Excellence in Filipino entrepreneurship was displayed when the ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator Program Cohort 3, funded by the European Union (EU) and led by the International Trade Centre (ITC), in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry – Competitiveness Innovation Group (DTI-CIG) and QBO Innovation, recognized the most outstanding startups at its recently concluded Demo Day on June 25, 2024, at the Blue Leaf Pavilion, Taguig City.

Launched in 2021 and now in its third cohort, the ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator Program is a 14-week program aimed at providing internationalization support to youth-led startups.

Rene "Butch" Meily, President of Ideaspace | QBO Innovation, expressed his gratitude, stating, "I'd like to thank our partners, the European Union, the International Trade Council, and DTI for their support. Europe is an often untapped market for us. Through the ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator Program, we hope that Filipino startups can gain access to this crucial market and establish a foothold for exports."

The Demo Day, attended by a diverse audience of key partners, investors, and stakeholders, marked the culmination of the program for 12 business startups from various verticals.

The esteemed judging panel who evaluated the startups' pitches and shared valuable insights included Assistant Secretary Althea Karen Antonio, DTI Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC); Miguel Lopez, Youth Entrepreneurship National Expert, ITC; Shoraliah Macalbe, Head of Startup Development, Ideaspace | QBO Innovation; Dara Ever Juan, Head of PLDT Innovations Laboratory and Ecosystem Partnerships (INNOLAB), PLDT; and Rodrigo Alarcon, Studio Director, ThinkPlace.

Mylo Speech Buddy, the developer of a speech development app for children with autism and speech delays, clinched first place, securing a pitch prize of $2,500, or around PHP 146,000.

"Our experience joining the ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator Program has been great. The support provided by QBO Innovation and the insights from ITC have been invaluable. I believe our win underscores the importance of the service we provide to the market. Our winnings will play a crucial role in our efforts to further grow the company and help more Filipino families,” said Mylo Speech Buddy founder Vincent Rocha.

BCRemit, a London-based fintech company founded by Pinoys empowering Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with efficient money transfers, was awarded second place and received a $1,500 grant, or around PHP 87,000.

"Our focus has been on penetrating more markets geographically to reach more migrant workers. The grant we won will fund our expansion plans to the United States," said BCRemit co-founder and director Gio Calma.

Lastly, fashion brand PAMMÉ, which crafts sustainable accessories from recycled plastic made by women deprived of liberty, secured third place with a $1,000 pitch prize, or about PHP 58,000.

"The ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator Program has been remarkable. With its main focus on internationalization, I’m grateful that they have opened doors for us to explore global markets. At PAMMÉ, a fashion social enterprise, we take pride in this win," shared PAMMÉ founder Pamela Meija.

Other participating startups in the ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator Program Cohort 3 included: Capilli, a social enterprise creating eco-friendly products from upcycled human hair waste; Hibla Philippines, a social enterprise preserving Philippine weaving traditions; IndieCo, an SEO company blending human creativity with AI for business content; Nama Urban Farms, an urban agriculture startup cultivating nutritious produce; Nutricoach Inc., a platform aiding dietitians in building and scaling nutrition clinics; Prezenter, a company that simplifies presentations in under 10 seconds, helping teachers put their lessons on Smart TVs; Reelist8, a proptech x Shoppertainment marketplace for real estate transactions; REPAMANA, a circular fashion brand repurposing hotel textiles into new garments; and TERPCAP Inc., an accessibility solutions provider for inclusive workplaces..

In addition to the cash prizes, the program, under the strategic partnerships facilitated by QBO Innovation, ITC, and DTI-CIG, will provide the top three winners opportunities to build stronger networks with EU partners and investors to support their global market expansion.

QBO Innovation, a division of Ideaspace that consults for and engages with government agencies, academic institutions, international development agencies, and private sector enterprises, provided support and guidance to the participating startups throughout the program via workshops and mentorship sessions.

DTI unveils comprehensive mapping report to bolster youth entrepreneurship and innovation in the Philippines

The DTI, in partnership with the EU and ITC, has unveiled a comprehensive mapping report to identify and leverage growth opportunities for young Filipino entrepreneurs and ecosystem actors, such as Technology Business Incubators (TBIs), which offer specialized programs to propel the Philippine economy forward.

