UST Inaugurates Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center at its Santa Rosa Campus

MANILA, Philippines. – The University of Santo Tomas (UST) held the solemn blessing and formal inauguration of the UST-Tony Tan Caktiong Innovation Center (UST-TTCIC) at its 40-hectare campus in Santa Rosa City, Laguna. The rites coincided with UST’s 412th foundation anniversary on April 28, 2023.

The innovation center is named after its donor Dr. Tony Tan Caktiong, Chairman and Founder of Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC). Tan Caktiong graduated from the UST in 1975 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He also received a Doctorate in Business Administration, honoris causa, from UST in 2018.

In his message, Tan Caktiong expressed his joy over the completion and inauguration of the innovation center and its significance to the UST community, as well as to the future of the Philippines.

“This state-of-the-art innovation center in the midst of the UST community is intended to champion innovation and entrepreneurship with its end in mind to benefit not only the University, but also the country and society as a whole,” Tan Caktiong said. “This Center can serve as a catalyst for promoting innovation that foster connection, empathy, and compassion, and I am very excited to see the impact it can have on many people’s lives and well-being.” 

Innovation for a better future 

Tan Caktiong has always been passionate about innovation and continuous learning, evident in how he steered JFC from a single-brand company into one of the world’s largest restaurant companies with 16 brands operating over 6,500 stores across 34 countries.

“I am very thrilled of how this Center perfectly aligns with my ardent belief in the incessant thirst for continuous learning and dreaming big, all the more so as the pace of change in the world is increasingly becoming more rapid,” he said. “Being unable to adapt can put in question one’s relevance and render one’s knowledge, skills, and even entire businesses obsolete.”

Tan Caktiong added: “Innovation is not only an engine for economic growth, but also a tool for social transformation. As we build back better from the pandemic, this Center is in a remarkable position to harness the power of science and entrepreneurship in developing products and processes that can promote food security and improve livelihoods, especially in the rural areas.” 

Partnership for nation-building

UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Richard G. Ang, O.P., Ph.D., in his message, shared that “The UST-TTCIC is designed to foster creativity and collaboration. It will be a place for researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to exchange ideas, share knowledge and work together towards a common goal–creating a better future.”

“The various laboratories, workshops, and workspaces in this building have been carefully planned to support a wide range of research and innovation activities, whether you’re a scientist working on a breakthrough discovery, an engineer developing a new technology, or an entrepreneur launching a startup, this Center will provide you with resources and support our stakeholders need to succeed,” Rev. Fr. Ang added.

UST held the groundbreaking ceremony of the UST-TTCIC in December 2020. In September 2022, UST laid down its 15-year road map for the Center. On the same occasion, the Assistant to the Rector for UST Santa Rosa Prof. Philipina Marcelo, Ph.D., presented the three phases of UST Santa Rosa’s long-term operational and sustainability plan. She mentioned that UST Santa Rosa will target health and well-being, food security and safety, environmental sustainability, energy, information and communications, and material sciences as its interdisciplinary research areas.

“The Innovation Center is a tangible manifestation of our shared commitment, common values, and vision. We get an opportunity to nurture the next generation of leaders, thinkers, and entrepreneurs, and in so doing, we will continue to shape the future of our country,” Tan Caktiong said of the partnership with UST.

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About Jollibee Group

Jollibee Foods Corporation (JFC, also known as Jollibee Group) is one of the fastest-growing restaurant companies in the world. Its mission is to serve great-tasting food and bring the joy of eating to everyone through its 16 brands with over 6,500 stores across 34 countries including the Philippines, United States, Canada, the People's Republic of China, United Kingdom, Vietnam, United Arab Emirates, and Australia. 

The Jollibee Group has eight wholly owned brands (Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King, Hong Zhuang Yuan, Smashburger); four franchised brands (Burger King, Panda Express, and Yoshinoya in the Philippines, and Tim Ho Wan in certain territories in China); 80% ownership of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf; 60% ownership in the SuperFoods Group that owns Highlands Coffee; and 51% ownership of Milksha, a popular Taiwanese bubble tea brand. 

