Monthly Archives

October 2022

Food

Glazy over Doughnuts

Since they were first introduced nearly 40 years ago, doughnuts have become a beloved sweet treat among Filipinos. Doughnuts have since changed into interesting tastes and styles, and they have even become trendy. Do you know that you can now make consistent, #Madalicious, premium-quality yet reasonably priced doughnuts to sate your family’s demands or launch a profitable side business? Recently, San Miguel Mills Inc (SMMI) expanded its selection of baking premixes.

Yeast-Raised Doughnut Mix to Mix and Fry. You will need to spend a lot of your valuable time making doughnuts from scratch. Instead, all you need to do is combine the premix with yeast, water, and oil to get 2 dozen delicious, soft doughnuts! Get glazy with these doughnuts.

Directions:

  1. DONUT
  2. Combine all ingredients and mix at low speed for 1 minute. Scrape sides.
  3. Shift to high speed and mix until dough is fully developed.Rest dough for 30 minutes
  4. Roll out dough (‘’sheet’’) to about 10mm thickness and rest for 30 minutes.
  5. Cut out using doughnut cutter and arrange on cheesecloth-lined trays. Proof for about an hour or until double in size.
  6. Preheat fryer to 180°C. Fry for 40 seconds on each side. Drain excess oil on paper towels and cool.
  7. Coat sugar or apply sugar glaze.
  8. SUGAR GLAZE
  9. Combine powdered sugar and gelatin and mix while gradually adding hot water.
  10. Add light corn syrup and mix until smooth and thin.

Keep warm.

 

 

 

 

October 11, 2022 by
Entertainment

Premiere of the Graduation short film by Called To Rescue Philippines

At the KMC Armstrong Cafe, Called to Rescue Philippines (CTR PH) yesterday debuted a short film. The short video, which features well-known young celebrities Nourijune Hooshmand and Donny Pangilinan, attempts to spread awareness about the recovery and reintegration of human trafficking survivors into society.

The movie “Graduation,” written and directed by international filmmaker Dean Colin Marcial, is about a young woman, Nourijune, who developed depression after escaping human trafficking. She was able to gradually regain her footing with the help of her brother, who was portrayed by Donny.

Beyond Rescuing

GRADUATION was the brainchild of Marcial, CTR PH Advocacy Head Abby Anciano, and CTR PH President Anthony Pangilinan. The three, advocates and active volunteers of CTR PH, found the need to bring emphasis not only to a survivor’s rescue, but to their reintegration to society as well.

“Bakit hanggang rescue nalang? Yung after-rescue rin kailangan. [This project] was out of frustration for me, and is one of the reasons I decided to do this,” Anthony explained.

“Our main focus [was on a] survivor’s reintegration into society. It’s something that I drew on, something Donny and Nourijune drew on as well,” Dean expressed.

From there, the two gathered a team of volunteers to bring the short film to life. With help from family, friends, clients, and donors, Graduation was set out to be one purpose-driven production.

Heeding The Call

The short film centers Cinemalaya actress Nourijune Hooshmand and Star Cinema actor Donny Pangilinan. Donny is a long-time anti-human trafficking advocate, while both are currently active CTR PH volunteers. Director Dean Marcial, script-writer and director of the film, handpicked the two for the starring roles.

When asked about participating in the project, Nourijune and Donny expressed no hesitation whatsoever.

“When Dean accepted to go through this project, alongside Nour, it’s not something I had to think twice about,”  said Donny, “I specifically chose to do this. I really believe this is something we needed to do.”

“This [advocacy] is really important work. I’m very thankful that I had this opportunity. I’m really happy to be a part of this,” Nourijune shared.

Everyone Is Called To Rescue

Doctor Cyndi Romine, international director of Called To Rescue, noted: “The film is for everybody because we all know somebody. To assume we don’t know somebody would be an error on our part.”

