PLDT CLouD - PLDT ALPHA

VOLUME
17
D E C
2013
THE PASASALAMAT ISSUE
J A N
2014
ALL in for
ALPHA
the new face of m2m
Solutions
What's next on the
PLDT Cloud
The latest from the
Enterprise of Trust
LETTER from the
Editor
We Win Because of
Jovy Hernandez
Editor
Nico Alcoseba
Mikey Smyth
Managing Editors
Gerrard Fabie
Editorial Adviser
Markus Jentes
Creative Director
Andrew Batiduan
Art Director
Rissa Golloso
Rose Abes
Ram Anciro
Irene Dungo
Emily Reyes
Check Trayfalgar
Cheska Villanueva
Editorial Coordinators
Michal Perez de Tagle
Enrique Estagle
Kaye Pineda
Mac Lubaczewski
Paula Venturina
Area Galura
Elisha Eloriaga
Editorial Contributors
Vickie Perez de Tagle
Executive Producer
you
2013 was a year of trials,
of triumphs, and for PLDT,
reformation. As you will read in
this issue, PLDT is now the only
Philippine service provider ever
to win an award from the Metro
Ethernet Forum (MEF). Our 2013
Best in Marketing win marks the
third year in a row for PLDT being
awarded this title.
It is a distinction we are quite
proud of. We are grateful for the
opportunity to listen to you, our
enterprise customers and HOT JOE
readers who have made valuable
contributions with regards to your
insights and suggestions as to how
we develop and configure PLDT
ALPHA Enterprise services and
solutions.
Our continuing teamwork and
cooperation were the highlight of
PLDT Pasasalamat Night 2013 Let’s
Dance Tonight (page 8), where a
total of Php 1.2M was raised for
Typhoon Yolanda victims. Again,
I thank you all for your part in this
noble cause.
Our Live Wire in this issue
features HGS (page 16) and
highlights a real-time success story
using PLDT ALPHA Enterprise
solutions. Our PLDT Insider
section should really be titled
“Insiders” because it features the
collective views of our top ALPHA
performers who describe their take
on an evolved ALPHA vision and
mission. We redefined who we are,
and what our new driving objectives
and purpose should be.
Ms. Riza Mantaring of Sun
Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. is
the latest epitome of the optimum
work-life balance reached through
planning and the best possible use
of ICT throughout her careers (page
26). And to that end, perhaps even
more people will be able to achieve
the same due to the fact that we
have rededicated ourselves to be a
consolidated and total end-to-end
ICT expert partner for all the needs
of the enterprise market (page 30).
A recent success story is our
PLDT Cloud CCaaS (Contact Center
as a Service) and the considerable
impact it is making in the BPO
industry (page 48), with even more
to come on the PLDT Cloud
with the unveiling of leading edge
services such as PaaS (Platform
as a Service) and UCaaS (Unified
Communications as a Service). On
the wireless side, watch out for
even more powerful offerings from
SMART M2M as our Sleeper Hit
(page 62).
As you can see, there is so
much in store for 2014. Perhaps we
are already seeing the fruition of
exhaustive efforts in infrastructure
and network improvements as well
as the continuing mission to cultivate
more expertise. It’s all paying off for
you, our customers, as we dedicate
ourselves anew to giving you the
ALPHA ICT experience you demand
and deserve, year after year.
Jovy hernandez
Editor
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
5
Calls
CLIENT
VOLUME
17
05
07
08
16
Letter from the Editor
Jovy Hernandez discusses the
triumphs of 2013, and the
potential of 2014.
Client Calls
Letters from actual PLDT clients,
written to share their own unique
experiences with PLDT.
Main Window
The spectacle and the
philanthropy of PLDT
Pasasalamat Night 2013.
live wire
Hinduja Global Solutions and
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise share
a mutually profitable relationship
that is not only corporate, but
personal in character.
20
PLDT Insider
26
ALPHA EXTRA
30
We Are All ALPHA–
insights from PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise’s leaders.
Sun Life Financial’s Riza
Mantaring on the marathon of life.
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise and its
End-to-End solutions, providing
for clients from start to finish.
34
38
48
52
PLDT and Spoken Communications
are bringing a new way of working
to contact centers.
Trophies and awards and
jailbreaks figured prominently
in PLDT ALPHA Enterprise's
line-up of events this quarter.
Solved
PLDT’s cloud portfolio grows,
keeping its clients competitive in
today’s IT-enabled marketplace.
Caught on Page
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise forges
and reinforces their relationships with
a wide range of institutions, while
celebrating their victory at the MEF
Carrier Ethernet Awards.
Coming Going
62
Sleeper Hit
66
Congratulations for a job well done!
Keep it up in your new assignment.
16
You made SMART LIVE MORE!!!
Thank you to all,
Michael Pilarski, Unilever’s Country Head
of IT (CHIT)
Pramod Chalak, Regional Service Manager,
APAC, Vodafone Global Enterprise Ltd.
Graham Rushton, Global Programme
Manager, Vodafone Global Enterprise Ltd.
20
Congratulations to ePLDT
INCORPORATED for meeting all
criteria to become a Cisco Silver Certified
Partner in the Philippines. ePLDT
INCORPORATED has met the personnel,
support, and specialization requirements
for achieving Cisco Silver Certification.
Your company has demonstrated that it is
qualified to sell, install, and support Cisco
solutions in the Philippines.
What’s rising, what’s dying, and what’s
dead among the technologies of today.
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise and
SMART Enterprise show the
power of M2M technology.
We value the commitment and expertise
that ePLDT INCORPORATED has
demonstrated and look forward to a
continued successful partnership.
Thank you for your participation in Cisco's
Channel Partner Program.
The ALPHA Bits
Bits of knowledge any
ALPHA should know.
The Last Say
Eric R. Alberto takes stock
of the year that has gone by.
As you — our partners — handling
Unilever Phils., Inc. for the period of
August 2011 to September 2013, I would
like to share to you the commendations for
Dixie Dienzo in handling a difficult account
like Unilever.
She was able to fully satisfy Unilever’s
issues, requests and requirements. We
have not experienced any escalations or
complaints on the CRA’s customer and
accounts handling. She was able to put the
account to 30 days (60 days payment term)
this year.
Were You There
56
64
8
Partner Peek
Dear All,
Sincerely,
Cisco Channel Certification Team
34
Hi Luis,
Dear Ela and PLDT/SMART Team:
So far, you’ve continued to amaze me
with your efficiency, focus, and passion to
effectively serve our requirements. Thank
you for personally introducing yourself to
us, for sending the BB Support Engineer
on time, and for sending me a proposal on
video conferencing. Never before have I
experienced such enthusiasm from a
PLDT Relationship Manager.
Thank you so much for the assistance
that you have provided to our Country
President. The service you provided was
quick, beyond what is expected and you
really are focused on pleasing the customer.
Best regards,
Sherman M. Biniza, CPA DHRM
Financial Controller
Plastop Asia, Inc. & Weener Plastop Asia, Inc.
Dear Precy:
The excellent service that your team has
demonstrated is commendable. More
power to your team!
Best personal regards,
Dennis R. Ziganay
Marketing and Sales Operations Head
Novartis Healthcare Philippines, Inc.
Dear CS&S / ICT / PLDT team,
I’d just like to pass along my personal thanks
to everyone for their support during our
recent outsourcing cutover project.
I’ve been through a few of these in my
lifetime, and these are one of the most
stressful business events you can endure,
mostly due to the close proximity to the
customer. These events put a lot of pressure
onto a range of business units and support
partners, and there are nearly always some
casualties along the way during the heat of
a live transfer; but isn’t that why we do
what we do?
We really appreciate everyone’s effort and
collaboration during the event. Although it
wasn’t perfect behind the scenes, it looked
(almost) seamless at the front of house—
where our customers live. That’s all we can
really hope for on the big day.
So again, thank you for being there to help
CCAC expand its service capabilities and
enabling it to deliver even higher levels of
customer satisfaction to the people who make
the brand the success it is today. We could
not have gotten through the last few months
without each and every one of you.
Best regards,
Sean Byrne
Director
Consumer Service & Support
Concepcion-Carrier Air Conditioning
Company
we want to
hear from
you!
Send your
thoughts,
comments,
or feedbacks
and receive
premium
ALPHA items!
Email: [email protected]
Call: 88-ALPHA (88-25742)
or visit
www.pldtalpha.com
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
7
ET'S
EOPLE
D TONIGHT
ANCE
ONATE
8
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
PLDT Pasasalamat Night 2013
“People Let’s Dance Tonight”, the title for this year’s celebration, acquired a new subtext
and unofficial alternate name: “People Let’s Donate Tonight”. This was to honor and help
Typhoon Yolanda victims left devastated and in need of coordinated relief efforts for the
months to come. Guests were directed to a Donation Center setup within the massive
MOA Arena powered by PLDT — it was humming with activity throughout the night.
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
9
3
1
4
Let’s Move for the Country
The event was anchored around a
theme of energy in movement and this
was reflected in its kinetic cast of hosts
and performers. Sultry female vocal
trio Silk provided the opening number,
introducing roving ALPHA shooter girls
who would sell charity liquor shots. Prizes
such as TW Steel watches and SMART
iPhone 5s units were awarded immediately
to guests who participated in dance-offs.
After a flash mob literally stirred
up the crowd with the dancing mood,
the event hosts were set to make their
own dramatic entrances as accomplished
dancers and singers in their own right.
First was Regine Tolentino who sashayed
in with a hot “Burlesque” number,
followed by Billy Crawford who upped
the tempo with his electric hip-hop style
together with dance group The Movers.
“Welcome everyone! Together we will
definitely need all the energy from our
hearts, minds, and souls in sending out
our love to our less fortunate countrymen
affected by Typhoon Yolanda,” said
Regine breathlessly to the amassed crowd.
Billy responded with his own
inspiring message. “Tonight will be a
night like no other… In spite of the
recent tragedy, life goes on and tonight is
all about HOPE… And like past PLDT
Pasasalamat Nights, we still promise you a
great time!”
6
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
7
Non-Stop Spectacular
The entire program of performances
was spectacular in every way, from the
neon-lit choreography of Zilent Overload;
Coleen Garcia’s expert routine with
her dancers; the mesmerizing dance
showdown of jazz vs. hip-hop, care of
2
10
5
8
1.
Philippine All Stars gave the
audience a fast-stepping dance.
2.
Coleen Garcia beams a smile while
being lifted during her scintillating
dance performance.
3.
Billy Crawford led the Movers in
showing the crowd a hip-hop
spectacle like no other.
4.
Jovy Hernandez, Patrick Santos,
and Luigi Lopa
5.
Alma Rivera, Chet Alviz, Jovan
Barac, Ian Wilson, Chris Young, and
Napoleon L. Nazareno
6.
Eric Alberto and Emy Arcilla
enthusiastically doing the
ALPHA sign
7.
Paul Santos, Lito Guiyab, and
Manrick Ping
8.
Joy Hilao and Louis Meeks
9.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Birdseye and
Steven Wang
9
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
11
10
12
13
14
15
16
18
11
Hotlegs and the Philippine All Stars; and
the grand fashion show with models in
fantasy costumes accompanied by the
powerful singing of Amber Davis.
