Barangay.ph now accepts move-inners, provides home away from home setting

By EDISON D. ONG - Manila Bulletin

Nanette de Dios Alcaro's heart never left home. The first home.


So much so that when she started her first major, global Internet-related business, it had to be in a Pilipino name – kababayan and barangay, for example. Very distinctly Filipino.

First home for her is the Philippines. Second home is Las Vegas in the USA. Together she and her other half of the brain partner Jonno Alcaro are making East meet West via the Cyberspace. Nanette and Jonno are president and CEO, respectively.

With over 26 years behind him in the financial security industry, specializing in the marketing of services, Jonno is a former co-owner, director and EVP of Yellowpages.com , while Nanette is the former director of sales and marketing of deluxe hotels both in Manila and the US. Together they have over 45 combined years of marketing expertise in the US, worldwide and online.

"The mission of Barangay.ph is to bring our homeland closer to overseas Filipinos of every generation," they said. Its vision is to be the global resource of things important to Filipino overseas. It aims to make the lives of Filipinos overseas easier by providing relevant information, products and services at the click of a mouse, 24/7/365.

She continued that the goal of Barangay,ph is to support local businesses in the Philippines and contribute to the growth of the economy. For example a minimum of ten percent of all profits from the portal and its sister sites, Kababayan.ph and FilipinoYellowPages.ph will go to the building furnishing and equipping of schools in the Philippines.

We believe the best way to help the country is through education., they remarked, "It is our way of giving back to our home that has made us who we are."

Stated Nanette, "We have created an online connection to home, as well as an online vehicle for all other Filipino interests. We invite everyone to utilize this portal to post their messages, wares and services."

Barangay.ph is targeted towards the 10 million Filipinos living outside the country from all demographics, including emigrants and the second generations thereafter who are dying to know more about their roots and heritage.

The two executives came to Manila last July to formally launch on the 25th, Barangay.ph and to invite individuals, companies and associations to "come on-board and partner up with the site."

She remarked, Barangay.ph will work hand in hand with your enterprise to get your name, product and message delivered to a global audience. It is a collaborative effort with commercial and non-commercial organizations, both public and private.

As the name implies, explained Jonno, Barangay.ph is a Web portal designed around buildings typically found in a village. The 13 buildings current found on the site include Associations, Banks, City Hall, Hospital, Library, Market, Real Estate, Restaurant, School, Social Hall, Theater and Travel.

The Market building, for example, will sell goods and services to buyers worldwide for delivery to family and friends in the Philippines. The Library building will provide resources such as Filipino newspapers from around the world.

Jonno said the content of the buildings will develop as the demand for it grows. Adding that they are in the business of driving traffic in to their Website.

Nanette explained in a nutshell, Barangay,ph is an online portal that will provide Filipino overseas with easy access to patronize and support our home country. "Barangay.ph will work hand in hand with your enterprise to get your name, brand and message delivered to a global audience."