The Jollibee Group, through its subsidiary Jollibee Worldwide Pte. Ltd. (JWPL) owns 90% participating interest in Titan Dining LP, a private equity fund that owns the Tim Ho Wan brand. The Jollibee Group has a joint venture with the THW Group to open and operate THW restaurants in Mainland China. It also has a business venture with award-winning Chef Rick Bayless for Tortazo, a Mexican fast-casual restaurant business in the United States.

The Jollibee Group has launched its global sustainability agenda dubbed Joy for Tomorrow, which aims to strengthen the company’s commitment to sustainable business practices. The agenda centers on the key pillars of Food, People, and Planet, and consists of 10 focus areas namely: food safety, food quality, nutrition & transparency, employee welfare, farmers livelihood, community support, good governance, packaging & recycling, waste reduction, and energy & water efficiency. Each focus area sets goals and initiatives that contribute and align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).

The Jollibee Group was named the Philippines' most admired company by the Asian Wall Street Journal for ten years. It was also honored as one of Asia's Fab 50 Companies and among the World's Best Employers and World’s Top Female-Friendly Companies by Forbes. The company is also a two-time recipient of Gallup’s Exceptional Workplace Award, making it the only Philippine-based company to receive the distinction. 

To learn more about Jollibee Group, visit www.jollibeegroup.com

PEZA Investment Approvals up by 107.15%in April

Pasay City – With strengthened investment promotion and facilitation efforts, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has recorded an increase of 107.15% in investments for the January to April period.

“From January to April 2023, PEZA has approved a total of 60 new and expansion projects worth Php 33.094 Billion investments, which is 107.15% higher as compared to the Php 15.975 Billion approved investments on the same period in 2022,” reported PEZA Director General Tereso O. Panga.

For the same period, the projects are also expected to generate about US$ 1.012 billion exports and create 7,469 direct jobs.

April Board approval
This comes as the PEZA Board greenlighted 14 new and expansion projects expected to bring in PhP 20.556 Billion investments and create2,233 jobs.

Among these 14 projects, seven (7) are into logistics service enterprise, four (4) into export manufacturing, and three (3) IT enterprises. These projects will be located in Baguio, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Cebu, and South Cotabato.

The biggest project pre-qualified by the PEZA Board for FIRB approval is engaged in the manufacturing of biomass fuel products made from Buyo-buyo(Piper aduncum-shrub), with investments worth PhP 19.701 Billion.

Increase in PEZA exports

For the first quarter of the year, PEZA also recorded a total of US$ 15.753 Billion actual exports despite the recent report of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on widening trade deficit.

Panga said, “In March alone, we have generated US$5.396 billion export revenues which account for 82.65% of the total country's US$6.528 Billion exports in March this year.

Strengthened investment promotions

“We believe that we are now reaping the results of the ongoing investment missions of President Ferdinand Marcos and his administration’s investment initiatives and it is now up to us to follow through the pledges,” explained Panga.

The PEZA Chief noted, “We remain positive that more investments will come to the Philippines withthe big-ticket investments that we secured during the President's visits to Japan, US, and Switzerland among others.”

The US$1.3 billion in investment pledges and 6,700 jobs generated from the President's trip to the US is an indication of the American investors' renewed interest in the country. Based on the investment climate statement on the Philippines by the US Department of State, “The business environment is notably better within the special economic zones, particularly those available for export businesses operated by PEZA, known for its regulatory transparency, no red-tape policy, and one- stop shop services for investors.”

With the recently working visits of the President and his key cabinet and business delegation to the US, UK, Indonesia, Panga stated that, “We hope to attract FDI in advanced manufacturing, EV industry, RE development, mineral processing, regenerative agriculture, and frontier technologies particularly in digital health, fintech, blockchain, AI and big data—to boost our mix of industries and value-adding in the ecozones.” 

UPS HOSTS FORUM ON SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES

CLARK, PAMPANGA, Philippines — UPS, in collaboration with Clark Investors and Locators Association (CILA) and the Philippine Exporters Confederation (PhilExport), hosted a conference on the international trade opportunities available to Filipino businesses looking to boost their future growth prospects.  

Titled “Taking businesses beyond the challenges of the pandemic”, the event took place in the Clark Freeport Zone and brought members of the small business (SMB) community together with trade and logistics experts to discuss the path forward as the world continues to look towards recovery. 