The report, "Entrepreneurship Ecosystem in the Philippines - Network Analysis and Mapping of Institutions Supporting Youth Entrepreneurship," aims to foster an inclusive environment where young entrepreneurs can thrive, innovate, and contribute to sustained economic development.

In her video message, ITC Head of Youth and Trade Mayara Louzada highlighted the country's young entrepreneurship landscape:

"We have found that the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the Philippines is young and rapidly developing, with an emphasis on economic development, inclusion, and innovation to attract investment. Both the government and private sectors actively support young innovators aiming to create jobs and stimulate economic growth, especially as many turn to entrepreneurship due to a lack of quality job opportunities."

However, she identified market gaps in the report, including confusion over the roles of different government departments, limited access to funding, and the lack of continuous and sustainable programs for youth-led businesses, especially outside Metro Manila.

The report's recommendations include creating a TBI info-sharing network to streamline access to relevant updates and content, establishing a country guide to support services for entrepreneurs, and expanding support beyond the tech sector.

The report also reiterates the government's critical role in supporting the continuous advancement of the entrepreneurship ecosystem and developing young entrepreneurs.

DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita "Fita" Aldaba stated, "We're working together with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and other government agencies to ensure that our economic relationships are fundamental to our strategy, competition, innovation, and productivity. We cannot remain static—our industries cannot stay stagnant. Therefore, we are committed to supporting the growth and development of startups in the Philippines."

The Philippine startup ecosystem has shown continuous growth despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, the country ranked 52nd globally, with thriving industries including fintech (19%), e-commerce (7%), education and healthcare (5.2%), and agriculture (3.1%).

To get full access to the report, you may download a copy via this link.

 

During Christmas season, dispatching different goods and commodities from all over the world on time for a port is always important. At the end of last year, port congestion caused severe disruptions in global supply chains, and most stores were out of stock during the Black Friday and Christmas, the peak selling season. To experience less dilemma like this, the innovation case from Tianjin Port might help.

Tianjin Port is one of the world’s largest ports. It has a 300000-ton-class wharf with a channel depth of -22 meters. It has 192 berths of various types and 128 berths above the 10,000-ton-class.

By the end of 2021, the port’s cargo throughput reached 435 million tons, ranking ninth in the world, while the container throughput exceeded 18.35 million TEUs, ranking the eighth port in the world. The cost of manual operations at this scale is exuberant, both in terms of money and efficiency.

A typical port usually deals with vessel arrivals and departures, shoreside operations, horizontal transport, yard operations, manual tractor trailer transport, and gate operations.

One of the key steps in port digitalization is automating horizontal transport, that is, handling cargo within the port.

 

Online shopping helps a lot of Filipinos de-stress and unwind. Aside from the retail therapy shoppers can enjoy, Shopee is set to make users’ in-app experience even more entertaining and engaging with the launch of Shopee Pets. Inspired by a popular mobile game during the 90s, Shopee Pets allows players to redeem exciting rewards by nurturing their virtual pets. Aside from big discounts and exclusive brand offers, Shopee Pets is one of the many exciting things to look forward to during this 3.15 Consumer Day Sale.

Shopee Pets is a life simulation game where players can help their pets evolve through daily activities. Players can level up their pet’s XP (experience points) and unlock diamond points throughout the game by feeding, cleaning, and playing with them. Accumulated points can be used to redeem rewards at the Points Redemption Store. Players can take care of their pets all day, and once their pet reaches level 50, they can choose another pet and repeat the life cycle. To level up your pet and gain diamond points, players can do the following:

• Social Interactions: Sharing is caring! With social interactions between players, they can receive shared items that can increase their pet’s happiness bar.

• Schooling: You can let your pet attend school once it reaches level 4, so they can join class games, and engage in other activities like quizzes and races to achieve diamond points.

• Grooming: Keep pets squeaky clean by dragging the soap bar on top of the pet. All cleaning supplies help increase XP and its happiness and cleanliness levels.

• Feeding: Make sure your pet is well-fed to maintain its happiness levels. There are three types of pet food and paid food gives your pet higher XP growth and fullness points.

