Manami Resort unveils new dive sites in untouched reef system

Source: Manami Resort. 

Manami Resort in Sipalay, the Philippines, has introduced two newly-discovered offshore dive sites in one of the region’s most intact and least-explored reef systems. The two sites represent a significant addition to Sipalay’s dive offering, particularly for experienced divers seeking less frequented, high-quality reef environments.

Located less than 1 km from the resort and accessible within 10 minutes by boat, the sites sit within a broad offshore reef network west of Manami. Characterised by deep reef structures, coral formations and open blue water, the area remained largely undocumented until early 2026. While signs of past weather events are still visible, the overall ecosystem continues to sustain strong biodiversity and balanced marine populations.

Manami Resort offers exclusive access to Jonel’s Garden and G A P, both of which were identified in March 2026. G A P was first discovered when a shifting current carried divers into an uncharted section of reef. Jonel’s Garden, mapped shortly after, is defined by intricate coral formations and thriving marine life.

“Even in a place like Sipalay, there are still parts of the ocean that remain largely unexplored,” said Cristina Corro, Founder of Manami Resort.

“The discovery of these sites reinforces how much there is still to protect and understand. For us, it is about creating access in a way that remains thoughtful, controlled and respectful of the ecosystem.”

Jonel's Garden

Jonel’s Garden sits at depths of 18 to 25 m and is defined by islet-like coral formations composed of both hard and soft corals. Swim-through spaces and a garden of Montipora corals create a layered underwater landscape, supporting reef species such as snappers, barracuda and resident reef fish. 

G A P 

G A P, located 25 to 30 m down, features large coral structures separated by wide gaps, along with a striking wave-shaped reef pinnacle. The site is known for encounters with large pelagic species, including schools of giant trevally, as well as groupers, emperors and barracuda.

Across both sites, divers can expect to see large green sea turtles, pygmy seahorses, nudibranchs and an abundance of fusiliers. The presence of larger predatory fish, increasingly rare in many parts of the region, reflects the relative health and low levels of human impact within these reef systems.

Diving conditions vary, with visibility ranging from 5 to 20 metres depending on the season, and optimal conditions typically occurring between April and June. Due to the depth and currents, the sites are suited to Advanced Open Water divers and above, with all dives guided by experienced professionals. 

“These sites offer something increasingly difficult to find, which is a sense of true exploration,” said Giro Solatorio, GM, Manami Resort. 

“You are not just observing marine life, you are entering a system that feels largely undisturbed. That changes how people experience the ocean.”

Details

Jonel’s Garden and G A P are exclusively accessible to Manami guests as part of the resort’s marine experiences. All dives are conducted with a strict no-touch, no-take approach, with an emphasis on buoyancy control and responsible interaction to preserve the reef’s condition. 

The introduction of these sites builds on Manami’s Reef Retreat programme, further strengthening its positioning as a destination for nature-led, conservation-conscious travel.

Manami Resort is the first and only luxury nature resort in Sipalay, Negros Occidental, Philippines. Named after the Hiligaynon word for “beautiful,” Manami features a collection of villas and suites that celebrate local craftsmanship and the art of slow living. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in curated nature and marine experiences, restorative wellness journeys at Linong Spa, and Spanish-Filipino dining infused with local Negrense flavours.

Get to Banwa Private Island via Ascent Flights Global

Banwa Private Island, a white-sand island in Northeast Palawan, has partnered with Ascent Flights Global to offer safe, private travel. The partnership will offer guests a curated and seamless travel bubble for on-demand private flights using seaplanes, helicopters and private jets as needed.

Source: Banwa Private Island. Banwa Private Island has partnered Ascent Flights Global to offer guests safe, private transport to their accommodation.

Ascent will offer guests the options of taking a 1 hour and 45-minute seaplane flight from Manila, seating up to eight and landing directly in front of Banwa Private Island's house reef.

Alternatively, guests can take a 10-seater helicopter from Manila Ninoy Airport or one of Palawan's three commercial airports: San Vicente, Puerto Princesa or El Nido across the Sulu Sea - to land on Banwa Private Island's heli-lawn.

Ascent also offers both domestic and international arrivals by private jets, be it in Manila or Clark for onward journey with any of their aircraft, or directly to either San Vicente or Puerto Princesa airports. Ascent’s bespoke services include ground handling with meet and greet arrangements, inter-airport transfers, exclusive lounge services and immigration fast-tracking.

Peter Nilsson, CEO of Banwa Private Island said: “We found a great partner in Ascent with our shared goal to deliver exceptional, personalised and intimate guest experiences to our affluent clientele. Our utmost priority is the genuine care and well-being of our guests from their chartered flight to their holiday experience in our informal and intimate island sanctuary. Personal safety and handcrafted travel experiences have become even more important in the luxury travel landscape as we gear up towards the Philippines' borders reopening to international travel."

Lionel Sinai-Sinelnikoff, founder and CEO of Ascent added: “Banwa Private Island’s vision of an enhanced experience by air between Banwa Private Island’s guests’ home, and its remote delicate environment, is dear to us. With this partnership, guests’ experience now starts with a seamless and private bubble. Ascent's dedicated solution for Banwa Private Island, brings a holistic journey by air, like no other, beyond motion. With best-in-class air operations on fuel-efficient aircraft, Banwa Private Island’s guests elevate their journey with peace of mind”.

Located in Northeast Palawan, Banwa Private Island features high-privacy accommodation in lush landscaping and white sands.

Explore:

Contact reservations@banwaprivateisland.com to book a villa.

Air and land transfer bookings are available through emailing banwa@ascent.flights.

AsiaKredit launches consumer lending platform in the Philippines

· AsiaKredit aims to advance financial inclusion in the Philippines by improving both the availability of credit to those with limited or no banking history, as well as their approval rate

Source: pera247 website. Screenshot of the pera247 app.

