Kindle e-book reader.

The Roku streaming platform allows users to easily stream their favorite TV shows and movies on their TV screens. It is the streaming platform with the highest engagement in the U.S. because of its diverse content offerings and user-friendly interface. Notably, Roku’s partnership with PLDT is its first streaming deal in Asia, making the Philippines the first country in the region to join the ranks of Roku’s international markets including Canada, Mexico, Europe and Australia. Roku services will be launched commercially in the country early next year. iWant TV lets users stream their favorite ABS-CBN shows, both past and presently airing.

Popular teleseryes like On The Wings of Love, Dolce Amore, Ang Probinsiyano and Till I Met You are easily accessible on-demand so avid followers can catch up on the latest plot twists and turns. News and current affairs shows are also available for streaming.

With Netflix, users can watch today’s top original Netflix series

such as House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Marvel’s Daredevil and Stranger Things. Netflix continually adds new TV programs and films to the service, bringing the joy of entertainment to over 81 million members in 190 countries.

Depending on the subscription plans, members can create up to four profiles within a single Netflix account. Profiles allow different members of the household to have their own personalized Netflix experience built around the films and TV programs they enjoy. There are also parental control settings to

the connectivity that binds the smart home is enabled by the country’s most powerful broadband pldt home fibr, which delivers the philippines’ first and fastest internet of up to 1 gbps.

At the signing of the partnership agreement between PLDT HOME and ABS-CBN for i Want TV are, from left: PLDT Head of Regulatory Affairs Ray C. Espinosa, EVP and Head of Consumer Business Ariel P. Fermin, PLDT & Smart Chairman and CEO Manuel V Pangilinan, ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III, ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak, and ABS-CBN Group CFO Rolando Valdueza.

PLDT’s Smart Home launch host Denise Laurel interviews celebrity moms Danica Sotto, Shamcey Supsup, and Isabel Oli, from left, respectively.

Answering questions from the media during the press conference are Fermin, MVP, and FVP and PLDT HOME Operations Head Oscar Enrico A. Reyes, Jr.

ensure a safe-viewing experience for kids. This will limit a child’s profiles to a variety of child-friendly titles they can enjoy.

PLDT HOME has also partnered with iflix, Alcatel, Cignal, D-Link, Family Zone, Fox, Huawei, Intel, Microsoft, PayMaya, and Sony.

Pillars of the home “PLDT’s Smart Home is a home where digital innovations advance the security, safety, convenience and entertainment experiences at home and beyond. It is a home where communication and connection are made easier by digital technology,” Reyes pointed out.

PLDT’s Smart Home is built on these key pillars: connectivity, peace of mind, entertainment, and convergence and automation.

The connectivity that binds the Smart Home is enabled by the country’s most powerful broadband, PLDT Home Fibr, which delivers the Philippines’ first and fastest Internet of up to 1 Gbps. This allows for high-speed browsing of multiple websites and the country’s first symmetrical speed service which provides equal upload and download speeds.

Peace of mind is a commitment to parents manifested through PLDT Home’s products and services

VP and HOME Marketing Director Gary Dujali, host Amanda Griffin, Ms Universe Pia Wurtzbach, and Reyes, from left, respectively, try the digital devices in the model Smart Home presented during the launch.

designed to help parents feel more secure about the safety of their children especially when they have to be away. These products and services include the home monitoring system Fam Cam; the multi-functional kid-friendly gadget Smart Watch; and the cyber safety solution Family Zone, all best used with the Telpad.

When it comes to world-class entertainment, PLDT HOME has always been at the forefront of providing subscribers with diverse and compelling content—from well-loved kid-friendly content like games and e-books (Disney through Telpad) and sports (Fox Sports, NBA Premium HD via Cignal) to gaming (Steam) and video-ondemand (iflix). Subscribers also enjoy the benefits of compact access to information and entertainment through the most powerful PC in a stick—the TVolution Stick. Adding to this entertainment suite are the partnerships with Netflix, iWantTV and Roku.

Finally, PLDT HOME has pioneered the convergence of wired and wireless connections through the data sharing feature which allows subscribers to seamlessly share data to pre-connected mobile accounts with leading wireless service provider Smart Communications, thus revolutionizing the way families

share and enjoy their high-speed connection.

Home of the future “PLDT’s Smart Home evolved from our pioneering concept of the Connected Home,” Reyes said.

“The connected home was our vision of the modern Filipino home wherein families are connected, entertained and secured with the help of digital innovations powered

by PLDT HOME. It was the starting point of our journey. In response to the fast-changing digital needs of Filipino families, we are fortifying that vision with the launch of PLDT’s Smart Home. It is a more integrated version of the connected home, where each product or service interacts with each other to perform harmonized tasks meant to ease and enrich the lives of our subscribers. It’s a Home that cares; it listens, protects, interacts and simplifies our lives.

He furthered, “We don’t want to wait for the future to dictate the trends and the innovations.

We are charting our own course and shaping the future through innovative use of technology, global partnerships, world-class content and a keen awareness of and commitment to our subscribers’ needs. Today is the beginning of the digitally connected and empowered home that we are building for Filipino families.” CC:

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cover story PLDT/Smart EVP and ePLDT President and CEO Ernesto R. Alberto welcomes the delegates to the ACC 2016 during the plenary session.

emerged and disrupted us and, as a consequence, market behaviors and buying habits have changed.”

Navigates Disruptive Seas

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By Olive O. Barrozo

iving in a science-fictional world of augmented reality, pervasive robotics, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things can be gloriously convenient compared to the current state of things. It’s worth hankering for when you’re caught in a fourhour-long traffic jam inside a crammed public vehicle. The sophisticated technology depicted in sci-fi stories could be in our midst now and we wonder if this embodies the digital transformation we’ve all been talking about.

Relevant issues like this and more were discussed at the recentlyconcluded ACC 2016, the awardwinning telco and technology conference hosted by PLDT and its mobile subsidiaries Smart Communications and Sun Cellular.

Attended by over 1,300 delegates representing 414 companies from 62 countries around the world, the ACC 2016 ran on the business theme “The Digital Revolution: Navigating Through the Seas of Disruption.”

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The New Currency “As the ACC navigates a sea of change, we foster an environment that encourages new developments in the digital disciplines of SMACS -social engagement, machineto-machine innovation and the Internet of Things, analytics and big data, cloud computing and platforms, as well as cybersecurity to protect a most vital new currency; our data,” said PLDT/ Smart EVP and ePLDT President & CEO Ernesto R. Alberto as he welcomed the delegates during the plenary session.

“Certainly the road of transformation stretches further; the waves of disruption continue to crest. The fact of the matter is, conferences such as the ACC are the key to our sustainability and survival,” Alberto said.

DefinING Digital Transformation Now on its 12th year, ACC has always top billed speakers from around the world who are experts in the fields of telecommunications and technology. Delivering the keynote address at the plenary this year was Shane Minogue, Telco Lead of the International Data Corporation (IDC) of Australia & New Zealand.

Minogue said digital transformation is so much more than technology: “Digital transformation is all about strategy, perspective, and how you align your business. It is business

He added that: “Honestly, I’m happily provoked by the idea that we continue to attend ACC to foster and strengthen relationships, with the end in view that we can all, multilaterally and bilaterally, quickly discover new revenue streams, to replace Keynote speaker Shane Minogue, and recover the Telco Lead of the International Data Corporation (IDC) of Australia high-margin legacy & New Zealand, discusses the voice business conference theme “The Digital that has practically Revolution: Navigating Through the disappeared. New Seas of Disruption.” technologies have

Shown during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the ACC 2016 exhibit are PLDT FVP and PLDT Head of Alpha and ACCI Chairman Juan Victor I. Hernandez, PLDT EVP Ernesto R. Alberto and PLDT International and Carrier Business Head and PLDT Global Corp.

President and CEO Alejandro O. Caeg, 4th, 5th and 6th, from left, respectively. With them are some of the ACC global event partners.

Certainly the road of transformation stretches further; the waves of disruption continue to crest.