By the time Mr. Pure Energy,
Gary Valenciano himself, had taken
to the stage, the good vibes had an
unmistakable momentum. It was
inspiring for Gary V., who was clearly
taken in by the collective energy of
Pasasalamat. He took the audience on a
musical journey like no other, spanning
his three amazing decades in the industry.
In one solemn moment, Gary V.
dedicated a ballad to the typhoon victims.
All throughout the night, donations
kept on flowing. PLDT FVP and Head
of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise Jovy
Hernandez then gladly announced
that the total donations for the night
amounted to P 1.2M, which will be
channeled through the PLDT-SMART
Foundation. It was inspiring to know
PLDT guests and partners were so
united with national relief and
development efforts.
Perhaps that’s the realization
for everybody in PLDT Pasasalamat
Night 2013: that the collective opening
of minds and hearts can lead to an
irresistible force that rebuilds hope for
so many more. This annual celebration
underwent some changes to address
the issues of the year, but what hadn’t
changed is the one night of unity
among PLDT and its partners who
each contributed energy and charity–
the one night of thanks that speaks
of a lifetime of solidarity.
17
10. Gary V. belting out a song with his
trademark voice.
11. Regine Tolentino and Billy Crawford
kept the evening humming with their
performances as the upbeat hosts.
of the night’s alluring ALPHA shooter
girls who was selling shots as part of the
event’s donation initiatives.
16. Stanislav Tatarzuk and Yevgeniya Yushkova
12. Kent de la Calzada, Vinnie Rano,
and Jaime Santos
17. The elegant Elite Models strut the ramp
during PLDT Pasasalamat Night 2013’s
fashion show for a cause.
13. Allan Ang, Kat Guanio, Bliz Cuna,
and Jun Audencial
18. Guests crowd around the stage,
enjoying the live performances.
14. Hasan Fard and Jojo Gendrano
19. PLDT FVP and Head of PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise Jovy Hernandez thanks the
crowd for attending and donating in this
year’s Pasasalamat Night.
15. Vic Tria (1st from left), Jun Yupitun (2nd
from left), John Gonzales (4th from left),
Beng Pangan (5th from left), and Quiel
Delgado (6th from left) are joined by one
19
12
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
13
20
25
26
20. Regine Tolentino struts her stuff with a dance
performance set to the song “Burlesque”.
21. Guests purchased liquor shots from the
ALPHA girls, where all proceeds went to
Typhoon Yolanda relief efforts.
27
22. Alex Caeg, Willy Tee Ten, Boy Castañeda,
Owee Cruz, and Cesar Enriquez
23. The Silk band opened the night with musical
performances and dance numbers featuring
famous upbeat hits.
24. The highlight of the night, Mr. Pure Energy,
Gary V. gave a performance for the ages –
featuring his famous original songs as well
as covers from the greatest to the latest.
25. Jay Lagdameo and Aldo Alejandro
26. Precy Katigbak, Jomari Mercado,
Jojo Uligan, and Jon Cervantes
27. Simo Hoikka and Klaas O’Reel
28. Doy Vea and Mike Herlihy
24
28
29. The captivating Coleen Garcia with XB Gensan
wows the crowd with her acrobatic and alluring
dance number.
30. L-R 1st row: Ferdie Cruz, John Manaloto,
Mauch Franco, Mitch Locsin, Don Sacamos,
Leo Tolentino, Chris Estrellado, Julian Lilio, and
Jay Nebrao L-R 2nd row: Byron Chan, Darren
Dimaguila, Ronald Tolosa, Chirdsak Basa,
and Mark Kallos
22
29
30
21 23
14
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
15
PLDT sets the
benchmark
Hinduja Global Solutions talks about how its unique
relationship with PLDT ALPHA Enterprise has
brought it enviable success
16
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
H
induja Global Solutions (HGS) was formed
in 2000 with just one client and twenty-five
employees. Between 2000 and 2003, HGS
won businesses of major international clients, who
were among the leaders in the Insurance & Telecom
industries, thus establishing itself as a major player
in the contact center industry. 2003 also marked the
company's entry into international markets, with the
establishment of its center in Manila. Exponential
growth soon followed after a series of aggressive
mergers and acquisitions (M & A). Today HGS
operates in eleven countries, servicing over a hundred
clients. The Global Services Magazine has ranked
it among the top three best performing call centers
worldwide in 2008. It is also among the global best 10
for sales service in the 2010 Global Outsourcing 100
list as determined by the International Association of
Outsourcing Professionals.
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
17
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise has been a
Its presence in the Philippines started
back in 2004 with their acquisition of
Customer Contact Center Inc. Currently,
HGS has numerous sites in Manila as well
as in Iloilo, servicing clients from various
industries. Recently, the company has
announced its latest expansion initiative
in the form of a brand new site located
in Northgate Cyberzone, Alabang,
Muntinlupa; supporting them in their
latest move is PLDT ALPHA Enterprise.
“A Relationship that
Really Matters”
“It is good that here we are partners
who work towards success. There is a
lot of synergy between PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise’s mission statements and
ours,” says Mr. Subramanya C, HGS
18
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Executive Vice President and Global
Chief Technological Officer. He explained
how HGS’s global status gives them an
international perspective to fully evaluate
telecom partners. From his own extensive
global experience, he cited the importance
of good business relationships with
telecom partners as pivotal factors in
keeping HGS ahead of the competition.
“PLDT ALPHA Enterprise has been
a good partner to us… it is not only a
business relationship but a relationship
that really matters.”
Delivering Innovation
with Dedication
HGS AVP and Philippine Region
CTO Mr. Sandeep Marwah noted how
closely PLDT ALPHA Enterprise and
Above photo (L-R): PLDT Corporate
Relationship Manager Racquel Bondoc, HGS
HR Director for Recruitment Anna Martinez,
HGS Sr. Director for Building Administration
and Engineering Department Federick
Deloslado, PLDT FVP and Head of PLDT
ALPHA Enterprise Jovy Hernandez, HGS
SVP CFO Tony Dela Cruz, HGS EVP and
CTO Subramanya C, HGS VP for Human
Resources and Corporate Communications
Vida Arciaga, HGS AVP and CTO (Philippine
Region) Sandeep Marwah, HGS Corporate
Communications Officer Anna Villamin,
PLDT VP and Head of Corporate Relationship
Management Mitch Locsin, HGS IT Manager
for Transmissions Aldric Sarvida
good partner to us
HGS historically collaborate. “We are
using a lot of telecom solutions from
PLDT: SaaS, VITRO for our backup and
storage, connectivity, point-to-point links,
disaster recovery and business continuity,
and exploring more options,” he says.
He also pointed to the uniqueness of
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise, as opposed to
other providers, a true telecoms partner
who is dedicated to always delivering on
innovation.
He continued, stating that “HGS has
56 delivery centers globally, and six of
those are in the Philippines, including the
new ones in Alabang. And, I'm sure we will
continue to grow from here. PLDT has
set a benchmark for us, and this is not the
first time. Every year, when we go over our
contracts, PLDT sets the benchmark.”
Beyond the solutions, HGS also
values the people behind PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise, who ensure that the ICT
solutions can truly make a huge business
impact. “For any company to be successful,
they need good people. Infrastructure is
secondary,” says Mr. Subramanya.“That is
why we at HGS place such a premium on
our relationship with our employees – that’s
why our employees feel pride working
with us. Similarly, we know PLDT has the
infrastructure available, but it’s the service
and the people who provide it that make
PLDT achieve par excellence.”
Perfect Partners
The synergy between HGS and
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise is a living
demonstration of PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise’s official vision statement: to be
the trusted expert end-to-end ICT partner
and thought leader of the enterprise
market, as well as the partner that continues
to redefine benchmarks. The horizon is
brighter for HGS and PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise is always ready and waiting to
turn their visions into reality.
Above photo: The close personal and
professional relationships between the
executives of HGS and PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise have paved the way for profitable
and successful working partnership.
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
19
We
Insider
PLDT
are all
ALPHA
20
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
The PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise Team gears
up for 2014 with its
new Vision, Mission,
aND Values statementS
T
wo years ago, PLDT rebranded the
Corporate Business Group as PLDT
ALPHA Enterprise, embarking on
a journey to give customers the top-notch
solutions and expertise they expect and
deserve.
Today, PLDT ALPHA Enterprise is
recognized throughout the corporate world
as its trusted expert end-to-end ICT partner.
It is now leagues ahead of the competition
with a wider range of ICT solutions, as well
as global acclaim evidenced by numerous
awards and certifications.
Moving forward, the organization has
set out to enhance its unique position in
the industry by providing not only worldclass ICT solutions, but also key insights for
their customers’ industries that will make
them more competitive and innovative in a
transformed business landscape.
To further realize this goal, PLDT
ALPHA Enterprise embraces new Vision,
Mission, and Values Statements that will set
the company’s new foundation for years
to come.
An Expanded ALPHA Vision
A Stronger ALPHA Mission
Providing customers ICT solutions
is no longer enough for PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise. Understanding this, PLDT
ALPHA Enterprise’s new vision and mission
statements aim to position the organization
as champions of the heavily participative
business-to-business (B2B) market.
the ALPHA Vision
To be the trusted expert end-to-end
ICT partner and thought leader of
the enterprise market
the ALPHA Mission
We are committed to nurturing customer
relationships, providing unique and
valuable insights, and delivering
innovative solutions that generate
positive business impact for our customers
- thus enabling them to compete more
effectively in the global marketplace.
Eric r. ALBERTO
EVP and Head of Enterprise,
International & Carrier Business
PLDT / SMART
Powered by Strong Values
Five core values drive PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise’s vision and mission. These five
pillars serve as a guide for Team ALPHA to
fully express the ALPHA ideal within and
beyond the workplace.
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
21
agility
precision
"We are resourceful,
able to adapt to
change and respond
to customers’
requirements
with urgency."
"We will provide
for the diverse
needs of our
market, delivering
tailor-fit solutions
to address
specific business
and industry
requirements with
attention to detail."
"I am agile.
I am ALPHA!"
John Gonzales
Jojo Gendrano
PLDT VP and Head
Corporate Relationship Management
Jay Lagdameo
PLDT VP and Head
Corporate Relationship Management
22
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
PLDT VP and Head
Corporate Relationship Management
Vic Tria
PLDT VP and Head
Corporate Relationship Management
"I am precise.
I am ALPHA!"
Integrity
passion
"We will demonstrate
and uphold the highest
standards of sound
moral and ethical
principles, honor
and truthfulness
in dealing with our
customers and
co-workers."
"Motivated by the
value we deliver,
we will proactively
lead customer
interactions,
continuously raising
the standards
for quality and
excellence."
"I have integrity.
I am ALPHA!"
Dinia Chavez
PLDT AVP and Head
Corporate Bid and Offer Management
& Performance Monitoring
Boy Castañeda
PLDT VP and Head
Corporate Relationship Management
"I am passionate.