Though people might wonder who this film is truly for, whether it’s for those rescued or those taking care of the rescued, Graduation is a film made to touch all audiences who view it. It sheds light on the significance of aftercare work and a loving community — a part of healing that is more often than not, overlooked.

“Once a person is rescued, you need to meet a lot of people and still go through the journey with the help of people who love you,” Donny noted.

“The bond of family is different, and knowing someone is there for you can really help what you’re healing from,” Nourijune adds.

Through the five-minute film, CTR PH seeks to raise awareness of the difficulties faced by trafficking survivors after their rescue as well as the community’s shared responsibility for meeting their needs, assisting with their rehabilitation, and creating a safe environment for their ongoing healing journey.

Anthony said, “It takes a village to raise a child; a community to heal a child. Everybody is asked to help.

GRADUATION was made possible with the generous donors: Magic Crackers, Jollibee, Grab Philippines, KMC Solutions, Cabalen, MediCard Philippines, and LabX Corporation.

 

October 11, 2022 by
Lifestyle, Travel, Uncategorized

NEPAL DEBUTS ABOUT MIRAAYA, ITS MOST BEAUTIFUL GOLF & WELLNESS DESTINATION

This month, Nepal’s first boutique golf retreat destination for holistic wellness and spiritual development, Miraaya Wellness & Golf Retreat, will open for business under CG Hospitality. The Farm by San Benito, a renowned, multi-awarded eco-luxury holistic medical wellness resort in the Philippines, served as the inspiration for this high-end offering, which is the first of its kind in South Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. It promises to offer an ultra-luxury experience ranging from wellness treatments to wellness cuisine and mindfulness.

The best place to tee off is in the lap of nature at Miraaya, where the tranquil atmosphere and spiritual elegance rejuvenate the mind, body, and soul. The Miraaya heralds the restoration of tourism and hospitality to pre-pandemic levels.

The Miraaya’s unmatched offerings include 24 opulent guest rooms – lagoon villas, club suites, and villas with views of the 9-hole golf course. The property offers a 4069 yards comprising 9 holes with 32 par Golf Course, a spa & wellness sanctuary for all indoor and outdoor spa treatments, a yoga and meditation pavilion as well as new Three restaurants – Alive!, Prana, and The 19th Hole.

This exclusive premium resort nestling in the lap of Devachuli Hills is situated less than an hour’s drive from Bharatpur Airport on the strategic Mahendra or East-West Highway that connects Nepal from East to West. Other attractions include Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha; the breathtaking Chitwan National Park also home to the legendary Meghauli Serai – a Taj Safari (a CG Hospitality property) another and overlooks the spiritually enriching Shashwat Dham. Visitors to the Miraaya can visit the melting point of modern, traditional & traditional cultures at Unnati Cultural Village, another stunning offering from CG Hospitality which blends nature, culture, and spirituality in a never-seen-before combination in the neighborhood.

In its Phase 1 opening, slated for September 2022, Miraaya will open in a reinvented avatar the flagship Miraaya Wellness Spa. The brand new restaurants will offer their diners the finest culinary experience in the region. While Alive!, a vegan restaurant will advocate locally sourced, organically grown plant-based farm-to-table cuisine;, and the 19th Hole, a poolside sports bar and restaurant serving international cuisine.

Included in the complimentary activities for all guests are the resort’s yoga, meditation, and sound healing programs. In a pioneering move unmatched in all of Nepalese hospitality, the Miraaya Spa will offer traditional Nepali massage and beauty rituals using the healing properties of local medicinal plants and herbs.

In the second phase, expected to go live in the December 2022 as a grand launch, the property will open with 10 clubrooms, 8 lagoon villas and 6 golf villas with private pools, taking the room count to 24.

In the launch’s third and final phase in 2023, Miraaya will begin its medically-supervised programs such as Holistic Detox, Beauty and Longevity, Pain Management, Weight Management, Yoga and Raw Food Retreat.Miraaya promises to be a trailblazer in Nepalese hospitality as the region’s first luxury wellness, spiritual, and golf retreat that is close to Buddhist and Hindu religion centres and reverberates with tranquil healing energy.

