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Experience amazing every day with the Nokia Lumia smartphones

6:03 AM

Vernon Joseph Go

Liven up your daily routine with the latest Nokia Lumia smartphones! Discover, create and share amazing experiences with your family and friends in the fastest and most convenient way -- through these beautifully designed Windows phones!

Designed for the socially active group, the new Nokia devices carry topnotch mobile technology, quick connection and features that give users a more amazing mobile experience. Find the perfect companion for your own amazing everyday.

Turn up the fun

A perfect introduction of Windows Phone to the younger audience, the Nokia Lumia 610 provides instant access to social networks and brings all mobile, email, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn contacts into one place. This quick and accessible connection makes it easy for you to keep in touch with your family and friends. Browsing the Web is also more convenient as it is equipped with Internet Explorer 9.

The Nokia Lumia 610 also comes with free extras like Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive and thousands of apps available for download in the Windows Phone Marketplace that will further personalize your mobile experience. It has a distinctive profile and finely beveled metallic edges, which comes in the colors of white, cyan, magenta and black. Nokia Lumia 610 has an SRP of Php 10,980.

Be stunningly social

Enjoy the best social and Internet performance with the stunning Nokia Lumia 800. It has an award-winning design, featuring a 3.7 inch AMOLED ClearBlack curved display blending seamlessly into its sleek body, plus a 1.4 GHz processor with hardware acceleration and a graphics processor. The Nokia Lumia 800 also boasts of an instant-share camera experience based on leading Carl Zeiss optics. Share HD images and videos to all your social networks in just one click and in as fast as 20 seconds.

Nokia Lumia 800’s other amazing features include one-touch social network access; integrated communication threads which includes Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Windows Live;16GB internal user memory; and 5GB of free SkyDrive storage for storing images and music. It has an SRP of Php 23,500. The Lumia 800 is also available to Globe subscribers, free at Unli Surf Plan 1799.

Get only the best

Never go wrong with Nokia Lumia 710, the Windows phone that is designed for you. Have a colorful mobile experience with this trendy smartphone that features swappable covers and changeable homescreen colors. Personalize apps and start screen to suit your mood and needs. Choose also which accounts you want to see on “What’s new” that gives you updates in live integrated social feeds including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Windows Live. The Nokia Lumia 710 is exclusively available with Smart postpaid data plan 1000.

Live large

Stay connected and do more with the Nokia Lumia 900, which combines top processing power and stunning 4.3 inch AMOLED ClearBlack display. Experience amazingly high performance, quick connections, real-time updates to social networks, and all day battery life from Nokia Lumia 900. It also lets you balance work and play anytime and anywhere by being productive with the help of Microsoft Office programs and SkyDrive storage. The Nokia Lumia 900 is set to arrive in the Philippines in June 2012.

Bring light into your life and live everyday more amazing with the new Nokia Lumia smartphones.

HP Delivers Virtual Application Networks to Power Cloud Computing

5:53 AM

Vernon Joseph Go

HP announced Virtual Application Networks, a new cloud functionality that speeds application deployment, simplifies management and ensures network service level agreements (SLAs) in cloud and other dynamic computing models across the HP FlexNetwork architecture.

A typical data center with 500 servers, including approximately 20 virtual machines per server, requires manual provisioning of more than 50,000 networking attributes on a port-by-port basis. Deploying a new application in this environment requires extensive time and coordination across the server, network and data center administrative teams, which can take up to four weeks.⁽¹⁾

Virtual Application Networks provide a virtualized view of a network – abstracted from the physical equipment – that transforms a rigid physical enterprise network into a programmable, multitenant and application-aware virtual network. Virtual Application Networks use templates to characterize application-delivery requirements and ensure optimal application performance and reliability. This enables IT staff to deploy new cloud applications to users in minutes rather than weeks and ensure SLAs are consistently met by using templates to automate network orchestration.

“In the cloud era, clients need to be able to deploy applications on the fly to any device and any user accessing the network from anywhere with guaranteed quality of service levels,” said Kash Shaikh, Director, Global Product Marketing, HP Networking. “Today, only HP is positioned to provide clients with a completely virtualized network from the data center to the end user, managed by a single platform that is capable of deploying new applications within minutes.”

