It’s campaign season and election fever is on the rise. Comedian Red Ollero has been interviewing political candidates on his show Bago Matulog with Red Ollero, a casual conversation that’s more approachable than the debates aired on television. While platforms are still discussed, Mr. Ollero also grills his guests and gently roasts them.
In this B-Side episode, Mr. Ollero tells BusinessWorld reporter Joseph L. Garcia what he finds funny about politics. They talk about the role of entertainers and influencers in the elections and why it’s good to poke fun at yourself when you are in the serious business of running an entire country.
TAKEAWAYS
Campaign season is comedy season.
“Matagal na akong natatawa sa mga politicians [I’ve always found politicians funny],” said Mr. Ollero. “Politicians spend so much money to get admiration and validation.”
He wryly observed that candidates have to put the “camp” in “campaign” to win the hearts of their audience: they dance, perform, and entertain the public with various antics.
“They’re very smart, they’re very accomplished, they’re very capable — and they’re pandering with dance kasi ganoon ang labanan dito [because that’s the way the battle is fought here].”
“I wish it was different, though,” Mr. Ollero said, who hopes that public spectacle will be replaced by public debate in the future.
Take a side but be fair.
Critics have left Mr. Ollero’s platform after he refused to keep his political opinions to himself. “They don’t want to be inconvenienced by the fact that we have to take a side,” he said in the vernacular. “But that’s how it is. We’re all affected.”
However, Mr. Ollero believes that there is a way of being ethical and fair in the entertainment business. He has sought out guests who do not belong to the political party he endorses, promising that he would treat them the same way.
“It’s open if you are willing enough to be talked to the way I talk to the other candidates,” he said.
Think of the big picture.
On a serious note, Mr. Ollero appealed to voters: “Vote for who you believe would be beneficial for the Philippines as a whole; not just yourself. If you have a stake in the game … also think of the big picture. Don’t just think of yourself; think of the whole entire country.”
SEOUL – South Korea will begin giving out fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of February and supply millions of additional home test kits to ease shortages amid a surge in Omicron infections, authorities confirmed on Monday.
The surge has pushed daily cases to records, but widespread vaccination, with first booster shots received by more than 57 percent of the population of 52 million, has helped limit deaths and serious infections.
High-risk groups will be the first to get the fourth dose, in effect a second booster shot, Health Minister Kwon Deok-cheol told a COVID-19 response meeting.
“We’re planning to provide fourth shots to those who live in nursing homes and care facilities and others with declined immunisation, in light of a recent increase of infections among people aged 60 or older,” he said, according to a transcript.
At least 44.22 million people, or 86.2 percent of the population, are considered fully vaccinated. Sunday’s 54,619 new cases took the tally of infections to 1,405,246, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).
The death toll rose by 21 to 7,102.
As the Omicron variant of coronavirus became dominant last month, the government began to restrict free polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests to those in high risk groups.
Others must first take rapid antigen tests using kits sold at stores, or offered free by public health centres.
On Sunday, authorities imposed a three-week rationing period on test kits for home use, by limiting online sales as well as pharmacy purchases to five to a person at a single location.
However, the total number available to buy will not be curbed, authorities said, as they believe stocks to be adequate in the absence of major hoarding.
Kwon said about 30 million additional self-test kits will be supplied nationwide this month to dispel concerns about shortages. The government has said it plans to provide 190 million self-test kits for March, more than twice the supply in February. — Reuters
HONG KONG – Hong Kong’s is being overwhelmed by the “onslaught” of COVID-19 infections, its leader said on Monday, although deaths in the Chinese controlled global financial hub remain far less than similar-sized cities since the pandemic erupted two years ago.
Daily infections have multiplied 13 times over the past two weeks, from about 100 cases at the start of February to over 1,300 on Feb. 13, with authorities scrambling to control the deepening outbreak.
As the caseload soared, Hong Kong’s leader Carrie Lam issued a statement on Monday saying her administration would coordinate with Chinese officials to tackle the “aggravating situation”. China has said it would help the city with testing, treatment and quarantine, and secure resources from rapid antigen kits and protective gear to fresh vegetables.
