Experience super-sized fun at SM’s 65th Anniversary this October

It’s October, and it only means one thing at SM-SuperMonth!

Suit up for some super-sized deals, treats, and fun as SM celebrates its 65th anniversary. Check out the month-long festivities filled with spectacular activities, immersive attractions, and unforgettable experiences that will leave you thrilled and excited.

SM lights up the sky with Super Blue Illumination

Signaling the start of SM’s 65th celebration, key malls and iconic landmarks will bathe in a brilliant shade of blue starting October 1. A sight to behold and an event to watch out for, the Super Blue Illumination is a captivating display of dazzling lights that signify SM’s enduring legacy and commitment to bringing fun, awesome, and memorable malling experiences for over six decades.

SM MOA Globe

SM MEGA Tower

SM Aura

SM Seaside Cebu

It’s a shopper’s paradise with Super Buy 1 Get 1 Deals

October isn’t complete without a month-long parade of super-sized deals and promos at SM Deals! Expect Buy 1 Get 1 Deals from your favorite dining, shopping, and entertainment brands, extravagant discounts, exclusive bundles, and exciting freebies you can swipe to redeem in-store when you download and register on the SM Malls online app. And with a diverse range of brands and product offerings at SM, surely there's something for everyone in everyone’s shopping paradise.

Indulge yourself with Super Treats

Fun and frenzied October awaits as SM unleashes its Super Treats! On October 15, indulge the movie buff in you as SM Cinema offers a Php 65 movie ticket deal and a Php 65 caramel popcorn combo. It’s truly a match made in cinema heaven! 

From October 1 to 30, knock down pins all you want as SM Game Park and SM Bowling offer Php 65 off on unlimited bowling for one hour. For the skating aficionados, SM Skating will also be slashing off Php 65 on the all-day pass. 

And for the thrill seekers, you are in for a super treat! Have a whole day of wonder and excitement with a Php 65 entrance fee at Skyranch Tagaytay for all Mondays of October until 12 noon.

Create core memories at the Super Play Spots

Gather your squad and have fun at the Super Play Spots. With well-lit, Instagrammable areas, you'll have the perfect backdrop for your Super Month memories. These Super Play Spots promise hours of entertainment whether you're a social media maven or simply looking for a fun day out. Check out the Super Play Spots at SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM City North Edsa, SM Aura, SM Southmall, SM City Dasmariñas, SM Seaside City Cebu, SM Cagayan Downtown Premier, SM Lanang, SM City Clark, SM City Marikina, and SM City Iloilo.

Experience the magic of SM City Marikina’s Super Play Spot's Kaleidoscope Tunnel  – a dazzling experience for family and friends of all ages!

Drive away in style at the Super Raffle Giveaway with VISA

From October 1 to November 30, eleven lucky shoppers can get a chance to drive away in style at SM’s Super Raffle Giveaway with VISA. All you need to do is to shop for a minimum single receipt purchase of Php 2,000 via tap to pay using your VISA card at participating SM Retail Stores in 75 SM Malls nationwide. Get a chance to win one of the six (6) brand-new Hyundai Stargazers and one of the five (5) brand-new Hyundai Cretas. These brand-new Hyundai cars will really make your daily commute a super experience, so shop till you drop and maybe drive away with a new set of wheels!

SM’s Super Month promises to be a 65th-anniversary celebration like no other. Don't miss out on the super-sized deals, indulgent treats, and the chance to win big. Mark your calendars and get ready for a super malling experience at your favorite SM mall.

To stay updated for everything SUPER this October, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow @SMSupermalls on social media. 

Converge launches the most affordable postpaid fiber plan in Cebu

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama joins Converge Chief Operations Officer Jesus C. Romero and CEO Dennis Anthony Uy at the community launch of BIDA Fiber, held at one of the target neighborhoods for BIDA, Brgy. Basak, San Nicolas in Cebu.

Leading fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has introduced its most affordable postpaid plan yet called BIDA Fiber, aiming to capture the mass market who needs fast and reliable internet but prefers a monthly subscription over a prepaid service. At just P888 a month, BIDA Fiber is the best-priced postpaid internet plan today for an estimated eight million Filipino households. 

Converge launched the segment-defining product on Saturday (September 30, 2023) at Don Vicente Rama Memorial Elementary School in Brgy. Basak, San Nicolas in Cebu province where BIDA Fiber is getting encouraging patronage from budget-conscious Cebuanos. 

