X-Men: Apocalypse Post Credits Scene Explained, Possible Movies Ahead

Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS for the movie X-Men: Apocalypse. If you don’t want to know what happens in the movie’s post-credits scene, turn back now by clicking to any other article in this blog.

X-Men: Apocalypse is the conclusion of the reboot of the X-Men trilogy (First Class, Days of Future Past, Apocalypse), however, based on the post-credit scene, we can safely say that this may not be the final installment in the X-Men movie series.

Here is what happens in the post-credit scene:
By the time the movie is over, the X-Men has been successful stopping Apocalypse from destroying Earth, we know now that another major (and powerful) X-Men villain is coming who is just as dangerous in his own right. The post-credits scene takes us back to the Weapon X facility where Jean Grey, Cyclops and Nightcrawler rescued Beast, Raven (Mystique), Quicksilver, Moira MacTaggert and freed Weapon X (Wolverine) from the mind-conditioning session enclosure (unleashed on William Stryker's soldiers), and eventually helping Wolverine get free. The mind-conditioning sessions came after Wolverine’s skeleton was bonded with adamantium.

Wolverine a.k.a. Weapon X

In the final scene, a mysterious man has to step over the bodies left during Wolverine’s killing spree and escape. He soon finds what he’s looking for: a vial of Wolverine’s blood marked “Weapon X”; The mysterious man then sticks the vial along with two other differently colored vials of blood in a briefcase, and after closing the briefcase the label “ESSEX CORP” was revealed.

Essex? The name might be new to the X-Men movie universe and its new fans and this is where the expertise comes in: the name "Essex" refers to Nathaniel Essex who is more known as Mister Sinister, one of the most formidable villains of the X-Men. In the comics, Essex is the one responsible for awakening Apocalypse; a geneticist, he believes the mutant had the potential to unlock the secret of perfecting the evolution of the human race, and is granted agelessness from Apocalypse himself (Mister Sinister was once one of the four horsemen of Apocalypse).

Nathaniel Essex a.k.a Mister Sinister

As Nathaniel Essex, he was a 19th century geneticist conducting unethical and dangerous experiments for the sake of accelerating evolution via mutation. Soon he crossed paths with Apocalypse, who transformed him into Mister Sinister. “Sinister”, the last word his dying wife ever spoke to him. Thanks to this genetic alteration, he was given abilities like telekinesis, mind manipulation, shape shifting, energy projection, regeneration (was granted agelessness from Apocalypse himself) and more. All this, combined with his own natural intellect, makes him one of the X-Men’s most dangerous villain.

What's next? Possible movies and story line in the future.

His obsession with creating the perfect mutant being would also tie back into the suitcase filled with serums, though it's hard to tell exactly which upcoming X-Men film Mister Sinister would feature in. That vial of Wolverine’s blood suggests that he’ll be involved with the third Wolverine movie (which is Hugh Jackman’s last appearance as Wolverine, so we've been told). It was rumored that Wolverine’s female clone, X-23 (hence, the vial of blood labelled as "Weapon X"), will appear in the movie, so that could point to Mister Sinister being responsible for her creation using Essex Corps’ resources.

The entry of Mister Sinister may also have a link to the on and off Gambit movie. In the comics, Gambit spent his days before joining the X-Men under the employment of Mister Sinister as a skilled thief.

How about an X-men movie as a prequel to Deadpool 2? Mister Sinister had a particular obsession with Scott Summers (Cyclops) and Jean Grey, creating a clone of the latter Madelyne Pryor, so that Cyclops would have a child with her, which Sinister would view as the ultimate mutant, Nathan Summers a.k.a. Cable. As we all know, the time-travelling mutant is Deadpool's best buddy so an X-Men movie before Deadpool 2 (Gambit movie maybe?) may actually make sense.

Will Mister Sinister become a major villain in future X-men movies? Will there be a new trilogy of X-Men movies based on what was revealed in X-Men: Apocalypse? We are hoping so. The cast is good enough to merit their own trilogy. Whatever happens and what superhero films comes our way, I am very thankful to see all of these movies since the early 2000's. For comic book fans, the cinematic universe is expanding fast.

