by admin | Sep 21, 2016 | Headlines, Tech Talk
The Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) international tech confab, recently held in Panglao, Bohol last August 25-26, has gotten bigger and better on its fourth and present year.
Soaring high from its debut in Boracay in 2013, this year’s GOAB made a new breakthrough with its partnership with the iconic US-based tech accelerator Techstars and Facebook’s internet.org “free internet” advocacy.
“The Techstars Asia-Pacific Summit, a private gathering of 100 startup weekend leaders in the region, was held in the same venue two days prior to GOAB. This year’s GOAB also featured stronger ties with StartupPH.org, a newly formed umbrella organization of advocates for Philippine startups and tech industry. StartupPH.org includes the core group that completed the Philippine Startup Roadmap in 2015. ” said Tina Amper, TechTalks.ph Founder and GOAB organizer.
“Apart from the wider participation of the international community with delegates from the US, Singapore, Malaysia, among others, the recently concluded GOAB was also marked by stronger government support with the inspiring presence of Senator Bam Aquino and Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto,” added Amper. Senator Aquino is a strong proponent of the PH startup bill.
Meanwhile, key government supporters from previous GOAB is now part of the newly installed Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). Monchito Ibrahim, who was previous head of the now defunct Department of Science and Technology Information and Communication Technology Office oversaw the crafting of the PH Startup Roadmap in consultation with the startup community, is now Program Director of DICT’s eInnovation.
With the theme “Empowering startups, leading change”, GOAB is organized by TechTalks.ph, co-organized by Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), and co-presented by PLDT SME Nation, Smart, Smart DevNet, Ideaspace and PLDT Innolab.
GOAB was held in partnership with Bohol Provincial Government and Bohol ICT Council. Major organizational partners are Internet.org by Facebook and FbStart from Facebook. This year’s official airline partner is Philippines AirAsia. Silver Sponsors are Zalora, Mynimo, Teradoor, Pouch Nation, A Space, Infocomm Investments, and South Palms Resorts Panglao, while Bronze Sponsors are Yoyo Holdings, Payoneer, Eurekloud, USAID-STRIDE, US Embassy, Launchgarage, StarTechUp Inc., Eastern Communications, RTI International, Piktochart, Office of Senator Bam Aquino, Microsoft, Intel, Uniform Solutions, Department of Tourism and Be Grand Resort Bohol.
GOAB organizational partners are Philippines Software Industry Association, National ICT Confederation of the Philippines, UP CebuInit.org, CedFIT.org, Game Developers Association of the Philippines, Digital Commerce Association of the Philippines, Developers Connect, STAC Silicon Valley and GoNegosyo.
GOAB media partners are Auza.Net, Tech in Asia, Geeks in Cambodia, Hubnob.tv, InnoPub Media, Mytechisland.com, Zerothreetwo.com, Jumpstart Magazine, Mobile Ecosystem Forum, Asian Journal Publications, Balikbayan Magazine, Innovation is Everywhere, e27, Newsdesk Asia, WazzupPilipinas, Esooped.com, Istorya.net, Expat Philippines, PayPerClick.ph, TopTen.ph, Escooped.com, Istorya.net, Expat Philippines, PayPerClick.ph, TopTen.ph and Our Awesome Planet.
GOAB supporters are Islands, Hybridigm, Innovantage, Skyeye Inc., Purple Cow, Amun Ini Beach Resort and Havaianas.
GOAB founding sponsors are Smart, Smart Bro, Smart Devnet, Ideaspace, Mynimo.com, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft, STAC Silicon Valley, Islands, Istorya.net, GT Cosmetics, Chef on Demand and Ng Khai Development Corporation.
GOAB is powered by Sym.ph. GOAB branding by HappyGaraje, and PR management by PR Works.
“GOAB is still playing a major role in the evolution and growth of the Philippine startup ecosystem, especially in gathering together the thriving innovation communities across the archipelago,” said David Overton, CEO of Sym.ph and Chief GOAB Geek.
“This year’s GOAB continues the tradition of offering a unique combination featuring the latest tech developments and bringing together the best minds in the startup world while maintaining a fun and chill atmosphere by the beach,” added Overton.
The two-day tech confab was held in the Bellevue Hotel in Panglao, Bohol. “It was a total experience. The knowledge imparted by the fantastic speakers, the networking opportunities with the bustling geek community, and of course the fun-filled, scenic, yet environmentally-friendly Bellevue Hotel,” said Amper.
Participants were presented with jam-packed sessions featuring a wide variety of topics ranging from launching your startup, funding options, digital marketing, the latest trends in tech and social media, UX/UI design, drones and various topics in software programming. The agenda provided many opportunities for collaboration amongst attendees and speakers enabling deeper connections amongst them.
