Bossing Vic Sotto shares why he thinks Real Estate Properties are Good Investments

Every story of a persevering Filipino, especially an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) is inspiring. As modern-day heroes, they chose to go abroad, far from home, seize opportunities, reach their dreams and aspirations, and provide for their families through their hard-earned money. 

However, due to the pandemic, their savings might be spent on more immediate needs, especially since the current situation put the country's economy into recession. That is why financial experts say that OFWs should consider putting their extra income into long-term investments, like real estate properties. 

Take it from Bossing Vic Sotto, who has seen the importance and advantages of having property investments that he considers safe and a good source of passive income, especially for OFWs considering retirement. 

"Investing in property is one investment that OFWs won't regret, as long as they carefully plan ahead to make it successful. When you have done it right, you will reap the fruits of your labor," Bossing said. 

If you are an OFW, Bossing wants to show you why investing in properties can be the long-term investment plan for you.

Properties have a predictable cash flow. One of the benefits of real estate investments is its ability to provide you greater cash flow. Over time, the more you have paid off mortgage payments and operating expenses, the more your net income from the investment increases.

Properties can increase your assets. As you pay down your property mortgage, you build an equity–an asset that is part of your net worth. By growing your equity, you can leverage it to buy more properties, as well as to increase your cash flow and wealth even more.

Properties appreciate in value. Real estate’s value increases over time, especially when you invest and take care of it properly. For instance, a 1,000sqm property in a Quezon City subdivision was worth 150,000 pesos during the 1970's. Now it is easily worth 150 Million Pesos.

Improving the property’s state can grow its worth. Since properties are made of tangible materials, you can change their entire look when needed. Whether you are designing to repair flaws or improve its cosmetics, changing its design will make it more valuable than its previous state.

Properties is a perfect retirement plan. The value and the cash flow of properties increases over time. So, the longer you invest in real estate, the more you can earn in the long run. It makes itself the perfect retirement plan for anyone who wants to continue earning even after retirement.



For OFWs, another option is to turn it into a condotel, which could generate easy passive income. And since the Philippines is an attractive tourist destination attracting visitors every year, it adds to the advantage for Filipino investors. Investing in condotels near tourist spots will grow your chances of success when the economy starts to recover.

Bossing also believes in preventing yourself from making common investment mistakes like choosing the wrong location or asset. Looking for reliable real estate developers will help you lay down your property investment roadmap to success. 

For instance, CitiGlobal Realty and Development Inc., a top real estate developer, which according to Bossing, is helpful as it offers affordable and income-generating properties in the country, provides high demand and affordable properties for investors.

The company envisions becoming a top real estate developer in the country, effortlessly putting the Philippines's best tourism locations on the map through their real estate properties like Tagaytay Fontaine Villas, Tagaytay Clifton Resort Suites in Tagaytay, and Diamond Beach Resorts in Palawan, and other upcoming projects dedicated world-class real estate developments showing the beauty of the locations. And provide investment opportunities for OFWs to have back in the country and be with their families.

To learn more about CitiGlobal, visit its website at https://citiglobal.com.ph/ or send them an e-mail at info@citiglobal.com.ph for inquiries. If you have properties to offer, you may reach them via Viber (0949-889-3252).

Xiaomi Introduces Redmi 9T in the Philippines

Xiaomi Philippines today announced the addition of a new Redmi smartphone: Redmi 9T. Redmi 9T was designed to deliver the exceptional performance and multi-day battery life that users crave without compromising on photography capabilities and overall design.

The fun launch event played with Redmi 9T’s tagline, #PowerUp. In addition to leveled up games and promos that highlighted the phone’s noteworthy features, the evening also featured a powerful performance from Filipino parkour athletes.

 

Redmi 9T  

Develop cinematic photos, spend less time editing

Redmi 9T is a photography powerhouse with its 48MP AI quad rear-camera. The device’s 8MP ultra-wide angle camera accommodates large group photos and wide landscape shots without cropping, while its 2MP macro lens and 2MP depth sensor enable stunning close-up shots with professional-level bokeh. Redmi 9T is also equipped with a new movie frame feature that gives photos a more cinematic look and feel without editing. It also sports a new time-lapse feature which offers various speed and duration values for shooting so users can capture creative time-lapse photos without tapping a DSLR or other professional camera.  

Performance shines through with powerful chipset and high-capacity battery

Despite its lightweight design, Redmi 9T packs a punch with its 6,000mAh (typ) battery and Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 662 chipset. Combined with its 11nm energy-efficient processor, Redmi 9T delivers higher performance with less heat production and lower power consumption than previous generations. Moreover, MIUI battery saving mode and reverse wired charging capabilities help maximize all-day, and even multi-day usage.  

The Redmi 9T comes with 18W fast charging and an in-box 22.5W charger.  

 

Durability and comfort join forces for a superior smartphone experience

Redmi 9T features a modern and minimalistic design with its rounded corners and an anti-fingerprint textured back. Its 6.53” FHD+ Dot Drop display with Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3 offers a crisp and clear viewing experience and strong protection against cracks and scratches. 

