GLOBE LABS: Revolutionizing Smartphone Apps Development In The Philippines

We've all heard of big names that changed the world. Names such as Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, names that pushed lifestyle and technology an inch closer to things we only see in sci-fi films. And with today's technology and rich resources, it's only a matter of time when the next big name might appear real soon. Running for nearly five years now, great and passionate minds have been gathering in Globe Labs, a fast-growing community of geeks that strive to create a revolution through innovation.

Housed in leading telecommunications agency Globe Telecom, Globe Labs is geared towards building a community that intends to drive innovation forward. Through Globe Labs, aspiring and experienced developers alike will have the means as well as the resources to facilitate their ideas and have the opportunity to forge partnerships and promote their creations to a greater scale.

For smartphone owners, expect great new apps and claim bragging rights that your favorite mobile app did not come from Apple, Google, or Windows, but from a local developer, thanks to the Filipino talent, ingenuity, and creativity.

Greg Igaya, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation for Globe Labs, shared the humble beginnings of the organization. "We started pooling together local Filipino developers who have big ideas, and are most willing to turn them into viable and tangible products. You don't have to be a large corporation; the only things you need are a great idea and try to build it using SMS/MMS, Location Based-Services (LBS) and Voice."

"There are a lot of gaps or issues that developers encounter, say for instance, how are their app creations going to be relevant to the end-user. That is our motivation for starting Globe Labs, to fill in these gaps and provide the best smartphone experience to Filipinos by letting them use world-class mobile applications for the Filipino by the Filipino."

Turning ideas into apps

With Globe Labs, developers learn and acquire the much-needed skills. "Upon joining our developer community, we can provide you the knowledge you need to hone your skills in application development. We provide technical documentation on the tools to help you build mobile applications that integrate with our core services. We also conduct regular trainings to introduce new developer technologies and platforms to help you keep your competitive edge."

Globe Labs also provides tools, resources, facilities, and enablers to pave the way for apps development. These come in the form of an official app registry or interface that allows sharing of application ideas and prototypes with the organization, various applications programming interface (API) or a set of routines, protocols, and tools for building software applications, and different developer facilities.

Globe Labs supports its pool of developers with go-to-market strategies, enabling them to commercialize and monetize their applications.

"We really think that developers drive innovation forward, and all they need is access to markets, all they need is a little support," Igaya said. "We're not Apple or Google, but you get first-hand experience and know-how from people who engage fully in those spaces."

Anne Michelle Santos, Developer Relations Manager of Globe Labs added, "We really encourage more Filipinos to explore mobile app development. Globe Labs exists to back up local developer communities and support them until their ideas turn into actual services."

She later added that key developers have shared their experiences to the community. "We were so lucky to invite James Pearce, Head of Developer Advocacy of Facebook, to grace one of our sessions. He gave us an introduction on how to build apps using the Facebook platform. We also had Merci Niebres, one of the luminaries behind Google I/O, a big developer event in the United States, through their local developer community, Google Developer Group Philippines."

For exposure to User Experience Design and User Interface Design, Globe Labs invited Regnard Raquedan of the Philippine Web Designer Organization as resource speaker.

The makings of an app developer

Anyone can join the Globe Labs developer community with no specific IT background required. Whether you're a software developer, an IT student or professional or company, or even a techie with a passion for innovating and building applications, if your passion is creating and building applications, then you're welcome to join the geeky family of Globe Labs.

Santos shared that a nurse once joined the community and partnered with the developer responsible for MRT Trackr, and together they launched an app called "Where's My Doctor". Another couple joined Globe Labs and created an app especially for babies called Baby World of ABC's. The app is able to interact with a child similar to when showing picture flash cards complete with the parent's voice.

"We've encountered attendees that don't have an idea at all. And that's not a problem with us. Sometimes, it all starts with one is relevant to you, what are you likes and interests, what solutions can help solve your daily issues, what can give you fun and entertainment," said Igaya.

When asked how Globe Labs is doing so far, Santos said, "It's really showing a huge potential and a big rooms for further growth, starting from the rubrics of the Nokia era, here comes the explosion of smartphone apps. Apple has a couple of great apps we were able to support not just within our programs."

Challenges, but still opportunities

Igaya shared one of the key challenges they're faced with: "People want to engage in the experience of the technology, they're interested in the possibilities that it offers, but they can't do it full-time."

Santos backed this up: "Most of them are IT professionals who have day jobs and usually engage in mobile apps development only in their free time, so the level of engagement is not as consistent. But we see this as a room for growth and will definitely factor this in as we line up our plans for next year."

Another challenge is the quality of apps being published every day. Igaya shared that it's easy to "get drowned", and therefore, regardless whether the apps are produced for local content, they have to be competitive in a global scale to stand out.

"At the end of the day, it's all about passion and creativity. We can have you, even if you know little about the nitty gritty or the technical aspects of apps development. For as long as you have a good idea, then we invite you to be part of Globe Labs. It's a matter of finding who you can work with to put your idea into fruition.