“Partnering with CILA and PhilExport gives us an opportunity to personally connect with our customers and the community to listen to the challenges they’re facing so we can provide the logistics solutions they’re telling us they need,” said Albert Sapaen Jr., UPS Philippines’ special projects and package planning manager. 

“The experience of the pandemic has shown why it is important for businesses of all sizes to build resilience and flexibility into their supply chains. Whether that’s in the form of digitalization and technology, e-commerce strategy, or exploring new trade lanes and customer bases, UPS is here to help the country’s SMBs remain agile, innovative and, ultimately, sustainable.”

The switch to digital
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, many businesses have turned to digital platforms to survive, in particular accelerating or expanding e-commerce strategies. Buying and selling online has never been more accessible, and a positive customer experience is vital when shopping online.

Digital visibility and tracking solutions such as UPS My Choice and My Choice for Business help with this from the perspective of both the buyer and the seller. UPS My Choice allows consumers the flexibility of rescheduling deliveries, even when the parcel is already in transit. My Choice for Business meanwhile allows businesses to manage outbound shipments, returns, claims and all connected tracking and delivery management tools within a real-time interactive dashboard. This allows for more accurate monitoring of the status of all deliveries which in turn makes proactive communication with customers easier.

Exploring the unexplored

A centerpiece of the effort to boost trade among Asia Pacific nations is the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the biggest free-trade agreement ever signed. Once in force, it could benefit Filipino SMBs across a range of industry sectors, including in the form of cost savings via tariff reductions and simplified manufacturing and supply chain processes. 

However trade agreements on the scale of RCEP can be complicated, and success is not a given. SMBs should consider talking to solutions experts to uncover strategic opportunities to cut costs, improve efficiency, and streamline cross-border operations as ensuring that businesses are able to get the most out of the deal will require careful logistical planning.    

A Vital Partnership

“We understand that businesses are under a lot of pressure, so we ensure that the support we provide is comprehensive, crisis-responsive and flexible,” said Russell Reed, managing director of UPS Philippines.

“In the Philippines as in many countries across Asia Pacific, most businesses are small and medium-sized, but they contribute to more than half of the region’s economy. Because SMBs are the backbone of local economies and critical to local employment, we are committed to helping them optimize their supply chain strategies and capitalize on opportunities that will help them achieve their ambitions.”

The collaboration between UPS, CILA and PhilExport is born out of shared goals in building and empowering SMBs to achieve business growth, through the implementation of resilient technology-based solutions that spread the benefits as well as the risks among stakeholders. 

PhilExport is a non-profit umbrella organization of Philippine exporters while CILA assists member-locators at the Clark Freeport and Special Economic Zone to become globally competitive.

About UPS

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is one of the world’s largest companies, with 2021 revenue of $97.3 billion, and provides a broad range of integrated logistics solutions for customers in more than 220 countries and territories. Focused on its purpose statement, “Moving our world forward by delivering what matters,” the company’s 534,000 employees embrace a strategy that is simply stated and powerfully executed: Customer First. People Led. Innovation Driven. UPS is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and supporting the communities we serve around the world. UPS also takes an unwavering stance in support of diversity, equality, and inclusion. More information can be found at www.ups.com, about.ups.com and www.investors.ups.com.

UPS OFFERS BOOST TO SMBs WITH LAUNCH OF ENHANCED SERVICES IN THE PHILIPPINES

MANILA, Philippines, Aug. 23, 2022 — UPS (NYSE: UPS), one of the world’s largest integrated logistics providers, has introduced new service enhancements in the Philippines to boost international trade prospects for many of the country’s small and medium-sized businesses (SMB).

The enhancement sees pickup times for export shipments and customer service bookings from the National Capital Region (NCR), Laguna and Batangas extended by up to one hour. 

Meanwhile coverage of UPS’s Worldwide Express Freight (WWEF) service – a guaranteed door-to-door express freight service which delivers heavy, palletized shipments to destinations worldwide in as little as one business day – has also been expanded to 129 more postal codes in the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Laguna, Tarlac and Zambales. 

“When we talk to small business owners, they often tell us they wish they had more hours in a day; so we’re delighted to be able extend pickup cutoff times to give our SMB customers in these areas more time to increase the number of orders they can process on a daily basis,” said UPS Philippines Managing Director Russell Reed.