· Pera247 is a fully digital lending solution that aims to provide unsecured small-ticket, short-term consumer loans for up to 90 days through a mobile wallet

· Credit assessment tools analyse mobile behavioural data and other alternative sources of data to make fast and reliable credit decisions

AsiaKredit, a digital consumer lender focused on Southeast Asia, today announced the launch of pera247 in the Philippines. The digital lending solution aims to provide unsecured small-ticket, short-term consumer loans for up to 90 days to the country’s underbanked population with no existing credit or collateral history, via a mobile app.

As part of the credit assessment process, pera247 considers both traditional and alternative sources of data, such as behavioural mobile data from an applicant’s smartphone. AsiaKredit says pera247 is capable of highly predictive digital credit assessments that increase loan approval rates while reducing its risk. 

At the end of the credit decision journey, the pera247 app also acts as a mobile wallet for the successful applicant, where funds will be disbursed to and linked to thousands of physical payment centres, within hours of the application.

AsiaKredit’s Co-Founder and CEO Mike Singh commented: “We are excited to take consumer lending fully digital in the Philippines as we see a dynamic shift in consumer digital behavior to access financial services through mobile and online channels. Through pera247, AsiaKredit has a huge opportunity to impact the lives of hundreds of millions unbanked clients in Southeast Asia, leveraging the high mobile penetration in the region to foster financial inclusion. 

AsiaKredit plans to expand its product offering to other countries across Southeast Asia, with Indonesia in its sights for 2018.

Five hotel design trends travellers can look out for

Source: Hotel Suppliers Show website. The hotels of tomorrow will look very different from the ones we are used to today.

The upcoming Hotel Suppliers Show, the biggest hospitality trade fair in the Philippines, presents the top five hospitality design trends that will shape the hotel industry in coming years in the runup to the event:

Rethinking the guest room

The growth of peer-to-peer rental accommodations such as Airbnb has led traditional hospitality brands to rethink their interior design strategy, particularly for guest rooms and suites. The move towards a less rigid apartment-style bedroom will grow as lines between hotel and homes blur even further. Today, instead of standard guest room configurations, hotels are now offering multipurpose bedrooms, incorporating conversation areas and sofas for relaxing. Desks are being replaced by casual coffee tables or more compact foldaway versions that reflect a downsizing in technology.

Spurred by extended-stay hotels, the concept of adding kitchenettes and other amenities to accommodate longer-term guests has also gained traction in the international hotel industry. Expect fewer examples of across-the-board interiors and furnishings repeated in every single room. Instead, hotels will increasingly try to create more individual, hospitable environments for their guests

The lobby evolves

As hotels embrace a residential approach to design, traditional lobby concepts have been redefined. Removing traditional front desks, lobbies are being transformed into living room-like public spaces that are warm and inviting. Remote and iPad check-ins have become mainstream, eliminating the need for large reception areas and giving hotel designers greater flexibility when designing lobby areas.

There is also more effort to accommodate Millennial guests who typically spend less time in their rooms and out in the public spaces. Hotel lobbies have been crafted into social hotspots, incorporating features such as cocktail bars, self-service coffee and wine counters, libraries, individual workstations as well as co-working spaces. As the modern hotel lobby becomes a cultural destination, expect to see even more emphasis being placed on these communal areas to serve a variety of needs and social functions.

Sustainability and energy conservation

With the hospitality industry focusing on reducing its carbon footprint, we can expect more sustainable practices being implemented in hotels. This includes the use of solar panels, recycled wood and locally handcrafted and repurposed furniture that support s sustainability and connects guests to the local culture. Natural lighting and other ecofriendly features will be incorporated seamlessly into hotel design and hospitality practices.

Recycled and natural materials, while not a new concept, continue to gain ground due to their low impact on the environment. Recycled rubber, cement tiles , recycled fibres and cork are examples of sustainable flooring being used by hotel designers. These materials also provide enhanced soundproofing and energy efficiency for interiors. Support of locally handcrafted and repurposed hotel furniture will also gain in popularity. This trend will have a huge impact beyond 2017 as the industry embraces its role in reducing carbon emissions and shifts towards creating meaningful experiences for travellers.

Smart hotels 

More on-demand technologies will find their way into hotels. Hospitality operators are now increasing investments into areas like beacon technology, messaging and smart in-room entertainment. In public areas, smart walls can entertain guests with art and games, provide updates on news and weather, facilitate virtual business meetings, and offer guests tourist information on the destination.

Other technology, including 3D printing, will also give way to varied design possibilities, from upholstery and furniture to amenities and electronics. Hotels are also integrating personalised tablets into their rooms, allowing guests to control in-room operations, from lighting and temperature to blinds and entertainment, all from a single device. Work stations and charging stations can be found at various locations to ensure hotel guests have unlimited connectivity.

Upgraded wellness

Over the past decade, wellness travel has been on the rise, requiring hotels to reconsider their design approach. Many hotels have upgraded their gyms, spa facilities and wellness offerings to accommodate their health-conscious guests. Air purification, energising lighting and vitamin C-infused water in showers are a few examples of how hotel groups are embracing the wellness trend.

Some hotel rooms are now designed to contain exercise equipment or include workout spaces. As guest rooms require less space with smaller desks and wall-mounted TVs, more attention will be paid to bathroom design. Luxury hotels are beginning to offer spa-style bath rooms in every suite to replace standard bathrooms. The spa bathroom includes such amenities as whirlpool and air bath tubs, massaging body jets in the shower, a steam room or spa bed. Well-established hotels are also offering new, more targeted spa experiences focusing on mindfulness rather than massages. Expect to see dedicated yoga and meditation spaces integrated into the hotel design.

Interested?

Now in its eighth year, the Hotel Suppliers Show 2017 will take place at the SMX Convention Centre in Manila from 21 to 23 September. Organised by Global-Link Exhibitions Specialist, in partnership with the Chamber of Furniture Industries of the Philippines (CFIP), the annual exhibition provides network opportunities for leading manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers to meet buyers and distributors in the Philippines’ growing market of hotels, restaurants, and resorts.

