Ready for the Holidays? Maybe Not? Here's Your 2017 Safe Holiday Shopping Guide

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Starting the Friday after Thanksgiving, millions of Americans will be braving the crowds and heading out to malls, big-box stores, and local merchants looking to take advantage of seasonal discounts.

Are you ready? You are building your shopping lists, checking your credit card balances, scanning for can’t miss deals, and planning your shopping itineraries. You may have even installed new apps that can automatically scan and compare prices to make sure you are getting the best deal.

But what about cybersecurity? How safe are you when you are holiday shopping? Here are some things to consider when you are out and about during the 2017 holiday shopping season.

1. Safe Shopping

Shopping today requires a number of electronic transactions, whether you are swiping your credit card or pulling cash out of the ATM. Of course, data breaches and identity theft continue to be a problem. But when you are making purchases elbow to elbow with a mob of other shoppers, you need to be more careful than ever.

Here are a few things to be on the lookout for. If you see any of these things, our advice is that you may want to pay with cash, use a different machine, move to a different cashier, or shop somewhere else. And let someone know.

Red Ribbon Graces the Yuletide Season with its Many Sweet Delights

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For Filipinos, December is unmistakably associated with the Christmas season. It is a time marked by longer nights and shorter days, as well as that all-too-familiar chill in the air. But while the cooling climate signals the start of the holidays, Christmas has always been the warmest season for Filipino families. It is a time when we all come together to celebrate the spirit of love and giving in every home.

Christmas will not be complete without the many colorful ornaments like parols, dancing lights, and Christmas trees all adding color to the already festive and joyous time of the year. Church bells peal as early as dawn to signal the start of the midnight Mass where many of the faithful come together in prayer.

Of course, the season will not be complete without the company of family and friends meeting once again over Noche Buena before gifts are exchanged and wishes of good tidings and prosperity whispered to each other.  Indeed, we celebrate Christmas like no other country can.

"Out of all the Red Letter Days, Christmas is seen as the time for the biggest family gatherings. It is when we share special moments with our families and loved ones. It reminds us of the blessings that we have received throughout the year and at the same time reminds us that it is time to give back,” said Ned Bandojo, Head of Marketing of Red Ribbon.

DOTr: Transfer of Unspent Funds to Attached Agencies Legal

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The Department of Transportation (DOTr) explained the legality and the wisdom behind the downloading of the department’s 2015 unused funds to its attached agencies, which was pointed as (a) possibly illegal (b) a move to “pass the buck” and not to “spend the buck”

During the plenary deliberations at the Senate last November 22, DOTr said some of these funds were downloaded to its attached agencies via a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), a move guided by existing government audit regulations.

Allowed by COA

Downloading funds to an attached agency is allowed under Commission on Audit (COA) Circular 94-013 dated 13 December 2014. The circular states that the source agency, which originally programmed a project and received the appropriation for a project, is allowed to transfer funds to any department or office of the national government capable of implementing or continuing the project.

“Downloading of projects through an MOA is guided by COA, which ensures that the transferred fund is properly taken up in the books of both agencies and are used only for the intended purpose,” said DOTr Undersecretary for Finance Garry De Guzman.

Limited time

The new administration took over 30 June 2016, giving the new DOTr office six months to allocate the unspent funds from its 2015 budget before its expiry on 31 December  2016.

Government agencies have two years to allocate its budget before it will be reverted back to the National Treasury as “unobligated” funds.

Entering into a MOA with attached agencies is seen as a practical way to ensure that specific projects will continue.  

“We are trying to handle backlogs from the past budget as much as we can, but this was a transition phase. We came in six months prior to the reversion of funds,” he said.

From PHP 19.2-billion in June 2016, the DOTr was able to obligate PHP 1.3-billion, leaving the total amount of unspent funds for 2015 to PHP 17.9-billion as of October 2016.

What will happen to the remaining PHP 17.9-billion ?

Of the remaining unspent funds, PHP 7.9-billion was downloaded to the DOTr’s attached agencies, PHP 6.2-billion was allotted for procurement until the end of the year, while the remaining PHP 3.8-billion will be reverted back to the Treasury.

Most of the downloaded funds were meant to bankroll regional airport projects. Among the recipients of the unspent funds were the: Manila International Airports Authority (MIAA), Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC), Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), and Philippine Ports Authority (PPA).

ATTACHED AGENCY	AMOUNT (est.)
Manila International Airports Authority	PHP 474-Million
Clark International Airport Corporation	PHP 800-Million
Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines	PHP3.1-Billion

Why it is better to download funds than revert it?

Government agencies are supposed to spend funds and not save it.  When government spend the infrastructure funds, it implements the projects previously identified and approved to be beneficial for the citizens.

Transparency and accountability

The DOTr assures the public that the budget spent and allocated will be accounted for and properly taken up in the books of all agencies concerned. Apart from the FOI portal of the government, the major infrastructure agencies -- DOTr, DPWH, BCDA and the NEDA will launch a Transparency Portal that will have the project details of all the major infrastructure projects of the Duterte administration

“Proper accounting and reporting shall be made to ensure the appropriate utilization of funds,” added De Guzman.

