Truth about Long Distance Relationship

Wazzup Pilipinas!

While most of people say that long distance relationship doesn't work. Some may disagree and some may not. If you encounter this kind of scenario some part of your life. Your family may say do not pursue it, or some of your friends would say to play it safe. Keep your options open!

But to tell you the truth its hard as well. I've seen people would trade long distance relationship to the closer partner. You can just be simply friends or can a travel partner. I did it before and its kinda normal. And Its hard to be lonely when you are a hundred miles or a country even continent away from your partner. 

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In today's internet world, I can say its not anymore. Because people from far side of the world would fly or sail just to pursue you. I meet this local girl and told her about my relationship that would fall for a certain lady. Which is actually 10 thousand miles away form home. 

Instead she also open her relationship to different parts of the world. Some are in Asia and some are in Europe and Middle East. And told me that if the partner would really pursue, both of you will find a way to meet each other. And the rest of the dating stories goes on. 
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The further the better, because If you could just imagine if that guy or lady would travel that far for a day or two. Meaning to say he or she is really wanted to risk almost everything for you. And that's the true meaning of love.  Or how far can you go beyond that friendship or activities that you enjoy like sports, club, music, movie or travelling together.

Like looking for a gold or diamond, its not easy but its worth it. Time and effort would be a test aside from money. The more effort and sacrificed that you've made, the more memorable and juicier it become.  Also I've seen friend whose thousand miles away from a boyfriend. Took the next level of relationship by doing a daily voicemail and video-call. 

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If the partner is busy and in work. She will left and message or voicemail. It not then they constantly doing a video-call. I said that was awesome, the level of trust and excitement with each other were kinda great into the next level. 

Honesty and loyalty is being rewarded. I can attest into that, your partner would really love and appreciate you if you are honest to each other. Like with this scenario, My friend would say, I've hang out with this guy I meet in facebook or any singles dating site. And his trying to bring me to this place. Would you agree?  And the boyfriend would say yes or no or whatsoever. 
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That kind of honestly made me feel loved. Even in small or big things the partner would tell so you can calibrate with each other limitations and expectations. Just like make your contract and terms with your employer or boss. Either you stick to the terms or you break it. Its up to you which bridge you wanna burn or build and then next!

If you stick and honest with it your boss would reward you. Same here with the relationship, honesty and loyalty were given a big return.  I mean a great reward. Stay positive in that long distance relationship even in your loneliness moment. But you need to understand that the sweetest fruit to reap are those who are ripen thru blood and thirst of seeing each other.                 

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As you close your eyes you will remember heaven. Because you know that, this kind of relationship is more than just sex or even distance. As an Asian guy, Personally I really like how James Bond dated women in different parts of the globe. 

It may sound exciting, some are tragic and romantic.  But in today's would everything is so easy. Since No time to die movie is fast approaching you may try The Bristol Dating Site and try to feel the double O some part of your life. And feel the difference of  Mature Bristol Dating a you hang out or Date Bristol Singles.   

Mixed Martial Arts Legends Miesha Tate and Brandon Vera Visit US Troops In Guam

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion and current ONE Championship Vice President Miesha Tate joined ONE Heavyweight World Champion Brandon “The Truth” Vera in the US territory of Guam recently to visit American troops stationed at Andersen Air Force Base.

The visit was done in coordination with the United Service Organizations (USO) which saw the two superstars participate in various activities with service members who are assigned far from home.

Both Tate and Vera are globally recognized ambassadors of the sport of mixed martial arts, and regularly partake in corporate outreach initiatives.

“This trip has been spectacular. We love to do this stuff for the military. It’s so cool to see their faces light up for a second after so much sacrifice that they do,” said Tate.

“I got to go on a submarine, which literally blew my mind. I have so much more respect for what they do, if that’s even possible. To go in that tiny submarine and spend all that time they have to spend there, and the dedication they have to stay on point and defend our country it’s just crazy.”

The two martial arts superstars received the opportunity to tour both the Air Force Base and the Naval Base at Andersen, meet-and-greet with service members, sign autographs and take pictures, share meals, and even some time on the beautiful beaches of Guam.

“It’s my first time in Guam, so for me it’s like a new experience. I love it so much I want to come back,” said Tate.

“I love to be able to meet the troops and just show them our gratitude. Sincerely, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for everything that you do. It means a lot, the sacrifice you are willing to give if necessary to protect what we enjoy on an everyday basis.”