The fact of the matter is, conferences such as the ACC are the key to our sustainability and survival.”

- Eric alberto

Some of the workshops conducted at the conference.

transformation in the digital era.

It’s the process that you begin but never really complete, a journey that continues to evolve as your business evolves.”

He cited five stages in the IDC MaturityScape model, such as the ad hoc, “the initial stage when you are disconnected and you don’t see the big picture.” The other stages consist of the digital explorer, the digital player, the leader in the area, and the true digital disruptor.

He described the last as the place where we all want to be, “it’s the holy grail.”

Other plenary speakers included Huawei Senior Consultant Yong Kim Sang, Ciena Asian & North Asia VP & GM Lionel Gan, Telecom Services Network CEO Kamal Patel, and Telekom Malaysia Berhad EVP Rozaimy Rahman.

Ideal Venue The ACC also provides an ideal venue for bilateral meetings, workshops, exhibits, and networking events – one of which was an all-female panel discussion

and cocktail hour moderated

by Isabelle Paradis, founder and president of Hot Telecom, a Montrealbased global telecoms research, consulting and advisory company (see related story on page 18).

“The ACC has become the muchanticipated conference for both international and local delegates because it offers them great technological knowledge and updates and huge opportunities to network, collaborate, and conduct business with industry leaders and players,” Alberto said.

“ACC’s great attendance through the years can be attributed to its unique combination of networking opportunities and business meetings, with fun and exciting social activities, as well as the excellent accommodations in Mactan Cebu’s finest hotels,” PLDT International & Carrier Business Head and PLDT Global Corporation President & CEO Alejandro O. Caeg said.

Platinum partners of ACC 2016 included Orange of France, PCCW Global of HongKong, Telecom

Services Network (TSN) of Singapore, Tata Communications of India and Canada, Huawei of China, SP Telecom of Singapore, and Sigma Telecom of Istanbul and USA. Composing the gold sponsors were IDT Telecom Asia Pacific (IDT Asia), Quickcom Global, Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM), International Carrier Sales & Solutions (ICSS), Sheng Li Tel, Telstra, Bankai Group, BridgeVoice, Turk Telekom International (TTI), Digital Realty, BICS, and GTT. The silver partners were Ciena, BT, and Cisco, while the bronze sponsors were Telenor, MMDSmart, Hutchison Global Communications Limited (HGC), World Hub Communications Limited, TNZI, GENBAND, Telarix, and NGT Networks.

The conference program consisted of the plenary session, opening of the ACC 2016 Exhibit and Shopping Village, numerous workshops, bilateral meetings, turn-over of the ACC corporate social responsibility projects, and social activities. CC:

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sidebar

Telcosneedtostopthinkingtelco

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Reprinted from the asian tigresses magazine, september 2016 issue

erissa Ramos, is Group Chief Operating Officer of ePLDT, Philippines’ premiere digital innovator.

Since its inception, the company has led the industry in the development of enabling technologies for enterprises, as it sets the pace for IT innovation through a digital mindset and a forward-thinking culture.

In this article, Ramos shares her views on the evolution of our industry and what she sees as keys to telcos’ evolution. Finally, she discusses her four pillars to success: customers first, hard work, attention to detail and, last but not least, grit.

What are the main trends currently impacting the global telecom market?

Three parallel forces are at work at present and challenging industry players to think and act differently.

First is the dramatic change in customer behavior. Today’s consumers’ and workers’ experience is almost fully digital. Which means they expect immediate access to work, watch, play and listen to content and information, all this via mobile devices. But more importantly, they expect access anytime, anywhere and with the best user experience possible.

Second is the need for enterprises to transform. In many ways driven by the first transformational force, enterprises (both businesses and government) need to keep pace with these changes.

Digital transformation has, therefore, become not just a buzzword, but a key business strategy. When I talk about Digital Transformation here, I don’t merely mean technology platforms or new solutions, but a new way of doing business that must align with, and support, fast-changing consumer behaviors.

The third force at play, is the need for telcos to shift their business beyond connectivity towards solutions. The boundary between telco and IT is blurring. To solve the customers’ ‘real-life problems’ , telcos now need to pool these together - technology, IT agility, reliable connections and expert capabilities.

But what is more powerful is that together, these three forces are

accelerating the adoption, and subsequently the monetization, of Social Engagement Solutions, Digital Mobility/ M2M/ IoT, Cloud, Big Data/ Analytics and Managed Security. This is a very exciting time, indeed!

What are the top pre-requisites to succeeding in the current rapidly evolving telecom environment?

The first thing that comes to mind is to never forget the basics.

Consequently, the question we should ask ourselves each and every time we roll out new solutions, systems, processes, and organizations is the very basic question: “Will this solve our customers’ real life problems?”

If the answer is yes, then change management will not be an issue, it will generate high adoption and create high impact to users and customers.

It will ultimately result in quick monetization.

Another important key to success is the ability to adapt quickly to the changing needs of the market, as in providing services that are relevant to those needs. In our case,Among other things, this means providing reliable and secure infrastructure for data and voice services. Apart from infrastructure, it is also critical to build an ecosystem of partners who can provide complementary and valueaccretive services that telcos can offer to differentiate. This requires a paradigm shift in telco thinking, from building all capabilities organically, to a hybrid model of partnerships and organic capabilities.

well as persistently introducing digital services to the market.

As PLDT Group’s digital enabler, ePLDT has strengthened its capabilities based on three strategic pillars: infrastructure, expertise, and partnerships.

This is taking place from simple data centres to the full ICT outsourcing value proposition to the enterprise market. It therefore spans network, data centres, hosting services, business continuity, cloud services, big data, digital engagement solutions to managed security, and a number of real-life-business-problem-solving digital solutions.

What’s the best advice you wish to pass on to our readers to achieve success in business?

Agnostic of gender, I believe that there are four success principles that will stand any changes in market and technology.

The first is the age old cliché: customers first. Technology is useless no matter how elegant, if irrelevant to customers.

The second is hard work. Nothing can replace hard work.

At the end of the day, telcos need to stop thinking telco. They need to innovate, not only in terms of technology and network capabilities, but more broadly in terms of legacy processes, business models and in the way they deliver customer experience.

The next is attention to detail. Most of us often get lost in the frenzy and confusion of a messy situation and before we know it, we are carried away by the tide of day to day problems. Attention to detail requires that we break down the issues into small pieces and prioritize according to what will have the most impact towards the achievement of our objectives. It is devotion to excellence.

It is about consistency. It is about doing things right the first time and every time.

How is your company positioning itself in this new world and how does it plan to capitalize on its strengths to succeed?

It is very clear that the path to growth is digital. Our Chairman and CEO, Manuel V. Pangilinan’s marching order is to protect our market leadership by accelerating the transformation of PLDT into the country’s leading and preferred digital service provider. As consumers and enterprises become more data driven, PLDT is resolute in consistently raising its network capacity, quality and resiliency, as

Finally, grit. To me, grit is about passion and speed. As Rupert Murdoch said, “Gone are the days when big is beating the small. It is now the fast that beats the slow”. Grit is about bringing an idea to action quickly so that lessons are learned and iterations are executed immediately.

It is about not wasting an opportunity because we spend too much time analyzing, and even worse, arguing. It is a positive form of stubbornness, an attitude of ‘Can’t get no satisfaction’.

CC:

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hey were there to remind us that being different should not stop us from achieving our aspirations. And being a woman in a predominantly male-managed world can be empowering.

In the panel discussion, dubbed Ladies’ Night – ‘Tigresses Cocktail’ and HOTtalk, one of the activities at the recently-concluded ACC 2016, six women executives from global companies tackled various issues in the workplace, including the differences between men and women, the latter’s role in transformation, diversity, and the secret to succeeding in business.

Moderated by Hot Telecom President Isabelle Paradis, the panel consisted of FVP and PLDT Group Controller Chaye Cabal-Revilla, GTT Chief Marketing Officer Gina Nomellini, Speedflow CFO Natalia Ellis, VNPT Deputy Managing Director Mai Linh Giang, and Spark NZ Int’l Account Manager Sam Excell.