FMCG brands viewed positively in the Philippines

Source: YouGov. Brandindex 2016 rankings for the Philippines are heavy on toiletry brands. 

The YouGov Brandindex rankings for 2016 reflect the dominance of bath and body products in the Philippines. In the top 10 are Colgate dental products, Cream Silk haircare, Dove soaps and haircare, Safeguard soaps and washes, and Olay skincare. Bench sells clothing, but also makes bath and body products.

Brands were rated using BrandIndex’s Buzz score* which asks respondents, “If you've heard anything about the brand in the last two weeks, through advertising, news or word of mouth, was it positive or negative?”

The Buzz Rankings chart shows the brands with the highest average Buzz scores* between January and December 2016.

Best Brand 2016 compares BrandIndex Buzz scores for over 90 brands in the Philippines, to reveal the brands with the most positive noise in 2016. The Philippines is a recent new addition to BrandIndex, and went live during August 2016.

*All Buzz scores listed have been rounded to a single decimal place; additional precision was used internally to assign ranks.

World Bank outlook improves for Philippines

The World Bank has upgraded its economic outlook for the Philippines for 2016 to 2018 as part of its quarterly forecast exercise.

The World Bank now projects the Philippine economy to grow at 6.8% in 2016, rather than the 6.4% forecast released in October (World Bank Philippines Economic Update October 2016). Growth in the third quarter of 2016 was higher than expected with accelerating investment and private consumption growth, the World Bank said, following strong growth performance of the Philippines economy in 1H16 which was driven by the government’s pre-election stimulus.

“Recent economic trends illustrate the high confidence among investors and consumers, and provide the foundation for a more optimistic outlook for the remainder of 2016 and for 2017,” said Birgit Hansl, World Bank Lead Economist for the Philippines. “The economy’s strong performance in October and November, and continued policy commitment to an increase in public infrastructure spending are expected to carry the economy’s growth momentum over to 2017 to 2018.”

As growth momentum shifts away from advanced economies back towards emerging markets and developing economies, Philippine exports are expected to grow in 2017 at a similar rate as in 2015 to 2016. The World Bank has revised its growth projection for the Philippine economy in 2017 upwards to 6.9%, compared with an October forecast of 6.2%. In 2018, the economy is expected to expand at 7%.

Growth in capital investment is projected to remain the Philippine economy’s primary growth engine. Despite an expected increase in interest rates in 2017, monetary policy is expected to remain supportive of growth, resulting in continued credit expansion.

The implementation of large infrastructure investments is projected to lead to significant spillover effects into consumption growth next year. Robust credit growth to households and healthy remittances is also expected to fuel consumption.

HOOQ introduces original content from Globe Studios

Globe Studios and HOOQ have confirmed the release of the first episode of an original series, OTJ: The Missing 8, in the first quarter of 2017.

In contrast to mainstream TV fare, the OTJ series will deliver a cinematic experience that is gritty and fast paced, staying true to its movie origins. The original movie was shown in 2013 at the Cannes Film Festival. Based on Erik Matti’s multi-­­award winning movie OTJ, or On The Job, the six-­­part series marks the first big production created exclusively for an online video service in the region.

The Season 1 premiere follows the story of four people - ­­Sisoy, a corrupt local media man under the payroll of Pedring, the treacherous father of the town's ruling political clan; Pam, a passionate and honest big network investigative journalist from Manila and Roman, a principled hired gun regularly brought out of prison to kill. 

Their paths cross when eight journalists from Sisoy's town are massacred by Roman’s group and buried without a trace a day before Christmas Eve. Pam jumps on the case just as Sisoy discovers his connection to Pedring won't help him find out what happened to his friends. Despite their differences, the two work together to untangle the web of lies, controversy and corruption in a media circus where truth is elusive. 

OTJ: The Missing 8 is co-­­produced by Reality Entertainment the independent film outfit of Matti and Dondon Monteverde in partnership with Globe Studios. Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business, Dan Horan says, “Globe Studios’ thrust is to create unique and original content for our customers whether they are at home or on mobile. OTJ is something familiar yet dangerous enough that shows how far we can push the limits of this exciting online medium.”

Globe Studios was launched by the telco last June as its original digital entertainment content arm that focuses on online shorts, subscription video on demand (SVOD) series and feature films among others. The OTJ series is also its first foray into co-­creating premium video-­­on-­­demand content.

“This is HOOQ’s first venture into producing original content, which is a natural alignment to our content strategy of differentiating our content and to play a part in growing the local content industry. HOOQ Originals will enhance our best-­­in-­­market content offering by adding exclusive local movies and TV series that are made for SVOD, and we are very excited about OTJ: The Series,” says Krishnan Rajagopalan, HOOQ Co-­­ Founder and Chief Content Officer.

"Creating a mini-­­series exclusively for a video-­­on-­­demand service like HOOQ allow us to push the limits of this new platform and the explore unique stories and get viewers more immersed in this compelling world we’re building,” said Director/producer Erik Matti.

HOOQ is Asia's first premium video-­­on-­­demand service to launch across the region. It is a joint venture established in January 2015 by Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Brothers. HOOQ currently operates in the Philippines, Thailand, India, Indonesia and Singapore with a population footprint of over 1.7 billion people. 

Interested?

HOOQ will be releasing OTJ: The Missing 8 across markets such as Thailand, India, Indonesia and the Philippines in early 2017. Globe customers can enjoy HOOQ on their mobile and home broadband plans. Subscriptions on mobile start at P149 for 30 days and soon will be available at P59 for seven days. Broadband customers can enjoy HOOQ as a free content add-­­on for six months on plans costing P1,299 and up. 

Interested?

