TikTok promotes good vibes to beat lockdown blues: official

MANILA - TikTok is encouraging users to promote positivity on the dance video platform during the COVID-19 lockdown, as frontliners in scrub suits go viral, its Philippines head said Thursday.

Users are uploading more videos focused on safety and positivity after the enhanced community quarantine was imposed, said TikTok Philippines' User, Content and Community Operations manager Emmanuel John Castro.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH) are among agencies that tapped TikTok to reach a wider audience, he said. 

"We make sure that these videos are shown in the Philippines because these promotes positivity we’ve always been craving for as Filipinos," Castro said.



"We try to promote the right kind of information out there because TikTok has been like a big platform of users for different ages," he said.

Millions in Luzon have turned to social media platforms and the internet for entertainment during the lockdown of Luzon, which was extended until April 30. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Mega sardines seeks to raise lockdown capacity to meet demand

MANILA -- Canned sardines maker Mega Global said Thursday it was working to increase capacity to meet heightened demand during the Luzon lockdown.

Mega is transporting employees to its plant in Zamboanga to raise capacity to 75 percent from 50 percent, said its founder, William Tiu Lim.



The company's plant in Valenzuela City north of Metro Manila is helping the company meet demand in the region, he told ANC.

"We are looking at ways and means to get more people coming in so capacity will be bigger," he said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

How Google devfests are helping Filipino developers

The Google Developer Group of the Philippines is holding its annual devfest next month. This community-led developer event will bring together experts in artificial intelligence as well as Android, web and cloud technologies. Participants expect to come out of devfest with more knowledge and skills of google technologies.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

How will a Trump impeachment affect the economy?

In this edition of #MattersofFact, how can the ongoing impeachment inquiry against US President Donald Trump affect the global and Philippine economy? 

Jeffrey Halley, OANDA's Asia Pacific senior market analyst, and John Forbes, senior adviser of the American Chamber of Commerce share their thoughts.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Overseas Filipino Bank a one-stop-shop for Filipinos abroad

The Overseas Filipino Bank, which was inaugurated recently by President Rodrigo Duterte, will be a one-stop-shop for Filipinos abroad, a finance official said Tuesday.

The lender is expected to roll out its complete financial services menu by the second quarter, Finance Assistant Secretary Paola Alvarez told ANC’s Early Edition.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Jollibee to open 15 more outlets in Singapore, eyes 150 in Indonesia

MANILA - The famous Philippine chicken joy is spreading its wings across Asia as home-grown fast-food chain Jollibee announced Friday its plans for expansion in Singapore and Indonesia.

Dennis Flores, Jollibee president and head of international business in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Australia, confirmed that 15 more outlets will be opened in Singapore in the next five years.

He also revealed the company's long-term expansion plans in Indonesia.

“We’re looking at putting up no less than 150 stores in Indonesia over the next 10 years,” Flores told ABC-CBN News.

Jollibee opened its first outlet in Singapore in 2013 located at Lucky Plaza, a known hub for overseas Filipino workers. Flores said, a 6th outlet will open at Jurong East in April 2018.

He said the growing number of Singaporean patrons is proof that "Jollibee’s offerings have greatly appealed to the taste buds of the locals."

Aside from Indonesia and Singapore, Jollibee is looking into growing its international store network in Malaysia and Macau.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Programmable humanoid robots to hit toy stores

Robots have been transforming over the years from science fiction fixtures into the next must-have gadgets.

UBTech, a 5-year old China-based company that has become a global name in humanoid robotics, recently introduced to the Philippines its line of educational robots.

The humanoid robots, which can be controlled via iOS and Android devices, can be made to do a variety of movements.

Banbros, which distributes the robots in the country, told ANC's Future Perfect Tech Shorts that even kids as young as 8 can learn how to program the Alpha 1 Pro robots on a desktop PC.

As a special treat for Star Wars fans, the robots will soon also be available in Storm Trooper form.

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Create your own app in just a few minutes

With applications designed for almost everything, developing one seems to be difficult and requires specialized skill.

But digital platform Honesty Apps makes developing one's own app easy and achievable within a few minutes.

The company allows users who need an app for special events (such as conferences) and for creating social or professional groups to put together their own app within a few minutes.

"We are a nation of building relationships so sometimes we feel awkward introducing ourselves but because of this app, you can introduce yourself through the app," said Kassy Pajarillo, public relations/marketing head of Honesty Apps.

Valenice Balace, CEO and managing partner of Honesty Apps, said the company also offers support services during and after the event for which the app is used for.

Honesty Apps charges a minimum of P100,000 for 1-year maintenance and marketing support for base apps.

-ANC Future Perfect, August 16, 2017

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Asus showcases new gadgets at Computex 2017

As the month of May crossed over to June, tech journalists and bloggers worldwide flocked to Taipei for Computex 2017.

Asia's biggest annual tech show showcased the latest in digital computing technology wherein Asus took center stage.

The Taiwanese tech giant trotted out an assortment of laptops, 2-in-1 convertibles, and a smartphone that can support both virtual and augmented reality.

Tech blogger Jam Ancheta, who was at Computex 2017, joins Future Perfect to discuss more about Asus' new gadgets.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Luxury prefab developer eyes low-cost housing market

MANILA - A Filipino developer of designer prefabricated homes said Tuesday it was hoping to partner with government for low-cost housing projects.

Revolution Precrafted CEO and founder Robbie Antonio said the modular homes would be affordable if the scale reaches “hundreds of thousands or tens of thousands.”

Antonio’s venture is poised to become the Philippines’ first “unicorn” or $1-billion startup. Aside from designer homes, the company is targeting prefabricated condominiums, hotels and pop-up retail shops.

“We’ve been really trying to serve that base of the pyramid,” Antonio told ANC’s The Boss. “The affordable market is a goal from the CSR (corporate social responsibility) perspective.”

“It’s about design democratization. We would go to the bottom. It’s a thick market and need homes and if we can do that for the country, we can do it for the region.”

The government needs to build some 5.7 million homes in six years to address the country’s housing backlog, according to analysts.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Shares open higher on Wall Street rally

MANILA – Share prices opened higher on Wednesday as strong corporate earnings in the US fueled a rally on Wall Street.

The Philippine Stock Exchange was up 0.11 percent to 7,708.85. The peso opened at P49.67 to the dollar from P49.675 on Tuesday.

Foreign investors are returning to the Philippines and other emerging markets on expectations the Federal Reserve would raise rates twice more this year, instead of three times as some feared, BPI Securities research head Haj Narvaez said.

“It’s really fund flow driven,” Naravez told ANC’s “Market Edge with Cathy Yang.”

The local stock rally has room to extend since foreign funds are net sellers year to date, Narvaez said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com