The city is due to report at least 1,530 COVID-19 cases on Monday, broadcaster TVB said, citing an unidentified source. It would be a new record for daily cases. “The onslaught of the fifth wave of the epidemic has dealt a heavy blow to Hong Kong and overwhelmed the city’s capacity of handling,” she said, adding patients were having to wait longer to access isolation facilities.
“The situation is highly undesirable and the government feels worried and sorry about it,” she said.
With the healthcare system already overstretched, medical experts warn the city could see 28,000 daily infections by the end of March, with the unvaccinated elderly a particular worry.
Hospital beds for COVID-19 patients are already at 90% occupancy, data from the city’s Hospital Authority showed, while isolation facilities are near full capacity.
Hong Kong is prioritising elderly, children and those in serious conditions in hospitals, said Larry Lee, chief manager at the city’s Hospital Authority.
For all the alarm over the latest wave of the pandemic, Hong Kong’s total caseload since the pandemic first erupted was around 24,000 infections, including more than 200 deaths, less than many other similar major cities.
Lam said authorities would “spare no effort” to implement the “dynamic zero” coronavirus infection strategy in Hong Kong, which, like mainland China, seeks to curb outbreaks as soon as they occur, in contrast with many other places that are trying to live with COVID.
Inside the city, residents are banned from public gatherings of more than two people while most venues including schools, churches and gyms are all shut. Dining in restaurants is banned from 6.p.m local time and most people are working from home.
Strict flight restrictions have turned Hong Kong into one of the world’s most isolated major cities with its borders effectively sealed for around two years.
The city’s Legislative Council is due to discuss the injection of HK$27 billion ($3.46 billion) into an anti-epidemic fund to support businesses and individuals affected by the city’s stringent social distancing measures, the government said in a statement. — Reuters
Portrait of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson | OGL 3 | Source: https://bit.ly/3JdZkRs
By Andrew MacAskill
LONDON – Britain is working on a package of military support and economic aid for Ukraine as the threat of a Russian invasion grows, a government spokesperson said on Sunday.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson will make a trip to Europe later this week to build support to end the standoff with Russia. Although there were no details of where Mr. Johnson would visit, his office said he wanted to engage more with Nordic and Baltic countries.
“The crisis on Ukraine’s border has reached a critical juncture. All the information we have suggests Russia could be a planning an invasion of Ukraine at any moment,” the spokesperson said.
The United States and Britain have said Russian President Vladimir Putin could order an invasion before the end of the Winter Olympics on Feb. 20 in what would be Europe’s biggest security crisis for decades.
Russia, which has more than 100,000 troops at the Ukrainian border, has denied accusations that it may be planning to invade and has accused Western nations of spreading lies to distract from their own aggressive acts.
The spokesperson said Mr. Johnson was working with allies on the package of support for Ukraine to be announced in the coming days.
Britain has been supplying anti-tank weapons and training personnel to Ukraine although those troops were ordered to leave at the weekend.
“There is still a window of opportunity for de-escalation and diplomacy, and the prime minister will continue to work tirelessly alongside our allies to get Russia to step back from the brink,” the spokesperson said.
Britain’s support for Ukraine comes as Mr. Johnson is grappling with the worst domestic political crisis of his premiership, with police investigating lockdown parties at his Downing Street office and residence. He is being questioned by police.
The allegations of rule-breaking have undermined Mr. Johnson’s authority and led some lawmakers from his ruling Conservative Party as well as opposition leaders to call for him to resign. — Reuters
The perfect time has come to plan our travels. Whether it’s having a picnic on a lakeshore or staying overnight at a camping ground, people seek to find ways to go outside, breathe fresh air, and unwind. To make the trips more relaxing and more convenient in this era that fits with every customer’s lifestyle. Need power on the go to fully enjoy the occasion? The power source for adventurers is right here—EcoFlow.
Redefine remote work with EcoFlow power station.
EcoFlow offers smart, powerful, and ecological portable power stations that are capable of durable workloads. Its lines of DELTA and RIVER series power stations equip the consumer with an industrial amount of clean, quiet, and renewable power, making them uniquely produced for life adventures, work, and home backup power. The RIVER series comes with an AC output of 300W to 600W and a capacity of 210Wh to1440Wh, while the DELTA series supplies 1800W to 7200W and can hold 1260Wh to 25kWh. EcoFlow’s power stations are designed to be hassle-free and portable, but its pride relies on its clever technology that distinguishes it from the rest. Morevoer, the power station allows you to bring a large number of devices during travels without restriction since its patent X-Boost is guaranteed to power up 80% of the devices up to 3600W. With its unique design to boost 10 times faster compared to other portable power stations in the market, the X-Stream system can save a lot of time and easier to recharge your devices from 0% to 80% within an hour.