Unique across HP Converged Infrastructure, Virtual Application Networks tap into the intelligence found directly in server, storage and network hardware to automate provisioning and configuration tasks, while optimizing performance. Virtual Application Networks actively leverage elements of Software Defined Networking (SDN) technologies, including OpenFlow, which is available on multiple HP Networking switch families that were pioneered by HP with key industry partners.

“Enterprise applications and services are increasingly being delivered from the cloud, and the network plays a critical role. The consumption of media-rich content, explosion of virtualized applications, and rapid consumerization of IT have increased the demands on enterprise networks,” said Rohit Mehra, director, Enterprise Communications Infrastructure, IDC. “Legacy networks are typically static, indifferent to applications and require manual management, often resulting in poor service delivery and an inability to adapt to rapidly changing business needs, thereby limiting the potential of the cloud. HP’s Virtual Application Network strategy is a good example of a path forward for enterprises seeking to embrace the cloud computing paradigm.”

New IMC functionality to support the deployment of Virtual Application Networks

Delivering on the first phase of Virtual Application Networks, HP has introduced new functionality for HP Intelligent Management Center (IMC). HP IMC is a single-pane-of-glass management and virtualization platform that spans the HP FlexNetwork architecture.

New functionality for the HP FlexNetwork architecture includes:

· HP IMC Virtual Application Networks Manager Module speeds application deployment with a set of connection profile templates that include predetermined parameters and policies for server virtual machines (VMs) to manage and configure data center edge switches across the network.

· Virtual Application Networks Manager VMware Plug-in simplifies management of VMware VMs by automating network policy enforcement, allowing administrators to integrate connection profiles in both HP IMC and VMware management platforms.

· HP IMC Extended Application Program Interface (APIs) offer an open and extensible web services platform that enables third-party developers to integrate custom enterprise applications to extend core functions of the HP IMC platform. HP IMC also integrates with HP Network Management Center (NMC) solutions in the HP Business Service Management (BSM) software portfolio. This integration enables technology organizations to tie together their network, server, application and business services monitoring for a comprehensive bottom-up, top-down performance and availability management.

Virtual Application Networks – better than overlay networks, CLI and scripts

Virtual Application Networks tap into the intelligence of server, storage and network hardware to virtualize and automate network profile connections across the physical and virtual infrastructure with the HP IMC management platform.

Competitive approaches using an overlay virtual network do not directly integrate with the hardware at the physical level. Therefore, organizations would need to maintain both the virtual and the physical networks with multiple management tools, adding cost and complexity.

Network command line interfaces (CLI) and scripts, typical for legacy network equipment, require extensive physical device-by-device coding for every network profile, making them error prone, complex and operationally expensive for cloud-based environments.

Managing the economics of cloud deployment with Virtual Application Networks

New HP Network Consulting for Cloud-Ready Networking services allow clients to deploy HP FlexNetwork architecture and Virtual Application Networks to prepare for cloud computing.

HP Technology Services help organizations further optimize their networks with its Virtual Network Protection Service, in which HP leverages best practices to set the baseline for security at the network virtualization management layer to help mitigate common threats. HP also offers a Network Cloud Optimization Service to help clients enhance their network to improve cloud-based service delivery up to 93 percent compared to traditional download techniques.⁽²⁾

More information about HP Networking solutions is available at www.hp.com/go/networking.

HP’s premier client event, HP Discover, takes place June 4-7 in Las Vegas.

About HP

HP creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, HP brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com.

(1) Based on HP internal testing.

(2) Broadband-Testing Summary WAN Optimisation Test Report Blue Coat Systems vs. Riverbed; 2011

(3) Estimated U.S. street prices. Actual prices may vary.

This news advisory contains forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, the results of HP and its consolidated subsidiaries could differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and assumptions. All statements other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to statements of the plans, strategies and objectives of management for future operations, including execution of restructuring and integration plans; any statements concerning expected development, performance or market share relating to products and services; any statements regarding anticipated operational and financial results; any statements of expectation or belief; and any statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include macroeconomic and geopolitical trends and events; the competitive pressures faced by HP’s businesses; the development and transition of new products and services (and the enhancement of existing products and services) to meet customer needs and respond to emerging technological trends; the execution and performance of contracts by HP and its customers, suppliers and partners; the protection of HP’s intellectual property assets, including intellectual property licensed from third parties; integration and other risks associated with business combination and investment transactions; the hiring and retention of key employees; expectations and assumptions relating to the execution and timing of restructuring and integration plans; the resolution of pending investigations, claims and disputes; and other risks that are described in HP’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2011 and HP’s other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. HP assumes no obligation and does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

© 2012 Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific Pte Ltd. Registration No.: 198703164G. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein.