I am ALPHA!"
Nico Alcoseba
PLDT AVP and Head
Corporate Business Solutions
Mitch Locsin
PLDT VP and Head
Corporate Relationship Management
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
23
“Our Vision, Mission,
and Value Statements
embody who we are,
where we want to
go, and our guiding
principles on how
we are going to
get there.”
"I am ALPHA!"
Teng Tenael
PLDT AVP and Head
Corporate Capability Planning & Management
Chet Alviz
Product Marketing Head
SMART Enterprise
teamwork
"Knowing that each individual
contributes to a team’s success,
we will always strive to improve
employee capability and competency,
collaborating to achieve our goals
within an environment that fosters
camaraderie, mutual respect,
and high quality of life."
Jovy hernandez
PLDT FVP and Head of
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise and
SMART Enterprise Sales and Marketing
"I believe in teamwork.
I am ALPHA!"
24
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Precy Katigbak
PLDT VP and Head
Corporate Relationship Management
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
25
Extra
ALPHA
RUNNER
Sun life's Riza Mantaring on running
marathons – and why real life is
so much like it
ALPHA.
WORk. Live.
Ms.
Rizalina G. Mantaring is perhaps best known
as the Chief Executive Officer and President
at Sun Life of Canada (Philippines), Inc. But she is
more than that. She’s a mother, a wife, and also a
dedicated runner.
Ms. Mantaring has always been fit, part of a sensible strategy
to deal with a demanding professional career. She only turned to
running fairly recently. “I began running around 2009, when I felt
my gym exercising was plateauing in effectiveness; and this was
just about when running boomed in the Philippines, with all those
new races and marathons. And my husband has been running all
his life, so I decided to start working on it as well.”
And like with most things in her life, the determined Ms.
Mantaring had a plan to succeed.
26
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
27
Ms. Mantaring describes herself as an
inveterate planner – “To the point where,
when I’m on vacation, I plan each outfit per
day beforehand, so I know exactly what to
pack.” And this means that in work, and in
running as well, she puts in a lot of studying
and planning and prepares thoroughly before
she starts. In fact, she has researched running
so thoroughly that she is often approached
for training tips by other runners in her
office, advising them on issues of technique,
training, and to handling injuries.
“When I ran my first half marathon,
I got a coach and a training plan,” Ms.
Mantaring reminisces. The important thing,
she goes on to explain, was the discipline
to stick to that plan. “I won't take shortcuts
or skip my training,” she proclaims, “Even
through a typhoon or storm, I push myself
to meet that pace.” It’s a philosophy she
similarly extends at work, forging on to meet
goals with single minded determination.
“I don’t really know which is influencing
which!” She laughs. “Does my running
affect my work? Does my work affect my
running? Either way, running or working,
it’s important to set goals.”
Fittingly enough, one of those goals
is to carve out enough time in her busy
schedule for both work and running, as
well as for her family and friends.
A crucial work-life balance, the proper
prioritization of work and lifestyle aspects,
is an increasingly important factor for any
high achiever. Studies from Stanford and
Harvard universities have proven that –
far from improving productivity – people
who worked longer hours beyond a certain
reasonable point were less productive
and less efficient, producing substandard
work. In 2006, for example, London-based
accounting firm Ernst & Young surveyed
their own employees and discovered that
for each additional 10 hours of vacation,
an employee’s year-end performance
ratings improved by 8 percent.
I won't take shortcuts
Family, Friends and Fun
Ms. Mantaring values her life outside
the office just as much – if not more
– as she does her work, and attends
to every aspect with the same
careful attention to detail.
28
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
This is something Ms. Mantaring
understands very well. “When my kids
were younger I wouldn't go to work on
weekends. I could access my work mail
from home, after all!” She turns more
serious. “I’ve seen it – people working to
death, people burning out. At Sun Life, we
want people to be happy working for us
for more than two years. No one at their
death-bed ever said, ‘I wish I had spent
more time at the office.’”
Ms. Mantaring has successfully
competed in the grueling New York
Marathon, which she called “a fun
experience,” and would have run in the
or skip my training
Berlin Marathon had it not been for an
untimely injury. (She did go, however, to
cheer her husband on.)
As a marathon runner, Ms. Mantaring
was particularly affected by the recent
tragedy in Boston, when the 117th annual
Boston Marathon was violently disrupted
by the explosion of two bombs near the
marathon’s finish line.
“You feel how senseless it was.
Marathon running is supposed to be a
celebration of the human spirit, and what
happened…but I felt it would not stop
runners from running again, and it showed
the ability of people to overcome tragedy. I
was amazed at the speed of the response people just dove in and helped.”
She pauses, and finishes by saying:
“In the end, it was a triumph of the
human spirit.”
For many people like Ms. Mantaring,
reaching an elusive work-life balance is also
one of the greater triumphs of the human
spirit, an achievement that indicates a
common indomitable character that fears no
adversity, and bows to no terror.
Running Mates
Along with PLDT VP and Head of Corporate Relationship
Management Jay Lagdameo, and PLDT Relationship
Manager Ryan Manalastas, Ms. Manataring coordinates
her work's telecommunication needs for maximum
efficiency and convenience.
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
29
Extra
ALPHA
Contact Center as a Service
101010101010101010101010010101010111
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010101010101010101010010101010111
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
Supply Chain Management
101010101010101010101010010101010111
and Procurement Consulting
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010101010101010101010010101010111
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010101010101010101010010101010111
101010101010101010101010010101010111
PLDT CLoud
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010101010101010101010010101010111
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
Unified 101010010101010010101001010100101010
Communications
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010101010101010101010010101010111
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
Database Management
Network Management
Storage Solutions
101010101010101010101010010101010111
Data Security
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010101010101010101010010101010111
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010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
Virtualization
101010101010101010101010010101010111
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010101010101010101010010101010111
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010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
Wifi Access Points
101010101010101010101010010101010111
CCTV
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
Metro Ethernet
Fit Out
101010101010101010101010010101010111
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010101010101010101010010101010111
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
010101001010101010101010101010101010
101010101010101010101010010101010111
101010010101010010101001010100101010
010101010010101010010101010100101010
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010101001010101010101010101010101010
Transcom’s Siva Subramaniam on work, charity, and weekends.
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise takes on
company ICT from start to finish
In the business arena, End-to-End refers to the beginning
and end points of a method or service. Eliminating as
many steps and layers in between will reduce waste and
inefficiencies, according to the “End-to-End Theory”
30
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
End-to-End ICT service bundles connectivity,
hardware, software applications, IT professional
services, after sales support, facilities build-out
and even manpower outsourcing, while offloading technical complexity to organizations
better equipped to deal with them. The service
cuts across the traditional boundaries of the
applications and infrastructure groups to deliver
the best IT experience for enterprise clients.
The PLDT Group is the
country’s most diverse and capable
telecommunications group, with a vast
array of services and solutions. This
puts it in the perfect position to provide
end-to-end services to the country’s
top enterprises. Its network – the most
widespread, resilient, and highest-capacity
network in the country - is able to take on
the task of providing reliable connectivity
wherever and whenever an enterprise
needs it. With multiple cable landing
stations and international cable capacity,
it is also able to amply provide for a
company’s international needs. And most
importantly, PLDT’s highly expert and
dedicated workforce gives them the kind
of support few companies can match.
PLDT’s End-to-End ICT services are
relevant for all industries, ranging from
BPOs to banks, to manufacturing, and
to government. Hardware, software and
professional IT services are all offered
by PLDT ALPHA Enterprise, giving
private companies and government
alike everything they need from project
implementation to completion and even
day to day management. This allows
them to reduce their operational costs by
significantly increasing efficiency.
Having nurtured close relationships
with their clients, studying their needs,
moving to not only meet but anticipate and
surpass them, PLDT ALPHA Enterprise
is in a premier position to facilitate and
enable their clients’ ICT requirements from
start to finish. When a business looks for
a dependable and reliable ICT partner,
they can rest assured that PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise can deliver.
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
31
Business DSL
SIP Trunks
Audio Conferencing
Server and Storage
Colocation
Business Applications
PLDT Watcher
Wifi Access Points
CCTV
Business Continuity / Disaster Recovery
PaaS - Developed Custom Loan Tracker
MVC 1.80 pts | DXU 2.30 pts | EBAY ^3.32 pts | KEN +3.4 pts | LOW 1.3 pts
INDP -1.50 pts | INDU -2.06 pts | KLUM +1.32 pts | JAP -1.4 pts | POS ^3.3 pts
CCTV
Mobile Broadband
Business Direct Line
Wifi Access Points
CCTV
Bank teller
Private Leased Circuit
Wifi Access Points
Phone banking
ATM
how may
i help you?
bill payments
Metro Ethernet
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise
solutions
32
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Hardware
SOFTWARE
ICT Services
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Data Networking
Storage Solutions
WiFi Access Points
Cabling
Data Security Appliance
CCTV
Operating System
Business Applications
Data Security
Virtualization
Network Management
Database Management System
Enterprise Google System
Fit Out
Application Development
Documents Management
Bills Printing, Tech Support, and Inserts
IT Consulting
IT Operations
IT Helpdesk and Support
Manpower Outsourcing
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Project Management
Cloud Salesforce Consulting
Google Services
Endpoint Protection
Critical Systems Protection
SAP Consulting
Oracle Consulting
• Cloud Computing (Infrastructure
•
as a Service, Platform as a
Service, Software as a Service,
Unified Communications as a Service, Contact Center as a Service)
Data Center Services (Colocation,
Hosting Services, Business
Continuity / Disaster Recovery)
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
33
Contact Centers’ newest
Cloud Solution
is Spoken For
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise teams up with
Spoken Communications for a superior
cloud-based contact center solution
As
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise continues
to innovate and test the boundaries of
enterprise ICT, it has launched a number of cuttingedge, highly relevant corporate communications
solutions. Many of these are cloud-based solutions,
utilizing PLDT’s nationwidest network and
sophisticated VITRO Data Centers for increased
flexibility, business agility, and cost-effectiveness.
AT THE LEADING EDGE
Spoken CEO Howard Lee envisions
a tidal shift in the rapidly-rising
contact center industry using the
power of the cloud.
34
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
35
One of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise’s
newest offerings is its Contact Center as a
Service (CCaaS) solution, a complete suite
of applications designed for call centers
hosted on cloud-based infrastructure for
enhanced business agility and scalability.
The cloud-based infrastructure also allows
for a more cost-efficient, pay-per-minuteper-application business model.
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise developed
their CCaaS offering in conjunction with
Spoken Communications, a US-based
company specializing in contact center
solutions. The company was established in
2005, drawing from their founders’ wideranging history in the industry. Many of
them had held executive positions with
industry leaders such as Disney, Cisco,
Microsoft, Accenture, and Avaya.
Using their insights, they developed
the Spoken platform, which supports cost
productivity, enables big data streams and
extends a flexible integration model to
replace, extend or integrate with any legacy
infrastructure and software. Currently
supporting over 20 million contact center
minutes per month on the platform,
Spoken delivers operational efficiency to
the contact center and is a proven leader for
a superior customer experience.