Converge CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony Uy underscores the need to cater to all segments, especially the broad mass market. There are still unserved needs in the class lower than the middle class, preventing them from digitally transforming, said Uy.

“We are thrilled to be able to cater to a new market with the most affordable fiber postpaid plan in the market which we are calling BIDA Fiber. For the price of P888, one household can enjoy unlimited data for a month, with speeds of up to 35 Mbps. We understand that there are still unserved needs in that class between those opting for our prepaid plan of Surf2Sawa (S2S) and the standard postpaid FiberX plans,” said Dennis Anthony Uy, Converge CEO and Co-Founder. 

Through BIDA Fiber, Converge aims to provide Filipinos with reliable, fast, and affordable fiber internet. For only P888 per month, subscribers will get to connect up to six wifi-enabled gadgets at the same time and enjoy unlimited, all-access web browsing, streaming, and mobile gaming.

Converge sees BIDA Fiber's no data cap as an advantage for households that have members in online classes or on a work-from-home setup while other members are engaged in other simple online activities such as online games and video calls with OFW family members abroad.

BIDA subscribers also get complimentary BlastTV access. Offered as a free Value-Added Service (VAS) under the company’s first-in-the-market “Watch Now, Pay Zero” initiative, BlastTV is a streaming television service designed to elevate entertainment, lifestyle, and sports viewing experiences for all Converge subscribers.

BIDA Fiber is being sold through community retailer partners, same as the S2S product, and so far, BIDA has made inroads in Central Luzon, which is the top-served region.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama hails the affordability of BIDA fiber, saying the lower middle-class neighborhoods will benefit the most from this product.

For the rest of the year, Converge is looking to deepen BIDA’s reach into metro cities such as Pasay, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Taguig, and others. BIDA will further expand in North and South Luzon, as well as Visayas and Mindanao. BIDA is currently present in 588 cities and municipalities across the country. 

“Our pivot into the broad mass market segments, along with the prepaid product of S2S, means our network is ready to take on the pent-up demand coming from this broader market. We have 6.1 million fiber ports rolled out to accommodate this demand,” noted Converge Chief Operations Officer Jesus C. Romero. 

As of the second half of 2023, Converge has a total of 1.97 million subscribers. While the bulk of the fiber internet provider’s residential subscribers are still in the postpaid segment, its prepaid subscriber base is steadily growing at a brisk pace.

SM CENTER SANGANDAAN CELEBRATES WORLD ANIMAL DAY

SM Center Sangandaan is all set to host an event that promises a wagging good time for pets and their owners alike as the mall celebrates World Animal Day. On October 4, the mall will transform into a haven for furry friends, featuring a range of engaging activities and partnerships with notable pet enthusiasts and local pet businesses.

The festivities at SM Center Sangandaan will commence with a pet blessing ceremony, where pets and their owners can receive blessings for health and happiness. At the heart of this event is a Corgi Meet that will bring together corgi enthusiasts and their adorable companions. Biggie_thecorgi, a social media sensation, will be present to host the gathering, making it an unforgettable day for Corgi lovers and their four-legged companions. This delightful gathering of corgis promises to be a heartwarming spectacle, showcasing the charm and playfulness of these adorable furballs.

For the health and wellness of our furry companions, SM Center Sangandaan has teamed up with NCE Sangandaan Animal Clinic to offer pet anti-rabies vaccination, deworming, and check-up services. The experienced professionals from NCE Sangandaan Animal Clinic will be on-site to ensure that each pet receives the care they deserve.

To add a dash of culinary delight, the mall has partnered with The Little Paw Partissier to present an exclusive Pet Buffet. From scrumptious treats to specially crafted meals, this culinary experience will pamper pets with a delectable assortment of flavors, sure to have tails wagging in approval.

The celebration doesn't end there! Pet Games will also be the highlight of the event, providing entertainment for both pets and their owners. From fun agility courses to exciting challenges, there will be something for every pet to enjoy. Prizes and giveaways will make it even more thrilling for participants.

Additionally, our furry friends will have a chance to enjoy a variety of pet treats provided by our generous pet brand sponsors. These treats are sure to delight your pets and add a touch of sweetness to their day.

In addition to these exciting activities, SM Center Sangandaan will be partnering with local shelter, Whelps, for a special Pet Adoption event. This event encourages prospective pet owners to consider adoption, offering them the opportunity to provide a loving home to a deserving lovable companion.