JOE JONAS FOR AYALA MALLS STYLE ORIGIN

5:08 AM

Vernon Joseph Go

Fall in love with the captivating charm of one of the Jonas Brothers who makes it happen as Ayala Malls not just bring in talents from beauty and fashion but also in music.

Ayala Malls Style Origin, together with Tiger 22 and The Philippine Star, bring you Joe Jonas at the Ayala Center Cebu on May 27, 3pm at the Activity Center. Hang out with the pop star for a candid, MTV-style interview as Joe Jonas talks about music and being a style icon. Get synced with the fast life and listen to the soundtrack of Joe Jonas as he performs his famous guitar riffs and solo hits such as “See No More, "FastLife," and, ”Just In Time”. His new album, and the videos for its first two singles, are a clear stab at breaking Joe from the teen-idol mold and out into the mainstream.

Joe Jonas’ first album's lead single, "See No More," was released in June 2011 and earned rave reviews from both Billboard and Entertainment Weekly. People Magazine recently included the song in their Hot Singles list and was also just nominated for a Teen Choice award while the video for the song has racked up nearly 5 million views on YouTube and VEVO. He made his U.S. television debut as a solo artist on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon." Joe Jonas’ setting out on his own underscored the diversity of his talents and vocal ability.

Now 22, Joe Jonas was part of the multi-platinum selling award winning band the Jonas Brothers, sold over 8 million albums worldwide, performed to sold-out stadiums and arenas across three continents with artists such as Jay Sean and Britney Spears, and was on the cover of Details Magazine, Paper Magazine’s Summer Music Issue and featured in Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone. In addition to creating timeless hits and performing in front of sold-out audiences all over the world, Joe is actively involved with both the Special Olympics and his own charity, Change For The Children. For eager Jonas Brothers fans who are excited about Joe Jonas’ trek down the solo path, this singing sensation will definitely give inspiration to Ayala Malls Style Origins this month.

Through Style Origin, join the festivities, be immersed in the experience, and walk away fulfilled and with a deeper appreciation for fashion, lifestyle and music. Catch Joe Jonas' Philippine Mall tour this May 27 as the singer will be signing off CDS and autographs after the show. Catch this exciting event and more only at Cebu’s premiere shopping, dining and entertainment destination, Ayala Center Cebu. To get tickets Click Here!

Three’s a Charm: Krispy Kreme Opens Third Store in Cebu

5:18 AM

Vernon Joseph Go

They say that the number three is a magical number. If that’s the case, then there’s no stopping Krispy Kreme from making shared moments more magical as it opens its third store in the Queen City of the South.

Merely seven months after the much-loved doughnut and coffee brand made its grand debut in the region by opening two stores late last year, Krispy Kreme is once again on the move to make it easier for doughnut and coffee aficionados to enjoy their favorite treats—just in time for its 75th birthday celebration.

“Krispy Kreme is a brand that Cebuanos have grown to love,” shares Jim Fuentebella, Chairman of Krispy Kreme Philippines. “Since our launch last year, Cebu has become one of our main markets in the country. This third store is a testament to that; and a proof to our commitment to satisfy the continuously growing clamor for world-class coffee and doughnut in the region.”

Conveniently located inside one of the country’s biggest shopping centers, SM City Cebu, the new Krispy Kreme store is a welcome addition to the mall’s dynamic mix of retail and dining establishments—complimenting the brand’s two other stores located at IT Park and Ayala Center Cebu.

“Like in all of our other locations, this one was strategically chosen to make our products accessible to everyone. Located minutes away from Cebu International Port and other terminals, this will allow passengers going in and out Cebu to enjoy our fresh treats before they leave or once they set foot on the island,” Fuentebella adds.

Sporting Krispy Kreme’s 75th birthday look and offering its full selection of premium treats including its world-famous Original Glazed doughnuts and Signature Coffee, the opening of the new branch will also debut the brand’s year-long “Share the Gift of Joy” campaign in Cebu.