Flash Surpasses the Definition of Metal with its new Flash Plus 2

May 18, 2016 | Flash upgrades the excellent photographing DNA of the Flash series with the launch of its new Flash Plus 2. But on top of its rich, experiential camera features, the newest addition to the Flash roster also boasts of pioneering functions such as fingerprint recognition, Hi-Fi sound effect, and fast battery charging—all boxed in a sophisticated metal case designed for the high- and medium-end market.

Flash has finally responded to its users’ concerns by offering a smartphone that surpasses user convenience, sound effects and battery usage. According to Albert Wong, General Manager of Flash 3C Limited, the continuous innovation of the Flash series marks the brand’s independence.

“The independence of the Flash brand means we have entered a complete new stage of development. What remains unchanged is that we will consistently follow the mission of Flash at its birth and stay connected with the young Internet consumers who enjoy sharing and pursue quality. We will get to know their specific needs through continuous interaction to create high quality smart hardware that is fun and enjoyable, offering the users a lifestyle of seeking our true selves,” Wong said. 

A Craft of Quality Workmanship
In order to create better feel of texture for appearance, Flash Plus 2 adopts a metal framework for the phone that allows it to possess the unique glow and touch of metal through quality workmanship while retaining its sleek and sophisticated aesthetics. The forge and grinding of the back of the phone case went through an array of complex processes ranging from horizontal wire-drawing, high-speed side sand-blasting, ultralight rim diamond cutting, and twice anodization. 

In complying with the ethos of tending to detail, the all-new Flash Plus 2 adopts diamond cutting and twice anodic oxidation technologies for the 0.4mm rim of the Home key, for the 0.15mm sound volume key, and for the 0.4mm rim of flash lamp and speaker - each bit of this contributing to the aesthetics of smart phone body.

With the amalgamation of these processes, a new top-of-the-line smartphone is born—and it’s here to offer users a sense of warmth and vigor for the cold, hard metal work.

A Device of Efficiency and Convenience
Based on study of smart phone users’ habits, Flash Plus 2 carries a frontal fingerprint recognition function that combines the dual criteria of external aesthetics and practical convenience. The fingerprint use experience makes Flash Plus 2 a perfect assistant of life and office efficiency, ranging from accurate fast unlocking to file encryption to one-stroke APP launch.

The fingerprint recognition of Flash Plus 2 is unique in that it not only offers 0.5s unlocking under “switch off” screen status and all-round accurate recognition, but also allows for personalized APP launch options corresponding to users’ five fingerprints. For instance, users can conveniently unlock camera App through touching the fingerprint module with their forefingers, without going through any tedious procedure.

To prevent document theft and privacy leak, Flash Plus 2 provides a function of documents protection cabinet where privacy information is stored and encrypted with fingerprint, leaving users assured of their security even when the smartphone is not on their hands.

Another big edge that highlights the efficiency of Flash Plus 2 is its fast charging capability that best relieves users of battery capacity concerns. In order to ensure faster charging efficiency while maintaining safety, Flash Plus 2 carries a 3,000mAh battery group and adopts TI BQ25896 fast-charging chip and 9V/1.67A fast-charging technologies provided by Texas Instruments of the United States, which can charge battery to 50% in 30 minutes for up to a 10-hour uninterrupted call. The charging efficiency is raised by 35% compared with 5V/1A phones while it takes only 2 hours for the battery to be fully charged - the time of watching a movie or finishing a meal before the power status of your phones is fully restored.

A Fun and Excitement Camera Phone
Carrying over the optimum photographing function of the Flash brand, the new Flash Plus 2 launched a comprehensive upgrading of the two aspects of photo-taking capabilities: fast focal adjustment and dark light shooting. The users can capture sweet moments in a faster and better fashion during fleeting occasions or wonderful night scenes. For fast-moving objects, you’d be glad to know that the new Flash Plus 2 allows one-stroke fingerprint launch of camera with only 0.1s instant accurate focal adjustment through the blending of PDAF automatic focus technology and contrast focus effects. 

