It's more than a month away before the 7th Philippine Business and Entrepreneurs' Expo, and we have updates for everyone about this annual event.

First up, we are on Eventbrite, which means that you can check up on our events and even register your visit online to avoid the hassle of staying in the line for a long time. The three PBEX 2016 conferences are live on Eventbrite, and you can also register your visit on this page.

ASEAN MSME Business Summit 2016 (August 26, Friday)

Discuss the latest trends and best practices for the MSMEs in the ASEAN region

The ASEAN MSME Business Summit aims to bring together key resource speakers from various parts of the ASEAN region to give insights to the Filipino MSME community in time for the country's transition to the ASEAN Economic Community.

Among our key resource speakers is from Vietnam, who will talk about the opportunities in Trade and Investment in the said country. Take note, Vietnam is dubbed as an "emerging market standout" by Bloomberg, an that is a great opportunity for those who would like to expand their businesses internationally. We'll be providing more information in the next few weeks.

Business Readiness & Disaster Preparedness Summit 2016 (August 27, Saturday)

Prepare your business for possible incoming financial or natural disasters

The Business Readiness and Disaster Preparedness Summit aims to bring together key resource speakers to provide tips on how Filipino Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) should prepare their business for possible setbacks that could hamper their businesses.

Our industry partner for this summit is the Philippine Marketing Association, composed of experienced marketing professionals, and they'll be sharing insights, ideas and lessons on preparing your business for possible disasters.

MSME Success Forum (August 28, Sunday)

Get insights on the best practices of successful Filipino MSMEs

The MSME Success Forum aims to bring together key resource speakers to share insights and tips on how Filipino Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) can improve their businesses. Prior to this, a meetup of MSME entrepreneurs is set to be held before the Forum, so you are free to get ideas from them.


There's a lot of slots now, but these slots might get occupied - if we were you, go register here and mark the calendar. FREE Online registration is up until August 8, 2016.  Program highlights are subject to change without prior notice.

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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 retail mentor and adviser Mr. Darrell Wisbey! Mr. Wisbey has experienced the Asian retail market for two decades.

He has held senior executive roles in Merchandising, Store Operations and Marketing in Specialty Stores, Department Stores, Mass Merchants, Hypermarkets and Supermarkets and Convenience Stores in Japan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, India and the Philippines.

As a "career retailer who is passionate about delivering success," Mr. Wisbey will be bringing his insights on retailing in the 5th Customer Loyalty Conference and Expo at the 2016 customer LoveFest. See him and other international speakers 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.

The twin activity of the 23rd National Retail Conference, Stores Asia Expo 2016, is set to bring another milestone in the Philippine retail industry!

As the only exhibit dedicated to retail suppliers in the Philippines, the Stores Asia Expo expects 3,000 visitors in the country's only focused and dedicated event for retail suppliers, which includes top executives from retail businesses. Retail Solutions, E-Commerce & Mobile Commerce, Shopfit & Stores Design, Digital Marketing and Retail Marketing are the segments that this event tackles every year.


With the overall theme of "Shifting Gears in Retail: Consumption in the Digital Age," the National Retail Conference will be bringing in the innovations that has set the trends in retail. Aside from marketing professionals and retail business owners, everyone is also welcome to see the activities, which include talks from various companies.

Coming to this event is FREE, and if you want to avoid going in the queue at door, you can register below!


Stores Asia Expo 2016 will be held at the SMX Convention Center - Manila inside the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City this August 10 to 11. Updates on the Expo and the 23rd National Retail Conference are posted on the official Facebook page of the Philippine Retailers Association.

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

When we talk about Social Media, it's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, so on and so forth. Most of us just want to share the best moments of their life online, but only a few of us know the value of social media. Just how valuable is your social media profile?

• It is your gateway to fame - 15 seconds is all it takes for someone to notice others, so what if those 15 minutes were spent on doing brilliantly crazy things, or saying things that hit the guts and make sense? 
• It is your resume - Even if you're not in the world's largest professional social networking site, your social media profile is your resume. Nowadays, recruiters add this into the things they need to see before getting hired (or fired).
• Companies use it; heck, even the government uses it - You can connect directly to different agencies or companies which has their own Facebook or Twitter accounts.
• The government may even ask for your social media handles - In the United States, the Department of Homeland Security wants to add a social media field for those who are coming in their country, though this has yet to be discussed; and it is optional, according to the US DHS.
• You can check its value online - There are services online that checks the worth of your social media handles, and most of them are free (though be wary of some of them, and focus closely at what their systems do).

