Author: Business News Asia

If you are new to cryptocurrency, you’ll have probably been advised that the best starting point is Bitcoin. The reason for that is that the cryptocurrency is still the number one digital asset and the most stable. But what happens after you buy your first Bitcoin? There are several ways you can invest with cryptocurrency, and we’ll take you through the main ones. Buying and Holding (HODLing) The first and easiest investment option is buying your Bitcoin and keeping it, something that is playfully misspelled as “HODLing.” The thinking behind this is that your assets will keep on growing as…

The hospitality industry’s pinnacle recognition for sales and marketing is the HSMA’s Virtus Awards, held at the City of Dreams in Manila on November 10, 2023. Among those recognized was Cesar Villaganas, the Senior Sales Manager at Quest Hotel and Conference Center Cebu, who clinched the coveted title of Outstanding Sales and Marketing Manager of the Year. Villaganas, who has been an integral part of Quest Hotel for a decade, began his journey as a waiter and steadily ascended the corporate ranks. Recently promoted to Senior Sales Manager, his tenure showcases exceptional leadership skills and a penchant for innovative sales…

Without any hesitation, the Senate has approved the proposed budget of P681-million for fiscal year 2024 of the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) during a plenary session at the Senate of the Philippines on Tuesday. The proposed budget sponsored by Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito was approved without further interpolation by the Senate during Plenary Session No. 30 presided by Senate President Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri. According to Ejercito, the recommended appropriations for the SBMA for fiscal year 2024 will focus primarily on the rehabilitation of Subic Bay Freeport and its facilities, and will fund two continuing projects, mostly road and…

Cebu, Philippines – The vibrant city of Cebu plays host to the prestigious 2nd Cebu Tourism & Hospitality Awards on November 15, at the Robinsons Galleria Cebu. This glittering event, supported by the Hotel, Resort & Restaurant Association of Cebu and the Department of Tourism, recognizes the best and brightest in the tourism and hospitality industry. This year’s event showcases a range of categories, celebrating individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the industry. The categories include Front of the House, Heart of the House, Tourism Educator, Supervisory, Hotel & Resort Manager, Sustainability Champion, Best in Corporate Social…

In this analysis, we explore the vibrant business climate of Malaysia through the lens of Yuliya Pogasiy, an esteemed investor and market analyst. Her insights offer a deep understanding of the dynamic changes and emerging trends in the Malaysian business sector. Rise of Plant-Based Food Alternatives In her analysis of the Malaysian market, Yuliya Pogasiy draws attention to the burgeoning plant-based food sector. This growth is backed by a noticeable shift in consumer preferences towards healthier and more sustainable food options. Innovative startups like Phuture, Etblisse OYA, and Snappea are leading this change, offering a variety of plant-based meat and…

Converge ICT Solutions Inc. (PSE: CNVRG), the Philippines’ premier pure-play high-speed fixed broadband provider, has reported a significant upswing in its performance for the third quarter of 2023. The company reached a milestone with 2,048,286 subscribers, boasting a remarkable net addition of 170,925 for the first nine months of the year. Of these, the third quarter alone contributed 78,623, with new offerings FiberX, Bida Fiber, and Surf2Sawa displaying strong uptake. The residential sector, which accounts for 85.6% of the company’s revenue, experienced a 5.2% growth, taking the revenue to P22.5Bn. This is part of a larger 7.2% increase in consolidated…

In response to the call of the national government to engage in an earthquake drill, SM City Cebu, SM Seaside City Cebu, and SM City Consolacion together with the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine National Police, and the local government unit’s disaster risk reduction council, gathered their employees, tenants, affiliates, & agency personnel for the conduct of the simultaneous earthquake drill on November 9. At exactly 9AM, rumbling sound was played in the PA system signaling the start of the drill. All employees and tenants/affiliates performed “drop, cover and hold” position under payment counters, sturdy tables/seats, and the like. Marshals…

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – In line with the mandate of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to run after agricultural smugglers, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) Port of Subic apprehended nine 40-foot container trucks at the Port of Subic on Wednesday. SBMA Chairman and Administrator Jonathan D. Tan, who personally went to the Freeport’s container terminal for the inspection, said the nine containers were all declared as frozen lobster balls, which were consigned to Rianne Food Products. The SBMA Chief added that the seized cargo arrived on November 3 from China with a declaration that…

The Globe Group has reported a landmark achievement for the first nine months of 2023, with consolidated service revenues reaching an all-time high of ₱121.1 billion. This robust 3% increase from the previous year comes despite persistent economic headwinds buffeting the industry. Fueling this exceptional growth, the group’s mobile, corporate data, and non-telecom services have shone brightly, fully compensating for a predicted dip in home broadband revenues. Notably, the non-telecom segment has soared by 44% year-over-year, now comprising 3.4% of total service revenues, up from 2.4% last year. Data revenues continue to be a stronghold for the company, contributing 82%…

In the wake of its 95th year, Cebu Country Club is embarking on a visionary journey towards its centennial celebration. The premier golf establishment has announced an extensive modernization project aimed at redefining luxury and exclusivity in its offerings. This “new course” set by the club is a nod to its commitment to providing a world-class country club experience, complete with upgraded amenities that resonate with contemporary elegance and functionality. The ambitious redevelopment plan includes the construction of a new two-story clubhouse, meticulously designed by the renowned architect Royal Pineda. The new edifice will replace the existing bungalow-type structure, introducing…

