How to get HOOQ with Supergirl Season 2

When Supergirl Season 1 ended, fans has been clamoring for Super Girl Season 2.  When I chanced upon Calista Flockhart on Season 1 I got hooked instantly. I got excited to her role as Cat Grant as episodes passed by.  Kara would not be the same without Cat Grant on her side. To know why, catch up on Supergirl Season 2.  Calista Flockhart's role will recur as her schedule permits on this sophomore season.

We had the privilege of watching Supergirl Season 2's 1st episode premiere on October 8, 2 days ahead of US screening at Greenbelt 3 Cinema made possible by HOOQ.  We enjoyed the advanced screening as Tyler Hoechlin made a cameo appearance as Supergirl's cousin Superman/Clark Kent.

Supergirl is an American superhero action-adventure drama television series plays by Melissa Benoist aka Kara Zor-El. 

When she was 12 years old, Kara Zor-El escaped the doomed planet Krypton and was sent to earth where she was protected and raised by her foster parents, Jeremiah and Eliza Danvers (guest stars Dean Cain and Helen Slater) and her foster sister, Alex (series star Chyler Leigh). Under their supervision, Kara learned to conceal the phenomenal powers she shares with her famous cousin, Superman, in order to keep her identity a secret.

Years later, Kara was living a "normal" life in National City, assisting media mogul and fierce taskmaster Cat Grant (recurring guest star Calista Flockhart) and working beside her friend and IT technician Winn Schott (series star Jeremy Jordan) and famous Daily Planet photographer James Olsen (series star Mehcad Brooks), who Grant hired away from Metropolis. When Alex's life was threatened in a plane crash, Kara took to the sky to rescue her. In the aftermath, Kara decided she could no longer sit on the sidelines and revealed herself as Supergirl.

In Season One, Supergirl soared fighting crime and battling various villains, chief among them two Kryptonians who were intent on destroying earth, but she has yet to find that same purpose as Kara Danvers.

In the upcoming Season Two, Kara leaves  the safety of being Cat Grant's assistant in order to figure out what she really wants to do, while as Supergirl she continues to work at the DEO, protecting the citizens of National City and searching for Jeremiah and Cadmus. Along the way, she will team up with Superman (guest star TYLER HOECHLIN) to battle new villains, as she strives to balance her personal life with her life as a superhero.  

This October, HOOQ will premiere Supergirl’s season 2 on the same day as the US telecast, giving its fans immediate access to one of Hollywood TV’s hottest shows on the device of their choice.   This is a follow up to Supergirl season 1 which also debuted last year on HOOQ as an SVOD Exclusive.

With blogger friend Erica Yu -B

With Ria, Earth and Erica

The complete set of DC shows on HOOQ

In 2015, the hit DC shows Arrow, the Flash and Gotham launched on HOOQ and these quickly became the constantly top viewed content.  The next step was to complete the DC shows library and leverage on the “age of superheroes” in film and TV.  HOOQ quickly closed SVOD distribution rights to Supergirl, which launched its maiden season in October 2015, and was available on HOOQ within 24 hours of its US telecast.

In July 2016, The Flash, Gotham and Arrow were updated to their latest seasons while additional DC TV shows such as Legends of Tomorrow and Lucifer also premiered on HOOQ as SVOD exclusives.


How to get HOOQ

It’s easy to get HOOQ!  Sign up today for a 7-day trial on www.HOOQ.tv.  Globe mobile customers can up to 90 days HOOQ subscription selected GoSURF plans.  Broadband customers also get HOOQ on Globe Home Broadband.  Once the trial period expires, Globe customers can continue enjoying HOOQ at P149 subscription fee monthly charged to their Globe bill.  Simply text HOOQ149 to 8888.

Enjoy your Starbucks ready-to-drink Frap coffees anwhere!

Starbucks Bottled Frappuccino will now be officially available in all Starbucks stores, selected supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide.

Starbucks Coffee Company is now making its ready-to-drink bottled coffees Starbucks Frappuccino available in the Philippines, allowing its loyal customers to grab their favorite drink at any moment to lift their day. The Starbucks Frappuccino range will be sold in Starbucks stores, bottled section of supermarkets and select convenience stores across the Philippines.