There's just a lot of reasons why social media is valuable, and if these don't convince you, what will?

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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.

The last two weeks showed us that the new government is results-oriented, and what more good example of this is the recent developments in the Agriculture Department (DA):

• Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol urged everyone to ensure implementation of programs to ensure rice sufficiency in the country,
• The National Irrigation Administration, the National Food Authority and the Philippine Coconut Authority are under the DA again,
• The secretary himself vows to focus on food production, which is the raison d'etre (reason of existence) of the department.
• Piñol also said that he plans to adopt the best practices of farmers in rice self-sufficient regions, and asks for updated soil data which has been used for four decades.

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.

"United we stand, divided we fall." This is the common quote attributed to teamwork, and this does not just apply to sports or politics, it's the motion that makes society work its way.

Today on our Road to PBEX series, we will discuss the basics on the Cooperative, why there are so many of them in the country, and why they're set up.

The concept of cooperatives started in England in 1844 with the Rochdale Society of Equitable Pioneers, who designed its Rochdale Principles which is included in Corporate Law studies of today.

A cooperative is like a corporation, and the "stock holders" are owners of micro, small and medium enterprises with each contributing an equity stock. Each member has to contribute something; but compared to a corporation, the members have equal voting power that is not determined by the value of the investment they gave to it. To add, the owner-members operate the cooperative for their own benefit. When the cooperative gains profit, its members has its share.

Taking a cue from our first post in the Road to PBEX series, "Who is Juan in the ASEAN Economic Community?," one has his share of contributions to others, and once they gather, they are building a community of owner-members that has its chance to stand amid incoming economic challenges.

While we are talking about Cooperatives in a business sense, there are also other kinds of cooperatives for personal benefit such as credit, insurance, consumer cooperatives, so on and so forth. Multi-purpose cooperatives are also common.

Being in a cooperative has its benefits, such as loans (in case of Credit Cooperatives). They require you to pay a membership fee and follow its rules and regulations which are set with a goal of benefiting its members.

Overall, joining a cooperative can be beneficial to those who will commit to it. As with the stock market, this can be a high-risk investment, depending on which cooperative you will join. Now that we have brought you the basics on cooperatives, it is your step if you will pursue an investment.

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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 AVANZA, Inc. President and COO Ms. Yayu Javier as one of the speakers for this year's event.

She is an MBA graduate of the Ateneo de Manila university and has over 20 years of experience in loyalty and customer relationship marketing. She also has exposure in various companies ranging from retail, consumer goods and banking, and is an established expert in loyalty.

Ms. Javier has been part of the roster of speakers for the Customer LoveFest before, and now she's back to update us with the latest insights on effective loyalty and rewards program practices in the country.

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.

The "Sulong Pilipinas: Hakbang Tungo sa Kaunlaran" dialogue at the SMX Convention Center finished yesterday. The two-day dialogue-workshop was initiated by the incoming administration of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte in an effort to pull out 9 million Filipinos from poverty.

What is Duterte's 10-point agenda for inclusive growth?

The incoming administration has set a ten-point agenda for inclusive growth, which are as follows (emphases ours):

1. Continue and maintain current macroeconomic policies, including fiscal, monetary and trade policies;
2. Institute progressive tax reform and more effective tax collection, indexing taxes to inflation. A tax reform package will be submitted to Congress by September 2016; 
3. Increase competitiveness and the ease of doing business. Relax constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership, except on land ownership, in order to attract foreign direct investment;
4. Accelerate annual infrastructure spending to account for 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), with Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) playing a key role;
5. Promote rural and value chain development toward increasing agricultural and rural enterprise productivity and rural tourism;
6. Ensure security of land tenure to encourage investments, and address bottlenecks in land management and titling agencies;
7. Invest in human capital development, including health and education systems, and match skills and training to meet the demand of businesses and the private sector;
8. Promote science, technology and the creative arts to enhance innovation and creative capacity towards self-sustaining, inclusive development;
9. Improve social protection programs, including Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, to protect the poor against instability and economic shocks; and
10. Strengthen implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law to enable couples to make informed choices on financial and family planning.

In these past weeks, we've talked about the efforts and strategies in improving the ease of doing business in the country, such as Project Repeal of the National Competitiveness Council, the importance of amending the country's tax system and the Negosyo Centers, and so we ask...

What's the importance of the 10-point agenda in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) industry?

• The 10-point agenda gives the feeling of being welcomed to set up shop,
• Increases the morale of budding businessmen as the agenda gives them optimism to pursue their own business plans, and
• Gives assurance that the government will back them up, and help them succeed.