• Playing: Keep your pets happy by playing with them on a regular basis. There are three ways to play with your pet:

• Dance to the Music: Follow the beat to increase your pet’s happiness bar. Each song consists of three rounds and will speed up at the end of each round.
• Jump on a Trampoline: Drag the trampoline left and right to make sure your pet stays on it and earns more points.
• Score a Goal in Soccer: Score a goal and increase your pet’s happiness and XP level. Each goal has a corresponding amount of XP.

Remember that you can choose your pet at the start of each cycle and also look forward to dressing them up in adorable clothes—from head to toe! You can also start doing improvements on your pet’s home by level 25, unlocking new themes, and gaining access to upgrades.

During the launch of Shopee Pets on March 3, players can look forward to amazing prizes which include Shopee coins, coins cashback vouchers, and other products such as a Xiaomi Air Purifier, an O'Healthy Electric Juicer Blender, an Acer Aspire 3 laptop, and many more. One lucky player also stands a chance to win ₱100,000 via ShopeePay from March 12 to 16.

Shopee Pets joins a list of other fun in-app games such as Pera Panalo, Shopee Candy, Shopee Farm, Shopee Bubble, and Shopee Claw that have become the favorites of shoppers on the platform. To further enhance the overall online shopping experience, ShopeePay, Shopee's mobile wallet, offers exclusive perks and savings such as daily free shipping and cashback vouchers. Users can enjoy 20% cashback when they scan to pay at ShopeePay’s partner merchants such as Potato Corner, Puregold, National Bookstore, The Generics Pharmacy, and more until the end of March. Users can also checkout ShopeePay ₱1 Deals and redeem discounts in stores.

On 3.15 Consumer Day, users can take advantage of 50% off on load across all networks and up to 100% cashback on bills payment. With ShopeePay’s Free transfers feature, users won't have to worry about transfer fees when they send money to any bank or to any Shopee user. They can get a chance to win ₱100,000, and new users can get free ₱100 on their first-ever transfer (promo from Mar 8-17).

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

“To me, home is comfort and where everything fits perfectly,” Pia says. “That’s why whenever I’m in my Avon intimate apparel, I feel at home. I feel supported in whatever I do and most comfortable being myself.”

Just like Pia, you too can feel right at home wearing the no.1 Intimate Apparel brand in the country. Avon introduces new nude shades for its bras and panties, designed to enhance your curves and fit your body not just flawlessly, but comfortably. A standard across all of Avon’s intimate apparel offerings, the new nude undies are created with high-quality fabrics that are made to last, so you can trust that your Avon undergarments will give you exceptional all-day comfort and support for many years to come.

Senator Panfilo “Ping” has once again proven he is truly the corruption-buster “Mr. Clean” he is touted to be. In recent articles, the presidential candidate known for his strong anti-corruption stance, was recently vindicated for previous crimes he was unjustly accused of during the Arroyo administration. No less than former President Sen. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, in her recently launched memoir entitled “Deus Ex Machina,” admitted that the accusations against Sen Lacson were fake.

“The information that was made public could not be substantiated,” GMA wrote in her memoir.

Years later, Marquez recanted accusations against Sen Lacson and apologized. Corpus also issued a publicly televised apology to Lacson for falsely accusing the senator.

True to form, the magnanimous Lacson did not hurl vindictive comments against his accusers. Instead, he tweeted a forgiving message to his former detractor. “Late is always better than never. To ex-PGMA’s credit, she has the decency and courage to admit that she publicly and unjustly accused me of various crimes based of false information. Whatever, I have already forgiven her a long time ago.”

Even in the thick of the present presidential election, Lacson maintains his nonbelligerent stance, preferring not to say anything about the other candidates wanting to be President of the Philippines because he is also running for the position.

In his recent interview session with Boy Abunda for the television personality’s series 2022 Presidential One-on-One Interviews, Lacson, one of five presidential candidates who were invited to the show, chose to talk instead about what made him best suited for the highest position in the Philippines.

“I am the most qualified, the most competent, the most experienced (candidate),” he told Abunda matter-of-factly without mentioning any of his rivals.

The candidate said it was time for voters to be discerning, to realize that politics was not entertainment and they should not be influenced by dole-outs.

In his campaign sorties, a singing and dancing Lacson would certainly not be on the program. “I won’t sacrifice authenticity,” he said, and would not do anything that had nothing to do with the country’s problems.