Starbucks Bottled Frappuccino coffees are delicious ready-to-drink beverages inspired by our original Starbucks coffeehouse Frappuccino blended beverages. With the introduction of the ready-to-drink portfolio in Philippines, Starbucksare re-launching two of our classic flavors:

Starbucks Frappuccino Coffee: A perfect blend of Starbucks Arabica coffee and creamy milk. Inspired by the original Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino. (₱ 120)

Starbucks Frappuccino Mocha:  A creamy blend of Starbucks Arabica coffee and temptingly rich cocoa flavor. This pairing brings chocolate lovers to our coffeehouses every day. (₱ 120)

 “We have listened to our customers and it is exciting to see such popular demand for Starbucks coffee in the Philippines. Starbucks Bottled Frappuccino coffee provides coffee lovers with new ways to enjoy their favorite drink on the go and we believe our ready-to-drink bottled coffees match the needs and taste preferences in Philippines,” said David Hanson, Vice President of China & Asia Pacific Channel Development, Starbucks Coffee Company. “Our ready-to-drink portfolio is authentic to the Starbucks unique coffee flavor profile and it demonstrates our commitment to bring quality coffee to customers outside of our coffeehouses.” 

As an important extension of the Starbucks Experience, Bottled Frappuccino is the perfect treat to delight, surprise and provide an uplifting part of our customers’ day. It will become the catalyst to inspire an even more fun and creative occasions for our customers to enjoy a shared moment of connection with their loved ones, family and friends.

Daiso Japan at Cosplay Mania 2016

For the 2nd time, Daiso Japan joins the biggest and most popular cosplay event in the country, Cosplay Mania 2016.  This much-awaited gathering was attended by cosplayers, hobbyists, artists, and performers that engaged in cosplay solo showdowns, costume building contests, and exciting team battles.

Daiso Japan has teamed up with organizer, Cosplay.ph Organization, Inc. through its support of the said event.  As the major sponsor, you can expect a booth brimming with authentic products from

Daiso Industries Ltd. Japan that range from delicious Japanese snacks, makeup essentials and kawaii hair and fashion accessories to complete any cosplayer’s look. Daiso Japan also participated as one of the event’s Con Quests where fans had to stop by to post a pic under a lovely Cherry Blossom tree on Daiso Japan’s Facebook page.

Daiso Japan is the no. 1 supplier of living ware goods, more popularly known for its 100 yen stores in Japan. But as part of its continuous innovation, Daiso Japan has started to develop items that offer more variety and quality to customers at 200 yen, 1,000 yen and so on.

It is one of the retail formats operated by Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc.  Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. holds the exclusive sub-license to sell authentic Daiso merchandise from Japan and operates the legitimate Daiso Japan store concept in the Philippines.

It  offers a wide assortment of unique products - from home and kitchen ornaments, office knick-knacks, and beauty essentials to curious merchandise that are both practical and collectible. Prices start at P88.

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Pinoy Chef Anton Amoncio is one of the finalists of Asian Food Hero

Asian Food Channel (AFC) started in 2005, is Singapore’s leading food focused channel that celebrates the unique Asian culinary experience with the added touch of global flavor. AFC entertains viewers with a range of local and international content from reality, lifestyle to travelogue program formats. It is available in more than 10 countries in Asia Pacific. The channel’s online engagement are through website and social media platforms.

Asian Food Channel is part of Scripps Networks Interactive, one of the world’s leading producers of lifestyle content.

Chef Anton is very excited to go to Singapore and represent the country. He is still in shock that he was chosen to be one of the Finalists. Chef Anton presented videos of his signature Filipino dishes like Tinola and Fried Chicken Adobo sa Gata. On finals night on October 20, Chef Anton will definitely be cooking another signature Filipino dish.

Chef Anton is an only child. His mom has two rules in the kitchen, (1) “You like to cook; you cook, but don’t mess it up.” (2) “You make mistakes; you live with it and do better.” There was also one extra rule, do not touch the knives when he was young.

Whenever his parents were away, his grand mom, aunts and uncles took over in taking care of him. Unlike other kids, Chef Anton preferred to stay at home. He started his love for cooking when he was 7 or 8 years old. His grandmother always brought him in the kitchen to watch over him while she cooked.

