Tech Island 2.0 Boosts SMEs’ Digital Opportunities

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With its aim to provide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) a venue to explore their options for growth, PLDT SME Nation hosted Tech Island 2.0 in Ocean Adventure, Subic. Industry leaders, business owners, and IT professionals gathered for the two-day event held from April 15 to 16 for discussions, workshops, and knowledge sharing on how to communicate in the digital sphere. 

Tech Island 2.0 opened its first day to key business owners in a high-level forum that established the changing digital landscape in the Philippines. With the theme “Transformational Leadership in the Digital Era”, PLDT Executive Vice President and Head of Enterprise and International and Carrier Business Eric Alberto shared his insights on what it means to ride the waves of the increasingly digital world for SMEs to remain competitive in the market. Key speakers included Rappler’s Chief Executive Maria Ressa on her experience in taking Rappler to uncharted digital territories, and the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ Cardinal Luis Tagle on the responsibility that users and businesses need to take in maximizing the potential of the digital world. Alberto, Tagle, and Golden ABC’s President and CEO Bernie Liu also engaged on a panel discussion about what it means to be a transformational leader in the digital era.

A larger gathering of around 1,000 members of IT professionals, business owners, and developers took place on the second day for a plenary and workshops with some of the country’s top technology brands. Kicking off with the theme “Mastering the Digital Wave”, the talks aimed to bring businesses from the traditional to the digital scene with the use of the latest products and services that can empower SMEs.

Man V Expert Premieres This April on Discovery Channel

Wazzup Pilipinas!

This month, Discovery Channel is finding out if it is ever possible to shortcut your way to the top. Each week, professional hustler Alexis Conran takes on three intense challenges against world class prodigies and experts to see if he can find a way to beat them at their own game – without going through years of hard work and training. MAN V EXPERT airs on Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m., beginning April 22 on Discovery Channel.

In MAN V EXPERT, Alexis endeavors to best a world champion angler, race a Slovakian rowing powerhouse, out-remember a memory champion, and win against England’s best-ever penalty taker. Alexis is also competing in a cook-off with a Michelin-starred chef, and attempts escaping an expert tracker, amongst others.

In any normal head-to-head contest, Alexis would not stand a chance—but he travels the world to look into science and technology, and will occasionally call on his con know-how in an attempt to come out on top. Driven by his ultra-competitive nature and desire to win at all costs, Alexis does not give up until he thinks he has a way to be victorious. He then shares the techniques and tricks used in his attempt to beat the expert.

MAN V EXPERT’s first episode encores on Thursday, April 23 at 2:00 p.m., and on Monday, April 27 at 7:00 a.m.

Ocean Park Hong Kong - Adventures in Australia Grand Opening

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Ocean Park Hong Kong has unveiled yet another exciting attraction, this time putting the spotlight on the best of South Australian wildlife in “Adventures in Australia”. The first-ever South-Australian theme park in Hong Kong, Adventures in Australia provides an immersive walk-through of the land down under featuring distinctive animals including koalas, red-necked wallabies and laughing kookaburras!
Mr. Leo Kung, Chairman of Ocean Park, today was joined by the Honourable John Tsang Chun-wah, GBM, JP, Financial Secretary, HKSAR; His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AO, Governor of South Australia; the Honourable Jay Weatherill, Premier of South Australia; Mr. Farhan Faruqui, Chief Executive Officer International Banking, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) and other guests to officiate the opening of Hong Kong’s first-ever attraction themed on South Australia – Adventures in Australia presented by Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ).

Starting tomorrow, guests can visit the new exhibit to encounter animals unique to South Australia, including southern koalas, red-necked wallabies and laughing kookaburras in a setting reminiscent of the South Australia outback. Through the immersive walk-through experience, guests will be inspired to contribute to the sustainable future of the planet by practising LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability). Ocean Park today also announced that a female koala was given the name of “Yani” in accordance with the result of the extremely popular Koala Naming Campaign.

Other guests of honour at today’s ceremony included Miss Cathy Chu, Commissioner for Tourism of HKSAR; Dr. Peter Lam, Chairman of Hong Kong Tourism Board; Ms. Ivy Au Yeung, Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited; and representatives from the South Australia government and Cleland Wildlife Park.