Differences Women bring family values to business, said Ellis, “some kindness, tolerance, politeness, and if we have kids, we can bring in their young experience, opinion and ideas into the business too… We do not only have our own opinions but also bring in the opinions of our family, kids, relatives, and we can share them with our business partners, with our friends. These will inspire people to achieve more because when they look at us they will think ok you can do it so it means I can do it too.”

Nomellini stressed equality: “At the end of the day, we all go to work in the exact same way that men do.

Women have to work just as hard. I don’t think of the fact that I work as a woman. I work as a contributing member of my company, I work as a leader, as a member of the management team…It doesn’t even cross my mind 99 percent of the time that I’m a woman doing my job and nothing frustrates me more than to be recognized as a woman first and as someone who is doing her job second. At the end of the day, I wanna be recognized for doing my job.”

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Consisting the all-women panel discussion are, from left: Hot Telecom President Isabelle Paradis, moderator, PLDT FVP and Group Controller Chaye Cabal-Revilla, VNPT Deputy Managing Director Mai Linh Giang, GTT Chief Marketing Officer Gina Nomellini, Speedflow CFO Natalia Ellis, and Spark NZ Int’l Account Manager Sam Excell.

By Olive O. Barrozo According to Cabal-Revilla, “The challenge for women in the workplace is that we have to be extraordinarily great so that nobody, no man can question our being there. The value that we bring to the leadership is that we can combine both IQ and EQ together. Whereas men use their brains more, we actually use brains, heart, and spirit.

We have insight and gut feel.”

“We should be happy that we are different and that men are different from us,” Paradis said. “We should be successful as women. We bring intuition, sensitivity, guts, and more to the workplace. If we can embrace these and if men can embrace these as well, I think it would be easier for all of us.”

Transformation and Diversity On transformation, Cabal-Revilla pointed out that “whereas men look at technology more than the people aspect, women are usually more insightful, we look at both technology and people. We need to be there because we provide the soft touch for transformation.”

Excell emphasized the multiple roles of women in the business environment, finding themselves in the positions of “communicator, peacemaker, negotiator, trying to come to a point of resolution.

Keeping things together. We need to be brave leaders who are willing to fight for new ideas.”

We can use services such as the Internet of Things to serve our

expectations, said Ellis: “Just by using services, we can change the industry. Let’s change the rules by using smart things and sending feedback, then we can change things in the smart way.”

Meanwhile, all the panelists agreed that diversity is vital in the workplace. “I think we should value diversity because there’s so much to share and learn from each other,” PLDT’s FVP said.

GTT’s CMO added that, “when we think about diversity, male-female is one aspect, age is another aspect, culture-nationality is another. There are many aspects in our jobs that we have to work with.”

Successful Women On the key to success in life and in business as a woman, Giang counseled her fellow women to “just do it. If you’re afraid of doing anything, just do it.” Ellis emphasized self-worth: “Know your worth. It’s yours, own it.”

For Cabal-Revilla, “It’s passion for work and passion for living.”

Nomellini underscored “hard work,” while Ellis highlighted the “support of my husband, kids, parents, and family.”

“You can’t be afraid to succeed. You can’t be afraid to stand out as a woman,” affirmed Paradis. “We, as women in the telecom industry, are different, so we should capitalize on that. I am a woman and I’m not afraid to succeed.” CC:

PLDT SVP and PGC President and CEO Alex Caeg, PLDT VP for Carrier Business Gene Sanchez, and Huawei Cebu Representative Lijili, from left, respectively, are shown here during the turnover of digital devices to officials of Carmen National High School in Cebu, one of the four public national high school beneficiaries of the ACC’s donations for its CSR activity this year.

With PLDT Gabay Guro, PSF and Huawei

ACC 2016 provides gadgets and connectivity to Cebu public schools

By Olive O. Barrozo

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ontinuous learning for the young and old alike has become a lot easier for everyone in the digital age. Google, unlike physical libraries, never closes. And the smart devices that contain this extraordinary body of information are conveniently handy wherever we go. But ubiquitous as they are in urban areas, these digital tools are not often accessible to students in remote communities.

Mindful of this need, the Asian Carriers Conference or better known internationally as the ACC, an annual international telco and technology conference hosted

by PLDT in Cebu, targeted its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project this year on facilitating the education of over 1,000 public school students in Cebu with the aid of digital technology.

Together with partners Huawei, the PLDT Smart Foundation, and PLDT’s Gabay Guro, ACC 2016 donated laptops, tablets, and

internet connectivity to four public high schools in Cebu for its CSR activity. Dubbed “Daogmaon: Winning Children’s Future Against Illiteracy,” the donations were turned over to the schools’ representatives in ceremonies held at Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa on September 9.

public schools with these devices so they can scale up as their peers from private schools.

The beneficiaries of 15 laptops and 15 tablets each were Cordova National High School, Argao National High School, and Babag High School, while Carmen National High School received 35 laptops, 20 tablets, and a tech van due to a bigger student population attending day and night classes.

Each of the schools were also given free MyDSL Internet Connectivity for six months and Smart Bro 4G Pocket WiFi units.

Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Carmen National High (Day) School Principal Fedelina Entero thanked ACC 2016 and its partners for the invaluable donations which will be very useful for the students especially in this digital age.

According to PLDT International and Carrier Business Head and PLDT Global Corp. President and CEO Alex O. Caeg, ACC and its partners aim to facilitate learning among the students in Cebu’s

“PLDT’s internet connectivity will also link Cebu’s students to the rest of the world, giving them a wider access to global knowledge,” Caeg said.

Over the years, the ACC and its partners have been undertaking various CSR projects that have benefitted Mactan and its surrounding islands. These included classrooms, scholarship grants, school supplies, computer laboratories, rain water collector tanks, fishing boats, vermicomposting facilities, and a mini solar power plant. CC:

Shown at the turnover of the donations from ACC 2016 are ACC officers and partners from Huawei and PLDT Gabay Guro, and representatives from Cebu’s public schools.

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2016

#BeTheBoss Awards

The 2016 winners of the #BeTheBoss awards pose with their trophies at the awards night. With them are PLDT SME Community Engagement Head Gabby Cui, PLDT VP and Head of SME Nation Mitch Locsin, PLDT Chairman and CEO Manuel V. Pangilinan, 6th from left, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, 3rd from right, and PLDT EVP and Head of EICB Eric R. Alberto, rightmost.

Game changing-entrepreneurs ready to thrive in the digital world

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he 2016 search for the country’s next generation of digital business leaders has finally come to a close, and PLDT SME Nation, the micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) arm of PLDT, concluded the competition with the announcement of the new batch of game-changing entrepreneurs at the #BeTheBoss Awards Night.

In partnership with Rappler, Bloomberg Philippines, and Ideaspace, the #BeTheBoss awards, now on its second year, recognises promising Filipino entrepreneurs leading through tech innovation and digital integration in their business.

“It’s amazing to see the number of revolutionary MSMEs we have in the country. We received double the amount of nominations from last year’s competition,” said PLDT VP and Head of SME Nation Mitch Locsin “And with over 24,000 votes that came in via Rappler, we can very much observe how technology continues to play a key role in the growth and success of the Filipino MSME.” Digitally-driven From over 600 nominations, this

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year’s #BeTheBoss Awards highlighted 12 finalists who exhibited excellence in business founded on digitally-driven and groundbreaking ideas under four categories— Boss for E-Commerce, Boss for Social Media, Boss for Social Responsibility, and Boss for Innovative Solutions.

The Boss for Barni Rennebeck, 2nd from right, receives the trophy for Boss for E-Commerce knows how e-Commerce for their healthy food delivery business The Sexy Chef, co-owned with her sister Rachel Alejandro. to take advantage of the Internet as the world’s largest The Boss for Social Media utilizes marketplace and reaches social media platforms to create customers online. Sisters Rachel meaningful connections with Alejandro and Barni Rennebeck customers, creating an online of The Sexy Chef were hailed this community that meets the needs year’s awardees for this category. and inquiries of the market.