“Miraaya embodies CG’s goal of holistic wellbeing, environmental sustainability, and cultural consciousness with its carefully curated fare”, says Rahul Chaudhary, Managing Director and CEO, CG Hospitality. 

Miraaya is the place to be for everyone from the serious golfer to the wellness fanatic traveling abroad to take in the most extraordinary experiences. And the world is getting closer to this gorgeous new holistic refuge from CG Hospitality internationally with the construction of a new, top-notch international airport at Lumbini.

Visit www.miraayawellness.com to learn more about Miraaya online.

 

 

 

 

October 10, 2022 by
Health and Wellness, Lifestyle

How to Stay Hydrated During the Ber Months in a Smart and Effective Way

We are once again in the ber months. The months of November and December herald the beginning of the Christmas season and all the enthusiasm that goes along with it, but they are also a time of irregular and severe weather, with powerful typhoons and heavy rains hitting nearly the whole country. One’s daily routine might be completely upset by these weather fluctuations, which can also lead to health problems including dry skin, diarrhea, the flu, and infections brought on by contaminated water.

Given the weather changes, the virus that is still present, and even the stress associated with the holiday season, staying well is essential to avoiding diseases throughout these wet winter months. Keeping hydrated is beneficial for maintaining good health.

It may seem a simple and easy thing to accomplish, but you’d be surprised how many of us find it hard to stay hydrated during the day. Here are several ways to make hydrating a habit.

Start your day with water

Hours of sleep deprive our body of water, and so drinking first thing in the morning starts the rehydration process right away. Drinking water in the morning also helps in cleansing the stomach and jumpstarting one’s metabolism.

Some prefer to take warm water upon waking up. Whatever your preference will do. What’s important is to start the day with water, hot, warm or cold.

Make sure to drink water throughout the day and not just during meals. Don’t wait to get thirsty to drink as that already indicates slight dehydration.

Monitor your water intake
On a daily basis, women should aim to consume 2.7 liters of fluids while men should go for 3.7 liters, according to the Institute of Medicine.

Dehydration can slow down a person’s physical and mental performance. It can eventually lead to chronic dehydration, which raises the risks of developing kidney stones, urinary tract infection, hypertension or a stroke.

As dehydration can happen whether outside or at home, one surefire way to get you to drink water more often is to always have a bottle of water next to you. If you’re heading out, carry a water tumbler with you wherever you go.

Make it a habit to track your water intake for the day. Some use large bottles that indicate volume content to measure how much they drink. The more tech-savvy ones turn to applications dedicated to tracking one’s water intake. Many of these are free online and will send you notifications throughout the day to remind you to drink.

Tracking your water intake will help you see what times of the day you are prone to drinking less and what causes this. More importantly, it helps you form the habit of drinking often, and once you’ve gotten more consistent on drinking the appropriate amount of water in a day, it will be easier to keep the habit going.

Hydrate with vegetables and fruits
Fruits and vegetables are great sources of water as well as vitamins and minerals. Adding water-rich foods to your daily meals will not only help keep you hydrated but also rid the body of toxins and make it stronger and healthier.

Some examples of water-rich fruits are watermelons, which contain 92 percent of water and is a great source of antioxidants; and cucumbers, which hold more than 90 percent of water and is rich in fiber, vitamin K and vitamin A. Oranges have 88 percent water content as well as vitamin C and potassium while apples are made up 86 percent water and are also a source of vitamins, antioxidants and fiber.

As for water-rich vegetables, lettuce, celery and cabbage are good for healthy hydration. Raw lettuce is made up mostly of water and strengthens bones, sharpens vision and helps you get better sleep. Celery, also made up mostly of water, can be beneficial when aiming for weight loss. Finally, cabbage has a water content of 92 percent and contains antioxidants that can help protect the body against certain types of cancer.