Bring it anywhere so you can power devices when needed, even outdoors.
EcoFlow boasts a Battery Management System (BMS) that precisely measures real-time voltage, current, and temperature, that maintains it safe and conditions the battery for best performance while you relax on your campsite with electricity. In addition, it has an expandable power that can run on long hauls and capacity that can catch up to the excitement during camping or outings. There is an optional extra battery available for RIVER, RIVER Pro, DELTA Max & DELTA Pro. Also the brand provides Application to control remotely, lighting function, X-boost function, checking battery status for the REVIER series. The things that are commendable to EcoFlow’s power stations are they are green and sustainable for trips. Nature won’t be compromised even with the presence of technology because the solar panels are made up of efficient monocrystalline silicon cells. The industrial strength of EcoFlow can be the lifeline of our devices, keeping them alive and kicking. It also provides efficient energy for lights and re-energizes appliances that will warm us up during campings.It is a thoughtfully designed companion that is perfect for outdoor activities. Reach power with EcoFlow and enjoy the most of our travels without sacrificing our comfort.
Hassle-free and cozy vacation, perfect partner to have with you on your travels.
EcoFlow is a portable power and renewable energy solutions company. Since its founding in 2017, EcoFlow has provided peace-of-mind power to customers in over 85 markets through its DELTA and RIVER product lines of portable power stations and eco-friendly accessories. EcoFlow’s mission is to reinvent the way the world accesses energy by innovating lighter-weight and longer-lasting clean, quiet, and renewable power storage solutions.
This year, stay tuned for more new products that EcoFlow is going to offer for a better experience for both the Philippines and all people around the world.
Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by enabling them to publish their stories directly on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.
With Insular Life’s Global Multi-Asset Income-Paying Fund, you can get an insurance protection and at the same time earn a monthly income from the policy. To know more, visit www.insularlife.com.ph/global-multi-asset-fund.
What if you can get an insurance protection, and at the same time earn a monthly income from that policy?
With Insular Life’s Global Multi-Asset Income-Paying Fund, you can do both.
“Our mission to get more Filipinos insured, guided us in opening this investment fund option as it appeals to income investors, those seeking portfolios that have the potential of generating regular cash inflow,” said Gae Martinez, Insular Life’s Chief Marketing Officer.
She added that in order to generate returns in this low interest rate environment, it is crucial that customers adopt a diversified approach, capturing opportunities from different asset classes to help achieve a balanced risk and return profile.
The fund which is denominated in either Philippine Pesos or US Dollars is invested in a target fund, managed by JP Morgan Asset Management, considered one of the top multi-asset managers in the world. They diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds, seeking income ideas across various regions and asset classes across the world.
What makes Insular Life proud to offer this investment fund option for policyholders is that the target fund has consistently provided consistent and attractive income throughout the years.
Even during market downturns such as the taper tantrum, trade wars and global pandemic, the fund has consistently declared income. This is a testament that the fund which focuses on income ideas without losing sight of risk management is a sustainable way for income investors to address their needs.
The Global Multi-Asset Fund peso account can be availed through Solid Fund Builder, while the for the dollar-denominated account can be availed through the Dollar Solid Fund Builder.
Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by enabling them to publish their stories directly on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.
Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by enabling them to publish their stories directly on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.
It is no surprise that Tayabas, Quezon has become one of the country’s front runners for tourist destinations. With its breathtaking scenic towns and fascinating ecological wonders, it is without a doubt a sleeping giant that wouldn’t stop revealing its beauty to those who will visit it. It is also a melting pot of rich Filipino culture paired with historical landmarks such as Malagonlong Bridge which is said to be one of the oldest and longest stone arched bridges in the Philippines. A picturesque naturescape, Tayabas, Quezon is definitely an exciting destination and an ideal city to live in.
And now, you can experience a balanced and dynamic lifestyle in this city through the comfort of PHirst Park Homes Tayabas — PPHI’s 9th development and the farthest project in the south as of 2021.
