Top 100 Brands in the Philippines 2018

Campaign Asia- Pacific’s Top 1000 Brands has released the top 100 brands in the Philippines this 2018! In collaboration with Nielsen, this research claims to be the most comprehensive in terms of consumer brand perception. The study explores consumers’ attitudes in 14 specific market, with 400 respondents from Philippines. It includes 15 major brand categories and 81 sub-categories.The respondents were given these following questions:

Question 1:

“When you think of the following category, which is the best brand that comes to your mind? By best, we mean the one that you trust the most or the one that has the best reputation in this category.”

Question 2:

“Apart from the best brand that you entered, which brand do you consider to be the second best brand in the category?”

Top 100 Brands in the Philippines in 2018

Philippines Top 100 Brands 2018. Image from Campaign Asia Pacific Page. No copyright infringement intended.
Philippines Top 100 Brands in 2018. Image from Campaign Asia-Pacific Page. No copyright infringement intended.

The list is dominated by global Consumer Electronics and Household and Personal Care brands. I’m a little bit surprised that only one brand from the food category made it to the top 10. And with Nike as the top apparel brand to boot. Well, that furthers Filipinos shift to an active and hopefully, healthier lifestyle.

It’s just sad that local brands are way further down. We got BDO and BPI in the 17th and 18th place respectively. And from the Food Category, we got Magnolia at 24th and Lucky Me at the 29th place. Jollibee’s at 41st while it’s rival, foreign brand McDo’s at 55th place. There’s also a dedicated page about the strongest home-grown brands in the Philippines and there they cited Jollibee at the top. A bit confusing when you see the actual rank, to be honest.

Philippines’ page also contains information about demographics, spending behavior, average income disposal, FMCG growth, consumer confidence index, etc.

As per United Nations 2017 Population Prospects there’s about 105 million Filipinos, dominated by 0 -14 years of age which consists 32%. This is followed by Gen Y, or those that are 20 to 34 years old at 25%. It’s important to note though that in terms of direct buying power, you want to bet with Gen Y and Gen X markets (age range: 20 to 49 years old) as they consist 44.7% of the population combined. And this market is what would actually back the demand or the influence on consumption from the younger ones because of their purchasing power.

It’s really nice to know that behind Food and Education, Filipinos are now more into Savings and Investment. And contrary to what many of us believe, only 3.2% of the respondents spend on pleasure travel or vacation. This is much lower than the ones who enjoy dining out at 6%.

Reports are also in for Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, and Singapore. And we’re about to see the drill down on the following markets in the next few weeks: India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

I strongly recommend you visit Campaign Asia-Pacific’s 1000 Top Brands because it would also allow you to compare brands per year and by APAC market or category. You can also pit brands against each other. It’s really a marketer’s and advertiser’s haven. Happy exploring!

P.S. Congratulations Samsung! And Apple, keep up! Though what I really want to say is, we Filipinos should love our own products more. It’ll be nice if the top 10 are all home-growns.

P.P.S. Of course, as in any other research, please take the result with a pinch of salt, because if there’s only 400 respondents from the Philippines and there’s already 105M of us, that means, the sample isn’t even 1% of the population, hardly a solid representation of the country.

As always, thanks for dropping by!


I used Canva to create the Featured Image

Up North Adventures Part II: Nature Tripping at La Union, Baler and Subic

This is Up North Adventures Part II! Now you get to have a glimpse of La Union, Baler and Subic! It’s business that I came for the former and leisure for the other two. These places define nature tripping at its finest!

La Union

Since I didn’t exactly came to La Union as a tourist, there’s only a few interesting places that I can share with you. Aside from the famous spots, the drive along the country side is something you’d enjoy (especially when you’re in the passenger seat).

Urbiztondo Beach: Surf Capital of the North

Just a stone throw away from San Juan Surf Hotel, the shores of Urbiztondo Beach is host to the province’s most anticipated surfing festival. Too bad we weren’t there for that. The receptionist said it’s usually held in October.

Halo-Halo De Iloko

For a quick detour, we dropped by this infamous halo-halo place in San Fernando City – Halo-halo de Iloko. Halo-halo is a native dessert – a mixture of sweetened fruits, milk, and ice cream sitting on a pile of crushed ice. It’s the perfect fix during summer.

Halo-Halo de Iloko has been featured on a television show and highly commended by celebrities. The place exudes this tribal, rustic vibe but the food itself is served with an enormous tropic touch. The halo-halo is served in a coconut, complete with mini-umbrella on the side. It’s aesthetically pleasing, is all I can say. You be the judge of its taste. Nothing so spectacular in that aspect, IMHO.