“Getting those orders delivered to customers on time is also vital. UPS Worldwide Express Freight is a guaranteed service that allows businesses to replenish inventory faster and reduce the risk of stock-outs thereby improving their customers’ experience. For manufacturers, they can rely on receiving critical inventory and replacement parts quickly to minimize costly downtime.” 

These enhanced services come as the Asian Development Bank raised its 2022 growth forecast for the Philippine economy to 6.5% from a previous 6% projection in July, following relaxed mobility restrictions in the country, increased vaccinations as well as a rebound in investment and household consumption. The growth is expected to trickle down to the rural countryside and across the provinces, cities and towns.

About UPS

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is one of the world’s largest companies, with 2021 revenue of $97.3 billion, and provides a broad range of integrated logistics solutions for customers in more than 220 countries and territories. Focused on its purpose statement, “Moving our world forward by delivering what matters,” the company’s 534,000 employees embrace a strategy that is simply stated and powerfully executed: Customer First. People Led. Innovation Driven. UPS is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and supporting the communities we serve around the world. UPS also takes an unwavering stance in support of diversity, equality, and inclusion. More information can be found at www.ups.com, about.ups.com and www.investors.ups.com.

KTM Ph Inaugurates New Motorcycle Plant in Laguna

KTM Asia Motorcycle Manufacturing, Inc. (KAMMI), a joint- venture partnership between Adventure Cycle Philippines, Inc., owned by AC Industrial Technology Holdings, Inc. (AC Industrials), a member of Ayala Group of Companies, and Austrian motorcycle giant KTM AG (Kronreif & Trunkenpolz Mattighofen AG), inaugurates its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at the Laguna Technopark in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

The KTM Philippines plant – which assembles four (4) KTM models such as the KTM 200 DUKE, KTM 390 DUKE, KTM RC 200 and KTM RC 390 – will have an initial production run of 6,000 motorcycles, with the goal of eventually expanding to 10,000 units annually. Apart from the domestic market, KAMMI plans to export to neighboring ASEAN markets as well as China, where some 60 million motorcycles are sold per year.

Art Tan, AC Industrials CEO, disclosed that the Ayala group’s foray into motorcycle assembly is in line with the company’s push in bolstering its growing manufacturing portfolio. “We are further expanding our capabilities as part of our thrust of fostering synergies with Ayala companies,” Tan said. “Combining the competencies of our manufacturing and distribution arms allows us to scale our presence in this space, taking advantage of evolving movements in technology, automation, and industrial technology.”

Meanwhile, Dino Santos, KAMMI’s President and COO, extolled the impact the plant’s opening has to Filipinos and the Philippine economy. “This investment is part of our belief that manufacturing should be a key driver of our country’s inclusive growth going forward,” he explained. “It provides jobs, supply chain opportunities, and helps put the country in the map as a center for innovation and industrialization.”

Moreover, they hope to ramp up their network to 32 dealers nationwide this year, each one providing sales and after-sales support.

Best Places in the Philippines for Foreign Retirees

With 7,107 islands featuring gorgeous beaches, upland communities, and busy metropolises, the Philippines offers retirement options for almost any person of any lifestyle. Thousands of islands can be challenging to choose from, especially if you are a nonresident retiree. Fortunately, by taking into combined consideration cost of living, the presence of basic necessities, and the overall retirement atmosphere of an area, it becomes just a little bit easier to narrow the list down.

1. Imus, Cavite

Imus, Cavite. Photo by Ramon F Velasquez via Wikimedia Commons

Imus is an ideal retirement location because it is very close to Metro Manila (approximately 19 km south of the capital), giving foreign retirees a quiet suburb to live in that is not too far from the conveniences of the capital. Earning cityhood in 2012, Imus itself is not one to lack in lifestyle amenities, as it is currently home to 14 commercial centers. While very urbanized, Imus still retains most of its provincial charm. There are also a number of residential developments to choose from, a few of which are upcoming projects by Ayala Land, Vista Land, and Megaworld.