The Sexy Chef pioneered the Entrepreneurs Nadine Fanlo, healthy food delivery service Jaime Fanlo, and Jill Borja of in Manila almost 12 years ago.

Pedro Brewcrafters proved that Alejandro and Rennebeck even a traditional business of continue to innovate and grow brewing needs technology to make their business with their mobilemake their product accessible, responsive website, which makes approachable, and fun. In the same it convenient for their customers to way craft beer brings people pre-order their meals, and healthy together, the minds behind Pedro lifestyle cookbooks and e-books that Brewcrafters maximize social are available online. media tools to create a digital

Entrepreneurs Nadine Fanlo, Jaime Fanlo, and Jill Borja of Pedro Brewcrafters have proven that even a traditional business of brewing needs technology to make their product accessible, and competitive.

Hindy Weber and Melanie Go of Holy Carabao, 3rd and 4th from left, are the new Boss for Social Responsibility for their advocacy on the empowerment of Filipino farmers through proper training.

PLDT VP and Head of SME Nation Mitch Locsin gives a rousing welcome and introduction to this year’s #BeTheBoss awards night.

avenue where customers can interact with the brand and among craft beer lovers and enthusiasts.

The Boss for Social Responsibility harnesses the power of contemporary avenues to give back to the community and contribute to a greater cause, which is what Hindy Weber and Melanie Go aspired to do with Holy Carabao.

More than selling high-quality local produce, Holy Carabao advocates the empowerment of Filipino farmers through proper training, marketing and fair pay. Through technology, they are able to utilize the online platform to spread their advocacy and business.

The latest addition to the #BeTheBoss categories, Boss for Innovative Solutions thinks out of the box and maximizes available tools to offer services and ideas to broader audiences. Emerging as the first-ever Boss for Innovative Solutions is Matthew Cua of Skyeye, Inc., which began as a startup with a group of students and has today increased its capabilities tenfold. With the use of Unmanned

Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, Skyeye, Inc. positions technology at the heart of their business and provides aerial maps and digital surface models faster, easier, and more efficient than traditional methods.

Home for top global tech businesses Emerging as the new, revolutionary group of #BeTheBoss awardees, the four winners will be flown to Silicon Valley, USA to take part in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to immerse themselves in the iconic home for top global tech corporations and startups alike. In addition, they will be meeting fellow Filipinos who have made it big in the different industries in the area, and engage in best practices sharings through networking and other learning opportunities.

Last year’s exclusive tour brought the 2015 #BeTheBoss winners to headquarters of leading companies like Google, Twitter, and Airbnb, among others.

The four winners also each received a Samsung S7 Edge, activated with a free Smart Boss Plan, enabling the entrepreneurs with a reliable and efficient avenue for communication. filipino greatness To commemorate the celebration

for the new age of entrepreneurs, rising local talents were also brought together during the event to further showcase that the greatness of the Filipino knows no boundaries. The night was met with an iconic dance number from UPeepz, which rightfully earned them the 2016 Hip Hop International Championship early this year. Indie band The Ransom Collective also performed a series of originals alongside covers of favorite OPM songs. To cap off the night, artists CRWN, Curtissmith, and Keiko Necesario ignited the stage with a special collab number on living out dreams, composed and sung exclusively for the momentous event. An up and coming modern wave of Filipino talents, they themselves have learned to adapt to the digital space, using online platforms to reach the entire world with their movement and their music.

“The #BeTheBoss awards is just one of our flagship projects in our mission to empower Filipinos to go into business with the right tools and solutions to help them make it big,” added Locsin. “Technology is the great equalizer for MSMEs, and we hope to continue to support the revolutionary movement of local entrepreneurship and empower business owners to thrive in the digital space.” CC:

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g e e k i n g out

pldt and smart uphold commitment to support local startups PLDT SME Nation’s Francis Oliva speaks about PLDT’s efforts in supporting small businesses grow through empowering owners and startups with digital tools.

Geeks come together in the annual conference that aims to give startups and tech visionaries to develop their ideas, learn from the experts, and have their ideas funded by angel investors.

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hat began as a brainchild of local tech leaders Tina Amper, Earl Valencia, Paul Pajo, Diane Eustaquio, and the late Jim Ayson back in 2013, the Geeks On A Beach (GOAB) conference launched its fourth year of celebrating tech innovation.

The annual startup conference brings together an entire community of tech startups from all over the Philippines, as well as thought and community leaders from the US, Singapore, and Malaysia, among other countries. With the coming together of some of the brightest minds in the industry from all over the world, GOAB is truly an international event that aims to develop and grow the tech sector in the local region.

Focus on local startups The 2016 conference commenced with keynote speaker Monchito Ibrahim from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), which has been an active supporter of GOAB from its conception.

With Ibrahim’s discussion revolving around the theme “Empowering Stratups, and Government’s Role in Innovation,” he emphasized that by maximizing support for the local startup ecosystem, the Philippines has the opportunity to position itself as a leading Digital Economy.

Francis Oliva, Head of Community Partnerships for PLDT’s micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) arm, agrees. “The startup industry can bring us two things,” Oliva said. “The first being disruptive and innovative platforms that can put the country in the map, and the second—an infusion of foreign investments that can expedite the development of these technologies.”

It is these factors that constantly drive PLDT and Smart Communications to strengthen their commitment of developing this sector by providing

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avenues to grow their business with the proper infrastructure and solutions.

International perspective The lineup of resource speakers in GOAB4 included David Brown and Marc Nager of Techstars; Plug and Play Tech Center’s Jojo Flores; Chris McCann of Greylock Partners; Crowdsourcing Week’s Epi Ludvik Nekaj; Khailee Ng, Arnaud Bonzom, and Eddie Thai of 500 Startups; KK Fund’s Koichi Saito; JoeGurango of Xurpass; Diane Eustaquio of Ideaspace. ph; Voyager Innovations’ Dindo Marzan; and Smart DevNet’s Paul Pajo.

From talks on the global startup phenomenon and its impact on developing countries, raising capital and seeking out funding, to mentorship and taking advantage of available infrastructure, GOAB4’s twoday agenda provided participants with comprehensive information to enable aspiring entrepreneurs.

One key highlight of the event was the 2nd International GOAB Pitching Competition participated by shortlisted tech startups from the Philippines, Cambodia, Netherlands, and Singapore.

Cebu-based engageSPARK bested six other promising global startups in the opportunity to be matched with potential mentors and investors.

Driving growth Through the efforts of PLDT’s micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) arm and Smart’s development network, together with Ideaspace and PLDT Innolab, the MVP companies aim to provide proper avenues and support that startups need. By empowering Philippine startups to adapt to disruptive technologies and utilize them to their advantage, PLDT and Smart participate in the government initiative to elevate local businesses to the global space.

“Our support for the start-up community has always been unwavering. We recognize the need to engage future business leaders in their startup endeavors

that are innovative and disruptive.

We will continue to nurture and work closely with the community to achieve one common goal, and that is, to make the Philippine start-up ecosystem as successful as that of its neighboring countries like Malaysia and Singapore” said Paul Pajo of Smart DevNet. Alongside Smart’s projects, PLDT SME Nation makes available an array of solutions made tailor-fit to suit the needs of startups. With cloud computing platform Amazon Web Serivces (AWS), e-payment service PayMaya, and PLDT Web Builder at the forefront of tools easily customizable for startup businesses, PLDT provides access to dedicated, end-to-end solutions that allow tech entrepreneurs to manage operations efficiently and focus on the growth of their business.

Another flagship initiative of the group is the recent launch of the QBO Innovation Hub headed by Butch Meily. QBO, the Philippine’s first national innovation hub, a public-private partnership between IdeaSpace, the Departmenr of Trade and Industry, the Department of Science and Technology, and JP Morgan Chase Foundation. QBO aims to transform the ecosystem for startup companies and launch them through initial public offerings on the stock exchange or infusions of equity capital.

