TECHNOPRENEURS 2014

Technology and innovation is very useful, dynamic and it makes everything quick and easy. It is a platform where anyone can do almost everything. On February 19, the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship – Go Negosyo will hold its 3rd Filipino Technopreneurship Summit at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City.

This event will feature the country’s top Technopreneurs like Engr. Dado Banatao of Tallwood Ventures and Manny V. Pangilinan of PLDT Group on a dialogue forum facilitated by Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa. The summit aims to gather successful and inspiring technopreneurs to share their views and success stories to the youth and aspiring and practicing entrepreneurs.
This major summit will also feature technopreneurs who will talk about business models and enablers in the field like Earl Martin Valencia (Ideaspace), RJ David (Sulit.com), Ibba Bernardo (Sari Software Solutions), Gian Scottie Javelona (Orangeapps.ph), Marx Melencio (Grayscale Business Consultancy & Marketing Services), Angeline Rodriguez (WheninManila.com), Aurora Soriano (TimeFree Innovations), Monchito Ibrahim (DOST-ICT), Joey Gurango (Philippine Software Industry Assoc.), Beryl Li (formerly of Seed Asia), Paul Rivera (Manila Angels), Dr. Luis Sison (DOST-UP Enterprise Center for Technopreneurship), Janette Toral (DigitalFilipino.com), Francis Raymund Villanueva (Tackthis.com), and other notable technopreneurs.
We are expecting another full house event for this summit!

Engr. Dado Banatao of Tallwood Ventures will have a dialogue forum at the
3rd Filipino Technopreneurship Summit at the SMX Convention Center.
He is one of the few Filipinos who made a name in the Silicon Valley.

Manny V. Pangilinan of PLDT Group
will grace the 3rd Filipino Technopreneurship Summit
for a dialogue forum on February 19.

Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler.com,
will be the facilitator of the dialogue forum
and will be one of the plenary speakers in the Summit.

Earl Martin Valencia, President of Ideaspace Foundation will share his inspiring story and views during the plenary forum for the 3rd Filipino Technopreneurship Summit

RJ David, Founder of Sulit.com – the country’s #1 classified ads website, will be one of the panelists on the forum. Sulit.com is an online marketplace where people buy and sell a wide variety of goods, products, and services under different categories such as real estates, car and automotives products and services, and many more among Filipino individuals and business groups all over the world.

Gian Scottie Javelona, President and CEO of Orangeapps.ph – the first mobile portal for school. They provide schools in the Philippines with the best suite of school management software where everyone in the educational community in the country.

Bernardo Ibba, President of Sari Software Solutions – a platform, systems, and mobile apps developer, will share his views as one of the panelists on the forum about business models. They build a mobile technology platform to empower sari-sari stores and micro-entrepreneurs, and change the way they do business.

Janette Toral, an e-commerce specialist in the country and the site owner of DigitalFilipino.com, will be one of the panelists on the forum about business models. She is an advocate in promoting e-commerce in the country.

Marx Melencio, President of Grayscale Business Consultancy & Marketing Services – an ICT outsourcing firm. They have helped more than eighty corporations, companies, businesses, home businesses and individual Internet marketers increase their traffic and sales margins, all while cutting down their overheads.

Angeline Rodriguez, Managing Editor of WheninManila.com – the top online magazine, will take part as a panelist. WheninManila.com is known for its blogs on food, happenings, lifestyle, and events.

Monchito Ibrahim, Deputy Executive Director of DOST-ICT, will be one of the panelists for the technology enablers forum. He implemented the Philippine Cyber Corridor Initiative, which aims to make the Philippines the Global for IT-BPO services.

Joey Gurango, President of Philippine Software Industry Association, will be one of the panelists for the technology enablers forum. In 2007, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame for Microsoft’s Most Valuable Professionals, in recognition of his mastery of software technology and business.

Beryl Li (formerly of Seed Asia) will be one of the panelists for the technology enablers forum. She graduated from the University of Manchester with a bachelor’s degree in International Business, Finance and Economics.

Paul Rivera (left), Co-founder of Manila Angels – Manila-based private network of Angel investors connecting people, ideas and capital in one of the world’s fastest growing markets, will also be one of the panelists for technology enablers forum. They bring together extraordinary people passionate about innovation, entrepreneurship and technology to make a difference in the companies and markets they operate in.