“The Share the Gift of Joy campaign is our biggest 75th birthday gift to all,” says Fuentebella. “Aimed at providing assistance to 12 charities, it makes it easy for everyone to help Krispy Kreme’s efforts for nation-building. Its mechanics are simple: every time someone purchases one of our specially-designed 75th birthday tin cans, Krispy Kreme puts aside P20 to help our partner charities. At the end of the campaign, Krispy Kreme will equally divide the total accumulated fund among the different causes it supports.

Enjoy Krispy Kreme’s distinct confectionery goodness by visiting the brand’s new store in SM City Cebu now.

Krispy Kreme's Advocacy:
Celebrate Krispy Kreme’s 75th birthday and help spread love by supporting the brand’s Share the Gift of Joy Campaign. With every purchase of Krispy Kreme’s specially-designed 75th birthday tin can, P20 goes to helping 12 charities, which includes Autism Society Philippines (ASP), ABS-CBN Foundation Inc.-Bantay Kalikasan, Caritas Manila Inc., Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) Visual Arts and Museum Division, Development and Accessibility Fund for the Deaf Inc. (DeAF Deaf Inc.), Friends of Hope Inc., ICanServe Foundation Inc., Kythe Inc., Operation Smile Philippines (OSP), Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS), Philippine Red Cross (PRC), and Philippine Native Plants Conservation Society Inc. (PNPCSI). For more information, you may become a friend of Krispy Kreme by visiting www.krispykreme.com.ph or by liking Chloe at www.facebook.com/ChloeKrispyKremePH. Spread happiness, share with Krispy Kreme.

SUN CELLULAR POSTS HIGHEST 1Q GROWTH RATE IN TELCO INDUSTRY

6:02 AM

Vernon Joseph Go

Sun Cellular sustained its positive streak as it registered a 17% growth in its net service revenues for the first quarter of 2012 of Php4.2B compared with Php3.6B for the same period last year. This is the highest growth rate for any local telco this year.

Sun Cellular President and Chief Executive Officer Orlando Vea attributes the strong growth to the positive response of the market to the continued improvement of Sun’s network powered by synergies with parent company, PLDT. “We are elated by the market’s continued take-up of Sun’s services, and they can expect even better products and services to be offered to ensure that this momentum will be sustained,” he says.

Revenue from Sun Cellular’s postpaid segment in the first quarter of 2012 grew by 20% compared with the same period last year. 2G postpaid subscribers at the end of March increased to 1.41 million, up 26% from 1.12 million in the same period last year. According to Sun Cellular’s Chief Operating Officer Charles Lim, this is largely because of new subscriptions to higher plans such as the Plan 450 Call and Surf, and the introduction of innovative new postpaid plans like the Plan 250 launched in selected areas in Luzon and Mindanao. “The timing of the launch of these new plans was great as it was complemented by the stronger network that we now have,” Lim explains.

Plan 450 Call and Surf gives customers with smartphones allows unlimited calling and texting within the Sun network plus 20 hours of free mobile internet access so they can maximize the use of their gadget. The Plan 250 is a special postpaid subscription plan for specific regions. These plans, which are more affordable compared to mainstream product offerings, entice would-be subscribers with the free handset that comes with it.

Lim further shared that the prepaid market continues to be robust for Sun Cellular as this segment grew by 10% percent in the first quarter to Php2.2B compared with Php2B for the same period last year. “Since our network has improved, our subscribers are starting to use their line more often. Consequently, people are starting to load in higher denominations such as our Text Unlimited 150 and 200. Also, our newly-launched “TRIO” bucket loads that allow calling and texting among Sun, Smart, and Talk and Text subscribers at affordable rates are picking-up in terms of demand” Lim explained.

Lim also revealed that wireless broadband business continued to perform strongly, registering a 54% rise in net service revenues to Php487.1 million for the first quarter this year. “Our broadband subscriber base at the end of March climbed by 54% for postpaid subscribers and 73% for prepaid subscribers respectively compared with the same period last year. We are expecting these numbers to rise steadily given the market’s greater demand for mobility.”

He further shared that Sun Cellular started offering SIM-only plans to cater to subscribers who want to use Sun Cellular’s broadband service in their various gadgets, in anticipation of the continuing growing demand for broadband access.

When PLDT acquired Sun Cellular from the JG Summit group last year, it made a commitment to continue offering the unlimited products and services that Sun Cellular has always been known for. In addition, initiatives to integrate the PLDT, Smart and Sun networks are being pursued to support these service offerings. “We would like to make sure that our existing and potential subscribers are able to take advantage of the synergies available within the PLDT group, and we are very glad that these are starting to pay off,” Lim concluded.

