E-Counter Seminar (Chinese New Year Celebration

Last Wednesday, 25th of January, Token Hub Asia held its first E-Counter seminar for 2017 at Warehouse Eight whereas 106 people have attended from various points of Metro Manila. Despite of their busy schedule, we have seen their eagerness to learn more about services. Two teams were likewise present headed by Ms. Arlyn Delas Alas of JP & A Realty and Mr. Oliver Bugarin of Token Hub Dream Achievers as they also got their Certificate of Recognition right after the presentation. Ms. Jefferjane Rufo, Vice Manager for Marketing and Events delivered the company overview while Mr. Clement Tiong, Eternal Link (Tokyo) Official Representative has given his inspirational message for all of the attendees. The event was followed by a formal E-Counter Business Presentation conducted by Mr. John M. Flor, Chief Executive Officer of Token Hub Asia where everybody carefully listened even the regular attendees some to really understand the overall business model. At this point, our individual E-Counter client has built their respective networks under them through our Affiliate and Referral programs as exclusively offered by our company. Our Media Support and Partners through Ms. Leomy Sanchez of Bloggers Philippines with her network was also present during the E-Counter seminar not only to cover the said event using their blogsites but at the same time to be part of our growing community. Ms. Cindy Dominguez and Mr. Arvin Ello were also present during this seminar event. At the end of the seminar, we had a total of 46 New Wallet Sign-Ups, while 39 successfully registered E-Counter. Hope to see you again this coming 9th February 2017 at the PICC!

OPPO F1s: Travel Essentials

“ The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” This may be one of the quotes that inspired be to travel and has been the true statement for all of us. We only live once as they said so might as well enjoy it and travel as often as you can. 

In relation with this I stumbled upon an online engagement from a brand that has been pretty aggressive in the mobile technology in our country one may be one of the leading brands if the top brand on most consumers which is OPPO.

That being said I would like to share my own version of OPPO F1s: Travel Essentials that may be helpful for you should we have the same taste or needs.



Keys
Wallet
ID/Passport
Boarding Pass
Cash/Credit Card/ATM Cards
Vitamins/Medicines
Alchohol
Tissue
Deodorant
Lotion
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Sunglasses
Snacks
Water
Umbrella
Set of Clothes
Pen
Notebook/Pad
and OPPO F1s





OPPO F1s should be one of your travel essential, why?


First of all is it can take pretty good pictures even on selfies and you can see the proof around social media. it has 13 MP, f/2.2, phase detection autofocus, LED flash, 1/3" sensor size, geo-tagging, touch focus, face detection, panorama, HDR, and 1080p@30fps for video shots from its primary camera then 16 MP, f/2.0, 1/3.1" sensor size, 1080p on its secondary camera. As we all know those travel needs preserving, and what better way to do it than to have a picture of it.


Secondly, it has a powerful Octa-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU and internal memory of 32 GB, 3 RAM or 64 GB, 4 GB RAM which is just right for handling multiple apps without you lagging in the process. This is also a pretty heavy deal when it comes to playing quality mobile games or just playing your music playlist while surfing the net


Third, it has good power life with Non-removable Li-Po 3075 mAh battery


And lastly, well..it simply is gorgeaous! with its 5.5 inches (~71.0% screen-to-body ratio, IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors with Corning Gorilla Glass 4 

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DANCE FOR HOPE, DANCE TO THE LIGHT: HIV Prevention for the Youth

Santolan High School

The Philippines is in the midst of a concentrated epidemic. The rise in new HIV cases is alarming!  The total new cases from January 1, 2016 to October 31, 2016 alone was 7,756 or an average of 26 new cases per day1.  In June 2016, there were 841 new HIV antibody sero-positive individuals. This was 16% higher compared to the same period last year.  Most (96%) were male. The median age was 27 years old (age range:1 year-66 years). More than half belong to the 25-34 year age group while  226 (27%) were youth aged 15-24 years. Among the 15-24 age group, most (94%) were male. Ninety-nine percent (215) were infected through sexual contact (26 male-female sex, 118 male-male sex, 71 sex with both males & females) and 3 (1%) through needle sharing among IDU2. The report also noted that the age group with the biggest proportion of cases has become younger: from 2001 to 2005, it was 35-49 years; from 2006 to 2010, it was 25-34 years; and from 2011 to 2016, it was 20-29 years. Notably, the proportion of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the 15-24 year age group increased from 25% in 2006-2010 to 28% in 2011-2016.