Dr. Luis Sison of DOST-UP Enterprise Center for Technopreneurship will also be one of the panelists for the technology enablers forum. He is also the co-founder of the Microcontroller Applications Design Contest, and was the chair of the Rules Committee and Board of Judges for the World Robotics Olympiad 2010. He was awarded by the Philippine Development Foundation in 2010 for his outstanding achievements in Science and Engineering Education.

Francis Raymund Villanueva, Digital Customer Marketing and Analytics of Tackthis.com, will be present as one of the panelists for the technology enablers forum. TackThis is easiest Social Commerce technology solution available.

Pilipinas Now is Our Time: Investing in the Right Values

Wednesday, 29 January 2014 16:35

I read about an inspiring story of a couple who invested their time, passion, and right values in their business. Truly, anyone can beat poverty with the proper attitude and mindset. This story was written by a leading coffee social entrepreneur and active Go Negosyo advocate and awardee, Chit Juan. She is the founder of ECHOstore, a shop where you can get everything you need to start you on your way to living a sustainable lifestyle. Let me share with you Chit’s story… This is about a couple named Linda and Romy Frias. Linda started as a “jobber”, outsourcing print jobs to other presses, and got print jobs even without owning a single printing machine. Romy was a starting accountant, working in an agricultural company in Makati, just about to take his board exams. Linda and Romy met 37 years ago by accident, as Romy was on an errand looking for a printing supplier for his boss and Linda was out coordinating a print job in the same client’s office. The rest, as they say is history. As soon as they got married, Romy had the foresight to register a company in his name, even if there were no jobs yet. They had three children and established many printing plants later on but this couple has remained simple, down-to-earth and totally the “millionaire next door” type. They have already trained their children to take jobs in the family business, and are seeing to it that the next generation will handle the business as well, or even better. What made this couple successful is parlaying trust and integrity, and keeping these values intact. Linda is not a believer of “one time big time” deals and was never interested in taking commissions or “gifts” for jobs she facilitated. When she and Romy started a fledging small enterprise, she tapped all possible referrals for more business contacts. With the help of their friends, they were introduced to the right enablers to help their business. Palabra de honor or “word of honor” is another notable value that this couple has. They stay true to their clients fulfilling their agreement in delivering on time. Although they did not have any formal entrepreneurial training, their experience in working for other people equipped them with what they need to successfully run their own business. They observed how successful business people conducted themselves noting about their systems, the rules that they follow, and understanding how the production plant operates. Most importantly, they always treated people fairly and well. You see, these people are good examples of how one can go up in life one step at a time without stepping into anyone along the way. Their simplicity and humility made them somebody to look up to. The way they value trust and integrity reflects how they give importance to what they are doing and to their clients. Their attitude towards their work earned them respect from people who they have serviced. One can be inspired and can learn from the success story of these successful but very down to earth entrepreneurs. Their values are priceless and this is something that we can emulate and live by to help improve not only ourselves but others as well. As I have been forwarding, we can battle and surpass poverty with proper mindset and attitude. Like Linda and Romy, let us exercise integrity in whatever we do and fulfil our duties with extra mile to gain trust and loyalty. Through our journey to success, let us not forget where we came from and stay humble and respect others to gain the same. *** Azumi Hotel ribbon cutting: (from left to right) Charlie Rufino, Senator Sonny Angara, Ambassador Reuben Levermore, Beth Day Romulo, Mayor Fresnedi's rep Donidon Nolasco, Jane Chilip, Tito Ortis, Atty. Ricardo Romulo , Yoshi Amano Chris Chilip, whose family owns the distribution rights for Dunlop tires, has started his own businessman’s hotel called Azumi. Chris really knows how to throw an opening party. His beautiful wife Patty, the CEO of Standard Insurance who is successful herself, is Chris Chilip’s inspiration. Chris of course was properly mentored by his father. Azumi, which means safe residence in Japanese, reflects the overall structure of the building which is constructed mostly from Japanese materials. From the floors, walls, ceiling, lights, air conditioning units and elevator, Azumi hotel brings the Japanese quality and attention to detail coupled with a young hip design offering a 5-star experience with a 3-star pricing. It features 188 rooms, 3 meeting rooms, swimming pool, Yoga studio, Cafe/restaurant/bar by Romulo café, and nail spa. The place is also equipped with 24/7 security and 100% security camera coverage, 3 fire exits, 100% power back up. The goal of the company is to create something different while delivering great value to their customers. Congratulations Chris on your 40th birthday and the opening of your businessman’s hotel Azumi. The Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship – Go Negosyo will hold its 3rd Filipino Technopreneurship Summit on February 19 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. This event will feature big names in tech-industry such as Engr. Dado Banatao of Tallwood Ventures and Manny V. Pangilinan of PLDT Group on a dialogue forum facilitated by Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa. This one-day event aims to gather successful and inspiring technopreneurs in the country to share their inputs and success stories to the youth, aspiring and practicing entrepreneurs on technopreneurship.