AboitizLand joins Gabii Sa Kabilin 2012

4:44 AM

Vernon Joseph Go

Startup Weekend Cebu opens Friday

4:40 AM

Vernon Joseph Go

IT’S all systems go for the much-awaited first-ever Startup Weekend Cebu on May 11-13 at the Conference Room of the University of the Philippines – Cebu (UPC) along Gorordoave.in Lahug, this city.

Startup Weekend Cebu organizers, led by TechTalks.ph, have partnered with innovative organizations -- Globe Telecom, incubator Kickstart Ventures Inc.,Philippine Development Foundation (PhilDev), Developers Connect (devCon), Exist/Morphlabs, and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) -- to bring this much-anticipated event to Cebu.

In a demonstration of community collaboration, the Startup Weekend Cebu community also received enthusiastic support from the Startup Weekend Manila organizers – web engineering firms ProudCloud and Dynamic Objx, as well as incubator Kickstart Ventures – to build on the lessons learnt from the two previous Startup Weekend Manila events, weaving in specific grassroots Cebu community perspectives.

Startup Weekend -- a 54-hour competition where developers, designers, marketers, technopreneurs, and venture capitalists come together to share ideas, form teams, build products, and launch startup businesses – is designed for entrepreneurs interested in receiving feedback for an idea, looking for co-founders, or who want to learn a new skill, especially in the field of mobile and internet applications.

The concept, which started in the US, is now a global movement, taking digital start-up businesses from ideas to investment readiness through intensive mentoring from industry experts and access to markets and investors across Asia.

The Cebu community kicked off their startup momentum with a pre-Startup Weekend Cebu Bootcamp organized together with the Google Technology User Group (GTUG) on May 5, and an online campaign to invite aspiring and first-time technopreneurs, as well as the serial startup veterans, to join what promises to be an energetic and creative weekend at the University of the Philippines Cebu campus.

A total of 200 participants, or approximately 28 teams composed mostly of experienced developers are expected to converge at UPC starting 5:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, and start their high-energy, high-impact, and high-creativity weekend experience. Registrations are still open at http://cebu.startupweekend.org

Aside from the mentors and judges, also expected to attend the weekend gathering are some investors from Singapore, to whom the participants will be selling their best ideas for a viable product.

Tapped to assist the participants as mentors are Christian Besler, Dan Siazon and Minette Navarrete of Kickstart, Eugene Fabian and Alex Goh of Microsoft Singapore, Albert Padin of SpellDial, PpipCimafranca, Jay Fajardo of ProudCloud, Jonathan Lansangan of Dynamic Objx, finance professional Bryan Low, Chris C. Ducker of VBS, Eric Su of Twidl Inc., Paul Villacorta of Cebu Directories, Gwendolyn Regina Tan, Ruben Licera Jr. of RLComm International, Taylor Miles of webbROI, and Wilson Ng of Ng Khai Development Corp.

Named judges for Startup Weekend Cebu are Kickstart president Minette Navarrete, Alvin Gendrano of Microsoft, Winston Damarillo of Morphlabs, Jean-PatirckBisson of ClickingLabs.com, Harm Rietjens of CareSharing, Vinnie Lauria of Golden Gate Ventures, Jay Aldeguer of The Islands Group, and PhilDev COB DiosdadoBanatao.

Aside from Cebu, Startup Weekends in Naples, Italy and Burgos, Spain are also scheduled on May 11-13.

TechTalks community

Startup Weekend Cebu is made possible through the concerted efforts of TechTalks.ph’s TinaAmper and Mark Abellawith the able support of fellow organizers Dave Overton of Symph, Fleire Castro of Third Team Media, Mark Buenconsejo of CareSharing Inc., Ian Bert Tusil of NextSparks Studios Co., Paola Galan, Miguel Antonio Garcia, Bjorn Bernales of Bjorn iMedia, Vicki Saguin of CIT-U, Pauline Wade of UP, Ryan Hermocilla, and Patrick Villaruz.

TechTalks.ph is an IT grassroots community in Cebu founded by Amper in November 2010. It started with only a dozen people but eventually grew up to over 440 members, including businessmen, developers, and designers, among others.