Thus the HIV/AIDS problem continues to rampage in our country, infecting mostly young males. It causes devastation among those whose lives are infected and affected. Despite the availability of HIV testing for earlier diagnosis and very effective antiretroviral drugs to suppress the disease, this epidemic continues.
Systematic reviews on interventions to prevent HIV in other countries have shown that school-based approaches were efficacious3,4,5,6,7 and cost-effective8 and were seen to produce the largest impact in changing HIV-related behaviors.
Thus interventions targeted to address lack of access to relevant health information among young individuals during the period of highest risk may provide potential solutions to the problem here in the Philippines.  Targeting youth while in school is a strategy with high feasibility potential of providing a feasible mechanism for the wide systematic implementation in the future.
In response, The Medical City, through its I-REACT Clinic and Support Group, in collaboration with the Pasig City Government- in the true spirit of Private Public Partnership, has launched the project entitled DANCE FOR HOPE, DANCE TO THE LIGHT.  This is a evidence-based from various researches9-17,  multi-strategy campaign to prevent HIV/AIDS among our youth. This campaign includes a school-based information caravan to over 12,000 Grade 10 students of Pasig City and will culminate in an interschool dance competition using black light theater with HIV Prevention as theme.

The most-awaited DANCE FOR HOPE, DANCE TO THE LIGHT event was held last January 28, 2017 at the Augusto Barcelon Auditorium of The Medical CIty where student teams from several schools of Pasig City that showcased their creative interpretative dance presentations of the theme: Preventing HIV/AIDS: Saving Lives through a Caring Community.

Proudly, they claim that this PPP initiative is the first of its kind for HIV prevention in youth here in the Philippines and hopes to create impact among our youth. Their future is our future!

Salinlahi pushes CASER, challenges Duterte: Do this for Filipino children

'To achieve a just and lasting peace, the Duterte government needs to sign and implement the CASER (Comprehensive Agreement on Socio-Economic Reforms). The agreement will help improve the lives of millions of impoverished Filipino children and their families,' this is the challenge of Kharlo Manano, secretary general of Salinlahi Alliance for Children's Concerns, an alliance of child rights groups in the Philippines.

Talking about the recently concluded third round of the peace negotiations between the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) and the Duterte government, the child rights group mentioned the importance of national industrialization and genuine land reform among other programs included in the proposal of the NDFP.

Manano explained that 'Nationalizing industries will provide jobs for Filipinos and will contribute to eventual eradication of exploitation of child labor, children in conflict with the law and even the perilous involvement of children in drug trades and use.'

Likewise, the group said that genuine land reform will help lower down hunger and malnutrition rates among children of farmers and farm workers. 'If peasant families would have land to till and sufficient support to agriculture from the government, cases of child trafficking and cyber pornography would lessen since majority of victims are rural poor without regular livelihood,' Manano continued.

Salinlahi encouraged Duterte to be true to his vow to achieve peace, 'President Duterte should seriously implement CASER once signed and the Flipino people should be vigilant to ensure social justice as a requisite in achieving genuine peace. The success of the peace talks and CASER would contribute to a better future for children,' concluded Manano.###

Lamudi Philippines Names First Ever Academic Scholars

In a bid to contribute to the community and drive socioeconomic development, Lamudi Philippines launched a scholarship competition aiming to reward exemplary students. For its first foray, a student from Cavite and Pampanga bagged the scholarship grant for school year 2016–2017.

Walter David Villegas, a third-year Development Studies major at the University of the Philippines Manila, and Jaynie Pajarillaga, a third year communication student from Holy Angel University Pampanga bested more than a hundred applicants from different schools and universities across the Philippines.

Both scholars will receive Php20,000 educational assistance that will be given directly to the school to cover some of their tuition fees. The two will also be awarded with a paid internship in  any department at the Lamudi Philippines office.

“We saw in both Walter and Jaynie what we see in the Philippines: exceptional, talented, and determined, and by thoroughly reviewing their application documents and credentials we are very sure that we made the right choice,” shared Bhavna Shuresh, Lamudi Philippines and MyProperty.ph’s new Managing Director and CEO, who took the rein of leading the top local property portal brands in early 2017.

“Working in a tech company like Lamudi will be a great opportunity for the two students. The non-stop innovation and learning in the Lamudi office will surely be a good training ground for these budding and promising talents,” Ms. Shuresh added.