Vera, who has residency in the country and divides his time between living in the Philippines and in Guam was blown away by the amount of focus the United States has placed in its defense systems to protect its allies.

“I had no idea, and I’ve been here four years,” said Vera.

“You hear these stories and you’re almost crying because it’s about passion, and family, and about connecting with each other and staying connected and helping each other.”

Vera previously served the United States Air Force from 1997 to 1999. There, he joined the wrestling team and trained at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. Years later, he was introduced to the sport of mixed martial arts and has built a legendary career ever since.

Today, Vera is one of ONE Championship’s longest-running World Champions and holds the ONE Heavyweight World Title.

Taal Lake Rises from the Ashes thru Watersports

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Watersports like sailing holds hope for Batangueños affected by Taal Volcano’s recent phreatic eruption that started on January 12, 2020. Taal Lake Yacht Club (TLYC) and the Philippine Home Boatbuilders Yacht Club (PHBYC) are organizing the first major sailboat race or regatta on Taal Lake barely three months after the seismic event. The Oz Goose National Championships 2020 will happen in the town of Talisay, Batangas on 28-29 March 2020.

Taal Volcano’s phreatic eruption displaced many of Batangueños, families were moved to evacuation centres and residents of Pulo or Volcano Island had to be resettled as no one is allowed on the island for the foreseeable future. Many residents around Taal Lake rely on tourism for their livelihood, through boat trips to the volcano, volcano tours and horseback rides.

With the Volcano on semi-permanent lockdown, tourism income from volcano trips is no longer an option for these Batangueños, alternatives are needed to bring tourism back to Taal Lake. PHBYC and TLYC believe that this can be through Watersports. This is the reason why both clubs decided to hold the Oz Goose Nationals in Talisay, Batangas. PHBYC’s original plan for 2020 was to hold the regatta in Nasipit, Agusan del Norte where there is a new Oz Goose fleet managed by the Balangay Marina Sailing and Yacht Club. However, recent developments on Taal Lake made them decide to hold the event in Taal Lake again where it has been held for three years running.

According to Michael Storer of PHBYC and a resident of Batangas, “It is important to have activity on the lake to give the residents hope for their future and illustrate how sailing and other watersports can be a sustainable form of tourism income. The layer of volcanic ash that covered Talisay is almost all gone and the vegetation is starting to grow back, changing the color of the surroundings form grey to green.” Mr. Storer added.

The Batangas Tourism Office is equally enthusiastic with the first regatta to be held on the lake after the January 2020 eruption. Ms. Sylvia Marasigan, Provincial Tourism Officer of the province of Batangas said that: “Taal Volcano’s eruption has really stifled tourism income in this area; Taal Lake is the largest body of fresh water in the Philippines conducive to watersports, PHBYC and TLYC’s initiatives to hold this regatta is a great start to reviving sports tourism on Taal Lake.”

More than 20 sailors from all over the Philippines are expected to arrive in Batangas on the last weekend of March to compete in the2020 Oz Goose Nationals. Peter Capotosto of TLYC commented that: 90% of TLYC income is derived from Volcano tours and it is great that corporate sponsors like, Broadwater Marine, Pioneer Adhesives and Imperial Homes chipped in to make sure that this regatta will be a success, all we need to hope for is better weather” .

CAAP, MIAA to defer charges for take-off, landing, and parking fees of local airlines amid COVID-19 threat

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) to defer payment for take-off, landing, and parking fees of local airlines to cushion the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the airline industry.

“We are in a situation that is not of our own liking nor of our own making. There is an emergency. Can the government not do things that can assuage the emergency? We need to extend our arm to all. Let it not be said that we did not do a thing,” Secretary Tugade said.

In a press briefing held earlier today, 09 March 2020, both MIAA and CAAP have stressed that the decision was made to extend help to airlines amid the decrease of airline passengers, and flights due to COVID-19.

CAAP Director General Jim Sydiongco shared: "Sa CAAP, we have considered deferring payment on parking and landing while there is a threat of COVID-19."

Local airlines operating in MIAA, and under CAAP are covered by the order.

MIAA General Manager Ed Monreal said deferred charges for local carriers total about P58-million a month. Local airlines operating under CAAP will save P37-million a month in terms of deferred take-off, landing, and parking fees. The airlines will pay the deferred charges once the COVID-19 threat in the country is lifted.