After running into TechTalks member and Startup Weekend Manila 2011 organizer Jonathan Lansangan in January this year, Amper broached the idea to the online community of bringing Startup Weekend to Cebu. And, of course, the rest was history.

Startup Weekend Cebu is held in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology – ICT Office and is sponsored by Globe Telecom, Kickstart Ventures, devCon, PhilDev, Morphlabs, Exist Global, Microsoft BizSpark, UP Cebu, CeBuinIt, Gist by Blackberry, ThirdTeam Media, Startupr, Symph, CareSharing, TechTalks, Clicking Labs, Ripe Concepts, webbROI, The Islands Group, Epremium Solutions, Nokia Phils., Wavemaker Labs;

NextSparks, Cedf-it, MyCebu.ph, Cebu Directories, Cebu Institute of Technology -University, PinoyBorn, Ching Palace, Lenovo Mobile, Harolds Hotel, The Lean Entrepreneur, Red Carpet Catering Services, Chedz Cakes and Pastries, Chinese Ngohiong, Philippine Spring Water Resources Inc., Shobee Bakeshop, Maverick, AdSense Flippers, Cebu Bloggers Society Inc., Zero Three Two, Everything Cebu, Amazing Cebu Channel 54, Alcordo Advertising, Sun.Star Cebu, Cebu Daily News, The Freeman, and PRWorks.

Plan in full control with Globe Load Tipid Combo

3:26 AM

Vernon Joseph Go

This summer, take advantage of a postpaid plan that will give you full control of your monthly expenses. With Globe My Super Plan Load Tipid Combo, you can definitely save up for that much-awaited beach trip this time of the year, with a few more to spare to upgrade your hotel room to an executive suite for that ultimate experience.

Globe Load Tipid Combo is a budget-friendly postpaid plan that lets you set your monthly load, choose the gadget you want, and use your load for prepaid promos. If you need more load after you use up your plan, you can just reload like prepaid. Even better, unused load carries over to the next month - and the next and the next - making it good as immortal.

Setting up your Load Tipid Combo is easy and hassle-free. First, you choose the amount to be automatically loaded to your account every month: There’s Plan 300 with 35 free texts to all networks, Plan 500 with 85 free texts to all networks, Plan 800 with 170 free texts to all networks, and Plan 1500 with 375 free texts to all networks. With any Load Tipid Combo plan, you never miss out an opportunity to connect not just with your friends who are on Globe and TM, but also with your pals subscribed to other networks.

Next, use your monthly load to avail of prepaid promos. Offers available in daily variants include SuperUnliAllTxt25 for P25, SuperAllTxt20 for P20, SuperTxt SuperUnli for P25, SuperSurf for P50, BlackBerry Max for P50, and many more. You can even subscribe to monthly promos such as Duo for P450, SuperDuo for P599, SuperTxt for P349, BlackBerry Social for P299, and BlackBerry Messaging for P299. For a complete list of prepaid promos, just dial *143#, the ever-reliable quick-service menu exclusively available for Globe subscribers. With *143#, there’s no need to memorize registration codes or access numbers. It’s a one-stop shop to everything you need as a Globe user. Spell ease and convenience just by being Globe-connected.

Finally, choose the perfect device for your choice of plan. Get top of the line phones for free or with a huge discount from the world’s biggest device brands such as Samsung, MyPhone, Nokia, CloudFone, LG, BlackBerry, and Apple.

“Globe My Super Plan Load Tipid Combo joins our innovative suite of personalized and flexible postpaid plans that cater to a very diverse postpaid market. With Load Tipid Combo, you have full control of your monthly spend when it comes to your postpaid plan, including immortal load and a free device of your choice. You get the benefit of choosing your plan and the amount of load you can use to avail of promos that you can change daily depending in your needs,” said Martha Sazon, Head of Globe Postpaid.

Added Sazon, “You are also guaranteed of a worry-free experience when you reach your monthly plan limit because you can reload like a prepaid user and therefore control your load expenses. And in case you have unused load, it automatically rolls over to the next month with no expiry, so you enjoy immortal load while on a postpaid plan where nothing is wasted, allowing you to truly enjoy your postpaid plan your way, the way you want it.”

Know more about the Globe My Super Plan Load Tipid Combo, visit www.globe.com.ph/postpaid, call 730-1010, or visit any Globe Store nationwide.