“This is a 23-hectare development. This will be the future home of around 2,000 Filipinos here in Tayabas, Quezon,” PPHI General Manager for Tactical Sales Robert Gil excitedly shared during the launch of PHirst Park Homes Tayabas.
The successful property launch had a unique way of presenting the beauty of Tayabas and the grandeur of PPHI properties. This four-part ‘amazing-race’ inspired digital miniseries, participated by online influencers and PPHI employees, unveiled the different activities that adventure-seeking homeowners can appreciate inside PPHI Tayabas. From a water play area and a basketball court to a cycle station and a climb station, residents will surely get their adrenaline rush going with these unique amenities.
Mr. Robert Gil was joined by Ms. Aurea Viray, General Manager for Traditional Sales as they awarded the check to the four participating teams who went through different challenges that not only tested their strength and wit but also their teamwork. The Green Team was composed of good vibes spreader, Ms. Everything “The Most Functional Kween” and PPHI partner, Mark Daniel Lopez. The famous “Mr. Accent Tiktokerist” Justin Luzares and Angelica Duwa of PPHI formed the Yellow Team. The Pink Team had Gandang Kara or “DJ Kara” and PPHI employee, Paulo Tuano. While the Blue Team duo was composed of Basel Manadil – the “Hungry Syrian Wanderer” and Lhei Alla of PPHI. And as we continue the spirit of gift giving, 100% of the grant that the team won will be given to their chosen organization or community in Tayabas.
The reality-adventure miniseries not only celebrated the communal spirit of the participants but also recognized the importance of the different organizations and communities in Tayabas to PPHI’s story and milestones.This four-part ‘amazing-race’ inspired digital miniseries, participated in by online influencers and PPHI employees, unveiled the different activities that adventure-seeking homeowners can appreciate inside PPHI Tayabas.
The Tayabas Mountaineering Inc. (Green Team) bagged the grand award of Php 90,000 while the Aeta Community (Yellow Team) placed second receiving Php 40,000. KALIPI Women’s Club (Pink Team) came in third and won Php 25,000. The Mangosteen Producers of Tayabas Association (Blue Team) received Php 10,000.
The reality-adventure miniseries not only celebrated the communal spirit of the participants but also recognized the importance of the different organizations and communities in Tayabas to PPHI’s story and milestones. And as PPHI launched another property, its 4C brand pillars will surely add color and depth to the existing Tayabas community. The promise of having a Complete home with a perimeter fence and gate, Conceptive and unique amenities to enjoy, Connected living through reliable WiFi and shuttle services, and a Convenient selling and buying experience await the future homeowners of PHirst Park Homes Tayabas.
“We’ve been all over the North, we’ve been all over the South. And we will continuously develop and provide yung ating mga tinatawag na beautiful, complete, and affordable homes in the whole country,” Gil said.
The unique launch did not only showcase the fascinating ecological wonders of Tayabas, Quezon, it was also an avenue that recognized the rich heritage and culture of the city. Truly, this is a PHirst that lasts.
PHirst Park Homes, Inc. is a subsidiary of Century Properties Group (CPG).
Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by enabling them to publish their stories directly on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com.
This is the ground-breaking declaration of Panasonic Air-Conditioning Philippines during its February 11 Air Conditioner Convention, as it unveiled to press and dealers the big news about nanoe X Generator Mark 2, a new level improved innovation of the nanoe™ technology.
Through a virtual conference attended by 200+ press and dealers, Panasonic revealed research results on nanoe™ – it has been proven to inhibit four types of novel coronavirus variants – Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta in a 45-liter test space (with size of 350mm×350mm×400mm), in as fast as 2 hours by over 99.7%.
This breakthrough news in health and wellness will in effect, provide hope for Filipinos to make their homes and business spaces safer and more sanitized for kids, elders, and working individuals.
From home to business: A safer environment indoors is a must for Filipinos
UNMASKING THE NEXT BIG THING THIS NEW NORMAL
In 2021, Panasonic conducted a test with a third-party organization and confirmed the effectiveness on each of the 4 variants (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta). Given this, nanoe™ can be expected to have an even stronger inhibitory effect on novel coronavirus variants. The company again conducted a verification in view of the status of the spread of viral infection.
