The Aegis Malaysia Ad that singles out the Philippines

There was much furor yesterday in Social Media when an alleged ad from Aegis Malaysia circulated.  The video commented on the Philippines's business environment, inadequate infrastructure, less security and lack of government support.  According to the video, "...to make things worse, the place could be falling in the Ring of Fire", citing typhoons and cyclones while visibly showing the location of the Philippines on the map.

In my 20 years in the IT industry, I have never seen anything like this.  Not even close.  What the video does is attempt to promote one company country location over another, by practically trashing the latter.  Something you would see in a US softdrink commercial in the 80's.

In 2010, it has been reported the the Philippines overtook India in terms of call center employees.  Late 2013, the Philippines also overtook India in terms of "employee numbers for shared services and Business Process Outsourcing."
http://www.spi-global.com/blog/think-tank/factors-philippines-overtook-india-world-call-center/

In the Overall Outsourcing Destinations ranking published by Tholons in 2013, Bangalore and Mumbai are at #1 and #2, while Manila dislodged Delhi for the #3 spot.  Cebu City also moved up 1 place to #8.  Kuala Lumpur, while at #19 was the outsourcing city destination with the biggest ranking jump.  It moved up 9 spots from #28 in 2012.  Another outsourcing city in Malaysia is Penang at #73.    On the other hand, the Philippines has 8 cities in the Top 100 list.  Apart from Manila and Cebu, Davao is at number #70, Laguna is at #84, IloIlo at #93, and new entrants to list Bacolod and Baguio at #94 and #99 respectively.

http://www.tholons.com/TholonsTop100/pdf/Tholons%20Top%20100%202013_Rankings%20and%20Report%20Overview.pdf

Clearly, there is currently no contest within the South East Asian region in terms of Outsourcing destination.  While it is expected that countries or locations on the #2 and #3 spots will fight for the top spot, Aegis Malaysia's video leaves much to be desired.

The video was point blank in terms of painting a grim picture of the Philippines.  It did not even attempt to mask the name of the country.  One can break down all the items in the video against the Philippines and could find out that some of it may actually be true.  No one can deny that the country indeed falls in the Pacific Rim of Fire, and that really strong typhoons and cyclones hit the country in the last years.

But the criticism on the video is not about whether facts are straight or not.  It it about the intent and the integrity of the video.  It is outright unprofessional for a company to malign not only another company nor a city, but an entire country.  The video said a lot about the Philippines but it said a lot more about Aegis as a company, willing to trash an entire country's outsourcing capability just to promote itself.  Interestingly, Business Mirror reported in 2012, that Aegis has more than 14,000 in the Philippines.  So it is odd that the company may be cannibalizing its presence in the region.

We are expecting that the Call Center Association of the Philippines(CCAP) or the Business Process Association of the Philippines will issue out a statement soon.   And of course, we are expecting that Aegis Malaysia will be speaking soon.  Nevertheless, the video does a lot of damage not to the Philippines, not on Malaysia, but on Aegis as a company whether in Malaysia or in the Philippines.

The video has been removed from the original Aegis link.  But newsgra.ph got a hold of the video and posted it on you tube, it is embedded below.   We feel the link may disappear soon.

What is the Next Hot Game? 2014 version

Back in 2012, we wrote this:
http://darwinstheoryrocks.blogspot.com/search?q=what+is+next+hot+game

We thought that Temple Run would be the next hot game.  Well, we were right and wrong.  Temple Run did enjoy immense popularity.  Actually, up to now, people still play.  But it never reached the levels of PvZ or Angry Birds.

We never thought that it would be Candy Crush which would take over in 2012 and 2013.  Primarily because we thought, we saw both aesthetics and movements in other games, like Bejewelled for example, a PopCap game first made available early 2000.

