PLDT Bozz Awards: The Awarding Ceremony for 5 of the Top Technopreneurs in the Country's digital arena

2 weeks ago, I was invited by Ms. Millet Liberato of DDB PR to attend one of the biggest award ceremonies this month: the PLDT Bozz Awards Ceremony held in the Palace Pool Club, Bonifacio Global City. Together with Rappler, Voyager, Ideaspace, Bloomberg Philippines, Uber, Takatack and Airbnb, PLDT has been in the forefront of recognizing and incentivizing the contributions of a new generation of technopreneurs who have heavily utilized digital media to grow and improve their businesses. The Bozz Awards is a social media crowdsourcing search for these remarkable people. 

According to FVP and PLDT Smart SME Nation Head Kat Luna-Abelarde, the search was a success. Nominations for the Bozz have reached more than 150 percent. Also, the stories that surrounded these people were one for the books. They embodied the characteristics of a innovative digital entrepreneur.

The nominees were then reduced to 15, with three nominees for each of the five categories—Boss for Mobile Readiness, Boss for E-commerce, Boss for Social Responsibility, Boss for Social Media and Boss for Customer Service.

MobKard’s Carlo Calimon won the title as the Boss for Mobile Readiness for creating a product that increases accessibility to goods and services. MobKard is a mobile application  that incentivizes customers to spend by offering promos and discounts in restaurants or establishments that are at a close proximity to the customer. It doubles as a privilege card for loyal customers as well. 

Kimstore’s Kim Lato won the title as the Boss for E-commerce. Through the use of the internet, she created a venture that has become one of the most ubiquitous tech and gadget stores online.  Her store is known for its commitment to high quality, safe, and trustworthy online shopping of electronic consumer devices.

Kristine Reyes Lopez won as the Boss for Social Responsibility. This person is the one who effectively harnesses the power of technology for a notable cause. Her Messy Bessy Cleaners, Inc. produces and sells cleaning and personal care items made from biodegradable, non-toxic and all-natural materials. She does this in conjunction with project HOUSE—Helping Ourselves through Sustainable Enterprises which employs and educates formerly abused, jailed and trafficked young adults for more productive and legal purposes.

Jason Magbanua, on the other hand, won as the Boss for Social Media. The title is for a person who utilizes social media platforms to create meaningful connections with customers and grow an online community of brand advocates. Mr. Magbanua made his mark as a wedding videographer who has become so in-demand in the country. He pioneered the “same-day-edit” videos, and his creations are popular on social media sites.

Chito Atilano, or more known as the Boss for Customer Service, uses digital platforms to provide better service and improve their business processes. His TimeFree Innovations is a virtual queuing solutions company which allows users to get an e-ticket through their smartphone. They then receive SMS alerts regarding their position in the queue so users don’t have to waste time waiting in line. This innovation helps companies improve their customer service and build brand loyalty.

They were chosen by means of public voting and a panel decision. The rating was divided into several categories: the promising entrepreneurial journey (20%), market/brand affinity (20%), integration of technology to business (30%), and product/service innovation (30%).

The winners won a Smart Enterprise Biz Kit which consists of business-enhancing tools and gadgets, including year-long data subscription, to boost their customer base and improve operations. They will also be given an opportunity to see the world’s melting pot of technology via a Silicon Valley tour. As a final twist, PLDT Smart SME Nation announced that the other 10 finalists will also join the exclusive tour.

According to Abelarde, SMEs need to explore mobile and online opportunities to cater to a market that demands so much from technology. It is up to PLDT Smart SME Nation to provide entrepreneurs with tools and solutions to enable them to flourish online and reach markets they wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach offline. She hopes that PLDT's efforts will encourage more Filipino SMEs to embrace digital platforms and inspire other SMEs to embrace technology driven platforms.

The story in pictures:

Celebrating the next generation of Bossings (from left): Boss for Customer Service Chino Atilano of Timefree Innovations, Boss for Social Media Jason Magbanua of Jason Magbanua, Mobkard Chair of the Board Jay Bernardo representing Boss for Mobile Readiness Carlo Calimon of Mobkard, Boss for E-Commerce Kim Lato of Kimstore, President and CEO of PLDT Group Manuel V. Pangilinan, Boss for Social Responsibility Kristine Reyes-Lopez of Messy Bessy, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, EVP and Head of PLDT Enterprise Eric R. Alberto, and FVP and Head of PLDT Smart SME Nation Kat Luna-Abelarde.