"That's the reason why we organize community engagement activities, training sessions and tutorials, and sharing of best practices. We want to find spaces and opportunities where people can connect to each other to move something forward," Igaya said.

Globe Labs has a line-up of exciting events and activities where as an organizer or partner: International Game Development Association Meetup on October 29, Pre-Startup Weekend Davao Bootcamp on November 3, 2012 DevFest Bacolod on November 5, 2012 DevFest Cebu on November 7, 2012Pre-Startup Weekend Cebu Bootcamp on November 9, 2012Windows 8 Developer Day on November 14,  2012 Rails Girl Meetup on November 23 and 24, and the Code Challenge Cup on November 30, 2012.

For more information on Globe Labs, visit www.globelabs.com.ph or follow them on Twitter @globelabs.

TEMPO

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Philippines' City Jail will rise to be the next CALL CENTER Hub in Asia

"Summary: Inmates may soon work as operators, thanks to an initiative to help convicts get a better chance in reintegrating back into society and finding employment."

Bilib I.T. or not: Prison call center eyed.  You've got to "BILIB I.T."

Call centers may soon be run in prisons with inmates as operators, thanks to a program initiated by Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano that aims to help convicts get a better chance to resettle and reintegrate back into society.

The program, dubbed "BILIB I.T.," will grant information technology (IT) scholarships to qualified inmates so they can learn productive skills that will help them get back on their feet.

"We'll see if we can try building call centers inside jail facilities to help these detainees utilize their training and gain employment," Cayetano said in a statement released during the program launch at Taguig City Jail.

"I eventually want to get there because it's a step further toward better rehabilitation," he added.

Among the courses to be offered are Basic IT, Adobe Photoshop, computer hardware servicing and a finishing course for call center agents, which would include English proficiency and web design.

Among the inmates who were given scholarships during the launch were: Alvin Alison, 21; Ronnie Omanitu, 24; Belinda Pagulayan, 48, and Jenny Canlas, 28.

Cayetano said the scholarships will be granted to at least 200 inmates, and is expected to double with the help of the Technical and Education Skills Development Authority (Tesda).

Cayetano cited a similar program in the United States where "inmates do call center work for nonsensitive matters."

Who are eligible for the program?

"Those who have served their sentence but prefer to live inside the penal community due to lack of skills necessary to rejoin the work force, detainees who have minimum security and those inmates with sentences not longer than six years," Cayetano said.

"We should give them a chance to make a living and become productive members of society in the future," he added.

Tesda Director General Joel Villanueva, who was present during the launch, added that more than providing livelihood for the inmates after serving their sentences, it was also about removing the stigma associated with being an ex-convict.

The inmates will look better to prospective employers if they have done work in the detention facility, he added.

Cayetano expressed willingness to work with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the Department of Justice to create guidelines that will allow inmates to be in a job that would enable them to be in direct commercial contact with the public.

The program was launched in cooperation with Tesda, IT school Informatics, BJMP and Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano.

INQUIRER 

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Moody's Investors upgrade Philippine credit rating to Ba1; Gross Reserves at $81.90 -Billion USD level

The Philippines' debt rating was raised to the highest level since the start of 2004 by Moody's Investors Service, bringing the Southeast Asian nation one step away from investment grade. The peso and bonds rose.

The new credit rating upgrade for the Philippines to a notch below investment grade, aligning its assessment of the country's debt quality with those of Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor's Ratings Services for the first time since April 2003, that brings the Philippines on par with Turkey and Hungary. The ratings outlook is stable.

"The writing is clearly on the wall," said Roberto Juanchito Dispo, president of First Metro Investment Corp., one of the arrangers of the government's record retail bond sale this month. "The Philippines is definitely on its way to becoming investment grade in due course. This will bring numerous tangible economic benefits to the country."

Philippine officials welcomed Moody's action, which came 16 months after Fitch and four months after S&P lifted their ratings to just one step below investment grade. Fitch and S&P have stable outlooks on their assessments.

President Benigno Aquino has won ratings upgrades as he takes steps to contain the budget deficit and lure foreign investors to spur expansion in the $225 billion economy. Standard & Poor's in July raised the debt rating to BB+, one level below investment grade, citing improved prospects for growth, while an agreement with Muslim rebels this month to end a four-decade insurgency in the mineral-rich south has boosted the country's appeal.

Since S&P, Moody's and Fitch started rating the Philippines in 1993, 1995 and 1999, respectively, the country hasn't moved out of junk level. Earlier this month, S&P said that historically it takes around 2½ years before a BB+ rated country cracks investment grade, which for the Philippines could mean late in 2014 or early 2015.

Jeffrey Ng, an economist with Standard Chartered Bank, said that the Philippines could win an investment-grade rating if it pursues further fiscal reforms, including passing pending tax measures in Congress.