Redmi 9T also comes with Widevine L1 and TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certifications for a more enjoyable viewing experience. The device is available in four delightful color variants: Carbon Gray, Twilight Blue, Sunrise Orange, and Ocean Green. 

 

More to love with expandable storage  

Complete with Dual SIM and microSD expandable storage, Redmi 9T offers expandable storage of up to 512GB so users can keep their favorite apps, games, photos and videos all on one device. Infrared blaster support would come in handy on your Redmi 9T.  

 

 

 

Price and Availability

Redmi 9T will be available in  4GB + 64GB at a price of PHP 6,990.00. Meanwhile, the 6GB + 128GB version will be available at PHP 7,990.00. Both of Redmi 9T’s versions will be on sale at the Xiaomi Philippines Flagship Store on on Lazada and Shopee on January 29, 2021. There will be a special offering of PHP500 off for the 4+64GB variant for 24 hours.

The new Redmi 9T will also be available with exclusive freebies at Authorized Mi Stores and resellers only during the official sale.

 

For product images please refer to Redmi 9T. 

 

Redmi 9T quick specs:

 

* No reverse wired charging cable included in the box

** Connectivity varies in different markets

 

For more information on Xiaomi Philippines, please visit Xiaomi’s official website and information portal at https://www.mi.com/ph, or follow their official Facebook or Instagram for other exciting updates.

RD Pawnshop marks 45th Anniversary with the exciting “Magandang Bukas” campaign

RD Pawnshop, Inc., one of the country's leading pawnshop brands, marks another milestone as it celebrates its 45th anniversary of providing high-quality services to Filipinos. 

Alma Pascual, the Business Unit Head of RD Pawnshop Inc., said that all its satisfied clientele could only expect more from the company as it stays true to its commitment to providing quality services to all Filipinos.

Coinciding with its 45th-anniversary celebration, the company launched via a virtual press conference its "Magandang Bukas" campaign, which emphasized its promise of being a companion of all hardworking Filipinos, through and through, especially amid the current pandemic. Among the virtual event attendees were its brand ambassador Pokwang, an inspiring comedienne, actress, television host, and singer.

"At RD Pawnshop, we recognize the value of stability from beginning to end, which helped us thrive for 45 years in service. We want to share this value of stability with Filipinos as we will always be happy to serve and accompany them in every part of their journey. We also want to continue being a source of hope and partner until they make all their dreams happen, hence our new tagline “Kasama mo, Hanggang sa Magandang Bukas”, said Pascual.

With its "Magandang Bukas" campaign, RD Pawnshop shows further that it is one of the most approachable pawnshops in the country. As it understands every Filipino's sacrifice, the company now offers lower remittance rates and higher appraisal values with zero advance interest.

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Alongside a workforce trained with excellent customer services and practices, it assures Filipinos hassle-free, reliable, and fast transactions. Aside from pawning, RD Pawnshop provides other services, such as e-loading, bill payment, and insurance services. 

RD Pawnshop was founded in 1976 by Rodrigo E. Rivera Sr. and his wife Dolores Chua Rivera in General Santos City. It is part of the conglomerate RD Corporation dedicated to providing clean, conscientious, and respectable services. 

To learn more about RD Pawnshop, visit its website at https://rdpawnshop.com.ph/ or send them an e-mail at info@rdpawnshop.com for inquiries.

Tanduay Double Rum Receives Perfect Score in U.S. Wines and Spirits Competition

Tanduay Double Rum has been honored with the 100-Point Century Award at the recent 2020 PR%F Awards Tasting Competition,  a distinguished Spirits & Wine Competition awards program presented by Food & Beverage Magazine, the B2B go-to industry leader ranked by Alexa as the most trafficked website in the hospitality industry. It received a unanimous perfect score from an esteemed panel of judges consisting of beverage buyers of multi-unit restaurants, bars, nightclubs, casinos, hotels, resorts, airlines, retailers, and distributors from across the United States who took part in a two-day tasting event in Las Vegas to determine the winners.

Apart from Tanduay Double Rum, several Tanduay products also received honors at the recent competition. Tanduay Asian Rum Gold received a Double Gold while Tanduay Silver Asian Rum, Tanduay White Rum, Tanduay Boracay Cappuccino Flavored Rum received a Gold. Tanduay Boracay Coconut Flavored Rum and Tanduay Dark Rum were both awarded a Silver.

 

The awards were handed out based on the points each product received. They were as follows: Bronze - Daily Drinker (70-79 points); Silver - Praise (80-89 points); Gold - Highly Recommended (90-95 points); Double Gold - Superlative (96-99 points); and Century Award - Perfect Score (100 points). 

 

“In a year filled with challenges, receiving these awards become more meaningful. We thank the judges for recognizing the quality that Tanduay puts into its products and we share these honors with our fellow Filipinos,” said Tanduay Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing Paul Lim.

 

In addition to its medals, Tanduay’s winning products will be featured in the PR%F Awards 2020 special edition of Food and Beverage Magazine. It will be published online on February 16, 2021.