Though lacking resources such as electronic gadgets that can make his education much easier, Walter Villegas finds ways and has worked very hard to achieve a 1.33 GWA in the last semester. Walter, who lives in Dasmarinas, Cavite, and studies in UP Manila, has to travel up to three hours every day to get to school and with minimal cash allowance, but that does not hamper his determination to work hard and achieve good grades. Raised by a single mother (his father passed away in 2009), Walter believes that the Lamudi grant will definitely help him finish his studies and later bring genuine development to the world.

For Jaynie Pajarillaga, being an achiever is her way of giving back to her hard-working parents, a teacher and a driver. She never lets obstacles become a hindrance on her way to success. For her, will and determination are important, problems may arise but she believes that you have to learn to swim on your own. “I never forget my goal to continue being excellent despite all the obstacles that block my way, and because of that, I am still consistent in maintaining high grades,” Jaynie shared.

According to Lamudi Philippines, about 50 colleges and universities participated in this year’s scholarship program and more than 100 students sent in their applications. The company looks to expanding the program to cover more schools and students. Lamudi also announced that call for applications for the 2017–2018 academic year scholarship program will start sometime in March 2017.

Dining made rewarding with Citi Credit Cards and Booky

Looking for an amazing restaurant to celebrate a special occasion or simply want to dine out with someone special? Citi Credit Cards makes eating out even more exciting with a special offer of P1,500 discount credits when you download and activate Booky, your offline restaurant finder, for the first time. Existing users can also get P500 additional discount credits upon using the activation code. Use your discount credits to avail of up to P500 off at more than 500 of your favorite restaurants for a minimum bill of P1,000.

Simply download the Booky app on your smartphone via bky.ph/app and enter your mobile number. You will then receive a validation code via SMS. Input the validation code as well as the activation code CITIBOOKY, and eat well with P1,500 discount credits!

Use your discount credits from now until February 28, 2017 and enjoy your much-deserved casual or fine dining experience. Use these credits when you dine in at some of the country’s premier restaurants such as Vikings, which offers a variety of flavors from around the world; Todd English Food Hall where you can find the finest fresh, prepared and gourmet European food; or Your Local which is famous for its Pan-American cuisine.

Citi and Booky’s discount credits are also accepted at Four Seasons Hotpot City which boasts of fresh and healthy dishes; Morganfields which is the home of delectable sticky ribs; or even Antonio’s where fine dining can be enjoyed while overlooking the scenic beauty of Tagaytay. With Booky, you can access over 16,000 restaurants and 9,000 menus in t he metro even if you are not connected to the internet.

Get this amazing discount now by using the promotion code in your Booky app and book at your favorite restaurant around the metro. Citi and Booky will definitely make dining out more exciting and meaningful.

For more information, log on to www.citibank.com.ph or call the 24-hour Citi Phone Hotline at 995 9999.

Invite good luck into your life by celebrating Chinese New Year at Evia Lifestyle Center

Welcome the Year of the Red Fire Rooster at Evia Lifestyle Center in Vista Alabang on January 28-29, 2017 to attract prosperity and good luck all year long.

On Chinese New Year’s Day, January 28, make sure to catch the Chinese Dragon and Lion Dance show in the Atrium at Evia Lifestyle Center at 4:00 PM. Have your photo taken beside the Money Tree with red envelopes that are symbols of wealth and prosperity, and shop for lucky charms at the Chinese New Year Bazaar. Both are located at the Atrium from January 21 to 29. Also watch the New Year fireworks display on January 28 at 6:30 PM at Evia Lifestyle Center Outdoor Promenade.

Catching a Dragon and Lion Dance is lucky because the sounding of the drums and cymbals purify the atmosphere and chase negative energy away. The presence of a Lion or Dragon scares away evil spirits and brings good luck to businesses and activities in the area. Since Lions and Dragons are symbols of strength and good luck, seeing them perform will make their good luck rub off on you.

The Chinese give away red envelopes that contain money on Chinese New Year because red is the symbol of energy, happiness and good luck. Actually, the color red is more significant than the money inside it because wrapping money in red envelopes is expected to bestow more happiness and blessings on the receivers. Have your photo taken with the red envelopes to remind you of good fortune all year long.