Anton's constant exposure to his grandmother's cooking started his love affair with food.

Tinola which his grandmother used to cook for him every time he is sick or injured is his comfort food. It is also his recovery soup until now. Everything that his grand mom whips up in the kitchen are his favorite dishes because they are all magical.

Chef Anton has one food he will not touch - dinuguan. His unpleasant experience happened when he was young. At a restaurant, the waiter informed him that the soft luscious chocolate looking chunk was chocolate. A chocolate lover, he ate the uber tender chocolate, when in reality it was coagulated pigs’ blood.

Chef Anton has a lot of respect for other chefs and cooks all over the world, but it is his grandmother whom he considers his ultimate Food Hero. So, when his grand mom learned that he is part of the Final 4 in the Asian Food Hero contest, she was very happy.  His grand mom watches his shows whenever she gets the chance to. Chef Anton hopes that he can make his grand mom proud.

As a person, he believes that he needs to constantly improve himself and be better. "Learning is constant," he says. "You always need to improve yourself constantly or you get dull."

If he will be compared to a kitchen tool, it will be a chef’s knife. "In order for the knives to be of great use, you have to constantly sharpen and maintain them for them to be in tiptop shape," explains Chef Anton.

The content of his refrigerator varies but he will always have chicken because according to him it is very versatile. And there would always be tomatoes, garlic and onions too. "They are my trinity," he says.

Asked what it means to be a chef, Chef Anton explains, "Chef is a title given to cooks that have paid their dues in the kitchen."

A graduate of the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) after a two year music production schooling at De La Salle Benilde, Chef Anton learned about teamwork and communication while working in the kitchen. He says, “You can have a group of extremely talented chefs working together but if they don’t communicate and basically don’t operate as one unit, they will fail.”

He’s not sure how he differs from other chefs, but he says that he is playful when it comes to food. He loves building relationships with other people through food as well. He wants to be remembered as someone who touched other people’s lives not just in his dishes but also as a person.

Chef Anton first appeared on TV in 2009, on ANC’s Mornings where he endorsed a pasta brand. He is the owner and chef of Antojos Manila, which serves Filipino dishes.

Maging Responsible Pet Owner, Pabakunahan ang inyong mga alagang aso laban sa rabies

Lahat tayo ay may kwentong nakagat, muntik ng makagat, nakalmot or nadamba ng aso. Di ko maalala kung nakagat na ba ako or nadamba pero naalala ko na dati may alaga kaming aso sa bahay na puro politician ang pangalan. At alam ko na hanggang ngayon ay takot na takot pa din ako sa mga dogs. 

From Orbos, to Marcos, to Tolentino. Matapang talaga yung aso namin na alaga ni tatay, yung tipong eye contact lang kayo eh lalabasan ka na ng ngipin na may kasamang angil na ready ka ng lapain. Di mo pedeng biruin or mag  first name basis kayo dahil yari ka at tatahulan ka na ng bongga. Parang laging badtrip sa ken mga asong alaga ni tatay, parang laging may hashtag na #dontme sa collar. Di ko naman sila inaano. Lagi silang naka leash or nakatali, kaya di ko maimagined pag nakakawala at nagkataon nasa loob ako ng bahay. Susme, attack siguro sa ken ng bongga si Tolentino, yan yung name ng aso namin noon.  At malamang sa hindi maka experience din ako ng injection sa tyan. Ayeeeee!

Lester Zapanta, PH Dog Whisperer

Magmula noon, marunong na kong tumingin or makipagkapwa aso sa aso. Kapag di mo kilala at nasalubong mo sa kalye, wag kang tatakbo pwera na lang kung pang karerahan ka din tumakbo yung di ka maabutan. Huwag magpakita ng takot, dahil alam yan ng aso, nasesense nila yan maniwala ka. Huwag kang babati sa di mo kilalang aso,  kase di kayo close, di ka nila kilala kaya maging civil ka na lang. Huwag makipagharutan pwera na lang kung alagang aso mo sya natutulog kayo ng sabay, amo ka nya at alam mo sa sarili mo na may bakuna syang regular. Yes, dapat po yearly ang pagpapabakuna kay Bantay, Julia, Mark, Akiya or anu pa man pangalan ng pet dog nyo.