Minimize dehydration

When it’s too hot, try to stay indoors as much as possible to avoid getting dehydrated. Keep the fan or air condition on if necessary. If you have to go out, plan your activities with the weather in mind, and bring a bottle of water with you.

Wearing light and comfortable clothing when the weather is humid or warmer than usual also helps.

Trust only the safest source of water

Clean, safe and accessible water makes hydration easy, helping you and your family stay healthy and protected against illnesses such as flu, diarrhea and other diseases during rainy weather.

Waterlogic, the global leader in home and workplace hydration solutions, ensures you and your family are drinking clean and healthy water with its state-of-the-art water units that can filter out contaminants.

The Aqua SmartGuard (ASG) “cube” is a modern water filtration system that uses advanced technology to keep your drinking water free from bacteria and viruses, including the COVID-19 virus. It features a patented Firewall UVC technology that is tested and proven to remove 99.9999 percent of bacteria from the water. The Firewall also frees the water from bad tastes and smells while maintaining necessary minerals.

On the water unit’s outer shell, dispensing buttons, nozzles and tray is the BioCote, an antimicrobial additive that uses silver ion technology to keep microbial cells from growing and spreading on the dispenser’s surface. It helps decrease microbes in just 15 minutes and reduces 99.5 percent of bacteria in only 2 hours.

The Aqua SmartGuard is also a sustainable water source as it filters water right from the tap, helping reduce the use of plastic bottles. It offers four water temperatures: ambient, cold, hot and extra hot.

For an affordable fee of just Php1,490, the ASG Total Care Services is a maintenance service that includes unit installation, routine replacement of filters and UVC lamps, and even the maintenance of the entire unit, making things even simpler for people who wish to establish a healthy hydration habit. ASG recently announced a promotion that offered RCBC Bankard cardholders a free subscription as well as a 50% discount.

When customers set up their membership to be automatically charged to their credit card for 24 months, cardholders can take advantage of a free one-month subscription and a 50% discount on the installation fee. From September 5, 2022, through March 5, 2023, this promotion will be active. Visit rcbc.com to discover more about this promotion on RCBC’s website.

 

 

 

 

October 10, 2022 by
Health and Wellness

What’s in this dependable baby wash that soothes and moisturizes at the same time?

Do you need to update the skin game for your baby? Then raise your parenting game by providing your child with only the greatest skin care products, like Baby Dove, the brand that many devoted mothers trust and recommend. Nine out of ten mothers have vowed to switch to Baby Dove as their preferred baby wash. Mothers can rely on Baby Dove, a dependable and secure formula, for soft, moisturized, and calmed skin that their babies will adore. Your baby’s skin will always be healthy thanks to Baby Dove.

Now, giving your baby the best skin care has become easier. Note it down on your calendars: happening soon is a Baby Dove Baby Day Sale with Mommy & Me Bundles from October 15 to 26, 2022 at your favorite e-commerce stores!

There’s a Baby Dove for every mommy and baby out there. Take a look at what each one is made of to understand why Baby Dove really is the perfect choice for your baby’s moisturizing needs:

Baby Dove Soothing Moisture Hair-to-Toe Wash is made with warm milk and a calming chamomile scent that help soothe babies’ irritated skin. During the sale, you can get two (2) 885mL bottles of this variant for just ₱1,500!

Baby Dove Rich Moisture Hair-to-Toe Wash has a pH-neutral formula that goes beyond mild cleansing by helping replenish important nutrients which help retain the skin’s natural moisture. It also has a creamy lather which babies will surely love! The promo bundle will come with two (2) 1000mL bottles for ₱1,290.

Giving your infant the greatest skin care is now simpler than ever. Mark your calendars now because your favorite e-commerce companies will be having a Baby Dove Baby Day Sale with Mommy & Me Bundles from October 15 to 26, 2022!