Furthermore, Flash upgraded the power of its camera light. To ensure high-quality image effect even under low light conditions, the Flash Plus 2 is made with a 13,000-pixel rear lens with the warm double-color flash lamp RealTone that copes with nighttime or dim indoor luminous intensity. It frees users of the restraints of dim light conditions to see a perfect whole world as well. 

The five million pixel front lens adopts LED flash lamp with CRI up to 80 while red spectrum is intelligently enhanced for selfie or video chatting conditions. With ruddy facial effect and glow, Flash Plus 2 offers an over 100% real-time facial enhancement function, allowing users to capture moments of beauty and beyond.

Flash is also taking your photography to the next level with the smartphone’s series of creative functions. For example, the 84.40 ultra-broad view that it carries allows users to do a selfie during family or friends gatherings. The “Picture-in-Picture” Mode allows front and rear lenses to work simultaneously to accomplish a creative photo-in-photo experience. What’s more, the Flash Plus 2 carries a Child Mode for parents to record precious moments of their kids’ childhood, which creates a noise of sheep, car horn or kitten to catch your child’s attention when the photo is being taken.

A Wonderful Experience of Enjoying Music
The incredible features of the Flash Plus 2 is not limited to aesthetics and futuristic photography alone. In fact, it carries with it a high-fidelity, quality-retaining earphone acoustics, high sound volume effects, and MIX music production function, making it a smart device for music lovers.

For single-person enjoyment, Flash Plus 2 provides independent AKM4375 audio decoding chip coupled with state-of-the-art IRD sound digital filter, with value-retaining signal output measuring up to high-fidelity acoustic effects. While the speaker is being used for playing music, the NXP980 power amplification chip and built-in DSP algorithm drives speaker power to reach 3.6W - eight times greater than the volume of average smart phones. 

More Cutting-edge Features of Hardware and Software
The Flash Plus 2 features high-definition screen, powerful performance, Android M system, and dual channel turbo download, among other functions. The 5.5’ FHD multiple point touchscreen adopts OGS full cohesion technology, with ultra-clear scenes within reach of a finger touch. Meanwhile, it carries Miravision 2.0 FHD display that enables smart eye protection in too strong or weak luminous situations, providing a wonderful visual experience of perfect clearness and comfort.

Furthermore, the new smartphone’s Helio P10 processor ensures strong performance and low energy consumption in providing smooth, free “cut back” through multitasking operation of surfing the Internet, playing games, and watching videos. 

As a new member of Flash brand, Flash Plus 2 continues the original Android system support while the all-new upgraded Android M operational system offers APP access control, web browsing, APP relevance, and smart energy-saving function, among others. For global Android lovers and tech geeks, it offers a streamlined, personalized user experience.

The all-new Flash Plus 2 comes in two color options - Luna Silver and Venus Gold, providing a high-end customized choice appealing to refined taste.

For more information about Flash, please visit:

http://www.flash3c.com

http://www.flash3c.com/ph/ 

The Sound of Music: Classical music takes center stage in Marinduque’s 3rd Annual “Musika sa Isla”

BOAC, MARINDUQUE — Symphonies are due to wake the sleepy town of Boac, Marinduque as the city holds its third “Musika sa Isla,” the country’s only classical music festival, on May 18, 19, and 21. Premier musicians from Asia are gracing the three-day event. 

“Musika sa Isla” gathers a diverse roster of musical talents, ranging from pianists to seasoned singers. This year, Franz Chen of Indonesia and Tomoyo Kobayashi from Japan are playing the piano. Japan’s Kazuki Yamamoto is the festival’s lone violinist, while Ivan Jenzer is representing the Philippines on the cello. Filipino soprano singer Arlene Escultero and baritone singer Joseleo Logdat are joining as well. 

The festival will take place in the capital’s storied attractions. On May 18, the International Concert starts at 6 p.m. at the St. Raphael Parish. On May 19, the Grand Gala starts at 6 p.m. at the Boac covered court. Watch out for the additional concert on May 21 at the Moriones Arena and Park.