Technology is the Servant
“Spoken has been following a guiding
principle that technology is the servant,
while agent success is the master,”
explained Spoken CEO Howard Lee.
“Every tool Spoken has created, invented
or improved has served the goal of helping
agents provide better customer service.
Our vision is a world in which agents,
supervisors and managers provide better
customer satisfaction at a better cost with
the tools provided by PLDT and Spoken.”
Mr. Lee is a customer service industry
expert and Spoken’s relentless customer
36
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
with PLDT's infrastructure, the
Philippines is positioned to lead other
Asian countries in the transition
cloud.
to the
ambassador, with over twenty-five years
of industry experience. US-based, Mr. Lee
flew to the Philippines in order to attend
the launch party for PLDT Cloud CCaaS,
recently held at the New World Hotel.
Accompanying him was John Nassar,
Spoken’s EVP of Sales and Marketing.
Formerly a VP of Worldwide Sales at
Avaya, Mr. Nassar also has over ten years
of experience with Siemens and Cisco.
Mr. Lee said that the move to the
cloud was in line with PLDT’s focus on
future-proofed, forward-thinking solutions.
“Going into the cloud, with its advantages
in terms of cost effectiveness, efficiency,
business agility and scalability, is the best
way for a company to remain competitive in
this fast-paced environment,” he said. “We
think that as companies start using cloud
applications, they’ll see a real difference
in PLDT's flexible CCaaS infrastructure
and application layers. With PLDT's
infrastructure, the Philippines is positioned
to lead other Asian countries in the
transition to the cloud.”
A Three-part Revolution
When asked what is the most
compelling thing about PLDT’s new
CCaaS offering, Mr. Lee answered:
“CCaaS is going to revolutionize contact
center operations in three key ways. First,
since capital expenditures will be all but
eliminated and replaced with monthly
operating expenditures, the IT purchasing
process will be simplified. IT and finance
teams won't have to do complex return
on investment calculations for every
infrastructure spend, and it will be much
easier for IT to align with the company's
overall business objectives.”
“Second,” he continued, “Operations
teams will be more effective due to the
accessibility of easy-to-use big data tools to
increase productivity. And third, PLDT's
CCaaS offers more integrated application
suites available on demand, so enterprise
will experience better disaster recovery,
better integration, and faster speed to cash.”
The launch of PLDT Cloud CCaaS
and the partnership with industry-leading
Spoken, is emblematic of PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise’s focus on innovation and
cutting-edge technology. With CCaaS,
companies can compete at the highest levels
with all the tools they need— including
the popular virtual desktop integration
(VDI)— and the flexible pricing structure
that best fits their budget.
leadership at PLDT saw the strategic vision
in delivering cloud services several years
ago. So partnering with PLDT was a simple
decision for us: no other organization has
the foresight, talent, reach and influence
that PLDT has. There is no end to the
growth potential of our partnership with
PLDT, as we continue to find and deliver
innovative services for the BPO industry
and beyond.”
A Simple Decision
Mr. Lee finished the interview by
commenting positively on the partnership
between Spoken and PLDT: “The senior
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
37
Y
WERE YOU THERE
WERE YOU THERE
Were OU
There
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3
5
4
6
7
8
1
Charity Begins at the Golf Course
For MVP Cup Players,
generosity and charity
are par for the course
The 12th MVP Cup took a different
swing this year - one with a more altruistic
flavor. On top of the usual rounds of golf,
participants found numerous ways to help
out Typhoon Yolanda victims.
Players were given a chance to “buy a
mulligan”, as well as special ‘help ph’ shirts
from the Philippine Disaster Recovery
Foundation (PDRF), whose various
programs (rebuilding schools, building
early warning systems, and distributing
relief goods) are much needed in affected
areas. Adding on to that was a charity
auction, where participants bid for the
much sought after Toyota 86 Grand
Tourer Sports Coupé, donated for auction
by PLDT Group Chairman Manny V.
Pangilinan. Atty. Arthur Tugade, President
of the state-owned Clark Development
Corp. (CDC), placed the winning bid
summing up to 1.63 million pesos. In all,
the PDRF received a donation amounting
to around 1.8 million pesos, which was
humbly received by Rene “Butch” S. Meily,
the President of PDRF.
The day also featured a post-game
dinner celebration complete with live
music, gourmet food, and raffle draws.
Famed band Mulatto and vocalist Amber
Davis kept the attendees entertained all
night long, while raffle prize winners were
announced throughout the night. Guests
were all clad in the signature white
‘help.ph’ t-shirts, showing their solidarity
to the cause.
“Everyone here today has worked
hard to rise to his or her current privileged
stature,” said PLDT EVP and Head of
Enterprise, International and Carrier
Business Eric R. Alberto. “We are all
certainly in a better position to help our
fellow countrymen, and I believe that
nothing exemplifies the ALPHA spirit
better than by coming together to make
a positive impact on the nation in such a
trying time.”
9
12
11
10
1.
Players were treated to perfect golf weather
at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club.
7.
Several automobiles were up for
grabs at the MVP Cup.
2.
Subramania Kuthalingam, Santanu Guha,
and Pushkar Misra
8.
Mike Henderson, Rick Pusag,
and Eulogio Catabran
3.
Matthew Squires, Paul Birdseye,
and Edgardo Lopez
9.
Ogie Alcasid holds up his new Golf
Buddy, part of his MVP Cup gift-bag.
4.
Festooned with festive red ribbons, these
prize cars were an eye-catching presence
on the golf course.
10. Senator JV Ejercito watches the arc
of his golf-ball right after his swing.
5.
Dave Rizzo sends the golf-ball flying
with a powerful drive.
6.
Jovy Hernandez, Kas Jamias,
and Steven Wang
11. Al Panlilio, Governor Jonvic Remulla,
Ernesto Sta. Maria, and Mon Fernandez
12. Cecilio Pedro, Marixi Prieto, Klaas O’Reel
and Ernesto Lim
13. Dennis Montecillo, Pannada Manoleehakul,
Ramon Dizon, and Chris Young
13
8
38
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
39
WERE YOU THERE
WERE YOU THERE
14
24
25
16
18
15
27
19
26
18
17
28
29
19
14. Danny Ocampo, Ruperto Nicdao,
Arnel Merilleno, and Anthony Cuaycong
24. Mitch Locsin and Jojo Uligan
15. Fernando Lopez, Peter Coyuito,
Indren Naidoo, and Marco Cruz
25. Sandeep Marwah, Arthur Coronel,
Alex Bisuna, and Yuri Allado
16. Jovy Hernandez limbers up
with a good swing.
26. The white of the ‘help.ph’ shirts filled the
ballroom, a testament to guests’ solidarity
for the fundraiser.
17. Eric Alberto cheerfully flashes the
ALPHA hand sign.
30
18. Pepito Angeles, Peng Perez de Tagle,
Eric Alberto, and Frankie Barretto
28. Finina Gorres, Emilio de Quiros Jr.,
and Butch Meily
19. Chafic Traboulsi, Paco Sandejas,
and Manuel Cruz
29. Eric Alberto, Levy Laus, Secretary Albert
del Rosario, Jay Lagdameo, and Felix Ang
20. Mike Becker, John Gonzalez,
and Gerard Doctora
20
21
27. Amber Davis entertained dinner guests
with her vocal performance.
30. Kent de la Calzada, Dick Perez,
Nick Ratuiste, Frankie Baretto,
and Precy Katigbak
21. Every player received a giveaway
upon submitting their score-cards.
31
22. Rahul Singh and Masahiko Tsuchiya
23. Fred Pacho, Willy Tee Ten, Dan Lachica,
and Gonzalo Roque
31. Jovy Hernandez, Butch Meily, Alfred Ty,
winning bidder Atty. Arthur Tugade,
Eric Alberto, Paul Louie Tugade, JayArt,
and Mitch Locsin
32. Overall winner Raymond Lacdao with
Class A winners Senator JV Ejercito,
Arthur Tabuena, and Paul Louie Tugade
33. Coach Chot Reyes and Derek Ramsay
22
40
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
23
32
33
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
41
WERE YOU THERE
WERE YOU THERE
1
Award Winners:
Recognizing Leadership
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise
supports Philippine
corporate sector
excellence with the 4th
Annual Asia CEO Awards
The stunning Solaire Resort and
Casino hosted the crème de la crème of
the Philippines’ enterprise landscape as
they honored leadership excellence during
the 4th Annual Asia CEO Awards.
The Asia CEO Awards recognizes
the outstanding leadership achievements
by individuals and organizations in the
Philippines. It was formally initiated
with opening remarks from the founding
sponsors: SHORE Solutions Managing
Director Darcy Lalonde, Jones Lang
LaSalle Director Sheila Lobien, and
Chairman & CEO of KPMG Roberto
Manabat. Buds Wenceslao of Asean
Holdings Inc. then introduced the night’s
keynote speaker: Dra. Lilia de Lima,
Director General of the Philippine
Economic Zone Authority and 2012
Asia CEO Awards Lifetime Contributor
awardee, who spoke about the Philippines’
excellent prospects and achievements.
Eleven prestigious awards were given
away that night, one of which was the
Filipino Executive of the Year Award,
presented by PLDT ALPHA Enterprise.
Representing the organization, PLDT FVP
and Head of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise
Jovy Hernandez awarded this year’s top
award to Jollibee’s Chairman and CEO
Tony Tan Caktiong.
In light of recent events, Mr.
Hernandez also invited people to join in
the relief efforts for the victims of the
recent Visayas earthquake and Typhoon
Yolanda through the Philippine Disaster
Recovery Foundation’s Brick by Brick
program, which is specifically aimed at
rebuilding schools and infrastructure
in the calamity-affected areas. "It is
imperative that we support the region’s
revival especially in terms of education.
We believe that the human potential for
excellence can come from anywhere in the
country; and who knows, someday we may
have a future global Filipino executive of
the year award winner from one of those
schools that we have built together!" said
Mr. Hernandez encouragingly.
•
Executive Leadership Team of the Year
•
Top Employer of the Year
•
Global Filipino Executive of the Year
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
4
5
ADEC Solutions
Thomson Reuters
Tony Tan Caktiong, Chairman and
6
Public Sector Leadership Award
7
8
Atty. Darlene Marie Berberabe,
CEO of the Pag-Ibig Fund
•
Expatriate Executive of the Year
Joseph Sigelman, Chairman
and CEO of AG&P
•
Most Innovative Company of the Year
•
Quality Company of the Year
•
Young Leadership Award
Aseana Holdings Inc. Managing Director
Buds Wenceslao with Jones Lang LaSalle
Head of Agency Leasing Sheila Lobien
2.
The audience at the Asia CEO Awards
enjoyed a night of premium food and
entertainment as well as the chance to
participate in the recognition of some of
the country’s best corporate performers.
Hewlett-Packard
Donald Patrick L. Lim, Chief Digital
Officer for ABS-CBN Corporation
•
1.
Lenddo
3.
Lindsay Orr, Rebecca Bustamante,
Wilma Palafox, Richard Mills together
with Lifetime Contributor Award recipient,
H.E. Delia Domingo-Albert, Former
Ambassador of the Philippines
to Germany
4.
