Eastern Communications Holds Second Thrive Summit in Boracay as the Island Paradise Flourishes With Business Opportunities

[From L to R] Aklan provincial administrator Atty. Selwin Ibarreta, ETPI Head of Visayas Regional Operations Rafael Castellano, ETPI Group Head of Emerging Businesses - NCR & Regional  Anthony Co, Hon. Malay Municipality Mayor Frolibar Bautista, and companion, at the Boracay Thrive Summit.

Lauded by countless news outlets for having one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, Boracay Island is ripe with opportunities as the island welcomed its shores to more than 1 million tourists between January and August 2022, according to data from the Malay Municipal Tourism Office.

Eastern Communications, one of the premier telecommunications companies in the Philippines, leverages the upward trend of tourism on the island through its ongoing network expansion in Vis-Min. To enable more local enterprises to access digital solutions, the ICT solutions company shares its industry knowledge and personalized services through the second and final leg of its Thrive Summit recently held at Savoy Hotel, Boracay.

Thrive gathered Boracay businessmen, representatives from local chamber organizations, and key local government officials who sought to empower businesses to emerge, succeed and thrive by discussing cutting-edge digital solutions and innovative practices. Event partners Kacific Broadband Satellites Group and Packetworx prepared experiential booths to give attendees a deep dive into their product portfolios. 

The session began with a warm welcome as the Boracay LGU officials gave their support to encourage more local businesses to leverage digital technologies and be able to catch up with the growing demand for tourism.

“The Internet is primarily a system of interconnectedness for sharing information and communication, but it has now evolved to much more than this. Internet services revolutionized the way we do things decades ago. In light of this, I sincerely thank Eastern Communications for including Aklan in its nationwide upgrade program and expansion of services. I really look forward to your company as being a game changer in the telecommunications landscape here in Aklan and in Boracay island,” shared Aklan Provincial Administrator Atty. Selwin Ibarreta, representative of Honorable Governor of Aklan Jose Enrique Miraflores.

As we are now in a digital era, Honorable Malay Municipality Mayor Frolibar Bautista highlighted that Eastern Communications’ inclusion in Boracay will result in good business for the island as connectivity has become very essential, while Honorable Kalibo Mayor Juris Bautista Sucro urged pandemic-affected firms to adapt by switching to an online platform and digitalizing their business processes.

More guests saw the many prospects and favorable outcomes lined up for Boracay businesses. Wesley Van de Voort, President of the Boracay Chamber of Commerce and Industries, looks forward to having Eastern’s digital and technological advancements for their members in his virtual message. President of the Boracay Foundation Incorporated (BFI) Edwin Raymundo also graced the event, noting that the BFI  anticipates working with the telco in the near future and believes that his organization shares a similar commitment to sustainable development as it moves forward with or without a pandemic.

[From L to R] Eastern Communications Brand Ambassadors with Kacific Satellites Group National Partnerships Manager Gino Belgira, Eastern Communications Vice President of Product and Innovation Edsel Paglinawan, Packetworx Chief Marketing Officer Raisa Orbon, and host Blinky De Leon at the Boracay Thrive  Summit.

During the program proper, Kacific Satellites Group National Partnerships Manager Gino Belgira led the discussion about Digital Inclusion and Understanding Unique Struggles of Underserved Communities. Here, Belgira shared that studies have shown that close to 40% of Filipinos do not have access to meaningful internet connectivity today and that many people in remote rural areas do not have access to basic internet services. 

Kacific aims to address the digital divide that’s prevalent in the Philippines and SEA pacific by providing the latest in satellite tech to bring in connectivity to these remote areas and to be able to drive sources of livelihood as well.

Packetworx Chief Marketing Officer Raisa Orbon, discussed how the Internet has dramatically changed our lives through the new technology of IoT (Internet of Things) and how the pandemic accelerated the adoption of IoT and emerging technologies. She also talked about its various uses and applications and how it will help companies make data-driven decisions.

Finally, Eastern Communications Vice President of Product and Innovation Edsel Paglinawan concluded with a discussion on Democratizing Technology for a More Prosperous Philippines. He discussed the democratization and transience of technology and underlined that the high-tech projects currently underway will endure in the future. Paglinawan also presented Eastern’s expanded portfolio of products and services and how it transcends its purpose through technology democratization and making services available to all.

With its first leg held at Davao, Eastern Communications anticipates that this summit will enable more companies, particularly those in rural areas, to embrace digital transformation and technological advancements in order to expand and prosper. 

Watch out for Eastern’s future events and follow them at facebook.com/easterncommph. For more information on Eastern Communications products and services, visit www.eastern.com.ph/