War Of Talents

The Philippines has already built a reputation as a preferred off-shoring destination in the world. Growth of the sector continued through 2008 and 2009 and this helped the Philippine economy stay afloat during the global financial crisis.
According to Gaurav Gupta, country head for India of the US-based Everest Group, the industry has registered a compounded annual growth rate of 30 percent since 2006, with an estimated $9 billion in revenue this year. “The Philippines has clearly established itself as number 2 next to India,” says Gupta.

(Photo by Chary Chu)
At 2nd International Outsourcing Summit, held last 26 – 27 Oct. 2010, industry leaders discussed a range of issues facing the BPO sector. One issue was on talent.

Cristina Coronel, president of the Philippine Software Industry Association says that the “war of talent” continues to be a critical issue facing the industry. “The industry has been facing attrition for the longest time.” She saw both an “outflow and inflow strategy” to address the problem. A “gentleman’s agreement” can be forged between companies to control the outflow (piracy of talents). She also saw the need to improve programs and partnerships. “Partnerships with the academe can result to better, smarter talents,” adds Ms. Coronel.


Maulik Parekh, President and CEO of SPi Global say, “Attrition is very company specific.” He mentions that a company should have a culture that is respectful and with a sense of malasakit.” He adds that there are other sources of talents outside Metro Manila. “These talents from key provinces can go head to head with talents from Manila and Cebu.”

Outside Metro Manila and Metro Cebu, these talents can be found in 10 key provincial cities, which have made strong contributions to the economy. These ten cities are called the Next Wave Cities™ These cities are Davao, Sta. Rosa, Bacolod City, Iloilo City, Metro Cavite, Lipa City, Cagayan de Oro City, Malolos City, Baguio City, and Dumaguete City. They have been ranked in a scorecard developed by BPA/P and CICT. Metro Manila and Metro Cebu are considered “centers of excellence” and not part of this list.

Investments in talents are essential to sustain its brand as "the sunshine industry," said Oscar Sanez, president and CEO, BPA/P. He adds that talent development needs to “taken to a higher level from certification to training.

Last March, BPA/P launched BNCT (BPA/P National Competency Test). This is an assessment tool that would help generate industry-level talents. This test is given to graduates who would like to pursue a career in the BPO industry. “To date, we have been able to get some funding from government to allow us to distribute the test to 10,000 students nationwide,” says Jamea Garcia, BPA/P Executive Director for Talent Development.

“People either move up or move across. Agents moving from one company to another is part of a free market economy,” says Agarup Sengupta, Managing Director and Global CEO, Aegis Limited. “It also provides a breeding ground for new talent to come in.”

Moulic adds that the country needs a strategy to keep the Philippines competitive as other countries from Africa and South American are beginning to push their own BPO sectors. “We need to go deeper into the educational system.” He sees the need for a stronger “rigor of instruction for English.”

“The challenge we face now is how we can replicate our success. It is exciting to trade ideas with our counterparts from around the world and to share insights into the direction outsourcing will take in its next decade,” says Oscar Sanez, president and CEO, BPA/P.

Gupta adds, “Pushing hard what we are doing today require partnership and collaboration with government.”

The 2nd annual International Outsourcing Summit is a good push and step towards greater collaboration between key industry players. It organized by the Business Processing Association of the Philippines (BPA/P), in cooperation with the Board of Investment and the Department of Trade and Industry, supported by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT), together with the Board of Investments and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Mobile Productivity

The busy executive is always concerned and sometimes worried about his own mobile connectivity. Problems can arise with his broadband connection, whether it be Smart, Globe or Sun. And failure of connectivity could result to an unhappy client or loss of a business opportunity. But the other half of mobile connectivity involves one’s gadget, one’s Blackberry, Nokie or iPhone smartphone. Or one’s laptop. At the launch of the new laptops of Dell held at Terrace at the Fifth (one of my favorite restaurants in Greenbelt 5), I was amazed to see the bright new colors. But most of all, the keyboard had back-lit lights and was “water resistant.” Yes, if you spilled coffee or water or orange juice on your keyboard, it would simply spill through like it was a water-resistant watch. That is great specially if you like eating and working at the same time or often at Starbucks with your Mocha Frappucino close to your laptop. In this video, Tan Hiang talks more about mobile productivity. Maybe, next to my MacBook, I could get used to Dell. I like it’s colors, security features but not really about being water-resistant. For technology to work, don’t drink your coffee near your laptops. It is an accident that is waiting to happen.

Lost and Found: iPhone

What if you accidentally found an iPhone at the counter of a popular drugstore in Greenbelt? Would you pick it up? Keep it for yourself? Read its messages? Check out its photos? Bring it to the store manager? Just leave it on the counter? Or find out who owns it and return it?

Or what if an Apple engineer accidentally loses an iPhone prototype and you happen to be around that place? What if? Actually, both what if’s have happened. Last year, I did accidentally find an unattended iPhone at Watson’s in Greenbelt 1. Was not really jumping up in joy seeing that iPhone as I already owned one. It was nothing new. Been using my iPhone for over a year. And I second iPhone didn’t really present itself as an exciting option.

Out of curiosity, I did pick up the phone. On my mind, I was thinking it was one of those TV pranks like “Wow Mali.” Maybe, Joey de Leon was around? I looked around the store, trying to spot any hidden video cameras. None. I thought of handing it over to the store manager, but that was no guarantee that they would find the owner and return it. It was safe to be in my hands. And I knew how to return it. Simply, call the last incoming number. I did that. Called the last incoming call. Talked to a real estate agent. She identified that the iPhone belonged to a Korean-American filmmaker visiting the country. A few minutes later, the owner did call and we made arrangements to meet up at McDonald’s Greenbelt 1 that same evening. He offered some money as a reward. Huh? No need for any reward, although coffee might have been nice?

