‘Geeks On A Beach 2023’: Startup founders to gather at Panglao, Bohol Philippines

This 2023, GOAB returns to Panglao for the sixth edition

Movers and shakers of the Philippine startup community, innovators and investors, and global and national leaders are set to gather for the sixth edition of the tech-famous Geeks On A Beach (GOAB) international conference on November 22 to 24 at the renowned Panglao Island in Bohol, Philippines.

Spearheaded by GeeksPH and co-organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), GOAB will be a bold exclamation mark to cap the 2023 Philippine Startup Week events to be held nationwide.

About 500 participants are expected to discuss at GOAB the trends and forecasts on tech, startup and design, with conversations and interactions aimed at enabling the best to ride the wave of technological advances.

DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy is expected to formally open GOAB.

“We are as excited as our alumni and the startup community in bringing GOAB back. Ten years after the first GOAB and a pandemic-induced hiatus, there are certainly a lot of new and positive developments to celebrate from the advance of digitalization, the rise of AI and more funding raised by Filipino startups,” said GOAB founding organizer Tina Amper of GeeksPH.

Apart from Amper, the other members of the GOAB founding organizing team are Dave Overton of Symph, Mark Deutsch of Happy Garaje and Doris Isubal-Mongaya of PRWorks.

Serving as GOAB advisors are Manny Ayala of Hatchd and Endeavor PH, Plug and Play Tech Center’s Jojo Flores, Shoppable’s Chris Blanquera, Stephanie Caragos of Syntactics, Embiggen Group’s Paul Pajo, and Christina Laskowski of Silicon Valley-based Science and Technology Advisory Council.

Founders, CEOs, thought-leaders

The speakers at GOAB are a veritable who’s who in the startup space locally and internationally.

With the beautiful Panglao beach as backdrop, GOAB will feature headliners admired and sought after by the tech community: DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy, Chris McCann of Race Capital, Mohan Belani of e27, Earl Valencia of Plentina, Gina Romero of Connected Women Philippines, Symph’s Albert Padin, Jason Torres of Mashup Garage and Neon Playground, Foxmont Capital Partners’ Franco Varona, Katrina Rausa Chan of IdeaSpace and QBO Innovation Hub, Jen Bilango of CoinsPH; Jay Fajardo of Medifi and LaunchGarage, Ron Baetiong of Podcast Network Asia, Haifa Carina of DEVCON Philippines, Ashley Uy of Synacy, John Naranjo of Ingenuity PH, Paulo Campos of Kaya Founders, Republiq’s Bryan Yap, Vince Loremia of Cleaningly and Tudlo,  Jayvee de Leon, Earvin Ang of Aqwire PH, Pia Bernal of Kickstart, Jack Madrid of the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines, and Leah Rasay of the Communications Design Association of the Philippines.

Plenary sessions are set to explore potential investment opportunities, while breakout sessions will touch on FinTech, EduTech, HealthTech, AgriTech, ClimateTech and other category-specific themes catering to youth and women.

GOAB will also have pitching opportunities, business coaching, matching, investors’ roundtable, and exhibits from various stakeholders. A highlight of GOAB this year would be the celebration of the impact of a new law, the Innovative Startup Act, and DICT’s programs to the Philippine startup ecosystem.

A day prior to the conference, on Nov. 22, GOAB will also hold special Masterclass sessions on “Empowering Rural Communities through AI Outsourcing”, “Maximizing Business Growth with a Cloud Services Framework” and “Global Expansion for Software Development Agencies”, as well as an exclusive dinner with investors.

Conference tickets and information are now available.

A different kind of geek conference

As in past GOAB editions, conversations and connections are expected to happen beyond conference and breakout sessions, making the event a premiere connector event among tech investors, innovators and enablers from the Philippines and abroad.

The exciting beach venue, the stellar roster of speakers, and conference agenda have set GOAB apart since it was first held in 2013. Previous GOAB editions were held in Boracay, Cebu, Panglao and Puerto Princesa.

Globe Group backs bills against money mule activities

In the current digital landscape, a concerning trend has emerged where people find themselves ensnared in the deceptive web of online scammers. Often tempted by the allure of easy money or duped by cunning tactics, these individuals knowingly or unknowingly become "mules."

Given the alarming number of such activities, the Globe Group has expressed support for pending Anti-Money Mule and Financial Fraud bills, which criminalize these illegal acts and penalize offenders with jail time. Versions of the bill are pending in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

 

Ernest Cu, Globe Group President and CEO, emphasized the significance of the proposed legislation, saying "I think that will put a lot of teeth into the things that we are doing against scammers because if your name is implicated, then you can be an accessory to the crime. Right now people do not value or do not put a lot of emphasis on their identity being used in crimes.”

