Philippine Investments Towards a Digital Nation

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Five years after its successful network modernization program that saw mobile data exploding in the Philippines, Globe Telecom embarks on another nationwide infrastructure program that would enhance the country's Internet experience within homes and across businesses.

Globe announced that the bulk of the $750 million capex this year would be allotted to deploy fiber optic cables in 20,000 barangays all over the country to provide faster and more reliable Internet access in about 2 million homes nationwide. The infrastructure build is expected to take 5 years and will extend network coverage to more areas that currently have no connection or spotty service.

“Data access is currently one of the most important drivers of economic competitiveness and growth. For the Philippines to fully take advantage of new digital opportunities, we need to create an Internet superhighway and provide ultra-fast internet connection that will enable growth in every corner of our country. We want to make use of technological innovations to make Internet service experience at par with other countries in the world,” Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu said. He emphasized that elsewhere in the world, new digital trends such as cloud computing, mobile web services and e-commerce are already radically changing the digital landscape.

In line with its vision of ushering in a digital nation, the network build will also increase the capacity of its network for both mobile and wirelines using different technologies including 3G, LTE and even Wi-Fi. It will likewise replace the old copper wires that have been used for wireline connections in the past.

Ben Askren Returns to ONE Cage to Face Russian Foe

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ONE Welterweight World Champion Ben “Funky” Askren would like nothing more than to return to the cage and do what he does best and that’s to get in, dominate, and get out. The 31-year old former NCAA Division I wrestler from Arizona has been out of competition for nearly a year, but the good news is, he’s about a month away from climbing back in.

Askren (14-0) will face Russia’s Nikolay Aleksakhin (17-3) in a five round welterweight bout for Askren’s title. The bout will headline ONE Championship’s first event in Manila this year, called ONE: GLOBAL RIVALS.

Last April 2015, Askren battled hulkish Brazilian foe Luis “Sapo” Santos to a No Contest ruling after Santos deemed himself unable to continue after an inadvertent eye poke. A highly-anticipated rematch was scheduled months later in Singapore, only to have Santos miss weight and the bout cancelled at the eleventh hour.

In the first bout, Santos used his indomitable size and strength to throw Askren around like a ragdoll, manhandling him like never before seen in his career. Inevitably however, Santos began to fade and it started to look like Askren was about to take over -- and then the bout was cut short and the rest was history.

Since then, Santos has moved on for the time being, as he defeated Portuguese fighter Rafael Silva just last month in Jakarta, leaving Askren to deal with Aleksakhin.

Live A.I.D.S. 31 to Take on National Elections with a Millennial Theme

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Three decades have passed since the longest running musical comedy variety show in the country started. As a new decade unfolds, you are bound to witness the rebirth of the show everyone has come to love.

On the 31st installment of Live Ang Istoryang Dinebelop ng Samaskom, more popularly known as Live A.I.D.S., the show’s brand of comedy has adjusted to the constantly evolving interests of the new generation― the millennials.

“The show wants to give the audience sort of an idea of how Live AIDS is going to be in the next years so now it is very timely especially this year that the subject of millenials are gaining interest and popularity,” Live A.I.D.S. 31 director VJ Santos said.

Officially dubbed as “Live A.I.D.S. HA-LOL-AN”, the show will take on the 2016 presidential elections as its main thrust, employing the satirical humor it is best known for. But this year, it has taken on a fresher and hipper angle that is fitting for the millennial generation. The audience can expect hot items from 2015 and 2016.

“Now, as a millennial as well, I want to show to the audience what kind of comedy the younger generation now appreciates and would want to see because now, at the dawn of social media, everything is going digital, so comedy should also follow that track of progress,” director Santos said.