Kimstore's Kim Lato thanking PLDT and loyal consumers for the win.

Messy Bessy's Kristine Reyes-Lopez giving her speech.

Acknowledgement:

Ms. Millet Liberato of DDB PR for the invite and pictures.

KEEP YOURSELF GOING WITH ROBUST EXTREME

When it comes to sex, men have this one question etched at the back of their minds: “Am I performing well enough?” For men, questions like this seemed too important because this somehow affects (and even dictates) their ego and confidence. 

Luckily, there is a food supplement that can help men sustain their stamina and libido – Robust Extreme. ATC Healthcare International Corp. searched for the best ingredients that can aid in increasing stamina and libido and incorporated it into one convenient capsule – Robust Extreme.

• Spiral Algae contains various micro-materials that are essential for the body such as gamma-flax oleic acid and beta-carotene. 

• Corn Extract is a good cleanser for the urinary tract and is also beneficial for disorders of the prostate and cystitis and inflammation of the urethra. 

• Medlar Extract is a known diuretic.

• Ginseng Extract is known for its anti-oxidant properties and it is known as a treatment for stress. 

• Epimedium Extract or Horny Goat Weed is mainly used for its aphrodisiac properties and is commonly used as a sexual enhancer. 

• Cistanche Salsa Extract is used to increase men’s sexual power and is useful in increasing circulation to the genitals. 

• Hawthorn Berry Extract is beneficial for the health of the circulatory system. 

To achieve that sex god status, turn to Robust Extreme and get ready to feel immortal during intimate moments. Robust Extreme is sold at SRP P125.00 per capsule. It is available at Mercury Drug and other leading drugstores nationwide.

Hungry Sumo Taiwanese Cuisine at Retiro Cor. Banawe, Quezon City

2 weeks ago, I was invited by Mr. Jonitson Po and Ms. Amerilie Ang to sample the newest cuisine on the block- Hungry Sumo. As with new things, I didn't know what to expect. I initially thought that the place would be a Japanese resto offering typical ramen and sushi. But I was wrong. According to the owners, the place is actually a Taiwanese-style restaurant offering the best of the country's street food. The food resembles a highly American-influenced cuisine (due to the heavy westernization of Taiwan after 1948).

Upon further examination of the menu, I found that the viands are actually composed of chicken, pork, and fish deep fried and served with rice, pasta, or bread. Moreover, the drinks are actually composed of milkshake favorites served in a variety of flavors. Prices are actually very friendly to students and office workers looking for a tasty and affordable alternative to the fast food offerings in the area. The hungry meal, composed of 1 piece of deep fried chicken, pork, or fish capped with rice, sauce, and vegetables, are below 100 pesos. The sumo meal, on the other hand, composed of 2 pieces of the fried favorites, can go for up to less than 150 pesos. The specialty milkshakes start at 70 for the coolers and 90 pesos for the rocksalt variants (with cream cheese and salt). Drinks are at 30 pesos per glass. For those who prefer pasta, these variants start at 95 pesos per platter. With meat toppings, these can go up to 140 pesos. Bread lovers can try out their sandwiches capped at about 130 pesos complete with fries. For those craving for extra orders, chicken, fish, or pork poppers can be order at around 70 pesos per serving.  Given the affordable prices, who wouldn't want to try out these delights? 

They even offer the Hungry Sumo Platter: a delectable array of 8 pieces of their fried favorites together with pasta, milkshakes, sides, sauces, and rice that can feed 4 to 5 people.  Priced at Php 745 to Php 1265, this combo offers an excellent value for money choice for barkadas who like to eat big and spend less. 

The dishes aren't composed anything complicated or too exotic to the palate. These were just the way I like it: simple, tasty, and not so taxing on the wallet.

I was offered a taste of their specialty dishes: the Sumo Chicken Curry Rice Meal (Php 155) accompanied with a tall glass of Mocha Rocksalt shake (Php 90). According to the owners, their specialty lies in making chicken that is so melt-in-your-mouth. I was clearly impressed upon tasting. a few seconds after savoring the tasty curry sauce and breading, the chicken literally melted without me giving an effort to chew it. Now that's the true embodiment of tender juicy. Every part of the viand satisfied me. The skin, while deep fried, wasn't too salty. The meat, apart from being tender, truly absorbed the taste of the curry powder and the oil. Add to that the well-cooked rice and dishes, and you have a hit that catered to my tastes. According to the owners, customers were truly amazed at the texture, taste, and style of their chicken. I'd say it just needs a wee bit more of promotion to stand out from the giants in the fried chicken industry.