Mobile Application Cost

Mobile Application in the Philippines begins to lower its cost.

Pilipinas Now is Our Time: Empowering Filipino Technopreneurs

Thursday, 23 January 2014 05:43

During the meeting in Manila Polo, she told us about how Rappler was conceived in 2011 with the help of key people like Beth Frondoso, Chay Hofileña, Gemma Mendoza and Marites Vitug. There were Manny Ayala, Raymund Miranda and Nix Nolledo as well who helped in putting up the company, which couldn’t have been in any better timing, with the rising popularity of social media esp. among Filipinos.

Maria Ressa, CEO and Executive Editor of Rappler, supports Go Negosyo in empowering more Filipino technopreneurs.

She mentioned that Rappler is now on its 3rd year and is still growing. They use mainly the social media as a platform to ‘out’ news at a very quick pace to initiate discussions and inspire informed and smart conversations on issues that are very relevant and timely.

Maria and her team know how to use and take advantage of the power of technology and the pervasiveness of this medium. Today, Alexa, a web information company that ranks websites according to traffic, puts Rappler.com in the third place among local online news providers following the sites of mainstream media giants ABS-CBN and Inquirer.net. Indeed, Rappler.com is creating ‘ripples’ and challenging even the traditional media powerhouses.

The power of technology helps in quick dissemination of information reaching a multitude of online users, gathering immediate responses and comments from the people creating an interlinked community and eventually getting their views on the issues real time. This is what Rappler does best.

Rappler.com has made its name in the broadcast industry even at a fresh age. It’s been influencing many people especially the youth who are, nowadays, so keen and abreast when it comes to news and the latest happenings. They use their gadgets and devices to spread and access the news in a matter of a few clicks.

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Two of the country's technology giants, Engr. Dado Banatao of Tallwood Ventures and Manny V. Pangilinan of the PLDT Group, will have a keynote dialogue on the 3rd Filipino Technopreneurship Summit on February 19 at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City

It is very timely that we had the chance to invite Maria Ressa, who is considered a thought leader in her field of industry, to become one of our distinct speakers and forum moderator on the upcoming 3rd GoNegosyo Filipino Technopreneur Summit in the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City on February 19. Aside from moderating the keynote dialogue that will feature two of the country’s technology giants, Engr. Dado Banatao of Tallwood Ventures and Mr. Manny V. Pangilinan, Maria will also take the centerstage to share her expertise on social media and big data. Aside from being a social news site, what Rappler hopes to accomplish is to continue being a platform for citizen journalism where the citizens are contributors to ‘big data’ that can be a very good reference in understanding and even addressing social problems, trends and behaviour.

This Summit is centered on reinforcing the entrepreneurial spirit of the Filipino people by engaging them in the powerful realm of technology. The summit above all else aspires to inspire future Filipino technopreneurs who will harness and maximize the powerful duo of technology and entrepreneurship for one’s economic empowerment and as an important contribution to the nation. The event also aims to enjoin the participants to develop a positive change in their mindset, and empower them with relevant entrepreneurship tools and concepts as their key to success.

The 3rd Go Negosyo Philippine Technopreneurship Summit is a one-day event that will feature different topics on technopreneurship in the form of inspiring keynote addresses and plenary forums. Following the tech giants’ forum will be two plenary fora on business models and technology enablers.