Baler

Recently, there’s a clamor from the people of the South to go visit this place 274km from Manila. Baler’s popularity is on the rise. Check out the places that we’ve been:

Millennium Tree

Contrary to its name, this enormous tree is actually a parasite. Balete is a parasite that lives off of its host, and this one has been doing so for the last 600 years. With 60m in crown diameter and 65m in height, it’s the Biggest Balete Tree in Asia. You can go through the tree by going under and over it’s twisted branches and roots.

Diguisit Bay

The jutting rock formations and the irregular shoreline of Diguisit bay make it a sight to behold. This pebbly beach lies 13.9km from Sabang.

Mother Falls

If you’re up for a bit of hike, then you should go see Mother Falls. Vehicle parking area is a bit far from where the hike actually starts so bring all your essentials with you. There’s no “formal” accommodation here, so if you decide to bathe in the falls, you got to trek down and change in one of the local shops.  The coconut fields on the slopes plus the challenging track along the river makes the trip worth it.

Mother Falls, Baler
Mother Falls, Baler

In and Around Town

We also went around town to explore other interesting sites. The Hanging Bridge is a joy to jumped on. There’s a small museum here, featuring oil paintings, religious artifacts and treasured photos of Manuel and Aurora Quezon. You can see historical markers along some streets. And as in anywhere in the Philippines, if the Church is within sight, you’d be sure to find the town hall and the market close by.

Subic

I like the roads going to Central Luzon. They just seem to stretch on forever. And the silhouette of the mountain range in front of you just urge you to move onward.

Subic Bay

Subic Bay
Clear skies, bright sun, hooded and distant mountains. Great place for picnic, is all I can say.

Ocean Adventure

Yep, as the name implies, this place highlights creatures from the ocean! So have a video of cute dolphins strutting their stuff to some hip dance craze!

That’s all for my tours up north and central Luzon. I may be able to travel to other provinces soon. If you want to recommend more interesting places, share it on the comments box below!

As always, thanks for dropping by!

Cebu City – What the Oldest City in the Philippines Has to Offer

Dubbed as the Queen City of the South, Cebu City is a bustling metropolis filled with riches, both from the past and present. Below are some of the places the oldest city in the Philippines has to offer!

Top Spots in Cebu City

Basilica Minore del Santo Niño 

It’s hailed as the mother and head of all Catholic churches in the Philippines. Devoted Catholics must have put this shrine into their must-go-to list for their pilgrimage. I may not be one of them, but to set foot at a place as historic and important as this is, is definitely one of my dreams come true.

The outer halls were lined with oil paintings. In them are scenes that held historical and religious milestones. There’s a special place where you can line up and see the Philippines’ most beloved Santo Niño sculpture. I don’t know about any other Christian countries of the world, but know that even in a public place as this, the moment a devotee come face to face with the idol, it becomes the most private, the most intimate place of all. It’s the kind of private moment when instead of looking away, you’ll want to look on and share in the devotion. I’m not even a Catholic. But the emotion, the gestures, the faith that’s being made visible at the moment is so hard to ignore.

Cebu Church
Cebu Church

Magellan’s Cross

Outside the Basilica stood the enduring witness of Catholicism in the Philippines, the Magellan’s Cross. The wooden cross is just a replica, with the original one buried within it. How many layers of crosses buried within each other would we see? One thing is for sure, it will stand as long as the city professes the faith in Christ.

You can light colorful candles and help out the local ladies make a living. They said that the wishes you make when you light the candles will come true. It’s faith…it’s all on faith.

Taoist Temple

On the other side of the town though, stands the Philippine Taoist Temple. It’s a place that honors oriental teaching. Originally from China, Taoism is the religion of opposites – yin and yang, dark and light, etc. How apt that it should be here in Cebu City, a land of opposites.

Taoist Temple Walkway
Taoist Temple Walkway

Taoist Temple
Taoist Temple

Dragons on the Roof of Taoist Temple
Dragons on the Roof of Taoist Temple

Tabo-an Market

Haggle for the dried fishes all you want, just be ready with the strong smell coming off of this place. It can really stick to your clothes for the rest of the day. So if you’re touring Cebu, this place should be the last one to go to.

In and Around Cebu City

The Ayala Center here is so nice, especially at night. It’s so much like the ones we have in Manila, but I like the grounds here much better. It’s been 3 years now, so maybe something has changed since then. There’s also this Mexican restaurant, Moon Cafe in the place. The best nacho I had, ever!

We stayed at Diamond Suites and Residences. Perfect place to get to anywhere because it’s in the heart of the metro. Also, it’s convenient to go to these places from here. Nightly rates are reasonable and accommodation is nice and clean. The bed is awesome too!

