Singtel Group’s Go Ignite Opens Doors to Local Startups

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The most promising local growth startups working on solutions in the Internet of Things (IoT), big data analytics, content delivery, cyber security, or customer experience enhancement space have a huge new opportunity to scale their business through Go Ignite, the recently-announced innovation alliance of the Singtel Group with its European counterparts.

The alliance, composed of the innovation arms of Deutsche Telekom (hub:raum), Orange (Orange Fab), Singtel (Singtel Innov8), and Telefónica (Telefónica Open Future), offers to help top startups in the Philippines and abroad find business development opportunities, accelerate the commercialization of their innovations and bring their business outside their home market. Up to five innovative startups will be selected for the program: the global call for startups to apply will be open until 11:59PM CET on April 30, 2016. Applications are submitted via the Telefonica Open Future platform. Shortlisted startups will be invited to pitch to the Go Ignite Alliance members.

“We are thrilled to see developments like Go Ignite giving Philippine startups a path to penetrating the global market. Through the collective resources of these four major global carriers, any startup shortlisted to the top five would have a wealth of opportunities and services to help them accelerate their global growth aspirations,” said Minette Navarrete, President of Kickstart Ventures, Inc., a wholly-owned venture capital firm of Globe Telecom which is also a part of the Singtel Group.

Kickstart is a founding member of Singtel Group’s Innov8 Sparks, a network of technology startup support and funding initiatives. Kickstart helps startups by breaking down barriers that prevent founders from accessing capital, mentors, and markets. The VC firm’s network of business connections build virtual bridges to enable close and relevant engagement between the business community and startup founders.

DOTC, LTFRB Launch Alabang-Makati P2P Bus Service

Wazzup Pilipinas!

As part of the Department of Transportation and Communications’ (DOTC) program to modernize the public utility bus (PUB) system, the DOTC and the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) have launched a third point-to-point (P2P) route between Alabang and Makati.

“Residents from southern Metro Manila and parts of Cavite will now have a more convenient transportation option that will provide them significant travel time savings and enhanced passenger experience when traveling to the central business district,” said DOTC Secretary Jun Abaya.

The winning operator, RRCG Transport, will have pick-up points at Alabang Town Center in Alabang and Greenbelt 1 in Makati.

“We hope that other bus operators will also join us in our bid to raise the standards for public transportation by offering higher quality services to commuters,” added Abaya.

The P2P routes that are currently operational are Trinoma-Makati, offered by Froehlich Tours, and Ortigas-Makati, offered by HM Transport. Another route will be available this week, which is the North EDSA-Ortigas. More services will be launched in the coming weeks once the operators acquire new buses for the Alabang-Ortigas and Fairview-Makati routes.

The P2P bus service is a new PUB category created by the DOTC that offers commuters another safe and reliable mode of transportation. It allows shorter travel time, as buses depart on a fixed schedule and travel directly from the terminal to the drop-off point.

Diyos-Diyosan: A Timely Movie On Pinoy Faith And Politics

Wazzup Pilipinas!

dIYOS-DIYOSAn is a socio-political/spiritual treatise that highlights the roots of the country’s current political struggles and economic hardships—the focus on money and power by its leaders.

The film seeks to open the eyes of Filipino millennials to the realities of what a true leader should be, and is expected to be a media catalyst for the large percentage of undecided voters.

Its timing is perfect as it opens shortly before the Philippine national elections.

It is hoped that freedom-loving Filipinos draw inspiration from the film’s lessons and use this as a guiding principle in eventually choosing the rightful and deserving leaders who could change the country’s course for the better.

Directed by Christian film director Cesar Buendia, the movie stars top-caliber actor John Prats and veteran actress Princess Punzalan, with a stellar supporting cast that includes Kiko Estrada, Cheska Diaz, Lorenzo Mara, Vaness del Moral, Glaiza de Castro, Tirso Cruz III and many others.