The second forum hopes to feature some of the most successful and interesting technology business models that include but are not limited to software development, mobile and web applications, web and graphic design, e-commerce platform, and even blogs. Panelists like Ibba Bernardo, CEO of Sari Software Solutions, Gian Scottie Javelona, CEO of OrangeApps.ph, Marx Melencio of Grayscale Business Consultancy and Marketing Services, Aurora Soriano, CEO of PinoyTravel.com.ph, and other technopreneurs with product or service offering will be present in the event.

The last forum is all about helping make it happen featuring enablers in the field of technopreneurship including technology incubators, investors, and relevant government agencies like the Department of Science and Technology – Information and Communications Technology Office (Deputy Executive Director Monchito Ibrahim), Philippine Software Industry Association (Joey Gurango), and DOST-UP Enterprise Center for Technopreneurship (Dr. Luis Sison). Beryl Li, a tech enabler from SeedAsia will also share the interesting findings of the recently published study Philippine Startup Report 2013.

Aside from the three forums, Earl Martin Valencia, President of Ideaspace Foundation, another techno-enterprise enabler, will share their Ideaspace vision of inspiring more Filipino technopreneur startups.

Business Beyond Books

I am thankful for the privilege of being in the company of an amazing woman, Mrs. Esther Vibal. She founded Vibal Publishing House, a company that has been known as the biggest book printer and publisher in the country for decades. Through her hard work, determination and undying passion, she has brought the company to the forefront of the printing industry. Now, under the leadership of Mrs. Vibal and her son Gus, Vibal Group is a multi-billion peso group of companies engaged in multiple core businesses on technology. This is genuine proof that technology and innovation goes a long way in business.

Oran Sokol General Manager of Digital Press Asia Pacific/Japan HP Indigo, Joey Concepcion, Esther Vibal, and PCE Executive Director Mon Lopez at the Vibal Group Plant tour.

Yesterday, I was invited to the launch of their Vibal Technology Solutions. With the mother-and-son tandem leading the Vibal Group, the company has taken its biggest technological step beyond printing. It’s amazing to witness how a traditional business like printing is now adapting to changes and advancements in technology. Instead of getting left behind, they geared up to have technology as a main part of their business model in order to secure a continuous and sustainable revenue and income stream.

Mrs. Vibal gave me a personal tour of their 1.5 hectare plant in Quezon City. Now in her mid-80’s, she passionately discussed how Gus is moving the company forward through technology. She was tireless and dynamic as she showed us their facilities and latest equipment. It was mind-blowing how we were able to keep up with her enthusiastic energy. I saw how they are staying true to their mission to reinvent and align the public sector and education to the 21st century standards.

Go Negosyo agrees that this is just what the country needs. Going beyond printing, Vibal Technology Solutions now offers complete products and services for the education, government and health sectors such as Cloud Services, Cloud Data Centers, Encryption & Digital Security Storage, Mobile & Systems Software Development, among many others. They are moving towards technological advancements that cater to the present trends. Even their printing equipments and systems have also been upgraded to state-of-the-art high valued digital printing.

While other businesses fail to adjust to technological advancements, Vibal partnered with the most credible brands in the industry like HP, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, McGraw Hill, Huawei, and others.Congratulations to Mrs. Esther Vibal and Gus Vibal for the recent launch of their Vibal Technology Solutions. They are true examples of entrepreneurs who continuously innovate and develop new business models.

Continuous innovation in a business model is critical in ensuring a sustainable feasibility in one’s business model. Not being able to adapt to changes around us can lead to dropping sales and even business closures. That is why I am always amazed how I see our fellow entrepreneurs adjust to the macro environment and gear up through technology to grow further.

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Technology has been very instrumental in all the things that we do especially on how we get in touch with our loved ones, how we transact business, and how we connect to the world. We have websites that caters to e-commerce platform. The social media site Facebook, which is celebrating its 10th year in the business, is also one of the effective and easily accessible tools that we can use. Negosyo start ups also make use of Instagram and Twitter to market their products and services and generate more awareness.

Though visually challenged, Marx Melencio turned adversity to opportunity by founding Grayscale Business Consultancy and Management Services.