"We have been calling for investment grade around 2014. The country's strengths are in its economic fundamentals and stable political environment; the government is still working on investment and fiscal consolidation," he said.

Aninda Mitra, an economist with ANZ, said a demonstrable record of sustained economic growth, especially if it is investment-driven, would help the Philippines graduate from the junk-level rating.

"Moreover, the passage of the sin tax bill, which broadens the fiscal base for heightened spending on infrastructure and health, would also set the structural basis for further upgrades to the investment-grade space," Mr. Mitra said.

The Senate is now reviewing its version of the so-called sin tax bill—a measure that would increase excise taxes on cigarettes, liquor and beer—that as currently proposed will generate additional revenue of around 15 billion Philippine pesos ($363 million), just a quarter of what the government was seeking and half that of the revenue expected from the version of the House of Representatives.

Peso Gains

The peso erased losses, gaining 0.1 percent to 41.177 per dollar as of 2:06 p.m. in Manila, according to data from Tullett Prebon Plc. It is the top gainer this year among the 11 most- widely traded Asian currencies tracked by Bloomberg. Philippine dollar-denominated bonds maturing in January 2037 rose after the upgrade, halting a four-day slide. The yield on 5 percent bonds fell one basis point, or 0.01 percentage point, to 3.78 percent, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

"Improved economic performance and continued fiscal revenue buoyancy in the face of deteriorating global demand" led to the upgrade, Moody's said in a statement. "In contrast to similarly rated countries, the country is poised to record a combination of faster growth, lower inflation, exchange rate appreciation, and an increase in foreign exchange reserves, while maintaining trend debt consolidation," it said.

Aquino is taking steps to reduce corruption while seeking more than $16 billion of investments in roads and airports to spur expansion to as much as 7 percent in 2013 to create jobs and reduce poverty. Gross domestic product rose 5.9 percent in the second quarter from 6.3 percent in the previous three months, which was the fastest expansion in Southeast Asia.

"This is another affirmation of the economic agenda of President Aquino," Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima said in a mobile text message today. "Good governance indeed is good economics. We will continue to focus on the fundamentals of fiscal sustainability and business environment enhancement."

Beneficial Effects

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas last week cut its overnight borrowing rate by 0.25 percentage point to a record 3.5 percent, bringing the total reduction in 2012 to 1 point. An investment- grade rating is possible next year, Governor Amando Tetangco told reporters today.

"Over the longer term, the landmark peace agreement signed between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front may have wider beneficial effects on investment and economic growth in Mindanao -- the country's largest island -- which has untapped agricultural and mining potential," Moody's said.

The central bank lowered its inflation forecast for this year to 3.3 percent from 3.4 percent, and to 3.9 percent from 4.1 percent next year. Inflation unexpectedly eased in September to 3.6 percent from a year earlier.

Today's upgrade contrasts with recent actions on other Asian nations. Vietnam's government bond rating was cut last month by Moody's for the first time since 2010 as the nation grapples with rising bad debt in its banking system that has hurt growth, while S&P said this month India may lose its investment-grade rating within the next 24 months if growth slows and political opposition to policy overhauls increases.

"A stable outlook signals possible further upgrades in the future," central bank Deputy Governor Diwa Gunigundo said in a mobile text message. "The challenge for us is to sustain what we have been doing in strengthening the macro economy and enhancing good governance."

The local financial markets largely ignored Moody's rating upgrade, with the Philippine stock market's main performance barometer closing 0.1% lower, while the U.S. dollar was a tad higher against the peso.

Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, who had consistently argued that credit rating companies are trailing capital markets in rating Philippine debt, said that Moody's action is a recognition of "the significant progress that the Aquino administration has undertaken to improve the country's economic fundamentals."

He said that with the government's commitment to macroeconomic stability, enhanced fiscal stability and investment growth, "investment grade will definitely come sooner rather than later."

Philippines foreign reserves reach historic $81.88-Billion level in Sept 2012

Philippine foreign exchange reserves reached a new record high of $81.88 billion as of end-September, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas reported Friday, saying its dollar-buying operations in the market could still boost international reserves during the rest of the year.

The gross international reserves level was equivalent to 6.5 times of Philippines foreign debts, and enough to pay for about a year of the country's import requirements, the Bangko Sentral noted.

In August, the country's foreign reserves totaled $80.73 billion, and were recorded at $75.17 billion as of end-September 2011.

In a statement, Bangko Sentral revealed its dollar-buying operations – to help rein in a stronger peso against the US dollar – boosted September's foreign reserves.

The central bank would stay in the foreign exchange market buying dollars, especially if the peso continues to bear the brunt of speculative money in the stock market, said Bangko Sentral Governor Amando Tetangco Jr.

"If the peso would continue to appreciate because of temporary investments or hot money, the BSP will participate in the market and try to minimize strong fluctuations," he said.

Bangko Sentral would have no problem letting the peso appreciate if the pressure comes from long-term foreign direct investments, Tetangco added.

Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, GMA News

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