 

The year 2020 was another winning year for Tanduay. Its products received several accolades from different wines and spirits competitions in the U.S., Europe, and China. It also won its sixth consecutive Brand of the Year Award in the rum category of the World Branding Awards.

UP’s emotional support dogs get boost from TopBreed, UP Fighting Maroons on UP Doggo Day

Nineteen dogs from the Emotional Support Animals (ESA) Program of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) received a Holiday treat from the UP Fighting Maroons Basketball Team and its newest sponsor TopBreed, the leading Philippine-made dog food brand in the country.

 

TopBreed provided the dogs with 900 kilograms of high-quality dog food and essentials like TopB+ vitamins and ShamPooch dog shampoo. The canines underwent general check-up and deworming, and were given anti-rabies vaccines administered by the TopBreed veterinarians. TopBreed provided pet supplies to ESA handlers from the different UPD colleges and units for dogs under their supervision. Efforts were coordinated with the Friends of Campus Animals (FOCA UP), the first campus-based animal welfare volunteer group that helps with the ESA program. UPD’s Balay Kaibigan houses the emotional support animals that also includes cats.

 

The project became a reality when TopBreed and the UPMBT reached out to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Community Affairs in early December and volunteered to help out UP Diliman’s Emotional Support Animals (ESA) Program. The program, which was launched in 2019 by then UPD Chancellor Michael Tan, provides psychosocial support for students and university staff that may experience stress, depression, or anxiety. The program manages, trains, and utilizes campus animals to render emotional and therapeutic support to those who need them.

 

“The University recognizes the ability of animals to help people destress. Therapy dogs are already being tapped in universities abroad to help students deal with academic stress. But even the ESA’s were not spared from the hardships of the pandemic,” said UP Diliman Vice-Chancellor for Community Affairs Dr. Aleli Bawagan. “We appreciate the efforts of Top Breed to vaccinate and deworm UPD's emotional support dogs and donate dog food. We look forward to more collaborations with them in the future.”

 

Universal Robina Corporation’s Agro-Industrial Group (URC-AIG) managing director Vincent Henry Go meanwhile said “TopBreed is thrilled to take part in the UP Doggo Day. We are very happy to be given a chance to express our brand’s mission of providing top care to pets especially to these dogs who have provided comfort and emotional support to those in need. We would like to commend UP for coming up with this brilliant program that benefits both animals and humans alike. We salute the University for this endeavor and for taking good care of our fur friends, the emotional support dogs.”

Canva empowers home based entrepreneurs with Canva for Negosyo

With the passion for helping more online entrepreneurs, Canva has launched Canva for Negosyo, the Filipino business owner’s partner in creativity and productivity for their digital footprint. It’s an online hub that offers a wide selection of resources useful for designing, marketing, and managing a small business online: from video tutorials on branding and graphic design to customizable marketing templates and toolkits.

Sample designs from the Canva for Negosyo collections

Entrepreneurs who are looking to present their products and services to attract more customers can choose from among Canva’s many user-friendly templates and toolkits. Then, there are entrepreneurs, like Sandee Sevilla, who use Canva as their main business tool.

Sandee, a stay-at-home mom, creates banners, visual content, marketing assets, and various other designs for her clients. “I had a client 3 years ago who needed a postcard. I did my research, saw Canva, tried it and fell in love with it.” She has been taking on her clients’ design needs ever since, averaging 30 clients a month. “I have taken on more than 600 projects already, with 14 regular clients who ask me for social media graphics, banners, etc.,” she says proudly.

Currently she earns up to 150,000 pesos monthly. Sandee has been able to provide employment opportunities as well. “I started as a one-woman team, but with the big demand, I then had to hire my first assistant.” Now, she has five team members who are mostly fellow Filipino stay-at-home moms.

With her home based business allowing her to earn as much as P20,000 to 30,000 a month back in 2016 to 2017, Sandee has been able to contribute significantly to their family income, “We have been able to move to a bigger home where my four kids now have rooms of their own. My husband and I have also transferred them from public school to private school.”

Sandee Sevilla, who uses Canva as their main business tool

“For me, Canva is a time-saver because it is so easy to use. It allows me to compete internationally even though I am just a self-taught designer. It has opened so many doors for me. There are really a lot of opportunities through Canva,” Sevilla shares.

Maisie Littaua, Head of Growth for Canva Philippines says that Canva is happy to partner with “homepreneurs” in building their online businesses. “Canva is designed for ease of use, and with our toolkit, we offer a variety of choices which small businesses can harness for their growth. Madaling matutunan at gamitin ang Canva, at maraming business opportunities ang pwedeng pag-gamitan ng skills dito. With Canva, truly, your imagination is your limit.”

Canva for Negosyo also hosts a series of webinars covering topics such as Intro to Canva and Designing 101, Branding for your Business & Social Media Mastery, and Designing Your Marketing Materials on Canva. A Canva for Negosyo Facebook community is also online, where members can network and share their own tips on how to expand their market. These and other business help tools are available on Canva.

If you are a small business owner, a local entrepreneur, visit https://www.canva.com/canva-for-negosyo/ to know more about Canva for Negosyo.