We have seen news that provides inspiration and positivism these past few weeks, and we are one with everyone in the MSME industry in wishing and looking forward to the positive changes that are in store for us.

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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 Love Fest welcomes IKEA UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Oman Regional Digital & Content Marketing Manager Mr. Usama Qasem.

Usama has been working in web and digital marketing for over 10 years. He is one of the pioneers who early advocated for the importance of user experience (UX) and social media in the region.

During his career at IKEA he has helped the brand become the first furniture retailer in the Middle East to sell furniture online. In addition, his contribution towards the IKEA website and mobile website has earned the brand 2 awards for enhancement of these digital platforms. He as well launched the brand social media presence in the region.

Early in 2015 he founded ESTAND.ME an online shopping website specialized in selling unique and smart products.

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.

"700 MHz" is the buzzword for the past two weeks after San Miguel Corporation sold its telecommunication assets to Globe Telecom, Inc. and PLDT, Inc., with the Philippine government having a part of its resources. This news went on as the latter two companies makes full use of the spectrum by building and opening cell sites that operates under the said bandwidth.

"700 MHz" refers to the bandwidth spectrum that has better coverage inside and outside buildings, making it a great cellular resource that the two telcos are clamoring for. This spectrum is mostly used for the 4th Generation (4G) and Long-term Evolution (LTE) services.

The good news don't stop at 700 MHz, as the two telcos have agreed to share their internet protocols (IP) to each other (IP Peering), and we will experience less latency (we refer to this as "lag") and thus making internet connections faster.

Prior to the surprising announcements, PLDT has inked a deal with the Philippine Open Internet Exchange (PHOpenIX) to connect the telco's fiber optics lines to the internet exchange last year.

We are reminded once again why we need a better telecommunication infrastructure, especially for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). We need better telco infrastructure to improve the delivery of products and services and to connect more people and businesses to other businesses. This should be a fact, now that we have been labeled as the second-lowest in Asia when it comes to download speed, not to mention one of the costliest in the region.

We are glad that we are seeing a positive outlook for our country's telco infrastructure amid doubts and uncertainty that the two telcos are closing in on making a duopoly, and we are certainly looking forward to the telcos' continuing efforts to provide the resources that people - and MSMEs for this matter - deserve.

If the quality of telco service improves, then it will definitely improve the ease of doing business in the country, thus giving us the chance of a stronger economy. Let's keep watching the happenings in the telco industry to ensure that we are off in the right track.

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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.

At our main office, they are also very solid in supporting the PMAP's National Wellness Day Celebration.

EXLINKEVENTS TCI Branch supports PMAP Celebration of National Wellness Day.

Let's face it - doing business in the Philippines legally is a pain in the neck. There's a lot of steps in registering a business in the country, and with many processes at hand (leading to Red Tape), entrepreneurs will go into three different routes:

1. Move on with the process as is, albeit tedious and resource-wasting,
2. Ask a fixer to speed up the process (which is definitely illegal), or
3. Just not register the business legally at all, even if this means facing more fines in the future.

Luckily, putting your business in the government registry will not be a hassle soon, as there's Project Repeal: The Philippine Red Tape Challenge. This is spearheaded by the recently-formed National Competitiveness Council, and they held their first "Repeal Day" last June 13.

What's the mission of Project Repeal?

Project Repeal's is an initiative to scrap unnecessary regulations that holds up the ease of doing business in the country. This was inspired by the reform initiatives of the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea and Vietnam.

Which are the agencies that support Project Repeal?

1. National Competitiveness Council
2. Department of Finance
3. Securities and Exchange Commission
4. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board
5. Department of Trade and Industry
6. Department of Budget and Management
7. Department of Tourism

What is Project Repeal doing now?

Finance secretary Cesar Purisima said during the Repeal Day at the AIM Conference Center that there is an initial 17,388 declarations that were collected for review by the project's Technical Working Committee (TWC) from different government agencies, according to a Malaya Business Insight report.

How huge is this effort, basically?

The same report states that 3,771 out of 4,023 department orders published since 1958 "need to be either repealed or delisted." Overall, majority of the 17,388 issuances identified are declarations from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

What are the benefits of repealing unnecessary laws?

The UK scrapped around 2,400 regulations related to home-building to save about 100 million UK pounds. South Korea simplified 21.7 percent of its collection of regulations as they remove 48.8 percent of it, and they have allowed business to save costs worth 4.4 percent of their gross domestic product.