We also found ourselves addicted to Candy Crush, even reaching level 250+, and sometimes still play.  We attribute it to Candy Crush's innovation and reinvention.  There is always something new.  Plus some levels are really challenging, some taking a week or 2 to finish.  We theorized before that Candy Crush would not be the favorite of Millenials.  It requires a lot of patience, repetition, and resiliency.   Early 2013, it was not surprising that the entire row of a night PAL flight from Cebu to Manila would have almost everyone playing Candy Crush.  It must have appealed to GenXers.


Late 2012, we also saw the emergence of Clash of Clans, at least in iOS.  Clash of Clans(CoC) is an MMO strategy game developed by SuperCell.  MMO stands for Massively Multiplayer Online Game.  We are not sure whether they coined that term or before the reported 8Million daily players.  Without a doubt, CoC is the hot game.  From a business perspective, SuperCell reported earnings of $892 Million, for 2013.  That is more than 2Million dollars a day of revenue!

We will write a separate (special??) blogpost on ClashofClans, as we already started to become addicted to it (now level 71).

Which leads us to our title question, what is the next hot game after Angry Birds, PvZ, Temple Run, Candy Crush, Clash of Clans?   Our answer is we don't know.  lol.

We actually predict (or maybe wish) that CoC would continue until 2015.  And the next Hot Game would start to surface in May/June 2015, which will peak in 2016.

Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan by Lav Diaz showing on Sept 10

Without a doubt, the best film we've seen this year, maybe the past 10 years, actually the past 20 years.  Finally, it will have its regular cinema run.

Yes the movie runs for 4 hours, but
- sometimes we wait for our flights at the airport for more than 4 hours
- watch TV longer than 4 hours
- play video games straight for more than 4 hours
- real Paella cooking takes more than 4 hours
- tambay and do nothing for more than 4 hours

This is 4 hours, well-spent.  We were fortunate to catch it on a special screening at Glorietta a few months ago.  We were first intrigued, mesmerized, confused and enthralled.  At the very end, we were smitten.  There is no other director like Lav Diaz, and there is nothing like Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan.  See Schedule below.

  

Maple @ Sanctuario de San Antonio, Makati

After a meeting at the Manila Polo Club ended late, we said we'll find somewhere close to eat.  A friend suggested Maple, which is at the 2nd floor of the San Antonio Plaza in Forbes Park.  So we went.

The ambience was really nice.  Very warm and cozy, very suitable for the good old reliable pancake.  So we ordered their specialty, Maple Buttermilk Pancakes, because it was our first time there.  It was priced 275 pesos.  We also ordered Hueves Rancheros, which according to the description was a Mexican breakfast of tortillas, beans, chicken, eggs and cheese.  That was 340 pesos.

10minutes after, the lovely but distracted waitress arrived with the Huevos Rancheros and Waffles.  We told her that we did not order Waffles, but Pancakes.   She was surprised, which honestly even surprised us.  She said was it OK for us to wait for 16 minutes for our pancake?  We said, "16 minutes for a pancake?".  But we were really hungry, so we said OK, we will wait.

After a few minutes, the waitress came back saying the pancake would be ready in 5 minutes.  Of course, we were chuckling.  In fairness, our pancakes arrived in 5 minutes.

Huevos Rancheros were a literal hodge podge of ingredients, and the flavor became really confusing.  We said, we probably did not know how to eat it - as it really tasted nothing like cheese, nor chicken.  Maybe beans, with tons of unrecognizable spices.  

But it was the pancakes which were the biggest letdown.  They were fluffy, yes, thin, yes.  But rather dry.  And it was unbelievably bland.  I really had high hopes, given this was their specialty plus we were really hungry.  We were very disappointed.  Later on, we were told that Maple share the same owners with Pancake House, this was our biggest surprise 

When the bill came, of course we were charged with the waffles we did not order.  We called the attention of the waiter who of course dealt with it without much fuzz.  Intentional?  We don't know.

Food Quality: 2/10

Service: 2/10

Ambience: 8/10

Price: 2/10

Value for Money: 2/10

Verdict:  After lunch, we ran by a friend who at Starbucks who saw us coming from Maple and said, "why did you eat there, food is not good there".  We rest our case.

