CDO Info - Your Information Guide In Cagayan de Oro

SM Cyberzone’s CyberLegends Taking E-Sports by Storm

Cyberzone the leader in tech and innovation in the country is also now taking the E-sports by storm with its latest tournament, CYBERLEGENDS.

“With the fast growth of the gaming community, we aim to take it a notch higher as we offer Filipino e-gamers and fans an extraordinary experience through live tournaments and exclusive access to the latest in tech in select SM malls,” said SM Supermalls Senior Vice President for Marketing Jonjon San Agustin.

Cyberzone’s Cyberlegends is the first of the three big gaming tournaments for this year and it’s powered by Smart/PLDT & Samsung. Mobile Legends enthusiasts, amateurs and pro gamers can win P300,000.00 of total cash prizes at stake and freebies from Cyberzone brand partners.

Cyberlegends will happen at SM City Cagayan de Oro Uptown on May 25, on the 29th of June at SM Seaside City Cebu, at SM Pampanga on July 14 and finally at SM North Edsa of the 24th of August.

====

No matter what your tech interest is, whether it be gaming, virtual reality, tech upgrades, cosplay, photography, music, or other hobbies – there will be something for you at Cyberzone. For more information, visit www.smsupermalls.com.

Gardenia Expands Operations and Inaugurates Bread Plant in Mindanao

Gardenia Bakeries, the Bread market leader, officially opens its newly advanced, fully-automated bread manufacturing facility in Mindanao. This is to serve the increasing demand for Gardenia products in the South.

The new plant will have a capacity of producing 130,000 loaves and buns daily which will be distributed with an increased fleet of trucks all over the region. It is also expected to generate hundreds of employment and contribute to the economic growth in the region.

Gardenia president, Jun Umali, said the new plant and expanded operations in Mindanao will now give consumers fresher bakery products and continual stock availability and accessibility. “We are now bringing Gardenia bread closer to our consumers with the opening of our newest plant. With our current distribution capabilities, Gardenia is available in Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Surigao, and Zamboanga del Norte, Butuan and Kidapawan but we will intensify our market penetration and saturation to widen our network, and eventually, reach every corner of Mindanao,” Umali asserted.

Fully automated bread plant

The 2.5-hectare world-class Gardenia plant, located in PHIVIDEC Industrial Estate, Misamis Oriental, adjacent to Cagayan de Oro City, is now the most advanced bread manufacturing plant in Mindanao.

“This completely new breadline features robotics and the latest innovations in modern baking. All major equipments are sourced from the best and reliable bakery equipment suppliers in Germany, the Netherlands, United States, Malaysia, and Japan,” Umali shared. He added that the integration of these machineries and equipment into one unit is the company’s expertise learned from Gardenia’s operations in Asia-Pacific, thus enabling them to develop a proprietary manufacturing process unique to Gardenia Philippines.

Umali also shared that the plant is designed to allow consumers to witness and experience the modern baking process through a catwalk plant tour especially for consumers from Mindanao.

Quality bread offerings

“To ensure the high quality, freshness and great taste of Gardenia products, we use flour made from US wheat, milled to Gardenia’s high-quality specifications, milk from Australia or USA, and other imported premium ingredients,” Umali assures.

A wide variety of Gardenia products will be produced in the Mindanao bread facility, including white bread, health bread selections, flavored loaf offerings, and buns or pandesal. Gardenia’s affordable loaf brand, Neubake, is also offered.

Strategic facility location

Umali explained that choosing a site adjacent to Cagayan de Oro as the location of the P1-billion investment is a strategic move. “Our new plant is purposefully located not only for Mindanao commercial operations. This will also serve as support to our Cebu plant or Visayas market. We can also dispatch breads easily to other areas when the need arrives, especially in the event of major calamities or natural disasters in those areas,” he explained.

“Moreover, the plant’s proximity to the ports of Cagayan de Oro, the gateway to Mindanao, ensures the availability and accessibility of ingredients,” Umali added.

Continued growth and leadership

Umali emphasized that the construction of the Mindanao plant is a continuation of the company’s goal to reach more of its consumers.

“With Gardenia in Mindanao, world-class quality bread products that will satisfy your appetites as well as feed your hearts will be at your fingertips. Our products will come to you fresh, delicious and healthy as we take Gardenia and breadmaking to the next level,” Umali concludes.