What were the research results? Here’s the gist:
Panasonic Corporation has verified the inhibitory effect of nanoe™ technology with benefits of hydroxyl radicals on four novel coronavirus variants, namely Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta, in collaboration with the Japan Textile Products Quality and Technology Center (QTEC) *1.
In the same event, Panasonic announced news about the nanoe X Generator Mark 2 which produces 9.6 trillion hydroxyl radicals per second – a level up in eliminating odors, inhibiting pollutants, and moisturizing skin and hair. That means, this new technology is two times stronger in performance versus the current nanoeTM X (4.8 trillion hydroxyl radicals per second). This also means that the nanoe X Generator Mark 2 may inhibit the novel coronavirus faster and stronger.
Panasonic revealed that nanoe X Generator Mark 2 is present in these products:
The X-Premium Inverter Split-type model comes with iAUTO-X feature, temperature and humidity control, built-in WiFi adaptor, perfect for residential or home use.
The new Inverter 4-Way Ceiling Cassette comes with wider flap to produce powerful and 360° airflow that could reach long distance of air throw.
Meanwhile, the new Inverter Ceiling-Mounted model comes in a slim design of 235mm thickness, improved installation flexibility and airflow that could reach long distance of air throw.
Lastly, the Inverter Adaptive Ducted type model comes with a low noise level for a common indoor ducted type. It has improved installation flexibility that can be mounted either vertically or horizontally, depending on the AC application and requirement of the users – a first in the Philippines.
Related to this, Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation shared that it has been exporting nanoe™ X-equipped Window-type Inverter Air Conditioners in Hong Kong and Taiwan. It is also in Hong Kong (Shokukanken, Inc.) where an inhibition test featuring the Window-type Air Conditioner model showed that nanoe™ X has an inhibitory effect against adhered influenza virus (H1N1) over 99.9% in 2 hours.
A Better Life awaits Filipino families who choose to make the smart choice with Panasonic
A Better Life, A Better World, Always
For the past 20 years since 1997, Panasonic has been conducting research on this technology, and has verified its effectiveness in a variety of areas, including inhibiting pathogenic microorganism (bacteria, fungi, and viruses) and allergens, breaking down PM 2.5 components that have adverse effects on the human body *2.
It has also committed to pursue the potential of nanoe™ technology and verify its various effects to continuously contribute to society.
Alongside the research, Panasonic remains proactive in playing a key role in ensuring safer and healthier spaces of health and educational institutions by providing them with much-needed Panasonic air solutions such as Air Conditioners, Portable nanoe™ X Generators, and Air Purifiers all equipped with nanoe™ and nanoe™ X technology – aligned with its thrust of providing Filipinos with A Better Life, A Better World.
For more information about nanoe™, nanoe™ X technology and nanoe X Generator Mark 2 please visit www.panasonic.com/ph/nanoe.
To know more about Panasonic air solution products equipped with nanoe™, nanoe™ X technology and nanoe X Generator Mark 2, please visit www.panasonic.com/ph/air-solutions.
For reference:
Testing of inhibitory effect of nanoe™ on four novel coronavirus variants.
Overview
A comparative verification was conducted in a 45L test space containing the four novel coronavirus variants with and without exposure to nanoe™.
Results
Over 99% of four novel coronavirus variants activity was inhibited within 2 hours. Note: This verification was designed to generate basic research data on the effects of nanoe™ on the novel coronavirus in laboratory conditions different from those found in living spaces. It was not designed to evaluate product performance.
Methodology and Data
Method:
• nanoe™ device is installed at 10cm from the floor in the 45L test space.
• A piece of gauze saturated with four novel coronavirus variants solution was placed in a petri dish and exposed to nanoe™ for a predetermined time.
• The virus infectious titer was measured and used to calculate the inhibition rate.
Results:
Test Subject
Time
Inhibition Rate (calculated by Panasonic)
Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)
2 hours
99.7%
Novel coronavirus variants
Alpha
2 hours
99.7%
Beta
2 hours
99.8%
Gamma
2 hours
99.8%
Delta
2 hours
99.8%
1: The Japan Textile Quality Technology Center (QTEC) was established in 1993, which is a testing and evaluation institute for antibacterial and antiviral testing to meet the needs of society. It is an organization with the technology to meet the various test methods defined by JIS, ISO, AATCC, ASTM, GB, KC, standards of inspection organizations, standards of companies such as department stores and mass merchandisers, standards of government agencies, QTEC standards, etc.
