Eat Well. Travel Often

Sep 27, 2016

PLDT SME Nation launched BroGo

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As most travelers today carry a smartphone with mobile technology, PLDT SME Nation aims to enhance customer and hospitality experience by introducing a brand new wireless broadband connection, BroGo. The first of its kind in the Philippines, BroGo is PLDT SME Nation's newest bundle tailored fit to every entrepreneur and top-grade businesses. It allows internet connection to hotel guests even beyond the walls of the hotel.

This exclusive bundle comes with gadgets and mobile data connection devices. BroGo enables hotels to deliver reliable mobile internet connectivity to their guests at an affordable price.

"Technology has changed the way people travel, experience, and share travel experiences across the globe. Her in the Philippines, PLDT SME Nation recognizes this growing need from entrepreneurs in our hotel industry for a solution that enables them to cater to today's on-the-go mobile consumers," shares Neph Denosta, AVP/Head of SME Nation Wireless Marketing.

"With BroGo, internet connectivity for hotel guests and travelers does not stop inside the premises of these establishments. They could easily continue to be looped in online and conveniently share their travel experiences with family and friends through easy-to-bring pocket WiFis and their mobile devices - fast and in real-time."

BroGo comes an internet load portal with which hotel entrepreneurs can easily access and manage multiple prepaid sims and pocket WiFis that they can lend or rent out to their guests. As a result, hotels can attain up to 200% return on investment from their BroGo subscription.

PLDT BroGo is already available since September 2016. To know more about the PLDT SME Nation, please visit www.smenation.com.ph.

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Thanks for dropping by and have a great day! - Jexx

Sep 26, 2016

PLDT partners with Roku to launch a new streaming service in PH

Jexx Hinggo 3:54 PM events , pldt 0 Comments

PLDT has partnered with US-based Roku, the world's leading video streaming platform, to bring the best entertainment to Filipinos right from their TV screens through access to over 3,500 viewing apps, including Netflix, YouTube, and HBO Now.

"We are seeing a growing demand for internet-delivered TV services in the country and there is no better partner for us to give Filipinos the world of entertainment than Roku which has the largest base of active streaming users in the world," PLDT FVP and Head of HOME Operations Oscar Reyes Jr. said.

Roku has nine million active accounts in 10 countries, including the US, UK, and Australia. It also has more than twice the usage of Google Chromecast, according to independent surveys and Roku’s own tracker conducted in November 2015.

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

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

PLDT HOME has also been increasing the speed of its Fibr plans with the most recent upgrade reaching as high as 1 Gbps to satisfy the growing appetite of subscribers for bandwidth heavy apps like video streaming.

The demand for internet TV in the world has grown dramatically in the past five years, with the fastest year-on-year growth of 73% registered in 2015 with one over-the-top (OTT) box now streaming 5.5 billion hours at the end of 2015.

"In the past, operators first had to build or lease dedicated infrastructure in order to deliver TV services to the home, with streaming that is no longer the case. As a result, we see a lot of interest from all over the world for our Roku Powered program from both telecom and pay TV operators," said Andrew Ferrone, vice president pay TV at Roku. "With its fast fiber & DSL infrastructure, PLDT is in a perfect position to leverage the Roku streaming platform and quickly deploy a proven, low-cost, turn-key solution and launch an innovative TV service to its broadband customers."

According to recent surveys, video consumption via OTT boxes has been growing dramatically in the US and accounted for 58% of total views as of March last year from 44% the previous year and against 24% for PC and 17% for mobile devices.

"We foresee the Philippines eventually following this trend as more Filipinos' viewing habits involve more and more video. The partnership with Roku is consistent with PLDT HOME's objective of having the widest and best video portfolio in the Philippines," said Reyes.

Thanks for dropping by and have a great day ahead! - Jexx

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Press Release from PLDT Home

Sep 23, 2016

S&R Members' Treat

Jexx Hinggo 6:59 PM davao , events 0 Comments

The much awaited S&R Members' Treat is back! From September 30 to October 2, 2016, get exciting deals and treats that you and your family will enjoy! Get discounts of up to 50% and avail their Buy 1 Take 1 promos. I really have to mark my calendars because my family waited for this for a long time. They've been asking me when's the next big sale. We actually missed this last year since no one in the family is a registered member.

So for you to avail the discounts, you should sign up at S&R for Php700 for a Gold Membership. The members can bring their family inside, however, only members may purchase using his/her membership card.

I'm really excited to shop at S&R with my family. I'm sure they will really enjoy the great deals and treats.

