Worry-free travel

With the spate of crimes associated with taking public utility vehicles, the introduction of safer and more convenient ways of getting a taxicab is most welcome.

Easy Taxi, the world’s leading mobile taxi app, is now available in the Philippines. Only a few weeks ago the company successfully introduced its service to Malaysia.

With more than 45,000 taxi drivers in their network and nearly 1,500,000 downloads and counting, Easy Taxi already gained a strong competitive edge in 41 cities across 14 countries.

Mario Berta, managing director of Easy Taxi in South East Asia, tells us that when Easy Taxi started in 2011, they had only one goal and that is to connect taxi drivers and passengers worldwide the smoothest, easiest and safest way possible.

She said that because of the great economic development and the increasing smartphone penetration over the past years, introducing Easy Taxi to the Philippine market is just a logical step in their expansion strategy.

Berta is personally very bullish on the Philippines, noting that the country’s tech savvy population will make the Philippines one of their major markets in Asia.

Easy Taxi was founded in Brazil in 2011. The value proposition is straight-forward: download/open the Easy Taxi app for free, available for iOS, Android and the new BlackBerry devices, confirm the pickup point and order a cab with the press of a button. In seconds the passenger  will receive confirmation of the name, photo and car model/plate of the driver, and will be able to follow the vehicle’s location in real-time as it approaches the client.

Since drivers are checked for compliance before joining the network, passengers do not need to worry about their safety and can simply enjoy their ride.

In Asia, Easy Taxi aims to become a true regional application, as regional travels increase and passengers move very fast across the continent.

Making fashion sense

Anak Mindanao  (AMIN) party-list Rep.  Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, a known advocate of women’s rights in Mindanao, has a new passion–fashion.

After conquering and exceling in politics and social work, the congresswoman now plans to be an entrepreneur as she dares to come up with her own Hijab fashion line and Muslim accessories that would redefine the usual styles and designs of women’s apparel in the country.

Hataman said she wants to incorporate Muslim culture through everyday fashion by making Hijabs—a veil that covers the head and the chest of Muslim women—look stylish for women of all ages and sizes.

The Hijab fashion, the congresswoman noted, will not cost much to those who want to try. She said that it is also easy to get accustomed to.

The Hijab can be used either by wrapping it around the hair or by covering the face and the neck with it depending on one’s mood or what she wants or intends to convey for that day.

“The value is modesty, so I think the simpler the better. The Hijab and the clothing must cover the hair, neck, and chest, down to the legs and the ankles. As to color or design, I personally do not have any preference, but they must at least match what one is wearing. Like if I’m wearing a printed top, I go for a plain Hijab,” she added.

The Hijab at present is available in all major malls nationwide as well as in famous local shopping centers like Divisoria and Baclaran. It is typically sold for around P90 to P250 depending on the style,  brand and design. But Hataman’s new fashion line promises to be better than those currently available in the market.

As one who has been fighting for women empowerment in Mindanao, Hataman said her organizations have gone a long way, yet much remains to be done considering the gap between rich women and those less fortunate; between the educated, career women and those who did not get the same quality of education and remained at home.

But despite her new plans to venture into business, the congresswoman vowed to remain focused on her first priority—public service.

The congresswoman plans to file a number of bills including  the Anti-Racial Discrimination Bill, Mandatory Study of Moro and Indigenous People’s History and Culture, and Institutionalization of Zones of Peace in conflict areas.

They are also drafting a bill to promote organic agriculture for food security, economic opportunity and environment protection, and a possible revision of the Code of Muslim Personal Laws, the law which covers marriage, divorce and inheritance of Muslim Filipinos.

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