Kung sa malas ay nakagat ka at nagiisip ka pa at nasabi ng pet owner na nakakalmot or kagat sayo na may bakuna ang alaga nila. Or in your case di mo maalala kung napabakunahan mo na nga ba ang pet dog mo.

Sundin lamang ang BILIS 

BIlisan ang paghugas ng sugat

LInisin ng Alcohol

Sumangguni sa doctor ukol sa tamang pag gamot ng sugat

Rex Tomen, Rabies Awareness Advocate

The Department of Health (DOH), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture (DA) led the celebration of World Rabies Day underscoring the theme: Rabies: Educate. Vaccinate. Eliminate., which emphasizes the two crucial actions that communities can do to prevent rabies. It also reflects the global target to eliminate all human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030.

Rabies is a fatal disease transmitted to humans through animal bites or even scratches, most commonly by dogs. It is vaccine preventable, but once infection begins, death is inevitable.In the Philippines, rabies continues to be a public health problem andis responsible for the death of 200-300 Filipinos annually, with children having the highest risk.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial

“Rabies is considered a neglected disease that is 100% fatal but 100% preventable. Effective and safe medicines have been available for decades to prevent the disease in humans and animals. None of these deaths should have occurred since we have the necessary interventions to prevent rabies suchas: (1) promotion of responsible pet ownership, (2) early consultation when bitten by animals and (3) timely administration of vaccines,”Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial explained.

From 2010-2015, 1,463 deaths were recorded by DOH from human rabies and 180 deaths from human rabies were noted from January 1 to September 24 2016.

A total of 783,879 animal bites across the country were registered in 2015. This is 10% higher than in 2014 when the total number of animal bites was 683,802 cases. The increase in the number of reported cases is attributed to the improved surveillance and services which enabled bite cases to seek treatment at established public Animal Bite Treatment Centers (ABTC) and/or private Animal Bite Centers.As of March 2016, a total of 486 ABTCs are located all over the country, 32 of which are in Metro Manila.

As part of the rabies elimination campaign, a total of 41 provinces/areas were declared ‘rabies-free’ by DOH and DA, Bureau of Animal Industry (DA-BAI) from 2008-2016.

The DOH, through the National Rabies Prevention and Control Program (NRPCP) in partnership with different agencies and local government units continue to implement strategies and activities to respond to this public health problem. One strategy is the provision of Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) in all DOH-recognized ABTCs/ABCs, and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) especially for high risk individuals and students in high incidence zones. Meanwhile, PhilHealth through its Animal Bite Treatment Package defrays the cost of PEP treatment among all qualified members.

The DOH has lined up various advocacy campaigns to disseminate information about the illness and how to prevent it. The DOH also encourages pet owners to have household pets vaccinated at designated time periods. Lastly, the public is warned against approaching stray and possibly rabid animals and is reminded to immediately go to the nearest ABTCs/ABCs when needed.

“Maging responsible. Kung ikaw ay may alagang hayop,pabakunahan ito agad laban sa rabies. Kung ikaw naman ay nakagat ng hayop, huwag itong ipagsawalang bahala, pumunta agad sa pinakamalapit na animal bite treatment center upang ito’y mabigyan ng kaukulang lunas o bakuna laban sa rabies.” Secretary Ubial concluded.

Watch free movies on your phone through HOOQ’s new ad-free freemium service

If you are fond of watching movies on the go.  Then you'll definitely love downloading free movies on your mobile. With the traffic along the metro,  the first thing that you would notice when youre riding the MRT/LRT train and or FX/Van is everyone's hook on their mobile watching their favorite movies or TV series. Finally, HOOQ offers their new Ad-Free Freemium app for everyone to enjoy.

HOOQ recently launched their new app Ad-Free Freemium last October 6 together with Celebrity ambassador Miss World 2013 Megan Young at Karrivin Plaza, Pasong Tamo Makati.

HOOQ Celebrity Ambassador Ms.Megan Young

HOOQ, Asia’s first and largest premium video-on-demand service,  unveils its new app and the first of its kind hybrid model ad-free freemium service that allows more customers to try out the service.  The SVOD service that was built in Asia for Asia takes on a mobile-first user experience to cater to the voracious demands of mobile users.