You surely read the news or heard the buzz about an Apple employee named Gray Powell who lost a prototype of the next-generation iPhone4 somewhere in Redwood City. Imagine. The future iPhone that Steve Jobs proudly introduced just a few days ago.

Someone did pick it that lost prototype and reportedly made some effort to find out who owned it. That was really easy. Steve Jobs. But the “finder” decided to sell the prototype to Jason Chen who paid US$5,000 for the “lost” phone. He posted photos of the phone on this blog at Gizmodo.com And quickly his blog got around 9 million readers.

Apple also reported the “theft.” The prototype was ultimately returned to Apple. Gizmodo editor Jason Chen was raided by members of the Rapid Enforcement Allied Computer Team. Chen refused to answer questions.

Questions have been raised about media and checkbook journalism, where some journalists pay for information. I don’t think it is right or ethical to pay for information. But must admit the search for a scoop might be too tempting specially, if it involved a very popular tech brand like Apple.

So next time, you are around a bar or fast-food chain and see an iPhone, pick it and return it to its rightful owner!

Digital Explorer

Technology indeed works and breaks the barriers of communities, which includes teachers and students, and help enhance learning opportunities for young students.
Last May 20, 2010, British explorer, Ed Stafford, conducted a live classroom session from the heart of the Amazon Rainforest to students who were at the new Rainforest Exhibit at London Zoo. It was an actual learning session from the Amazon Rain Forest to the rain forest in at the London Zoo. Ed is currently undertaking the first ever attempt to walk the entire length of the Amazon River. He has been walking since 02 April 2008. Photo of Ed Stafford by Keith Ducatel

This zoo is run by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity founded in 1826. You can visit www.zsl.org The zoo opened to the public in 1847 and is the oldest scientific zoo. The zoo used to be the home to Chi Chi, a giant panda who inspired Peter Scott's design for the World Wildlife Fund logo. Chi Chi died in 1972.

Using latest satellite and digital computer technologies, Ed spoke life with a group of young students from Swiss Cottage School at the Rainforest Exhibit at London Zoo.

Through Digital Explorer’s pioneering virtual Academy of Exploration, the connectivity between teachers and students has been enhanced. The Academy uses the latest communication technologies to bring real-life experiences in exploration and science into the many young minds. This totally different learning experience is made possible by modern day explorers like Ed Stafford.

In a press statement, Jamie Buchanan-Dunlop, Director of Digital Explorer says, “Having Ed speak live from the Amazon to a group of pupils at London Zoo just shows what is possible in education now. The Digital Explorer Academy of Exploration makes this kind of opportunity open to schools across the UK.”

And this learning opportunity is free. Teachers can register for free access to multi-media, educational resources and LIVE lessons direct from expeditions across the planet www.digitalexplorer.com

New Wave Cities Recognized

It is deniably true that the growth of the country's BPO sector has contributed to keep the country afloat specially during the global financial crisis.


Thus, industry leaders from government, led by officials from CICT led by Secretary Chua and BPA/P CEO Oscar Sanez paid tribute to the hard-working men and women from ten cities around the country, whose productivity have become engines of economic growth for the country.

Known as the next wave cities, from Dumaguete to Baguio, BPO companies in these cities have effectively used technology to contribute to economic productivity.

Need a bigger screen? Try a projector

Yes, our Samsung flat-screen TV is a delight, specially, if one is watching a “big-screen” type of movie like “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” But sometimes, you would always want something bigger or larger than life. A bigger TV screen could provide a solution but that would be tough on one’s pocket. And besides, this Samsung TV still works.

Another option would be to get an LCD projector. Yes, those box-type gadgets we use at work for client presentations. One’s brilliant or lousy ideas can suddenly become a “big” idea when it is communicated in a large way through a projector. Whether it be in a classroom or corporate boardroom, projectors get the job done and 99% proves that technology work. I always make it a rule to come early for any client presentation to test a projector as sometimes, there are compatibility issues.



Recently, Infocus, the industry pioneer and global leader in the digital projection market showed their media friends why Infocus is still no. 1 projector worldwide.

“Customers have come to expect quality, value for money and innovation from InFocus. Innovation comes in many forms: design, cutting edge technology and differentiated features.” said Jeremy Farren, InFocus Vice President for International Sales. “Our Zoom 2010 line up of commercial and consumer projectors bring a fresh new industrial look and unique features that sets the standard for digital projection

Basic Business Ethics

The IT Journalists Association of the Philippines (CyberPress) denounces in the strongest terms, what the group sees as an unfair and arbitrary treatment of two CyberPress members who were penalized for doing their work -- reporting IT industry news.

Last March 1, 2010, CyberPress members had reported the resignation of a country manager of a multinational IT company – a development actually confirmed by the company. The report also stated that the executive had thrice been bypassed for promotion to the top post, an issue denied by the company.

The company objected vehemently that the report was “wrong,” though it announced the official’s resignation later on. We believe that the report, in its totality, is true and correct.

We believe that the proper course of action that the IT company and/or the PR agency could have taken, was to raise the concern/issue directly with the publications’ section editor responsible for the page and/or the reporter who wrote the story. They failed to do so on both accounts. The veteran IT journalists involved have always kept an open line of communication to both IT company and PR agency but were never approached.

However, what the IT company chose to do and allegedly upon the persistent counsel of its PR agency, is highly anomalous if not downright dubious. In other words, a breakdown in basic business ethics and public relations practice.

In the eyes of CyberPress, the manner of how this ‘issue’ was handled is categorically unacceptable.

We believe that our members, if they did violate any protocol in the pursuit of their story, due process should have been followed. They deserve to be treated like any professional with respect and fairness.

Information Technology Journalists Association of the Philippines (CyberPress)
March 12, 2010