2: Main releases on verification cases:
May 12, 2009：Positive effects of charged water particles on viruses, bacteria, and agricultural chemicals have been verified.
October 20, 2009： The new influenza virus inhibition effect of charged water particles has been verified.
February 20, 2012：Suppression effect of charged water particles on pet-related allergens, bacteria, fungi, and viruses have been verified.
January 16, 2014：Nano-sized electrostatic atomized water particles effectively break down PM2.5 components and inhibits growth of fungi attached to Yellow Sand.
Photo shows teams Twala and Edukasyon.ph, winners of the first Startup Pitch Competition hosted by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines, in partnership with La French Tech Philippines and Digital Pilipinas, with the panel of judges.
By Adrian Paul B. Conoza, Special Features Assistant Editor
A blockchain-powered e-signature solution and a leading education technology (edtech) platform won the very first Startup Pitch Competition virtually held by the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the Philippines (CCIFP) last Feb. 8.
Five Filipino startups and four with French equity joined the competition, which CCIFP held in partnership with La French Tech Philippines, a non-profit organization gathering French entrepreneurs and employees working in the tech industry in the Philippines; and Digital Pilipinas, a private sector-led movement for fostering a globally competitive technology and innovation ecosystem in the country.
In her opening remarks, Michèle Boccoz, ambassador of France to the Philippines, noted how the event provided an avenue for seizing and actualizing opportunities for Filipino and French tech companies in growing their businesses in the country. “This pitching contest is an illustration of the continuous action of the French Chamber to make the link between Philippine and French businesses,” Ms. Boccoz said.
The prizes for the winners consist of a P150,000 cash prize courtesy of CCIFP and the French Embassy, as well as accounting services worth P100,000; business coaching services worth P100,000; recruitment services worth P150,000; and legal services worth P150,000.
The winning Filipino startup in the competition is Twala (pronounced as tiwala, Filipino for trust), whose next-generation e-signature platform for signing, verifying, and storing digital contracts and documents aims to shorten long contract process — often hurdled by missing signatures — as well as avoid fraud due to fake documents.
“In Twala, we are making the contract process simpler, safer, and fast. Twala has reduced contract signing time from seven to 14 days to just two hours. We never have to worry about courier costs again as everything happens online. Twala empowers organizations to be 100% remote and hybrid work-compatible,” Jeffrey Reyes, chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder of Twala, said during his pitch.
The first of its kind in the Philippines, Twala uses its own proprietary blockchain-anchored technology, which Mr. Reyes said makes their service 30%-50% more affordable than the competition. Also, Twala verifies the identities of signers by artificial intelligence-enabled identification and know-your-customer process.
Moreover, during the pitch, Mr. Reyes hinted at the other services Twala can provide beyond document signing. “With our blockchain technology, we can enable a lot of services online. Imagine logging in to a website, applying for a business permit or bank loan or even entering a building — all just by scanning a QR code,” he explained.
The CEO also shared that the prize money will be used to invest more in the security of its service. “We wanted to keep our promise of delivering a secure, legally binding and better document signing experience for our customers,” Mr. Reyes told BusinessWorld in an e-mail.
Winning the competition among startups with French equity is edtech platform Edukasyon.ph, which has plans to expand its revenue streams through an upcoming business-to-consumer (B2C) product.
Henry Motte-Muñoz, the company’s CEO and founder, reiterated in his pitch that in addressing the issue of Filipino students getting left behind from education to employment, Edukasyon.ph offers “comprehensive, localized, and scalable” solutions that help students assess (know what path to take), investigate (look at the options available), prepare by learning new skills, and commit by starting a career of their choice.
“It really takes the student from age 13 all the way into their first job,” Mr. Muñoz noted, adding that it has been creating educational content, learning modules, and campaigns with some of the biggest blue-chip names, from corporations, multinational institutions, to educational groups.
A more notable point from Mr. Muñoz’s pitch is Edukasyon.ph’s upcoming paid online tutoring product to support students, which he said is slated to be launched next quarter.