"We're seeing about P58-million a month in terms of expenses that will cover take-off, landing, parking sa NAIA. Deferred payment lang po muna ang ie-extend natin. Hangga't nandyan po ang COVID-19 ipapatupad po natin 'yan."

"Mayroon kaming scheme na ipapatupad. Magkakaroon kami ng time to revisit and evaluate on how we can recover," GM Monreal added.

When asked on the length of the deferment, DG Sydiongco said, "Tinitingnan natin kung paano silang makaka-recover that's why we're talking about over a year of deferment and over a year of payment."

Aside from the deferment of fees, the aviation and airports sector is also encouraging airlines to help boost local tourism.

Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla said the CAB will be encouraging airlines to servive local destinations to promote local tourism and "at least cut the losses of the airlines."

Meanwhile, GM Monreal also assured airline passengers that the NAIA is being sanitized and disinfected round the clock.

"Every 30-minutes meron pong naglilinis, sa domestic nagdagdag pa po tayo ng thermal scanner," he said.

This was echoed by DOTr Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Atty. Reinier Paul Yebra who said the DOTr has taken a holistic approach in disinfecting all transportation hubs in the country.

For the maritime sector, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has given its directives to ports under its jurisdiction to closely-coordinate with the respective quarantine office and strictly implement passenger screening at arrival areas.

PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said that stringent security measures have been in place especially in areas frequently visited by tourists. Face masks and sanitizers are being distributed to frontline employees.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) likewise advised all medical units in its 13 Coast Guard Districts to be on high alert to block the possible spread of COVID-19.

For the road sector, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), through Memorandum Circular (MC) 2020-005 has mandated all public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and conductors to wear face masks at all times while on duty, and for all franchise holders to ensure compliance.

All terminals have been ensuring proper sanitation and cleanliness in their premises, and have been providing face masks as well as disinfectants or sanitizers for their passengers.

For its part, the railways sector has instructed its station and security frontline personnel to wear appropriate face masks, and ensure that hand sanitizers and soaps are available for use in restrooms as well as in other strategic areas inside stations.

Train interiors and station premises, specifically those that are frequently touched by commuters, are being disinfected on a regular basis.

Periodic announcements of reminders for preventive actions that could help prevent transmission of the virus are being projected in strategic locations.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered a State of Public Health Emergency yesterday, 08 March 2020, following confirmation by the Department of Health of a 10th COVID-19 case in the Philippines.

Under the said declaration, all government agencies and local government units are enjoined to render full assistance and cooperation in the mobilization of necessary resources to contain the COVID-19 threat.

https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1636767363129060&id=130406490431829  

Fighting Maroons starts preparations, eyes overseas training and tournaments

Wazzup Pilipinas!


The University of the Philippines (UP) Fighting Maroons look to leverage on the remaining six months before the tip-off to Season 83 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) with scorching off season action.

Fifth year head coach Bo Perasol acknowledged that the off season is key to having a good run in the regular season as players hone their skills and build the all-important chemistry and camaraderie.

“Off-season training is going to be the baseline of how you will do in the regular season. So, whatever it is that you do in the off-season is going to dictate what your season is going to be,” said Perasol, who led the Maroons to back-to-back Final Four appearances in Seasons 81 and 82.

Thanks to staunch UPMBT supporter JJ Atencio of STATS Performance Apparel, the Diliman-based squad has benefited greatly from training camps they’ve attended in Las Vegas and Serbia. UP’s consistent attendance in the skills honing, character building sessions the past two years has helped whip them into competitive shape the past two seasons.


“Training plays a vital part in preparing the players for the season. I personally targeted to come in and sponsor training abroad to help mould the mentality of the group. This is not only for their physical development but also for their mental fortitude; and for them to realize that there is much more to achieve if they set their mind properly,” said JJ Atencio who is also CEO and Chairman of Januarius Holdings Inc.







“The countries we go to are usually places where basketball is big. The development there is way ahead of us, so that is where we benefit from new technologies, new advancements, new ideas, new ways to train,” Bo Perasol said. “Besides looking for training opportunities, we also look to compete in pocket tournaments here and abroad to give us different points of view, a different experience and different kinds of play”.

This time, the Maroons have their sights set on training in other countries. There’s training scheduled in Auckland, New Zealand for a start. But Coach Bo is open to other possibilities.



“The plans are already in place, but they all depend on how fast this (Covid19) virus thing is going to go away. We are going to train and play in Melbourne, Australia as well and we’re also supposed to go to Taiwan. But we’re still on the lookout for more training opportunities that will make us experience a highly competitive tournament before the UAAP starts,” Coach Bo said.