Then there’s Cafe Namoo, kind of cute, with small compartments and yellow lighting. Perfect for high school and college people. Best thing is it’s practically a freedom board.

Larsian is also an interesting place. It’s a food complex, where fresh seafood and meat vendors line around. Patrons then sit on plastic chairs and eat on long tables at the center. Your food gets to be cooked and served there and then. You won’t need utensils, by the way. Enjoy eating with your hands (with plastic gloves).

Loved ones would always request lechon as pasalubong, but the small longanizas taste wonderful as well.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

The last time I was around the town, we dined in this place called Abaca Boutique Resort and Restaurant. It’s real nice, so serene a place. We toured around and saw that the rooms are spacious; the lounge, relaxing. The food, served nice and delicious. We dropped by this place to dine. I was with corporate people then. But this place is more for couples and families.

Cebu City would always be a memorable place for me. I worked here. I learned so much here. I’ve been to places that I only read about before. And I’ve been with people I never thought I’d come across this lifetime. And I was glad, that even in the seemingly mundane and natural occurrence of it all, somehow, I formed part of this city’s history.

As always, thanks for dropping by!

Going Down South to Davao City

The plane landed at exactly 11:40am. Stepping outside the arrival area, I was welcomed by the hot, going-to-mid-day sun. And all at once I was reminded that, this here is still Philippines. I’ve arrived in Davao City.

My workmates were already waiting outside. But I went through a different door, and later, found myself face to face with this magnificent Durian sculpture.

It was awesome to say the least. The monument’s at the far left of the place and not at all prominent. I felt myself drawn to it and to the sculpted figures that seemed to want to come out of the giant fruit. Kublai Millan did a pretty impressive representation of his native land.

The Land of Promise

Located at the southern part of the Philippines, Mindanao is the second largest major island in the country. It’s home to most Filipino Muslims. This is where vintas, great tunas and Manny Pacquiao hail from. Mindanao is a land made sacred, not just by religion or heritage, but by the lives of people who fought hard for it. And just like most of the Philippines, its filled with lush mountains, vibrant seas and warm people.

Truly, it is the land of promise.

All the Seafood that You Can Eat

I came to Davao City to work. We’re participating in a trade show in SM City Lanang.

Come night time, we went into this place where you can have all the seafood that you want. Crab Buffet is the restaurant’s name. If you’re going anywhere near Davao City, you should definitely eat here.

Crab Buffet, Davao City
Crab Buffet Platter

And then, there’s this local grill  where they offer their freshest catch. I didn’t like the bagaybay very much, but the panga is all right.

Local seafood grill in Davao City.
Local seafood grill at Davao City where you can get their freshest catch.

What and Where to Buy Souvenirs in Davao City

When we had the time to go out and shop for souvenirs, we visited the Divisoria of the South (I’m not sure if the comparison would be correct, but it must be the Divisoria of Davao City) – Aldevinco.

Aldevinco is just in front of Ateneo de Davao. It’s a busy shopping center that the locals and tourists flock to for very affordable goods and unique finds.

Aldevinco Shopping Center
The facade of Aldevinco, where shops that stand side by side offer you unique finds at great prices.

I brought home pashminas, paper wallets and tote bags. All for low prices. You can haggle all you want.

The best thing about the place is that police in the area prevents the local vendors from harassing tourists. So you can really take your time shopping, with ease and security.

We also brought home fruits. Pummelo is very popular around here. A box costs P600.00, it has about 6 to 8 pummelos. Now, most tourists would want to buy the plump and golden ones. But chatting with the local fruit vendors, we learned that its actually better to buy the wrinkled and shrunken ones. And it turned out to be true! As they say, don’t you judge anything by appearance.

Local Fruit Stand in Davao City
Lyds Fruit Stand offers pummelos, santol and mango. The vendors are really kind and accommodating.

We didn’t get to buy any mangosteens. It was not in season, we were told. There’s santol, though. When I tried it, all my childhood memories came rushing back. All those hot summer days spent climbing the tree and harvesting its fruits. I never knew I missed those times until I tasted the fruit again. I really had a wonderful time at that shop.

Local Laws

Davao City feels like any other province here in Luzon. Not so many tall buildings and life is neither fast nor slow. But what makes it so different is that when a local law is passed, everyone, everyone, tries to follow it.

Motorists religiously follow speed limit. Local bars and restaurants observe curfew. The mayor is both feared and respected. It’s a safe place, is all I can say. Also, the place take care of the people as long as they practice discipline and the local ordinance.

I didn’t get to explore the place very much. But I think I seen enough and learned enough to say that Davao City is a very nice place. I want to visit there again.