 

There have been reported incidents of individuals registering their SIMs and setting up e-wallets and bank accounts only to sell them to fraudsters. While some may believe they are engaging in a harmless or victimless act, they are, in fact, supporting complex criminal activities. This behavior continues a cycle of fraud and deception that affects numerous victims.

 

“These are things that should be made a criminal offense in this country. Because you are making yourself an accessory, you're aiding in the commitment of a crime.  That sort of thing, I think, should be stopped through a law that we are also pushing Congress to enact,” added Cu.

 

A recent raid on an offshore gaming firm, which led to the discovery of over 20,000 SIMs from various telcos, highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations. The confiscated SIMs were reportedly registered on multiple digital platforms despite being unopened and still in their packets, revealing a sophisticated scam operation that targets innocent victims.

 

Globe acknowledges the persistent threat of cyber scams. The company's network security team remains vigilant and is dedicated to its rigorous monitoring and coordination efforts.

 

Globe also continues to closely coordinate with the authorities to prevent cybercrime, detect scam in its network, and provide support that could lead to the arrest and successful prosecution of suspects.

 

“The scammers will always be there. And to the credit of our network security team, Globe is always one step ahead of the cybercrime organizations. So we continue to monitor, we continue to listen, we continue to coordinate and we hope that we can combat cybercrime together with the efforts of the government,” said Atty. Froilan Castelo, Globe’s General Counsel.

 

Globe is unwavering in its commitment to ensuring a secure digital environment for its users. It continues to engage in proactive measures and collaborations with key stakeholders to combat unlawful activities.

Watsons conducts one-day Medical Mission at SM City Davao

Photo courtesy of Kristianne Fusilero, SM City Davao

Watsons Philippines, a health care and beauty chain with stores all over Asia and Europe, and SM Foundation, Inc., are conducting a one-day Medical Mission at the SM City Davao's The Annex Event Center until 5 PM today, Thursday, September 14, 2023.

FREE checkup and medical services will be provided during the "Alagang Pangkalusugan" medical mission to include:

• Bone screening
• Hair and skin analysis
• X-Ray
• Glucose test
• Dental services
• Other laboratory services

Discover ‘Chat With a Vet’ by PetPal, your direct link to expert pet care

Ever found yourself concerned about a furry friend and needed pet care right away? Worry no more.

 

PetPal has launched "Chat With A Vet," a service that lets you instantly message and converse with a licensed vet, all for just P99 per pet.

 

PetPal understands the bond you share with your pets. That's why it has crafted a platform to ensure you spend more time enjoying their company and less time stressing about their health.

 

With a suite of digital pet care solutions, PetPal is revolutionizing how pets across the Philippines receive care, ensuring they live their happiest and healthiest lives.

 

Navigating the platform is a breeze. Available every day from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., you can get expert advice within minutes. Whether it's a dog, cat, bird, rodent, or any other domestic animal, licensed vets are ready to assist.

 

To get started with PetPal's "Chat With A Vet" service, simply visit Petpal Asia,  log in, or sign up, and then select your pet and detail your concern. Choose your preferred payment method, be it GCash, credit, or debit card. Wait a brief moment, and you'll be connected with a vet in no time!

 

"At PetPal, we're dedicated to ensuring every pet owner feels supported. “Chat With A Vet” is our latest endeavor in making quality pet care accessible to all," said Miguel Guerrero, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at 917Ventures.

 

Carlo Flordeliza, Senior Venture Builder at 917Ventures, added, "We recognize how important pets are to their owners. Our commitment is to provide innovative and genuinely beneficial solutions to make life easier for them."

 

Beyond chat, PetPal's all-in-one digital pet care platform, known for its ease of navigation and accessibility, offers a range of services from licensed and accredited veterinarians. The platform operates daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., ensuring flexibility for clients with varying schedules.

 

Additionally, the Pet Pawrtal, a digital pet booklet, ensures that pet owners have all the essential information about their furry friends at their fingertips, making the healthcare journey seamless.

 

So, the next time your pet acts a bit off or you have a nagging question, remember that PetPal is just a click away. Dive into a world where treats, cuddles, and walks take center stage, and worries take a backseat.

 

Learn more about 917Ventures and its startups.

Globe welcomes new verification guidelines from NTC to improve SIM registration

Mobile leader Globe welcomed the release of  new guidelines by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to improve the ID verification in the SIM registration process.

As customer protection remains its top priority, Globe asserts that the effective implementation of the SIM Registration Act requires close collaboration and consultation among key industry stakeholders, regulators and law enforcement agencies.   

 

At the recent Senate hearing, a concern was raised with regard to the acceptance of an animal photo in lieu of a real person's ID.  This placed the quality of verification in the  SIM registration process into question. 