Even better—a free 200mL bottle of Dove Body Wash in Lavender is included with every promotion bundle!

With the Baby Dove Baby Sale, switch over and take the first step toward supple, moisturized, and healthy baby skin. Soon accessible on Lazada and Shopee!

 

 

 

October 10, 2022 by
Food

The newest premium greeting cake from Goldilocks combines coffee and caramel. With this coffee caramel cake, you can make every occasion delectably memorable!

It’s like heaven on earth to eat a slice of cake that combines all of your favorite flavors. Why limit yourself to just one flavor when you can indulge in the delightful mix of two — coffee and caramel — in Goldilocks’ newest premium greeting cake?

The new Goldilocks Coffee Caramel Cake delivers a delicious fusion of tastes and excellent value, making it ideal for birthday celebrations or giving as a present to individuals who simply adore coffee and caramel. Make it a special occasion where everyone enjoys a gratifying slice of this substantial 9″Rd cake, which costs only P649 and serves 12 people.

Any celebration, big or small, becomes even more enjoyable with the new Goldilocks Coffee Caramel Cake. This latest mocha cake creation is set to wow not only the taste buds, for it can wake all your other senses too…wait ‘til you smell its irresistible scent of coffee and caramel.

When it’s time to dig in, share with them the memorable moment of slicing through the rich and thick coating that encases levels of fluffy mocha-flavored layers. In between are delightful creams and filling, while fun and flavorful mocha buttercream icing rounds out the premium greeting cake design.

Keep in mind that picking the greatest premium greeting cake does not necessarily require choose between two flavors. The brand-new Goldilocks Coffee Caramel Cake has the best of both worlds and is guaranteed to please all of your loved ones while being reasonably priced.

Visit a Goldilocks location near you or place an order online at www.goldilocksldelivery.ph to #CelebrateWithGoldilocks and its new Coffee Caramel Cake. For the most recent information, follow Goldilocks PH on Facebook and Instagram.

 

 

 

 

October 10, 2022 by
Food

Subway’s secret recipe is a must-try!

“Lecheng Pag-ibig To!” is a podcast hosted by Sam YG and DJ Chacha. The key to maintaining the spark in relationships was a hot topic on “, a podcast on love, relationships, and everything in between. Together trying out new things is one of the ingredients in this recipe, and one way to achieve that is by learning about cuisine.

As it turns out, Sam YG and DJ Chacha heard from a certified Marites in a Facebook group community called Sublovers PH that Subway has a secret recipe in store. This secret recipe sounds very familiar to them because this has been abuzz on Tiktok, Facebook, and Instagram. Checking trends on social media, it is always being talked about too. This secret recipe is very intriguing because this was also being mentioned on tv, radio and in the newspapers all the time.  What could this really be about? Why do people keep talking about this?

Visiting their favorite Subway restaurant, “Try our Secret Recipe!” signs will greet guests as they walk in.  Ask the sandwich artists what the secret recipe is, they will only say it was still a secret.  All you can do is order the sandwich to satisfy your curiosity!

The secret Subway recipe offers the ideal amount of heat and tang. For those who enjoy their sub spicy food extra hot, we highly recommend this secret recipe. The flavor is distinctive and will leave your taste senses begging for more.

Want to be in with us on this hot little secret?  Go ahead and taste their top-secret recipe at your favorite Subway location right away. This well-kept secret recipe will not let you down!

Please like Subway’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/subwayphilippines for more interesting news.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 7, 2022 by
Entertainment

Credit cardholders can receive ticket reductions thanks to a partnership between BPI and GMG production for “We Will Rock You The Musical.”

The Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) and GMG Productions are teaming up to bring the blockbuster musical We Will Rock You to the Philippines, rocking the performing arts landscape. When buying tickets with their BPI Credit Card, cardholders will receive discounts of up to 15%.

