Mobile operator Sun Cellular has been recognized once again as Philippines’ Mobile Service Provider of the Year for 2012 by Frost & Sullivan Asia Pacific Best Practices Awards. This is the second straight year that Sun Cellular got the distinction from the global research and consultancy firm.

“We are happy to be acknowledged as the best for two years in a row, and now that we are part of the PLDT Group, we expect things to get even better,” says Orlando Vea, Sun Cellular’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

Coming from its intensive research and rigorous rating process, Frost & Sullivan lauded Sun Cellular for its consistent and robust growth in terms of market share, revenues and subscriber acquisition rate.

“Serving over 14 million mobile subscribers in 2011, Sun Cellular had outperformed the market average with an annual revenue growth of 14.4%. Sun Cellular is instrumental in injecting competition in the Philippines mobile market with best value offerings. Its ‘Call and Text Unlimited’ services have been popular and effective in gaining market share,” says Ms. Serene Chan, Industry Analyst – Telecom Sector, Asia Pacific ICT Practice of Frost & Sullivan.

Chan also pointed out to Sun Cellular’s innovativeness in launching new services in the age of social media, making it a very resilient player in the fast-paced mobile industry.

“With a strong market penetration strategy, it comes as no surprise that Sun Cellular has been growing above the market average rate. Between 2007 and 2011, Sun Cellular’s mobile subscribers had grown substantially over the last five years. By the end of last year, the operator held 15.6% share in the market,” Chan said.

Reporting a strong net service revenue growth of 17%, for the first half of 2012, Sun Cellular has enjoyed not only a positive and upward business movement but also attained leadership in the industry in terms of growth.

“Part of Sun’s success is its ability to come up with exciting offers that makes it the good choice for consumers given its best value-for-money proposition,” said Charles A. Lim, Sun Cellular COO. “For example, we now have the ‘Sundroid Rush Promo’ wherein for only P600 per month, you get not only an Android smartphone but a WiFi Android tablet computer as well” Lim enthused.

Frost & Sullivan is a growth partnership company that has been working closely with some of the world’s leading businesses for the creation of solutions and dynamic industry strategies. Being a steadfast advocate of growth and business development, Frost & Sullivan presents various awards to companies that show exemplary performance in terms of market leadership, innovation and business strategies.

In 2009, Sun Cellular first garnered the Most Promising Telecom Service Provider of the Year Award from the same award-giving firm. After its integration into the country’s largest telecommunications conglomerate, Sun Cellular is now looking at further growing its business to better serve its over 16 million subscribers and intensify even more the quality of its services nationwide.

“As we seek to address more consumer demands and face even tougher business challenges, we will always be grounded by the call to consistently outshine our own performance year over year – through continuous innovation, network enhancement and betterment of overall service delivery,” shares Lim. “All these, to enhance the customer experience at the end of the day.”

Sun Cellular is a member of the PLDT Group.

Cebu is becoming the centerpiece of major infrastructure and business developments. Same with SM Supermalls, the largest mall chain in the Philippines and arguably in Asia Pacific. In South Reclamation Properties (SRP) of Cebu City will soon rise the “SM Seaside City Cebu“.

In a one-on-one interview with SM Vismin PR Manager RJ Leduna, “SM Seaside City Cebu is built like a city in a city.”

The SM Seaside City Cebu is expected to be one of the major developments that we can see in the SM Properties masterplan in their 304,100 sq. meter property in SRP, Cebu City. The said SM property spreads from the norther part of the exclusive SRP area to the sea.

The said grand mall, which is expected to be the first of its kind in urban design and development at SRP and designed by Miami, Florida based Arquitectonica, will set a new benchmark and change the landscape of the city with its “nautilus-inspired design of expanding, concentric arcs from a central multi-purpose space.”

RJ Leduna further confirms that Shrine of Mary will be finished first on 2012. Also with an acronym “SM”, the church is a “sleek, modern all-white structure nestled among lush foliage.” It is the firs structure that will be built in the SM SRP Complex where the SM Seaside City Cebu is the centerpiece.

SM SRP Complex, aside from the Shrine of Mary church, is also planned to have also have a condominium buildings, hotel, a school, and a hospital.

More information will follow as we continue to unveil SM Seaside City Cebu and the SM SRP Complex.

In just a little over a month, the leading figures of the global franchising community will converge in Manila as the Philippines hosts the much-awaited Franchise Asia 2011, Asia’s biggest and most important four-in-one event happening on September 19-25 at the SMX Convention Center.

Organized by the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) and co-presented by PLDT  SME Nation and PLDT Alpha Enterprise, Franchise Asia 2011 is headlined by the twin meetings of the Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation (APFC) and the World Franchise Council (WFC) which will be attended by heads of national franchise associations from 43 member countries of the two world umbrella organizations.

Franchise Asia 2011 Chair Bing Sibal-Limjoco said that the honor of staging this prestigious international event was given to thePhilippinesafter PFA won the bid to host the high-level meetings of the APFC and WFC in Malaysiain 2008.