Being the only public school in the UAAP, Perasol admits that UP does not have a big budget to fund the team’s training camps abroad. “That’s why we’re really thankful that JJ Atencio, despite being an alumnus of the Ateneo de Manila University, chose to help UP to the point of being known hereabouts as the “UPMBT’s Training Dude”. He has been supporting and sponsoring the various activities and training camps of the UP Fighting Maroons since UAAP Season 80,” Coach Bo revealed.

Atencio, for his part, looks forward to seeing a more mature and cohesive UPMBT on and off the court. “I expect a team that wouldn’t succumb to the pressure and the unnecessary noise from outsiders – especially those coming from social media.”

He has a wish for this team, Atencio said, “A championship, as the ultimate goal. And to get there, it wouldn’t hurt if they take it one game at a time.”

The UP Fighting Maroons plan to take part in the Fil-Oil Pre-Season Tournament in May and defend their title in the upcoming BLIA Cup in Taiwan this July.

DOTr maps out transportation projects with House lawmakers prior to submission of 2021 proposed budget

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Transportation Secretary Arthur P. Tugade met with House lawmakers yesterday, 10 March 2020, at the House of Representatives (HoR) to map out transportation projects under the department's 2021 proposed budget appropriations.

This initiative was the result of Secretary Tugade and Majority Leader Martin Romualdez's dialogue last 11 February 2020, with the guidance of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.

The meeting aims to hear lawmakers' concerns on transportation projects, as well as to discuss with DOTr their transport plans within their districts. In this way, as Secretary Tugade noted, the DOTr can efficiently formulate solutions and strategies to expedite implementation of projects prior to submission of budget proposal to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“Ngayon, eto, pumunta kami ng buong DOTr dito sa Batasan para makipag-usap sa bawat kongresista. Ilatag natin at i-reconcile ang budget requirement at project. Asahan n’yo, katuwang n’yo kami sa DOTr na maisusulong na ang mga proyekto at pangangailangan ng inyong distrito. Kasi, wala naman ibang mas nakakaalam ng pangangailangan ng lugar nyo kundi kayo mismo,” Sec. Tugade said.

The DBM has asked national government agencies to coordinate with local government units in ensuring that regional plans are aligned with national priorities for next year's proposed budget.

"Sa ganitong sistema na open, transparent, at direct coordination, hindi tayo nagsusulong ng kanya-kanyang interest, kundi ang interest ng mga probinsya, at antimano, ang interest ng bayan,” Secretary Tugade added.

The Transportation chief brought along his team of officials and heads of agencies in the meeting, in order to directly address the queries or points of clarification, as well as to establish rapport with the legislators.

The DBM has issued National Budget Memorandum 133 last 04 December 2019, advising government agencies to start preparing their budget proposals for fiscal year 2021.

The Budget department adds, the call was released earlier to allow agencies to have more time in drafting their programs for next fiscal year which are anchored in the socioeconomic agenda and the Philippine Development Plan (PDP).

It can be recalled that the DOTr received a significantly higher allotment of P100.6-billion (45% higher than the previous fiscal year) in 2020 in order to accelerate the Duterte administration’s massive infrastructure program.

DOTr officials and agency heads were in full force, including Undersecretary for Finance Garry De Guzman, Undersecretary for Legal Affairs Reinier Paul Yebra, Undersecretary for Railways Timothy John Batan, Undersecretary for Aviation and Airports Skee Tamayo, Assistant Secretary for Procurement and Project Implementation Giovanni Lopez, Assistant Secretary for Maritime Lino Dabi, Assistant Secretary for Project Implementation for Mindanao Eymard Eje, Assistant Secretary for Communications and Commuter Affairs Goddes Hope Libiran, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago, Office of Transportation Security (OTS) Administrator Raul Del Rosario, Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) GM Ed Monreal, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra III, Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) Executive Director Carmelo Arcilla, and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) OIC Administrator Narciso Vingson.