An international musical production called We Will Rock You The Musical is based on a Ben Elton novel. A multi-year international tour for this brand-new, redesigned production, directed and choreographed by Olivier Award finalist Nick Winston, begins in the Philippines.

24 of Queen’s most popular songs, including Killer Queen, Under Pressure, We Are the Champions, Radio Ga Ga, I Want to Break Free, Don’t Stop Me Now, Bohemian Rhapsody, Another One Bites the Dust, We Will Rock You, and more, are included in the musical. From October 27 to November 20, 2022, this will be performed in the Samsung Performing Arts Theater at Circuit Makati.

“BPI has always been an advocate for both the local and global arts scene. We make it a point to support and push for programs that would further art awareness and appreciation, in its various forms. One way is to make it more convenient and easier for Filipinos and our cardholders to experience arts and enjoy life with their loved ones, through promos and other perks,” said Jenelyn Lacerna, BPI Unsecured Lending and Cards Head.

The promo for We Will Rock You The Musical—which will run until October 26, 2022—is open to all BPI Credit Cardholders. There will be a 15% discount for BPI Visa Signature Card; 10% discount for BPI Platinum Rewards Mastercard and BPI Amore Platinum Cashback Card; and 5% discount for other BPI Credit Cards.

“We are incredibly excited to premiere the show in Manila and for us to play host to all the international producers visiting from around the world,” said GMG Productions CEO and We Will Rock You producer Carlos Candal.

“We want to put the Philippines on the map as a hub for theatrical productions. We know the Philippines has the talent and now we are spoilt for choice when it comes to venues,” Candal added.

Interested BPI Credit Cardholders may purchase We Will Rock You The Musical ticket(s) via the TicketWorld website (https://www.ticketworld.com.ph/) or outlets only. Upon accessing the TicketWorld portal, choose the date and time of the preferred show schedule. Enter the first 9 digits of your credit card in the “password” field and click “unlock” Tickets.

Only the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday evening performances are eligible for the promotion. Per transaction, a maximum of four tickets may be purchased. To learn more about the promotion, go to www.bpi.com.ph/creditcards/promos. Still no BPI credit card? Visit www.bpi.com.ph/cards/pq/landing to apply right away.

 

 

 

October 5, 2022 by
Lifestyle, News

Investors Summit will advertise QC as a premier business location

As they continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects, Quezon City will be promoted as an excellent destination for investors and enterprises during the eagerly awaited “Quezon City Investors Summit: Future Ready.”

“The summit will put the spotlight on Quezon City as top business destination for local and international investors. We hope to attract many investors who can help further stimulate the economy and provide employment for QCitizens,” Mayor Belmonte said.

The event, which is slated for October 7 at the Novotel Manila at Araneta City, will bring together investors, business executives, chambers of commerce, business associations, foreign dignitaries, and representatives of the Quezon City government for discussions on strategic investment opportunities, PPPs, and chances for expansion and growth.

“Quezon City is future ready, ready for investors, ready to build a better and more prosperous city so that our QCitizens will be able to enjoy the resulting benefits,” said Margarita Santos, head of the Business Permits and Licensing Department (BPLD) of Quezon City.

Aside from its strategic location, Quezon City also has the homegrown QC E-Services platform that makes business processes such as permit and license applications easy for investors, according to Santos.

“The LGU has automated and digitized 95 percent of the city’s services through its QC E-Services platform. This means potential investors can apply for business permits online,” said Santos, adding that the “permit will even be delivered to the applicant’s business or home address free of charge.”

As a matter of principle, the Quezon City government constantly consults and coordinates with the business sector, which has enabled both sectors to build a relationship of mutual respect and support. “This continued dialogue with the private sector helps all stakeholders to address various challenges and issues, and to think up ways to create a free, fair and fertile business environment,” Perry Dominguez, head of the Local Economic Investment Promotions Office, points out. The local government is known as an ardent supporter of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), providing them with incentives from tax breaks, tax payment extensions to changing the validity of business permits and licenses to help businesses especially during the pandemic.