CDOBLOGGERS on #10andFabulous Anniversary Celebration

CDOBloggers (Cagayan de Oro Bloggers) is celebrating its 10th year this 2018. It’s been 10 years for the blogging organization here in our city but I felt it was just a while ago that I’ve been part of them. Since it is the 10th year, the officers planned and agreed to have a Bloggers’ Ball for all the members and invite other guests as well.

It was indeed a #10andFabulous night last November 17, 2018, where the whole organization celebrated with the current officers and active members, some of the pioneering members, guests, and sponsors. Everyone was so fab in showcasing their gowns and suits with the theme of “Rebels in Black and Gold”.

The crostini station by Restaurant Damaso is a win! It surely tastes delish!

Our special guest of the night is Congressman Rufus B. Rodriguez of the 2nd District of Cagayan de Oro City. I learned something about him that he started his career as a young politician when he was in college and graduated as top 7 in his class. He shared back when there were no Facebook and social media and the dissemination of information was quite difficult. But in this time, “blogging and social media are bringing the people and communities together such that timely and relevant information is shared between us, their representatives in the government, and them, our constituents,” he stated. He also said that “Social Media, done right, could be an important tool in bringing people closer.” He also commended the bloggers who are present in the event that night. Those who are constantly writing and promoting Cagayan de Oro to the world. He congratulated the organization, CDO Bloggers, on its 10th year anniversary and encouraged the bloggers to keep on blogging and inspiring other people.

Thank you, Congressman, for this encouragement! This blog will do its best to give relevant information to the people of CDO and Kagayanons all over the world.

Thank you to these people who made the Bloggers’ Ball event possible:
SM Downtown BPO Tower
Ms. Ivy Guantero and the Operations team
Cong. Rufus B. Rodriguez
Bebot Jocelyn Rodriguez
Centrio Mall
Ms. Ami C. Saniel and N Hotel
StreetBy
Ms. Mary Globien and Ororama CDO
Restaurant Damaso
Smart (c/o Ms. Judee Dizon Chaves)
Krispy Kreme CDO
CDO Balloons and Party Rentals
Vital Audio
Louie Yee (projector and screen)
SM CDO Downtown staff and security
Edoko Foods (extra tables)
Richard Badlisan and the Rockaholics
John Teves
Germz Eline Nabua (#KExTour2018 videos)
Ems Aban (CDOBloggers 10-yr journey video & photos compilation)

Thank you to our CDOBloggers’ members, fellow bloggers from Iligan Bloggers Society and Manolo Fortich Bloggers. Thank you also to our guests, Kim Zaldivar of CDODev, Alvin and KC Curay of The Explorer’s Channel, and Kristian Dave Achondo from Urban Life – Mindanao Gold Star Daily.

And most importantly to the CDOBloggers 2018 officers, thank you for all the time, effort, and help to make this event push through. With all the ups and downs we had while planning the event until the d-day, we all got our backs and we really made it into a successful one. Kudos!

10andFabulous group photo CDO Info — CDOBloggers with Iligan Bloggers, Manolo Fortich Bloggers, and guests from CDODev, The Explorers Channel, and Urban Life Mindanao Gold Star Daily.

Photo credits: CDO Bloggers Facebook page

NTC and KBP Joined Forces in Closing Down Illegal Broadcasting Stations

CDO Info - Microphone-Radio-NTC-KBP-Maxpixel

The KBP or Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and the National Telecommunications Communication (NTC) are helping each other in fighting the expected surge of illegal broadcast stations across the country in view of the coming midterm elections.

“This is year 2018 and there’s usually a proliferation of illegal broadcast stations leading to election day in May next year,” said Erwin V. Galang, head of the technical committee and trustee of the KBP.

Majority of the administrative cases the NTC handles under its mandate are ceased and desist and show cause orders against illegal broadcast stations, and according to Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios, the NTC’s previous cooperation and coordination with the KBP has led to the crackdown of fly-by-night broadcast stations, mostly in the provinces, who had victimized unsuspecting candidates to buy airtime for their political advertisements. These illegal broadcasters usually disappear after they received payment for the political ads.

“Historically, we can see a steep increase in the number of cases in broadcast services in relation to unlicensed broadcasts leading to the election campaign period. What we do is we immediately issue cease-and-desist and show-cause orders against these illegal operators, forcing them to shut down their stations, while others simply disappear,” Cabarios said.