But the better news is, good music is finally affordable. Tickets sell for P200 for each event; students even get 50% off for one.

“Musika sa Isla” is set in the quaint but bustling city of Boac in Marinduque province. The heart-shaped island takes pride in its scenic landscape, rustic charm, and other natural wonders. Its near zero-crime crate and impressive agri-based economy are attracting curious wanderers as Marinduque poises itself as a budding tourist destination. Once dubbed as the country’s “forgotten paradise,” it’s time for us to remember the beauty we’ve always had, the beauty we need to recognize. An easy bus trip away, JAC Liner even includes the RORO pass with their advanced reservations now available online.

The third annual classical music festival is supported by AGREA Philippines, a local social enterprise that hopes to revitalize agriculture in the island of Marinduque. 

Bringing MUNI to NUVALI Solenad 3 on May 21

What to expect from the one-and-only MUNI Market for 2016

When we first started the MUNI Market, our goal was to keep growing the community, and continue bringing our message of mindful living to more people around the metro, the country, and the world. And so, this coming May 21, we're conducting a happy experiment with the first ever MUNI Market in Nuvali!
We are bringing our existing community of conscious, purpose-driven merchants and supporters to a new and vibrant location in the south of the metro, while also discovering and welcoming new folks from the south into our community as well.

Now on its 5th run, the only MUNI Market in 2016 will be popping up at Solenad 3 in Nuvali with our merry band of mindful merchants selling healthy, local and eco-friendly products from food, home to fashion items, some educational workshops and demos, and some musician friends setting the vibe for a fun and relaxed atmosphere, true to MUNI Market fashion.

What To Expect from MUNI Market 2016
Some of the folks from our tribe of cause-driven entrepreneurs include: Bayani Brew, Down To Earth PH, Food Source PH, Gouache Bags, Gugu, Holy Carabao, Jertie's Kitchen, Katch PH, Kuwero, Lemontastic, Nipa Foods / Nipa Brew, Picole, Pizza Morena, Risque Designs, Silly Monkey Clothing, The Green House Project, The Superfood Grocer, Theo & Philo, Thirsty Turtle, Tinker Knot, Treehugger World, V&M Naturals, and Yadu.

Yadu backpacks are carefully stitched together with upcycled fabric, making for truly one-of-a-kind pieces

Gouache waxed canvas lunch bags to tote your own wholesome meals for the day

Gugu backpacks are made with saluyot fibers (jute) handwoven in Bicol

Risque Designs creates footwear incorporating handwoven Hablon textiles from Iloilo and wooden carvings from Paete

Local craft brewer Nipa brings its brews to the south and also introduces their newest kombucha brew line

The MUNI Market program for that day includes:

• Coloring & storytelling activities for kids c/o Katch PH & Treehugger World at 11AM, 2PM and 4PM
• Healthy food demos c/o Holy Carabao & Jertie's Kitchen at 2:30PM
• Yoga c/o Life Yoga at 4:30PM
• Live music performances by Toni B, Gentle Universe, Paola Mauricio, Mellow Submarine starting at 5PM

Toni B performing at the last MUNI Market

All throughout the day, we will also be introducing you to our merchants through interviews to share their stories and their products.

Xilca Alvarez of Bayani Brew sharing her two cents at a MUNI Meetup

A Technology-enhanced MUNI Market Experience
We will also be introducing a payment system that will give event goers a unique user experience through an easy one-time payment at designated cash-in points that allows you to navigate from merchant to merchant with a quick and easy swipe of a card. Read more about it HERE.

Keep up to date for more information, activities, merchants and performers and follow the MUNI Market Facebook event page, and sign up for MUNI Mail.

For more inquiries and partnership opportunities, you may contact  hello@muni.com.ph.

Stoops Bagnet Ilocos | Umaapaw sa Sarap

Are you from the South and craving for Bagnet?
Stoops Bagnet Ilocos BF Homes Paranaque is the place for you!

