It is reported that the Philippines has the second-highest in Asia when it comes to electricity rates, just next to Japan. The high cost of electricity is a problem that is to be tackled by the Department of Energy under the new administration. Meanwhile, a 2014 ADB report puts the country next to Indonesia in the places with high water tariffs.

What does this mean for us, especially those in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise industry? High cost of utilities caused by high demand and low supply means that we have to build more sources of energy or basins of water to supply the needs of the public.

Building more sources of water and energy will require money, land and human resources. There are other sources that are active, such as water treatment facilities and wind power plants, but these won't be enough as there will be more people in the future. There's a reason why some people are more happy to invest in companies related to utilities, as it is expected that these companies will build more sources of utilities.

Of course, these things will not just be the government's responsibility alone - we have a part on this. If we know the value of these utilities, we will then take care of it, especially in a country where it is a bit pricey. If the MSMEs have their own measures to conserve water and energy, the better.

Utilities are so valuable - just a blackout or a water or phone interruption will hamper sales and the delivery of services, and if you know the value of something, you will use it wisely.

There are lots of ideas and concepts on doing business in the Philippines and more at the 7th Philippine Business & Entrepreneurs' Expo this August 26 to 28 at the SM Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City. You can talk with fellow entrepreneurs, or just observe and gain knowledge to polish your business and expand it further.


This event is organized by business event organizer Ex-Link Management & Marketing Services Corporation. For inquiries and partnerships, call telephone numbers 633-01-53, 643-3887 or email info@exlinkevents.com. Ex-Link Events is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The 2016 Customer LoveFest welcomes the Founder and President of AllFamous Digital Ms. Pauline Pangan as one of its speakers.

Ms. Pauline Pangan's Allfamous Digital has served big clients such as local companies TV5 Network, Inc., Meralco, BPI, Cebu Pacific and international companies Malaysia Airlines, Qantas and Changi Airport Group. The company she founded is among those that are accredited by CRM provider SalesForce to provide technical support for their Marketing Cloud products.

See her and other international speakers at the Customer Love Fest happening at the New World Makati Hotel this October 20 and 21, 2016.



The Customer Love Fest will feature key resource speakers and the latest concepts in Customer Experience Management, Customer Relationship Management, and Customer Loyalty and Rewards. Join in on the fun and don't be left out.


This event is produced and organized by Ex-Link Management and Marketing Services Corporation, a business organizer in the Philippines. 

To be part of the Customer Love Fest, call telephone numbers 633-01-53, 643-38-87, mobile number 0920-981-4376 or send an email at info@exlinkevents.com. Ex-Link Events is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Today is a public holiday, as declared by the Philippine government, in observance of the Feast of Ramadan or Eid'l Fitr. Eid'l Fitr is celebrated by the Islamic faith three days after the end of the month of their fasting (Ramadan).

Speaking of the Islamic faith, they are the second largest population in the country, with 94% of them living in the southern part of the Philippines, especially in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) region, according to the data of the Philippine Statistics Authority (then called the National Statistics Office).

Imagine that you are in the food service industry and you want to cater to people of various cultures, including the Islamic faith. You will then research about their dietary laws, and why they do what they do. This is what you've found:

• They don't eat swine (pork) meat
• They don't eat meat of animals that has felt pain before being slaughtered, or has died of themselves
• They don't eat blood (thus they have a method of slaughtering that is based on their Quran called Dhabīḥah)
• They don't eat meat dedicated to other than Allah (God in Arabic)
• They don't drink alcoholic beverages
• They have a certification called "Halal," where the produce has been processed with the Islamic demographic in mind making it safe to eat by their standards.

After knowing this, you start to ask your friends who are Muslims what to do next so that you can cater to them. If your business caters to a wide variety of cultures, not just Islam, you will take consideration of the processes they do and the rules that they follow. Having a product or service that caters to, and respect different cultures is appreciated by your target market, so better think about the possibilities.

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There are lots of ideas and concepts on doing business in the Philippines at the 7th Philippine Business & Entrepreneurs' Expo this August 26 to 28 at the SM Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City. You can talk with fellow entrepreneurs, or just observe and gain knowledge to polish your business and expand it further.


This event is organized by business event organizer Ex-Link Management & Marketing Services Corporation. For inquiries and partnerships, call telephone numbers 633-01-53, 643-3887 or email info@exlinkevents.com. Ex-Link Events is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

It's the year 2016. Condominiums are booming around the metro and nearby areas, and one of the challenges that marketers are having is how to actually sell the units. The tried-and-tested method of setting up booths in high-traffic locations are still applicable but yet ignored, and so they thought of other ideas to make sealing deals easier.