Pinoy dengue case predictor mapping system wins the 2019 NASA global hackathon

Upper row Associate American Corner librarian Donna Lyn G. Labangon, Space Apps global leader Dr. Paula S. Bontempi, former DICT Usec. Monchito B. Ibrahim, Animo Labs executive director Mr. Federico C. Gonzalez, DOST-PCIEERD deputy executive director Engr. Raul C. Sabularse, PLDT Enterprise Core Business Solutions vice president and head Joseph Ian G. Gendrano, lead organizer Michael Lance M. Domagas, and Animo Labs program manager Junnell E. Guia. Lower row Dominic Vincent D. Ligot, Frances Claire Tayco, Mark Toledo, and Jansen Dumaliang Lopez of Aedes project.

A dengue case forecasting system using space data made by Pinoy developers won the 2019 National Aeronautics and Space Administration's International Space Apps Challenge. Over 29,000 participating globally in 71 countries, this Pinoy solution made it as one of the six winners in the best use of data, the solution that best makes space data accessible, or leverages it to a unique application.

Dengue fever is a viral, infectious tropical disease spread primarily by Aedes aegypti female mosquitoes. With 271,480 cases resulting in 1,107 deaths reported from January 1 to August 31, 2019 by the World Health Organization, Dominic Vincent D. Ligot, Mark Toledo, Frances Claire Tayco, and Jansen Dumaliang Lopez from CirroLytix developed a forecasting model of dengue cases using climate and digital data, and pinpointing possible hotspots from satellite data.

Sentinel-2 Copernicus and Landsat 8 satellite data used to reveal potential dengue hotspots

Correlating information from Sentinel-2 Copernicus and Landsat 8 satellites, climate data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PAGASA) and trends from Google search engines, potential dengue hotspots will be shown in a web interface.

Using satellite spectral bands like green, red, and near-infrared (NIR), indices like Fraction of Absorbed Photosynthetically Active Radiation (FAPAR) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are calculated in identifying areas with green vegetation while Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) identifies areas with water. Combining these indices reveal potential areas of stagnant water capable of being breeding grounds for mosquitoes, extracted as coordinates through a free and open-source cross-platform desktop geographic information system QGIS.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzpI775XoY0


Check out the website here: http://aedesproject.org/

Winners visit the Philippine Earth Data Resource and Observation (PEDRO) Center at the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute in Diliman, Quezon City with Dr. Joel Joseph S. Marciano, Jr.

"AEDES aims to improve public health response against dengue fever in the Philippines by pinpointing possible hotspots using Earth observations," Dr. Argyro Kavvada of NASA Earth Science and Booz Allen Hamilton explained.

The DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) deputy executive director Engr. Raul C. Sabularse said that the winning solution "benefits the community especially those countries suffering from malaria and dengue, just like the Philippines. I think it has a global impact. This is the new science to know the potential areas where dengue might occur. It is a good app."

"It is very relevant to the Philippines and other countries which usually having problems with dengue. The team was able to show that it's not really difficult to have all the data you need and integrate all of them and make them accessible to everyone for them to be able to use it. It's a working model," according to Monchito B. Ibrahim, industry development committee chairman of the Analytics Association of the Philippines and former undersecretary of the Department of Information and Communications Technology.

Biological oceanographer Dr. Paula S. Bontempi, acting deputy director of the Earth Science Mission, NASA's Science Mission Directorate and the current leader of the Space Apps global organizing team

The leader of the Space Apps global organizing team Dr. Paula S. Bontempi, acting deputy director of the Earth Science Mission, NASA's Science Mission Directorate remembers the pitch of the winning team when she led the hackathon in Manila. "They were terrific. Well deserved!" she said.

"I am very happy we landed in the winning circle. This would be a big help particularly in addressing our health-related problems. One of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is on Good Health and Well Being and the problem they are trying to address is analysis related to dengue," said Science and Technology secretary Fortunato T. de la Peña. Rex Lor from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the Philippines explained that the winning solution showcases the "pivotal role of cutting-edge digital technologies in the creation of strategies for sustainable development in the face of evolving development issues."

U.S Public Affairs counselor Philip W. Roskamp and PLDT Enterprise Core Business Solutions vice president and head Joseph Ian G. Gendrano congratulates the next group of Pinoy winners.

Sec. de la Peña is also very happy on this second time victory for the Philippines on the global competition of NASA. The first winning solution ISDApp uses "data analysis, particularly NASA data, to be able to help our fishermen make decisions on when is the best time to catch fish." It is currently being incubated by Animo Labs, the technology business incubator and Fab Lab of De La Salle University in partnership with DOST-PCIEERD. Project AEDES will be incubated by Animo Labs too.

Winners shall be invited to visit the NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at Florida in the following months.

