Will old infrastructure weigh down the future of telecoms?

A MAJOR development in the telecoms industry is the bold Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Converge ICT, an internet service provider that has brought fixed broadband internet connection. Converge’s high speed internet coverage has grown by leaps and bounds since it was first founded in 2016 by Dennis Anthony Uy off Clark in Pampanga (not to be confused with Davao’s Dennis Uy whose DITO telecommunications partnership with China Mobile is gunning to be that “third telco).

From the very start Converge identified wiring up the population with broadband access and focusing on that single area of telecommunications alone. And it served itself well, as well as its clients, building up a significant customer base from its Central Luzon hub, through Metro Manila and up to recently starting the penetration of the Mega Manila suburbs of Laguna.

Converge launched its IPO bid today (Monday, 26 October 2020) to raise funds for its two pronged plans for growth as said in their prospectus: “Go Deep”, deepen penetration in existing coverage areas by employing a disciplined approach in network rollout and to identify key sub-localities where coverage gaps still exist; and “Go National”, expand into new coverage areas across the Philippine archipelago, first into Cebu province in the Visayas and subsequently in other new markets and sub-markets in the Visayas and Mindanao, as the company completes its nationwide backbone.

This focus on fixed broadband places Converge in a unique position in as far as internet connectivity is concerned. The top two telecoms providers, Globe and PLDT/ Smart, are “full-service” telcos which provide a broader range of services from cellular phone services, mobile broadband connectivity, landline services and other traditional telco services. In fact, fixed broadband is only 30 to 40 percent of their business.

It’s time for Gangwon-Do!

SOCIAL media influencers came together to promote winter tourism in Gangwon, South Korea’s up-and-coming premier destination.

A special summit of leaders of ASEAN and South Korea marked the 30th anniversary of ASEAN-Republic of Korea dialogue relations. The event closed last November 27. Last year, the summit was previously held in Busan.

The visit of the social media influencers to Gangwon-do was to promote the activities for winter sports in Gangwon Province, the Yongyang International Airport, and the famous tourist spots in Hanryu which is well known for the K-culture.

How Duterte propagandists are actually doing the president a great disservice

IT’S LAUGHABLE how some pro-Duterte bloggers and trolls are actually doing more harm to the president than good, because as they lie through their teeth they will eventually be found out. Then who will suffer because of all the lies they propagate? Why, of course President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, to whom they ascribe the lies they fabricated to.

One of the things these pro-Duterte bloggers and trolls do is to get bits and pieces of truth and weave them to a whole lie to fit their narrative. Much like the way the movie Forrest Gump used real video clips of historic events and inserted Tom Hanks’ character into these, as if he was actually a participant of these events. But that was an entertaining move. This, on the other hand, is real life and the net effect is not entertaining at all.

It is even downright dangerous, both for the public and President Duterte.

Recent news had the issue of the Special Purpose Vehicle Law being raised by the Duterte trolls. Basically, their message is that this law – Republic Act 9182 – was created so that past administrations could write off behest loans of their respective cronies. This, they said, is hated by their Tatay Digong and thus part of his corruption crusade.

Nothing can be farther from the truth.

Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, former President and Speaker with staunch ally President Rodrigo Duterte and Carlos Dominguez III, a top official under PGMA, key Duterte campaigner and Finance Secretary under the current admin. Photo by Philstar taken during the Government Owned and Controlled Corporation Day, Malacañang, Aug. 15, 2018.

The SPV Act of 2002 or RA 9182 was passed in December 23, 2002 (Click here) was put together by the House of Representatives under Speaker Jose de Venecia and Senate President Franklin Drilon and signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The main purpose of the law was: “(a) To develop and maintain a sound financial sector for the country; (b) To address the non-performing asset problems of the financial sector; (c) To encourage private sector investments in non-performing assets; (d) To eliminate existing barriers in the acquisition of non-performing assets (e) To help in the rehabilitation of distressed business with the end in view of contributing to economic value added; and (f) To improve the liquidity of the financial system which can be harnessed to propel economic growth.”

Giving street children baths saved their lives

WE CALLED him Hubad – “naked” – literally, this boy playing in the streets of Barangay La Paz in Makati. It was in the early to mid-1990s, and he would be seen hanging out on the street outside the condominium complex where my sister lived. My wife – we were newly married – and I would visit my sister and her family often, and we would see this boy – about eight or nine years old – who was obviously hefty for his age, playing in the streets and the nearby squatter community, his skin dark brown but obviously darkened from sun exposure, sometimes swimming in the flooded street after a heavy rain.

All the while he was naked and we were told by the condo guards that he refused to wear anything. One Christmas my sister sent him a complete outfit – shirt, pants, socks, underwear, shoes – and I think we saw him wearing it once. But the rest of the time he just played with the other kids totally naked.

NANAY Doleores Frando and her 12-year-old ward and scholar Akizza. The girl was just a three-year-old street urchin when Nanay first bathe her. Now she helps in bathing other kids and has set her sights on becoming a teacher.

I mentioned Hubad in passing when I met Dolores Frando at the ABS-CBN Tulong Center one day recently, thinking it was just one of those inconsequential memories I had. Nanay Dolores – as she was known in her community – had mentioned her work in Mascardo Street in Makati, the next block where my sister’s condominium was located, and it just triggered a memory.

But Nanay Dolores’ reaction was more intense. Her eyes grew wide, a big smile beamed from her face. “Si Bonong! (That’s Bonong!),” she exclaimed, proceeding to describe him exactly as I had described him.