I heard that these are some of the food products that are going on sale from September 30 to October 2:

Ben & Jerry Chunky Monkey
Ben & Jerry Chocochip Cookie Dough
Ben & Jerry New York Fudge Choco
US Vanilla Marble Ring Cake
US Double Choco-chip Creme Ring Cake
US Apple Raisin Creme Cake
Ranch House Angus Rib-eye Steak
Ranch House Beef Short Ribs
Ranch House Angus Strip Steak

Other items:
UP Baby Wipes
Irish Spring Soap
Tresemme Keratin Shampoo and Conditioner
Dove Rough Patch Lotion Tube
Pantene Hair Spray
White Rain Kids 3 in 1
Colgate Kids Mouthwash Bubblegum

For more updates, visit their Facebook page and follow them on Instagram.

S&R Membership Shopping
Facebook: www.facebook.com/snrmembershipshopping
Instagram: www.instagram.com/snr_official

Thanks for dropping by and have a great day! - Jexx

Gabay Guro: Building the nation one teacher at a time

Jexx Hinggo 4:00 PM events , gabay guro 0 Comments

An advocacy for teachers was created over coffee from a small group of like-minded PLDT executives nine years ago. With a common dream of being a catalyst of change in the lives of teachers, Gabay Guro was born and became the CSR arm under the PLDT-Smart Foundation.

What transpired after that fateful day revolutionized education-based advocacy efforts in so many levels giving birth to a holistic approach that was anchored on the now famous Gabay Guro pillars - Scholarships, Trainings, Housing and Educational Facilities, Livelihood Programs, Broadbanding and Computerization, and Teachers’ Tribute.

Gabay Guro managed to write off mediocrity since then, championing excellence and paying tribute to teachers all over the country (and nearby countries) by bringing attention to their heroic deeds and at the same time, providing them with the necessary tools to contribute to the change in the lives of their students and their families.

To this day, Gabay Guro managed to thrive on volunteerism – mostly among the ranks of the executives from PLDT and Smart.

Nine years after, Gabay Guro has over 1,100 scholars in various state colleges and universities nationwide. There are over 300 LET passers, 496 active scholars as of August, 2016 and a projected 167 graduates in 2017. Gabay Guro also celebrates the fact that 137 scholars graduated with honors – 112 cum laudes and 25 magna cum laudes. Gabay Guro has also partnered with local government units to further teacher education.

The foundation has conducted trainings for over 16,000 teachers in the course of its nine years. Today, it runs eight training programs for teachers around the country namely: Teacher’s Treasure Chest; English Proficiency Training; Computer Literacy; Emotional Intelligence; Teacher’s Armor; Leadership Training; IT Sustainability and Literacy; and Unleashing Creativity in Teaching. At the same time, Gabay Guro answers to the needs of the times by doing grassroots anti-drugs trainings in schools.

Gabay Guro’s initiative on Broadband and Computerization has had great impact nationwide. All partner-schools were recipients of either computers/laptop or internet connections from PLDT or Smart.

Knowing that shortage of educational facilities is a major disaster area in the Philippine education system, Gabay Guro has taken the cudgels in the construction of classrooms in the provinces, mostly those that have been hit by debilitating calamities. There is over 40 classrooms constructed and donated already in the ff. provinces: Cebu, Bohol, Leyte and Capiz.

Gabay Guro has grown to be the force that it is today. Whereas in the beginning, there were only a couple of thousand member-teachers under its stable, 2016 sees 20,000-strong membership (and growing!) at its helm and has easily taken over the leadership, the one that sets the bar of service, in all education-related NGOs around the nation.

Ms. Chaye Revilla and the Gabay Guro team of visionaries with her in the foundation, were propelled by this belief: “our nation’s children depend on our nation’s teachers to lead them to the future. And this teachers’ month, Gabay Guro gives tribute to those who teach the next generation of nation-builders.”

The pinnacle of Gabay Guro’s celebration is embodied in the tribute event held every year at the MOA Arena. Year after year, the organizers leave no stone unturned ensuring that it is in Gabay Guro where teachers get to be treated like royalty. Generosity at its finest, raffle prizes have grown to be the staggering house and lot and vehicle showcases and livelihood opportunities that they are today in every Gabay Guro tribute event.

The Gabay Guro’s 9th Teacher’s Tribute this year, the biggest gathering of the country’s celebrities, will not disappoint on Sept. 25 at the MOA Arena. Stellar names set to give the teachers the time of their lives on this day are Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, Pops Fernandez, James Reid, Nadine Lustre, Ms. Lea Salonga and Mega star Ms. Sharon Cuneta and more surprise guests on the big day.