Another food trip venue here at the South, Stoops Bagnet Ilocos serves authentic Ilocano cuisine. Affordable, generous in serving and served fast, you get your money's worth with Stoops.

Located at Unit-103 CMSR Bldg. #8 President's Ave. BF Homes Paranaque City, residents from the South can add Stoops Bagnet Ilocos in their list of places to try and go back for some more.

Last May 10, I was fortunate to join the Bloggers Media South Group for Media Night where we are able to sample a couple of dishes that Stoops is serving. The group also learned the history of the brand, the product development and how the franchise took off.

The group was served with Bagnet Meals with a variety of side dish to go with the pork and Pancit Bagnet.

Bagnet Meal with TBA (Talong, Bagoong Alamang)

Bagnet Meal with KBL (Kamatis, Bagoong, Lasuna)

Bagnet Meal with KKB (Kamatis, Talbos ng Kamote, Bagoong)

Pancit Bagnet has the right combination of perfectly cooked noodle and the crushed bagnet toppings gave the dish its texture. You can also order the plain variant which is good on its own.

Bagnet Meals start at 105 pesos, comes with Plain or Garlic Rice.
Pancit Bagnet goes for 75 pesos, plain goes for 50 pesos.

I'll have to come back to try the Chicken Bagnet. This dish intrigues me.

Here are some photos of the place in BF Homes Parañaque. Very straightforward. You place your order and wait for a few minutes. Enjoy the meal in an air-conditioned restaurant with wi-fi access.

Here is the menu. Not included is the new product, the "StoopSilog".

Prices are accurate as of posting. Visit http://www.stoopsbagnet.com/menu.html for updates. 

Photo-op with the management team of Stoops Bagnet Ilocos BF Parañaque.

Stoops also offers delivery service to nearby areas with a flat rate of 30 pesos. No minimum purchase required. Call (02) 886-8315 or 0933-0353412

Stoops is also open for franchising. You may call the following numbers: (02) 957-5152 or 0917-4333588; you may also send an e-mail to stoops.bagnet.ilocos@gmail.com for your inquiries.

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Corporate History

The inspiration of putting up Stoops Bagnet Ilocos, a restaurant serving authentic Ilocano cuisine stemmed from Jay Seneres' acquired taste and craving for Ilocano food. He was then working for an airline company. Upon the invitation of his good friend and co-worker Galen Cid, they would spend vacations from work at Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, Galen's hometown. Galen's mother would cook Adobo Ilokano, Igado, Dinengdeng and Pinakbet from fresh meats and vegetables for them. Jay was introduced to bagoong with talbos ng kamote, kamatis and lasuna (native onions) -- to empanada, Sukang Iloko, Longganisa, atbp. And the most unforgettable of them all, the bagnet! Jay was hooked.

In Manila, Jay would search for restaurants serving Ilocano food but found no good ones. Frustrated, he suggested to Galen, that they open an Ilocano restaurant. The two friends agreed that they just needed a good business plan, a good product packaging and a good presentation for the concept to materialize. Still keeping their airline jobs, they decided to go for it! They came up with the name "Stoops Bagnet Ilocos". "Stoops" is actually a funny moniker they and their close friends call each other - a coined word that means "buddy".

Thus, in March 2008, the first Stoops Bagnet Ilocos fast food restaurant was opened along 1021 Pablo Ocampo St. (Vito Cruz) corner Arellano St. Malate, Manila. For two years, the first Stoops branch gained a foothold serving good tasting bagnet and other Ilocano dishes at affordable prices with fast and reliable service. Owing to a growing customer following, a second branch was opened in August of 2010 at Malugay St. Bel-Air, Makati City. Two more years later, in February of 2012, a third branch was opened in Legarda Street Sampaloc, Manila. For six years the three branches have been in operation under Stoops Bagnet Ilocos Company, a partnership formed by the two founders.


In May 2014, Jay Seneres, realizing the good potential of the business decided to franchise the Stoops brand and concept. He formed a new company - SBI Franchise Systems Inc. to handle the franchise business of Stoops Bagnet Ilocos. The Corporation will manage all future expansion of the brand.