Facilitating the Philippines for More Strategic Energy Investments

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As part of the celebration of the National Energy Consciousness Month (NECM), the Department of Energy-Investment Promotion Office (DOE-IPO) held on Tuesday (06 December) the final leg of the series of investment forum this year at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel in this city.

Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi explained that “the Energy Investment Forum is an opportunity to share with partners and stakeholders the updates on the DOE’s undertakings, including policy directions and investments opportunities in the energy sector.”

"We are supporting the advancement of the Philippines’ national social and economic agenda, by undertaking policy and market reforms complimented by an active stewardship of the public interest in the country’s energy resources and industries.” Sec. Cusi further stated.

In his presentation, Sec. Cusi discussed the current situation and investment opportunities in the power, upstream and downstream oil and gas, coal, renewable, coal, alternative and biofuels and energy efficiency and conservation.

Cusi Warns Public of Adulterated Gasoline; Seeks to Penalize Violators

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To protect consumers from adulterated petroleum products, the Department of Energy-Oil Industry Management Bureau (DOE-OIMB) has conducted a series of inspections of several retail outlets/gas stations around Metro Manila and the provinces of Cavite, Rizal, Batangas, and Quezon.

"We have to protect our consumers from buying and using adulterated petroleum products, hence we are conducting onsite inspections," Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.

“We cannot allow the oil players, especially illegal peddlers, to short-change our people by selling them adulterated petroleum products,” Cusi alerted.

From January to November 2016, a total of 924 retail outlets/gas stations were inspected by the DOE-OIMB. In the inspections conducted, 46 gasoline stations were found to have methanol blend ranging from 1-16% per volume.

Of the stations inspected, three belong to major players, 18 to independent players and 25 are white stations or retail outlets/gas stations that only have 1-5 existing service stations.

Create New Traditions at Home this Christmas

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Internet connectivity has become a necessity for many Filipino homes. A reliable access gives every member of the family many possibilities to shape their digital lifestyle. Globe Broadband reinforces their commitment to provide these connections through its line-up of offers launched at the recently held Wonderful World with Globe 12.

“During the first quarter of 2016, we announced that we will connect two million homes with fast Internet by the year 2020. We’ve made strides in expanding our reach to different key cities around the country and we are proud to be fulfilling our mission one city at a time,” said Barbie Dapul, Vice President of Globe Broadband Marketing.

At the start of the year, Globe Broadband transformed and powered Binondo, Manila to a “one digital city” using fiber technology. This was followed by a rollout to other key cities such as Quezon City, Cebu City, and Davao City. To complete an enriched home digital lifestyle, Globe Broadband also launched its new and improved customizable plans with 3x the speed and 3x the data allocation set to transform homes into the ultimate entertainment hub.

For this wonderful time of the year, Globe Broadband gives its customers new traditions in family entertainment with engaging content, plus a portfolio of devices to bundle it with.

Experience an Epic Christmas at Bonifacio Global City

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This Holiday Season, Bonifacio Global City’s streets come alive as countless retail and office buildings, bedecked with red glistening ribbons, transform into larger-than-life Christmas presents waiting to be unwrapped, while main avenue lamp posts and even BGC buses are adorned with beaming bows that bring the holiday festivity all over the city. In true, quirky BGC-fashion, even the traffic lights are a-glowing with green Christmas trees to tell you when to go and red stars for when it’s time to stop.

The main centerpiece is a 50-foot Christmas tree filled with sparkling ornaments, standing tall at Bonifacio High Street, complemented by a massive gift-box train, an instant blockbuster and favored selfie-spot amongst BGCitizens, families, and guests.

But perhaps the most exciting new attraction this year is BGC’s Epic Sights & Sounds Spectacle at the Bonifacio High Street Park. It is not your typical lights show, not like the ones you see in other estates. More than a showcase of illuminations and decorations, it is a full production: concert-quality, multi-colored strobe lights and moving heads dance in perfect sync with over-the-top, world-class musical scoring from international composer Brock Snow, a third year major of Film Scoring at the Virginia-based Liberty University who also plays as cellist for the Liberty University Symphony Orchestra.

BGC’s Epic Sights & Sounds Spectacle is sure to be a sensorial treat, perfect for BGC’s young, vibrant, and millennial-driven community. An Epic Experience, this is the Christmas of the future.

Catch this one-of-a-kind show at the Bonifacio High Street Park, fronting Italiannis, from December 1-26, every 30 minutes, between 6pm to 10pm daily.

A Christmas Carol, The Musical: On stage
Another holiday treat that kids and adults alike will surely love is the staging of “A Christmas Carol.”

It’s a world famous Christmas-themed play that’s based on the book by English author Charles Dickens. It revolves around the life of Ebenezer Scrooge and his ghostly encounters, brought the life by the music of acclaimed musical composer Alan Menken.

Over 30 well-known and emerging talents in the Philippine theater industry will bring “A Christmas Carol” to life beginning December 1, 6pm at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater. 