Medilink CEO Esther Go and
SL Agritech Corporation President
Henry Lim Bon Liong
Corporate Social Responsibility Company of the Year HGST
•
Integrated Marketing Communications
Company of the Year
BBDO Guerrero
•
Technology Leadership Team of the Year IMI
•
Lifetime Contributor Award
H.E. Delia Domingo-Albert
Don Jaime Zobel de Ayala
42
3
CEO of Jollibee Foods Corporation
•
2
5.
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise representatives
smile for the camera.
6.
Noted couple Noel and Susan Mendoza
enjoy the glamorous atmosphere at
the Awards.
9
7.
FedEx Managing Director and American Chamber
of Commerce President Rhicke Jennings, Optel
Ltd. Managing Director Don Felbaum, ABS-CBN
Corporation Chief Digital Officer Donald Lim, and
Global Electric Transportation President and former
Mayor of Taguig Freddie Tinga
8.
The finalists for the Filipino Executive of the Year
award, flanked by presenter Mr. Jovy Hernandez.
9.
Delegates from multi-award-finalist LBC
pose in front of the photo-wall.
10. PLDT FVP and Head of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise
Jovy Hernandez and Jollibee Foods Corporation
Vice President for Corporate Finance and Chief
Financial Officer Ysmael Baysa, accepting the
award on behalf of Jollibee Foods Corporation
CEO Tony Tan Caktiong.
10
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
43
WERE YOU THERE
WERE YOU THERE
Shaped by Excellence
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise
leads the way with five
philippine Quill Awards
Representatives from leading
companies across a multitude of
industries gathered at the Crowne Plaza
Hotel to celebrate excellence in business
communications at the 2013 Philippine
Quill Awards, presented by International
Association of Business Communicators
(IABC) Philippines.
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise was
recognized for its numerous business
communications efforts garnering five
Philippine Quill Awards: two Awards of
Merit in the Special Events Category for
the PLDT Pasasalamat Night 2012 and
44
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
ALPHA Track Day 2013, an Award of
Excellence in the Audio-Visual Category
for the PLDT Cloud AVP, as well as
an Award of Merit in the Publications
Category and an Award of Excellence in
the Publications Design Category for
HOT JOE Magazine.
“On the behalf of PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise, I would like to thank IABC
Philippines for these prestigious honors
in recognition of our continued efforts,
not only in delivering world-class ICT
solutions to the enterprise market, but
in implementing effective marketing
communication initiatives that make us
closer to our customers,” says PLDT FVP
and Head of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise
Jovy Hernandez.
Other Philippine Quill Awards were
awarded to the PLDT Group, including:
an Award of Excellence in Publications
for the PLDT 2012 Annual Report, an
Award of Merit in Publication Design for
PLDT Sining Buhay para sa Kalikasan
Postcard Calendar, and an Award of Merit
in Advocacy Communication for Project
Pagsulong - Building the Nation is
Our Business.
Above Photo: PLDT AVP and Head
of Corporate Business Solutions Nico
Alcoseba, PLDT ALPHA Enterprise Head of
Marketing Communications Mikey Smyth,
and PLDT FVP and Head of PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise Jovy Hernandez receiving the
awards at the Philippine Quill Awards night.
PLDT’s
2013
philippine
Quill Awards
Award of Exellence - Audio - Visual
Award of Excellence - Publications
Award of Exellence - Publication Design
Award of Merit - Publication Design
PLDT Cloud AVP
HOT JOE MAGAZINE VOLUMES 12, 13, 14, and 15
Award of Merit - Publications
HOT JOE MAGAZINE VOLUMES 12, 13, 14, and 15
Award of Merit - Special Events - External
PLDT Pasasalamat Night 2012
PLDT 2012 Annual Report
PLDT 2013 Sining Buhay para sa Kalikasan Postcard Calendar
Award of Merit - Advocacy Communication
Project Pagsulong - Building the Nation is Our Business
Award of Merit - Special Events - External ALPHA TRACK DAY 2013
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
45
WERE YOU THERE
WERE YOU THERE
4
2
3
5
6
8
9
1
Freedom for Philippine Contact Center
operators with PLDT Cloud CCaaS
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise
introduces its new Contact
Center as a Service (CCaaS)
solution, liberating clients
from traditional call
center constraints
The Main Ballroom of the New World
Hotel was the setting of a mass jailbreak,
as representatives from the contact center
industry were liberated from the CAPEXintensive method of operating a contact
center site with the help of the new PLDT
Cloud Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS)
offering. PLDT Cloud CCaaS enables
contact centers to easily scale operations
through virtualized call center applications
46
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
on a per-minute, per-use, or per-application
pricing model.
The night was a stellar dinner
and cocktails affair, with big names
from PLDT and partner Spoken
Communications in attendance: PLDT and
SMART President and Chief Executive
Officer Napoleon L. Nazareno, PLDT
FVP and Head of Enterprise International
and Carrier Business Revenue and
Operations Group Cesar Enriquez,
PLDT FVP and Head of PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise Jovy Hernandez, Spoken CEO
Howard Lee, and Spoken Vice President
of Sales and Marketing John Nassar.
Mariza Hourani served as the host
of the night, introducing the night’s
entertainment acts such as the Hotlegs,
Radha (of the Voice of the Philippines
Fame), and Soul Republic. But what
really caught the guests’ attention was
the official unveiling of PLDT Cloud
CCaaS through a captivating Audio-Visual
presentation and a keynote presentation
that further illustrated the benefits of
PLDT Cloud CCaaS, which was delivered
by Fay Ocampo, Head of Enterprise Voice
Category for PLDT ALPHA Enterprise.
The event concluded with an explosive
launch ceremony led by Mr. Nazareno. He
thanked everyone, especially Spoken’s Mr.
Lee and Mr. Nassar, for their presence.
He then further congratulated the PLDT
ALPHA Enterprise team for the successful
launch of another groundbreaking
ICT solution.
7
1.
Spoken CEO Howard Lee, Spoken EVP Sales
and Marketing John Nassar, President and
Chief Executive Officer of PLDT and SMART
Napoleon L. Nazareno, PLDT FVP and Head
of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise Jovy Hernandez,
Spoken Country Business Development
Manager Dexter Tan, PLDT FVP and Head
of Enterprise, International and Carrier
Business Revenue and Operations Group
Cesar Enriquez and Head of Enterprise
Voice Category for PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise Fay Ocampo
2.
Jovy Hernandez delivering the
night’s opening remarks
3.
Filipina singer-songwriter Radha gave the
audience a powerful performance, featuring
songs from Adele and Aretha Franklin.
4.
Guests showing interest in the features
of PLDT Cloud CCaaS as they’re
extolled on-stage.
5.
Jay Gomez and Precy Katigbak
6.
Guests took the opportunity to mingle and
network during the event, which included
some of the country’s most influential figures
in the BPO and ICT industry, including
President and CEO of PLDT and
SMART Napoleon Nazareno.
7.
Erwin Sanchez, Quiel Delgado, Teng Tanael,
Boy Castañeda and Ino Mandapat
8.
Jojo Gendrano, Pong Magpayo
and Fred King
9.
Jovy Hernandez, Fred Chua
and Michael Conroy
10. Howard Lee giving the audience an insightful
look into the rise of cloud technology.
11. Jon Cervantez, Mitch Locsin, Jun Yupitun
and Raymond Lacdao
12. Stephen Misa, Steven Wan
and Kent de la Calzada
10
11
12
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
47
A Future Up In the
Clouds
The PLDT Cloud portfolio continues
to expand with new solutions
The cloud is getting bigger.
More and more enterprises are embracing
cloud computing as part of their IT strategy
due to its unparalleled agility, flexibility, and
overall cost-effectiveness. The cloud makes
perfect sense for today’s ever changing, moremobile business landscape. In fact, Gartner has
given a very optimistic forecast with regards to
the cloud, stating that projected cloud spending
for the Philippines exponentially increase by
2014. They further emphasized the cloud’s
48
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
positive impact by stating that the cloud will
become the bulk of new IT spend in two years.
Understanding that enterprises are now
more ready to embrace the cloud, PLDT has
expanded its PLDT Cloud portfolio with three
(3) new solutions: the PLDT Cloud Platform
as a Service (PaaS), the PLDT Cloud Unified
Communications as a Service (UCaaS), and the
recently-launched PLDT Cloud Contact Center
as a Service (CCaaS).
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
49
Developing, Deploying, and
Delivering Better Applications
with PLDT Cloud PaaS
PLDT Cloud PaaS situates itself as
the perfect in-between to the PLDT Cloud
IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) and the
PLDT Cloud SaaS (Software as a Service).
True to its name, PLDT Cloud PaaS
gives enterprise developers a cloud-based
platform to build and develop applications
that fits their needs.
Using any web browser, developers
can start making applications in PLDT
Cloud PaaS from scratch, or build
upon the numerous PLDT Cloud PaaS
application templates that address
numerous organizational-specific and
industry-specific needs. It can further
reduce development time with its “80%
drag-and-drop and 20% coding” model.
Furthermore, with PLDT Cloud PaaS,
enterprises will no longer need to
procure multiple machines and software
development licenses, making it a very
economical and appealing option with a
fixed per-user-per-month pricing model.
“PLDT Cloud IaaS gives enterprises
virtually-unlimited computing power
and PLDT Cloud SaaS, on the other
hand, provides access to ready-made
applications solutions,” PLDT FVP and
Head of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise
already receiving enthusiastic praise Jovy
Hernandez says. “PLDT Cloud PaaS is the
perfect in-between, as developers can build
on the numerous application templates
to further fine tune applications that can
perfectly fit their company’s unique needs.
Simply put, customized applications are
deployed faster at a more cost-effective
manner.”
Revolutionizing Unified
Communications with
PLDT Cloud UCaaS
Enterprises are expanding
beyond traditional office borders, with
telecommuting and bring-your-own-device
(BYOD) becoming much more prevalent.
With that, efficiently communicating with
team members is a must. Simple e-mail,
IM, and phone calls just aren’t enough.
50
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Understanding that companies now
need a better, more agile, yet cost-effective
communications platform, PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise introduces the country’s first
cloud-based Unified Communications
(UC) service: the PLDT Cloud UCaaS.
PLDT Cloud UCaaS (Unified
Communications as a Service) unifies IP
Telephony, Presence, Mobility, Unified
Messaging, and Collaboration applications
in a singular, cloud-based platform. It
enables enterprise to collaborate and stay
connected in and outside the office. PLDT
Cloud UCaaS negates the traditional
hardware requirements of other UC
solutions, as it does not need to install
bulky on-site private automatic branch
exchanges (PABX) and other equipment. It
also eliminates CAPEX as it is offered on a
pay-per-user-per-month pricing model.