What makes GOAB unique is the easy availability of attendees to connect and the 2-day or 48-hour opportunity to mingle since many of the attendees stayed in the conference hotel or nearby. So participants saw each other at breakfast, at the conference, at dinner, at after-dinner socials, and back again on the second day. “Whether they are an investor, or CEO, or anybody at the event, everyone was just an arms reach away.” said a tech attendee.
Some of the biggest names in the international tech and startup scene were there: Techstars co-founder and managing partner David Brown, Startup Weekend co-founder Marc Nager, Chris McCann of Greylock Partners,Crowdsourcing Week founder and CEO Epi Ludvik Nekaj, 500 Startups Managing Partner/Investor Khailee Ng, 500 Startups corporate innovation director Arnaud Bonzom, Zalora Philippines Managing Director Constantine Robertz, PLDT SME Nation head Mitch Locsin, Ideaspace.ph Managing Director Diane Eustaquio, TechTalks chief content officer Robert Cristobal, Citrix principal UX designer Philip McKay, and STAC Silicon Valley president Cristina Laskowski.
“GOAB happened because of the people that supported us and the quality of people who attended. GOAB is a “destination” conference so people have to plan in advance to attend. As such, the participants were eager to learn, ready to do business, and open to connecting with each other. Many came prepared and pre-researched the speakers and companies presenting as they were looking for business leads or funding for their startups. One entrepreneur indicated that he already secured two large business opportunities and that was just day one.
We are thankful for all the support that made GOAB a big success and seek additional forward-leaning partners to make GOAB 2017 even more productive. So what’s next? The global spotlight is now on the Philippines. We will carry on to work hard supporting the ultra-dynamic startup communities. We call on the corporate community to reach out and connect with us and our innovation-driven founders because startups are the future. Here is their opportunity to leapfrog routine problems and solve them with technology and innovators in their own cities.” said Amper.
Amper said the next GOAB is on the works with organizers regrouping as early as one week after the recently concluded event to draw ideas for an even bigger GOAB 5.
For more information or to support this venture, visit www.GeeksOnABeach.com, or contact them at hello@GeeksOnABeach.com; Facebook Geeks On A Beach and twitter @GeeksOnABeach.
Media Contact:
Doris I. Mongaya
PR Works Inc.
prworks2003@gmail.com
0917 791 9545
by admin | Sep 20, 2016 | Headlines, Tech Talk
Interconnection enables customers to call customers of other providers without long-distance calls
Globe Telecom said interconnection of its landline service Globelines with its competition continue to expand as the two parties recently agreed to extend the collaboration to include the provinces of Leyte, Southern Leyte and Biliran.
The interconnection enables Globelines customers in the Leyte, Southern Leyte and Biliran provinces to call customers of other telco providers without additional charges as they no longer have to pay for long distance charges when calling one another. The interconnection, which took effect last September 1, will allow customers to realize substantial savings.
Prior to the interconnection, landline customers of Globelines and other telco providers were charged with long distance rate when making phones to one another. With the interconnection, Globe customers can simply dial the seven-digit telephone number to connect with other telco providers and vice-versa.
“As interconnection reduces the cost of connectivity among our customers, Globe will continue to pursue interconnection in line with our commitment to provide affordable and easily accessible ways of communication, necessary to further enhance economic growth,” Globe General Counsel Atty. Froilan Castelo stressed.
Interconnection among telco providers is in line with provisions for compulsory interconnection of authorized public telecommunications carriers under Republic Act 7925. The law aims to create a universally accessible and fully integrated nationwide telecommunications network to encourage more infrastructure investments from the private sector that would benefit the consumers.
In addition to Leyte, Southern Leyte and Biliran, Globe has existing interconnection agreement with its main competition in Metro Manila, Cavite, Iloilo, Batangas, Cebu, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, Bohol, Leyte, Davao City, Pampanga, Bulacan, Zamboanga, Laguna, Quezon, La Union, Nueva Ecija, Benguet, GenSan/South Cotabato, Tarlac, Davao del Norte, Pangasinan, Ilocos Norte, Zambales, Ilocos Sur, Capiz, Cagayan, Nueva Viscaya, Iloilo, Bataan, Isabela and Camarines Norte.
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For more information, please contact:
Yoly C. Crisanto
Head, Corporate Communications
Globe Telecom, Inc.