This is the day where our teachers get to let their hair loose, meet the biggest celebrities, be treated to a whole day of entertainment and huge raffle prizes beginning with house and lot and vehicles., anything to remind them of their invaluable presence in our lives.

This year’s event is made possible through the help of the ff. sponsors: Perry’s Group of Companies (for the house and lot), Foton for the (Gratour Van), Intel, Devant, Motorlandia (for the Honda and Suzuki motorcyles), Ropali, Penshoppe, National Bookstore, Enchanted Kingdom, Splash, Tempra, Flanax, Bonamine, Vivalyte, Mundipharma, Gardenia, Bic, Art Attack, Microsoft, Smart Bro, Ultera, Talk N Text and 51 Talk.

The PLDT Gabay Guro grand tribute event is exclusive for teachers only. Admission is free. Follow Gabay Guro on Facebook, twitter and Instagram at @PLDTGabayGuro or visit the Gabay Guro official website gabayguro.com for more details.

Thanks for dropping by and have a great day! - Jexx

__________________
Press Release from PLDT Home

Sep 16, 2016

Starbucks Teavana - Tea Reimagined

Jexx Hinggo 1:29 PM beverages , coffee 0 Comments

Starbucks is inviting us to take a sip of their newest handcrafted beverages. They just launched Starbucks® Teavana™ Handcrafted Beverages and Full Leaf Tea Sachets in Asia. This is their modern take on the tea experience for people who are looking for new and different tastes and experiences. It will give customers the opportunity to enjoy a range of unique iced and hot tea beverages with bold, layered flavors, handcrafted the way only Starbucks can, for the first time.

“The launch of Starbucks® Teavana™ brings an entirely new tea occasion specifically developed for our customers in Asia, who increasingly want new and different tastes and experiences,” said John Culver, group president, Starbucks Global Retail. ”With Starbucks® Teavana™, we see a tremendous opportunity to leverage the company’s expertise in creating best-in-class retail experiences, handcrafting customized beverages, and sourcing the finest ingredients, to create a new, premium tea experience. Just as we’ve done for coffee, this is tea reimagined at Starbucks.”

Beginning today, Starbucks Philippines is offering three new Starbucks® Teavana™ Handcrafted Beverages:

Iced Shaken Hibiscus Tea with Pomegranate Pearls

This refreshing beverage combines Starbucks® Teavana™ hibiscus tea and bursting pearls of real pomegranate juice for a tart kick of flavor.

Iced Shaken Black Tea with Ruby Grapefruit and Honey

Combines a traditional western black tea experience with a creative twist that is delicious iced with bites of pomelo fruit, grapefruit and honey for a touch of added sweetness.

Matcha and Espresso Fusion

Our fine Matcha powder layered with milk and Starbucks signature Espresso Roast creates a beautiful layered beverage and is an inventive combination of coffee and tea, to be enjoyed hot or iced.

In addition to handcrafted beverages, Starbucks is also introducing Starbucks® Teavana™ Full Leaf Tea Sachets. Through a curated selection of packaged full-leaf tea sachets, customers can now enjoy a new tea experience in our stores or in the comfort of their own home.

Black Tea

English Breakfast – A handcrafted blend of Indian Assam, Sri Lankan Ceylon, and Chinese black tea. This tastes great with or without milk.

White Tea

Youthberry™ – Inspired by super fruits, acai fruit is blended with tropical pineapple and mango flavors with high-quality white tea, balanced by rosehips and tart green apple.

Green Tea

Emperor’s Clouds and Mist™ – Exclusively harvested during the month of April and grown on the steep, windy slopes of Huangshan Mountain at 3,500 feet above sea level, this tea has a rich body and a naturally sweet flavor.

Caffeine-Free Herbal Teas

Hibiscus – Bright, juicy papaya and mango combined with citrus lemongrass for a naturally caffeine-free blend. Hibiscus flowers lend the tea a slight tartness and extraordinary deep fuchsia color.

Mint Blend – This tea’s spearmint base is rounded out with cool peppermint notes and undertones of spicy-sweet lemon verbena. The mint leaves come from the highly sought after and prized Pacific Northwest mint known for its high amount of mint oil.

Chamomile – The Chamomile used for this tea is sourced from Croatia. It provides the overarching flavor for this soft, soothing floral blend.

I can't wait to try their newest offerings. I think I will love the Matcha and Espresso Fusion. Visit any Starbucks nearest you and let me know which one is your favorite.

Check out the Starbucks Philippines’ Facebook page for more details

https://www.facebook.com/StarbucksPhilippines

Thanks for visiting and have a great day! - Jexx