Rent per month: Range from Php4,000 for a two-bedroom townhouse to Php13,000 for a three-bedroom house and lot

Hospitals: 5

Commercial centers: 14

2. Bacoor, Cavite

Bacoor, Cavite. Photo by Lawrence Ruiz via Wikimedia Commons

Widely described as a bedroom community where many of its residents are employees who commute to and from Metro Manila, Bacoor is currently transitioning from being a mainly agricultural economy to one that’s focused on residential and commercial development. Property developers have been keen on developing projects in rural–urban fringes like Bacoor, which will become the future southern terminus of the Manila Light Rail Transit System. Also, part of the city will be traversed by the future Cavite–Laguna Expressway, making travel to nearby Laguna very easy.

Along with several shopping centers, the city has a number of resorts, cultural landmarks, and festivals. And similar to Imus, it is very near Metro Manila but still has a laidback, rural atmosphere, making it an ideal place for retirees.

Rent per month: Range from Php6,500 for a three-bedroom house to Php25,000 for a house in Avida Settings Cavite

Hospitals: 8

Commercial centers: 14

3. Tagaytay City

Taal Lake and Volcano as seen from Tagaytay Ridge. Photo via Shutterstock

While widely known as a tourist destination, Tagaytay City is also an ideal retirement destination thanks to its cool climate. Located in relatively short distance from Metro Manila, it is still far enough to provide the peace and quiet that many come to the area for—not to mention spectacular views of the Taal Lake and Volcano. Although Tagaytay’s popularity as a vacation spot makes it quite costly to live in compared to the other cities on this list, Cavite’s agricultural areas ensure that fresh produce here at least is very cheap. Further, if retirees suddenly feel a need to soak up some sun, the sandy coves of Nasugbu are just a short drive away.

Hospitals: 2

Commercial centers: 4 (including partially opened Twin Lakes’ retail area)

4. Cebu City

Downtown Cebu City. Photo via Shutterstock

Among the Philippines’ top three cities, Cebu may not seem like the best place for a retiree. But on the contrary, it is actually ideal because of the comprehensive urban amenities it offers. And being an island locale, it is very near a good number of tropical resorts and natural attractions, including the white sand beaches of Mactan Island. Properties can sometimes be a little costly in Cebu given that it is a major city, but this also means that there are many options available in various estates developed by some of the country’s biggest real estate companies.

Rent per month: Range from Php18,000 for a two-bedroom townhouse in Lahug to Php140,000 for a five-bedroom house in Banilad

Hospitals: At least 16 major hospitals

Commercial centers: 29

5. Santa Rosa, Laguna

Santa Rosa City poblacion area. Photo by Ramon FVelasquez via Wikimedia Commons

Another area predominantly serving as a suburban residential community of Metro Manila, Santa Rosa is situated a mere 38 kilometers south of the National Capital Region. The premiere city and hub of South Luzon, the city is often called the Makati of the South due to its economic activity sans the density and level of urbanization. The city is popular for being the location of Nuvali, a massive estate developed by Ayala Land. Sta. Rosa is also home to a number of special economic zones, industrial parks, and master-planned communities resulting in the increase of the city’s comprehensive modern amenities.

Rent per month: Range from Php19,000 for a newly built house in Avida Parkway to Php80,000 for a five-bedroom house in Pramana Residential Estates

Hospitals: 9

Commercial centers: 11

6. Calamba, Laguna

View of Mount Makiling from Calamba. Photo via Shutterstock

Calamba is often referred to as the Resort Capital of the Philippines because of its many hot spring resorts located on the slopes of Mount Makiling. However, the city has as of late come to be known as a residential destination as well, thanks to the emergence of developments like Ayala-Greenfield Estates and Ciudad Verde.

To complement the resort-like living retirees can enjoy in Calamba, its local economy is fueled by a number of lifestyle and commercial centers, providing residents’ basic needs. If the city gets too crowded for a retiree’s liking, however, the very laid-back campus of the University of the Philippines Los Baños and the National Arts Center are just a short drive away.

Rent per month: Range from Php8,000 for a one-bedroom house to Php150,000 for a six-bedroom house in Brgy. Canlubang

Hospitals: 10

Commercial centers: 9

7. Subic Freeport Zone, Zambales

Subic Bay. Photo via Shutterstock

Renowned for being a former overseas U.S. military installation, the Subic Freeport Zone the Philippines. Along with its duty-free shopping, there are also a number of great schools, hospitals, and hotels and resorts in the city. While there is plenty to do and see is perfect for foreign retirees who want to continue their American suburban lifestyle in in the Freeport Zone, probably one its biggest draws as a retirement area is the location’s cleanliness and orderliness.