Watch the teaser for the TV series

Watch the teaser for the 2013 movie

Watch Globe Studios’ original programming content 

Philippines to get better maternity leave legislation

The Philippines House committee on women and gender equality chaired by Representative Emmeline Aglipay-Villar has endorsed for plenary approval a bill seeking to increase the maternity leave period with an option to extend that leave without pay.

House Bill 4113, a substitute measure for 15 bills, aims to protect the maternal health and postnatal health care of women employed in both the government service and private sector, as well as the welfare of the child.

“The bill reached second reading in the House and a version of the bill from the Senate was passed and transmitted for concurrence during the 16th Congress,” said Aglipay-Villar. Elizabeth Angsioco, National Chairperson of the Democratic Socialist Women of the Philippines (DSWP) and one of the resource persons during the committee hearing, said the existing maternity leave benefits of 60 to 78 days is extremely inadequate and applicable laws need to be amended.

“We belong to a group of countries with the shortest maternity leaves in the whole world based on the International Labor Organization (ILO) resources,” Angsioco said.

One of the key provisions of the bill is it increases the maternity leave period to 100 days with pay and an option to extend for an additional 30 days without pay for female workers in the government service and in the private sector.

Likewise, it grants the same coverage to female workers in both government and private sector regardless of civil status, miscarriage, or abortion after termination; to female workers in the informal economy, those with pending administrative cases and those who are not members of the Social Security System (SSS).

The proposal further assures security of tenure to female workers and emphasises that maternity leave shall not be used as basis for demotion in employment or termination, and allows transfer to a parallel position or reassignment from one organisational unit to another in the same agency provided that it shall not involve a reduction in rank, status or salary.

Another provision states that a female SSS member who has paid at least three monthly contributions in the 12-month period immediately preceding the semester of her childbirth or miscarriage shall be paid her daily maternity benefit which shall be computed based on the average monthly salary credit, for 100 days, regardless if the delivery was normal or by Caesarian and subject to conditions as provided in the bill.

The measure specifies that female workers in the private sector availing of the maternity period and benefits must receive not less than two-thirds of their regular monthly wages and that employers shall be responsible for the salary differential between the actual cash benefits received from the SSS and their average weekly or regular wages, for the entire duration of the ordinary maternity leave subject to exceptions.

These exceptions are: those operating distressed establishments; those retail/service establishments employing not more than 10 workers; those who pay their workers on a purely commission, boundary, or task basis; and those who are paid a fixed amount for performing a specific work.

Others included in the exceptions: those considered as micro business enterprises and are engaged in the production, processing, or manufacturing or products or commodities including agro-processing, trading, and services whose total assets are not more than P3 million; and those who are already providing similar or more than the benefits as provided in the bill.

The bill designates the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and the SSS to immediately conduct a review of the maternity leave benefits of women employees in the government service and the private sector, respectively, and include maternity leave benefits in their valuation report conducted every four years for the SSS and every three years for the CSC, or more frequently as may be necessary.

IMF analyses Philippine economy

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Chikahisa Sumi has rated the performance of the Philippine economy as good, but said that there is scope to do better.

The mission visited Davao and Manila from June 28 to July 12, meeting with the Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the Secretaries of the economic cluster, senior national and local government officials, private sector representatives, and the financial community. A post-mission statement by Sumi noted:

“Real GDP regained strength from a slowdown in mid-2015 to record a robust 6.9% in the first quarter of 2016, in line with our 6% (year-on-year) growth forecast for 2016 as a whole. Both consumption and investment have grown rapidly, while net exports have been held back by weak external demand. Amid strong economic activity, inflation fell below the government’s target band (3±1%) in 2015 and the first half of 2016 due to lower food and fuel prices, but is expected to return to within the target range later this year and in 2017 as commodity prices stabilise. The external current account remains in surplus driven by robust remittances and business process outsourcing receipts, while international reserves are stable and comfortable.

"The strong macro fundamentals provide a solid foundation to meet the remaining challenges. Notwithstanding strong economic growth and improved governance, there is a need to ensure that the benefits reach the broader population. Infrastructure quality and social indicators are still below those of peers. The unemployment rate has fallen to a decade’s low of 5.3%, but significant under-employment and poverty remains.

"The continued solid growth in 2016, despite the external headwinds, is due in part to fiscal stimulus and supportive monetary conditions. The national government budget deficit reached 1.4% of GDP in 2015, and has been below the 2% target over the last few years because of slow budget execution and public financial management weaknesses. Nevertheless, budget execution has improved since mid-2015 reflecting enhanced public finance and procurement management, making the 2% deficit target attainable in 2016. Monetary policy remains supportive of growth and the introduction of the interest rate corridor (IRC) system will help improve monetary policy transmission.

"The current monetary stance is appropriate and should remain vigilant to the impact of additional fiscal stimulus on inflation. The flexible exchange rate regime and strong external position should help cushion the economy from external shocks. The risks to the short-term 2016 outlook are balanced, with upside risks related to a better-than-anticipated execution of the 2016 budget and downside risks emanating from the external environment including Brexit.

"President Duterte’s 10-point reform agenda will anchor policy formulation and structural transformation over the medium term. Given the large infrastructure and social needs and ample fiscal space, we support raising the national government budget deficit to 3% of GDP over the medium term, consistent with a broadly stable debt-to-GDP ratio. We would moreover encourage a comprehensive and equitable tax reform package that raises substantial additional revenue to finance higher productive spending that would crowd in private investment. A higher revenue and productive spending scenario of about 3% of GDP with the expeditious implementation of the 10-point reform agenda would raise the IMF staff’s baseline growth outlook of about 6-7% to a 7-8% range over the medium term. This additional effort scenario would make the Philippines one of the fastest-growing (if not the fastest) economies in the world and help reduce poverty towards the government’s ambitious target."