World Animal Day is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about animal welfare and celebrating the diverse and incredible array of creatures that share our planet. SM Center Sangandaan is proud to stand with this cause with spectacular events aimed at uniting animal lovers, fostering a deeper appreciation for our loyal companions, and advocating responsible pet ownership. 

BDO and Top Asian banks have issued a new report on climate initiatives

BDO Unibank Inc. (BDO), in collaboration with other prominent Asian banks, has produced the Asia Transition Finance Annual Report 2023 to assist Asian economies in making a "just and orderly transition" to a more sustainable future.

BDO is a member of The Asian Transition Finance (ATF) Study Group, a private-led project with a core of Asian-based banks. The ATF Study Group was formed in recognition of the critical role that transition finance (TF) will play in assisting Asian nations as they move toward net-zero emissions. Its purpose is to develop practical recommendations to enhance current frameworks, such as worldwide standards and taxonomies, when financial institutions (FIs) review and evaluate TF instances.

In 2022, the ATF Study Group published the ATF Guidelines to provide transition finance practitioners with a practical guide to assess transition projects. The Study Group simultaneously published the ATF SG Activity Report to share the challenges and suggested support measures to accelerate transition finance in Asia. These outcomes were introduced at the Asian Green Growth Partnership Ministerial Meetings (AGGPM) in September 2022.

This year, the ATF SG Annual Report 2023 was created after months of discussion among the core members, composed primarily of commercial banks. Development banks, export credit agencies, public agencies, finance associations, and SPOs joined as observers and knowledge contributors. Energy and industry players also participated as guest speakers to share their perspectives.

The ATF Annual Report 2023 describes certain advancements in the seven support measures suggested in the ATF Annual Report 2022 since its release last year. This year’s Study Group mentions more granular enablers needed to accelerate transition finance. The Study Group considers that making progress in these would merit a coherent collaboration among all stakeholders, especially public authorities, TF receivers, and FIs.

As a founding core member of the ATF Study Group since 2021, BDO believes that its sustainability journey, along with other Asian financial institutions, will be more gradual in pace compared to counterpart banks in Europe and the United States. But in collaborating with others, the Bank welcomes the opportunity to bring everyone in the same direction and better manage the energy transition for Asian nations.

BDO will continue to expand its Sustainable Finance initiatives, in place since 2010, towards funding new and existing renewable energy projects to increase their capacity and support the country’s avoidance of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The Study Group will continue with more focus on collaboration with public authorities and TF receivers to deliver FI’s views on enablers that are supported by experiences as TF practitioners, as well as on peer learnings to bring deeper understanding and practical knowledge about various transition finance guidelines, countries’ policies including national taxonomies, and the development of TFFs by FIs.

The Asia Transition Finance Annual Report 2023 is available here. 

Converge hits 2M residential subscribers

Converge Business Center employees celebrate subscribers' support with dedicated service.

As it beefs up its product portfolio to serve customers from different income groups, leading fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has surpassed two million residential subscribers as of September 2023, with its prepaid segment seeing a significant upswing, alongside the stable growth in its postpaid customers.

“We are proud to mark this milestone in our mission to leave no one behind as we empower Filipinos with world-class fiber connectivity. This is a result of our effort to expand growth opportunities through providing more affordable connectivity solutions,” said Converge CEO and Co-Founder Dennis Anthony Uy.

“Converge is positioned to maintain this growth momentum as we bolster our penetration into the different segments of the market,” he added. 

The fiber broadband provider has recently expanded its reach to the mass market, offering a prepaid fiber internet product and a low-cost postpaid plan. 

Surf2Sawa customers enjoying Converge internet service.

Converge introduced its pioneering prepaid product Surf2Sawa (S2S), which has been attracting budget-conscious customers since its launch, evident with the 77 percent growth, or over 25,000 net additions it registered in the second quarter of the year versus the previous quarter.

Its postpaid subscribers sustained its steady growth as the newly-introduced low-cost postpaid plan BIDA Fiber complemented the company’s core product, FiberX, which starts at P1,500 a month with a speed of 200 Mbps. Meanwhile, BIDA Fiber costs P888 per month with a speed of 35 Mbps to connect a maximum of six devices. All three products (FiberX, BIDA, and S2S) offer unlimited data consumption.

Converge ended the first half of the year with 1.97 million residential subscribers, comprising 1.92 million postpaid and over 54,000 prepaid customers. Its net additional subscribers reached more than 92,000 for the January to June period. 

According to internal data, August so far has been the company’s best-performing month in terms of sales, falling into analysts’ expectations that an increase in sales may be seen in the second half of the year.