Hospitals: 3

Commercial centers: 5

8. Dumaguete City

Dumaguete City. Photo via Shutterstock

More popularly known as the “City of Gentle People,” Dumaguete City is the capital and primary seaport of Negros Oriental. Typical of a provincial capital of an island province, the city is full of beach resorts and dive sites, and is considered one of the best places for beachfront living on a budget. In fact, the city was listed among some of the most affordable and ideal places to retire to in the 2014 Retire Overseas Index.

Rent per month: Range from Php13,000 to Php18,000

Hospitals: 3 (tertiary)

Commercial centers: 5

9. Bacolod City

Bacolod City. Photo via Shutterstock

Identified by the Department of Science and Technology as a center of excellence for business process outsourcing (BPO) and information technology, the city hosts a number of BPO companies and voice call centers. While this has resulted in rapid urbanization, sugarcane plantations and heritage houses are still typical sights in the city. Like the island locale that it is, Bacolod also has a number of beach and resort properties suitable for retirement.

Hospitals: 10

Number of malls/commercial centers: 20

10. Cagayan de Oro City

Cagayan de Oro Press Freedom Monument. Photo by Amarkgio via Wikimedia

Cagayan de Oro City has long been Mindanao’s melting pot. Situated along the northern shores of the island, its economy is driven by agricultural activity and real estate developments, most notably commercial and leisure projects. However, the city also offers plenty of natural attractions, including white-water rafting in Cagayan de Oro River.

While highly urbanized and currently ranked the 10th most populated city in the Philippines, Cagayan de Oro is ideal for retirement thanks to still being somewhat rural and laid-back but also being a place with plenty of leisure and medical facilities. The city is also very accessible, with regular scheduled flights to Manila, Cebu, and Davao.

Rent per month: Range from Php16,000 for a fully furnished three-bedroom house to Php90,000 for a five-bedroom, 400-sqm house

Hospitals: 11

Commercial centers: 18

11. Davao City

Davao City’s Chinatown. Photo by Shubert Ciencia via Wikimedia

Arguably Mindanao’s commercial and business center, Davao City is a budding business hub and a popular tourist destination that many expat retirees have chosen as their retirement destination. It helps that the United States, Japan, Palau, and Malaysia have consular offices here. For such a fast-growing city, the cost of living in Davao is relatively affordable. The city is served by an international airport with regular scheduled flights to Manila, Cebu, and even Singapore, while it is also a jump-off point to Samal Island for those who would like a weekend R&R.

Rent per month: Range from Php18,000 to Php90,000

Hospitals: 31

Commercial centers: 18

12. Baguio City

Baguio City. Photo via Shutterstock

Although Baguio City has experienced rapid urbanization in the last two decades, the City of Pines has retained most of its old charm. It continues to have the trappings of a highland resort, such as quaint B&Bs, cozy cafés, breezy tourist spots, and fresh produce from neighboring La Trinidad Valley. This, coupled with the cool climate, makes the city popular with vacationers and retirees alike. Although it is significantly smaller than other cities like Manila or Cebu, it is by no means inconvenient. It has a good number of commercial centers, BPO centers, good schools, and hospitals within its boundaries.

Rent per month: Range from Php13,000 to Php110,500 for a forest cabin-style property

Hospitals: 5

Commercial centers: 6

13. Tagum City

Kayaking in Nabintad River, Tagum City. Photo by S5Switch via Wikimedia Commons

Although this city has always been overshadowed by its more popular neighbor Davao City, Tagum (the provincial capital of Davao Del Norte) has been getting a lot of attention in recent years. It is cited as one of the most livable cities in the Philippines, and is home to a number of festivals including one that celebrates music and another that celebrates bananas (one of its main crops is the beloved fruit enjoyed all over the world). The city also has a number of good hospitals, branches of national banks, tertiary schools, and shopping centers, and is conveniently accessible to Davao’s international airport through the Pan-Philippine Highway.