Soon, Quezon City will launch its Start-Up QC program to further strengthen and develop the city’s start-up business ecosystem. “This program is calibrated to provide financial gains to innovative, creative and promising business models that can help provide solutions and recommendations to social issues and challenges,” Jay Gatmaitan, Investment Affairs Office head, explained.

The city’s commitment to good governance saw results when the Quezon City government received its second straight unqualified opinion from the Commission on Audit for its annual audit report for the year 2021. An unqualified opinion is the highest audit rating that can be rendered by COA to a government agency.

Recognized for its quality public service, Quezon City has increased its social services budget over the past three years, enabling the local government to provide livelihood opportunities and create more jobs, support education, and provide permanent housing, better healthcare and social safety nets, among others.

The summit’s organizer, Margie Santos, had stated that it intends to increase investor trust in Quezon City, attract investments and public-private partnerships, and establish Quezon City as a top-of-mind preferred investment destination.

 

 

 

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October 3, 2022 by
Lifestyle, News

Angkas: PH primed to push forward in tech and start-up space in 2022

IMMAP DigiCon’s co-presenter, Angkas, develops the roadmap for the tech-enabled industries and players in the coming years.

According to the Center for Economics Business Research, the Philippines is poised to be one of five ASEAN countries that will become digital powerhouses in the next fifteen years, despite the global pandemic (CEBR).

As per Angkas CEO George Royeca, the nation is prepared for a significant advancement in the innovation and startup sectors. The key focus of this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022, which will be co-presented by Angkas, the top motorbike taxi and delivery platform, will be these industries and their consistent growth in recent years.

Text Box: Angkas CEO George Royeca“While the pandemic has been the worst global crisis of the millennium undeniably opened new avenues for rapid growth in the country, particularly in the tech sector. Overnight, e-commerce, online payments, e-wallets, telemedicine, online gig employment, digital banks as well as delivery and logistics services experienced exponential growth which then had to be supported by faster internet speeds,” points out Royeca.

“The pandemic and the restricted mobility it necessitated primed the market in terms of tech literacy and a willingness to adopt tech-based solutions. There are products and services the market is ready for now that would not have been viable pre-pandemic, and that might have otherwise taken another 5-10 years for the country to be ready for,” adds Royeca. “We have had, and continue to have an ideal and unprecedented climate for both developing and funding tech startups. The kind of businesses that offer innovative products and services we couldn’t have even imagined pre-pandemic,” he concludes.

The road less trafficked

Angkas was itself an innovation, far more unconventional than it seems on the surface. Motorcycle taxis were already in wide use for public transport all over the region at the time of Angkas’ inception in 2015. Despite the crippling traffic in Metro Manila and its staggering economic cost, motorcycle taxis were not a solution being considered by anyone at the time, because motorcycles had an appalling safety record.

The Metro Manila Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMARAS) Traffic Accident report for 2015 indicated that motorcycle accidents comprised 39.6% of all vehicular accidents and 33.6% of all fatal accidents in Metro Manila. In each case they were by far the single largest contributors. Filipino motorcycle riders were regarded as too undisciplined for such a service to be reasonably safe.

Angkas’ innovation was in actually believing that with training, motivation and support, Filipinos could be the backbone of a safe and professionalized app-enabled motorcycle taxi service. “We shoulder the training of all rider applicants, then we carefully select only the top 30%. We also hold regular company events that serve as refreshers, and venues for more training in soft skills, and even things like anti-sexual harassment education,” explains Royeca. “The result is that after literally millions of rides booked, our safety record is 99.997%,” he concludes.

Sense of purpose, grit resilience

“I think the number one thing that potential startups should begin with is seeing the bigger picture: are you solving a real problem?” asks Royeca. “Any business venture is always going have a money-making aspect, but in this day and age, it is businesses that have an innate sense of purpose and that offer real solutions to real problems that are embraced by the public,” Royeca points out,

Royeca had specific advice to would-be startups on failure: “Don’t be afraid of failure or adversity, these build grit. As long as you are imbued with a sense of purpose, you will overcome failure and adversity and come out stronger, and with more grit.”