“Entrepreneurs have the great potential to bring something to the market that traditional businesses can’t, and that is to innovate solutions and platforms that can stand at par with global players, with the technologies that are made available right at the palm of their hands,” concluded Oliva. “It is our vision to continue to empower and support them as they leverage on technology to drive not only their success, but also the growth of the Philippine economy.”

GOAB was organized by TechTalks. ph, together with the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), and fully supported

by PLDT SME Nation, SMART DevNet, Ideaspace Foundation, and PLDT Innolab.

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Shown here during the event are, from left: Jill Lava, Public Affairs Manager at Smart Communications; Rizalina, one of the internally displaced persons in Tacloban who benefited from the partnership; Fidela Morfe, Advocacy Officer, Philnet Tacloban Office; Benjie Fernandez, Co-COO of PayMaya Philippines; Jerry Yaokasin, Vice Mayor of Tacloban City; Nestor Gadaingan of the Coalition of Yolanda Survivors Association of Tacloban (CYSAT); Justin Morgan, Country Director of Oxfam Philippines; Dante Dalabajan, Economic Justice Manager at Oxfam Philippines; Atty. Irene Chiu, City Administrator of Tacloban City; John Diviva, Rights in Crisis Program Manager at Oxfam Philippines; Ma. Christina Tagle, Enterprise Supervisor at PayMaya Philippines; Tisha Quinitio, Enterprise Manager of PayMaya Philippines; and Leah Payud, Program Manager of Oxfam’s Tacloban Resettlement Integrated Program (TRIP).

Entrepreneurship and Value of Savings in Communities

LGU, Oxfam, Smart and PayMaya launch financial inclusion program in Tacloban City

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nternational aid organization Oxfam, Smart Communications and PayMaya Philippines, in collaboration with the Tacloban City local government, recently launched a financial inclusion program aimed at making communities more resilient through mobile money and financial literacy training.

Through the Financial Inclusion for Tacloban Resettlement Integrated Program, the humanitarian project aims to build a culture of entrepreneurship and savings among an estimated 16,000 beneficiaries who are strengthening their communities. Three years ago, Tacloban City was among the worst-hit communities by Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest tropical cyclones ever recorded.

For their rewards, beneficiaries can opt to have a Smart Retailer package consisting of a Smart retailer SIM and credits that they can use to start a mobile load business. Another choice is a sari-sari store starter set with Unilever products that they can resell as another source of income.

To ensure a more solid infrastructure for the financial inclusion program, Smart is providing financial literacy trainings through community-based caravans. Smart is also providing the local government with Infocast, a text messaging system, so stakeholders can disseminate much-needed information related to the finance literacy program.

“Since Typhoon Haiyan hit Tacloban, Oxfam, in partnership One of the beneficiaries of the Digital Financial Under the project, with national Inclusion program shows her very own Smart Money card. qualified beneficiaries NGOs, has been will receive Smart working at the Money prepaid cards–a forefront of relief, mobile money product of PayMaya recovery and rehabilitation efforts Philippines–that can be linked to to support affected and displaced their mobile phones where they are communities. We believe that encouraged to place any amount (Php1 equitable access to financial services and above) through any Smart Padala is crucial for them to rebuild their Center in Tacloban. As they load their lives and livelihoods. We are happy money, they will receive real-time that Smart and PayMaya Philippines notifications such as available balance are working with us to help the LGU via SMS. of Tacloban City rebuild the local economy by improving financial A rewards and incentives system has literacy and inclusion,” shared Justin been put in place where participants Morgan, Country Director of Oxfam. who maintain a required average weekly balance in their Smart Money “PayMaya Philippines is committed to for at least a month will be rewarded creating a long-lasting impact on the with entrepreneurship package development of communities through options as well as personal accident our financially inclusive innovations insurance. including Smart Money, which

provides SIM-based mobile money services,” said Benjie Fernandez, CoChief Operating Officer of PayMaya Philippines. “With this project, we can help build more resilient communities in Tacloban City.”

“At Smart, we believe in using technology for social good. Under our Smart Communities program, we are happy to provide the much needed financial literacy capability support to the thousands of beneficiaries of this program,” said Ramon Isberto, Public Affairs Group Head of Smart.

Hon. Cristina Gonzales Romualdez, Mayor of Tacloban said, “We are filled with gratitude that partners from private and public entities have come together to support us in restoring Tacloban until today. The majority of the residents in Tacloban do not have easy access to traditional financial institutions such as banks. We thank Oxfam, Smart, and PayMaya Philippines for providing a simple, inclusive, and effective alternative that will not just encourage our citizens to embrace sustainable saving but to be more resilient through entrepreneurship so they can support themselves and their families in the years to come.”

The financial inclusion program will benefit 16,000 internally displaced persons (IDP) and families whose members are eligible beneficiaries in 45 coastal barangays in Tacloban City. For families composed of six or more members, the family is entitled to two beneficiaries who are 18 and above and belong to a vulnerable group--senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), conditional cash transfer beneficiaries, single parents, child-headed families, and pregnant or nursing mothers. CC:

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2G’s 9th Teacher’s Tribute

eal-life modern-day heroes are not clad in iron suits or red capes. They don’t fly like Superman or crawl on walls and ceilings like Spiderman. Sometimes, the reallife modern-day heroes can be seen within the four corners of a classroom.

Ask a kid aged five what they want to be when they grow up and they’ll give you answers like the next president of the Philippines, a princess, an astronaut, and a firefighter. But among the many answers these kids will say include their dream of becoming a teacher.

Sense of fulfillment Teacher Annie, hailing from Oriental Mindoro, endures a four-hour trip up the mountains and across 16 rivers to teach her students. For Teacher Annie, despite the exhaustion caused by travelling to her classroom up in the mountains, there is a sense of fulfillment that comes from teaching – in seeing the growth that every one of her students go through in a school year. “Hinding hindi kami magsasawa sapagkat lubos kaming naniniwala sa kanila.”

Teacher Annie was among the 20,000 teachers who were at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena last September 25, 2016 during Gabay Guro’s (2G) Teacher’s Tribute.

Teachers nationwide are seen having a splendid time at the 2016 TeacherFest.

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By Katrina A. Mallari

Teacher Annie, onstage with Lea Salonga and Miss Universe and PLDT HOME Ambassador Pia Wurtzbach, recites the “Teacher’s Promise”.

In celebration of Teacher’s Month, 2G celebrates the hard work, passion, commitment, and perseverance of every teacher nationwide. 2G’s #TeacherFest is a night of giving back to the people who have shaped the lives of the youth, creating opportunities for them to become the next generation of nation-builders.

biggest stars. It was a star-studded night as performances were done in honor of the people who continue to change lives. Among those who performed include Regine Velasquez, Lea Salonga, Ogie Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, Martin Nievera, and Jaya.

There was also a special guest appearance by Miss Universe 2015 and PLDT Home Ambassador Pia Wurtzbach.

Shaping the youth PLDT Group Controller and Smart Chief Financial Officer June Cheryl Revilla underscores the importance of every teacher’s presence in the lives of today’s youth. “Through your persistence and guidance, today’s youth continue to discover their greatest potentials,” Revilla said.

“You continue to paint a vision of who they could become, shaping them into the persons they are today.”

This year’s 9th Gabay Guro Teacher’s Tribute was truly one of the biggest gatherings of the country’s celebrities. This is made possible through the help of the following sponsors: Perry’s Group of Companies (for the house and lot), Foton for the (Gratour Van), Intel, Devant, Motorlandia (for the Honda and Suzuki motorcyles), Ropali, Penshoppe, National Bookstore, Enchanted Kingdom, Splash, Tempra, Flanax, Bonamine, Vivalyte, Mundipharma, Gardenia, Bic, Art Attack, Microsoft, Smart Bro, Ultera, Talk N Text and 51 Talk.