“The number one problem is the government, so the solution is the government- good, honest governance,” he said.

Lacson stressed, “Tough problems need tough solutions from the country’s top leaders.” His goal, if elected president, was to leave the country better off than when he started and see a greater respect for government officials.

Although he acknowledged that the qualifications for presidential candidates were so much simpler than those required of job applicants, the senator also pointed out that college degrees do not guarantee outstanding public service.

“Maraming may PhD na mas magaling magnakaw kaysa magsilbi sa bayan (there are many people with doctoral degrees who are very skilled in stealing public funds than in serving the country),” he said.

He would not oppose though some changes in the qualifications, although it would require a constitutional amendment. The job was demanding, he pointed out, and it called for skills in handling crises like the still ongoing corona virus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

Gigi De Lana and her band The Gigi Vibes are kicking off their “Domination” tour with ABS-CBN Events’ first on-ground concert in two years happening at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila this Saturday (March 5) at 8 pm.  
 
The Manila leg will be followed by their Middle East tour as they are scheduled to rock the Jubilee stage at the Expo 2020 in Dubai on March 12 (Saturday) in partnership with DTI, the National Theatre of Abu Dhabi on March 18 (Friday), and Crowne Plaza Bahrain on March 25 (Friday) in partnership with Filipino Club Bahrain.   
 
“Domination” will also have a special streaming on KTX.ph on April 23 (Saturday) featuring the Manila concert and snippets of the Middle East tour.   
 
Gigi is looking forward to singing her heart out in front of the live audience for her first major concert. “I’m looking forward to singing in front of them, looking through their eyes, and telling stories through my songs. That’s the best feeling every time I sing,” she said.    
 
The new gen pop rock diva also shared her excitement to sing her album’s songs live for the first time to bring much-needed positive vibes to their fans. She enthused, “Gusto naming magdominate ng good vibes sa buong mundo.”   
 
Joining Gigi and The Gigi Vibes band is Jed Madela as a special guest.   

When the pandemic started, the Philippines experienced the biggest dip in its economy since World War I. This is due to nationwide lockdowns aimed to stop the surge and spread of COVID-19 infections. In the second quarter of 2021, the country’s GDP showed a double-digit growth of 11.8% from the -3.9% of the first quarter in the same year.

Epson has been powering through the pandemic and has remained as the market leader in 2021. Despite major setbacks experienced by many businesses in the country, Epson is right on track with its FY21 target, boasting 124% sales in the first half of the year. Epson scanners have maintained market dominance in H1 and have secured the #1 market share in document scanners.

There is a slight drop in demand for business systems like printers due to lockdown restrictions and school vacations. However, Epson’s commercial and industrial printer sales demonstrated aggressive growth as the market reopens and the election campaign starts. Meanwhile, the visual instruments market is expected to recover as corporate and leisure-related business reopens. Epson’s projector sales are expected to close at 144% by the end of FY21.

A banner to fight poverty through education, Anti-corruption crusader Senator Panfilo “Ping” Lacson will fight persistent poverty in the country by giving young people more access to education.

Lacson points out that the Philippines has a high dropout rate because of poverty. Young people are forced to leave school to help their families and because being in school are proving to be a heavy financial burden. They remain mired in poverty because without a good education their prospects are limited and they can only get low-paying jobs.

In this latest video, the presidential aspirant who wants to reform government and make it truly work for the good of the people will launch the innovative Edukasyon Plus program if elected. The program will provide free education and institute a government internship program. Each family will receive a P5,000 monthly allowance during their family members’ internship. Lacson believes that this arrangement will allow students to focus on their studies as they will not be under pressure to help their families.

“Even if education is free, young people cannot finish their studies because they have to help their families. If this vicious cycle continues, when will they be able to lift themselves from a life of poverty?” he says.

Studies show that among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Philippines have the highest school dropout rate.

Lacson is convinced that education is the only way to give people the chance of a better future and to improve the lives of Filipinos, many, if not most, of whom still live below the poverty line. People remain mired in poverty, unable to get better-paying jobs, for lack of education, he stresses.