As for Chinese charms, traditionally it is best to get a new charm every Chinese New Year to enhance one’s good fortune. The right charms for the year help align with the new energy of the Year of the Rooster and make way for new beginnings. This year’s lucky charms are, of course, the Rooster, as well as Feng Shui coins, Lotus Flowers, prosperity candles, wind chimes, and personalized feng shui bracelets.

                 

All these can be found and experienced at Evia Lifestyle Center from January 21-29, 2017.

To find out more about Evia Lifestyle Center, visit www.facebook.com/evialifestylecenter or follow us on Instagram, @evialifestylecenter.

ONE Championship's exponential growth reflected in increasing social media reach

In the 21st century, social media has become the game-changing marvel within communication. Today, people and organizations remain connected and updated through various forms of social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogs to mention only a few.

Aside from accessible communication, social media has also made an integral impact on many industries like entertainment, business and sports. It has turned into a catalyst for success by empowering people and fueling ideas.

Social media is transforming sports and sports businesses. Although businesses traditionally seek to benefit from hospitality, sponsorship and networking, social media offers greater reach and direct engagement.

By engaging fans via social media, sports rights holders can open new communication channels with their audience that can be measured and valued as a new commercial opportunity with sponsors.

The aforementioned platform has been likewise used by the constantly-growing world of mixed martial arts (MMA). Given how little exposure the sport received in its early stages, its rise in popularity over the last 25 years is nothing short of a phenomenon.

A large part of MMA’s success worldwide comes down to its aggressive social media strategy, with platforms such as Facebook and Twitter aiding its mainstream development.

Since its inception in 2011, ONE Championship has been utilizing the flexibility of social media to promote its unique brand and to tap a wider audience.

Along with the rise of MMA as a whole, ONE Championship has taken the sport in Asia to new heights. The biggest local and global brands in the world have been attracted to ONE and a number of key partnerships have formed over the years.

The list includes Disney, Marvel, LG, Kawasaki, Panasonic, Haier, Universal Music Group and Tune Talk, to name a few. The company’s ability to form deals that are mutually beneficial to all parties has been essential in its growth.

With innovative content and marketing initiatives, ONE Championship has been able to bring world-class MMA action much closer to diehard and loyal fans.

Asia’s largest sports media property has further extended its influence on Facebook, which has 1.79 billion monthly active users as of the third quarter of 2016.

In 2014, ONE Championship’s total reach on Facebook was 75 million. It grew to 926 million in 2016, having an exponential growth rate of 1,134%.

On the other hand, its total impressions raised the bar up high in 2016 with a 268% progress. From 352 million impressions in 2014, 2016 had an astonishing figures of 1.3 billion.

ONE Championship also released an array of informative and in-depth videos in 2016, which gained 130 million views in total. It grew significantly from 312,000 in 2014.

Meanwhile, ONE Championship had 454,000 shares on Facebook in 2016, flourishing from modest numbers of 16,000 in 2014.

At the time of publication of this article, ONE Championship’s official Facebook page has 3,078,730. It is expected to broaden its leverage on Facebook with its blockbuster 2017 schedule.

Being the biggest MMA promotion in Asia, ONE Championship’s ability in producing relevant and top-of-the-line content is undeniable. From short profile infographics, interesting interviews, to thrilling teaser videos, ONE Championship fans have followed the brand and conveniently made the organization’s social media one of the leaders of online sports content.

ONE Championship followers found touchpoints that enabled them to connect with their favorite MMA stars and even interact with their heroes behind the scenes through their posted stories.

Its relevance and talkability among the target market – fans and athletes alike – have furthered ONE Championship’s growth and led its way to becoming the greatest sports media property in Asia.

ONE Championship’s strategy of creating unique content has also helped them build successful partnerships with both mainstream and modern media platforms, which in return resulted to the expansion of its social media audience through captured audiences from one partner to another.

For years now, ONE Championship has been developing fruitful collaborations with leading media companies around the globe, including FOX Sports, Setanta, MNC, Astro, Thairath TV, ABS-CBN and OSN.

2017 promises to be even better in terms of viewership and popularity as ONE Championship lays out plans for new markets.

For its second event in 2017, ONE Championship returns to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 10 February to hold ONE: THRONE OF TIGERS at the 12,000-capacity Stadium Negara.

The monumental event will feature the absolute best in local and international MMA talent, accentuating a tremendous headlining bout between hometown hero Ev “E.T.” Ting and lightweight veteran Kamal “Prince of Persia” Shalorus.