FACT:

All Jollibee restaurants in Davao City is owned by one person. And if you’ll visit the place, you’ll see that Jollibee is located at every corner and establishments. There’s no Chowking here, though.

ADDITIONAL FACT:

They ride motorela here and not tricycle. Jeepneys are very few. Also, cab fares are low and drivers are honest.

PH jumps 6 notches in Global Competitiveness

Philippines continues to gain ground in global competitiveness as
it moves up to the 59th place out of 148 economies, jumping 6
notches1  from last year’s results. We’ve been moving 26 places up the ranking since 2010.

The Global Competitiveness Report 2014-2015 is a comprehensive
assessment of national competitiveness. Competitiveness is defined as the country’s set of institutions, policies and factors that determine the level of productivity. This year’s publication covered 144 economies.

The report is based on the following 12 pillars of competitiveness: innovation, institutions, financial market development, goods market efficiency, labor market efficiency, infrastructure, health and primary education, technological readiness and market size.

What does this tell us?

The Global Competitiveness Report set diagnostic tools which
highlight the strengths that a country can build on, as well as the challenges that must be overcome, in order to become more globally
competitive. Also, investors pay attention to the indicators and
use the information to assess country standings across a variety
of metrics2.

The result of this year’s report is yet another indication that
Philippines is well-poised to attain it’s objective of being in
the top third by 20163.

The key drivers of our performance are the following:

  1. Institutions
  2. Business sophistication
  3. Financial market development
  4. Innovation
  5. Government efficiency

The 5 most problematic factors in doing business:

  1. Inadequate supply of infrastructure
  2. Corruption
  3. Inefficient government bureaucracy
  4. Tax regulations
  5. Restrictive labor regulations

Zooming Out

This year’s 10 most competitive economies are:

  1. Switzerland
  2. Singapore
  3. United States
  4. Finland
  5. Germany
  6. Japan
  7. Hong Kong SAR
  8. Netherlands
  9. United Kingdom
  10. Sweden

View or download the complete Global Competitiveness Report 2014 – 2015 here.


References:
1 Philippines Continues to Gain Ground in WEF Global Competitiveness Report

Philippines Jumps to 59th in Competitiveness Index

The Importance of Country Competitiveness

3Philippines Moves 7 Notches Global Competitiveness Index

What’s with the 2015 ASEAN Integration?

The ASEAN Economic Community  (AEC) aims to establish ASEAN as a single market and production base where goods, services, investment capital and skilled labor flows freely between and among it’s 10-member states.

This means that effective 2015, import duties and non-tariff barriers for products and services will be eliminated, while people living within it’s member-states will have the freedom to work from anywhere within the region even without work permit. You can access the AEC blueprint here.

What do we stand to gain?

This integration is expected to boost investments, job creation, and income in the region. According to a report from ILO and ADB, the integration will make the following possible for the employment sector across the region:

    • Increase in demand for skilled workers by 41% (will create 14M jobs)
    • Increase in demand for medium skilled workers by 22% (will create 38M jobs)
    • Increase in demand for low skilled workers by 24% (will create 12M jobs)

EVERYBODY-WINS Situation?

The same report from ILO and ADB cited that unless decisively managed, this integration can increase inequality and worsen existing market deficits – such as vulnerable and informal employment and working poverty.

Then there’s the issue of Philippine’s foreign restrictions that can put us at a disadvantage.

Also, small and medium enterprises, particularly those in the agricultural and the services sector are concerned how this integration will impact their plight.

Positive Expectations

But the figures remain strong. The ASEAN region has 600 million population and an aggregate GDP of US$2.2, trading at US$2.4. We’re a very sizable market ready for disruption. These are the things that make the ASEAN integration very exciting for investors and consumers alike.

If you want to know more about the issues, challenges and how best to take advantage of the ASEAN integration, you can attend the 12th MAP International CEO Conference. Hosted by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), this is the culminating event of the first phase of their three-year program to bring awareness and prepare Philippine companies and business leaders for this major economic integration. With the theme “THE INTEGRATION MOMENTUM: Waves of Change, Oceans of Opportunities“, it’s designed to equip organizations with knowledge and networking opportunities. The conference will be held on Sept 09 at Makati Shangri-la. You can find the list of speakers and topics right here.


Featured Photo Credit: theglobalpanorama via photopin cc

Kantar Media Reveals 2013’s Biggest Ad Spenders – TV Still Preferred Medium for Widest Reach | Philippine Association of National Advertisers – PANA Website

Kantar Media Reveals 2013’s Biggest Ad Spenders – TV Still Preferred Medium for Widest Reach | Philippine Association of National Advertisers – PANA Website.