AD-FREE FREEMIUM APP
This new hybrid model now allows customers to sample a premium service at no cost.  Pilot episodes of all TV series will now be free for all registered users even after their free trial period has ended. Customers can now catch pilot episodes from DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, Devious Maids, The Mentalist, Castle to Alyas Robin Hood, Walang Hanggan and #Jadine whenever they hit the service.  This extended sampling gives the customers the power to decide if they would like to continue to watch the rest of series before they pay for the subscription.

‘We are very excited to introduce this hybrid model as it gives customers more control over their purchase decision.  This new hybrid model is a result of what we have learnt over the past year after studying usage patterns and speaking to numerous customers and understanding what they want in a video-on-demand service.  We believe this will be a win-win strategy for both our customers and our business as it allows the customers to try the service and the content before they decide to purchase, at the same time, we have the opportunity to re-engage customers whenever we introduce our latest titles, outside of their free trial period’, said Peter Bithos, Chief Executive Officer at HOOQ.  ‘The key driver of any video-on-demand service is their content and we are confident that our offering will keep our customers HOOQ’d month after month!’ He added.

MOBILE-FIRST USER EXPERIENCE
HOOQ fans can look forward to a new app interface that boasts a mobile first UX that has been built from extensive customer beta testing and usability research to derive a customer-centric experience, given that over 80% of customers are consuming HOOQ on their mobile devices.

Designed with the habits of the social and digital natives in mind, this new mobile-first release boasts a brand new real time content feed and personalized recommendation engine that makes discovering new favorites easier than ever.  Additionally, there is an improved search engine, wish-lists (for future viewing) and optimized content delivery for significantly faster app start and streaming start times.

The new app has been in development by HOOQ’s in-house team for nearly nine months and is backboned by a new back-end framework focused on a faster and higher quality streaming experience for the customer.  In addition to the current support of iOS, Android, web, Chromecast and Android Set-top Box, HOOQ will also be available on Airplay and mobile web as part of this launch.

‘We know that our customers are mostly enjoying HOOQ on their mobile devices so it was a natural decision that we enhanced the entire HOOQ platform to give our customers a best in class mobile-first experience.  For me, one of the most exciting new features is the real time content feed that highlights our most popular content and knowing what others are watching and which titles are trending!’  said Jane Cruz-Walker, Country Manager of HOOQ Philippines

HOOQ, a start-up venture between Singtel, Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros., is an award winning service that empowers customers with unlimited online streaming access and an offline viewing option to top Hollywood and Filipino movies and television content, on any device including computers, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs via Google Chromecast, Android set-top-boxes and now, also on Airplay!

How to get HOOQ

It’s easy to get HOOQ!  Sign up today on www.HOOQ.tv for a free trial.  Monthly subscriptions start from Php149.00 and soon, customers can also choose from weekly subscriptions for as low as Php59.00.

Globe Postpaid customers can get up to 45 days of free trial with Globe GoSURF 99 and below, and up to 90 days of free trial for all mobile customers availing of GoSURF 299 and up.  Broadband customers also get HOOQ for free on Globe Home Broadband.  Once the trial period expires, GoSURF customers can continue enjoying HOOQ at Php149 subscription fee monthly charged to your Globe bill.  For all other subscribers, you can either pay the Php149 monthly subscription fee through credit card or charge it to your Globe bill by texting HOOQ149 to 8888.

Monday's best only at Goldilocks

Almost every Filipino business believes in the good fortune brought about by a “Buena Mano” sale. It is believed that the first sale of the day (or week, depending on how you view it) sets the tone for the rest of the sales. Because of that, business will always give the best and most sulit deals to encourage a first sale.

Even Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop, does not shy away from this practice, and has taken it to the next level by giving its customers the best value for its customers.

Introducing Goldilocks’ Sarapinoy Breaded Pork Chop meal; a generous cut of golden brown fried pork chop served with steaming hot white rice, an appetizing All-Veggie Lumpia Jr., and a refreshing glass of Sago’tGulaman. And, if you happen to crave for it on a Monday, the Buena Mano Monday promo provides every order with an extra Choco Cream Slice for dessert at no extra charge.