Stoops Bagnet Ilocos Branches:

• Ultima I Bldg. Legarda cor San Rafael St. Brgy 390 Zone 040, Quiapo
• Arellano St. cor Estrada St. Singalong, Manila
• Unit 1B Lancaster Square, Brgy. Alapan 2B Imus, Cavite
• 53-1a Visayas Avenue Brgy. Vasra, Quezon City
• Unit-103 CMSR Bldg. #8 President's Ave. BF Homes, Paranaque City
• Calle Lila Marikina

Stoops Bagnet Ilocos 
Address: 2665 Honduras Street San Isidro Makati City, Philippines
Contact no.: (02)957-5152/0917-4333588
https://www.facebook.com/StoopsBagnet
https://twitter.com/StoopsBagnet
www.stoopsbagnet.com

Bonbon Festival - Celebrate Art, Environment and Community!

Now on it's second year, Bonbon Festival is back to celebrate Arts, Environment and Community in a one of a kind one-day event which will be participated by young professionals, students, different artists in Batangas Province, and invited guests from other places.

Bonbon Festival is the first eco-green festival in the province which aims to support and sustain the environment by using arts and culture as one of the tools for preservation and development. The festival will be at Sitio Tagbakin, Brgy. Halang Lipa City, Batangas this coming May 21, 2016 from 6am onwards!

What to Expect

Gala at Pasyal sa Lawa/ Knowledge Tour
Know the story of the lake region and eruption history of Taal Volcano via boat ride from Sitio Tagbakin, Lipa City to San Nicolas to Volcano Island and back. Enjoy the horse ride and trek with local tour guide and the rest of the team.

Mananghalian/Lunch
Savor a sumptuous lunch of Batangas fusion cuisine and local refreshments.

Huntahan sa Lawa/ Talkback
Join a series of meaningful talkback and discussions about Art and Environment with interactive community workshops that culminates the afternoon activities.

Hapunan/ Dinner by the Lake, Art Installations and Performance Art
Experience Batangas Art and Culture through performances. Listen to the old time Kundiman music plus musical performances dedicated to Taal led by independent Batangueno musicians including LAC Music Department. Cocktails are available with a party capping the night with all-out-fun and dancing.

Participants may choose from 2 packages

For inquiries and ticket purchase you may contact:

Mr. Carlo Aguila at 043-740-7112 or 09178779144

Let's end this summer season with a purpose. See you there!

Link Back: ohohleo.blogspot.com

IDC Philippines: 2016 Presidential Election Put the Country's ICT Growth Hanging in the Balance

Manila, May 2, 2016 — With the presidential election happening in a week, the country's ICT growth once again hangs in the balance. Election years in the Philippines have traditionally been both a boon and a bane for the country's ICT sector. While there is an election ban for major projects, there are great opportunities for ICT vendors and service providers due to election related projects and various spending measures. However, elections also drive end users, particularly the enterprise sector, to a wait-and-see attitude toward spending, and some are forced to downgrade or altogether scrap any major ICT-related expenditure due to uncertainty.

Over the past two presidential elections, we have seen the country's ICT spending experience differing fates. In 2004, the year Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo won as president, ICT spending grew 12%. The following years reached a plateau of 5–7% ICT spending growth, with 2008 seeing a high of 15% growth. In 2010, Arroyo's successor, Noynoy Aquino, put a stop on most government projects to implement various checks and balances. This resulted in an ICT spending growth of only 5% at the end of 2010. After a similar 5–9% growth in the following two years, 2013 saw 27% growth on the back of government-led projects, fiscal reforms, and anti-corruption measures that led to improvements in the country's international ratings and rankings.

"This year, IDC sees that the total ICT spending growth in the country will hover between 8% and 10%. Barring any major wildcard events such as natural disasters, a worldwide recession, or a political revolution, IDC believes that the country's ICT sector is headed toward a positive ICT outlook at the end of 2016 and beyond. Although there may be short-term uncertainties, the country's momentum toward ICT adoption is well on its upward track, brought on by the rise of millennials, disruptive technologies, the impact of the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, demands from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and the impact of next-wave cities," says Jubert Alberto, country head, IDC Philippines.

