ILOILO: HEART of the PHILIPPINES

Company’s rental businesses continue to grow, up 8% even if effects of Taal eruption and coronavirus pandemic impacted bottomline earnings Property giant Megaworld, the country’s largest developer of integrated urban townships, is boosting its e-commerce facilities to fast track the recovery of its commercial and hotel businesses, which have been greatly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. In the coming weeks, the company is set to roll out digital platforms that are aimed at ‘enhancing customer experience’ under the so-called ‘new reality.' Megaworld Hotels, for example, is launching its ‘E-CONCIERGE,’ a mobile application that allows guests to have contactless interaction with hotel staff from check-in to check-out, including virtual ordering of food from various Food & Beverage outlets inside the hotels. Richmonde Hotel Iloilo “Our e-commerce platforms will give our customers the convenience and comfort that they need as we take their ...

Iloilo City has acknowledged Globe’s significant role in helping the LGU’s fight against COVID-19. The company has played an important role in ensuring constant communication between the City Hall and residents of Iloilo despite the many challenges brought by the pandemic. Mayor Jerry Treñas has recognized the value of connectivity and used it as one of the essential tools to help his constituents overcome their fears on health concerns caused by COVID-19. The local chief executive likewise underscored the importance of online connectivity given the constraints of physical or social distancing.  “We are thankful for the strong partnership with Globe that ensured communication and connectivity during this trying period. We were able to keep in touch with the residents and the general public despite strict quarantine protocols,” he said.  As the opening of classes will commence on August 24, Treñas is now looking for options and strategies that ...

With restaurants now being allowed a 50% dine-in capacity, you can now get enjoy your favorite comfort food with just the perfect ambiance, while still following safety precautions. In case you're looking for a new go-to spot where you can spend your me-time or you bestie bonding with social distancing, we've rounded up restaurants open for dine-in at Festive Walk Iloilo. Bistro Carcosa Treat yourself by indulging in a selection of international and local dishes and crafted cocktails. Bistro Carcosa is open at GF, Festive Walk Parade.  Red House Taiwan Shabu Shabu Soothe your weary bones with a bowl of steaming hotpot. Red House Taiwan Shabu Shabu is now open at 2F, Festive Walk Mall.    Mamusa Art Bistro Spend an extraordinary lunch date with the company of art and contemporary food. Mamusa Art Bistro is located at GF, Festive Walk Parade.  Bigby's Wind down with a selection of premium travel-inspired c...

Andrew Tan-led Alliance Global Group, Inc. (AGI) is accelerating its innovation and digital transformation strategies, as the conglomerate braces for the ‘new reality.’ “This pandemic is accelerating our digitalization efforts across our businesses. These involve investments in e-commerce applications, interactive customer service management, and contactless online transactions, among others.  This should help us navigate the business environment and provide our customers with the enhanced services they need under the new reality,” says Kevin L. Tan, chief executive officer, AGI. Andrew Tan-led conglomerate registers record profit of P27B in 2019, gives back more than P1-B to the community during the pandemic With varied interests spanning real estate developments through property giant Megaworld Corporation; leisure, entertainment and hospitality through Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc.; spirits manufacturing through Emperador Inc.; qui...

As the government sets relaxed quarantine measures in select areas nationwide, restaurants and other food merchants at SM malls have now begun reopening their stores for dine-in services, following the directives given by the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF).  Many restaurants and food establishments, including SM Food Court, have reopened with standard health protocols to bring back the fun in dining out and still guarantee both employee and customer safety. DINING " AL FRESCO" INSIDE THE MALL SM made use of its open areas, such as event centers and atrium, traditionally used for fun and happy events. These were transformed it into extended dine-in halls with solo or diagonal seating to give customers extra space for a quick bite given the restaurants’ 50% maximum capacity. Select malls have outdoor seating for fresh aired-fun dining moments, even at a distance from each other. The designated extended dining areas a...

During the first three months of the pandemic, Globe Telecom was able to come up with over P1.3 billion in combined services and assistance package for COVID-19.  This consists of support for Globe employees and vendor partners, services and promos, external fund-raising efforts, and monetary and in-kind donations. The bulk of the amount went to salaries and benefits which Globe continued to provide even to managed service partners and vendor employees to help ensure their safety, health, and well-being as well as their families. Globe currently holds weekly rapid antibody testing of all its frontliners and has contributed to the AC Health COVID-19 facility to accommodate its workforce and their families who may contract the virus.  The company has also provided food allowance, transportation, accommodation, insurance, and medical expense assistance to its critical skeletal workforce who kept back end operating systems including the Globe network fully o...

