by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 7, 2020 | Business
Your friendly interactive mall attendant is coming to SM Aura Premier!
Ready to give delightful malling experiences to shoppers, SM Supermalls’ ‘SAM the robot’, the country’s first-ever smart mall attendant, officially invades SM Aura Premier starting February 7!
Steven Tan, SM Supermalls COO with Sam
“SM has always been a home of fun and awesome experiences for shoppers and families alike. As we introduce SAM at SM Aura Premier and soon in other SM malls nationwide, we will continue to give our shoppers more extraordinary reasons to bond and spend time with loved ones in our malls,” said SM Supermalls president Steven Tan.
‘SAM the robot’ is designed to help with directions and provide mall information about the latest deals, promos, and events in a fun way. Equipped with an advanced face recognition technology, it can also give personalized greetings to customers once they enter the mall. Customers can also chat with SAM through the SM Supermalls Facebook page where it serves as a 24/7 online concierge that can provide information like branch locations, mall schedules, and promos, to name a few.
With its pilot run at SM Megamall in 2019 and now at SM Aura Premier, ‘SAM the robot’ is set to roll out to other SM malls across the country this year including SM City North EDSA, SM Lanang Premier, SM City Clark, and SM Seaside City Cebu.
SAM was created in partnership with Cal-Comp Technology (Philippines), which is a leading provider of electronic and original design manufacturing services.
For more information, visit www.smsupermalls.com or its Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter pages: @smsupermalls.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 5, 2020 | Business
AXA Philippines, one of the country’s leading insurance providers, has partnered with AVEGA Managed Care (an affiliate of Intellicare group and member of Fullerton Health), a leader in healthcare administration, to provide more convenient, accessible and world-class healthcare to Filipinos. With the alliance, AXA Philippines is able to offer an extensive and differentiated healthcare experience to its customers through AVEGA’s network of over 49,000 affiliated doctors and specialists and over 2,800 hospitals and clinics.
Now, AXA’s Global Health Access health plan allows customers to avail of cashless and seamless transactions nationwide through AVEGA’s extensive network, including dental and optical providers.
Photo shows (L-R) AXA Philippines chief of retail propositions Alok Roongta, COO Malet Lepatan, President and CEO Rahul Hora; and AVEGA President Mark Gamir, Vice President and COO Jerico de la Cruz, and head of sales and marketing, Alan Richard Silos.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Feb 3, 2020 | Business
The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, the marketing and promotions arm of the Department of Tourism (DOT), warmly welcomes its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), Atty. Maria Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones.
A Career Executive Service Officer since 2010, Atty. Velasco-Allones brings her extensive civil service management expertise to TPB. Prior to her appointment, she served as Executive Director of the Career Executive Service Board (CESB) since 2007. Under her leadership, CESB received international recognition from the UN-Asia Pacific Center for ICT in 2009 and 2010 for “bridging the information and communications technology (ICT) capacity gap of government executives in the Philippines to achieve socio-economic and development goals”. She successfully spearheaded CESB’s administrative reforms and program innovations in support of leadership capacity enhancement among the country’s top career senior officials.
She also served as Assistant Secretary for Personnel of the Department of National Defense from 1999-2001 and as Assistant Secretary at the Department of Labor and Employment from 2001-2006.
(L-R) DOTr Usec. Atty. Reinier Paul R. Yebra, Diamond Hotel Philippines general manager Ms. Vanessa L. Suatengco, DFA acting USEC. Lourdes O. Yparraguirre, TPB COO Atty. Maria Anthonette C. Velasco-Allones, DOT USEC. Benito C. Bengzon, Jr., DTI ASEC. Rosario Virginia C. Gaetos, TIEZA asst. COO Jetro Lozada, Mapawa Nature Park president Eduardo Pelaez, and DOT ASEC Howard Lance A. Uyking
An Outstanding Alumni of the National Defense College of the Philippines, Atty. Velasco-Allones received the Outstanding Vincentian Alumni Award for Leadership Excellence and Service from the Unibersidad de Santa Isabel in Naga City last 2018.