The IMF suggests that this medium term strategy could include:

A tax reform package that simplifies the personal income tax (PIT) rate structure, indexes tax brackets for inflation, and eliminates the exemptions; the IMF suggests that such a package could be progressive while raising the relatively low revenue ratio through offsetting higher excises on fuel, rationalisation of VAT exemptions, and excises on sweetened beverages. The package could also include simplifying and reducing the corporate income tax (CIT) rate structure while at the same time rationalising tax incentives;

Enhanced infrastructure investment, including in areas that have not benefited from such investment in the past, should help create jobs and make growth more inclusive.
Structural reforms such as liberalising foreign investment and land use will help catalyse the effects of higher government spending; and
Enhanced competition in the crucial transport, logistics, and telecoms sectors should be achieved through steadfast implementation of the competition law and avoiding regulation that unduly discourages new entrants.

"The authorities’ initiatives to strengthen systemic risk monitoring in the financial sector are welcome," the statement added. "The BSP’s micro and macro prudential policies as well as enhanced monitoring of real estate and credit conditions including the introduction of the residential real estate price index (RREPI) have helped maintain financial stability in a challenging global financial environment. We also welcome the regulatory agencies’ concerted efforts to maintain financial stability through the Financial Stability Coordination Council (FSCC), including addressing data and regulatory gaps related to real estate developers and concentration risks posed by conglomerate structures and rising corporate leverage. Capital market development is crucial for growth and infrastructure investment including PPPs while mitigating concentration risks in the banking system. The recent incident involving the unauthorised transfer of US$81 million from Bangladesh’s international reserves to entities in the Philippines highlights the need to tighten anti-money laundering legislation and procedures as well as easing bank secrecy in line with international practice, including making tax evasion a predicate crime."

The mission recommends resubmitting amendments to the BSP charter to support the BSP’s efforts to maintain monetary and financial stability.

"The Philippines favourable medium-term outlook is subject to downside risks mainly emanating from the global environment," the statement added. "On the downside, lower growth in China and the region, tighter global financial conditions, and a surge in global financial volatility could lead to capital outflows and tightening of domestic financial conditions. Should risks materialise, the authorities are well equipped to respond, particularly given the Philippines’ strong fundamentals and ample policy space.”

Explore Clark on a bike at the CLARK BIKE TOUR this July

Source: PDOT. 

The Philippines Department of Tourism (PDOT), in cooperation with Clark Development Corporation, has announced the CLARK BIKE TOUR this July. The bike tour is aimed at creating widespread awareness on the value and importance of health and wellness as a lifestyle and at the same time promoting travel and tourism. It also aims to promote Clark as a bicycle-friendly community.

The event on July 30 at the parade ground seeks to gather some 400 road bikers (divided into 100 teams at four members each) to participate in a day-long non-competitive tour of the various attractions around the freeport zone. 

Teams should have a bicycle and helmet for each team member, and wear a uniform of their choice. They will then visit 15 pit stops for 15 minutes of hydration, ‘groufie’ pictures and snacks courtesy of sponsors. Capping the day-long event will be a party for the teams plus the distribution of certificates of participation, raffle draws, and prizes for various categories. 

The Clark freeport occupies over 33,000 hectares of prime land in Pampanga province, the Philippines. Recommended hydration pit stops include the Clark Museum, Nayong Pilipino, Clark Dinosaur Island, Air Force City Aircraft Park, Berthaphil III (Giada’s Breads, Pastries and Deli), Clark International Speedway, DECAwake Clark Cable Park, El Kabayo Riding Stables, Paradise Ranch/Zoocobia Fun Zoo, Fontana Water Park, Widus Hotel, Royce Hotel, The Villages at Global Clark, Park Inn by Radisson Clark, Matam Ih Restaurant, and Koko Buri Restaurant. 

A BIKE EXPO on July 30 and 31, 2016 complements the tour with a showcase of products and services. There will also be outdoor events on July 30 such as an on-bike tutorial for kids, lessons on bike safety and maintenance including how to fix a flat tyre, and an exhibition of bicycles. 

Interested?

The CLARK BIKE TOUR will be held on July 30, 2016, 5am onwards at the Clark Parade Ground. There is no registration fee. 

The bike expo is at SM City Clark from 10am. 

For further details, contact the Department of Tourism – Region III, +63 45 625 8525 

More shared service facilities for MSMEs in the Philippines

Philippines Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Adrian Cristobal Jr. will intensify the department’s efforts to establish more shared service facilities (SSFs) that benefit cooperatives and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

SSFs improve competitiveness of MSMEs by providing machinery, equipment, tools, systems, skills and knowledge under a shared system. DTI partners with various government agencies, non government and international organisations, cooperatives, and local government units to acquire and maintain SSFs.

President Benigno Aquino III personally led the handover of P15.6 million worth of SSF projects to at least 23 cooperatives in Dagupan City recently, the DTI has disclosed. There are now 49 SSFs in Dagupan benefiting local entrepreneurs in fish and meat processing, bamboo production, metal craft, candle making, vinegar processing, dried fish processing, among others.

“These initiatives are geared towards identifying and addressing supply chain gaps. By providing technical and institutional capacity building to MSMEs nationwide, we sustain the gains we have achieved in recent years to increase competitiveness and enable our entrepreneurs to access regional and global markets,” Cristobal said.

Since the SSF programme started in 2013, 1,702 SSF projects have been set up, worth P776.53 million—with at least 17,095 entrepreneurs and 72,619 potential small businessmen benefitting from it. These SSFs, located nationwide, aim to improve the quality of products and productivity of entrepreneurs. According to Cristobal, the DTI targets to establish at least 200 more SSFs by June and at least 400 SSFs by year-end 2016.

Take the heat and keep on colouring with TRESemme Platinum Strength

Unilever Philippines invites individuals who have sustained styling damage to try the TRESemme Platinum Strength Range. From the salon-grade brand, TRESemme Platinum Strength fortifies and strengthens hair like no other, and can repair up to two years of damage caused by everyday hairstyling such as heat styling and colouring, the company said.