Make your every day amazing with Nokia Lumia smartphones

3:27 AM

Vernon Joseph Go

Add some fun and excitement to your every day with Nokia Lumia smartphones! Have a more convenient and amazing mobile experience with the fastest and easiest connection to your friends, things and places.

Quick connections

Turn up the fun with the Nokia Lumia 610, a beautiful Windows phone that has a distinctive profile and finely beveled metallic edges, which comes in the colors of white, cyan, magenta and black. It is built to convey both quality and aspiration.

The fourth and most affordable Nokia Lumia smartphone, Nokia Lumia 610 is the perfect introduction to Windows Phone for a younger audience. It provides instant access to social networks and brings all mobile, email, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn contacts into one place, making it easy for you to keep in touch with friends. Browsing the Web is more convenient with Internet Explorer 9 and you can choose from thousands of apps in the Windows Phone Marketplace to further personalize your mobile experience. Nokia Lumia 610 comes with free extras like Nokia Maps and Nokia Drive.

Easier and faster social communications

Enjoy the best social and Internet performance with the Nokia Lumia 800 that boasts of one-touch social network access, easy grouping of contacts, integrated communication threads and Internet Explorer 9. It features a 3.7 inch AMOLED ClearBlack curved display blending seamlessly into the reduced body design, and a 1.4 GHz processor with hardware acceleration and a graphics processor.

This stunning Windows phone features head-turning design and vivid cyan, magenta, black and white colors. The Nokia Lumia 800 contains an instant-share camera experience based on leading Carl Zeiss optics, HD video playback, 16GB of internal user memory and 5GB of free SkyDrive storage for storing images and music.

Both Nokia Lumia smartphones were acknowledged by different award-giving bodies. The Nokia Lumia 610 was recognized by the Mobile World Congress, winning Best in show, Tom’s Hardware; Best budget smartphone, Laptop Magazine; and Best Windows smartphone, Computer Active. Meanwhile, Nokia Lumia 800 received the Editor’s Choice Award at the What Mobile Awards 2011.

With these new Nokia Lumia smartphones, you can make your every day amazing. SRP for the Nokia Lumia 610 is Php 10,980 and PhP 23,500 for the Nokia Lumia 800. These are available for purchase by end-April at select Nokia Stores and retail outlets nationwide.

NUTRI-CHEF CHALLENGE 2012 Results

12:54 AM

Vernon Joseph Go

San Remigio Beach Club celebrates decade of success

11:03 PM

Vernon Joseph Go

THE northern town of San Remigio, Cebu, is expected to be bustling with a variety of lively and colorful activities next week when San Remigio Beach Club marks a special milestone this year – “A Decade of Success.”

Come May 12, San Remigio Beach Club will celebrate 10 years of people and achievements that continue to transform and benefit the municipality of San Remigio.

“This year, as we celebrate a decade of growth, we wish to give tribute to the locals and to our industry partners,” San Remigio Beach Club COO and general manager Mark Ynoc said. “We are also inviting all club members to join us in the celebration.”

Activities lined up for San Remigio Beach Club’s 10^th year anniversary celebration include a motorcade around the municipality, live concerts, interactive performances, sky lanterns display, and raffle draws.

Guests will have the opportunity to tour around San Remigio town via the police-escorted motorcade and the chance to learn the art of fire dancing from professional in-house tutors. The live performances will be provided by the ethnic/tribal band “Lupon Anduyo” and the San Remigio Beach Club’s Serenaders.

For a minimum of two nights stay, San Remigio Beach Club is offering an anniversary promo rate of P999 per head on room accommodation plus round-trip transpo. Entrance fees for day use are P50/person inclusive of one complimentary beer and P360 per head with buffet dinner.

San Remigio Beach Club – located in Barangay Tambongon, San Remigio, Cebu -- is not a huge resort but it makes guests comfortable with its abundant coconut trees, lush greens, and colourful flowers that make for a beautiful and peaceful environment.

Guests at the San Remigio Beach Club can do lots of activities including swimming on the pool or beach, running on the white sands, snorkelling, scuba diving, horse back-riding, basketball, volleyball, badminton, billiards, and island hopping. Little ones can have their fun, too, in the playground for children.

Local food favorites and western delights can be enjoyed at Cafe Gloria, while refreshing drinks and snacks are available at the Clubhouse Bar, Skipper’s Lounge, and Bahia Vista.