“We are encouraged by the continued growth of our residential subscriber base in the first half of 2023. This is further proof of the superiority of our broadband product, coupled with our people’s laser focus on meeting customers’ needs,” said Converge Chief Operations Officer Jesus C. Romero. 

Converge operates the biggest fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network in the country with more than 7.8 million ports nationwide, as of the first half of the year, as well as one of the country's most extensive cable systems with 670,000-kilometer fiber backbone.

As of the end of June 2023, the fiber broadband provider’s network infrastructure has passed over 16.6 million Filipino homes, equivalent to 62.3 percent of household coverage nationwide.

Converge makes leaps in corporate governance, garners three arrows in the ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard

Converge SVP and Corporate Compliance and Data Protection Officer Atty. Laurice Esteban-Tuason at the ICD’s recognition rites with former Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Governor and Converge Independent Director Amando Tetangco Jr. with former Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe.

Leading fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. has been awarded a Three-Arrow rating in the latest ASEAN Corporate Governance Scorecard (ACGS) review as it improved its adherence to corporate governance best practices and aligned its business operations to global standards.

This Three-Arrow rating is a marked improvement over the initial One-Arrow awarded to Converge during the ACGS Golden Arrow Awards held last January, showing a substantial advancement in corporate governance compliance. The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) are the organizations designated to hold evaluation runs of the ACGS for publicly listed companies (PLCs). 

Converge Senior Vice President and Corporate Compliance and Data Protection Officer Atty. Laurice Esteban-Tuason at the ICD’s recognition rites. 

“This upgrade reflects the quick action of Converge to further align its corporate governance practice to locally and globally accepted standards, and puts it at par with the best PLCs in the Philippines,” noted Atty. Laurice Esteban-Tuason, Converge SVP and Corporate Compliance and Data Protection Officer. 

For the period under review of 2021, Converge has become fully compliant with the Integrated Annual Corporate Governance Report (IACGR) of the Securities and Exchange Commission, thus earning the additional two stars. The company’s appointment of a female director has also contributed to its Gender and Diversity record, which forms part of the best practices for publicly listed companies.

In 2012, the Philippines joined Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam in adopting the ACGS. It is an evaluation and assessment tool that measures the performance of publicly listed companies in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in the areas of facilitating the rights and the equitable treatment of shareholders, how they relate to their different stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability thru timely disclosure of material information, and how the board guides the company strategically, monitors the management, and ensures the board’s accountability to the company and the shareholders.

The main objectives of the ACGS are to rank ASEAN publicly-listed companies and raise their corporate governance standards. 

“Our aim is, of course, to get five stars and we’re on our way there. We’ve just been reviewed for two periods so we have that opportunity to improve. Even as a young company, we want to prove that our reputation as a listed company is beyond reproach,” added Esteban-Tuason. 

BDO Capital hailed as the Philippines Corporate and Investment Bank of the Year for the 6th straight year at the Asian Banking & Finance Awards 2023

In Photo (From Left to Right): Sonny Marpuri, First Vice President of the BDO Singapore branch, Candice Lee, Manager of Institutional Banking of BDO Singapore, and Miguel Jose Florescio, AVP of Treasury of BDO Singapore branch received from Tim Charlton, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Asian Banking & Finance BDO Capital’s Corporate & Investment Bank of the Year, Mergers and Acquisitions Deal of the Year and Project Infrastructure Finance Deal of the Year awards at the Asian Banking & Finance Corporate & Investment Banking Awards 2023 in Singapore. 

BDO Capital & Investment Corporation (BDO Capital) was recognized as the country’s Corporate and Investment Bank of the Year for the 6th straight year at the Asian Banking & Finance Awards 2023.

BDO Capital’s remarkable achievement remains unsurpassed in the industry as it continues to demonstrate consistent excellence in delivering exceptional investment banking services across various product lines in the Philippine capital markets.

BDO Capital also won the Mergers and Acquisitions Deal of the Year for the PHP25 billion investment of Aboitiz Infracapital, Inc. (AIC) in GMR-Megawide Cebu Airport Corporation (GMCAC), the developer and operator of the award-winning Mactan Cebu International Airport. This transaction is a notable milestone in the transport and mobility sector, which signifies a strong vote of confidence in the Philippine air transport industry and aims to accelerate national economic growth. BDO Capital acted as a sell-side financial advisor to Megawide Construction Corporation and GMR Airport International BV.