Hospitals: 6

Commercial centers: 4

14. Lipa City

Lipa City’s poblacion area. Photo by Ramon FVelasquez via Wikimedia Commons

A recreational, religious, commercial, industrial, and educational center for the province of Batangas, Lipa City offers an adequate deal of urban amenities set upon a rural backdrop. Its location between Mount Malarayat and Mount Makulot gives it a relatively cooler climate compared to its neighboring towns, making it an ideal location for leisure estates that target vacationers and retirees alike. It is home to a number of health resorts, golf estates, and gated communities.

Rent per month: A typical newly built, three-bedroom house rents for Php25,000

Hospitals: 10

Commercial centers: 2 (major shopping malls)

15. Batangas City

Port of Batangas. Photo via Wikimedia Commons

The largest city and provincial capital of Batangas, it is deemed as one of the fastest growing cities in the Philippines. Dubbed as the industrial port city of the CALABARZON region, Batangas City’s economy is mainly driven by trade, services, and manufacturing. Despite all this, the city is still relatively laid-back. Living in Batangas City gives retirees a central location that is accessible to beach resorts and trek sites. It is also the jump-off point to Puerto Galera in Mindoro Island.

Rent per month: A typical newly built, three-bedroom house rents for Php25,000

Hospitals: 5

Commercial centers: 9

Teqube: Responding to Filipinos’ Digital Needs

Teqube, a subsidiary of the Tao Group of Companies, continues to find ways to reach consumers and present offerings to answer their digital requirements. Housing leading handset brands like Lenovo, Nokia, LG, and even offers cellphone accessories, Teqube recently launched the its concept store and the first gadget store in the country that offers devices and accessories based on consumers’ lifestyle.

Located at the 3^rdLevel, Arcadia Building, Paseo de Sta. Rosa, Sta. Rosa, Laguna, this new addition is designed to be fun and welcoming. They can ask Teqube’s friendly gadget consultants to check out live units and devices that they can enjoy.

As part of its opening celebration, Teqube will be raffling off 10 Teqube Bluetooth speakers work P1,200 for 10 consecutive days starting on November 13, 2015. Just visit the store to join. For those who are purchasing a minimum of P7,000, a Lenovo A269i Smartphone is up for grabs for only P20.00. This offer is open to the first 20 customers of Teqube from November 13 to 15, 2015 only.

“Our new store in Laguna brings to life our mission of delivering the following to our customers: innovation, quality, and customer experience. Just like in any of our stores, we have our customers’ needs in mind when the store was conceptualized. We want to have a hub for them to fully experience the products and experience the lifestyle fit to their needs,” shares Angela Gutierrez, Business Head for Tao Tech Retail.

Divided into different modules, the concept store captures the lifestyle of today’s consumers. The Power Play fits those who are looking for products that provide performance that they can rely on wherever they go. Huawei Y3c, Lenovo A328, Samsung J1, LG Leon, Microsoft Lumia 535 are featured in this section. For those who are looking for the perfect companion for the music loving Filipinos, they may check out the Sound Vibe module. This is where they can find Lenovo A319, Lenovo A7000, OPPO Mirror 5, Sony C4, and LG Magna.

And, because we are the selfie capital, there should be a dedicated module for those who would want to vividly capture their favorite moments. They have Lenovo Vibe Shot, Lenovo S90, Lenovo Vibe X2, Nokia Lumia 930, and LG G4 to choose from. For those who are into games, Lenovo Phab Plus, Lenovo A5000, Lenovo P70, LG G4, and Oppo R7 Lite are featured in the Game On module. This is the venue for the top-of-the-line gadgets to get consumers’ senses in high gear.

The new store has a free Wi-Fi and also offers a gadget on demand service, which means, if it’s not in their store, Teqube will purchase it for you. For those who are spending P15,000, they can check the units at the unboxing area so they can have a better appreciation before they purchase.

As part of its opening celebration, Teqube will be raffling off 10 Teqube Bluetooth speakers work P1,200 for 10 consecutive days starting on November 13, 2015. Just visit the store to join. For those who are purchasing a minimum of P7,000, a Lenovo A269i Smartphone is up for grabs for only P20.00. Hurry because this offer is open to the first 20 customers of Teqube from November 13 to 15, 2015 only.