There are major condominium developers that are including the "Experience" vibe in their methods, wherein they invite potential buyers to dinners, and even concerts - a major developer has done a concert with a notable singer-songwriter, in fact.

By applying the "Experience," these developers are making the buyers more enticed to buy a condominium unit from them. There is no public information on how effective this method is, but this innovation aims to expand the target market by providing something that is unique and bundling it with the elevator pitch of selling a condo unit.

Notable, there are two developers that are doing this out front, and we are expecting other developers to follow suit.

Get to know the latest updates and insights on Customer Love at the Customer LoveFest, which will happen at the New World Makati Hotel this October 20 and 21, 2016.

The Customer Love Fest will feature key resource speakers and the latest concepts in Customer Experience Management, Customer Relationship Management, and Customer Loyalty and Rewards. Join in on the fun and don't be left out.


This event is produced and organized by Ex-Link Management and Marketing Services Corporation, a business organizer in the Philippines. 

To be part of the Customer Love Fest, call telephone numbers 633-01-53, 643-38-87, mobile number 0920-981-4376 or send an email at info@exlinkevents.com. Ex-Link Events is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

We've referred to earlier reports from the Philippine Statistics Authority on the tourism industry's contribution to the country's gross domestic product, which we can consider as well as the income generated by the country through its manpower.

This video gets in the details of Tourism Industry's "Big Chunk" that it has contributed to the growth of the country's income last year, and this is a must-see for those who want to take a step in the business of tourism.


There are lots of ideas and concepts on doing business in the Philippines at the 7th Philippine Business & Entrepreneurs' Expo this August 26 to 28 at the SM Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City. You can talk with fellow entrepreneurs, or just observe and gain knowledge to polish your business and expand it further.


This event is organized by business event organizer Ex-Link Management & Marketing Services Corporation. For inquiries and partnerships, call telephone numbers 633-01-53, 643-3887 or email info@exlinkevents.com. Ex-Link Events is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

It's 2016. The word "startup" no longer applies to technology companies, and even some bigshot companies are now thinking like a startup. Design and appearance has evolved back to basics. Everything is connected.

As everything steps up, you and your workplace should do so as well, and here are three things you need to consider in innovating it:

• Know the latest trends. Knowledge is key when it comes to turning your business to a different direction, so read on the latest customer, employee and business trends to add to your knowledge. Get the concepts on the latest technology, visit expos and conferences, listen to resource speakers, so on and so forth.
• Observe your company's behavior. Your business' culture defines its personality, and if your business has a culture that you think is regressing nowadays, you need to step up and make your employees more alive through motivation and positive forward-thinking concepts.
• Build a transition plan. This is important especially if you are letting a new concept to your employees in and even to yourself. Start by letting everyone understand what the business is heading to in the future, and then show applicable proof/s that the direction will lead everyone to the goal. Once that's done, start changing the mindset of everyone gradually. This might take long (but not too long), but everyone will bear the fruits of a passionate workforce.

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There are lots of ideas and concepts on doing business in the Philippines at the 7th Philippine Business & Entrepreneurs' Expo this August 26 to 28 at the SM Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City. You can talk with fellow entrepreneurs, or just observe and gain knowledge to polish your business and expand it further.


This event is organized by business event organizer Ex-Link Management & Marketing Services Corporation. For inquiries and partnerships, call telephone numbers 633-01-53, 643-3887 or email info@exlinkevents.com. Ex-Link Events is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The 2016 Customer LoveFest welcomes AudioWAV Media Inc.'s Mr. Jose Mario "JJ" Sison.

AudioWAV takes the lead in sensory branding. If you come inside a store or a mall and hear the background music, or get a hint of the distinct smell that goes with the brand, chances are they did it. Mr. Sison is a Director for one of AudioWAV's business units.

See him and other international speakers at the Customer Love Fest happening at the New World Makati Hotel this October 20 and 21, 2016.

The Customer Love Fest will feature key resource speakers and the latest concepts in Customer Experience Management, Customer Relationship Management, and Customer Loyalty and Rewards. Join in on the fun and don't be left out.


This event is produced and organized by Ex-Link Management and Marketing Services Corporation, a business organizer in the Philippines. 

To be part of the Customer Love Fest, call telephone numbers 633-01-53, 643-38-87, mobile number 0920-981-4376 or send an email at info@exlinkevents.com. Ex-Link Events is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Now that we're almost days away to a new presidency, the hopes of putting the country into a Federal state of government (if allowed by the congress) is coming to us. Nevertheless, with all the stress in the metro and the moves of various companies to relocate their sites outside of it, you should follow the same.

