BPI hit by system glitch causes clients 'losing money' in accounts

The Bank of the Philippines Islands (BPI) is having a major system glitch led to customers being hit by unauthorized transactions that deducted money from their accounts or worse, even led to their account balances becoming negative on Wednesday, June 7.



Numerous BPI clients posted on social media claiming they have lost anything from 4,000 pesos ($80; £62) to up to 100,000 pesos.

hoy ibalik nio ung pera ko!!!!!! bakit i lost 20k on my online account!

— Jeyms Salazar (@jeyms_salazar) June 6, 2017

The bank moved to suspend the access to electronic banking while errors were corrected.

However, BPI customers complain on how they can check/access their accounts to see if they were affected.

Based on the 2016 annual report, Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) had nearly 8 million clients and 1.4tn pesos in total deposits.

As of 12:43 PM, BPI twitter account posted an advisory regarding the efforts to fixed the sytem glitch and remind its depositors not to give out personal data to any party; in particular via link attached on email or third party site.

BPI shares fell nearly 2% in early stock market trading in Manila.

The 165 year-old BPI counts Philippines conglomerate Ayala and Singapore sovereign wealth fund GIC among its major shareholders.

BPI hit by system glitch causes clients 'losing money' in accounts

SM City mall to rise in Roxas City next year

ROXAS CITY - SM City Roxas is finally rising here!

The SM Group of Companies will open one of its Supermalls in Roxas City by middle of 2018.

This was confirmed during the courtesy visit of SM executives at the office of Roxas City Mayor Angel Alan B. Celino morning of March 23, 2017.



According to Steven Tan, SM Supermalls senior vice president, the long awaited construction of the mall will start June 2017 on a 102,309 sq.m. (10.2309 hectares) lot on Arnaldo Boulevard in front of the Colegio dela Purisima Concepcion (CPC).



Joining Tan in the visit were Kristine Yap, head of SM Group marketing for the Visayas 3; and Girlie Liboon, regional operations manager for Visayas 3.

Tan said SM City-Roxas is a full scale mall with cinemas, department stores and stalls.

It is owned by SM Prime Holding which operates 58 malls located across the country and 6 in China.

SM Supermalls has become one of the biggest mall operators in South East Asia.

Celino said the opening of SM Supermalls in Roxas City is another good development for the people of Capiz and nearby provinces.

“The city government welcomed the opening of SM Supermalls here as it creates more employments and more opportunities for the residents and visitors alike,” the mayor said. /The Daily Guardian/Felipe V. Celino
https://thedailyguardian.net/local-news/another-mall-roxas-city-next-year/

SM City mall to rise in Roxas City next year

14 PH tycoons among Forbes’ richest worldwide

Fourteen Filipino tycoons led by the SM Group’s Henry Sy Sr., were among the richest individuals on the planet, according to the 31st Forbes’ World’s Billionaires list.

More Filipinos made it to this year’s index, compared to 11 in 2016, as the Philippines ranked among the fastest growing economies in the region. For 2017, Forbes Magazine counted 2,043 global billionaires, a 13 percent increase.

According to Forbes, Henry Sy Sr., whose SM Investments Corp. controls the country’s largest banking, shopping mall and retail businesses, had a net worth of $12.7 billion.

Sy, at 92 years-old, remained the only Filipino among the world’s 100 wealthiest people.

He was followed by John Gokongwei Jr., who had a net worth of $5.8 billion. The Gokongwei family controls JG Summit Holdings Inc., a property, airline, food and beverage conglomerate. It also has interests in the country’s biggest electricity retailer, Manila Electric Co., and telecommunications giant PLDT Inc.

The third richest in the country is Lucio Tan, with a fortune of $3.7 billion. Tan’s LT Group is in beverages, banking, tobacco and real estate. Tan also owns Philippine Airlines, the region’s oldest commercial air carrier.

The remaining Filipino billionaires who made it to this year’s list:

• George Ty (banking, property, automotive): $3.5 billion
• Enrique Razon Jr. ( ports, casinos): $3.4 billion
• Tony Tan Caktiong (fast food, real estate): $3.4 billion
• David Consunji (construction, power, property): $3.1 billion
• Andrew Tan (property, gaming, liquor, fast food): $2.5 billion
• Robert Coyiuto Jr. ( insurance, power, automotive): $1.5 billion
• Manuel Villar Jr. (property, retail): $1.5 billion
• Ramon Ang (food, beverage, infrastructure, property): $1.4 billion
• Eduardo Cojuangco Jr. ( cement, agriculture): $1.2 billion
• Roberto Ongpin (property): $1.1 billion
• Edgar Sia II ( fast food, property): $1 billion

Forbes said its billionaires list was a “snapshot” of wealth taken on Feb. 17, 2017.