PLDT Cloud UCaaS gives users
access to numerous features such as
single number reach, voicemail-to-email,
call grabber, Meet Me audio-conference,
presence & IM. Users can also easily
integrate PLDT Cloud UCaaS with their
existing IP phones for ease of adoption
as well as integrate PLDT Cloud UCaaS
features on Microsoft’s Outlook e-mail
application. They can also stay connected
beyond their IP phones and softphones
through the PLDT Cloud UCaaS
mobile application, which is available for
download at the Apple App Store and the
Google Play Store.
“PLDT Cloud UCaaS is the perfect
enterprise replacement to simple landlines
and PABX solutions,” Ms. Fay Ocampo,
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise Voice Category
Head, says. “It gives businesses of all sizes
the benefits of Unified Communications,
but with a faster deployment time and a
more cost-effective pricing model.”
Bringing Contact Centers
to a Whole New Level with
PLDT Cloud CCaaS
Without a doubt, the Philippines is
the contact center capital of the world: the
BPO employment rate grew 20% in 2012,
with a projected 49% growth in 2016. Yet,
even with this optimistic outlook, contact
center companies are looking to optimize
True Maverick
Stephen E. Dellutri was one of the first in
the world to envision an IP-based contact
center solution. Now, his CosmoCall
Universe is the most selected platform in
the world for the hosted contact center
offerings of tier-one service providers.
Partners in Innovation
operations amidst the ever-changing
global business climate. Answering that
need, PLDT ALPHA Enterprise recently
unveiled the country’s first cloud based
Contact Center solution in the form of the
PLDT Cloud CCaaS.
Successfully launched back in
October 2013, PLDT Cloud CCaaS gives
contact centers of all sizes access to vital
applications such as conversational and
PCI-compliant interactive voice response
(IVR), automatic call distribution (ACD),
reporting and call recording, easy access to
agent performance analytics, and seamless
integration of back-office applications
from multiple platforms. Since it is cloudbased, contact centers have access to these
solutions with minimal upfront CAPEX
and hardware footprint. Adding to its value
is the PLDT Cloud CCaaS cost-effective
pricing model with pay-per-minute-perapplication, pay-per-agent, and pay-perconcurrent agent options.
Already receiving enthusiastic praise
from numerous contact center executives
as well as the general tech community,
PLDT Cloud CCaaS introduces another
full-featured contact center suite: the
CosmoCall Universe.
CosmoCall Universe is a complete,
cloud-based contact center solution that
does not depend on any legacy customer
premise equipment to perform its
ePLDT VP and Group Head for
Solutions Consulting and Business
Operations Yohlie Jarlego and
CosmoCall Universe, CTO, founder
and creator Stephen E. Dellutri
represent PLDT’s and CosmoCom’s
partnership in bringing PLDT Cloud
CCaaS to a whole new level.
functions. Contact centers who subscribe
to the solution can fully utilize the system
in single, multi-site, and distributed
contact centers in a seamless way. “It is
generally simpler to install, configure,
operate and maintain,”Yohlie Jarlego,
ePLDT VP and Group Head Solutions
Consulting and Business Operations says.
The CosmoCall Universe solution
provides a suite of solutions that
complements and expands the existing
PLDT Cloud CCaaS portfolio. This
solution is an all in one virtual contact
center suite covering Multi-channel IP
ACD, Universal Queuing, Self-service
IVR, Outbound Dialing and Recording
and Supervisor Quality Monitoring.
Changing the Game
with Visual IVR
The most recent addition to the
CosmoCall Universe suite is its Visual
IVR solution, which according to Stephen
E. Dellutri, co-founder and developer
of CosmoCall Universe, represents, “A
great evolution of the traditional IVR
that leverages the capabilities of mobile
devices.” Visual IVR allows the user
to graphically see information on their
smart phones and make menu selections
on the screen instead of using “ancient”
mechanisms like dual-tone multifrequency signaling (DMTF).
“As mobile networks evolve and
ubiquitously start to support cost
effective LTE, high bandwidth, and
low latency data to users’ devices,”
Mr. Dellutri says, “we will start to see
more widespread use of real-time video
communication for a broader set of
contact center applications. Now that
more and more individuals have powerful
communications devices in their pockets,
it is important to make sure we can
continue to support the ways individuals
prefer to communicate.”
Visual IVR provides smartphones
users with a convenient menu driven
interface to the contact center’s IVR. “So
when you are reviewing a new purchase,
or attempting to troubleshoot something,
contact centers can send to their callers’
images related to what they are working
on to enhance the process,” Mr. Dellutri
says. It can create a positive effect on
revenue generation or have a more
immediate impact on the effectiveness
of support processes.
Envisioning a
Cloud-Powered Enterprise
“More and more, we now realize
the immediate and long-term impact
cloud computing has on the enterprise,”
Mr. Hernandez commented. “PLDT
Cloud PaaS, UCaaS, and CCaaS are just
the beginning. We are envisioning more
cloud-based enterprise solutions that can
enable companies to innovate at a faster,
smarter, and more cost-effective fashion.”
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
51
Page
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise
enables Miriam College’s
e-learning initiatives
Caught on
Citystate Savings Bank, Inc. taps
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise for Data
Connectivity Solutions
Citystate Savings Bank, Inc. (CSBI)
has tapped Philippine Long Distance
Telecommunications (PLDT) ALPHA
Enterprise to modernize interbranch
communication systems, as well as their
ATM and Core Banking Systems.
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise DSL
will interconnect the entire organization
in order to efficiently send and receive
emails, browse information, access webhosting, and enable remote connectivity
for telecommuting. Working in tandem
will be PLDT ALPHA Enterprise
IPVPN, providing CSBI, a secure
networking solution that will link all
branches and recovery sites to overall
banking systems.
52
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Miriam College, a premier Catholic
educational institution, has partnered with
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise to enable key
e-learning initiatives through a new highbandwidth Internet gateway and SMS
broadcast solutions. To seal their alliance, a
contract signing ceremony was recently held
at Miriam College’s storied Caritas Hall.
Miriam College is at the forefront
of the Philippines’ e-learning initiative,
working to bring a holistic, carefully-planned
digital strategy to fruition at all levels of
education. They have partnered with PLDT
for programs like incorporating the use of
tablet computers in their high school classes,
deploying high-bandwidth WiFi throughout
their entire campus, and using SMS broadcast
for important school announcements such as
class cancellations.
Dr. Rosario O. Lapus, President of
Miriam College, expressed her renewed
optimism during the contract signing: “We
want to bring the world inside our classrooms
for our students to work with – a world
that’s real and relevant to them. With this
partnership with PLDT ALPHA Enterprise,
we can do exactly that. We are growing and
expanding, not only here in our Diliman
campus but also in Nuvali where we are
opening a new branch in 2014. We are glad
CSBI has provided empowering
financial services to Filipino individuals,
families, and enterprises of all sizes
for over sixteen years. The company
currently has a network of twenty-six
branches strategically located within
Metro Manila and in provinces such as
Bulacan, Pangasinan, and Cebu.
“We, at CSBI would like to focus
on our core business—banking. And as
we grow and continuously improve our
operational efficiency requirements in
meeting customer demands, we are glad
that PLDT ALPHA Enterprise is our
expert ICT partner, our trusted partner
to handle our ever-changing ICT needs,”
says Jeffrey T. Tantiado, Citystate Savings
Bank, Inc. VP & Head, Information
Technology Department.
“We are very grateful for Citystate
Savings Bank, Inc. (CSBI) in entrusting
us with their ICT needs,” says PLDT
FVP and Head of PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise Jovy Hernandez. “We are
excited to see how our expertise and
solutions can empower the organization
further towards continued banking
excellence.”
Seen in photo from left to right: PLDT Corporate
Business Head Jeff Mendoza, PLDT VP and
Corporate Relationship Management Head
Jay Lagdameo, PLDT FVP and Head of PLDT
ALPHA Enterprise Jovy Hernandez, Citystate
Savings Bank, Inc. President Atty. Rey Delfin,
Citystate Savings Bank, Inc. VP and Information
Technology Department Head Jeffrey Tantiado,
and PLDT Corporate Relationship Manager
Brandel Manalastas
that PLDT will be accompanying us on our
journey.”
Jovy Hernandez, PLDT FVP and Head
of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise and SMART
Enterprise Sales and Marketing, replied:
“PLDT ALPHA Enterprise partners with all
the top corporations of this country, and it
gives us special pride to work with esteemed
academic institutions such as Miriam College.
We know this is where the uplifting of a
nation begins.”
He also spoke of the evolution of the
larger role PLDT ALPHA Enterprise now
assumes as a partner for business. “More than
your telephone company, PLDT is now your
total solutions provider, and we’re here to
enable you with the ICT solutions that
best fit your needs.”
Seen in photo, from left to right: PLDT VP &
Head of Corporate Relationship Management
Jay Lagdameo, PLDT FVP and Head of PLDT
ALPHA Enterprise and SMART Enterprise Sales
and Marketing Jovy Hernandez, Miriam College
President Dr. Rosario Lapus, and Miriam College
Vice President for Development and Resource
Management Rose Bautista jointly complete the
ceremonial contract signing.
PLDT enables enhanced
connectivity for
UST community
The University of Santo Tomas
(UST), through its IT Department
the Santo Tomas e-Service Providers
(STePs), has tapped PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise to deliver key business
solutions that will enhance and
strengthen connections within the UST
community. By switching to PLDT’s
premium Internet service i-Gate, UST
will enable its faculty and students,
as well as alumni located both in
the Philippines and abroad, to easily
access UST's online resources and be
updated on the latest university news
and events. Future enhancements of
communications systems are also in
the university’s agenda, with PLDT
undertaking these projects to ensure
improved service delivery for the
university’s constituency.
Photo shows (seated) Fr. Manuel F. Roux, O.P., UST Vice Rector for Finance/Treasurer, and Precy
Katigbak, PLDT AVP and Corporate Relationship Management Head with (standing from left) Carlo
D. Abiog, UST STePs Database Administrator; Cyd Catherine L. Cardozo, UST STePs Management
Applications and Admin Systems; Polly T. Blanco, UST STePs Assistant Director for Applications and
Software Development; Teresita C. Nabor, UST STePs Admin Information Systems Supervisor; Sebastian
Raymond A. Mendoza, UST STePs Director; Ben Melasa, PLDT Corporate Relationship Business Head;
Ma. Lourdes Mendoza, PLDT CapMan Manager; and Al Contreras, PLDT Relationship Manager.
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
53
PLDT co-celebrates Convergys
Philippines' Tenth Year
Anniversary
Leading telecommunications company
PLDT took the opportunity to formally
commend and celebrate the tenth anniversary
of its long-time partner, Convergys
Philippines. As PLDT’s corporate arm, PLDT
ALPHA Enterprise has been empowering
Convergys’ multiple sites since the founding
of Convergys' Philippine operations, with
top-class telecommunications solutions that
have helped Convergys rise to the top.
Convergys Philippines is the country’s
largest private employer, with over 37,000
employees and 22 sites to their name. As
part of Convergys, a leader in customer
management for over 30 years, Convergys
Philippines is a testament to Filipino skill,
talent, and expertise. Convergys currently
spans over 68 locations all over the globe,
with over two billion USD in revenue. The
largest part of its 89,000-person workforce
is located in the Philippines, which is
responsible for a large portion of Convergys'
overall capability.