Bonong de Luna, Nanay Dolores said, was one of her many wards. She was running a self-made program of bathing the street children on Mascardo Street which gave them a sense that someone cares and the confidence to pull themselves out of the rut of their lives as squatter children neglected by their parents and community. They went to school, attended the weekend Bible studies she conducted, and were fed. They were poor, but the baths made them feel they were not destitute.

Gina Lopez Was Nuts

GINA Lopez was nuts.

She was an absolute nutcase. She pursued her crazy advocacies with an insane passion and insatiable drive. And she did so despite criticisms of the high and mighty who felt a raging discomfort over her actions.

GINA LOPEZ PHOTO BY LYN RILLON/INQUIRER — from Commission on Appointments confirmation hearing at the Senate on March 9, 2017.

I did not always agree with her views, or her ways and means of saying so and doing. After all, who can forget that kaldero episode, where in one environmental forum she challenged to quit the use of metals and other mining products and use more sustainable tools like the palayok.

Or how she confronted the captains of the mining industry with her condemnation of what she labeled as their wholesale destruction of the environment during an actual industry affair – a big dress-up to do of mining’s who’s who and what’s what.

Budget delayed is budget denied – et tu, Senate?

COMES now Ernesto Pernia, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary and Director-General of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), sounding alarm bells over the resulting slower growth caused by the Senate-delayed transmittal of the General Appropriations Bill or proposed 2019 national budget to the President for approval.

NEDA DG Pernia (Photo by Manila Bulletin)

According to Pernia further delay will cause dross domestic product (GDP) growth to slow down “as low as 4.2 to 4.9 percent.” This is a far cry from the targets set by government economic managers which see the need for a six to seven percent growth for a positive and sustained overall economic and social impact.

Daikin Philippines marks 10 years of aircon technological advancements for energy efficiency and care for the environment

THE DAIKIN brand has been a force in air-conditioning in the Philippines for 50 years, primarily known for those huge three-ton office and company units.  But in the past decade that changed as it dove in head first in the country with a full-fledged Daikin Philippines and growing its market to the broad consumer segment, especially air-conditioning innovations for households.

In a market where window type aircons have dominated the household segment, Daikin continues to push forward with split-type aircon technology which are energy efficient and deliver cost savings in the long run. As presented in their 10^th anniversary celebrations at the Marriot Hotel in Pasay City last February, Daikin Philippines hopes to revolutionize residential air-conditioning with marked improvements and innovations on a concept it had pioneered in the past decade: the aircon with multiple indoor units using only one condenser. This means you can install air-conditioning blower units in three bedrooms all linked to one condensing unit, a big energy savings and efficiency booster that having individual condenser units/ compressors for each room common is current split type and window type aircons.

Dubbed the Super Multi-S for multi-split technology, it likewise incorporates the latest inverter technology for more energy efficiency and operating cost savings.

The Daikin lineup during their 10th anniversary last February 2019 with emphasis for modern residential use such as the Super Munti S (center) and air filters for air quality improvement

Compelling storytelling won over flashy designs and executions in 2018 National Digital Arts Awards

AMID today’s technological advances, flashy visual executions, and ultramodern graphic design renditions, judges for the National Digital Arts Awards (NDAA) 2018 were one in pointing out that it was compelling and creative story-telling that caught their eyes in choosing the winners in the various professional and student categories.

Among the judges for the 2018 edition of the NDAA were internationally acclaimed graphic and creative directors, designers, film directors and design educators such as Ali Silao, Avel Bacudio, Jobert Montreras, JM Matienzo, Vincent Arvin “Kadiboy” Belarmino, Jaime “Joel” Santos, and Alvin Tan

The awardees and leaders of NDAA 2018 at the PICC ceremonies last February 2019

They pointed out that a common theme in their selections was the effectivity of the stories told in the submissions because these were what captured the audience more than various techniques and executions which often mask substance of the messages. One even pointed out that some submissions has a watermark of the graphic software developer, indicating that the artist could only afford to use a free version of the software which should never be taken against the entry.

2019 National Budget stalled by Ping’s politics?

THE FIRST quarter of 2019 is almost done, yet the year’s national budget is still stalled due to the political bickering from Congress’ Senate side, specifically from Ping Lacson, who seems to have a beef with the leadership of the House of Representatives (HOR), specifically with its leader Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

Of course, unlike in the United States where a stalled budget can – and has – actually caused the government to stop functioning, in the Philippines it means that the 2018 budget will be reenacted so 2019 will run as if it were 2018.

However, this remains problematic as key reform activities in the proposed 2019 budget will not be funded and may be stillborn.

The Inconvenient Truth of Ma. and Maria

There was a time – as late as the 1990s, in fact – when Filipinos with the name Maria had some of their records with the abbreviated name Ma. Most women – and some men – of this predominantly Catholic country were baptized and recorded with the civil registry with Maria as primary or secondary name. While most had it in full in their birth certificates, many have found it in their names abbreviated in their other official documents as Ma. Hence, Maria Corazon became Ma. Corazon and Jose Maria became Jose Ma.

We don’t know how this started or the motives behind the act by those records clerks in government and private institutions – expediency or just plain laziness – but for sure the practice was culturally and officially accepted. In fact, the institutions that computerized personal data early in this nation’s history like the Social Security System (SSS) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) found it necessary to do so because it fit in the eight-character format of their database fields. In fact, LTO does it until today because of space limitation in the driver’s license card.

The problem started with globalization, and with it the credibility of the Philippine passport. There was a time when our passport issuer – the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) – simply accepted the abbreviated names because the it was still the applicant’s name. The Birth Certificate basically attested to the name even if it was abbreviated. Besides, it was such a chore to fully spell out the names because the information on the passports were handwritten. Poor clerks.