In addition to these two awards, BDO Capital received the Project Infrastructure Finance Deal of the Year for Frontier Towers Associates Philippines’ PHP50 billion debt facilities for having supported the largest telecom tower sale and leaseback transaction closed in 2022 in the country and among the largest telecom-related financing packages signed within the year. The transaction showcased the seamless support provided by its parent company, BDO Unibank’s Institutional Banking and Trust and Investments Groups, resulting in an optimal suite of customized banking solutions provided to the client. BDO Capital was engaged as the mandated lead arranger and book runner for the transaction.

“We share these awards with our valued clients for their continued support and with our dedicated team members for their unwavering commitment to fulfilling customers’ objectives. We are deeply honored for the recognition, as BDO Capital’s investment banking deals will contribute to driving further economic development, providing livelihoods, and uplifting the lives of Filipinos”, said Eduardo V. Francisco, President of BDO Capital.

The Asian Banking & Finance (ABF) Corporate & Investment Banking Awards honor financial institutions for their noteworthy performance in delivering outstanding services to their customers. The judges also assess the local and investment banks’ unique and innovative initiatives and cutting-edge deals, their impact on clients’ businesses, and their significant contributions to the industry.

BDO Capital has been recognized internationally and locally as the Best Investment Bank in the Philippines by various prestigious publications and associations such as the Investment House Association of the Philippines, The Asset, Finance Asia, Asiamoney, Alpha Southeast Asia, Global Finance, Acquisition International, and the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association. The company’s continued dominance in the domestic investment banking industry can be attributed to its solid capital strength and stability, strong distribution capability, and customer-centric approach with its customized, optimal solutions to achieve clients’, issuers’, and investors’ business goals. As a “one-stop-shop” investment house, BDO Capital can cover all aspects of a deal: origination, structuring and execution, funding, fiduciary roles, secondary market trading, and insurance services through its parent bank’s various business units and subsidiaries. Its ability to offer these services under one roof has enabled clients to save costs and dispense with the need to deal with several parties to a transaction requiring some or all of these services.

With stackable discounts, BDO makes ' revenge travel' more inexpensive

Many Filipinos are looking forward to having more "me time" to unwind as the "ber" months approach, signaling the start of the holiday season.

Prices for flights and accommodations are projected to soar as travel demand grows. Is it still possible for Filipinos to carry out their revenge travel plans?

Experienced travelers recognize that finding the finest travel prices necessitates planning ahead of time. They can schedule their dream vacation on a budget by searching the web for ticket discounts and hotel promotions and attending fairs to optimize deals on flights and lodgings months in advance.

This year, BDO Unibank offers deal hunters the ideal opportunity to obtain the most economical airfare rates through the BDO Travel Exclusives. From September 28 to October 1, 2023, BDO Cardholders can enjoy discounts on flights booked online or in-person at the BDO Travel Exclusives event in the South Court, R1 Level of the Power Plant Mall.

In addition to the fare savings provided by certain BDO travel partners during the BDO Travel Exclusives, BDO Cardholders who buy their tickets during the on-ground event will be eligible for extra incentives based on the credit card they use for travel-related purchases.

BDO Platinum and Titanium Mastercard Cardholders can enjoy up to Php10,000 cashback when they use their Mastercard on travel-related spending, which includes airline, hotel, and overseas in-store purchases. At the same time, BDO Visa and BDO JCB Cardholders can get a 5% rebate on online purchases until September 30, 2023.

With a minimum spend of Php10,000 using their BDO UnionPay Credit Card, cardholders can get a 10% rebate for their purchases from September 29 to October 1, 2023. BDO American Express Cardmembers can get an additional 15,000 points on travel-related spending from September to October 2023.  

"What makes booking your travel with a BDO Credit Card better is that aside from the stacked rebates, you also have the option to avail of the "Buy Now, Pay Later" promo at 0% interest and pay four months later or pay in installments. This opportunity is just hard to pass up," said BDO Senior Vice President for Consumer Banking Ma. Nannette R. Regala.

"Knowing that they can get discounts for their airfare, accommodations, and other travel-related expenses through their BDO Credit Card, more people would be confident to finally book their most anticipated revenge travel," she added.

Aside from BDO Credit Cards, BDO Debit Cards are also accepted during the BDO Travel Exclusives events. 

For more information on the BDO Travel Exclusives events this year, and to know more about the other promos of BDO Credit and Debit Cards, visit the BDO Deals official website at https://www.deals.bdo.com.ph/deal-welcome/3060 . 