In Angkas short history, they were ordered to cease operations twice, their rider pool was capped, and just when they seemed in the clear, the pandemic hit. Showing true resilience, it was then that Angkas launched a courier and buying assistant service, allowing more people to do errands and business safely from home. Angkas also formed a partnership with the Red Cross to assist with the delivery, and administration of COVID-19 test kits. When it became reasonably safe to do so, Angkas also offered free rides to medical frontliners.

Co-creation Breeds Innovation

Community building begins when everyone contributes for the welfare of everyone, and that is exactly what resonated with Angkas to sign up and be a co-presenter for this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022, one of the most anticipated digital conferences in the industry which gathers professionals from marketing, advertising, and digital sectors to hear and learn from world-renowned and celebrated local keynote speakers.

Internet and Mobile Marketing Association of the Philippines (IMMAP) is an organization that works toward educating and providing the necessary digital tools for advertising and integrated marketing professionals to make better communication decisions. One such effort is the yearly DigiCon.

Royeca explains, “When you have a business that serves many, it is impossible to innovate without co-creation. Angkas would not have been possible without the coming together of technology innovations, government regulators, customers, and of course our rider partners, to create a “winnovation”, an innovation in which everyone has a stake, and in which everybody wins.”

From L to R: Brian Go (Angkas Chief Marketing Officer), Denise Haak (IMMAP DigiCon Co-Chair), Janelle Barretto (IMMAP DigiCon Ways & Means Head), and Trish Elamparo-Esteban (IMMAP DigiCon Co-Chair).

After two years of purely virtual connections, this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 will finally bring back face-to-face networking through the DigiCon After-Hours, which will be held during the evenings across the city, promising to provide cocktails and entertainment, and allow delegates to physically reconnect with other industry players.

“I think what Angkas is excited about is this live interaction; a lot of the best collaborations and partnerships happen because of these more spontaneous, in-person things, and human interaction is what makes all the creativity and innovation grow more,” muses Royeca.

As co-presentor for this year’s IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022, Angkas hopes that this can be a great model to induce new SMEs in the tech and startup sector, while also introducing a community mindset that can hopefully solve daily problems for Filipinos.

DigiCon Valley 2022 is happening on October 10-14 from 9AM to 1PM PST using ViVYD platform, with all new tracks that tackle the different stages of innovation: Launchpad, Hypergrowth, Breakthrough, and Enterprise.

This year’s prestigious keynote speakers include one of the most influential women in the world and Huffington Post founder, Arianna Huffington; Rappler Founder and the first Filipino Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Maria Ressa; internationally acclaimed marketing expert and academic, Mark Ritson; co-founder of Character ventures and Design Sprint inventor, Jake Knapp; and Global CMO of Dole Sunshine Company, Rupen Desai.

Buy tickets now and learn more about IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 at www.digicon.com.ph and follow their social pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

IMMAP DigiCon Valley 2022 is co-presented by Angkas, and would like to thank Platinum Sponsors: Manulife Philippines, Share Treats, and TikTok; Gold Sponsors: Investing in Women, an initiative of the Australian Government, Grab Ads, Kroma Entertainment, McDonald’s Philippines and Meta Philippines; and Silver Sponsors: Digital Turbine, Hepmil Philippines, and Metrobank.

A special thank you to Kickstart Ventures, Endeavor, and Creators and Influencers of the Philippines (CICP), the event sponsors of IMMAP. Join IMMAP right away!

Be an IMMAP Member today! Visit www.immap.com.ph for more information on IMMAP, or get in touch with us at: [email protected] (0917) 6310206 / (0918) 577 2357 for SMS/Viber.

 

 

 

 

October 1, 2022 by