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In the arena, the teachers were serenaded by some of today’s

The 9th PLDT Gabay Guro Grand Gathering is top-billed by some of today’s biggest stars and offers exciting prizes to some of the country’s inspiring educators. In photo from left are celebrity hosts MJ Lastimosa, Pops Fernandez and Andrew Wolff, Perry’s Group of Companies’ Finina and Barry Tugade, PLDT Gabay Guro Chairman Chaye CabalRevilla, Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach, house-and-lot winner Chita Mojia of Carlos L. Albert High School Quezon City, Smart HR Head Gina Ordoñez, PLDT-Smart Foundation President Esther Santos, PDRF President Butch Meily, SGV Partner Ramon Dizon, and PLDT Clarktel President Boy Castañeda.

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s s e n i p p a H n Thriving o

’s y t i C s o t n a S l a r e n e G s n i o j T PLD

l a v i t s e F a n u T h 18 t PLDT HOME garners hundreds of submitted application forms throughout the festival.

By Katrina A. Mallari

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eptember marks a joyous celebration for the people of General Santos City. The “Generals”, as they are often called, celebrate its 48th Charter Anniversary through its 18th Tuna Festival.

The theme thrives on the idea of happiness, which it ultimately brings to its people. With the theme, “18th Tuna Festival: TunaToneladang Saya”, the Generals run a month-long celebration of the festival, beginning on August 22 to September 22, 2016. Within this duration, activities and performances will focus on paying tribute to the sea and the people and communities behind the tuna industry.

Making the celebration more vibrant and colorful, PLDT, through its Community Relations (ComRel) Division, provided cash sponsorship amounting to P100,000.

“PLDT is delighted to be a part of this year’s 18th Tuna Festival in

A freedom wall is in display during the festival.

PLDT HOME offers face painting during the festival.

General Santos City,” PLDT ComRel Head/Consultant Evelyn M. Del Rosario said. “This year’s theme is a fitting manifestation of a very prevalent Filipino culture – how every individual thrives on the idea of happiness and how the simple joys give way to a life well-lived.”

Adding on to a more festive celebration through fun and colorful surprises, PLDT Home offered various exciting activities such as, face painting, mini ball shoot-out and displayed a freedom wall wherein people could write why they love Tuna festival. Aside from having a main booth in the Oval Plaza, there were satellite booths which focused

on selling the latest PLDT Home products and services, including the special fam sale promo, which covers free WiFi modem and free installation on all High Speed DSL Plans that is suitable for every family.

Two blimps were also on display throughout the festival, creating a more vibrant and playful celebration for all the festival go-ers. Exciting prizes were given out to families and individuals who participated in the PLDT Home activities. Prizes include DSL coin purses, DSL eco bags, Bluetooth speakers, and vouchers.

As PLDT Home offered a special famsale offer to the people of General Santos City, hundreds of submitted application forms were garnered by PLDT Home throughout the duration of the festival making it huge for the families of General Santos City. CC:

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or several years now, PLDT and Smart employees in Cebu continue their support to Cebu’s media organizations in honoring the annual commemoration of Press Freedom through an early morning parade to start off the week-long celebration.

Some 200 employees from PLDT and Smart Cebu assembled at the Cebu Provincial Capitol for an early Sunday morning walk together with members from Cebu’s leading media outlets Cebu Daily News, Sun Star Cebu, The Freeman, Superbalita Cebu, Banat News, and members of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) to officially open Cebu’s Press Freedom Week festivities last Sept. 17.

Smart employees show their full support of the different media organization in Cebu.

The 2-kilometer walk from the Provincial Capitol leading to the University of San Carlos north campus culminated with a mass presided by Fr. Roberto Ebisa who reminded everyone in attendance in his homily how media practitioners should always uphold the truth as their blue print in their field of work and that “the truth is just another word for God.” “That blueprint is something that will guide us in everything that we do as media practitioners, especially that we are in these trying times,” Ebisa said. “Don’t sacrifice the blueprint in our reporting. Don’t sacrifice the truth for the sake of personal gain.”

PLDT and Smart has always been supportive of this annual activity, and the role of responsible media reporting in today’s democracy.

Every year, employees have increased in numbers in their supporting and participation in the parade.

“We are one with our media friends in celebrating this reminder for everyone about the importance of press freedom in today’s society.

Our employees actually look forward to this event and we look forward in continuing this longstanding partnership with our friends in media here in Cebu,” said PLDT Cebu Customer Service Zone Head Bong Lintag. CC: PLDT Cebu Customer Service Zone Head Bong Lintag leads the PLDT contingent of employees in the yearly march to show support in the opening of Cebu Press Freedom.

Delegates from The Freeman and Philippine Star are among the contingents who marched during the opening of the Cebu Press Freedom Week.

PLDT, Smart Public Affairs team meets with Cebu editors

PLDT and Smart Public Affairs reps met with editors from various media outlets in Cebu before the start of the Cebu Press Freedom Week celebration at a cozy restaurant atop Nivel Hills in Cebu City. The meeting was aimed at further strengthening the PLDT Group’s good relations with Cebu’s media organizations, as well as expressing gratitude to them for their support in spreading the good news of PLDT’s numerous projects and expansion plans especially in the VisMin region.

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Smart Finance leaders’ human tower of team solidarity.

I g n i t i n g M o t i vat i o n :

Smart Finance Leaders

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trengthening the core.Solidarity at the nucleus.Fortifying the foundation. All because nothing less than top notch teamwork practices became the shared aspiration of 45 Smart Finance leaders during their Team Workout Session held at Teltec Innolab.

Smart CFO Chaye Cabal-Revilla envisioned a leadership team that will collaborate with ease, be open to evolving roles that serve real business priorities and constantly raise the bar of performance to enable attainment of corporate goals.

Smart Head for Talent & Organization Performance Solutions Tony Emboltura kicked off the learning event with an introspective lecture on the dynamics of trust – its implications in relationship building and levelling up competencies. This became the prelude to the team dynamics module of EmpDev Head Nonong Noriega which tested the participants’

stamina for shifting standards and the demands of disruptive change.

Drill after drill, the leaders indulged in situations that required physical effort to ensure survival. In some cases, the requirements became too tough to handle but the collective decision always boiled down to conquering the challenge and in turn, discovering their unity in the midst of adversity.

A forecast exercise on plotting banner programs and flagship initiatives was also facilitated. Entries here will be immediately firmed up by action plans. Followthru sessions will likely happen regularly to sustain momentum and keep the drive ablaze with constant motivational boosters. CC:

A state of team jubilation after the challenging drill on managing adversity!

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THE BANDWAGONER

Values indoctrination has been the underlying theme during Smart Enterprise Business Group’s team dynamics workshop.

TheVMvMandate G

etting us all in sync with where we want to go to win and how we’re getting there to lead has been the timeless preoccupation of business shapers. That is why we prize a company’s vision and mission statements, accompanied by the core values that would breathe life to lofty aspirations.

How do we therefore breed a work culture of intellectually and emotionally engaged employees that take ownership of key initiatives and hold each other accountable to achieve business goals empowered by the guiding vision, mission and values (VMV)? Here are the top-of-mind imperatives: :: Play up the importance of aligning work deliverables, be they individual or team contributions to the organizational strategies to ensure constant cognizance of VMV. :: Surface specific stories that would support the practice of corporate values and make them easily interpretable and doable through real work life

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applications. Ensure resonance! :: Encourage self-reflection on both the enabling and hindering forces in the work environment that impact the attainment of the company vision and mission through the embraced practice of the core values :: Create a winning mindset on accountabilities and the mandate to deliver topnotch results Vision-Mission statements are in danger of being dismissed as plain sloganeering when we don’t state specific behavioral manifestations or target meaningful expressions that help promote the practice of the supporting values. Therefore, all programs related to the VMV should possess these following qualities: POWERFUL. Let us process hard hitting realities and ‘pain points’ with where we are in the journey and what needs to be done to stay ahead of the game.

PURPOSEFUL. Concepts on VMV cannot be understood in isolation.

It has to permeate across all shops

and necessitate collaboration. Let there be ‘sense of urgency’ for our shared future.