However, IDC cautions that such an ICT growth path may be dwarfed by short-sighted and drastic strategies that look only at the immediate six to eight months after the elections. Ill-planned strategies can make the economy even more vulnerable to external shocks, and "rocking the boat" too much with radical policies and questionable methods may result to instability and hurt domestic viability and investor confidence.

With these, IDC underscores the following key areas on which the next administration should focus to aid the ICT sector to continue on its upward trajectory:

• Prioritize the establishment of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). "This move is crucial if the government wants to ensure that the ICT sector, which is among the most profitable divisions of the Philippine economy (projected to contribute US$50 billion in revenue in 2016) and the top drivers of employment growth, will be secure in the coming years. If created, the DICT will be the primary government entity to plan, promote, and help develop the country's ICT sector and address issues concerning Internet connectivity, communications services, data privacy, cybersecurity, and cybercrime — functions that are currently divided among several disparate agencies," says Sean Paul Agapito, associate market analyst, IDC Philippines.
• Develop large-scale ICT initiatives. Compared with other ASEAN countries, there are no large-scale initiatives that could greatly impact the ICT market. "However, iGovPhil and MITHI are good ways to start. What we can do is help local ICT vendors to gain a strong foothold in the local, regional, and global scenes so their top-notch IT skills can be recognized. The government should also support ICT adoption in non-IT industries such as resources and agriculture. It should have a vision of digital agriculture in the long term, wherein farmers can sit at their homes waiting for a message on their smartphones saying their crops can now be harvested. However, this should be done gradually. What's important is that there is a collaboration between the public sector and service providers," says Alon Anthony Rejano, associate market analyst, IDC Philippines.
• Address the country's connectivity problem on major scale. The government must put regulations on how to speed up the Internet connection in the country. The government should exercise its authority to penalize telcos that do not provide the Internet speeds they have promised. "In addition, support for the entry of any global telco in the Philippine market is also needed to spur competition. This will ultimately give consumers better services at lower cost. But in the same vein, the government should endeavor to shorten the process of starting a business in the country and cut red tape surrounding the establishment of telco infrastructures such as cell sites and fiber builds," Rejano adds.
• Take cybersecurity more seriously. The latest hacking incident involving a governmental entity, which saw sensitive information of millions of Filipino voters leaked online, highlights how the Philippines is severely lacking in terms of cybersecurity. This should be a wake-up call to the incoming government that it should look at this matter in earnest. With digitalization becoming more and more pervasive, ensuring that any piece of personal data people send online is safe and secured becomes increasingly important. "The looming threat of cyberattacks could potentially jeopardize the Philippine's e-government initiatives, such as iGovPhil and MITHI, especially those that involve the use or submission of personal/sensitive data. Moreover, these cyberattacks have negative implications on the suitability of the country as an ICT hub, especially after the latest string of cyberattacks on the government," adds Agapito.
• Place a bigger focus on the BPO industry in the country. The BPO industry is expected to surpass the gross domestic product (GDP) contribution of OFWs. With the local industry trying to gradually shift its focus on traditional voice services to higher-valued services (e.g., knowledge process outsourcing), the government must address the shortage of skilled labor and professionalize the industry. Collaboration with education agencies such as the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) must be done to align the curriculum with the demands and requirements of the IT sector. The expansion of BPOs in the country greatly helps in the "expansion of ICT wealth" through the rise of next-wave cities. These are viable locations in which BPO incumbents have based their operations to supplement Metro Manila-based businesses.
• Provide greater support to Smart City initiatives. In connection with the greater support on BPOs, there is also a need for even greater support from the next administration on Smart City initiatives in the country. Although it's good to see a number of Smart City initiatives, such as Cauayan City's electronic government application system (eGAPS), most of the projects in other areas are still stuck at pilot testing stage. "A key roadblock to implementation is budget constraint on the part of the local government. Greater budget should be allocated by the national government in funding Smart City initiatives to help these projects come to fruition. Through Smart Cities, the improvement of quality of life and better delivery of government services will be achieved. Healthy collaboration among the local government, solution providers, and other government agencies is also key in driving these projects forward," says Jerome Dominguez, market analyst, IDC Philippines.
• Drive growth toward the SME sector. There should also be a strong drive from the government to energize the country's SME sector. So far, there are no government initiatives that aim to grow SMEs in the ICT market. Unlike the Philippines' SME sector, the SME ecosystems, including start-ups and micro enterprises, of developed markets such as Singapore are strong because the government supports their actions. There should be effective government funding and assistance schemes to contribute to the success of our own start-ups, with the new administration crafting a pro-business and start-up-friendly nation. The government should help them by providing a strong legal environment, low-tax system, and a readily available workforce.
• Improve peace and order in the country. The next president should also work on addressing the peace and order situation in the country. With the continuing unrest in certain parts of Mindanao, the negative perception on the country as a safe haven also persists. Mindanao is a fast-growing region in terms of population (projected to grow faster than the national average) and economy (driven by the booming manufacturing and BPO sectors). Foreign investors are already eyeing Mindanao as the next area on which to focus their investments, making the resolution to the conflict highly critical.
• Put ICT at the forefront of the agenda. IDC strongly encourages the next administration to put ICT usage and adoption at the forefront of its operations moving forward. Optimized system performance and digitization of records in the education sector as well as eHealth innovations in the Philippines bolster ICT usage, as local hospitals continue to adopt electronic medical record/electronic health record (EMR/EHR) and mobile health applications. Deep-dive adoption of cloud-based services for various government transactions is essential. "Digital transformation (DX) in the Philippine government does not only improve the delivery of government services but also democratizes the public's access to national affairs. Greater ICT adoption by the next administration will help the country keep its growth momentum moving forward," adds Alberto