The TRESemme Platinum Strength shampoo, conditioner, treatment mask, and Stay Soft Leave In treatment all feature the line’s Platinum Strength Renewing Complex. Intensive moisturisers strengthen hair strands to prevent breakage and further signs of aggression—from colouring that dries the strands and makes them brittle to blow-drying, ironing, and heat-based curling that can damage hair,

According to Unilever, the salon-quality system repairs up to two years’ worth of damage in just five uses by helping to reinforce hair’s natural protective barrier, restoring hair and protecting against future damage.

#StandUpToStylingDamage and color your hair with no regrets with the TRESemmé Platinum Strength Collection.

A video posted by TRESemmé Philippines (@tresemmeph) on Apr 19, 2016 at 2:36am PDT

Hashtag: #Standuptostylingdamage

Philippine MSMEs asked to embrace e-commerce

The Department of Trade and Industry of the Philippines is urging the micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) to venture into e-commerce to expand market reach.

E-commerce is a means to “connect domestic industry with the global economy” said Trade and Industry Undersecretary Prudencio Reyes, Jr. The Philippine E-Commerce Outlook 2018 projects that the e-commerce industry will grow by 101.4% by 2018, up from US$1.15 billion in 2013.

The country’s growing Internet population with an estimated growth of 530% over the past five years is significant component to the e-commerce industry. Out of the country’s 101.1 million population, 44% are active Internet users, 42% are active social media users, 113% have mobile connections; and 36% are active mobile users.

Philippine e-commerce sales reached Php79 billion or 0.6% of the country’s total income in 2012. More than 76.2% or Php 60.17 billion was contributed to the services sector, which includes transport and storage, administrative and support service activities, and wholesale retail trade.

The National Capital Region ranks first in terms of e-commerce sales at Php62.31 billion, followed by the Central Visayas and Western Visayas.

Janette Toral, founder of Digital Filipino, said MSMEs are stakeholders in the Philippine E-Commerce Roadmap (PECR; PDF). "Your participation makes you a party/stakeholder to this roadmap, it is a document all of us to own as public and private sectors” she said.

PECR 2016-2020 is a blueprint to address issues in the country’s e-commerce ecosystem with '6Is' being key focus areas as highlighted in the APEC Digital Prosperity Checklist (doc):

Infrastructure: The need for an appropriate supply chain, communications, and applications infrastructure; 

Investment: The ability to promote and support a range of investment opportunities from foreign direct investments to capital flows; 

Innovation: The ability to foster and support innovation, including the ability to protect innovation and investment in research and development; 

Intellectual capital: The ability to foster the appropriate skills and training from technological to linguistic to entrepreneurship; 

Information flows: The ability to use, transfer, and process information — the currency of the digital economy — while promoting privacy and a trusted Internet environment; and 

Integration: The ability to connect domestic industries with the global economy. 

MSMEs in the Philippines crucial to economic success

Senator Loren Legarda of the Philippines has underscored the role that micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) play in generating jobs throughout the country, especially in poor municipalities.

Legarda, principal author of the Magna Carta for MSMEs, issued the statement following results of an online survey conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and JobStreet.com Philippines, showing that three out of four locally employed Filipinos would accept jobs in their home region rather than work in another part of the country.

"I am glad that most of our kababayans (fellow Filipino) prefer working in their hometowns than move elsewhere in the country like Metro Manila, hoping to have better lives. This only indicates that Metro Manila is not the only place in the country where there's a multitude of job opportunities as more Filipino MSMEs participate on economic trade resulting to more jobs," Legarda said.

She added, "We need to sustain our gains by strengthening our MSME programmes because aside from generating employment opportunities and better incomes, MSMEs are powerful platforms for promotion of viable rural livelihoods, cultural preservation, socioeconomic empowerment of indigenous peoples, and environmental protection."

Legarda also called on the government to strengthen the country's MSME programme in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), which registered the highest number of residents who would rather find jobs outside of their hometowns, with only one out of three willing to stay and work locally, in order to spur economic growth particularly in the grassroots level.

The Senator also pushed for the promotion of green jobs and green skills in the country, noting that other nations encourage their people to engage in management in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, environmental information technology, and other careers that contribute to environmental preservation. All these efforts would complement our existing job generation strategies, she said.

Republic Act No. 9501, otherwise known as the Magna Carta for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, targets countryside industrialisation through the following: intensifying and expanding programs for training in entrepreneurship and for skills development for labor; facilitating access of MSMEs to sources of funds; assuring them access to a fair share of government contracts and related incentives and preferences; complementing and supplementing financing programmes for MSMEs and doing away with burdensome collateral requirements that small entrepreneurs find difficulty in complying with; instituting safeguards for the protection and stability of the credit delivery system; promoting linkage between large and small enterprises by encouraging the establishment of common service facilities; making the private sector a partner in the task of building up MSMEs through the promotion and participation of private voluntary organisations, viable industry associations and cooperatives; and establishing a feedback, grievance and evaluation mechanism.

Hashtag MyNumber service helps businesses save hotline costs in the Philippines

PLDT, through its corporate business group PLDT ALPHA Enterprise, has introduced the PLDT #MyNumber (hashtag MyNumber) service. The #MyNumber service simplifies the hotline system of any business to an easy-to-remember four to eight-digit contact number beginning with the hash sign or pound key (e.g. #8888). This single number is accessible to consumers nationwide through PLDT landlines, Smart, Talk N’ Text, and Sun mobile subscribers.

The service targets businesses now promoting different hotline numbers for different regions. The different contact numbers and/or area codes can now be replaced with a single contact number nationwide.

“Having a simple, easy-to-remember hotline number is a very effective customer engagement tool for a lot of enterprises, especially for service-oriented industries such as fast food, banking, and logistics. PLDT #MyNumber can drive sales, build your brand, and enhance the overall customer experience with a unique, singular hashtag number accessible nationwide,” says PLDT First Vice President and Head of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise Jovy Hernandez.