 

Even as Globe has fully complied with the requirements of the SIM Registration Act resulting in the registration of 54M SIMs, there remain areas of improvement to help avert online fraud and scams.   

 

The first is having a proper identification system for all citizens such as the national ID. This is needed to avoid using various types of government-issued IDs that may be tampered with or compromised. This is an important area that must be pursued vigorously. We renew our call for consultations with the government on improvements in the rollout of the National ID, and law enforcement.

 

Second, recent guidelines released by the NTC to verify the identity of SIM owners is a welcome initiative. Even as Globe will comply with the guidelines, fresh investments must be made to deploy a more sophisticated identification solution.  Looking at various technical solutions will take time to ensure we implement a solution that truly addresses the unique and complex requirements of the SIM Registration law.

 

Third, the implementation of the SIM Registration Act is only the first step towards deterring online fraud and scams. Effective law enforcement and intelligence that can keep up with tech-based criminal activities must also be in place if we are to achieve a scam-free Philippines. Another issue is citizens sell their registered SIMs and act as mules.

 

“When SIM registration was implemented last year, telcos only had 15 days to design its SIM registration platform following the release of the IRR. Our capability for ID validation is also limited by the lack of access to a database where we may verify submissions. For facial or optical character recognition to work efficiently and accurately, there should be a database of facial biometrics and IDs that only government issuers possess," said Atty. Froilan Castelo, General Counsel of the Globe Group.

 

“We are currently working with the government to enhance our SIM registration platform, and we hope to get access to data with which we can verify documents submissions, including photo IDs,” added Castelo.  

 

"Moving forward, we are optimistic that with the recent post-validation guidelines from the NTC, we will be able to weed out those who submitted fake credentials to register, deactivate their SIMs, and report them to law enforcers for investigation,” Castelo said.

 

Globe called on SIM users to submit only verified information and IDs in registering their SIMs as fraudulent submissions are penalized under the SIM Registration Act. Individuals who provide false information or fake IDs may face prison time of six months to 2 years, and a P300,000 fine.

Dunkin’ and FamilyMart opens at Phoenix Matina station

More than just fuel, Phoenix Petroleum stations continue to offer more products and services as it welcomes two new locators–Dunkin’ and FamilyMart–at its station at the La Estrella Complex in Matina, Davao City. 

The Dunkin' store at Phoenix La Estrella comes with a dining area, a take-out counter, and a drive-thru–making it convenient for any type of customer. During the grand opening day, Dunkin’ offered large iced coffee for only P1 with every purchase of the Delights Bundle, a box of six doughnuts in different flavors. Aside from doughnuts, Dunkin’ is also known for its coffee selection, which includes Spanish Latte and Vietnamese Coffee.

 

Meanwhile, FamilyMart brings more reasons for Davaoeños to love Japanese snacks and drinks with the opening of its eighth store in the same compound. The newly opened konbini at Phoenix La Estrella has both air-conditioned and al-fresco dining areas. It also has an eTap machine and a POSIBLE device to give customers more access to a wider range of payment options across the company’s network of touchpoints. Aside from bill payments, the eTap machine can also accommodate e-money top-ups and prepaid loading.

 

A FreshKo outlet can also be found at Phoenix La Estrella. It offers a variety of fruit shakes, highlighting fruits that best describe what Davao City has to offer, such as mango, durian, buko, and avocado.

 

Retail Revolution reveals digital solutions for MSMEs

A website with eCommerce features (Basic Website with eCommerce by Prosperna), inventory management (Inventory Management Solution by Zayls), social media chat (ChatGenie) and text messaging applications (M360 Web DIY). 

These could make up any Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises’ (MSME) wish list. These are also among the digital solutions showcased during the recently-concluded Globe Business Retail Revolution held at SM Lanang Premier.

“Having our own website with eCommerce feature can help increase and automate our sales,” one of the entrepreneurs attending the event said.

The event featured actual pop-up stores that showcased the digital solutions offered by Globe Business for MSMEs to help them revolutionize their retail game.

According to Kath Janda, key spokesperson and Globe Business manager-Segment Marketing and Integrated Marketing, Globe Business envisions technology-enabled businesses as the future of retail.

The event highlighted the concept of connected retail, which focuses on integrating the online and offline experience of consumers. By getting “connected” MSMEs with a physical or online store can now provide seamless transactions for their customers.

Globe also featured products and solutions that grow with business including GPlan Biz, which is a customized mobile plan for business and GFiber Biz, a solution that aims to enhance business connectivity.

Partner organizations and offices including the Department of Trade and Industry, Go Negosyo and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry also showcased their services during the event.(LAC)