“This is truly a proud moment for the country, as Franchise Asia 2011 brings an excellent opportunity to market the Philippines as an investment and tourism destination,” Limjoco said.

Bannered under the theme “Asia to the World ● The World to Asia”, the event’s primary goal is to provide the platform to showcase to the world the best Philippine franchise brands and concepts, as well as provide a gateway for international brands to enter the 650 million ASEAN market through the Philippines, thus affirming the country’s position as the “Franchise Hub of Asia.”

WFC Chairman Samie Lim underscored the importance of the Manila-gathering of the international franchise community.  “These meetings will further international cooperation among global franchise players thus strengthening the joint statement of the WFC member-countries that franchising would continue to fuel the economic activity of developed and newly-industrialized countries.”

Aside from the APFC/WFC meetings, Franchise Asia 2011 will also feature the International Franchise Conference (September 22-23), the International Franchise Expo (September 23-25), and Educational Sessions and Seminars (September 24-25).

The two-day Conference, which will feature high-caliber speakers and experts with presentations on franchising updates and opportunities across the globe offers four components thus serving as the ideal learning venue to the participants.   These are: case presentations of industry leaders on “The Making of Successful Brands” to be led by Tony Tan Caktiong (Jollibee), Jeff Welch (Krispy Kreme), Chris Tanco (7-Eleven), and Edgar “Injap” Sia II (Mang Inasal); business leaders’ fora on the “Challenges and Opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, developed economies, and the emerging and growth regions; panel of experts on issues affecting the growth and development of the franchising sector such as “Sustaining the Triple Bottomline” and  “The Use of Social Media for enhanced Profitability”; and, concurrent  breakout  sessions,  which  will  present  a  variety  of  relevant  and  stimulating franchise tracks for new and emerging franchises, established franchises and mature franchises.

Meanwhile, the international franchise expo is a one-stop shop for the best business opportunities ranging from established and successful brands to new and promising franchise concepts – in food, retail and service – both homegrown and international. With almost 10,000 square meters in exhibit area, the three-day Expo will showcase around 500 booth spaces to world-class exhibitors.  A showcase of country pavilions from the U.S., Europe and Asian countries will complement other exciting features of the Expo such as the best of the Philippine franchise brands and concepts; international franchise brands and concepts; emerging concepts, incubation and winning business ideas from the academe; and, suppliers and allied services.

The Expo also provides another learning venue through the franchise seminars for would-be franchisors, franchisees and international master franchisees.  These seminars will be conducted to serve as a forum for business matching between franchisors and franchisees – “International Franchise Opportuniy” for local investors who want to be a master franchisee, an area developer or a partner of a foreign brand on September 24; “How to Franchise your Business” for micro, small or medium enterprise owners who want to expand their business through franchising on September 24 and 25; and, “Investing in a Franchise Wisely” for would-be franchisees on September 24 and September 25.

To cap the Franchise Asia 2011, is the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) program on September 26 and 27.  The CFE Program is a mini-MBA professional development program designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of franchise professionals. As the first to be accredited by the Institute of Certified Franchise Executives (ICFE) to offer the program outside theUS, PFA has already produced 38 Filipino CFE graduates, and currently has over 50 enrollees from the country and nearby Asian neighbors, further boosting thePhilippines’ esteemed professional standing in the international franchise community.

Franchise Asia 2011 is supported by the following HP Philippines, BPI Family Bank; PNB; Caltex-Chevron Phils.; 7-Eleven; Max’s Restaurant; Max’s Corner Bakery; Krispy Kreme Doughnuts; Bodega Site; Hungry Juan; Monterey Meatshop; Magnolia Chicken Station; Quali Plus International; Goldilocks; Seaoil: Aquabest; Puregold; HBC; Francorp Philippines; The Generics Pharmacy; Jollibee; McDonald’s Philippines; Wendy’s; PR Gaz Haus; Mister Donut; Pepsi; Crystal Clear; Coca-Cola; Bibingkinitan; Unilever-Selecta; Manels; BDO; Mineski; Corporate Pisanti; SM Supermalls; Robinsons Malls; Araneta Center; Shangri-la Plaza; Walter Mart; Tri Noma; Philippine Daily Inquirer; The Philippine Star; Manila Bulletin; Business World; Business Mirror; Entrepreneur Philippines; Inquirer.net; RMN DZXL 558; Oxford Business Group; Mindgate Systems Inc. AM Cleofe Prints; Manila Hotel; Microtel; Century Park Hotel; and Diamond Hotel.

 

To know more about the event, visit www.franchiseasia.com.ph or www.pfa.org.ph and register on-line for special admission rates. Other details can be obtained from the PFA Secretariat at tel. nos. (02) 687-0365 to 67; (02) 798-2543; 0917-8320731, or e-mail pfa@pfa.org.ph. For more information on the Expo, call the exhibit management team Global Link MP Events at (02) 750-8588; 0917-8320732 or e-mail franchise@globallinkmp.com.