We are certainly looking forward that Project Repeal will be doing their task of easing up the business registration process in the country. If their task is fully accomplished, more businesses will open in different places all over the country, which will lead to more jobs, more consumers and more activity in the economy.

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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.

In a surprising move, Microsoft Corporation has bought LinkedIn for US$26.2 billion. Some of us can't believe why a big-shot tech company has bought the so-called "Facebook for professionals," but for those who are tending to the aspects of Customer Love such as Customer Relationship Management, Customer Loyalty and Rewards, Customer Experience and the like, this deal is big.

A Wall Street Journal report even says that the deal will be very beneficial for Microsoft's Dynamics CRM line. The social network for business has 434 million users, citing the WSJ report, and tying it to the company's services may prove to be beneficial.

Imagine this: You're in a company that serves big clients, and it uses the Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Most (if not all) of the client's employees that you have spoken with are on LinkedIn. If Microsoft integrates LinkedIn to Dynamics, you can see their profile pages - or even their current status updates.

Sure, LinkedIn is more into content nowadays with their Pulse platform where its users can write blog posts, and is quite similar to the Medium platform. Grant Feller of Forbes describes the deal like this:

"[...] LinkedIn is a content company. In effect, Microsoft has just bought one of the world’s most influential, specialised, highly read, constantly-updated (and, it must be said, occasionally annoying) digital media companies around. [...]"

The tech giant also thinks to tie the social network to its Office suite, and that's just two of the many possibilities. Still, LinkedIn will act independently from other Microsoft services, according to a letter written by the social network's CEO Jeff Weiner.

This post is part of the "Love thy Customer" series as part of the preparations leading to the Customer Love Fest, which will happen at the New World Hotel, Makati on October 20 to 21, 2016 from 9am to 5pm. This event will feature key resource speakers and the latest concepts in customer 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. For more information, 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.

The 47th National Marketing Conference of the Philippine Marketing Association (PMA) titled "Hello, ASEAN" will be held at the Marriott Grand Ballroom at Newport City in Pasay City this July 28 and 29. This event features resource speakers from here and abroad talking about the best marketing practices in the ASEAN region.


"Hello, ASEAN" consists of the following activities:

• a conference that presents top-tier business, marketing and technology experts
• an ASEAN Pavilion and trade expo that facilitates networking and business meet-ups
• an industry exhibit that promotes B2B and consumer trading

Philippine Airlines (PAL) President Mr. Jaime Bautista, book author Mr. Joseph Balandi, Asia Brewery Inc.'s VP for ASEAN Business Mr. Joseph Cruel, Agora awardee and Ateneo de Manila professor Mr. Eric Soriano, Under Armour Singapore's Chief Product and eCommerce Officer Ms. Angelica Po-Suiza, The Philippine STAR Senior VP for Sales and Marketing Mr. Lucien Dy-Tioco, Mediaquest Holdings president Mr. Noel Lorenzana, Mr. Bennett and Irwin Galang of Cignal TV, Havas Media Ortega Director of Applied Antrhopology Ms. Gayia Beyer, Nestle and Unilever Head of Corporate Affairs Mr. Ernesto Macasenon, Citibank's Mr. Ramon Tejero, Charoen-Phokpand Foods VP for Philippine Operations Mr. Sakol Cheewakoset and Bloomberg Media Asia Pacific Managing Director Mr. Parry Ravindranathan are among the speakers for this event, which will be attended by local and international Chief Operations Officers, Chief Marketing Officers, members from the academe, PMA and non-PMA members.

For more information on "Hello, ASEAN," please visit http://www.helloasean.ph.

Booth spaces are available for those who want to engage in the marketing industry. For more information on how to book a space in the biggest annual event for marketing professionals, contact Ex-Link Events at 643-38-87 or send an email at info@exlinkevents.com.

The Stores Asia Expo is part of the Philippine Retailers Association's annual National Retail Conference (NRCE) that has been held for two decades, the longest in Asia. The NRCE, which draws in over 800 retailers, owners, top retail executives and industry suppliers, is the most important event in the country's retail industry.

What's in it for the event's visitors? The expo brings together the following topics in different zones:

• Retail Solutions
• E-Commerce & M-Commerce
• Shop fitting & Store Designs
• Digital Marketing and 
• Retail Marketing

Moreover, the NRCE will feature local and international resource speakers to talk about the best practices and latest trends in the retail industry.

Major retail brands will join this year's NRCE, including The SM Store and Robinsons Malls, and that's one reason why you and your business needs to see this, much better if you have a booth there!