CONCRETE. General action plans on agreed commitments and code of behavior must be identified, documented, owned up to and tracked down to sustain gains in learning realizations.

EMOTIONAL. Marry the cerebral with the motivational! Appeal to the heart so everything translates to fired up commitment!

INTEGRATED. While it is likely that different groups will perceive the statements and values differently through the lens of the peculiarities of the disciplines they represent, weave everything together to project collective ownership that will encourage a single identity for our corporate culture.

FUN. Create positive memories.

Create ‘LOL’ moments!

And finally, INSPIRATIONAL. Nothing short than feverish rahrah that empowers and engages!

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poetry | prose | artworks | photography

Artwork by John Laemar Chavez, Fixed Service Network Quality Assurance

s n o i t p u r s i d Tunog ng Kahapon at Ngayon!

Ni Renelia L. Villanueva, Officer Payroll Administration Kokak.. kokak.. huni ng maya at mga kuliglig Pagsapit ng dapit hapon duon sa aming paligid kalembang ng kampana iyo na ngang maririnig Sabi ni Nanay pumasok na ng bahay Ineng

Sa gitna ng katahimikan biglang hahagikgik Kausap lagi classmate, teacher at friend Personal presence ay naku Day, no need Sa FB, Viber, WhatsApp always connected

Buong maghapon, naglaro sa silong ng bahay Holen, toink, Jack en Poy hale-halehoy Sa ilalim ng punong mangga duon itinaboy Tumigil lang ng tinawag ni Inay si Totoy

Ang bilis ng communication at transactions Updated sa lahat ng latest at lahat ng trends Senate, West Phils Sea, Middle East or US concerns Waze, Flipboard, Grab o kahit pa Pokemon

Ang oras ay natapos ng di namamalayan Gabi na pala, at bilog na bilog ang buwan Anong saya ng maghapon na nagdaan Sarap magtampisaw kapag tag-ulan

Tunog ng trumpo o kaya ay ng ring tone Sa may memory gap, reminder or alarm Huni ng ibong pipit o kaya ay like or tweet Ano naman kaya ang tunog ng Internet of Things?

Ang kabataan ngayon kung walang iPad Dapat merong gadget o kaya ay cellphone Hindi pwedeng walang internet connection Kundi kadalasan ang maririnig ay ‘boring’

Magkaibang panahon, magkaibang karanasan, Mayaman sa alaala, teknolohiya at kaalaman Kahapon ay hindi kayang ibalik ng ngayon Maging responsible sa kung ano ang mayroon!

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Living Life

on the (Digital) Edge

By Mary Grace O. Sze, Enterprise ContactServ

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ll-in-one devices, artificial intelligence, machines made portable, robotics – ideas that seemed to be far-fetched decades ago are now becoming real. One cannot argue that we have come a long way in discovering and inventing things that have made our life easier, accessible but perhaps a bit more complicated.

As part of Gen Y, I am a witness to our transition to the digital age. I was part of the generation that considered submitting a typewritten report a level up from a handwritten one. My mother used to take pictures using wind-up cameras with film. Our computer classes in high school consisted of the MS DOS; our PCs have to be booted using an OS on a floppy disk.

Beepers were “in” and during the onset of cellular devices, mobile phones were the size of today’s cordless phones.

“Jurassic,” they say. And comparing these to what we have today, it would seem that we were then on the verge of an ancient civilization.

But despite that, I was lucky enough to have experienced playing ‘Step Apple’ and hide-and-seek on the streets. Hourlong conversations with my friends or ‘telebabad’ after school were the norms. I envied our neighbor who had a family computer and would not pass up a chance to play Super Mario with them. I spent most of my spare time in high school burying my nose in Nancy Drew and Sweet Valley Twins books. Yes, I am hit with nostalgia when I think of those days and would sometimes wish that life now was as simple and relaxed as it was then.

We have evolved in leaps and bounds on technological innovations. I might miss some of the things I experienced during childhood but I cannot deny that today’s digital era has made a huge impact in our lives. Through technology, I am able to communicate with my family and friends any time I want. My smart phone pretty much covers all the basic things I need when travelling – phone, maps, camera, messaging, games.

I can literally bring a hundred (a thousand even) books with me thru my Kindle. Medical innovations have given better hopes

Artwork By John Laemar Chavez, Fixed Service Network Quality Assurance for those who might think that their illness or incapacity have no solution at all.

But modernization comes with a cost. Things that bring us much convenience may be wreaking havoc in our natural habitat. Climate change is a long standing issue. New illnesses may be caused by unhealthy lifestyle. Quality time with family are reduced to sending IMs instead of sitting down for dinner and having actual conversations.

One cannot deny that our generation has been propelled to a digital era and our future still continues to evolve. We should learn to accept the changes and ride with the waves. We always hear that there is a good and a bad side to everything.

Whether we use these in forming decisions or just noting the pros and cons, striking a balance between the positives and negatives can sometimes be challenging. We could only hope that our (and the future) generation could be more discerning of the impact of digitalization on Nature’s and our own wellbeing. We must always see things in different perspectives and validate our choices so we can have a brighter future. CC:

“Read, Write, Say Cheese…

Hobbies gone digital” Photography by Sheila Marie D. Daccog, IT Mediation & Settlement Systems 30

Pers Lab Neber Days?

By Melvin Artugue, ESAM Team C

Hulaan mo kung sino ako Tignan natin kung talagang alam mo Ako ay matagal nang nauso Kaya mo ba ang hamon ko?

Sa mga posts ko, pwede kang magcomment Pwede ka ring mag-testimony nang di ako magagalet Sa mga playlist ko ay maaari ka ring makinig Sabayan ng indayog habang ang panahon ay malamig Nahasa ko ang lahat sa paggamit ng commands sa HTML Lahat ng codes pampaganda ng page which everyone can tell Kanya-kanyang backgrounds, customizations, at cursors ang kumalat May website pa ngang nabuo upang ang profile ay di masilat Ang dami ninyong nakilala nang dahil sa akin Pati ang mga klasmeyt mo dati na nami-miss mo na rin Buong mundo ang iyong naging kaibigan Ngunit may umepal kaya mo ako nilisan Gusto ko lang naman maging kaibigan ang lahat ng tao Ngunit kalauna’y nilamon ako ng di masabayang pagbabago At dahan-dahan akong nawala sa uso Hanggang puro games na lang ang laman ng website ko Di ako yung pang-artistahing Twitter Wala rin akong sticker gaya ng Viber Lalong di ako yung patok na Messenger Ako yung tinalo ni Facebook... . . . ang first love mong si Friendster

#PAST VS. PRESENT

By Cherry W. Alaban, EPLM Do you want to know/learn something?

Past: You need to go to a library and do research. Sometimes you even have to interview and investigate. It takes some time to get what you want to know.

Present: You just have to open your gadget and you will know everything under the sun anytime, anywhere.

Comments: Like. I can do and get what I want in the easiest and fastest way.

Do you want to apply for a job?

Past: You need to do the rounds of companies or read the classified ads of a newspaper to look for a job. Then, you have to prepare the required documents and go onsite to submit them.

Present: You can apply and submit the necessary documents online. No need to join the long queue onsite.

Comments: Like. Less expensive. Less effort. You can apply in as many companies as you want in the comfort of your home.

Do you want open communication with your relatives and friends?

Past: First, you should know their home address and telephone number. Then, you send them a letter regularly or give them a call or visit their house on your spare time.

Present: Social Media like facebook, twitter and the like are proven to be a big help in communicating with our loved ones wherever they are in the world.

Comments: Like. You don’t need to worry of your relatives and friends forgetting you. You just have to add and confirm and you can easily get in touch with them.

Do you want to sell your products or earn an income?

Past: Aside from the capital (cash, products & physical store), you need to invest extra effort and time to sales talk or maybe distribute flyers to promote your business.

Present: Promoting and selling products can now be facilitated by social media which present your merchandise to both local and foreign markets.

Comments: Like. Since promotion will no longer be a problem, you can concentrate on the production and quality of your merchandise.

Do you want to be famous?