While its business-to-business streams have been profitable since the second half of 2021, Mr. Muñoz noted, this new product is expected to add “a nice B2C revenue” to their monetization strategy and, moreover, drive most of its revenue growth.
“As we continue to develop digital learning modules, educational campaigns, and customized edtech products for our growing Gen Z learner community, the prizes will allow us to broaden our investment in creating upskilling and guidance content for our users, to fortify our position as the number one edtech platform in the country,” Mr. Muñoz shared in a LinkedIn message.
In addition, Alaga Health won the Startup Choice Award after gaining the majority of the votes from over 450 attendees. The Filipino-owned startup received 2,000 euros-worth of mentorship sessions from startup mentor Ali Parandeh.
Pitched by its CEO Dr. Dexter Galban, Alaga Health, as a digital health social enterprise, aims to address key health challenges through technology, as well as be the country’s first health marketplace and service hub.
The panel of judges who screened the startup competitors were Amor Maclang, founding director of GeiserMaclang Marketing Communications, convenor of Digital Pilipinas, and member of CCIFP’s board of directors; Abe Lozada, general manager of Launchgarage; Carlo Delantar, founding partner of Core Capital; Frederic Levy, chief commercial officer of GCash; and RJ Balmater, investment associate at Monk’s Hill Ventures.
StackLeague, the largest online programming league in the Philippines, is back this year with various opportunities for technology talents across the country.
Whether students or professionals, tech talents can take part at StackLeague to test their sharpness in coding and compete and rank among the top programmers in the country. StackLeague offers the chance to get nationwide recognition, tech job opportunities, access to exclusive events, invitation-only workshops, and a part of the year-round cash prize pool, which is now at P5 million and still increasing.
StackLeague is supported this year by Microsoft, AWS, Deltek, CodingChiefs, and apper.ph. It has been supported by JobStreet, Kalibrr, Workbank, and Accenture.
StackLeague has held its soft launch on Jan. 18, where the tournament platform was opened to a limited audience. All scores will reset to zero points upon the official launch of StackLeague on Feb. 22.
The announcement of Mid-Season Rankings will be on Jun. 29. Then the StackLeague Playoffs will commence in September. All StackLeague grand winners will be announced on Dec. 14.
StackLeague tournaments are powered by StackTrek’s fully automated talent analytics and assessment platform. As participants sign up and start solving, they will be tested in eight different areas, which include Simple Expression; Parsing and Regex; Standard Library Usage; Algorithms, Control Structures; Error Handling; Data Structures; and Object-Oriented Programming. The supported programming languages in the competition are JavaScript, Java, Python, C#, and PHP.
The StackLeague tournament is free to join in and open to anyone with programming knowledge, whether a student, professional, or in between.
Cash prizes await players every time they level up in StackLeague’s Challenger Levels, from Bronze, Silver, to Gold. The more challenges that players conquered, the more points accumulated and the higher one’s ranking rises. Players who have unlocked the Challenger Levels in the first week will get a 1.5x cash prize multiplier.
The StackLeague Treasure Chest for the individual category will open on Feb. 22 until Mar. 26. The Weekly Top 10 Players will receive a P500 cash prize each.
For the team category, the StackLeague Treasure Chest will also open on Feb. 22 and end on Mar. 26. Each team on the Weekly Top 3 Teams will receive P1,500. The Top 3 Teams created before Feb. 22 will get multipliers for their cash prizes in the first week, which will be 1.5x multiplier to teams composed of three and four members and 2x multiplier to a five-member team.
Additionally, in line with its goal of inspiring a nation into coding, StackLeague also has a year-round ambassador program to reward those who have reached and convinced as many people to take part in the challenge. StackLeague will recognize an Ambassador of the Month, who will get a StackLeague shirt and P3,000 cash prize, and the Ambassador of the Year will get a StackLeague jacket and P20,000.
To join the StackLeague to level up your programming knowledge and skills and receive a range of opportunities, sign up at http://stackleague.com. — Chelsey Keith P. Ignacio
SHOPPERS buy flowers at the Dangwa market in Manila, a day before Valentine’s Day, on Feb. 13. — PHILIPPINE STAR/ MICHAEL VARCAS
By Luz Wendy T. Noble, Reporter
THE Philippine central bank is widely expected to keep policy rates unchanged at its meeting on Thursday to support nascent economic recovery amid the pandemic.