Globe Telecom, Inc.’s Proposed Fixed Rate Bonds Rated PRS Aaa

11:02 PM

Vernon Joseph Go

Philippine Rating Services Corporation (PhilRatings) has assigned a PRS Aaa rating to Globe Telecom, Inc’s (Globe) proposed issuance of a principal amount of up to P15.0 billion in fixed-rate bonds, of which Globe is preparing to offer an initial tranche of P10.0 billion. Depending on market conditions and other factors, Globe may issue an additional tranche of debt securities with a principal amount of up to P5 billion. PhilRatings has thus issued its rating to cover both tranches and a total aggregate principal amount of up to P15.0 billion.

“Obligations rated PRS Aaa are of the highest quality with minimal credit risk. The obligor’s capacity to meet its financial commitment on the obligation is extremely strong.”

The rating assigned reflects the following key considerations: strong, though moderated earnings given keener competition; the company’s well-managed capital structure; strong cash flow generation and adequate liquidity position, strong shareholder support; and the proactive stance of management in addressing the need for improved network quality and reliability.

PhilRatings’ ratings are based on available information and projections at the time that the rating review is on-going. PhilRatings shall continuously monitor developments relating to Globe and may change the rating at any time, should circumstances warrant a change.

In 2011, consolidated revenues, excluding non-recurring income, amounted to P72.44 billion, 8.73% higher compared to last year’s level. This was achieved on the back of robust service revenues which reached an unprecedented P67.81 billion, up by 8.40% from last year’s P62.56 billion. Strong take-up for Globe’s customizable postpaid plans and mobile browsing services, and competitive offers catering to prepaid subscribers allowed the company to register a 7% increase in mobile service revenues to P53.95 billion, several times higher than the estimated 1% industry growth. Revenues from the fixed-line and broadband segment, on the other hand, posted a healthy 15% increase to P13.86 billion. Consolidated revenues were further pushed up by the 25.39% hike in non-service revenues which stemmed from the higher sales of handsets and Tattoo Broadband sticks. Net income was generally flat but remained strong at P9.83 billion as the 11.48% increase in total cost and expenses to P58.66 billion tempered revenue growth. Factors which contributed to the higher cost and expenses were higher marketing expenses needed to support aggressive acquisition campaigns, network-related expansion activities, and depreciation and amortization expenses which were pushed up by the accelerated depreciation related to a network change-out.

After dropping by 18.66% to P27.15 billion in 2010, cash flows from operations posted a 10% growth to P29.93 billion in 2011 due to non-cash adjustments and working capital changes. Net of capital expenditures which amounted to P17.4 billion, operating cash flows were still sufficient to service maturing debt. Capital expenditures in 2011 were mostly for the expansion of Globe’s wireless and broadband networks.

Debt to equity ratio improved to 1.01 in 2011 due to the reduction in debt level combined with a slight rise in equity. This was well within the 2.1 debt to equity limit dictated by the company’s debt covenants, providing Globe with enough flexibility in terms of obtaining additional borrowing.

Going forward, the bulk of revenues will continue to come from the mobile segment although the broadband business is expected to likewise contribute significantly in terms of percentage growth. Accelerated depreciation of assets that need to be decommissioned in relation to the network modernization will affect the company’s bottom line in the next two years. As these charges are non-cash items, however, the company’s cash generating ability will remain strong and will provide more than ample coverage of maturing debt. Although the issuance of the proposed bonds (which will be used to finance capital expenditures) will increase the company’s leverage, Globe’s capital structure is seen to remain manageable.

To improve network reliability, meet larger volume demands, as well as increase the quality of service, Globe will be undertaking a mobile network modernization program over the next two to three years. While a significant amount is being allotted for the project, this is expected to enhance customer loyalty as the company will be able to provide improved services. Globe will also be initiating a comprehensive re-engineering of its IT systems over the next two years. With these two projects, the company expects to generate savings in operating expenses amounting to US$180 million and capital expenditures amounting to US$210 million dollars over the next five years, in addition to the potential revenue contributions from such expanded capacity.

Earlier this year, Globe settled its rated P5 billion fixed-rate bonds (P1.974 billion three-year bonds due in 2012 and P3.026 billion five-year bonds due in 2014). Such was financed by a combination of internally generated funds and the issuance of long-term loans.