GoodAh!!!: How Comfort Tastes for Filipinos

When it comes to appetite, it’s a well-known fact that Filipinos have the most adventurous of tastes. We are not afraid to explore different flavors, even from the international food scene. Still, amidst food fads and foreign cuisines, nothing beats the love we have for our own fare. When we look for comfort and familiarity, a lot of us still find our way back home to Filipino food.

GoodAh!!!, the first ever all-native food chain in the country, has been providing comfort food to Pinoys for more than 30 years.  The brand can be considered a legend in the local restaurant scene, having been the one to introduce the iconic “Tapsilog” to the Filipino vocabulary. It is also known for its iconic lugaw, which people way back from the 90s would agree is what ‘comfort in a bowl’ tastes like. Decades after its establishment, the food chain continues to offer “Pagkaing Good for Every-All” with its menu made to satiate our Filipino food cravings.

Crispy Pata 

“GoodAh!!! isn’t just a brand, it’s a feeling. And what’s more feel-good than Pinoy food, and the comforting memories they bring? That soothing bowl of goto, that satisfying plate of silog, that irresistible piece of Crispy Pata -- we want our customers to feel like they are coming home with each spoonful of our food,” shares Tim Yang, President of GoodAh!!!. This brand promise is reflected in the offerings of the food chain which not only focuses on taste but variety as well. From signature Altanghap meals featuring their famous silogs, to their bilaos overflowing with favorites that fit every taste, GoodAh!!! brings a taste of home to the table without diners having to fire up their stove. 

Lumpiang Gulay 

Pinakbet

Pinoy Bistek

This is just one of the reasons why the food chain remains an institution in the industry despite the competition offering similar fare. It has been consistent in championing our local cuisine and it shows its passion and dedication for making good food. There’s definitely more GoodAh!!! to the brand than you think with the way it is able to fill the stomach–and hearts of Pinoys of all ages–with favorites like Crispy Pata, Lumpia, Pinakbet, and Bistek. In a time when food trends are the norm, the restaurant remains unwavering on its promise to deliver its best.

Fried Herbed Chicken

That doesn’t mean that GoodAh!!! is afraid to innovate. Its signature Baked and Fried Herbed Chicken is proof that even though it has already rooted itself in the local food culture, the food chain is also not afraid to try something new. Its flavorful value for money dishes means that customers can enjoy exciting combinations of Tatak Pinoy homemade, comforting goodness.

Dedicated to embodying Pinoy culture, the food chain also prioritizes good customer service. The values GoodAh!!! supports–like empathy and relatability–shine through in its service orientation. As the brand wittily boasts, it is “Open 25 hours and 7 days a week”, showing cheerful dedication in its food service operations. They even incentivize their delivery service as customers can enjoy 10 percent off of their delivery orders if they directly put them in via GoodAh!!!’s hotline at 84-707070 or send them via their Messenger account @GOODAHPH. Their menu is also available to order via food apps like Grab Food and Foodpanda where other discounts can also be enjoyed.

When it comes to food preparation, GoodAh!!! follows the strictest standards to make sure that they offer the best meals to their customers. Yang shares, “GoodAh!!! was the pioneer in elevating the lugawan and tapsilogan into a first-rate dining experience, with a professionally-run and sanitized kitchen, clean modern facilities, and well-trained staff.” He adds, “Our food offerings have evolved since then, but to this day we hold that same commitment to providing the highest caliber of service.”

If comfort were a taste, then GoodAh!!! serves up the best of it, dedicated to embodying Filipino culture through the food we’ve grown to love. So the next time you feel like coming home, you can always count on GoodAh!!! to welcome you with open arms. Ano mang taste mo, #GoodsKaDitosaGoodAh. 

GoodAh!!! has physical branches in Makati, Alabang, Valenzuela, Fairview, Pasig, Granada, Timog, Sucat, and Bicutan. Diners can dine in or takeout from 8AM to 8PM but their food service is available all day via food apps like GrabFood, Foodpanda, Pickup.ph, and Pick-A-Roo. To stay updated on GoodAh!!!’s new offerings and promos, follow them on Facebook or visit their website.

A Safe Site To Evolve Our Gamers Gaming Experience

When the pandemic restrictions were lifted, all the activities we missed doing for the last 2 years we could freely do again. The kids can play outdoors again. Yay!!!

However, some kids became so engrossed in playing gadgets instead of going out to play. Sometimes we feel the same way: if the place is crowded or if we know that there will be a lot of people where we're going, we just stay at home. Stay at home and spend some quality family time.