In the 2017 report by the Commission on Audit (COA, majority of the cases were administrative complaints initiated by NTC for violations of erring radio stations with almost 2,054 cases in the broadcast services division.

According to Auditor Ma. Jocelyn Factora, COA’s 2017 resident auditor in the NTC, majority of the pending administrative cases represented cases filed by NTC against illegal broadcast stations, and not cases from telco consumers. “The pending telco-related cases from consumers are very minimal.”

As of 31 December 2017, there are only 148 telco consumer cases pending before the NTC’s Legal Office which are now subject of review and resolution.

Source: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1021811/ntc-kbp-partnership-rogue-stations-2019-elections

Globe Media Advisory for Higalaay Festival 2018

In compliance with the directive of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Globe customers in some areas of Cagayan de Oro City will temporarily be unable to call, text, or use mobile data along the routes of the following Higalaay Festival 2018 activities:

Higalaay Festival Carnival Street Parade on August 25 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The parade will start at the corner of J. Luna – Velez St. and end at the Rodela Circle in Barangay Nazareth.
Float and Civil Military Parade on August 27 from 7:00 AM to noontime. The parade will start at the Rodelsa Circle, traverse Velez St. and C.M. Recto Avenue, and end at the Limketkai Commercial Center.
Religious Procession of the Festival of Saint Augustine on August 28 from 4:00 AM to 8:00 AM. The procession will start at the Fernandez St. near the Saint Augustine Cathedral, proceed to Corrales Avenue, Neri St., Capistrano St., and end at the Saint Augustine Cathedral.

The NTC directive is in view of the request of City Mayor Oscar Moreno.

Check the image below.

Please have patience this Higalaay Festival, my fellow Kagay-anons!

Lower Interconnection rates for Telcos delivered as promised in SONA

CDO Info - Lower Interconnection Rates Telcos NCT DICT SONA

As promised, the cost for calls between networks have been significantly decreased for calls and SMS as promised by President Rodrigo Duterte to make goods and services affordable and accessible to consumers, particularly the marginalized.

As per the instructions, The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) then issued Department Order No. 002 directing the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to study and formulate the guidelines that will bring down the cost of interconnection.
In the draft Memorandum Circular (MC) drafted by the NTC following a study, interconnection charges were reduced to P 0.50 per minute from P 2.50 per minute for voice service and P 0.05 per text from P 0.15 per text for SMS.

A public hearing was conducted to enable telecommunication companies to comment and submit their position papers pertaining to the MC.

On July 19, 2018, the final MC was issued by the NTC.

The reduced interconnection rates are expected to benefit consumers across socio-economic classes, making voice call and SMS services between networks more affordable. This will also allow telcos to attract more subscribers and offer a wide variety of unlimited plans and services.

Significantly, the MC will benefit landline subscribers and users of basic 2G mobile phones nationwide, majority of whom belong to the marginalized sectors of society.

Piolo Pascual on “KEEPING HIS PROMISES”

Relationships are built on promises: the promise to love, to care, to secure, to protect, and to provide. This is something that Piolo Pascual knows all too well, committed as he is to the promises he has made to his family as a son, a sibling, and a father.

But when financial troubles arise, bringing such promises to life becomes a challenge.

“Like any other person, I want to give my family the best life possible. I am a man of my word, that’s why I work hard and seize every opportunity that comes my way,” Piolo said. “But more than just earning money, it’s how you manage your finances that makes a difference. Fortunately, I have the guidance and help of one very special lady: my very own sister, Chiqui Pascual-Gonzales, who also happens to be my Sun Life Advisor.”

According to Piolo, Chiqui has been instrumental in ensuring that his dreams for his family will all come true. “It’s a partnership through and through. With her help, I’ve been able to make it all happen while still pursuing my own passions and advocacies,” he said.

Piolo and Chiqui’s story is but one of many in Sun Life Financial, where lifetime partnerships are developed and nurtured through the years. In fact, this has inspired Sun Life’s latest campaign, at the forefront of which is a new TV commercial highlighting Sun Life’s presence in a client’s life throughout the different stages of her life. It represents the many promises that Sun Life has helped bring into fruition for the past 123 years of its existence.