As we intend to promote the power of technology in our negosyo, we will be holding the 3rd Filipino Technopreneurship Summit on February 19 at SMX Convention Center.

This summit will feature inspiring technopreneurs who excelled in their field like Filipino tech giants Engr. Dado Banatao of Tallwood Venture, Manny Pangilinan of the PLDT Group, and notable social media journalist Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler.com and Marx Melencio.

I remember meeting Marx Melencio several years ago in the 1st technopreneurship Summit. Despite losing total eyesight in 2003 because of an unfortunate incident, he managed to recover and put up his own company Grayscale Business Consultancy and Management Services which provides research services to offshore software companies, incorporating technical research writing with information technology.

He was helped by his friend in ATRIEV, a computer school for the blind, Tony Llano who was also visually impaired. It was in that school where he was exposed to the blind community and where he learned the advantages of being handicapped. Presently, he serves as a mentor to others through his own business. He implements employment programs for persons with disabilities that provide them with employment and training. Though visually impaired, he has proven that nothing can stop him from achieving his visions in life.

Engr. Dado Banatao’s story as a humble beginning, who grew up and studied in the valleys of Cagayan. He had to walk across the fields to reach school. He was a bright and studious student who did well to be able to eventually enter and finish an Engineering Degree, cum laude, from the Mapua Institute of Technology, and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University.

Business innovation and finding your strategic value are very important to Dado. He values innovation because for him innovation is what propels the technology industry.

Manny V. Pangilinan, an MVP in real life, also moved up from the ladder of success with great sacrifice, hardships, and failures but he emerged on top of his game. He is one of the most respected and reputable self-made business leaders today. His persistence and hard work made him who he is right now.

CEO of the Philippines’ 3rd top news site, Maria Ressa will be talking about Technopreneurship in the Philippines: Understanding Social Media and Big Data. Ressa is a renowned Filipina journalist in Asia having been in the business for more than 25 years. Interestingly, Maria’s vision is to redefine journalism by incorporating traditional broadcast, new media and mobile phone technology to further social change in the country.

Mobile Application: Project Noah

I. Introduction

The Philippines being a locus of typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, is a hotbed of disasters. Natural hazards inflict loss of lives and costly damage to property. Last year, the devastating impacts of Pedring, Quiel and Sendong resulted in a high number of fatalities with economic losses amounting to billions of pesos. Extreme weather is the common factor in these latest catastrophes. Situated in the humid tropics, the Philippines will inevitably suffer from climate-related calamities similar to those experienced recently. With continued development in the lowlands, and growing populations, it is expected that damage to infrastructure and human losses would persist and even rise unless appropriate measures are immediately implemented by government.

In response to President Aquino's instructions to put in place a responsive program for disaster prevention and mitigation, specifically, for the Philippines' warning agencies to be able to provide a 6 hour lead-time warning to vulnerable communities against impending floods and to use advanced technology to enhance current geo-hazard vulnerability maps, the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) was launched by the Department of Science and Technology.

NOAH's mission is to undertake disaster science research and development, advance the use of cutting edge technologies and recommend innovative information services in government's disaster prevention and mitigation efforts. Though the use of science and technology and in partnership with the academe and other stakeholders, the DOST through Program NOAH is taking a multi-disciplinary approach in developing systems, tools, and other technologies that could be operationalized by government to help prevent and mitigate disasters.

NOAH's immediate task is to integrate current disaster science research and development projects and initiate new efforts within the DOST to achieve this objective. Presently there are nine(9) component projects under the NOAH program, namely:

Hydromet Sensors Development
DREAM-LIDAR 3-D Mapping Project
Flood NET-Flood Modeling Project
Hazards Information Media
Strategic Communication Intervention
Disaster Management using WebGIS
Enhancing Geo-hazards Mapping through LIDAR
Doppler System Development
Landslide Sensors Development Project
Storm Surge Inundation Mapping Project
Weather Information - Integration for System Enhancement (WISE)
The current NOAH Program team is composed of the scientist-leaders of these projects. The country's warning agencies: PAG-ASA and PHIVOLCS are also represented.