Email Address: gtcorpcomm@globe.com.ph
Globe Press Room: www.globe.com.ph/press-room
Twitter: @talk2GLOBE │ Facebook: www.facebook.com/globeph
This e-mail message (including attachments, if any) is intended for the use of the individual or the entity to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, proprietary, confidential and exempt from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender and delete this E-mail message immediately.
by admin | Sep 19, 2016 | Headlines, Tech Talk
In line with new vision for Philippines to become an admired nation for having 1st world internet connectivity
Globe Telecom goes full throttle in its ongoing expansion of its network infrastructure and capacities to improve the internet experience of its customers. The company’s aggressive stance in expanding its network capacities is in line with the company’s new vision for the Philippines to become an admired nation for having a first world internet connectivity.
Globe President and CEO Ernest Cu said that more and more of the company’s customers will experience improved services as adoption of LTE-capable devices increases and as the telco provider continues to deploy LTE 700 in more sites. “Guided by our new purpose of ‘treating people right to create a Globe of Good’, the company is aggressively fast tracking a multi-pronged network infrastructure and capacity expansion build to provide our customer a better internet experience,” said Cu.
Cu said the company’s deployment of LTE service using the 700 megahertz (MHz) frequency is now in full swing, adding Globe expects to have around 250 LTE 700 sites by the end of September. According to Cu, the company plans to activate more than 500 LTE 700 sites across the country by the end 2016. Majority of the company’s LTE 700 sites will cover major business districts and highly-urbanized and populated areas in the country, including Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao. He emphasized Globe is maximizing the use of the previously idle 700 MHz band in fulfillment of its commitment to the National Telecommunications Commission to improve the overall internet experience of its customers following the sell-out of San Miguel’s telco assets.
Parallel to this, Globe also began rolling out a capacity expansion program for its corporate data network to address bandwidth requirement of its enterprise clients as they make use of various data solutions to improve business efficiency, enhance productivity, and boost competitiveness, Cu disclosed. Specifically, the company will be upgrading its corporate sites with the deployment of fiber-optic technology. This year alone, at least 61 sites are being upgraded, with 455 sites scheduled for next year.
As part of its efforts to create an internet superhighway nationwide, Globe recently completed the deployment of fiber broadband technology in Binondo, Manila, an initiative that will provide world-class internet experience for Globe customers in the district, said Cu. Globe plans to deploy fiber optics in 20,000 barangays by 2020 that will provide ultra-fast internet access to around 2 million homes nationwide.
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For more information, please contact:
Yoly C. Crisanto
Head, Corporate Communications
Globe Telecom, Inc.
Email Address: gtcorpcomm@globe.com.ph
Globe Press Room: www.globe.com.ph/press-room
Twitter: @talk2GLOBE │ Facebook: www.facebook.com/globeph
This e-mail message (including attachments, if any) is intended for the use of the individual or the entity to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, proprietary, confidential and exempt from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender and delete this E-mail message immediately.
by admin | Sep 18, 2016 | Local News / Bohol Balita, Tech Talk
By: Jerome Auza.
For almost a decade now, Auza.Net has been publishing updates on technology relevant to Boholanos and the province. In the past year, we have seen significant efforts by the private and government sectors to encourage startups and entrepreneurship. This Technology Updates page covered many of the events such as Startup Weekends, Geeks on a Beach and various activities related to information and communication technology. There is a need though to highlight and encourage entrepreneurship in Bohol.
And for this reason, Auza.Net will start to highlight news relevant to entrepreneurship in Bohol. There has been many programs by various government agencies such as DTI, DOST and the provincial government to support entrepreneurship. Specific focus is on micro, small and medium enterprises that employ a significant amount of the workforce.
If you are a government agency, NGO or an entrepreneur yourself and you have news or press releases, you may send these to info@auza.net for publication. We will accommodate articles on a first come, first served basis. In this issue for example, we published the press release from DTI about the Trans-Pacific Partnership or TPP. The event has impact on MSME’s and by publishing this article, we hope to help spread the information to the general public.
This year and the next few years will be exciting to the startup community and entrepreneurs in Bohol because significant development in infrastructure are being implemented or lined up for implementation in Bohol. For example, the new airport in Panglao will definitely bring more opportunities in tourism. On top of that, there are plans drawn up to develop a tourism estate in Panglao. And just recently, major infrastructure projects for Bohol have been approved by the national government.
by admin | Sep 14, 2016 | Tech Talk
Fifty-eight year old Josefina from Trinidad, Bohol only had P15,000 in savings when she started her small sari-sari store in 1999. Wanting to support the growing needs of her nephews, being single herself, Josefina requested P20,000 which she used to expand her business and attract more customers. She received financial assistance from 15 individual microlenders via one of Kiva’s Field Partners, Community Economic Ventures, Inc., which provides not only loans but training and insurance coverage as well.