If it is any consolation, this is the nice view from Maple.

Films in 2014 So Far

2013 was referred to as the start of Golden Age of Philippine Cinema.  The only way for it to continue is for films in 2014 and even 2015 to be brilliant.  But, 2013 was really an extra-special year, with filmfests after filmfests, sometimes overlapping and churning out some of the best in Philippine Cinema.

For the rest of 2014, we look forward to Dementia,  the Nora Aunor starrer directed by Perci Intalan for Regal Films.  We are intrigued by Pepe Diokno's Above the Clouds/Alapaap, which hopefully will find a screening date this year.  The December filmfest is no different from the previous ones.  6 out of 8 films are sequels or remakes.  At least in the past, there was 1 decent film entry like Thy Womb.  This year we are afraid there is none.  The only good thing about the new MMFF is the introduction of their New Wave Section.  Remember that this gave us Haruo by Alix in 2011, In Nomine Matris in 2012, and Dukit by Lao in 2013.  And according to a press release, the New Wave Section this year promises to be bigger.

Another hope is the CinemaOne Filmfest happening in November.  And of course the CineManila International filmfest.  So there is still a strong chance that film quality will be sustained.

So far, we have seen a little over 20 Filipino films this year.  Here are some of our favorites so far:

1.  Norte, Hangganan ng Kasaysayan by Lav Diaz (released in 2013)
2.  Dagitab by Giancarlo Abrahan
3.  Barber's Tale by Jun Lana
4.  Children's Show by Derick Cabrido
5. #Y by Gino Santos
6. Sundalong Kanin by Janice O'Hara
7. Bwaya by Francis Pasion
8. K'Na the Dreamweaver by Ina Anita del Mundo

Hopefully, our list gets longer.

Random Food Pics

Just of thought of posting and reviewing random food pics.

CHEF MEZZE @ Gilak, Greenbelt Makati

A full plate of appetizers - hummus, moutabal, tzatziki, samosas and tabouleh with 2 pieces of freshly cooked pita bread.  We said, we do not prefer samosas, and asked the chef to change it to something else.  Just taking our chance.  Voila!!!  the waiter and the chef replaced the samosas with salad.  Talk about flexible good service.

Price:  990 Pesos

Rating:

Quality:  10/10

Service: 10/10

Price: 7/10

Value for Money: 8/10 

Overall: 9/10

Final Verdict:  Really very good.  Even their regular pita is fantastic.  if you have extra money try it.  

***

 TWG Lasagna @ TWG, Greenbelt Makati

The description just sounded really appetizing:  Bolognaise Ragout with Signature Homemade Tomato and Fresh Basil Sauce Infused with Moroccan Mint Tea

So we said we will try, as it was already too late for their brunch.  

Price: 380P

Rating:

Quality:  7/10

Service: 8/10

Price: 4/10

Value for Money: 4/10 

Overall: 4/10

Final Verdict:  Food is just OK.  Well I guess that's a problem, considering it costs 380 pesos.  We could hardly taste the mint tea.  Actually we could hardly taste the basil either. Maybe the pasta was a little too thick.  Skip this and try brunch.

 EBI FURAI SET MEAL, Santouka, Glorietta Makati

We seldom crave for Ramen.  So we said we will find a ramen place that serve more than ramen.  We ordered the Shrimp Set Meal, and was delighted to see so many things on our tray.

Price: 490

Rating:

Quality:  6/10

Service: 6/10

Price: 8/10

Value for Money: 8/10

Overall: 5/10 

Final Verdict:  It felt like it was soft opening when we got there.  Only to find out the place had been open for a while.  Here is a case of "There were too many servers, yet when you need one, you can't find one".   The food was OK, with the Ramen as their superstar of course.  I am biased towards perfectly cooked eggs, so that is a plus for me.  I hope their service gets better, because I thought the food was value for money.