All PLDT landline calls from the customer to the hotline are free while 75 Million Smart, Talk ‘N Text, and Sun mobile subscribers can access PLDT #MyNumber and enjoy a lower per-minute cost for their calls compared to conventional mobile-to-landline costs. Call costs are covered by the company operating the hotline.

Rush for office space in Metro Manila continues in Q315

Premium and Grade A office space takeup in Metro Manila's main business districts (CBDs) continued to accelerate in Q315 due to strong pre-leasing activity, according to the most recent Office Briefing published by Savills international associate KMC MAG Group, a Philippines real estate services firm.

More than 200,000 sq m (232,961) was newly delivered in Q3, and almost everything was snapped up, at 231,412 sq m - a record takeup rate. 

"Most of the new spaces delivered have been pre-leased prior to completion; that is why takeup is very high," said Michael McCullough, KMC MAG Managing Director.

Upcoming supply is estimated to reach around 1.8-million sq m in 2018. Despite the significant amount of supply, KMC MAG says that overall office rental and vacancy rates are expected to remain stable given the strong pre-leasing activity.

"We continue to see interest from both local and foreign firms across all CBDs, although most of the interest is currently in Bonifacio Global City (BGC) only because it is where most of the new supply will come from," said McCullough.

"The profiles of companies who have pre-leased or are currently pre-leasing space vary across all CBDs. Ortigas, Bay Area, and Quezon City are very attractive to new IT-BPO firms who are just starting to outsource services and processes to the Philippines because of the lower rates.

"Makati remains the CBD of choice for large-scale enterprises who want to upgrade their headquarters and move to a better location, however many firms are forced to look towards BGC due to the lack of available and suitable space."

Thanks to the sustained IT-BPO industry demand and the relatively low level of new supply in these areas, Bay Area and Quezon City are projected to have the lowest vacancy rates and strongest rental rate growth among the business districts within the next 12 months.

In Q3, the Bay Area recorded a 17% year on year (YoY) rental rate growth, with Grade A rentals averaging from Php673.4 to Php700 per sq m/month and an ultra-low 1.3% vacancy rate.

Meanwhile, Quezon City posted an 8.5% YoY growth, with average Grade A office rates ranging from Php700.4 to Php750.0 per sq m/month. Located in the northernmost part of Metro Manila, Quezon City boasts vacancy rates of under 1% with only 0.2% of its total stock unoccupied, making it the best performing CBD in the country this quarter.

Makati, on the other hand, remains as the premium CBD, posting a 4.3% YoY growth with the highest asking net Grade A rental rates averaging Php 979.1 to Php 1400.0 per sq m/month. In spite of this, Makati's vacancy rate remains low at 3%, and is likely to become lower once Tower 6789 becomes fully occupied.

BGC comes in next, with a rental growth of 3.7% YoY and an average asking rental rate of Php860.4 to Php1,100 per sq m/month. The district's vacancy rate increased slightly to 2.6%; however, it should be noted that this is because it has absorbed most of the new demand, allowing it to post its highest recorded quarterly takeup since Q114 of 49,639 sq m.

Ortigas' growth remains strong at 6.8% YoY, bringing average rental rates up to Php624.6 per sq m/month, with an upper rate of Php750 per sq m/month. Ortigas' strong rental growth is expected to continue, given its current 2.5% vacancy rate and lack of new supply until the end of 2016.

Alabang is the only CBD office market with sluggish growth. YoY growth was 0.6% and vacancy rates 16%. This brought down the average asking rental rates to Php 605.3per sq m/month in Q315 from Php601.8 per sq m/month a year ago.

Interested?

Read the report (PDF)

Etihad to add more flights a week between Abu Dhabi and Manila

Etihad Airways will add three new weekly services between Abu Dhabi and Manila from 1 May 2016, offering a total of 17 return flights per week and seamless onward connectivity from the Abu Dhabi hub to Bahrain, Kuwait, Dammam, Doha, Jeddah, and Riyadh, which are in the top 10 destinations for travellers to and from the Philippines.

Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, said, “The Abu Dhabi-Manila route is one of our strongest in terms of demand and has been capacity-constrained over the past few years. The new services will increase capacity between the two cities by almost 2,500 seats per week, enabling Etihad Airways to better serve the market in the UAE and the Philippines for point-to-point travel.”

The additional frequency is also expected to boost commerce and trade between the UAE and the Philippines. With a belly hold capacity of 18 tonnes, the B777-300ER offers the airline and its freight customers a significant opportunity to grow the export/import business, particularly in the area of electronics and fresh food.

All 17 weekly flights will be operated by a two-class Boeing 777-300ER with 28 seats in Business and 384 in Economy.

Codeshare partner airline Philippine Airlines places its PR code on the current 14 weekly flights Abu Dhabi-Manila operated by Etihad Airways. From 1 May 2016, the partner airlines will offer a combined total of 22 weekly flights between Manila and Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways commenced services to the Philippines in February 2006.

Flight schedule between Abu Dhabi and Manila, effective 1 May 2016 

Flight No.	From	Departs	To	Arrives	Every	Aircraft
EY424	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	02:50	Manila (MNL)	15:55	Daily	B777-300
EY423	Manila (MNL)	19:05	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	00:05	Daily	B777-300
EY428	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	10:10	Manila (MNL)	23:15	Daily	B777-300
EY421	Manila (MNL)	00:45	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	05:45	Daily	B777-300
EY435	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	14:35	Manila (MNL)	03:45	Mo, Sa, Su	B777-300
EY434	Manila (MNL)	06:55	Abu Dhabi (AUH)	12:00	Mo, Tu, Su	B777-300

 Note: All departures and arrivals are listed in local time.

Savour Asian flavours in Santan, Philippines AirAsia's new menu concept

Source: AirAsia. Santan is Philippines AirAsia's new
inflight menu concept.