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About IDC

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Go Green and Practical with California EcoBike

Fuel prices continues to soar every week, add that to the burden of motorists and commuters alike as horrendous traffic in the metro persist. When it seems that we need to contend ourselves with these condition, why not try other alternative?

Electronic Bikes.

One such alternative we can take are E-bikes which can either charge on an electrical outlet or completely off-grid through solar charging. These should lower fumes on the road caused by petroleum type fuel and considerably cheaper if not free.

With the steady growth of e-bike followers, California Ecobike is gearing towards its mission to improve transportation in an eco-friendly way, one e-bike at a time. With their continuous effort in offering various alternative, here are two of their newest models:

California EcoBike promo
CD-R King and California Ecobike are holding a promo, Libreng E-bike that will run from April 15 to May 15, 2016, interested participants can refer to mechanics below.

Promo Mechanics:

1. Participants must purchase one (1) unit of E-bike worth P10,000 or more to qualify for this promo.
2. Participant must sign an application form and submit 2 valid IDs to join. Approved participants will be given a referral ID card.
3. Participant must accompany each of their referred buyers during the purchase.
4. A successful referral can only be approved if the following conditions are met: (A) Each of the referred buyer bought an E-bike worth 10,000 or higher. (B) The transaction was made within the promo period. (C) The transaction was made on the same branch where the participant enlisted in.
5. After completing 10 successful transactions, the participant can avail 1 free Reedley2 E-bike.
6. To claim the free Reedley2 E-bike, participant must present his/her Referral ID card along with 2 valid IDs. After 3 working days, store will call up the participant for claiming.
7. Redemption period is up to 60 days from the end of promo.

News for Two-wheel enthusiasts on the North

To further up the ante, CD-R King and California E-bike are testing the market as it initially offer the iRover and Malibu for rent for mall-goers of Star Mall, San Jose. With a minimal fee of as low as Php30, mall goers can rent these gadgets to be used within the mall vicinity. Renter should have a valid ID for processing.

For further inquiries visit www.ebike.cdrking.com or their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/EcoBikePH/.