There's a lot of benefits in setting up your business outside of the metro, such as:

• Ease of access. You won't have to stay in traffic for two hours just to get to your office - plus points if you already have a home nearby, or better, you have a home-office setup.
• New customers, new behaviors to observe. If you think you know how your target customers behave, you're wrong. In every place, there's set of customers with different behavior, with different needs and wants, so it depends on the environment your business is into. Closely observing these behaviors will add more to your decision-making knowledge. Say, if a client gets to you and asks help to you, you know what you will answer. 
• New opportunities. Sure, you have to keep up with your target market, but that is the challenge. You can't take a bigshot coffee chain to a place where there's a few who can buy it, but you can size it down to reach your audience further.
• You got there first. Being the first in that area is a struggle, but you can put that short-term business into long-term with sheer dedication, and perseverance. If you were able to pull that off, chances are your business will be the first thing that your audience will recommend to.

If you are setting up a business in the countryside, there's definitely risks to take; but with risks comes opportunities to look further to accomplish your goals. The government support is there, the opportunity to serve your market is there, you just have to take the first step.

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There are lots of ideas and concepts on doing business in the Philippines at the 7th Philippine Business & Entrepreneurs' Expo this August 26 to 28 at the SM Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City. You can talk with fellow entrepreneurs, or just observe and gain knowledge to polish your business and expand it further.


This event is organized by business event organizer Ex-Link Management & Marketing Services Corporation. For inquiries and partnerships, call telephone numbers 633-01-53, 643-3887 or email info@exlinkevents.com. Ex-Link Events is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The 2016 Customer LoveFest welcomes LOFT Innovation Fellow Mr. Philipp Kristian Diekhöner.

An emerging innovation leader and expert in building trust and value in the digital age, Mr. Diekhöner is an startup series organizer who has experience in management consulting and has helped establish financial services innovation activities in Asia.

He also shares his insight on print and online publications such as Esquire Magazine, E27 and Marketing Magazine among others.


See him and other international speakers at the Customer Love Fest happening at the New World Makati Hotel this October 20 and 21, 2016.

The Customer Love Fest will feature key resource speakers and the latest concepts in Customer Experience Management, Customer Relationship Management, and Customer Loyalty and Rewards. Join in on the fun and don't be left out.


This event is produced and organized by Ex-Link Management and Marketing Services Corporation, a business organizer in the Philippines. 

To be part of the Customer Love Fest, call telephone numbers 633-01-53, 643-38-87, mobile number 0920-981-4376 or send an email at info@exlinkevents.com. Ex-Link Events is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

After all the good news that we've had a couple of weeks ago, we will face the biggest bad news that we've encountered by far this year, and that is when the United Kingdom of Great Britain has decided to leave the European Union (EU) just last week.

Great Britain has been part of the Union for 43 years. As part of the EU, the country takes part in its trade agreements. The "Brexit," as they call it, has brought in panic among investors, as it gets Great Britain back to scratch, leaving its residents, immigrants, investors and all worrying about their future.

What's worse, is that it seems the promises of leaving the UK will not be upheld at all, as news reports show that the ones who were leading the campaign had a major miscommunication with each other. The issue of immigration was among the reasons why the majority of the country's older generation has voted to leave the Union. The country's prime minister, David Cameron, has declared his resignation effective October.


Meanwhile, in Asia, the Japanese Yen is being monitored closely for developments, as it is said that the Yen is a safe spot. The Philippines is not safe, and will be affected by the Brexit. At the moment, the US Dollar is at 47 pesos, compared to the exchange rate of 44.88 pesos last June 18. This has a big impact on Filipinos who are working or residing in the UK as well, according to an economic expert.

Now, there are reports that its citizens are regretting the vote, and there is now a movement to nullify it. One thing is for sure at the moment: This news should be observed closely, as it has already affected the EU, the Euro, and even other countries. The Philippines, whether we like it or now, will feel the effects of the Brexit, especially those who rely on the Great Britain Sterling (GBP, also known as the British Pound).

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There are lots of ideas and concepts on doing business in the Philippines at the 7th Philippine Business & Entrepreneurs' Expo this August 26 to 28 at the SM Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City. You can talk with fellow entrepreneurs, or just observe and gain knowledge to polish your business and expand it further.


This event is organized by business event organizer Ex-Link Management & Marketing Services Corporation. For inquiries and partnerships, call telephone numbers 633-01-53, 643-3887 or email info@exlinkevents.com. Ex-Link Events is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.