Get a Taste of Baskin-Robbins’ Lucky Scoop

In celebration of Chinese New Year, Baskin-Robbins, the world’s most loved ice cream brand, lets you try your luck to enjoy an extra junior scoop of your favorite flavor for free! Simply buy any of the participating Baskin-Robbins’ delicious treats and get a chance to crack open a fortune waffle for your free junior scoop. The Baskin-Robbins treats included in this promo are the Double Value Scoop, Sundae, Banana Royale, Banana Split and Milkshakes. This fun offer is ongoing since yesterday January 22, 2017 until February 5, 2017. Visit Baskin-Robbins shops at the Central Square, Bonifacio High Street, Uptown Place Mall, and SM Aura in Bonifacio Global City; Greenbelt 5 and Glorietta 5 in Makati; Fairview Terraces, Trinoma Mall, SM North (Main Building and The Block) in Quezon City; SM Southmall in Las Pinas; Solenad in Sta Rosa, Laguna; SM Dasmariñas in Cavite; and SM Pampanga. For more information, log on to www.baskinrobbins.ph or check out their social media accounts: 

www.facebook.com/baskinrobbinsph, Twitter, and Instagram @baskinrobbinsph.

10 Philippine Cities to Watch in 2017

With sustained progress in the real estate industry backed by an overall economy that various financial institutions predict to grow between 6 to almost 7 percent in 2017, many places in the Philippines are becoming increasingly ideal to live and/or invest in.

Whichever reason to move: a fresh start, exploring new career and business opportunities, or a growing a family, ten of these places in the country, compiled by global real estate website Lamudi Philippines, stand out, and are worth your consideration for this year, and even beyond.

1. Cebu City

Ranked seventh by strategic advisory firm Tholons among best outsourcing destinations in the world due to the quality of workforce and tertiary education; relatively cheaper business cost; infrastructure network; and quality of life, Cebu is also a city to watch thanks to its considerable proximity to several of the Philippine’s best tropical destinations and affordable secondary cities.

It ranked sixth most competitive based on the National Competitiveness Council’s (NCC) survey, which measures local government units desirability based on economic dynamism, government efficiency, and infrastructure. Cebu City’s property listings on Lamudi for 2016 averaged 2,900 per month, only behind Makati (5,680), Quezon City (5,560), and Taguig (3,400). Upcoming real estate projects likes Solinea and Gatewalk Central (both by Ayala Land) and Cebu Exchange (Arthaland) are likely to boost inventory in the future.

2. Las Piñas

While Metro Manila’s current real estate market seemingly favors condo-seekers the most, Las Piñas remains a good option for buyers in search of houses. The city’s inventory of houses in 2016 averaged 680 per month, the third highest number in Metro Manila after Quezon City (2,800) and Makati (930), and the average price of two-bedroom houses in the city was Php2.8 million, compared to Php3.68 million in Quezon City.

While the city stands out among most of its Metro Manila neighbors in terms of availability of mid-priced residences, property values in Las Piñas may soon catch up as a result of major developments taking place in the city. Projects in Las Piñas include Alabang West, a mixed-use development by Megaworld featuring a Beverly Hills-themed lifestyle concept, and a yet-to-be-named 3.4-hectare property owned and being developed by 8990 Holdings Inc.

3. Iloilo City

While not as gaudy in name as Cebu or Manila, Iloilo City has grown to rival the two in overall livability. A regional center for academic excellence, it is home to about 30 colleges and universities that produce an estimated 15,000 graduates each year. Its well-educated workforce has contributed in the city jumping four spots to 91 in Tholons’ survey of best outsourcing destinations in the world.

According to real estate services firm Colliers International, this is driving demand for office space and worker accommodations, while the increase of workers’ disposable incomes, combined with the influx of tourists, continue to attract major retailers. Seemingly in time for property investors are the rise of several developments in Iloilo, led by the continued expansion of Megaworld’s Iloilo Business Park, and the initial establishment of Ayala Land’s Atria Park District.

4. Cagayan de Oro

Real estate pundits are seemingly in agreement that apart from supply and demand, property developers are now looking at local assets, such as tourism, as another facet to consider in expansion. This may be most evident in Cagayan de Oro, a city well known for its natural and historical attractions, now in being the midst of several development launches and project turnovers. Lamudi saw residential listings in CDO lessen toward the end of 2016, indicative of the increased occupancy in the city.