University president Br. Raymundo B. Suplido FSC hopes that NASA Space Apps would "encourage our young Filipino researchers and scientists to create ideas and startups based on space science and technology, and pave the way for the promotion and awareness of the programs of our own Philippine space agency."

Vice President Leni Robredo recognized Space Apps as a platform "where some of our country's brightest minds can collaborate in finding and creating solutions to our most pressing problems, not just in space, but more importantly here on Earth."

"Space Apps is a community of scientists and engineers, artists and hackers coming together to address key issues here on Earth. At the heart of Space Apps are data that come to us from spacecraft flying around Earth and are looking at our world," explained by Dr. Thomas Zurbuchen, NASA associate administrator for science.

"Personally, I'm more interested in supporting the startups that are coming out of the Space Apps Challenge," according to DOST-PCIEERD executive director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit.

In the Philippines, Space Apps is a NASA-led initiative organized in collaboration with De La Salle University, Animo Labs, DOST-PCIEERD, PLDT InnoLab, American Corner Manila, U.S. Embassy, software developer Michael Lance M. Domagas, and celebrates the Design Week Philippines with the Design Center of the Philippines of the Department of Trade and Industry. It is globally organized by Booz Allen Hamilton, Mindgrub, and SecondMuse.

Space Apps is a NASA incubator innovation program. The next hackathon will be on October 2-4, 2020.


#SpaceApps #SpaceAppsPH



Pinoy developers gather together to address real-world problems on Earth and space using NASA's free and open source data.

What Is the Future of Ecommerce in 2020?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Since the time the concept of online shopping first came out, the e-commerce industry is booming at the fastest pace. As per Statista’ report, in 2019, around 2.05 billion people made an online purchase. The data clearly shows that the industry is not going to slow down in the near future.

Since every merchant is entering the growing e-commerce industry, the competition has increased a lot. To stay ahead in the game, you need to be aware of the ways to keep your products/services in front of the eyes of the customers.

One of the best ways to do that is by keeping yourself updated with the latest e-commerce trends. Although there is always a certain amount of risk involved in trying a new trend, that doesn’t mean you should stop experimenting with new things. After all, business is all about taking calculated risks. If you do not take risks, you will not be able to grow your business. When it comes to experimenting with trends, it’s crucial to make sure that whatever changes you make, you always make it for the betterment of your customers.

In this blog, we will discuss some significant trends, some of which are currently ruling, and some are expected to rule the e-commerce industry in the near future. Let’s take a look!

Native Social-Selling:

In 2017, Hubspot ran an experiment to check if the Facebook audience prefers native content or non-native content. And guess what the results were! They found that their Facebook audience preferred native video content 160X more than the non-native video content. The same preference is true with e-commerce. Nowadays, there are a lot of visual platforms that are being used by millions of people. Why not give them the option to shop within these platforms. A great example of native-social selling is Instagram. You must have seen ‘shoppable posts' in your daily feeds. This feature allows users to shop while remaining on the same platform. Currently, there are only a few brands that are following this trend, but by the end of 2020, we will see more brands moving in this direction.

Voice Searching:

Voice search has already shown its capabilities. From Amazon to Google, every tech mammoth aims to attract customers with their voice assistants and voice-based search solutions. Soon, this trend will continue to rule the e-commerce industry. According to the latest statistics, by 2022, voice shopping is expected to grow to 40 billion. A lot of e-commerce companies have started integrating the voice-search feature in their apps and website. If you want to integrate this feature in your business, here are a few tips:

In a voice search, people don’t speak the way they type keywords in text-based search. For example, where is an Italian restaurant near me? (voice search), an Italian restaurant near me (text search).Therefore, you need to optimize your website for questions that people generally used to ask.

Optimize your website for long-tail keywords

Make sure you appear locally as well as on Google as voice search is 3x times more likely to be local due to instant shopping needs.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR):

Although AR and VR are not a new concept, they are two of the biggest technologies that are going to rule in 2020 and beyond. VR technology gives customers a more realistic experience. When a customer puts a VR gadget on their face, it makes them feel like they are shopping by standing in the physical store. AR, on the other hand, lets customers see the product video with some added virtual elements. Both technologies enhance the customer’s visualization of the product. And product visualization boosts sales and reduces returns. According to Deloitte, 90% of the companies with yearly sales of $100 million to $1 billion are taking advantage of AR or VR technology.