Sun Life hopes that the campaign, as well as Piolo’s own story, will inspire more people to take the same path in their financial journey. “As the longest-standing life insurance company in the Philippines, we have witnessed many promises being fulfilled throughout the years and have served generations of clients. It is an honor for us to serve all our clients and help them secure their future and those of their loved ones” Sun Life Chief Marketing Officer Mylene Lopa said.

“The promises we make to our loved ones are sacred, and Sun Life knows this. That’s why it’s committed to helping its clients achieve their goals, no matter what happens,” Piolo said. “You can’t ask for a better lifetime partner than that!”

####

About Sun Life Financial
Sun Life Financial Inc. (“SLF Inc.”) is a leading international financial services organization providing insurance, wealth and asset management solutions to individual and corporate Clients. Sun Life Financial has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Bermuda. As of December 31, 2017, Sun Life Financial had total assets under management (“AUM”) of $975 billion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.

Press Release: Share the Love this Christmas with PayMaya

#ShareTheLove this Christmas season with exclusive treats from PayMaya!

Big discounts and promos await all PayMaya account holders!

It’s a great time to be a PayMaya account holder this Christmas season with lots of discounts, rebates, and freebies coming your way. Use your PayMaya to shop and complete your holiday gift list so you can share the love to family and friends during this season of giving. “Christmas is a season of giving, and we’re happy to help our customers share the love over the holidays with PayMaya. This is our way of thanking our customers in helping us achieve a very fruitful year as the leader in digital payments in the Philippines,” said Paolo Azzola, PayMaya Chief Operating Officer, and Managing Director.

Spreading the Christmas cheer to all is also made easier with exclusive discounts to PayMaya account holders when they shop at Lazada and Zalora. Users can enjoy an additional 20% discount when they shop at Lazada until December 15 by using the code PYMYDEC.

Meanwhile, fashionistas looking to complete their holiday outfits can look forward to a 20% discount this month when they shop at ZALORA, simply by entering the code PAYMAYAHOLIDAY upon checkout. The discount rises to as much as 25% during Zalora’s Online Fever sale event on December 12 to 15 with the code PAYMAYAFEVER25.

These discounts are on top of the already deep discounts being offered by Lazada and Zalora this December.

Get as much as P1,250 on referrals with PayMaya in Facebook Messenger With PayMaya, it’s easy to let your friends and loved ones know that you care about them. And with PayMaya in Facebook Messenger, both of you can feel the love as well!

Simply sign up or link your existing PayMaya account in Facebook Messenger and refer friends to sign up too and you will both get P50 in your PayMaya accounts.

To do this, all you have to do is share the promo link that you will receive from PayMaya in Messenger to up to 25 friends with Android devices to start earning the referral bonus. Subscribers of all mobile network in the Philippines may sign up until December 19 and get the bonus amount, which will be credited to their accounts in 2 to 3 business days.

“All of these privileges highlight that paying with your PayMaya is now better than simply paying with cash. Using their PayMaya accounts, shopping online and in-store, sending money to others, and purchasing load or paying bills is easier than ever. We can’t wait to share even more exciting things and experiences exclusive to PayMaya account holders that we have in store for the coming months,” shared Raymund Villanueva, Issuing Head at PayMaya.

Getting a PayMaya account is easy and instant. Just download the PayMaya app via iOS or Android and register.

A million ways to #ShareTheLove

With PayMaya, there are a million ways to share the love to your friends and family because all PayMaya app registrations, physical card activations, and purchases worth at least P1,000 from today until December 23 will earn raffle entries for PayMaya’s #MerryMillionaire promo.

Users stand a chance to win P10,000 in the weekly draw and a whopping P1 million tax-free in the grand draw, which will give them even more reasons to spread the love to others this holiday season.

And to make it even more convenient to load your account, PayMaya has further expanded its long list of loading partners to include all branches of Cebuana Lhuillier and ExpressPay, as well as the online banking platforms of RCBC and Metrobank.

This is on top of the more than 15,000 top-up facilities already available nationwide such as Robinsons Department Store Business Centers, SM Business Services, TouchPay kiosks, 7-Eleven, Palawan Pawnshops, Shopwise, Wellcome, 2Go outlets, Petron stations along NLEX, and Smart Padala centers down to sari-sari stores in grassroots communities, and Unionbank ATMs.

PayMaya Philippines, the country’s pioneer and leader in cashless payments, is the digital financial services arm of PLDT’s Voyager Innovations. To know more about its products and services, visit www.paymaya.com.