Grab this affordable meal at the nearest Goldilocks food shop and make your Mondays more delicious. For more information, you may also follow Goldilocks on Twitter or Instagram at @GoldilocksPH, on the Goldilocks Facebook page, or at the official Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph

Wash your hands with anti-bacterial properties like Cleene Foaming Hand Soap

Cleaning products are essential to every household. There is a wide variety of cleaning products in the market and sometimes, we don’t pay attention to their differences because they visibly perform the same action. Up until now, some Filipino households still misuse cleaning products resulting in unnecessary risk to human health.

For washing of hands, use products that have anti-bacterial properties like the Cleene Foaming Hand Soap perfect to be placed in your kitchen and bathrooms. The special pump converts the small amount of liquid into foam needed for a regular hand wash.

Cleene Foaming Hand Soap has antibacterial and moisturizing properties, and comes in five scents namely, Luscious Strawberry, Heavenly Peach, Golden Citrus, Calming Lavender and Enchanting Sweet Pea available in all Mercury Drug and leading supermarkets nationwide.

Cleaning your AC unit increases efficiency

We have survived the sweltering hot summer months and we are now officially in the cool rainy season. This may be the wet season but it comes with the cool breeze, with this we can take advantage of the cold weather, thus less consumption of electricity for ACs and time for our ACs to be checked and cleaned.

Dave Moody, HVAC pro from Service Experts advised that “an AC needs regular attention to be sure it is operating at the highest efficiency”. One way to ensure efficiency of your AC unit is to clean out filters or better yet replace if needed. If done the user will be able to avoid the hassles of spending too much on repair/ services or even the replacement of the unit itself.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE), replacing a dirty or clogged filter with a clean one may decrease the air conditioner’s energy consumption by 5% to 15%. Furthermore, cleaning the AC’s filter will also be beneficial for the unit’s so-called evaporator coil and condenser which may collect dirt too when the filter is intermittently cleansed. So cleaning the evaporator coil greatly helps keep the AC unit cool if those are clogged after accumulating so much dust out of months and months of use thus it will reduce airflow and envelope the coil to such a degree that the ability to absorb heat shall decrease.

Conceding that the evaporator coil and condenser is habitually checked and cleaned, in effect can avoid the possibility of a damaged AC unit. Hence, it is eminently recommended to check the inside of the unit. Likewise, it is emphasized that the drain channels, where the water from the AC unit passes, are cleared away and monitored as well to circumvent clogged flow.

Remember, draining is a favorable practice to do constantly to ensure that the channels are good to go. Cleaning and maintaining air conditioners are a bit troublesome as a task but it has its benefits. Sometimes hiring a professional help is necessary to achieve the task, guaranteed of the best possible service for your AC unit/s.

Meanwhile it is significant to maintain your AC unit/s, it is also greatly encouraged that you choose the right one for your home. The International Elevator and Equipment, Inc. (IEE), an affiliate of the Mitsubishi Electric Group, offers various types of room air conditioners. IEE, the country’s leading provider of Mitsubishi Electric elevator and escalators also provides various types of high quality Mitsubishi Electric inverter ACs that are perfect for home and office use.

Mitsubishi Electric’s new inverter units, namely the MSZ series, offer a sophisticated system made up of variable speed compressors that allow users to regulate the temperature as desired.

So choose wisely and always remember your regular maintenance check for a longer and more efficient use of your air conditioning units.

For more information about Mitsubishi Electric room air conditioners, visit www.iee.com.ph.

PH cites improvement in ICT Performance

Various foreign indexes have noted an improvement in the state of information and communications technology (ICT) in the country which is attributed to the innovations made by telecom service providers (telcos) and the Philippine government to develop the sector.

In the latest survey conducted by the United Nations Public Administration Country Studies (UNPACS) among UN member-countries, the Philippines climbed 24 notches to rank 71st out of 193 countries in "e-government development.

The survey uses E-Government Development Index (EGDI) as composite indicator of the willingness and capacity of national governments to utilize ICT in the delivery of public services.



The country's latest standing is a significant improvement from its 95th rank during the initial survey done in 2014 that is based on three important dimensions of e-government, namely: scope and quality of online services (OSI), development status of telecommunication infrastructure index (TII), and inherent human capital.