The milkshake, on the other hand, was pure creamy goodness. The texture and consistency was just right, and the mocha taste was not too bitter and overpowering. Even with the rocksalt and cheese, the drink didn't seem too fatty for my taste.

Given the array of dishes, I'm pretty sure Hungry Sumo would cater to a younger crowd very much interested in fried favorites and milky drinks.

Hungry Sumo is located at Retiro corner Banawe Street at the back of BDO and Papa Johns. Store hours are from 10:30 am to 9:30 pm Monday to Sunday. The restaurant also does packed lunch deliveries and bulk orders.

You can also visit their FB page at https://www.facebook.com/hungrysumo88/

The story in pictures:

The fried offerings

  

The Mocha Rocksalt Milkshake (Php 90)

The Sumo Meal Chicken Curry (Php 155)

The pasta dishes

The milkshake variants

The sign at Retiro

The simple menu

The Hungry Platter

They do packed lunch and deliveries

Another shot of the menu

Do like their FB page and instagram

The menu flyer

The logo

Truly satisfying

The venue

Floatsam: The Movie Bloggers Screening at SM Megamall Cinema 7, October 28, 2015

I was invited by Ms. Lhen Hassal of Toy Communications Advertising Co. to a special invite-only bloggers' premiere screening of Floatsam: The Movie, last October 28. 2015 at SM Megamall Cinema 7. Since I was a cinema connoisseur anyway, I decided to give a try without even knowing what to expect. Since I knew I was watching a Filipino film, I had the impression that this would be one of those run of the mill love story movies produced by a media giant. Little did I know that this latest movie staring the lovely Solenn Heusaff and Rocco Nacino would appeal to someone of my age group. As I went through the story, I found out that the movies is actually an indie film that cast big name stars in a very stunning backdrop: the picturesque Floatsam and Jetsam Hostel and the beaches of La Union. While watching, I already made plans at the back of my mind to visit the Hostel someday and drink and play music around the beach campfire at night. 

The film can be considered as the Philippines' first surfing movie exhibiting the natural beauty of La Union and the latter's viability for watersports. What made it even more impressive is the fact that the film was shot using HD cameras akin to the ones used in Game of Thrones. The texture and natural lighting of the beach was more than enough to set the mood and tone of a laid back beach story.

Plus, the movie showcases ten original songs from popular Filipino songwriters and singers including Marcus Adoro of the Eraserheads. The music made for the movie ranged from jazz to chill pop to campfire-friendly songs. These are tunes that can actually be listened to in a long drive 

As for the actors, it's actually pretty surprising that the producers of this indie film were able to recruit popular showbiz personalities. Also, while the film serves as a product placement for brands like Samsung, Cliqship, Nisce, and Floatsam Hostel, it still clearly conveys a story that is worth watching.

Apart from these excellent technical and artistic production efforts, the movie also explores the types and levels of relationships prevalent in the millenial generation.  This is heavily expressed in the main characters' attitudes towards the laid back and chill, not to mention worldly, life that La Union had to offer them. Some of the main characters believed in the notion of having one true love while the others wanted to experience the thrill ride of having multiple partners. Another was in doubt as to whether to marry her true love back in Manila or stay with a man she met in the sultry beach. From watching this film, I'd say that it tried paint an anything-goes picture of our generation: people who very liberal and independent at the same time. Given this premise, the film might be very attractive to people aged 30 below, while at the same time being a bit ambiguous in satisfying the preferences of older movie goers.  

For those interested, Floatsam: The Movie will be showing on Wednesday, November 4. 2015, in SM, Ayala, and Robinsons cinemas in different parts of the Philippines. It stars Solenn Heusaff, Rocco Nacino, Mara Lopez Yokohama, Carla Humphries, and Marc Abaya, all of whom are big names in the local showbiz industry.

Also, Floatsam and Jetsam Hostel is located in San Juan, La Union. You can visit their website at floatsamandjetsamhostel.com or call them at 09178021328.

Special thanks to Lhen Hassal of Toy Communications Advertising Co.