SOURCE: SFM/Miguel R. Camus/http://business.inquirer.net/226536/14-ph-tycoons-among-forbes-richest-worldwide/amp

14 PH tycoons among Forbes’ richest worldwide

10 money-saving tips to do every day

Saving money is usually a hard habit to develop because it requires discipline, sacrifice and motivation. There are a lot of things in your daily activities that can actually save you money and help you reach your financial goals.

Well, let's take a look on some painless ways to save money every day:

1. Create a budget.
   Everything starts here. Identify where your money goes — which portion gets more or less of your income. This is also where you set priorities. Once amounts are pegged, it can be easier to say no to unnecessary expenses. Creating a definite monthly budget can be the start of developing a disciplined financial life.
2. Say no to eat-outs.
   Eating out is many times more fun than eating packed lunch in the office. But did you know that you can actually save a significant amount of money by refraining from restaurant food? Prepare your own lunch or even dinner and save eat-outs for special occasions instead.
   
   
3. Ditch vices.
   Vices are not only bad for your health but also for your wallet. What makes them worse are they’re not even considered as necessities. Consider quitting vices, if you have any, and you’ll surely save money from not buying cigarettes, alcoholic beverages or playing games.
   
   
4. Don’t go to the supermarket hungry.
   If you’re craving when you visit the supermarket, chances are you’ll buy more than what you need. That’s additional expense that’s completely unnecessary. You might not realize this until now but you have to mind your tummy before doing your groceries.
   
   
   
5. De-stress on a budget.
   Shopping, stuffing yourself, gaming or drinking when stressed cost you money. You can surely think of more cost-efficient ways to get rid of stress. How about taking a short, quiet walk, running, or binge-watching?
   
   
6. Sell clutter instead of throwing them away.
   Hold a garage sale when you want to get rid of your old items. This is financially way better than just taking your clutter into the trash.
   
   
7. Pass up gym membership.
   There are cheaper ways to shape up. Hitting the gym is not always the best option. You can take advantage of a refreshing morning jog or an in-home yoga session. Paying for a gym membership is reasonable only if you’re sure you’re going to be at the gym regularly.
   
   
8. Cut back on your mobile phone expenses.
   Believe it or not, you might be spending more than what is needed on your mobile usage. Do you really need that much data allowance? Are you consuming all the texts and calls included in your plan?
   
   
9. Try doing things on your own.
   Services like having your nails done, grooming, and car maintenance and repair are some things you can learn and do on your own so you won’t have to pay for them anymore.
   
   
10. Grow food in your garden.
    Grow some vegetables and fruits in your garden so you won’t have to buy everything at the supermarket. A lot of free resources online can help you get started if you don’t have any experience yet in gardening.

SOURCE: Charmaine De Lazo (philstar.com)
http://www.philstar.com/business-life/2016/03/29/1558080/10-money-saving-tips-do-every-day-reach-your-financial-goals/

10 money-saving tips to do every day

#PhilippineMarket: Peso-dollar rate & stocks update

The Philippine peso–US dollar exchange rate at the Philippine Dealing and Exchange Corporation (PDEX) closed at P50.36, slightly weaker than Monday’s (March 13) rate at P50.32.

At the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reference exchange rate bulletin, the exchange rate settled at P50.29 to the greenback.

On the other hand, the Philippine Stock Exchange Index (PSEi) increased, gaining 28.66 points (0.40%) to close at 7,261.75.

The all-shares index also rose by 4.32 points (0.10 %) to 4,383.33.

SOURCE: http://business.mb.com.ph/2017/03/14/tuesday-markets-peso-dollar-rate-at-p50-36-stocks-climb/

#PhilippineMarket: Peso-dollar rate & stocks update

Samsung Galaxy S8 arrives in PH on May 5

The 5.8-inch S8 will retail for P39,990 while the 6.2-inch S8+ will retail for P45,990. Would you buy one?

Samsung has officially released its first television advertisement for their Galaxy S8 in South Korea. As usual, it's a little earlier than usual which could be a bid from Samsung to stave off competition from rival LG.

Samsung has confirmed that the Galaxy S8 is nearly here, and there’s no shortage of rumours and leaks detailing exactly what we should expect. We’re also expecting a Galaxy S8+ model, which will replace the usual ‘Edge’ variant we’ve come to expect.