Past: Fame is usually reserved for the super intelligent, talented and rich people.

Present: Everybody has the chance to be well-known as long as you have the guts to capture the netizens’ attention.

Comments: Like. Use your creativity to shine. Upload and share, that’s the key to achieve your dream.

Artwork By danny “Bimbo” HANDAYAN PLDT Tondo Sales & Service Center

Digital is the word that best describes our present time.

Everybody is so eager to fast forward everything. Nobody wants to wait. No one seems to have the time to engage in long conversations. Everyone is getting straight to the point.

Everything is so accessible nowadays and a simple click can give us anything. But we need to remember that what we can easily click can also be deleted just as easily. CC:

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Digi-Rapture

By Marjory C. Sy, ProdServ Tidal waves of innovation are rolling swiftly Rocking our core, shaking us pugnaciously.

Whatever we used to imagine or fancy in our senses Are no longer fabrications of our virtual insanity We are living in a supernova, ballistic world.

Crazy and at times terrifying are the speed and volume Of technologies advancing faster than our breath, Like Usain Bolt on unlimited supply of adrenaline rush.

“The fast eats the slow”, that is how digital means for many.

Assert oneself, else forever dwell in the dark corners of forget.

Quality and agility are critical variables in every day’s quest No space for mediocrity, withthe stake only for the swift and the bold.

Distance becomes minor contention to real-time communication.

Connected any – anyone, anywhere, anytime, anyhow, anything Will be the new norm in this society dominated by digital natives…

Unsure though if these creativities bring convenience or only inspire indolence.

“Great power comes with great responsibility,” Uncle Ben warns Peter.

Dependence and addiction to the new-found ease and accessibility Entice the mind to drown the fervor of ingenuity, become mechanical robots.

Pivot or die. Yet keep the heart guarded, not swayed by the temptations abound.

“adapt and disrupt” illustration By mark daryll sambat, pldt media

Disrupt yourself debuts as the new form of Socrates’ know yourself Go ahead, indulge in the opulent labyrinth and velocity of automation and orchestration.

However, do not turn your back all together on the very core of your existence: To remain the human being molded in His Likeness, do His Will for His Greater Glory

To Rest in His Hands, In Time

By Luis C. Maglanoc, CustSvcOp Business Partner Management Deep in thought, my purpose seems too vague.

Will I ask anyone for help, or just stop what I’m doing?

What’s important to me, may not be for them.

Silence, silence…then why is it so deafening!

And as I stumbled from my proud strides, or so I thought.

Will I weep alone, no one to help ease the pain!

Trapped dead center in a whirlpool, a final shot.

Accolades and praises felt like a lesser gain.

Ambitions are set, my person so driven.

Obstacles not mindful, these are met head-on!

Notwithstanding, priorities were laid aside.

Becoming insensitive, true friends had long gone.

A favorable disruption, from a dreary cycle without end.

Even to see a cheerful glance, the warmth of clasped hands.

Hope is around, flickering yet guiding me now.

Closing my eyes, contentment and peace will be my new vow.

Am I being so heartless, never heard a child cry.

Did I stop to be thankful? Do I even wonder why?

If I asked now for help, will someone even bother?

Scared, yes I am scared to go on much farther.

I Am Kristian Miguel 84139173 19Sept2016

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The Kid That Built the Sky

O

By Leopoldo Lalim

ne day a mother saw her 4 year old son trying to throw pebbles and leaves up into the air.

“Oi! Ano na??? Ano na???”

(Hey!, what are you doing??? What are you doing???) “stop that!”

“You might hit someone!”

She shouted as she tried to block a rock a little larger than his fist from getting any air time.

But in determination the child released it just before she could grab his hand. and… it… majestically… flew... ...though... …only a foot away from the child.

SLAP! “hambal na gid sa imo nga punduhun wala ka gid gapamati?!”

(I told you to stop why didn’t you listen to me?!)

“Ano na imo binuang man???”

(What is this craziness again???) “anak ka talaga ng tatay mo, Paul Edward!”

Her words sounded like bubbles blowing underwater as the child looked at the arm held up by his mother and the red on the back of his palm. “hay naku…ano himuon ko sa imo man???… ibalik ta gid ka sa tyan ko sige ka!!!” (sigh… what am I ever going to do with you???... do you want me to put you back in my stomach??? Don’t try me!!!”

hiding inside even had a go at it. He even threw some sand left over from the construction of the new parking lot (which gave an instant lesson of the dynamics of wind direction, force and weight he would carry for the rest of his life). He did not know of their chemical compositions. He did not know that clouds are only there because air, as a mixture, is heavier in density than the molecules of those clouds that is why they float.

He did not know of the 9.8m/s^2of acceleration he needed to break and keep breaking in order to keep things thrown going upward.

He wanted to build those clouds - he was simple. In his mind, all the things around him were usable. He did not “know” but he was already solving his problem.

He did not know of entropy. Which, by definition, is the amount of disarray in the universe. It NEVER ceases. It NEVER goes down only UP. That disarray is simplified into CHANGE. There is truth in change being the ONLY constant. Change has a subset - disruption.

I dislike disruption. And rather than go into much detail about the previous statement, let me just say that disruption - for me - is a moving away from what is constant. That constant as was stated is change. I dislike disruption, I would rather grow. Growth for me is keeping with the constant. CHANGE UP so to speak. Growth - for me - is a blessed word and no amount of thesaurus pages or google clicks would suffice to unseat it.

To make this short (and to give meaning to my small anecdote), that child received a hefty amount of disruption from all sides. Even his own body went against him. He wrote with words almost from another time. He would be a keeper of meter and rhyme and no work of his would see the light of day without it. He would not write a full poem for almost 10 years after high school. He needed to go to college and get a degree. He did. After a hefty number of read articles, life’s ups and downs, formal and informal talks around tables and lamp posts the kid still looks happy. Actually, he’s a bit frustrated - but happy.

“But...”

The child would say.

“I was helping to build the sky, mom…”

With a deep breath his mother pulled him back into the side entrance of SM Shoemart near Goldenfield. The grocery store was below one of the more posh hotels in Bacolod City.

He would keep pointing into the distance.

Maybe because it was at the opposite of where the sun was setting or her child’s persistence or sheer curiousity that the mother would not be able to resist a glance at a small break in the dark clouds about to bring rain. The view was beset by two cranes that had stopped moving since the afternoon horn blew. She would only shake her head.

The mother took a few coins and used a PLDT payphone to send a 120 character “beep” for her loving husband to come pick them up with the groceries. The sound of each coin dropping into the payphone made the child look at it with a bit of a confused look. His older sister would sit there beside him glaring.

Almost 25 years later or 25 years later, depending on when you read this, the eyes that saw those clouds just saw them again.

You see, he did not “disrupt” his love for writing and concentrate solely on his studies. He didn’t want to know everything, he just wanted to do things - to solve things. He would obsess in doing things in the shortest amount of time which would often irk his peers. It would take so long for him to do things for people who he saw were not thinking straight. His idea was to keep growing - even in the tiniest amount.

He would keep small phrases company while showering. He would get lost and find the most wonderful people. He would be half asleep on a bus home at 2am on a Friday smiling. He changed his way of writing.

He changed his voice. All these changes were in moving in a single direction.

From my perspective we do NOT need to disrupt. Actually, we’ve let things “disrupt” us too much. We learn so many things but we do not grow. Often, we let the things we learn box us in. We just need to grow.

We don’t need to think out of the box when the box is not there in the first place, right? Let’s be kids again.

The kid didn’t move away from what he wanted. He kept it simple. He did not change who he was. He just kept building. He still looks at all the stuff around him as if they could solve anything. He learned a lot of new things but he did not shy away from a single direction. If he “disrupted” anything, he did not even think of it. His eyes were set on growing.

He grew.

The child did not know what clouds were made of. He did not know about the water cycle. He threw rocks. He threw leaves. An old piece of Bazooka Joe bubblegum wrapper in his pocket with some lint

And he will try to build the sky, again and again. CC:

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