But some analysts expect the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) to start raising interest rates in the next three to four months to move in sync with global monetary policy tightening and as the economy gains pace.
All 16 analysts in a BusinessWorld poll expect the Monetary Board to keep the key policy rate at a record low of 2%.
“There is no urgency for a rate hike given that our economic recovery is tenuous and annual gross domestic product will only reach 2019 levels this year,” said Victor A. Abola, an economist at the University of Asia and the Pacific.
The BSP’s focus would remain on supporting the economy, given its earlier statements about the threat of the coronavirus, said Nalin Chutchotitham, Citigroup, Inc. economist for the Philippines.
BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno last week said the emergence of new COVID-19 variants could delay the reopening of the economy, but a more aggressive vaccination rollout could mitigate this risk.
“The comments suggest that the BSP continues to give priority to economic recovery and would likely remain patient on its policy rate normalization,” Ms. Chutchotitham said. She expects the central bank to start raising rates by the fourth quarter.
At its Dec. 17 policy review, the Monetary Board kept interest rates unchanged, citing the threat from the more transmissible Omicron variant.
The Omicron-driven surge prompted the government to reimpose a stricter Alert Level 3 in Metro Manila and other parts of the country in January. The alert level was downgraded starting this month, allowing businesses to boost capacity.
Alvin Joseph A. Arogo, vice-president and head of research at Philippine National Bank (PNB), said the central bank might soon become more comfortable in tightening monetary policy once the economy recovers by the third quarter of 2022.
“We believe the BSP will likely start its rate hike cycle on June 23, which will be the second Monetary Board meeting after the May 9 elections. Moreover, we have baseline forecast of two 25-basis-point (bp) rate hikes this year,” he said.
Mr. Diokno has said he wanted to see four to six quarters of consecutive growth before considering a rate hike.
The economy rose by 7.7% in the last three months of 2021, marking its third straight quarter of annual growth and bringing full-year economic expansion to 5.6%. This was a turnaround from the record 9.6% contraction in 2020.
EASING INFLATION Slower inflation will buy the central bank time to retain an accommodative stance at least in the next few policy reviews, some analysts said.
The consumer price index rose by 3% in January, the first time 2018 was used as base year from 2012 previously. This was slower than 3.6% in December and was within 2-4% target.
In 2021, inflation settled at 4.5%, mainly due to higher food and oil prices.
“The Monetary Board could afford to remain accommodative for the time being, notwithstanding the significant upside risks posed by global crude prices amid a gradual improvement in the Philippine economy,” Security Bank Corp. Chief Economist Robert Dan J. Roces said.
The BSP expects inflation to settle at 3.4% this year and at 3.2% in 2023.
The central bank would factor in elevated oil prices and its consequences for price stability, said Makoto Tsuchiya, an economist at Oxford Economics
“This price development, as well as our expectation of four rate hikes in the US this year, will lead to the BSP raising rates in the third quarter to contain inflation, currency depreciation, and possibly related capital flight,” he said.
The BSP should consider global monetary policy tightening among major central banks at its next policy reviews, ING Bank N.V. Manila Senior Economist Nicholas Antonio T. Mapa said.
“Rate hikes from the Bank of England, policy tightening from the Fed by March and a possible reversal in the European Central Bank (ECB) stance within the year could alter the financial market substantially in the next few months,” he said.
The Bank of England started raising interest rates early this month, while ECB officials may do so within the year. The Fed last month said it was considering a rate hike by March.
Mr. Mapa said 2018 was the year the peso tumbled by more than 9% and inflation rose sharply to 6.7%, taking along domestic borrowing costs with it. “Thus, we expect the BSP to also consider developments related to the impending Fed rate hike when it decides on its strategy for its own exit plan,” he added.
The Fed in 2018 implemented a series of rate hikes amid upbeat economic growth and a strong labor market.
In the Philippines, this coincided with elevated inflation as low food supply caused prices to spike. In the same year, the BSP raised interest rates by a total of 175 bps.
The BSP last cut interest rates in November 2020. Rates have been unchanged since then.
After Thursday, the central bank will hold its next policy review on March 24.