Atty. Velasco-Allones completed her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Bachelor of Laws from the University of the Philippines. She obtained her Master in Public Management from the joint program of the Lee Kuan Yew School of the Public Policy-National University of Singapore and the Kennedy School of Government-Harvard University.
She presently serves as a core faculty member of the Ateneo School of Government and is a resident faculty of CESB’s Leadership and Management Proficiency Program.
Her extensive and remarkable achievements in the public sector, organizational development, and strategic human resource management earned her the prestigious Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) award in the field of Human Resource Development in government service in the Philippines in 2009.
Atty. Velasco-Allones will lead TPB’s continuing campaign to manage all domestic and international marketing and promotional efforts for Philippine tourism and Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events (MICE) industries. Aside from promoting and supporting sustainable tourism, TPB will also participate in numerous travel expositions, strengthen its social media presence, and continue ongoing projects to help increase the number of local and inbound tourists.
Under her leadership, TPB is looking forward to a purposeful year of promoting the country to become the most preferred tourist destination in the Asia Pacific by 2022.
Atty. Velasco-Allones will assume office as TPB COO on February 10, 2020.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 21, 2020 | Business
With its dedication to making every Filipino feel at home in all its stores, Adobo Connection has chosen “momshie” and TV host Melai Cantiveros to be its first-ever brand ambassador. A launching event was held today at SM North EDSA.
Unassuming and cheerful, Melai is the quintessential Filipino mom who endeavors to capture her family’s craving for good, uncomplicated, and hearty Pinoy dishes – with adobo on top of the list. “Adobo is forever – char! Kasi di ba staple food siya, walang Pinoy ang hindi gusto ang adobo. Unlike kasi ng iba na naging usong pagkain, saglit lang naging hype tapos after ilang months lang, wala na. Si adobo kasi, di pinagsasawaan. Kaya kumuha talaga ako ng franchise. Honestly ito ang pangtawid gutom ko,” said Melai.
Meredith Ngo, Managing Director of Adobo Connection
Meredith Ngo, Adobo Connection’s Managing Director says, “We’re really proud to announce the first-ever brand ambassador/franchisee of Adobo Connection, Melai, who embodies what a true Filipino mom is – yung maalaga sa pamilya and may malasakit. Similar to our brand statement, we want our customers to feel at home and remember their mom’s cooking every time they enter our store.”
Recognizing that Adobo Connection is deeply ingrained in Filipinos’ lives, Melai had also taken things one step further and decided to invest in an Adobo Connection franchise. This was to ensure not only her family’s financial stability but also because she loves seeing people enjoy Adobo Connection’s offerings.
Adobo Connection unveiling the store icon
Admitting she did not know much about running a business, Melai also found Adobo Connection’s support and commitment to its franchisees truly reassuring.
“Sa panahon ngayon, ang hirap na makahanap ng business na papatok at higit sa lahat ang hirap makahanap ng katuwang sa negosyo – yung talagang mapagkakatiwalaan at tutulungan ka talaga. Pinadali talaga ng Adobo Connection and pagbubusiness ko. Dahil sa mga maaasahang teams nila, masaya at madali ang naging experience ko,” Melai shared.
Today, Melai owns three Adobo Connection outlets nationwide. She has found that Adobo Connection offers a solid business proposition – a working market concept, sound marketing, and operational systems, and strong franchisor support.
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 21, 2020 | Business
A good leader possesses not one but a combination of many good qualities. For Bayview Park Hotel Manila’s General Manager Eugene T. Yap, his best assets stem from his innate compassion for people and the desire to always provide service that only gets better over time.
Mr. Yap took his seat as the hotel’s General Manager in 2002, but he has been with Bayview Hotel Development Corp., the company that owns and operates the hotel since it acquired the property in the late 1980s. At that time, he was serving from the company’s head office in Makati as part of the legal team that handled the property acquisition. Later, he was tasked to look over the structure’s renovations and repairs.