According to local business monitor CDODev, key commercial projects scheduled to open in 2017 are the SM CDO Downtown Premier, which will be the second SM mall in CDO, the Seven Seas Waterpark and Resort, and a CityMall in Bulua. The Bonbon area will see a new community fish port scheduled to open later in the year, while the city proper will see the continued progress of projects like Avida’s Aspire Tower, Camella’s The Loop at Limketkai, and Cebu Landmasters’ MesaVerte Residences.

5. Bacolod City

A constant in surveys naming the best places to live in the Philippines, Bacolod is becoming additionally notable for a growing business process outsourcing (BPO) and knowledge processing outsourcing (KPO) industries, which continue to attract businesses to the city. The IT Council and the Bacolod City Government predict the industry’s current 24,000 full-time outsourcing employees to rise to 60,000 by 2022.

This has played a hand in local retail and residential growth, evidenced by upcoming developments such as Capitol Central by Ayala Land, Northill Town Center and Upper East Township by Megaworld, and CityMall Goldenfield by DoubleDragon. If looking for investment properties, Colliers recommends worker accommodations such as studio and one-bedroom apartments. Availability for these is presently limited, as evidenced by the number of modest listings for such spaces on Lamudi in 2016.

6. Lapu-Lapu City

Secondary cities continue to be in demand due to their proximity to capital or major cities while remaining relatively more affordable. In the Visayas, one such place is Lapu-Lapu City, a popular alternative to costlier Cebu City. In 2016, two-bedroom houses for sale in Lapu-Lapu City listed on Lamudi averaged Php2.295 million.

While having always had tourist opportunities due to the presence of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport and its different natural and historical attractions, local real estate stock in Lapu-Lapu looks to also increase soon, with projects like Megaworld’s Mactan Newtown, Sta. Lucia’s Arterra Bayfront Residences, and Futura Homes – Mactan by Filinvest Land. The Philippine Reclamation Authority is also set to start its Mactan North Reclamation and Development project.

7. Mandaue City

There may be no better alternative for accommodations and real estate to Cebu City than Mandaue City. The latter is located at the former’s immediate northeast, and is the ideal location for home-seekers that want to invest on a home near the Visayas capital as opposed to renting a more expensive house in Cebu City itself. On Lamudi, two-bedroom houses for sale in Mandaue average Php2.631 million.

New developments continues to enter the city, as homegrown developer Iron Wood Property Ventures topped off its Northstar condominium project at the end of 2016, while firms like PrimaryHomes, Inc. have gone on record to say they are exploring Mandaue as a location for future projects. Echoing the sentiment, Colliers said it expects condominiums in the affordable segment to rise in the city.

8. Dasmariñas

With declining developable land and increasing property costs in Metro Manila, neighboring CALABARZON continues to see an increase in real estate demand, particularly from buyers foregoing starter homes for long-term properties. Seemingly one of the most viable areas in the region is Dasmariñas which, based on Lamudi’s listings data, has some of the most affordable average prices for houses for sale among CALABARZON and Metro Manila cities in 2016.

At Php2.1 million, houses with two bedrooms or more remain reasonably priced in Dasmariñas. It seems the city also offers the most options, averaging the most listings (415 per month) for multiple-bedroom homes for sale in CALABARZON. This stock will likely be furthered via upcoming projects like Sta. Lucia’s Mesilo, 150-hectare first class development, and Alveo Land’s Ardia, a prime residential subdivision set between Dasmarinas and Imus.

9. General Trias

While Dasmariñas can be deemed the option in CALABARZON for mid-priced and mid-sized residences, General Trias is seemingly the place for more modest properties. This Cavite municipality has one of the lowest average selling prices for smaller houses (at most two bedrooms) at Php833,992. Based on 2016 Lamudi data, General Trias on average has 70 such properties—two bedrooms or smaller—listed on the website in a given month.

General Trias has become a go-to location for developers and their innovative takes on affordable housing, with developers like BellaVita (an Ayala Land subsidiary) and Suntrust Properties (a subsidiary of Megaworld Corp.) having established such projects in the city. General Trias is not limited to the affordable housing market, however, as diverse projects like the 140-hectare Maple Grove, the 21st township project by Megaworld, will also soon be established in the city.