What do we do?

 

1. Binge-watching Netflix or Disney+ is a must for our bonding time.

2. Food trip: this happens the whole day. We eat, and it could be the foods we make or cook at home or the ones we order from various apps.

3. Play video games! Video games are a fun activity for family and friends to play together, physically or virtually. But not all online games are good for our kids.

I came across this site while searching for mortgages and calculators. I got curious because I saw games for kids on their website. The site primarily focuses on money and finance. This is a good site for our kids so that they can be aware of the value of money and how to use it wisely.

Upon checking, I saw familiar games and characters that most of us know and love. They offer dozens of fun, free-to-play, and ad-free online video games for kids. From counting money to making changes to buying and selling properties,

The first was to show Dada and get him to try because he is the gamer among us. He tried it out before we showed it to the kids. They have great games, not just the type you go and play just for the heck of it; they can also learn from these games like math (this is my Waterloo 🤦).

Let me share some of the games that got the kids hooked, especially our dada. 😊

LEGO City Adventures: Build and Protect is a real-time strategy game where your mission is to build a prosperous city made of LEGO bricks. Dig earth to build bricks, build premises, and earn money to dig and build more. Players help Mayor Solomon Fleck build a LEGO city using various buildings, which earn tax revenues that can be spent to help build out the rest of your city. It is a great game!

Our Dada's first 7.8M coins!!!  

The game teaches you to strategize and learn when and how to budget since you have limited resources to build.

Take risks, because you can't stay with just what you have; you have to keep moving up.

Have patience; you learn to wait and to think while you wait.

The Amazing World of Gumball

The animated series Gumball is not about anthropomorphic chewing gum; it's about a young cat named Gumball Watterson. Gumball has a penchant for getting into trouble, often resulting from schemes he comes up with, but he never seems to learn his lesson.

But The Amazing World of Gumball Tidy Up is about house cleaning games for kids. Help Darwin clean the Watterson home and look out for Gumball, who likes to ransack already cleaned rooms. It was a great game for our kids to help us with household chores.

Good job, Kiddo!  

Darwin cleans the rooms that Gumball leaves dirty. You click on a dirty part of a room multiple times until that part is cleaned. This helps you use your eyes to find places that are dirty and helps you to think and act fast because the objective is to clean before time runs out.

Once you are done cleaning the room that you are in, you go to the next one. After cleaning all the rooms, revisit the previous rooms because Gumball tends to make them dirty again. This proves that your chores at home are never-ending and that you have to learn to be responsible and make cleaning the home a part of your system. I love this game for our kids. Hihi. 

I encourage parents to introduce this site and games to their families too. 👌

I will update this post with other games that we'll be playing soon.

Converge secures victory for AI-powered network operations excellence at Asian Technology Excellence Awards

 The Asian Technology Excellence Awards - 2023 was held in Bangkok on September 18. It is the premier award recognizing technological innovations across a multitude of sectors; It is presented by the Asian Business Review, a dynamic industry magazine based in Singapore.

Award-winning initiative redefines network operations management with AI-driven efficiency.

Converge ICT Solutions Inc., the forerunner in the fixed broadband industry in the Philippines has secured a momentous victory at the esteemed Asian Technology Excellence Awards 2023. The company’s groundbreaking accomplishment in the Philippines Technology Excellence Award for AI - Broadband Telecommunication category resonates with its commitment to innovation and operational excellence to serve its nearly two million customers better. The award-winning project, Network Intelligence and Automation Platform (NIAP) has propelled Converge to the forefront of network management evolution.

Converge is leading the charge in redefining network operations management through its visionary initiative – the creation of a 'zero-touch' network operations center. This transformative approach enables the network to respond intelligently and autonomously to data signals, marking a significant milestone in the realm of network operations and maintenance.

Converge Network Transformation Officer Paulo Martin “Santi” Santos elaborates on the customer-centric approach that Network Operations took to create the Network Intelligence Automation Platform (NIAP).

“Malasakit in English means devotion of concern for the people and our customers. It has been the vision of our CEO Dennis Anthony Uy to deliver the most affordable and ultra-high-performing internet access for everyone. The AI technology that we designed is rooted in the word malasakit. It considers multiple network alarms and data to personalize the best customer experience,” said Chief Network Transformation Officer Paulo Martin “Santi” Santos, upon receiving the award. 

NIAP lies at the heart of the journey of Converge towards network automation. NIAP empowers every aspect of network operations, from vigilant monitoring to swift maintenance, trouble ticketing, and resolution. This platform has ushered in a new dawn where artificial intelligence and automation work harmoniously to enhance efficiency and reliability.