It may seem like a stretch for a corporate lawyer to work in the operations and management side of a hotel. After getting a business degree at the University of Santo Tomas in 1985, Atty. Yap pursued a legal career and went straight to law school at Manuel L. Quezon University, before passing the bar exams in 1990.
But as he recalls, “You know how children usually dream what they always see? When we were younger, whenever we go to restaurants or hotels and service is given to us superbly and we feel happy about it, you tend to feel like you want to work in those types of service. At that time there wasn’t really much of a ‘hospitality industry’ to be spoken of so I wouldn’t call this my childhood dream. But when our company acquired Bayview, I simply began to love the property.”
The passion to serve people became Yap’s main drivers at work. “In the hospitality industry, we serve our guests and we take care of our employees. In legal practice, we also take care of our clients and our staff. So, in this aspect, they are really not much different,” he says.
He believes that good service can only be provided to hotel guests when the people working behind the scenes are also being valued by their leader, so he strives to give them a good working environment and has even adopted a program called the Managers’ Initiative. Through this program, employees are encouraged to pitch in their suggestions on how they can improve the hotel’s services, amenities, and even marketing efforts, and gives them the platform to explore their ideas.
He also puts value in having a work-life balance among his employees and even with himself. “I always set a time limit for work because when you are enjoying the work, you tend to lose track of time and you should never lose time for your family. It is also important for me and my staff to recharge once in a while so we can provide better service to our guests when we return to work.”
When asked to describe his leadership style, “You can say relaxed but still professional. I believe in accountability where each one is responsible for their own actions, but I also believe in learning from others. I am forever a student of the hospitality industry so I try my best to learn from all people.” He constantly keeps a listening ear open for comments and suggestions from every person who walks into the hotel because he believes that
“Guests are your best teachers,” he says, “How do I know when I’m doing a good job? When I see guests smiling. When they are satisfied with your service, that guest will keep coming back and keep asking for you. When the guest starts needing you, that means you’re doing something right.”
Not only at Bayview Park Hotel does Mr. Yap apply his mantras of good leadership. He also takes pride in being the president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of the Philippines (HRAP). As a leader to the organization, he aims to leave a mark in the industry through his “leadership by accommodation,” which is founded on understanding, being approachable, and being reasonable. “Just keep on giving the best available service to your guests and don’t forget to give your employees the pat on the back that they deserve. When you start receiving compliments from your guests and loyalty from staff, that’s where success comes in.”
by Penny Angeles-Tan | Jan 16, 2020 | Business
Dot Property, Southeast Asia’s leading real estate portal, recently honored the best and the brightest real estate developers, companies and professionals in the region during the recent Dot Property Southeast Asia Awards 2019.
With delegates coming from the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore, the prestigious awards program honored more than 45 companies and individuals. Dot Property CEO Matthew Campbell, commercial director James Claassen, and director for events and international markets Adam Sutcliffe led the awarding ceremonies.
Winners from the Philippines were Grand Land for Best Mid-Range Condominium Development Award for Amani Grand Citygate Davao; Santos Knight Frank for Southeast Asia’s Best Real Estate Agency for 2019 and SM Development Corporation (SMDC) for Best Township Development for Gold Residences. The photo shows Dot Property 2019 awardees during the event held at the Park Hyatt Bangkok.
Photo shows (L-R) AXA Philippines chief of retail propositions Alok Roongta, COO Malet Lepatan, President and CEO Rahul Hora; and AVEGA President Mark Gamir, Vice President and COO Jerico de la Cruz, and head of sales and marketing, Alan Richard Silos.
He also puts value in having a work-life balance among his employees and even with himself. “I always set a time limit for work because when you are enjoying the work, you tend to lose track of time and you should never lose time for your family. It is also important for me and my staff to recharge once in a while so we can provide better service to our guests when we return to work.”
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