10. Davao City

Seemingly a result of the elections win of now-President Rodrigo Duterte, whom the Davao City Investment Promotions Center deems the “the perfect marketing ambassador for the city’s investment and tourism potentials,” Davao City has seen a surge of investments come from local and international parties. The Board of Investments (BOI)–Southern Mindanao affirmed this, reporting Php2.5 billion total BOI applications approved and registered from January to October of 2016 were poured into the city.

While increased awareness comes increased interest in Davao that will likely result in more investments in 2017, prices for homes for sale in the city for now have remained favorable, with two-bedroom houses listed on Lamudi for an average of around Php2.5 million in 2016.

The Voice of R&B Jason Dy and Malaysian Star Fazura Join Forces for 'Nothing Like Pag-Ibig"

Two Southeast Asian artists - The Philippines' Voice of R&B Jason Dy and Malaysian star Fazura join together for a duet proving that music can truly cross boundaries. Entitled "Nothing Like Pag-Ibig", the song composed and produced by Philippines' hitmaker Jungee Marcelo talks about how important love is no matter waht language we speak.

Fazura, a singer, actress, model, TV host and star of the E! reality show "Facing Up To Fazura", travelled to Manila all the way from Kuala Lumpur to record the song wiht Jason last November. She could not contain her excitement with her collaboration with The Voice of the Philippines Season 2 winner.

"Jason is such an amazing guy! If I was gonna have a boyfriend, he would be someone that can be a perfect candidatel So Smart and so calm. He's a gentleman," Fazura said.

Jason, who is also a mainstay of top Sunday vareity show ASAP, was likewise honored to have been given a chance to have a duet with an international star.

"I got very excited the moment my label, MCA Music, told me that I wqas goiing to have a duet with the beautiful Fazura. When she came here for our recording, we clicked right away. She is lovely inside out," Jason said.

This wonderful duet shows the power of collaboration and uniting 2 countries via music. Who would have thought that different artists from different countries could share a music together?

Since Valentines Day is near, wouldn't it be nice to hear a feel good song about lovve by Asian artists? Prepare to have some "kilig" in your bones with their unmistakable chemistry.

"Nothing Like Pag-Ibig" will be out on January 20 on streaming (Spotify, Apple Music, Spinnr, Deezer) and downloads (iTunes, Spinnr) under MCA Music.

Jr. NBA Philippines Presented by Alaska to Inspire Nationwide Youth Basketball Participation

Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 presented by Alaska returns this year to the Philippines from Jan. 20-May 14 as part of the league’s effort to encourage youth basketball participation. 

Jr. NBA, the league’s global youth basketball participation program for boys and girls, teaches participants the fundamental skills and core values of the game at the grassroots level in an effort to help grow and improve the youth basketball experience for players, coaches and parents.  In addition, Jr. NBA Philippines will introduce a court refurbishment initiative that will revitalize a community court through the NBA Cares platform.

The Jr. NBA Philippines 2017 presented by Alaska is free and open to boys and girls ages 10-14 and is comprised of four stages: skills clinics in schools and communities, Regional Selection Camps, a National Training Camp and an NBA experience trip. 

The skills clinics will be held nationwide from January through April with stops in Bacolod, Batangas, Cagayan De Oro, Cavite, Cebu, Metro Manila and Subic.  The Regional Selection Camps will be held in Cagayan De Oro (Feb. 11-12), Lucena (Feb. 25-26), Cebu (March 11-12) and Metro Manila (April 1-2), with the top 37 boys and 37 girls advancing to the National Training Camp in Manila on May 12-14, which will feature an NBA and WNBA player or legend.  The program will culminate with the selection of 16 Jr. NBA All-Stars, comprised of eight boys and eight girls, who will embark on an overseas NBA experience trip with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia.

Below is a look at the Jr. NBA in the Philippines By The Numbers:

·         133,000 –  The Jr. NBA Philippines Facebook page has more than 133,000 followers.

·         57,000 – More than 57,000 players have participated in the Jr. NBA Philippines.

·         3,000 – More than 3,000 coaches have participated in the Jr. NBA Philippines.

·         94 –  94 Jr. NBA All-Stars have been selected.

·         64 – Jr. NBA clinics have been conducted in 64 municipalities and cities across the Philippines.

·         10 – 10 current and former NBA and WNBA players have participated in the Jr. NBA Philippines: Tina Thompson, Ruth Riley, Taj McWilliams-Franklin, B.J. Armstrong, A.C. Green, Luc Longley, Muggsy Bogues, Gordon Hayward, Nerlens Noel and Norris Cole.