PLDT Wins Regional Carrier
Ethernet Award for the
third year in a row
PLDT was recognized as the winner
of the prestigious Metro Ethernet
Forum (MEF) Carrier Ethernet Award
for Best Marketing Campaign for the
Asia-Pacific region. The judging panel
for the global and regional awards was
comprised of senior analysts from
IDC, Infonetics, Vertical Systems,
Gartner, Frost & Sullivan, and Ovum.
With this year’s achievement, PLDT
has held onto the “Best Marketing
in the Asia Pacific region” award for
three years straight, reflecting its drive
to promote the benefits of Ethernet
services to customers, and more
importantly, manifesting its commitment
to continuously elevating its Ethernet
products to world-standards.
Moreover, PLDT has the distinction
of being the only Philippine telco to be
55
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Ms. Marife Zamora, Convergys Managing
Director for the Asia-Pacific and EMEA
(Europe, Middle East, and Africa) regions,
spoke enthusiastically of the relationship
between PLDT and Convergys. “It's always
our philosophy as leaders in the business
to partner with other leaders in their own
industries. PLDT provides services and
solutions that are at par with global standards.
And over the years, we have established a
close working relationship – for example,
every time I go to Cincinnati, where
Convergys’ global headquarters are located, I
always run into a PLDT executive like [PLDT
EVP and Head of Enterprise, International
and Carrier Business] Eric Alberto.”
Mr. Orlando Nobello, Technology
Director at Convergys Philippines, added:
“[PLDT] provides us with our links to our
global data center and to the world. So they
need to be reliable and cost-effective. And
that’s what we’ve found with them as our
partner.”
In reply, Mr. Jovy Hernandez, PLDT
FVP and Head of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise,
said: “We are pleased to have been partners
with Convergys during their ten-year journey.
Companies like Convergys and other BPOs
among the three finalists for the Regional
Service Provider of the Year Award,
an accolade it has similarly achieved
for three years running. Apart from its
Ethernet capex investments, PLDT’s
world-class Ethernet capabilities are
drawn from having among the most
number of MEF Carrier Ethernet
Certified Professionals (CECP’s) in the
world and also from being only telco in
the world to have been Carrier Ethernet
2.0 for all eight Carrier Ethernet services.
PLDT was nominated as a finalist
for three of the four award categories.
In addition to the Best Marketing and
Regional Service Provider of the Year
categories, PLDT was also finalist for
the Best Wholesale Ethernet Service
category.
“Out of all the geographic regions,
APAC had the largest number of
companies competing in this year’s
awards program, so rising to the top of
this list is a great achievement,” said Nan
have helped put the Philippines on track to
become Asia’s next tiger economy.”
Convergys Philippines has multiple sites
located throughout the Philippine islands, a
ubiquitous sight in major business districts.
Convergys operates sites in Makati, Ortigas,
Baguio, Bacolod, and Cebu. In September
2013, it opened its latest site in Davao City.
Additionally, Convergys has announced plans
to expand in 8 new sites in Alabang, Bacolod,
Megamall, Libis, and Cebu.
Seen in photo above (L-R): Convergys Sr. Manager
Global Procurement Marion Hernandez, PLDT
ALPHA Enterprise Relationship Manager Luigi
Casas, Convergys Sr. Network Manager Hermie
Roque, Convergys Managing Director (Asia-Pacific
& EMEA) Marife Zamora, Convergys Technology
Director (APAC) Orlando Nobello, Convergys Global
Procurement Operations Manager Bel Cabel.
Chen, President of the MEF.
"PLDT’s initiative is integrated into
our overall customer-centric strategy:
to build unmatched capabilities, worldclass networks and services, to nurture
first-rate expertise, and to deliver
differentiated and impeccable service to
our customers," said Jovy Hernandez,
PLDT FVP and Head of PLDT ALPHA
Enterprise. "This translates into a better,
more reliable and top-notch experience
for our clients."
oming
C
&
COMING
GOING
In this section,
HOT JOE puts on its Tech
Forecaster hat and takes
a look at the future
Large-screen phones
In 2011, Samsung’s Galaxy Note,
with its then-revolutionary 5.3 inch
screen, stunned the world with its largescreened aesthetic. It was a daring move,
with few precedents and none in the
mainstream. But since then, the market
has demonstrated its definite liking for
so-called “phablet”-style phones. Other
handset manufacturers took note of the
Note, and there are now several makes
and models of large-screen phones on
the market. Samsung itself has introduced
two more large-screen models – the Mega
and the Grand – and most recently, Nokia
announced its first large-screen phone,
the 6-inch Lumia 1520. Dropping screen
prices, increased screen power efficiency
and battery life, and the multimediaheavy sophistication of modern-day apps
Treehouses
It seems like that every child wishes
for a treehouse of their own at some point
in their lives – an arboreal, leafy, kidsonly refuge from the tyranny of adults,
perched up in the sky. And it seems many
adults never quite outgrow this desire,
because “treehouses for adults”, “treehouse
hotels,” and “luxury treehouses” are all
fast-rising trends. Treehouse coffee table
books and treehouse how-to manuals are
brightly-colored draws at the bookstores.
With luxury treehouse hotels like the Tsala
Treetop Lodge in South Africa (featuring
stone fireplaces, private decks, and infinity
pools), firms specializing in custom-built
treehouses like the Treehouse Workshop,
DIY individual projects like the mysterious
Hemloft in British Columbia, Canada,
today’s world is quite welcoming to anyone
craving the close-to-nature, delightfully
childlike experience of a treehouse.
Hyperlocal sourcing
You may have heard of the new
environmentally-friendly – and gourmetfriendly – trend of local sourcing: where
ingredients and resources are only
taken from local environs and imported
items are shunned. This cuts down on
transport costs, emphasizes freshness
and avoiding reliance on canning,
freezing, and preservatives, and focuses
on seasonal specialties. This movement
is taken to a higher level with hyperlocal
sourcing. Hyperlocal refers to on-site
56
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
food production – for example, getting
vegetables from a rooftop garden or
herbs from a hydroponics-based “herb
wall”. Examples of restaurants embracing
“hyperlocal sourcing” include the Table
Café in London, the Le Virtu and Osteria
from Philadelphia, and the O'Hare
International Airport, where a 930-squarefoot aeroponic urban garden in Terminal
3 produces sweet basil, Swiss chard, green
beans and peppers.
The technologies that
are about to make a big
splash in your world
mean that customers are more likely to
demand lots of screen real-estate; and
that manufacturers are increasingly able to
meet that desire. Perhaps the most telling
sign of large-screen popularity comes
from Dockers – the world-famous brand
of khaki pants recently announced that the
company reworked the size of its pants
pockets "to accommodate the growing size
of smartphones."
GoPRO
GoPro is a brand of high-definition
personal cameras. They are known for
being lightweight and mountable in
unusual places such as outside planes,
cars, or boats, or on people’s chests,
heads, and wrists. Originally created
by Nick Woodman because of his
background in surfing and his desire to
film himself mid-action, the little actionoriented camera has risen in a mere
decade of existence to become the bestselling camera in the world. Its ease-ofuse, high-quality features in a lightweight
package, and – perhaps most important
– rugged durability and mountability –
have made it very popular. Mounted, a
GoPro camera can capture dynamic shots
and footage from novel, unusual angles
and viewpoints. In today’s photo/videoheavy world, the advantage of a GoPro is
decisive.
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
57
COMING
The technologies that
are about to make a big
splash in your world
GOING
What things are
on the way out
Croissant Donuts
Started by the original Cronut™ by
Chef Dominique Ansel of New York
City, hybrid croissant-donuts have swept
the planet like a buttery, delicious virus.
The Cronut™ is beloved of celebrities
and New Yorkers, with supply strictly
restricted to two per customer – although
you may have to line up at 4AM to obtain
your allotted two. There is a waiting list
for six-cronut boxes, but there’s a monthslong backlog. People have been known
to try and bribe bakery workers and to
root around in the trash for the remnants
of a Cronut™. Of course, the original
Cronut™ is trademarked to its originator,
but that hasn’t stopped doissants, fauxnuts,
cro-nots, and crumbnuts from popping up
all over the place. Combining the richness
of croissants with the sweetness of donuts,
Manila has seen an invasion of the pastries,
with the sweets appearing in a wide variety
of establishments ranging from Krispy
Kreme to Wildflour Café and Café Jeepney
at the Manila Intercontinental Hotel.
repurposed Public Telephones
While public payphones have
declined in relevance with the rise of
the smartphone, that doesn’t mean the
underlying infrastructure is similarly
obsolete. Recently, New York City held a
design competition for ways to revitalize
and upgrade the city's 11,000 payphones.
The winning entries include concepts
like air pollution sensors, solar-powered
cell phone chargers, pizoelectric pressure
plates for energy conversion, and
information screens with always-online
access to relevant data. The city has
already converted some payphones into
WiFi hotspots.
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Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Glaciers
Like the super-typhoons that have
been hammering the Philippines over the
past few years, the melting of the world's
glaciers have been seen as significant
evidence of climate change. Glacier
retreat – the recession or decrease in size
of a glacier – is an increasingly common
phenomenon. In Montana’s Glacier
National Park, the number of sizable
glaciers has dropped from 150 in 1910
to less than 25 today. In Wyoming, the
44 glaciers in the Wind River Range have
only half their original area – losing all
this mass in the last forty years. Glacial
retreat has also been seen in locations such
as the Andes of South America and the
Himalayas in Asia. The melting of glaciers
is a concern for two major reasons. The
first is that when land-based ice melts, the
sea level rises – potentially flooding coastal
cities, such as the cities of our island
nation, and contributing to more powerful
storms. The second is that removing
snow and ice cover on land leaves behind
a darker surface which increases sunlight
absorption – beginning a cycle of everincreasing warming.
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
59
What things are
on the way out
GOING
GOING
What things are
on the way out
Blockbuster
At one point, the blue-and-gold
signage of a Blockbuster store was
synonymous with home theater
entertainment. Founded in the
1980s, it revolutionized the video
rental industry with its wide range of
video entertainment, demographicbased store selections, and efficient
franchising. At its peak in 2004,
Blockbuster had up to 60,000
employees and more than 9,000
stores.
However, as a journalist glibly
quipped, “the Internet Killed the
Video Store.” Due to competition
from online-based video streaming
services such as Netflix and Redbox,
Blockbuster began losing its
primacy and filed for bankruptcy
on September 23, 2010. A glimmer
of hope shone in 2011, when the
company and its remaining 1,700
stores were bought by satellite
television provider Dish Network
at auction. Still, in November 2013,
it was announced that all remaining
company-owned stores would close,
as well as its DVD-by-mail service.
Skeumorphism
Skeumorphism is a design
principle where elements are
designed to resemble or mimic other
elements. Today, that usually refers
to the common occurrence of digital
elements designed to mimic the reallife counterparts whose functions
they share. For example: recycle bins
on desktops as computer interfaces,
envelope icons for email, and floppy
disk icons for saving. Skeumorphism
was championed by Steve Jobs,
who famously believed in keeping
user interfaces friendly to complete
novices, and thought that familiar
designs would help.