Product Customization:

Nowadays, customers want to add their imagination to the products they wish to buy. From clothing, jewelry to furniture, they want to design their products according to their personal requirement. This rising demand has motivated companies like PrintShop by Designhill to come up with a platform where customers can design everything – from phone cases, clothing to home & living. Product customization enhances the user experience, builds customer loyalty and helps in getting more sales.

Same-Day Delivery:

It is another trend that is going to rule in the e-commerce industry. Although it is a challenging service, in today’s fast-paced environment and with several options, consumers don’t have the patience to wait. They want their orders to be delivered as soon as possible. In fact, 61% of shoppers are ready to pay extra for same-day delivery service. By considering this behavior pattern, companies have started opting for ‘same-day delivery’ by using the latest technology.

New Payment Options:

When it comes to online shopping, the modes of payments can have a huge impact on customers’ buying decisions. No matter how great your product is and how well you have done the branding of your business, if your customers are not comfortable with the payment options, then they will not buy anything from your website. Although many new methods like Amazon Pay, PayPal, Google Pay, etc. have taken full control, in 2020 and coming years ‘cryptocurrency’ is going to trend in e-commerce platforms.

Visual Search:

Just imagine that you are in a store and see a beautiful couch. But because of the price, you may not feel like buying it from the store. So, you take a picture and use eBay’s image search feature to find the same product on their website at a better deal. Companies, nowadays, have started giving an option of visual search, where customers can upload the picture of the product from their photo gallery and search it on their websites. Since this trend allows customers to buy a product at the best price, therefore it drives them to shop online even if they are standing at the physical store.

Conclusion:

So, folks, these are the trends that are redefining the online shopping experience. If you want to grow your e-commerce business into something big then it’s time to start implementing them at the earliest. 

Good Luck!


Author Bio

Anne Carton is a small business consultant, designer and an enthusiast blogger working with PrintShop by Designhill owned by Designhill, is a creative print-on-demand marketplace where you can discover & buy 50+ unique products, gifts & artwork created by artists around the world.

World’s Gambling Capital Now Off Limits To Filipinos

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As restrictions around the world continue to intensify in the face of the ongoing threat from the CORVID-19 coronavirus, citizens both at home in the Philippines and further afield are facing the prospect of having to cancel their travel plans. Long-planned vacations are being put on hold, work-trips are postponed, and all-but essential flights are now expressly discouraged. For anyone who was considering taking a trip to Macau, the gambling capital of the world, we have bad news. Not only are all flights to the gambling mecca now banned, but anyone who’s already out there is being brought home.

Macau's rise to its current position as the world's premier gambling location is a somewhat unlikely one - especially given the fact that it's technically part of China, and China strictly prohibits all gambling. One theory behind its success is that unlike Las Vegas in America, it hasn't been affected by the growth of online slots websites. Across the bulk of the United States mainland, it's legal to play Fluffy Favourites UK from the comfort of your own home, and so a trip to Vegas is no longer necessary to experience a gambling thrill. By contrast, the countries around Macau tend to restrict access to online slots, with some making the activity completely illegal. Even here in the Philippines, where online slots are legal, we've seen the Government take a harder line on the activity within the past twelve months. With no other means of indulging in their hobby, gamblers from all over the region head to Macau for their fun.

Unfortunately for the gambling companies of Macau and the workers there whose livelihoods depend on it, Macau may not be welcoming visitors for the foreseeable future. Most predictions say that the coronavirus has not yet peaked in terms of contagion and spread, and won't do so until the early summer. That's likely to make conditions in Macau even harder than they were in February, where profits fell 90% in a single month, and the city effectively closed itself down voluntarily in an attempt to prevent the virus from making its way there. Since then, some of the casinos in the city have opened themselves up again to locals, but foreign visitors are hard to find on the streets. The coronavirus will eventually pass, but the question of whether Macau can survive long enough to still be there when the all-clear arrives is hard to answer. At least some of the casinos there will be unable to pay their staff this month, and will likely be closed permanently by May or June.

The Filipinos that the Government has chosen to repatriate from Macau are believed to have been employed within the casino industry there. Some of them have already been placed on permanent leave as their casinos are temporarily closed, and can probably expect that their jobs won't be waiting there for them if and when they're allowed to return to Macau. A specially-chartered flight was arranged for 148 Filipino citizens on Tuesday March 3rd, and more are expected to follow. A full record of every Filipino native living in Macau doesn't exist, but based on the available information it wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that at least 35,000 Filipino nationals live within the city. Travel between Macau and the Philippines had previously been banned by the Filipino Government in January, so some of those now boarding flights will effectively have been trapped in their host city and waiting to come home for almost two whole months without money. Those who are now coming home are understood to have either student or working visas. Many of the Filipino workers in the city are thought to be undocumented or working illegally. Their fate remains unknown.