·         2 –  Two Jr. NBA Philippines alumni, Aljon Mariano and Raphael Banal, are currently playing in the Philippine Basketball Association.

·         1 – One Jr. NBA Philippines alumnus, Kobe Paras, plays for Creighton University, an NCAA Division I team.

The 2017 edition of Jr. NBA Philippines will begin the search for the Jr. NBA Coach of the Year Jan. 20 in Manila, led by Jr. NBA Head Coaches Craig Brown and Chris Sumner with Alaska Power Camp Coach Jeff Cariaso.  Fourteen Jr. NBA coaches will be selected as finalists and trained at the National Training Camp, with two Jr. NBA Coaches of the Year awarded with an NBA experience trip.

“Jr. NBA has provided world-class basketball instruction to communities across the country and produced a roster of athletes competing both on the local and international stage,” said NBA Philippines Managing Director Carlo Singson.  “We are grateful for our partnership with Alaska, which supports our mission of instilling the core values of our game and promoting an active lifestyle among youth in the Philippines.”

“We are proud that Jr. NBA Philippines has established itself as one of the country’s premier youth basketball programs and shaped well-rounded athletes including Aljon Mariano, Kiefer Ravena, Kobe Paras, Kyla Flores and Rozie Amatong who inspire Filipino youth to fulfill their potential,” said Alaska Milk Corporation Marketing Director Blen Fernando.  “As partners of the NBA, Alaska Milk is committed to serving more Filipino children and families with affordable nutrition and providing first-rate training to guide their pursuit of becoming champions in life.”

Jr. NBA Philippines presented by Alaska continues to promote proper nutrition and an active lifestyle, serving as an effective platform in implementing Alaska Milk’s NUTRITION.ACTION.CHAMPION. program that helps address the issue of overweight and undernourished children in the Philippines.

CloudFone, Gatorade, Globe Telecom and Panasonic serve as Official Partners of the Jr. NBA in the Philippines, while Spalding is a Supporting Partner.  ABS-CBN Sports + Action, Basketball TV and NBA Premium TV are the Official NBA Broadcasters of the Jr. NBA in the Philippines.

The Jr. NBA program is free and open to boys and girls ages 10-14. Coaches and participants can now register online atwww.jrnba.asia/philippines, where the program terms and conditions can be found. 

Fans can also follow Jr. NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines.  For all things NBA, visit www.nba.com and follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/philsnba) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/nba_philippines).

To learn more about the Alaska Milk Corporation, visitwww.alaskamilk.com and www.playph.com.

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around three professional sports leagues: the National Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the NBA Development League.  The league has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and territories in 49 languages, and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on 6 continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2016-17 season featured a record 113 international players from 41 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com and the NBA App, which achieved record viewership and traffic during the 2015-16 season.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 1.3 billion likes and followers globally across all league, team, and player platforms.  Through NBA Cares, the league addresses important social issues by working with internationally recognized youth-serving organizations that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes.

About Alaska Milk

Alaska Milk recognizes the need of Filipino children for proper nutrition. According to the 2011 National Nutrition Survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), it was revealed that 3 out of 10 children aged 5-10 years were underweight while 8 out of 100 children of the same age were overweight, making malnutrition and obesity two of the most pressing nutritional problems in the Philippines today.  Alaska Milk is committed to help provide proper nutrition through its leading brands, Alaska Powdered Milk Drink and Alaska Chocolate Powdered Milk Drink.  It contains 20+ essential nutrients that help children reach their full growth potential.  Aside from proper nutrition, an active lifestyle is needed in order to shape and nurture healthier children.  Because of this, Alaska Milk encourages children to “go out and play” through its NUTRITION. ACTION. CHAMPION. programs: Alaska Basketball and Football Power Camps and Cups, Alaska IronKids Triathlon, Alaska Family Run and Alaska Cycle Philippines.  At the same time, Alaska Milk has a professional basketball team, the 14-time PBA champion, Alaska Aces, which continues to inspire the youth to become future champions who are guided by positive values.  Finally, Alaska Milk partners with excellent local and international organizations who share the same objectives, vision, and values namely the Philippine Basketball Association, National Basketball Association, World Triathlon Corporation, Cycle Asia, Makati and Alabang Football Schools and Sunrise Events, Incorporated.