Within two years, NOAH shall provide high-resolution flood hazard maps and install 600 automated rain gauges and 400 water level measuring stations for 18 major river basins of the Philippines, namely:

Marikina River Basin
Cagayan de Oro River Basin
Iligan River Basin
Agno River Basin
Pampanga River Basin
Bicol River Basin
Cagayan River Basin
Agusan River Basin
Panay River Basin
Magaswang Tubig River Basin
Jalaur River Basin
Ilog-Hilabangan River Basin
Agus River Basin
Davao River Basin
Mindanao River Basin
Tagum-Libuganon River Basin
Tagaloan River Basin
Buayan-Malungun River Basin
The other river basins of the Philippines will follow soon after the work on the 18 major river basins is completed.

The hazard maps are produced with computer simulations that reflect flood-prone areas discernible at a local scale or community level. Such maps are necessary for localized emergency response, identification of evacuation and access routes, road closures during disaster events, siting of key rescue facilities and comprehensive land use planning. The initial output of Project NOAH is focused on the Marikina Watershed. As of July 6, 2012, streaming data from the automated rain gauges and water level sensors, flood hazard maps overlain on Google Maps, graphical satellite radar and Doppler data forecasts, and translated rain intensity and volume measurements in terms of warning and evacuation level alarms, hours or days ahead of the flood event, are accessible online. The output on the Marikina Watershed will serve as the prototype of the efforts done by NOAH and will be replicated for the entire Philippines. Information generated shall also be transmitted using other media and communication channels. Through the use of advanced science and technology, NOAH aims to improve disaster management capacity of local governments and assure homeland security by reducing casualties and property loss from extreme hazard events.

II. Mission

The Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (NOAH) program team will collaborate with government agencies to promote and integrate advanced science and technology to enhance disaster management and prevention capacity of the Philippine government. These include: the deployment of instruments and state-of-the-art methods to construct high resolution hazard maps that are relevant to the community and local government units; delivery of readily accessible, timely and accurate hazards information through various media and communication platforms; disaster research and development; integration of disaster efforts by the national government, academe and civil society organizations; and application of a bottom-up approach by communities to resilience against disasters.

III. Vision

To assure homeland security by reducing casualties and property loss from extreme hazard events and build disaster resilient communities in the Philippines by way of establishing research and development platforms and the promotion of frontier science and technology in disaster efforts.

To become a world leader in programs that leverage on advanced science and technology to mitigate the impacts of natural hazards.

Participating Agencies and Organizations

PAGASA
DOST-ASTI
PHIVOLCS
DOST-STII
UP NIGS EML Laboratory
 ClimateX Project
UP NIGS VTEC Laboratory
nababaha.com
UP DGE-TCAGP
UP-MSI
UP Computer Center
British Council
British Embassy
UK Environment Agency
Cabot Institute, Bristol University
Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Potsdam
MediaQuest Holdings Inc.
Manila Observatory
DRRNet
DILG
MMDA
DENR
DPWH
DOST PCHRD OLTrap Index
Smart Communications, Inc.
SUN Cellular
Google Crisis Response
Petron
www.lifesomundane.net
Rotary Club of Pinamalayan Central
Silverworks
EDC
DSWD
NDRRMC-OCD
World Bank
USAID
Environmental Science for Social Change (ESSC)
Pambansang Samahan sa Linggwistika at Literaturang Filipino, Ink.
Data Sources

Australian AID: Metro Manila LiDAR data
Collective Strengthening of Community Awareness for Natural Disasters (CSCAND): Metro Manila LiDAR data
Government of Japan: JICA
Government of Korea: KOICA
Mobile Application Development

Project NOAH Android: Rolly Rulete and SMART Communications
Ateneo Java Wireless Competency Center: Flood Patrol app for Android
ABS-CBN Corporation: Project NOAH app for IOS
Pointwest Technologies: Flood Map app for Android/IOS
NOAH Mirrors

University of the Philippines, Diliman
PSCIGRID
Rappler
GMA Network
Globe Telecommunications
Voyager Innovations
Initial Web Development by Icannhas Inc.

IV. Testing

The testing of the application earns around Php 430,000 for the first year. 64% of the profit is obtained during rainy season. The application has been tested around Manila smartphone users.

Mobile Ad Impressions iOS vs. Android