Cebu-based Shayne Mae, on the other hand, is a hardworking entrepreneur who also needed additional funds to use as a working capital for her clothing sales business. With the assistance of eight individual microlenders under another Kiva Field Partner, Negros Women for Tomorrow Foundation (NWTF), Shayne Mae was able to borrow P11,999 to sustain her business. She dreams of saving enough money to send her children to college and renovate her family home.
Josefina and Shayne Mae are just two of hundreds of Filipinos which Globe Telecom and international non-profit organization Kiva are crowdfunding loans to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for the underserved population in the country.
San Francisco-based Kiva is an online crowdfunding platform that enables anyone in the world to make a microloan to micro enterprises in over 80 countries in the areas of agriculture, food, retail, and services in a bid to alleviate poverty.
“This high impact partnership between Globe and Kiva enables Filipinos to support Filipinos in a sustainable and empowering way. We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Globe, Kiva’s first corporate partner in Southeast Asia, and we look forward to all that we will accomplish together moving forward,” says Karen Little, Kiva’s Director of Development for the US and Asia.
Through GCash mobile money service and Globe Rewards, millions of Globe customers can now make a difference in the lives of micro-entrepreneurs. “Globe strives to provide sustainable livelihood opportunities by offering marginalized micro-entrepreneurs new possibilities for prosperity through ICT. We want to assist those who are currently at the base of the pyramid by exploring means in which they can increase their income. At the same time, we want to pave the way for other people to do something meaningful through our mobile services,” said Fernando Esguerra, Director for Globe Citizenship.
With GCash as the secure platform to receive donations, lending can be done through #TeamGlobe. Interested citizens may donate any amount to local beneficiaries in the areas of agriculture, food, retail, and services by accessing *143#, select GCash, choose Donate to Kiva, enter amount, GCASH PIN and email address. Those funds are then put into a revolving loan fund to go towards Filipino borrowers.
At the same time, Globe is also giving customers a chance to give back and support micro entrepreneurs through Kiva Gift cards. Customers just need to text Kiva to 2158-Kiva (5482).
Leveraging on its online facility and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva provides loans to people without access to traditional banking systems. The micro-finance institutions, which are called Field Partners, administer the loans in the field, giving people in need a safe and affordable access to fresh capital to further their lives and that of their families.
To-date, Kiva has over 1.5 million individual lenders from every country in the world. These lenders have funded loans amounting to over US$890 million to 2.1 million beneficiaries.
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For more information, please contact:
Yoly C. Crisanto
Head, Corporate Communications
Globe Telecom, Inc.
Email Address: gtcorpcomm@globe.com.ph
Globe Press Room: www.globe.com.ph/press-room
Twitter: @talk2GLOBE │ Facebook: www.facebook.com/globeph
This e-mail message (including attachments, if any) is intended for the use of the individual or the entity to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is privileged, proprietary, confidential and exempt from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient, you are notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify the sender and delete this E-mail message immediately.
by admin | Sep 10, 2016 | Tech Talk
With the recently improved internet services it is now an option to produce new and exciting tech from places once considered backwaters. Examples of this in action are the nascent mobile game development scenes outside the cities. There 2.4 billion Android and iOS devices worldwide and local developers now have the chance to reach them.
‘Crashy Asia’ is a newly released mobile game made in Bohol by a team of two; a fine arts student and a programmer going by the name of Two Reelers.
The 3D game lets you, a cute Panda character, tour around South East Asian countries. You can see the national monuments and get a taste of each country.
However there is danger in the form of dangerous drivers. As many overseas workers will comment, the traffic in places like Ho Chi Minh City would scare even the most hardened Manila jeepney driver.
The game attempts to be humorous through satirical fake news stories and local flavour, for instance President Duterte and a Popemobile can be spotted when you visit the Philippines.
It began its life when the author noticed that his 8 year old found it hilarious to watch cartoon cars colliding, flipping and doing donuts. That, in combination with the regional pastime of complaining about traffic was enough to get started.
To download the Game for free go to play.google.com and search ‘Crashy Asia’.
The local story of indie game creation does not end there for Bohol. Here are two other companies actively releasing new titles:
Samotech recently released ‘Stephen Curry vs Lebron James’. It offers the chance to avenge Curry by shooting hoops against Lebron James.
Amivarius Games is offering ‘Veggy Smash 3’, billed as the healthiest match 3 casual game.
The opportunity exists to break into the competitive game industry, even when based in a small town. It may be a long wait for success due to the need for a big hit in order to make reasonable income. Nevertheless the next famous indie title like Monument Valley or Crossy Road may come from the Central Visayas.