SM Stationery recently donated school supplies to ChildHope Philippines and Caritas Manila, to support the education initiatives of these non-government organizations for less fortunate children. While schools are not yet open, ChildHope and Caritas have come up with innovative programs to educate the young. Each of the kits distributed by SM Stationery, the school and office supplies department of The SM Store, includes envelopes, notebooks, crayons, rulers, writing pads, ballpoint pens and pencils. Kids receive their brand new school kits from SM Stationery as they wait for school opening and alternative programs. ChildHope Philippines has already helped in the distribution of the school supplies to poor communities in Marikina, and has worked with community and youth leaders to train mothers so that they can teach their kids basic writing, reading and life skills during the quarantine.  Jem Tumbaga, Resource Mobilization and Communications Officer of Ch...

With the Modified General Community Quarantine still in place, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. announced the limited resumption of inbound commercial flights at the Iloilo International Airport. The governor met with officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and executives of Air Asia, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines at the provincial capitol to discuss the regulations of these flights. Among the agreed provisions are as follows: ■ Flights will be coming from Manila only. ■ There will be a limit of1,500 passengers per week to be equally divided among the three airlines. This limit is to avoid overwhelming the province's quarantine facilities. ■ Each airline may have a twice a week flight to ILO and will provide advance manifestos to the LGU for proper coordination. ■ Those who can only avail of these flights are overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and locally stranded individuals (LSIs) with proper documents. NO LEISURE FLIGHTS...

As many slowly shift back to their normal routines, Globe Platinum has made it easier for customers to show their gratitude for the country’s frontliners who continue to lead the battle against the pandemic.  From June 15 to September 15, Platinum customers can chat with Thea, their Digital Assistant on the Facebook Messenger app, and select the beneficiary they want to delight and the tokens they want to send. On top of that, they can personalize their tokens of gratitude by having their names written on the tags provided. The first batch of beneficiaries will include our brave COVID-19 medical staff from The Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC), and The Philippine Children's Medical Center (PCMC), as well as our tireless PNP officers at select Metro Manila checkpoints. As for the tokens of gratitude, Platinum customers can send our heroes sweet treats, such as a box of cookies from The Cookie Bar Manila, cups of milk tea from CoCo, a box of doughnuts from JCo, or a ...

Treat Dad on his special day  as SM City Iloilo helps you prepare to surprise him as we celebrate Father's Day!  Surprise the king of the house with Father’s Day Gift Essentials and have them delivered on his very special day via #SMCallToDeliver! Check out top essential picks for Dad in the official Facebook page of SM City Iloilo or contact The SM Store Iloilo at 0966 8623088 (Globe) or 0961 023 1083 (Smart) from Monday to Sunday, 10AM - 8PM. And since Fathers Day is a day of celebration, Surprise your #SuperDad this Father's Day with his favorite meal! Check out restaurants at SM City Iloilo available for take out and delivery, to share special moments over food and lasting memories. CLICK FOR MORE Give it up for dad and celebrate #DadsDayAtSM!  For further details, Visit the official Facebook page of SM City Iloilo or call (033) 3209609 and connect to the Marketing Department.

Gear up for the new normal as Globe Prepaid brings you its newest Go promos with the biggest GBs for ALL sites and apps! The new Go promos allow you to surf any of your favorite apps without holding back – giving you the flexibility and freedom that you need. Now, you can choose from different Go promos with the biggest GBs, unlimited texts to all networks, and more. At the same time, you can further amplify your internet connectivity with the GoBOOSTER add-ons. You can choose from various boosters that will empower you to live your lifestyle  – from getting more GBs, more app access or even longer validity. These promos were made to help everyone ease into the new normal without the worry of running out of data and being limited by a list of apps. With Globe Prepaid, everyone is equipped to continue living their best lives. Are you ready to GO? Go register to the new Go promos via the GlobeOne App at http://glbe.co/globe-one !

As early as January 2020, the Live Events industry was one of the first to feel the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. All the sectors and members have been greatly affected – Weddings and Social Events; AVL (Audio, Video, Lights) and Staging suppliers; Agencies and Activations; Concerts; Gigs and Festivals, Conventions; Venues; Freelance Production Workers; Talents; among others.  The Live Events industry started with only a few players but has now grown to hundreds, if not thousands of Ilonggos working and earning their living from their businesses or jobs in the said industry -- losing jobs, businesses, projects, and livelihoods. The challenge of how to address these concerns brought events people together to work as one, paving the way towards the formation of the Iloilo Live Events Alliance (ILEA), a non-stock, non-profit organization with the aim of building a strong and united live events industry.  “Our industry has been greatly affected by the pandemi...