On the other hand, a report done by Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., the largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer in the world, cited a marked improvement in the development of ICT in the country.

The Philippines ranked 38th this year in the Huawei's Global Connectivity Index (GCI) 2016---up four places from last year's index---and even topped the Starters category. This category measures how 50 nations are progressing with digital transformation using ICT.

The country moved two notches up from its 2015 ranking with a score of 33 to lead the Starters category, which are countries considered to be at the early stage of ICT infrastructure build-out.

The focus of countries classified under the Starters category is on increasing ICT supply to give more people access to the digital world.

GCI 2016 also noted improvements in the number of homes with computers in the Philippines as well as in smartphone penetration and mobile broadband subscriptions.

Meanwhile, the Philippines hopes to further improve its standing in the global ICT Development Index (IDI) this year after gaining an upgrade in the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) list in 2015.

The country ranked 98 out of 167 economies in the world in 2015, an improvement of eight notches from year 2010 in the "Measuring the Information Society Report" released by the ITU yearly since 2009.

The 2016 report is set to be launched on Nov. 22 during the World Telecommunication/ICT Indicators Symposium (WTIS) 2016 in Gaborone, Botswana.

Hopes are high that the Philippines will continue to put up a good showing in ICT development as the ITU report last year noted that levels of ICT access, use and skills continue to improve all around the world.

In the Asia Pacific region, ITU said middle-income countries, in particular, have shown considerable improvements in their IDI values between 2010 and 2015.

Improvements in the Philippine ICT sector could be attributed to the innovations made by telcos and the Philippine government to develop the ICT industry in the country.

The Philippine government, through the years, had developed ICT laws concerning electronic commerce, digital signatures, consumer protection which are responsive to the needs of the different stakeholders of the industry.

Telcos, for their part, have provided substantial investment in infrastructure. They have already started to transition from 3G to 4G in urban and business areas to address the demand for higher data usage. #

LINKS
ITU-IDI Rankings :  http://www.itu.int/net4/ITU-D /idi/2015/

UN E-Government : https://publicadministrat
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King Sue Hams, the perfect gift to your loved ones

We are just 85 days before that most wonderful time of the year! And as they say, it’s never too early to start planning what to give clients, colleagues, family and friends this Christmas.

Food is definitely a present everybody welcomes, especially if it’s of very good quality and stamped with a respectable heritage like King Sue hams.

For over 86 years, King Sue has been a part of many Filipino Christmases and special occasions. It is an institution in the industry and its hams are loved by generations of families.bone-in-chinese-ham-bone-in-is-a-festive-treat Customers can choose from different options at different price points. Whatever you choose is guaranteed to please because all varieties of ham are made with the finest ingredients and seasonings.

Looking for the perfect ham for employees, coworkers, family and friends? The sweet flavor of King Sue’s Sweet Ham is spot on.

The Chinese Ham Bone-In, meanwhile, is delicately cured in Asian seasonings and spices for one month, then smoked for a week before it is slow-cooked in brine. It is also torched with sugar coating before it is glazed and vacuum packed.This tedious process brings out the best flavor on the pork leg that has more lean meat-to-fat ratio. It is one of King Sue’s signature products with a robust and distinct flavor that is fit for a king (and company executives).

King Sue also offers the 500-gram Hawaiian Ham. Its meaty goodness is perfectly seasoned to suit the Pinoy palate. This ham is best served as pica-pica, with hot pandesal, tossed in fried rice, or as garnish in fresh garden salad.

Another favorite among the Filipino market is the Pina Ham, made with 100% boneless pork leg meat with a mild sweet-smoky flavor. And if you’re on a budget but still want the best ham, King Sue’s Pear-Shaped Ham is right for you. It’s light on the pocket but heavy on flavor.king-sue-hams-the-perfect-gift-for-colleagues-friends-and-loved-ones

King Sue is already accepting bulk orders from businesses and companies for their Christmas giveaways. For individual purchases, King Sue hams and other meat products are available at leading supermarkets and groceries nationwide.

Call 881-0530 364-5430, 376-6441 and +639199889642 for inquiries and orders, and check out FB IG Twitter @kingsueham or email sales@kingsue.com. Also check out www.kingsue.com