Macau isn't the only nearby city or state full of Filipino workers looking to return home. Many care workers in Hong Kong are Filipino by birth, and they've also recently been told that their services are no longer required as people in Hong Kong try to guard against the threat of the virus. Like the situation in Macau, many of those workers have been trapped by a travel ban between Hong Kong and the Philippines, and have been struggling to survive without permanent accommodation or an income. The Government has said that getting the worst-affected of these citizens home is being treated as a priority and that a chartered flight will be sent to Hong Kong to collect them in the very near future.

So far, it isn't clear what restrictions might be placed on the movements of those returning home. There have been recorded cases of COVID-19 in both Hong Kong and Macau, and so as with travelers coming from any affected area, there is a risk of infection. It may be that everyone on board the flights is quarantined upon landing in the Philippines and will only be allowed to move once the risk of transmission or infection has passed. It could also be that the citizens are being tested in Macau and Hong Kong before being allowed to board their flights home. In either eventuality, the Government has assured citizens that every possible effort is being made to ensure that the virus doesn't come to the Philippines with the flights.

So far, the extent of the spread of COVID-19 within the Philippines has been minimal, with less than ten recorded cases at the time of writing. That figure is expected to go up, though, and any flight activity to or from countries where infections are more common increases the risk of a significant outbreak. The more Filipinos attempt to return home from abroad, the greater the risk becomes. As an example, more than four hundred of the crew aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship that was quarantined in Japan are Filipinos. All of them are understood to have returned to the country and are currently subject to quarantine. The latest reports suggest that none of them have yet shown any signs of carrying the virus.

As always, the situation with the coronavirus is fluid and fast-changing. All information provided within this article was correct at the time of writing, but pay attention to live news feeds and television broadcasts for the latest updates on the fight against the illness. Citizens are reminded to wash their hands, avoid physical contact with strangers wherever possible, and avoid travel across long distances unless absolutely necessary.

Mini Thailand Week 2020 Showcases Vibrant Thai Culture

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) under Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce, through the Thai Trade Center in Manila, has brought together Thai firms and trade businesses for this year’s edition of Mini Thailand Week. The event, was held during March 5-8, 2020 at the SMX Convention Center, Hall 4, and showcased Thai culture and highlighted a variety of world-class Thai products — from food and beverage, cosmetics, gems and jewelry, garments, and home decoration to pet products. Over 100 Thai and Philippine businesses participated in the event.

Mini Thailand Week, an event that blends culture and trade, has been organized in the Philippines for over a decade, and is always well received by Filipinos and foreigners living in the Philippines. For visitors, it’s an opportunity to appreciate and learn more about Thai culture and its organic, environmentally friendly, and quality products. The event will have cooking demos from restaurants with Thai Select Certificates in Manila — a certification awarded by DITP to Thai restaurants all over the world that recognizes quality food and authentic Thai hospitality. Visitors can sample dishes made by Thai chefs.

Mini Thailand Week also serves as an opportunity for Thai businesses to find their niche in the country and learn more about the Philippine market and its various consumer palettes. The event is also a reaffirmation of the flourishing 70-year friendship between the countries, with bilateral merchandise trade from 2014 to 2018 growing at an average of 16.54%, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. In 2018, total bilateral trade reached $10.32 billion, and Thailand is 7th among the Philippines’ top export markets.

“This is our 12th year holding Mini Thailand Week in the Philippines and we are always amazed by the warm response Filipinos have over this event” said Ms. Janthana Chotimunee, Director of the Thai Trade Center Manila, one of the main organizers of the event. “Our Thai exhibitors who are optimistic about the prospects of doing business in the Philippines and expanding their market will experience genuine demand and interest for their products. Business matching is our key element to ensure that our exhibitors create the right linkages with Filipino buyers, entrepreneurs, and investors. Mini Thailand Week will also be a platform to further strengthen the bilateral trade between Thailand and the Philippines.”

For more information, contact Thai Trade Center in Manila, at tel nos. 88940406; 88940403, email at thaicommnl@ymail.com or fax at 88160698.