Philippine Business Bank (PSE: PBB) showcases a solid financial uptick, with net interest income up 18% to ₱4,743.3 million, propelled by an increased net interest margin of 4.79%, PhilippinesToday reported. The bank’s core income rose to ₱2,205.7 million in the first three quarters of 2023, with pre-tax pre-provision profit growing by 13.3% to ₱2,122.8 million. A noteworthy 23.6% boost in net income to ₱1,145.6 million reflects PBB’s strategic growth and efficiency, as the cost-to-income ratio improved to 41.8%. Revenues climbed 40%, with operational expenses up only 13.3%, underlining a focus on cost effectiveness. Targeting the Small and Medium Enterprise (SME)…

Shinhan EZ General Insurance has entered the Indonesian market through a strategic partnership with Tap Insure, a part of the PasarPolis insurtech ecosystem, to innovate in the local insurance landscape. With a strong background in microinsurance from South Korea, Shinhan EZ aligns with Tap Insure’s digital prowess to tap into Indonesia’s growing digital insurance sector, starting with auto insurance. ByoungKwan Kang, CEO of Shinhan EZ, is committed to leveraging this collaboration to introduce advanced insurance solutions and to contribute to market growth. The venture is especially timely given Indonesia’s low insurance penetration and significant growth potential. The alliance is set…

In celebration of its 65th founding anniversary, SM Store, in partnership with its loyal customers, is donating 16,600 pairs of shoes to underprivileged students nationwide. Customers who made a minimum purchase of P3,000 in a single receipt at any SM Store had the opportunity to donate a pair of shoes originally priced at P299 for just P65. The goal is to support Filipino youth in pursuing their educational dreams by providing essential resources. Mr. Dhinno S. Tiu, SM Store’s Executive Vice President, stated, “Share Shoes is a testament to our commitment to making a meaningful difference in the community. As…

In the rapidly evolving world of e-commerce, presenting products engagingly and appealingly is a pivotal component of success. As online shoppers increasingly rely on product videos to make informed decisions, e-commerce businesses are turning to video editing tools like CapCut’s creative suite to enhance their product listings. This article explores the significance of e-commerce product videos, and the role of video editing, and offers valuable tips using CapCut’s creative suite. Additionally, we will touch upon the video compressor tool, which plays a vital role in optimizing ecommerce product videos for the online marketplace. Overview of CapCut Creative Suite CapCut Creative…

Fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. (PSE: CNVRG) has earned an upgraded Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) risk rating, and is now classified as ‘low risk,’ based on the recent assessment by ESG and corporate governance analytics firm Sustainalytics. The company improved its overall ESG risk score to 19.6 or ‘low risk,’ which reflects the reduced level of unmanaged risks it has, from its ‘medium-risk’ rating of 23.4 last year and ‘high-risk’ rating of 30.7 in 2021. The lower score also indicates a lower likelihood of ESG issues adversely affecting the company’s economic value. “Over the past…

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Jonathan D. Tan warned port users here engaged in truck trading to follow protocol or get banned from doing business inside the Freeport. Chairman Tan in a meeting with 100 stakeholders on Thursday said that the agency is clamping down on illegal activities that are proliferating in the Freeport. One of the most common is underdeclaration of the weight of shipped trucks to reduce the payment of their duties and taxes. Also common is the fraudulent upgrading of the trucks’ year model through bribery, aside from the irregular…

SM Prime Holdings, Inc., a premier integrated property developer in Southeast Asia, is opening of SM City Sto. Tomas in Batangas on October 27, Friday. This new establishment marks the fourth SM Supermall in the Province of Batangas and the 85th in the Philippines, boasting a sprawling 110,000 square meters of gross floor area. SM Prime President Jeffrey C. Lim expressed enthusiasm about the launch, highlighting the mall’s role in adding vibrancy and excitement to the flourishing City of Sto. Tomas. “We are delighted to open SM City Sto. Tomas this Friday, providing the people of Batangas with a hub…

Step into a world of music, diverse attractions, and endless excitement at the V1BE Booze and Arts Festival, set to take place at the SM Seaside City Concert Grounds on October 27, 2023. This event is primed to create unforgettable memories, perfectly aligned with the spirit of Oktoberfest. LOVE LOCAL V1BE is far from your ordinary music festival; it’s a unique, once-in-a-lifetime adventure that transcends musical preferences, ensuring everyone has an incredible time. Prepare to be captivated by a talented lineup of both local and national artists, treating you to a day filled with hit songs, with artists delivering 30…

SM City Cebu has set the festive mood with the illumination of its splendid 30-foot Christmas tree on October 21, marking the beginning of the holiday season in the Queen City of the South. With the theme “Wish Upon A Star,” the captivating centerpiece at the North Wing Atrium boasts 3D LED fountain lights, giant stars, dichroic lights, and an interactive LED floor. Further elevating the festive ambiance, the monumental tree is decked out with shimmering gold and silver running lights and is flanked by smaller trees adorned with stars and Christmas balls. Complementing the tree’s mesmerizing display, the mall…

CEBU CITY – As the Christmas spirit begins to envelop the city, SM Seaside City Cebu brings an otherworldly twist to the festive season with their dazzling Lunar Christmas Dreamland. On October 20th, a majestic 50-foot Christmas tree was illuminated at the Mountain Wing Atrium, marking the commencement of the holiday celebrations. In this year’s festive extravaganza, SM Seaside City promises more than just merriment. As the mall transforms into a magical wonderland, a sparkling Christmas centerpiece grabs the spotlight, all set to captivate shoppers and provide perfect backdrops for those Instagram-worthy holiday shots. One of the key highlights includes…