Eric Kelly: Nothing Personal, Just Business

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Filipino mixed martial artists have come a long way. Together with the fast rise of the sport, Filipino fighters have upped their games to be able to compete on the world stage. Focus on the grappling arts has taken priority while still maintaining signature striking capabilities.

Baguio City’s Eric “The Natural” Kelly (12-1) returns to the ONE Championship cage this Friday, January 29, at the Stadium Negara in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia against hometown favorite Ev “E.T. Ting (10-3).

They will do battle in a three-round featherweight main event at ONE: CLASH OF HEROES that will bring the victor one step closer to a shot at the ONE Featherweight World Championship, held by reigning champion Marat “Cobra” Gafurov.

“Training has gone well. I feel great. I’m ready,” said Kelly. “I feel strong and ready to bring honor to my country.”

Kelly, considered one of the best Filipino fighters currently on offer, came very close to a title shot back in 2014, following his scintillating victory over “Ruthless” Rob Lisita wherein he overcame sheer exhaustion and a broken nose to seal the deal via rear naked choke.

Going Digital, Consumerization of IT, Growth Engines for SMEs ― IPC

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“There are over 95,000 small to medium enterprises in the country, with each and every one having the potential to grow and compete on a global scale. With a wide assortment of online tools now within reach, there is no better time to be an SME than today,” said Reynaldo Huergas, President of IPC (IP Converge Data Services, Inc.), a local cloud services and data center pioneer.

According to data from the research agency We Are Social, the Philippines harbors an Internet penetration of 44 percent. For businesses, this translates to the opportunity to engage almost half the total population via the Internet, and ultimately, cultivate huge potential for growth.

Customers are largely mobile, with about 32 million active mobile Internet users in the Philippines. This makes going digital and embracing the consumerization of IT, now more critical than ever. Enterprises need to be easily reached by their customers via various channels such as social media, email and mobile. “People want information in real time and if they can’t get it from you, they’ll get it from your competitors. Business is lost,” said Huergas.

Huergas said that 2016 is also the time to tap big data and analytics. “Big data analytics can give valuable insights about your customers and target market. In essence, it uses statistics to understand customer behavior which allows for more effective campaigns and product or service developments that help achieve optimum results.”

Power Stakeholders Convene to Fast-Track Attainment of 90% Household Electrification

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The Household Unified and Strategic Electrification (HOUSE) Team spearheaded by the Department of Energy (DOE) convened yesterday (January 25) at the Legend Villas Hotel in Mandaluyong City to discuss the various commitments and implementation issues concerning the government’s Total Electrification Program for grid and off-grid areas around the country.

Energy Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada stressed the fast-tracking of the implementation of all projects and activities to attain the Philippine Development Plan’s target of ninety percent (90%) household electrification by end of 2017. She specifically mentioned the completion of Sitio Electrification Program by end of 1st Quarter of 2016 as a commitment to the President.

Currently, the DOE is laying the foundation and strategies for the Total Electrification Program, which will center on enhancing existing distribution systems and electricity services, intensifying household electrification activities, expanding services to new areas, defining off-grid electrification program, and using renewable energy technologies, such as, solar home systems for off-grid electrification.

Under the Department Circular No. DC2014-09-0018 entitled “Prescribing the Policies for the Implementation of the Household Electrification Program and Creating the Household Unified Strategic Electrification (HOUSE) Team for the Purpose of Achieving the Country’s Total Electrification Goals,” the HOUSE Team members and technical working group include the Department of Budget and Management, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Power Corporation (NAPOCOR), National Electrification Administration, and representatives from the Distribution Utilities.