Last year’s Galaxy S7 was a seriously impressive handset (and our Phone of the Year 2016), but Samsung faced controversy over the Galaxy Note 7’s fiery death. Samsung is now under pressure to get this year’s flagship right, so it’s likely the South Korean tech giant is cooking up something brilliant behind closed doors.

I think this is what you've been waiting for. pic.twitter.com/FvYfsLOy0R

— Evan Blass (@evleaks) March 1, 2017

Samsung Galaxy S8 specifications

	Samsung Galaxy S7	Samsung Galaxy S8	Samsung Galaxy S8+
Screen	5.1 inches	5.8 inches	6.2 inches
Display Resolution	1,440 x 2,560 pixels	1,440 x 2,960	1,440 x 2,960
Aspect Ratio	16:9	~18:9	~18:9
Chipset	Snapdragon 820 OR Exynos 8890	Snapdragon 835 OR Exynos 8895	Snapdragon 835 OR Exynos 8895
Memory	4GB	4GB	4GB
Storage	32GB	64GB	64GB
Main Camera	12-megapixel (DualPixel) – f/1.7	12-megapixel (DualPixel) – f/1.7	12-megapixel (DualPixel) – f/1.7
Front Camera	5-megapixel – f/1.7	8-megapixel – f/1.7	8-megapixel – f/1.7
Battery Size	3,000mAh	3,000mAh	3,500mAh
Charging	Micro USB	USB Type C	USB Type C
Headphone Jack	Yes	Yes	Yes
Fingerprint Scanner	Yes	Yes	Yes
Iris Scanner	No	Yes	Yes
Waterproofing	Yes (IP68 Certified)	Yes (IP68 Certified)	Yes (IP68 Certified)

SAMSUNG GALAXY S8: SUMMARY

In summary, here’s what you should expect:

Samsung Galaxy S8 release date: Samsung is going to announce the Galaxy S8 in New York on March 29, but the actual release date is less clear-cut. Rumours have pinned the launch on April 14, April 21, and April 28, so it seems there’s a consensus on April at the very least.

Samsung Galaxy S8 specs: Samsung is supposedly plotting high screen-to-body ratios, powerful 10nm chips, slick bezel-bashing designs, and Galaxy Note 7 features like an Iris Scanner and USB-C charging.

Samsung Galaxy S8 price: The Galaxy S8 and S8+ are reportedly set to retail at €799 and €899 respectively – ouch!

SOURCE: http://www.trustedreviews.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s8-release-date-specs-rumours-price-uk#VTV9wu4cTv8xvsJU.99

Samsung Galaxy S8 arrives in PH on May 5

List of 2017 Philippine Holidays

Planning for a long vacation? Or just wondering when is the next holiday so you can have your rest day?

Here’s a list of the Regular Holidays, Special non-working days, and Special Holidays in the Philippines for the year 2017 broken down by month.

Complete List of Official Philippine Holidays – 2017
Based on Proclamation No. 50 signed by Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, series 2016

January 2017
January 1, 2017 (Sunday) – New Year’s Day (Regular holiday)
January 2, 2017 (Monday) – Special non-working day
January 28, 2017 (Saturday) – Chinese New Year (Special non-working day)

February 2017
February 25, 2017 (Saturday) – Anniversary of EDSA Revolution (Special non-working day)

April 2017
April 9, 2017 (Sunday) – Araw ng Kagitingan (Regular holiday)
April 13, 2017 (Thursday) – Maundy Thursday (Regular holiday)
April 14, 2017 (Friday) – Good Friday (Regular holiday)
April 15, 2017 (Saturday) – Black Saturday (Special non-working day)

May 2017
May 1, 2017 (Monday) – Labor Day (Regular holiday)

June 2017
June 12, 2017 (Monday) – Independence Day (Regular holiday)

August 2017
August 21, 2017 (Monday) – Ninoy Aquino Day (Special non-working holiday)
August 28, 2017 (Monday) – National Heroes Day (Regular holiday)

October 2017
October 31, 2017 (Tuesday) – Additional special non-working day

November 2017
November 1, 2017 (Wednesday) – All Saints’ Day (special non-working holiday)
November 30, 2017 (Thursday) – Bonifacio Day (Regular holiday)

December 2017
December 25, 2017 (Monday) – Christmas Day (Regular holiday)
December 30, 2017 (Saturday) – Rizal Day (Regular holiday)
December 31, 2017 (Sunday) – Last Day of the Year (Special non-working day)

No Dates Yet (to be announced soon)
Eid’l Fitr (End of Ramadan)
Eidul Adha

Happy holidays!

List of 2017 Philippine Holidays