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Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Nowadays, however, with more
and more people comfortable with
their digital lifestyles, skeumorphism
is becoming less popular as a design
principle. Windows began abandoning
it with their daring and revolutionary
“Metro” tile-based interface, and
Apple soon followed suit with their
flatter iOS 7. Gone are the leather
flourishes and drop shadows – in fact,
the head of the iOS7 project, Craig
Federighi, joked: "No virtual cows
were harmed in the making of this
[new iOS].”
the Original iPhone
As Apple's latest iPhones, the
colorful iPhone 5c and the fingerprintscanning iPhone 5s, begin to hit the
market, the one that started it all – the
so-called “Jesus phone” - has been
quietly phased into Apple's official
“obsolete” classification – except for in
areas where they are legally obligated to
call it “vintage”. (Meaning that owners
can still obtain parts and service.) Still,
the original iPhone has officially been
declared obsolete, meaning that “Apple
has discontinued all hardware service for
obsolete products with no exceptions.
Service providers cannot order parts for
obsolete products.” It seems so long
ago, yet so recently, that the original
iPhone was first unveiled by Steve Jobs,
in a stunning display of technological
feats and stylish glamour that completely
eclipsed anything else currently in the
mainstream market. That original iPhone,
with its astonishing full-touchscreen
interface, engendered both love and
hate, but in both cases the reaction was
immediate and powerful. The iPhone
defined the following generations of the
smartphone market, and every model
today owes a great deal of its design and
functionality to that first unveiling. But
anyone still holding onto one needs to
take care – it will be difficult to get that
unit repaired now.
2007-2013
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
61
Sleeper HIT
Removing human
From The Equation
The Incredible Potential of
Machine-to-Machine technology
T
he past few decades have seen
incredible strides in the development
of ways for people to communicate
with each other. We have moved from handdelivered letters to telegrams to telephone
calls to our current email, video conferencing
and instant messaging solutions. It has
never been easier and quicker to reach out
to another person than it is today. With a
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise solution, backed
by a billion-peso fiber optic and cable
infrastructure, a busy executive can press
a single button and have a face-to-face
discussion with several people via video
conferencing; or exchange instant messages
with a contact at the other end of the globe;
or arrange for every one of the thousand
employees under his leadership to be
informed via text messages about changes in
schedule.
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Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
These solutions have changed the face
and speed of business all over the world,
but they are all confined to interactions and
communications between human actors.
Now the next wave of development, many
believe, is in communications that involve
no human beings at all. In short, experts
have been predicting the rise of machine-tomachine – or M2M – which is the flow of
data in between machines.
There are a multitude of M2M-type
setups. It may be wired, or it may be wireless.
It could involve multiple devices reporting
to a central hub, or it might mean a single
link between two machines. However, there
are four basic stages for an M2M solution:
the collection of data; the transmission of
selected data through a communications
network; assessment of the data; and
response to this data.
Much of the M2M information is
delivered in the form of sparse data from
sensors. Each result may be very small, worth
only kilobytes, and useless when considered
alone. But modern-day telecommunications
networks allow vast amounts of these tiny
data packets to be sent to facilities able to
analyze and produce actionable information
out of this.
You can already see M2M applications
in things like Meralco's power-meters,
which automatically report usage data for
maximizing efficiency. In the future, this may
include heart monitors that automatically tell
a doctor when a patient needs to come in for
a checkup, or cars that automatically report
their position and condition to authorities in
the event of an accident.
The potential of M2M implementations
is very great. In fact, Machina Research,
a trade group for mobile device makers,
predicts that within the next eight years, the
number of connected devices using M2M
will be more than 50 billion worldwide.
And PLDT ALPHA Enterprise, through
SMART Enterprise, has recently rolled out
three major M2M applications for the use of
their corporate clients. These are end-to-end
services, with all components provided by
SMART Enterprise. The solutions include
SMART M2M Loyalty
SMART M2M Pharma
SMART M2M Pay
SMART M2M Sales
devices, connectivity, applications, and
technical support. These three solutions are
created specifically for the enterprise market,
addressing specific pain points through the
power of M2M solutions.
PLDT ALPHA Enterprise, through
its SMART Enterprise-powered mobile
network, has created a complete ecosystem
of M2M applications, allowing clients to
enjoy the autonomous ease and richer data
of M2M without having to worry about
costly rollouts or difficult maintenance. They
have already launched industry-defining
solutions such as SMART M2M Pharma,
which enables more nimble, more informed
management for pharmaceutical sales forces
with its micro- and macro-enhanced control
over pharmaceutical companies’ workflows,
and SMART M2M Merchandising and
SMART M2M Loyalty, a suite of mobile
solutions designed to simplify data-gathering
processes and generate real-time accurate
reports for tasks such as stock inventory and
streamlined rewards programmes for loyal
customers.
Now SMART Enterprise is expanding
its offerings with three new solutions,
designed with the same attention to detail
and usability that are the earmarks of the
previous solutions.
SMART M2M Credit is a mobile work
cue tracking and response tool for Banking
and Financial institutions. They are designed
to increase the productivity and efficiency
of Credit Investigators. It features a design
based on industry best-practices, secure
log-in with triple access verification, and
two-way messaging capability to reduce
communication costs. Understanding that
every organization has different needs and
requirements, PLDT ALPHA Enterprise
was careful to make the application
fully customizable without additional
development and related fees.
SMART M2M Sales is a Customer
Relationship Management tool. It provides
relevant information to field personnel
and automated sales processes to enhance
customer experience using an enabled mobile
device. It offers sales call tracking, progress
updates, team coordination, inventory checks
and forecasting, real-time information on
SMART M2M Merchandising
SMART M2M Credit
sales stages, and performance monitoring. It
can take feeds from social networks and keep
customer profiles up-to-date. It can allow
users to share files and documents, and offer
enterprise data analytics.
SMART M2M Pay is a Mobile Payment
Solution running on Android and iOS
devices. It gives businesses the ability to
accept payments from credit or debit cards.
The solution is a complete bundle with
devices, connectivity and applications all
included. SMART M2M Pay gives its users a
faster, more flexible transaction experience,
with its shorter authentication process
and independence from wired connection
requirements. This results in greater
customer satisfaction, and a greater ability
to accommodate their impulse purchases
whether they have cash or not.
With SMART Enterprise’s M2M
solutions, companies can get started with
the M2M revolution in an easy, expertlymanaged manner – and not risk being left
behind by the rising trends.
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
63
New year
traditions
Chile
Korea
Japan
Koreans actually calculate their ages based on
the number of New Years they’ve been through,
instead of on birthdays. Everyone becomes a
year older on the Korean New Year's Day!
Chileans celebrate the New Year next to the
gravesides of deceased family members. This
is done to include all family members in the
New Year's festivities.
In Japan, the New Year is welcomed in by the
joyano-kane (the "night-watch bell"), which is a
series of exactly 108 peals. They believe these
free the faithful from the 108 "earthly desires"
of the Buddhist canon.
India
In northern India, people wear red, pink, purple
or white flowers to celebrate the Hindu New
Year. Hindus in central India display orange
flags, flying them from the top of buildings. In
southern India, mothers put food, flowers, and
small gifts on a special tray. Children are led to
the tray with their eyes closed.
Philippines
Filipinos like to wear polka dots and have lots of
coins around at the New Year – round shapes
signify prosperity.
Filipino children will jump twelve times at midnight
on New Year’s Eve to increase their height.
United States
In the US they believe that eating black-eyed
beans on New Year’s Eve is lucky.
64
HOT JOE takes a look at New Year
Traditions and Facts from all over the world
Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014
Koreans believe eating a bowl of rice cake soup
called ttokkuk on their New Year’s Day will add
an extra year to your life.
Spain
Spaniards will have 12 grapes, one for each
month of the coming New Year, during the
last 12 seconds of the year, being careful to
have a very round grape in their mouths at the
stroke of midnight. (This is a tradition that’s
been passed on to the Philippines)
Denmark
Old dishes are saved so Danes can throw
them at the doorstep of their friends on New
Year’s Eve. The more broken dishes on a
doorstep on New Year’s Day, the luckier the
house owner is.
China
The dragon and lion dances are a famous
part of the Chinese New Year Festival. The
sinuous dances are meant to bring good luck
– exactly as seeing a real dragon would bring.
Many cultures believe that
windows and doors should be
left open to let the old year out
and the new year in.
A lot of people avoid breaking
things and crying on New Year’s
Day lest that activity set the tone
for the next twelve months.
January is named for Janus, the
Roman god of beginnings and
transitions- and also of gates, doors,
passages, endings and time. He is
usually depicted as having two faces,
one face looking towards the future
and one looking at the past.
Auld Lang Syne means
“times long gone” or
“times gone by”.
Dec. 2013 - Jan. 2014
65
Say
Last
ALPHA's Award Winning Year
It’s only natural to assess the year gone by, to take stock of where
we’ve been and where we’re going, and 2013 was truly a remarkable
one. Bolstered by our recent Frost & Sullivan and Metro Ethernet
Forum nominations and wins, our world-class credentials in serving
interconnected global and local enterprises have been reaffirmed. To date,
we are the only Filipino service provider who can credibly claim a global
standard in delivering innovation and excellence in enterprise ICT.
This is a global standard we aim to apply to a wider and more
extensive portfolio of PLDT ALPHA Enterprise solutions and services.
We are hopeful that the enterprise market will know PLDT as a total
ICT provider, one who delivers an ALPHA-grade performance for every
enterprise need. From business inception, to growth, and to expansion
of presence and services, today any enterprise can look to only one single
point of ICT excellence: PLDT ALPHA Enterprise.
We’ve consolidated the ALPHA mission and vision and deepened
our role as your trusted expert end-to-end ICT partner. As a total service
provider, we’re committed to gleaning the insights in your respective
industries in configuring the solutions and services that result in your
competitive edge.
This was also PLDT’s 85th year, and we celebrated a history of
“Changing Lives” by presenting an even more compelling suite of
PLDT Cloud services, highlighted by the next evolutionary step in the
landline, PLDT Cloud UCaaS. For 2014, we plan to unveil even more
paradigm-shifting products and solutions that will live on the PLDT
Cloud, validating our claim for the cloud as an integral platform to make
enterprises lighter yet more powerful.
This year, we’ve also seen great tragedy and the blossoming of
a nationwide community spirit in the wake of that tragedy. Typhoon
Yolanda has wrought an unprecedented scale of damage and destruction
across the Central Visayas. We diverted and refocused essential funds
towards relief, recovery, hope, and most importantly business continuity.
One can expect no less of a Philippine business leader committed to
transforming lives. As we learn every day, it is a mission and role that
continues throughout.
I will be most honored to see you all next year, to continue our
partnership in developing Philippine society and enterprise. On behalf of
PLDT, I wish you the most meaningful and transformative of holidays.
Eric r. Alberto
EVP and Head of Enterprise,
International & Carrier Business
PLDT / SMART
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Dec. 2013 - JAN. 2014