Booth spaces are offered at an early bird discount until June 30, 2016, and there are few booths remaining, so don't miss the chance! Book your event at the Stores Asia Expo and be part of yet another milestone in the retail industry.


The Stores Asia Expo will be held at the SMX Convention Center - Manila inside the Mall of Asia Complex in Pasay City this August 10 to 11. Updates on the Expo and the 23rd National Retail Conference are posted on the official Facebook page of the Philippine Retailers Association.

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

There's this saying that "Nothing is certain but death and taxes." Speaking of taxes, it is the one of the most grueling things that businesses worry about. Yes, we have to pay our taxes - it's our obligation after all - but with all the processes businessmen need to do, they often come out worried or frustrated.

There has been a need to amend and simplify the country's current tax system further, especially for Micro, Small and Medium enterprises, in order to raise the country's economic status further. Easing up the tax payment process means that valuable resources - time, money and manpower - are spent well. The extra time that businesses will save from the amends will then be used for future projects and activities that are valuable to them.

To be fair, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) has done measures to modernize the tax system, by doing the processing via the eBIR Forms that can be done at the companies' offices; but there is a lot to do to definitely improve it. Digitizing the process is one step, simplifying it is another.

There are individuals and organizations that are helping MSMEs to make full use of the current tax system, but that's not enough. There are high hopes that the next administration will be doing its best in answering to the needs of the MSME industry, and every business in the country are hoping for the same change.

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 resource website SearchCRM of TechTarget defines CRM as "a term that refers to practices, strategies and technologies that companies use to manage and analyze customer interactions and data throughout the customer lifecycle, with the goal of improving business relationships with customers, assisting in customer retention and driving sales growth." In short, CRM is a way to know what your customers do.

Today, we are going to expand what we've talked about in the past few weeks to dig deeper and give you the benefits of Customer Love to improve your business. Maybe you're still not convinced to have your loyalty and rewards system until now, so we'll be delving more on why there is a need for businesses to have these kinds of systems.

To Attract Customers

One reason why your business has a need to implement rewards systems is to attract customers. There are customers who are buying pizza pies at the pizza parlor because they have a loyalty card, more so if they have friends tagging along. Their friends in turn will think of getting their own cards because chances are they are attracted to getting a delicious pizza pie at a discounted price.

To Know Your Customer

"Never waste an opportunity to get to know your customer," said speaker, consultant and book author Don Peppers in a Fast Company article. Knowing your customers mean knowing the purchasing decisions they are doing. If you know they're buying apples each time you put them on sale, you know that your customers are looking forward to your apples when it's sold less. This should make you think more about the value of those delicious apples.

To Influence Purchasing Decisions

Clothing brands also have their system of rewarding its loyal customers, thus affecting their purchasing decisions. Aside from having a sale on clothes, having a loyalty and rewards system adds more value to it, making it more sell-able.

These are just a few reasons why your business needs to reward your loyal customers, and if you look online, there are lots of great examples of companies having their own, some of which we are sharing in the "Love thy Customer" series on this space. Having a loyalty and rewards system is the norm these days, so think about these further as a way to solidify your business.

The Customer Love Fest will happen at the New World Hotel, Makati on October 20 to 21, 2016 from 9am to 5pm. This event will feature key resource speakers and the latest concepts in customer loyalty, rewards and experience. 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. For more information, 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.

Every business is supported by its customers, and the hunt for the next customer is a challenge for promising businessmen in order to thrive and survive. Luckily, there are expositions and trade fairs that opens their windows to them.

Getting even a small space inside will bring you big opportunities as you will be able to observe how your business or brand fare well with your fellows. There are two things you need to consider: Exposure, and Experience.

Event managers such as Ex-Link Events come up with new concepts for events to gather a specific market. Almost every month, there's a different event for each specific audience, and once the audience comes to an event and gets to your booth, that's Exposure.

Now, as the business, you want to turn that Exposure into good use, so you will think of a concept that will provide a great Experience to those who can see your booth. If your plan is efficient and the exposure is fully utilized, then the audience won't be spectators anymore - they are now your customers, and your leads.

Now that you have learned these two Es that you need to consider, you are on your way to book a booth for an event.

While you are thinking about your eye-catching concept, you might want to consider booking for the 7th Philippine Business and Entrepreneurs' Expo this August at the SM Megatrade Hall. The PBEX's attendees will be looking forward to owning their own business, and if you are seeking to spread out, this is your chance!


If you want to know more about doing business in the Philippines, come to the 7th Philippine Business & Entrepreneurs' Expo this August 26 to 28 at the SM Megatrade Hall in Mandaluyong City.

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.