Philippines AirAsia has begun serving hot meals from its newest inflight menu concept, Santan. Santan replaces AirAsia Café as part of the airline’s latest offerings to enhance customer experience while flying. The name refers to an essential ingredient in Malay cooking, the liquid obtained from pressing shredded coconut meat. Santan is thick, creamy and often use as a substitute for butter, cream or soup stock in ASEAN cooking.

New items include bangus sisig, a Filipino dish made of chunks of boneless milkfish sautéed in onions seasoned with salt, pepper and spices; buffalo chicken strips and barbeque cola beef, grilled meat with smoky sauce paired with tomato rice or roasted potatoes; and the low-calorie vegetarian chickpea curry and classic Maan’s pasta arabiata. The dishes are available for onboard and prebooked purchases on all Philippines AirAsia flights to/from Manila, Kalibo/Boracay, Palawan, Bohol, Cebu, Davao, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macau and South Korea.

Other dishes on the menu also pay tribute to ASEAN flavours. These include nasi lemak, chicken rice, beef caldereta and adobo. Guests can also choose from sweets such as lemon torte, banoffee cake, sinful chocolate cake and chocolate chip cookies from as low as P80 for onboard purchase.

Philippines AirAsia Commercial Head, Gerard Peñaflor said, “We value customer experience at all points of the journey – from the purchase of the ticket to leaving the airport, on board, and onto the destination. This latest enhancement in our inflight menu makes flying with us also a delightful dining experience.”

Interested?

AirAsia guests are encouraged to prebook their meals to save up to 20% as compared to purchasing their meals on board, with a guarantee that their preferred meals are available during their flights. Guests who have booked their flights without meals, meanwhile, can easily add them in via the ‘Manage My Booking’ option after logging in to www.airasia.com.

CIMB to offer digital financial solutions in ASEAN with PLDT's Smart, Voyager

Source: CIMB. At a signing ceremony between CIMB Group, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), and Smart Communications: Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Aziz, Group Chief Executive, CIMB Group (second left) and Manuel Pangilinan, Chairman, Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT), Smart Communications, and Voyager (middle) accompanied by Gurdip Singh Sidhu, Group Chief Strategy Officer, CIMB Group (second right), Orlando Vea, President and CEO, Voyager Innovations (left) and Angelito Villanueva, Vice President & Head, Fintech, Digital Inclusion & Alliances, Voyager (right).

CIMB Group, a wholly-owned subsidiary of CIMB Group Holdings (CIMB), is collaborating with Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company’s (PLDT's) wireless services provider, Smart Communications (Smart) and its wholly owned digital unit, Voyager Innovations, (Voyager) to offer digital financial offerings and solutions for customers in the Philippines and across ASEAN.

Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Aziz, Group Chief Executive, CIMB Group said, “This partnership comes at an opportune time when the roles of telecommunications providers and banks are increasingly converging. It is especially exciting that the partnership may, among others, be able to leverage on PLDT’s experience and insights in serving its sizeable customer base. Further, through this partnership, we are then able to offer innovative and differentiated digital banking and financial technology solutions in the Philippines and across ASEAN.”

Manuel Pangilinan, Chairman of PLDT, Smart and Voyager commented, “CIMB is among the largest and most diversified ASEAN banks and its regional banking knowledge and presence across ASEAN will provide depth to this digital partnership.”

CIMB, which has been at the forefront of banking innovation, has deep regional banking knowhow and an extensive understanding of the needs of customers in the region, whilst the fintech solutions and digital payments ecosystem of Smart and Voyager strengthen the value proposition of PLDT, which is the market leader in the telecommunications industry in the Philippines in terms of customer base.

Senate Resolution 1454 requests Philippines Senate to address investment and networking scams

Senator Grace Poe has asked the Philippines Senate to revisit securities and investment laws to plug loopholes being exploited by unscrupulous companies to deceive the public into joining bogus investment schemes and networking scams.

Poe has filed Senate Resolution 1454, urging the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies to conduct an "omnibus inquiry and assessment in aid of legislation, on relevant securities and investment laws, regulations and measures, with the end goal of introducing remedial amendments to better battle deceptive investment schemes and stop insidious networking scams."

The chairperson of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs filed the resolution in the aftermath of the P3-billion investment scam involving Batangas-based firm One Dream Global Marketing.

The lawmaker noted that One Dream is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a firm involved in trading, buying and selling of various goods, but it has no permit to engage in selling and marketing investment products.

"With One Dream being an SEC-registered firm, unsuspecting investors could have been made to believe that it is safe to invest their money into the company. Amendments may have to be made to prevent companies engaged in deceitful means from circumventing existing securities and investment laws, regulations and measures," Poe said.

Investors have filed a syndicated estafa* against One Dream officers led by owner Arnel Gacer after the company refused to return their money after repeated demands. Complainants alleged that One Dream deceived them through a "system profit scheme" in which investors were required to put in P888 with the promise of a "payout" of P1,300 after four days.

"Would-be investors are enticed by 'networking groups' by emphasising the seeming lavish lifestyle of their 'successful members' through their posts in social media showcasing their money, cars, watches, free trips or other material things," the senator said.

A few days after the One Dream scam broke out, the SEC also warned the public of other investment scams particularly against business entities "Freedom Life Advanced Global Prosperity Marketing Incorporated (Flag Prosperity)" in Laguna province, and Metro Manila-based "SUCCESS200 International Marketing Corporation," with operations in other parts of the country and overseas. Both firms have no SEC registration.

"Desiring to improve one's financial status and one's quality of living by investing one's hard-earned money is commendable and is beneficial not only to the investor but to the economy, but to prey on our countrymen through deceitful and unscrupulous means is simply wrong and the government ought to step in to ensure the protection of our countrymen's investments and dreams," Poe said.

*An estafa is a criminal offence involving fraud.