  

For Dessert: HALO-HALO CAKE @ UCC Cafe, Newport Mall, Pasay City

Lesson no.1 - I should learn better food photography.  We were scanning their dessert freezer and was delightly surprised with Halo-Halo Cake.  We had to order one right away.

Price: 189 per slice

Rating:

Quality:  10/10

Service: 10/10

Price: 7/10

Value for Money: 9/10 

Final Verdict:  It was really really good.  It is a cake, but it sure tastes like Halo-Halo.  You can taste the ube, the leche flan, the monggo and of course the langka in almost every bite.  Really wow.  Everything is expensive at UCC :(, so to no surprise it is expensive.  But it really is a must try for everyone who likes Halo-Halo.

Salamat Marcial Bonifacio

Marcial definitely because of Martial Law.  Bonifacio, can either be because of Andres Bonifacio, the Philippine revolutionary hero.  Or, from Fort Bonifacio, where he was imprisoned in a 20sq m cell for treason.

The year was 1983.  The Philippine government would not issue him a passport.  So he had to use an alias, "Marcial Bonifacio" on his flight from the US back to Manila on that fateful day, August 21.  This year, we commemorate the 21st anniversary of the assassination of Ninoy Aquino, an event that forever changed Philippine history.

Thank you Marcial Bonifacio.  Salamat Ninoy.

Quotes from Ninoy Aquino:

I will never be able to forgive myself if I will have to live with the knowledge that I could have done something and I did not do anything.

 

The Filipino is worth dying for.

What can one man do if the Filipino people love their slavery, if the Filipino people have lost their voice and would not say no to a tyrant, what can one man do. I have not army, I have no following, I have no money, and I only have my indomitable spirit.

I believe that the Filipino will respond to the call to greatness not by coercion but by persuasion, not by intimidation but through the ways of freedom.


I do not hold the key to our liberation, I do not know all the solutions to our many problem all I know is that if the situation continues in the Philippines, then blood will flow, and when blood flows, there will be no victor and there will be no vanquished because all of us will be victim of our folly

First we must return the freedom so that all segments of our community whether from left or from the right will have the right to speak and then in that open debate in that clash of debate in the marketplace we will produce the clash between the thesis and the anti-thesis and then we will have synthesis for the Filipino people.

We should not depend on one man; we should depend on all of us.

We must not only preserve yesterday's heritage fight for today's ephemeral interests, but die if need be, for tomorrow's hopes.

A time comes in a man's life when he must prefer a meaningful death to a meaningless life.

Strip at Solaire

Got the chance to eat at Strip Steakhouse.  On our way to another restaurant at Solaire, we saw Celebrity Master Chef Rick Moonen inside Strip, so we said we will have to try Strip when we get the chance.

On a Tuesday night, there was no need for reservations.

Consistency.  All the decors in all the restaurants of Solaire are simply spectacular.  I like the ambience of Finestra better, but Strip is also nice.  Looks really expensive.

We were given 3 types of bread with 3 types of butter.

For starters, we tried their Blue Crab Cake.  There was a hint of cucumber and grapefruit.  We liked it.  It was one of the cheaper options for appetizers, costing 780 pesos.

We ordered Top Sirloin (250 g.).  For sides, we went with Potato Gratin and Creamed Spinach.

The steak came with 3 different sauces: Brandy&Peppercorn, Mushroom Truffle and Bearnaise

Yes, the steak actually went with Bone Marrow.  This is starting to become a fad - Bone Marrow in everything.  Of course it was superb.  Like Bacon, Bone Marrow in anything is just sinfully good.

The steak was 1,930.  The sides 220 each.  

Our verdict:  Ambience was good, Food was superb.  But we thought that it was too expensive.  We were deliberate in choosing items that were not most expensive, yet still spent a total of 6,500 pesos for food and drinks.  So we say, if you have extra money, worth the try.  Otherwise, there are a lot of other steak houses which offer a less expensive menu.

Strip is at Solaire Resort & Casino

Entertainment City, Aseana Ave. 

Paranaque City

http://solaireresort.com/dine/strip/