Today marks the opening of the 17th Congress of the Republic of the Philippines, and as stated in the constitution, the Congress will open with a State of the Nation Address led by the president of the republic. This year, the State of the Nation Address will be done by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, dubbed as the first president elected from the Mindanao region.

Last week, we did a quick survey among our peers on what are the 10 things that we would like to hear in President Duterte's first SONA:

1. No tax for employees earning below ₱25,000 - so that employees will have less burden budgeting their monthly allowances.
2. Increase in SSS Pension benefits - senior citizens depend on pension more to sustain themselves.
3. Make food prices affordable and accessible - more food bought for a set budget means more nourished families.
4. Ease transportation - less time spent on traffic means more time to spend on being productive
5. Increase and unify the minimum wage - so that businesses won't need to adjust wages if they are going to branch out to multiple locations across the country.
6. Abolish contractualization - secured jobs mean secured futures.
7. Improved healthcare services - If everyone can benefit from the government's healthcare services, the better.
8. Ease of doing government transactions - reducing the days alloted to business registration saves time, money and sweat.
9. Telecommunications infrastructure - faster connections mean faster processing of transactions.

The Internet of Things (IoT). Drones. Web 3.0. Startups. These are some of the buzzwords that describe how technology has helped (and for those who are wary of it, taken over) society as we know it. Just imagine your business integrating with the latest technology:

• You can make full use of drones to show your store's facade
• You can develop applications that will also serve as your virtual store
• Your website can have the best-pleasing design and yet still serve customers
• You can describe yourself as a startup

Simply taking your business online is one step of integrating the latest technologies into it. Imagine the number of debit card holders who does their transactions online now from those in the next five to ten years. Imagine how many people are using mobile phones now, and how many of them have set up their virtual debit cards; or has their coupons inside it. We are merely estimating that a few utilize these new technologies, and we can predict that in that time frame it will reach to a quarter or third of the populace.

This is just a nutshell in a plethora of reasons why businesses should enhance themselves using technology, and there will be more reasons in the future. Let's use the available resources that we can use now and play with it, for it will sure help us one way or another for the next wave of technologies.

Facebook has released its insights on what people seek for the most on the Facebook and Instagram platforms, and the results may surprise you.
While both Instagram and Facebook are social media, and is used to share everyone's moments, the difference between the two is that Facebook is more on current events while Instagram is more on style.

Here's the gist of the excerpts from the said post:

• "20% of Americans’ time on mobile is spent on Facebook and Instagram"
• "On Instagram, people follow celebrities, get DIY inspiration and are visually transported to new places—while on Facebook, the primary appeal is connecting with family and friends."
• "[...] Based on these findings, marketers might experiment with sharing reactions and opinions on Facebook and behind-the-scenes content on Instagram."
• "[...] fun on Facebook is more about humor, and fun on Instagram is more about encountering the unexpected."
• "[...] Compared to women, for instance, men were more likely to agree that Facebook and Instagram help them organize their lives. This might include learning about and RSVPing to events or joining special interest groups. On the other hand, women were more likely than men to agree that Facebook and Instagram help them stay in touch with close friends and family."
• "Parents we surveyed aren’t just posting cute kid photos. They also said they seek video content on Facebook as often as Millennials surveyed [...]"
• "Compared to older generations, Millennials (18–34) surveyed are more eager for video content. They’re also more likely to follow content related to fashion, beauty and interior design on Instagram than on Facebook." 

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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 2016 Customer LoveFest welcomes SM Hotels and Conventions Corporation Loyalty Program Manager Ms. Brie Caces!

Ms. Caces has four years of experience in the events industry, having worked in the events management industry. As the Loyalty Program Manager for SM Hotels and Conventions, she is responsible for the launch, conceptualization and management of the company's loyalty program activities.

See her 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.

In preparation for the 7th Philippine Business & Entrepreneurs' Expo which will be held at the SM Megatrade Hall this August 26 to 28, we are giving away a vacation package at the "My Idea" online contest, and it's easy to join! Just follow the Rafflecopter widget below, and you're all set!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our criteria in determining the winner are based on:

• Number of likes (25%),
• Number of shares (50%), and
• The answer itself (50%)

The points added by completing the tasks in the Rafflecopter widget will be then added, as follows:

• 1 to 6 points = 80%
• 7 to 11 points - 85%
• 12 to 14 points = 95%

The average percentage of the two scores will be totaled, and the top 5 finalists will be called to show up at the third day of the 7th PBEX on August 28 and will receive goodies.

This promotion will run until August 14, 2016.


The 7th Philippine Business & Entrepreneurs' Expo will happen 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.

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.