More Christmas treats at BGC

Of course, the Filipino Christmas wouldn’t be complete without celebrating the traditional nine-day Simbang Gabi.

The BGC Association, in partnership with the BGC community city gives everyone the chance to hear the Holy Mass every night, from Dec. 5-24, at 6pm at the Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater.

A nearby stall from Lorenzo’s Way will greet you after the mass for a treat of hot choco and ensaymada!

Exciting perks also await Mastercard cardholders on this most wonderful time of the year!

Use your card to earn prizes! Secure a raffle coupon for every minimum spend of Php3,000 (single or accumulated receipt) at any Bonifacio High Street, Bonifacio Stopover, Crossroads, One Parkade, Two Parkade, The Fort, or Park Triangle establishment, and get a chance to be one of five winners of an epic P100,000 shopping spree at Bonifacio High Street; an overnight stay at Seda Hotel BGC; two free admission tickets to The Mind Museum & two complimentary passes to Bonifacio High Street Cinemas.

From the smallest of details to the grandest of gestures, BGC fulfills its promise to spread the Yuletide cheer and provide an epic Christmas adventure like no other! 

For more information on BGC’s full holiday schedule of activities & promos, visit www.facebook.com/bonifacioglobalcityph.

Microsoft Cloud Summit Helps ISV Partners Bring Innovative and Disruptive Solutions to the Philippine Market

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As businesses in the Philippines are embracing the cloud to make them highly competitive, Microsoft and its independent software vendor (ISV) partners have staged cloud application solutions for various industries during the Cloud Solutions Summit at the Blue Leaf Filipinas, Parañaque City.

The Cloud Solutions Summit has helped executives and business owners discover how embracing the hybrid cloud model can help IT manage increasing security and complexity in line with changing business needs. This event followed Microsoft’s recent general availability of Windows Server 2016 and System Center 2016 in the Philippines, which are directed at helping enterprises accelerate moves to the highly secure hybrid cloud.

At the event, Microsoft and its ISV partners showcased cloud application solutions for manufacturing, retail, banking, healthcare and small & medium enterprise (SME) sectors for businesses to jumpstart their digital transformation journey. Participating ISVs presented their cloud app pitches similar to the “Shark Tank” reality TV show, with My-Checkpoints emerging as winner. My-Checkpoints (https://www.my-checkpoints.com/help/aboutus.html) is a performance and rewards platform developed for BPO companies designed to provide fun incentives and rewards to their employees.

Photo caption: Herns Hermida, Microsoft Philippines Cloud & Enterprise Business Lead moderates the panel discussion at the Cloud Solutions Summit with (left to right): Brian Perry Ortañez, Systems Engineer, Fortinet; Dr. Ryan Bañez, Chief Medical Informatics Officer of Health Informatics; Dindo Fernando, Senior Channel Manager, Microsoft Philippines; Lars Jeppesen, CEO and co-founder Tech One Global and David Mould, Chief Digital Advisor, Microsoft Consulting Services

Explanation of Vote of Sen. Hontiveros on AIIB

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Akbayan Senator Risa Hontiveros’ explanation of vote on the Philippines’ ratification of membership to the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
"Mr. President, I have refused to sign the resolution ratifying the Philippines’ accession to the Articles of Agreement of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

This is because, before becoming a member of another international financial institution, we should put our house in order by verifying whether the loan agreements our country has entered into with these institutions are in accordance with the principles on responsible sovereign lending and borrowing published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

Among others, these principles make lenders responsible for making realistic assessments of the sovereign borrower’s capacity to service a loan based on the best available information and following objective and agreed technical rules on due diligence and national accounts.

Lenders are also made responsible for performing their own ex ante investigation into and, when applicable, post-disbursement monitoring of, the likely effects of the project, including its financial, operational, civil, social, cultural, and environmental implications.

Star-Studded Christmas Lighting Ceremony Kicks Off Christmas Festivities at Greenhills Promenade and Theater Mall

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The stars came out to sparkle and shine at the Promenade and Theater Mall on Tuesday, November 15.

Over a thousand small and big lanterns lit up one by one at the traditional Christmas Lighting Ceremony of Greenhills Promenade and Theater Mall, and this year, a star-studded cast participated in the countdown.

Encantadia star Sanya Lopez, Destiny Rose star Ken Chan, heartthrob Hiro Peralta, hunk Jak Roberto, model Mac Manicad, and veteran stars Tirso Cruz III, Carla Martinez, Donita Rose and Director Gina Alajar were on hand to press the button that would turn on the Christmas lights and lanterns. John Nite, co-star of the late German “Kuya Germs” Moreno in his Saturday show “Walang Tulugan”, merrily played event host for the night.

In the past, German “Kuya Germs” Moreno made it a point to glam up the Promenade Greenhills Christmas ritual by bringing along showbiz friends and alagas like Gloria Romero, Barbie Forteza, Jake Vargas, Bea Binene and others. This year, his “alagas” carried on the tradition on his behalf.