The dawn of the NIAP era has revolutionized the network operations of Converge. Previously, when network events occurred, the influx of alarms presented a complex challenge. NIAP addresses this by centralizing alarms on a user-friendly dashboard, offering engineers unparalleled convenience.

(from left) Converge Assistant Vice President and Head of Global Network Operations Center Jefferson Briones, Executive Vice President and Chief Network Transformation Officer Paulo Martin “Santi” Santos, and Timothy Charlton, Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Business Review

AI-powered correlation and compression streamline the analysis of trouble events, simplifying the thousands of alarms into manageable insights. Once the source of the alarm is identified, NIAP takes over, generating trouble tickets, automated updates, and advisories with minimal human intervention.

The cognitive module of NIAP translates complex events into actionable incident patterns and root causes. It facilitates data-driven automation flows and predictive analysis, capitalizing on past events for continuous learning. For engineers, one-click resolutions transform issues into 'self-healing' solutions, whilst customer-facing departments gain swift insights into affected subscribers and areas.

This is the first award received by the Converge Network Operations department, recognizing specifically the implementation of artificial intelligence and automation in their operations. In 2021, Converge bagged the Philippines Technology Excellence Award for ICT - Telecommunications. 

The company’s dedication to automation has yielded remarkable results. Service issue resolution times have substantially decreased since the integration of AI technology. The implementation of NIAP has driven noteworthy improvements in operating metrics. The ratio of service-impacting tickets to total network tickets has decreased by nearly 50% in the first quarter of 2023. Moreover, the mean time to escalate improved by an impressive 62%.

The journey of Converge into AI-powered automation has translated into enhanced capabilities and operational efficiency. The platform's intelligent routing optimizes service delivery, alleviating concerns related to traffic congestion, latency, and link degradation. In their access network operations, NIAP automates troubleshooting through their intelligent event and performance management system, freeing engineers from manual handling and optimizing their valuable time.

The success of the "Network Intelligence and Automation Platform" of Converge echoes their unwavering commitment to innovation, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. Through this transformative endeavor, Converge is ushering in a new era of network operations excellence.

SM Supermalls Launches 100 Days of Christmas

Surprising shoppers every day till December 25. 

 

The countdown to Christmas Day begins on September 16 as SM launches a host of fun activities, deals, and surprises for each member of the family. 

It starts with surprises each day! From September 16 to December 25, someone lucky will be surprised, one mall at a time, with toys, gifts, groceries and meals on us as SM begins 100 Days of Christmas Surprises. Which mall will delight someone today? Come to SM to find out! 

WHAT ELSE IS A-HAPPENIN’? 

Breathtaking Spectacles, to mark the festive season, will dazzle you at your favorite SM mall. Your favorite malls will all be dressed with a dazzling display of holiday magic and sparkling Christmas centerpieces await shoppers inside the malls for that IG-worthy moment. 

Start your holiday gift shopping early on with a trove of artisan products and services from local MSMEs at the Holiday Bazaars. Toys, games, and collectibles are waiting to make this holiday season unforgettable at the Christmas Toy Fairs, in partnership with Toy Kingdom and Toy Kingdom Express. 

Santa Claus is coming to town, and he’s bringing his merry squad along! Captivating performances, musicales, ensure there’s something for everyone at every visit.

Pets are family too, and SM Supermalls knows it!  Bring your furry friends to select SM malls for a pawsome Christmas Pawty packed with games and prizes for furbabies in pet costumes. 

Welcome our Overseas Filipino Workers and Families! With the help of BDO Kabayan, SM Supermalls will be bringing holiday cheer to our modern-day heroes at the Pamaskong Handog by BDO Kabayan in SM City Cebu, SM City Fairview, and SM City General Santos with Superstars, prizes, and laughs galore. 

Let’s not forget that you can make a positive impact on the lives of those in need while enjoying your shopping. Buy one SM Cares’ Bears of Joy, and we will donate to one underprivileged child. 

And the fun never ends! On News Year’s Eve, welcome 2024 with an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration at SM Mall of Asia, SM Seaside Cebu, SM Lanang, and SM CDO Uptown. 

To know more about SM Supermalls’ 100 Days of Surprises, visit https://gosm.link/100DaysOfChristmasSurprises for daily surprise videos, www.smsupermalls.com, and follow @SMSupermalls on social media for all the Christmas surprises!