With Edukasyon Plus, young people can avail of free education and participate in a government internship program that will pay their families a monthly allowance. “They won’t have to choose anymore between education and work to help their families,” Lacson says. He believes the program will help many people leave behind lives of poverty.

“Edukasyon Plus is the real solution to the problem of poverty,” Lacson adds.

Lacson and his running mate, Senator Vicente “Tito” Sotto, are running on the slogan “Aayusin ang gobierno, aayusin ang buhay mo.” (They will fix the government and put your life in order.)

For more info on Ping Lacson, follow https://www.facebook.com/PingLacsonOfficial.

 

Although printing has been around for centuries, quality reproduction stems from a variety of technological innovations that have come together to deliver today’s high-impact prints. Epson’s strongest advancements in this area include its PrecisionCore MicroTFP printhead and its UltraChrome inks.

Digital printing has enabled the transition from monochrome printing to high-quality color images. The technology for inkjet printing systems has improved dramatically over the past decade, and this is driving full-color printing to new heights. Today’s newest color printers typically use the CMYK color profile, and Epson’s SureColor SC-T5430M wireless printer is one such example.

Designed for technical, engineering, and business graphics, this high-speed device is ideal for blueprints, line drawings, and posters up to 36” wide. It features 2400x1200 dpi print quality and a very competitive price point.

The ongoing proliferation of color inkjet technologies from a wide range of vendors has contributed to the success of suppliers in this segment. Advancements in image quality, color capabilities, and ink technology in technical aqueous devices combined with an ever-growing variety of media have enabled users to produce a wider range of applications.

According to Keypoint Intelligence – InfoTrends’ most recent forecast for wide format technical printers, an estimated 353 million m2 will be produced in the Asia-Pacific region by 2023. This output consists of two primary technical aqueous print applications—CAD for engineering/presentation graphics and GIS for maps. CAD represents an estimated 70% of the volume while GIS printing accounts for about 25%. The remaining 5% includes graphics applications like presentation posters and banners.

While only accounting for a small share of the market, graphics printing opens up some interesting application opportunities that were previously unattainable from a technical printer. The sheet-fed capabilities of smaller devices like Epson’s 24” SureColor SC-T3130X are now used with For Placement Only (FPO) proofing, poster prints, indoor signage, and small Point-of-purchase (POP) graphics in the SOHO environment. Meanwhile, larger roll-fed devices like EPSON’s 36” SureColor SC-T5430M and 44” SC-T7270D are capable of producing larger POP displays and indoor signage. Epson offers a full range of technical printers that can accommodate the needs of home/small offices up through enterprises.

The forecast for Asia-Pacific also indicates that the installed base of 100,000 units in 2018 is expected to grow by 4.3% through 2023. Although most output is produced digitally, this massive installed base indicates that print is still the preferred mechanism for presenting technical and GIS documents. Although some of this print work is handled by in-house or print-for-pay reprographic print facilities, many engineers and architects are investing in technologies that enable them to print high-resolution color drawings in real time.

Epson’s ongoing investments in its product line offer many user-friendly solutions to engineers, architects, and cartographers. The SureColor T-series printers are small footprint devices with full front operation capabilities that make them ideal for placement in the corner of any office. Designed for convenience, the auto switch function enables a seamless transition between roll and cut sheet paper. Additionally, the T-series printers can print and cut printouts without dropping them until they are ready to be collected.

Advancements in secure digital technology continue to occur, fueling the opportunity to print a widening array of technical graphics on a variety of media from a single device. Accommodating print widths from 24” to 44”, Epson’s T-Series line of printers addresses end-users’ needs for fast printing, high resolution, and vivid colors—all without compromising quality!

To find out more about the Epson T-Series printer line, click here.

ABS-CBN and Electric Entertainment’s historic crime drama series “Almost Paradise” overflows with Pinoy pride as it continues to champion Filipino talent in its last two weeks on Kapamilya Channel and A2Z.

Like in the previous eight episodes, the Filipino cast and crew of the American crime drama series promise world-class entertainment in the final two chapters in the story of former U.S. secret agent Alex Walker (Christian Kane), who was drawn back to his old life after retiring in the island paradise of Cebu.

According to ABS-CBN International Production and Co-Production Division Head Ruel Bayani, the company really wanted to show the world the quality of content made by Filipinos through this project.