Is SM Malls still safe after the Hammer Gang caused Chaos yesterday?

In the recent tweet of Steven Tan, SM Vice President for Operations Premiere Malls; 7:14PM this evening the hammer gang struck a jewelry counter at the SM Store in MOA. 

They were called "Hammer Gang" because of its use of hammers and other tools to smash open jewelry display cases. At its last mall robbery at SM North Edsa in December 2013, they were believed to have purchased the tools at a hardware store right before the crime. 

Picture shown below was taken during the chaos yesterday at SM Mall of Asia.

One suspect has been nabbed while six (6) others eluded arrest as per NCRPO Chief Police Director Carmelo Valmoria. He also added, that there were seven (7) stagged the robbery using pipe wrench. Four (4) of the PNP responded, 2 of them engaged together with the SWAT team who are currently in the scene too. 

It was already past 9:00PM when the authorities arrested one of the suspect who was found in the possession of a .45 caliber gun and two (2) pipe wrenches. While the other six suspects changed their clothes and mingled with the crowd during the commotion to escape the scene. 

Hundreds of frightened shoppers, waiters and store clerks ran for there life amid gun fire towards the exit of the nearly four-hectare (10-acre) complex of Department Stores, boutiques, restaurants and entertainment establishments by Manila Bay. 

The Security guard of the said Mall initially blocked the shoppers to exit because they were feared that some of them steal some items from the stores. But they were swept aside after another burst of gun fire. 

One of the witness that I spoke to said, she saw several people screaming and crying, including parents who told her they had been separated from their children or other family members in the ensuing chaos.

This is a common tactic. These robbers would go into the shop and start smashing the display cases with a hammer to grab things inside. So what are the security doing and the police inside the malls if this is not the first time to happen in a SM Mall.

As we recall, there a lot of incidents already happened in some SM Malls. From SM San Fernando, when a kid brought a gun inside the Mall passed the Security check and killed another kid inside the mall. SM North Edsa with same case at SM Mall of Asia. Isn't this alarming? 

If we are not safe in the premises of the malls where security guards frisk people, check bags etc and with Police doing some roving what more outside of it where Police are just sleeping in their stations? Will the President of the Republic of the Philippines can do something on this? This will scare the tourist to visit the country and scare the community to go out of their houses. 

As per my sources, It's the fourth time in four years that the Hammer Gang - presumming it's the same group of robbers - robbed a SM Mall jewelry counter using the same methods. None of the perpetrators has been caught despite ubiquitous CCTV and a security guard and PNP at every dozen or so meters and guarded exits. 

Mall authorities have not developed an effective way to counter the gang's tactics of getting lost in the commotion after their deed. 

Mr. Tan earlier said from his tweet that there are no casualties were reported but later said my friend, an employee of a tenant store suffered a "grazing wound brought about by the confrontation" with police dispatched in the mall. She was immediately brought to the hospital and she's out of danger now. 

Earlier today, Mr. Tan tweeted that the Mall operation is back to normal now. 

Will it be SAFE to go in SM MALLS after those series of incidents? 

Pasay City Police is currently investigating the incident to capture the rest of the robbers. But how long would it take since we don't have a capability to do some forensics like the United States of America where they spend money for those infrastructures and equipments to lessen crimes in their country.

If the Government will say, they don't have funds to spend for those equipments will evidently they were wrong. We used to have those funds if we have a honest leaders in the country. Those funds that can probably spend to those infrastructures are already in the pocket of our Politicians. One of the example is the PORK BARREL SCAM. 

I hope our President can do something on these before he stepped down in 2016. 

Mall of Asia is part of the SM SuperMalls retail chain controlled by the family of Henry Sy, the Philippines' richest man. 

Written and Created by: Robbie Chan, MBA

Gerald Santos 2014 Major Concert

Gerald Santos, the Pinoy Pop Superstar Season 2 Grand Champion of GMA7 and now dubbed as the "Prince of Ballad" will hold his major concert for this year on June 28, 2014; 8PM at SM North Edsa Skydome. Titled " Gerald Santos: IT'S TIME. " 

This concert established Gerald Santos as major concert artist in the country with special guest Jonalyn Viray, Faith Cuneta, Pinoy Pop Superstar Alumni and the Asia's Songbird Regine Velasquez. 

Gerald Santos was born on May 15, 1991 in Navotas City Metro Manila. He was the youngest champion of the biggest reality singing contest hosted by Ms Regine Velasquez-Alcasid. He is not the typical "biritero" but he is noted for his heartfelt singing and can melt everyone's heart with his simple singing. 

He was nominated for PMPC Star Awards for TV as the Best New Male TV Personality for his SOP Role at GMA7 last 2006.  His first single, "A Day on Rainbow" was released on November 2006. 

Gerald won in the 3rd Star Awards for Music last October 2011 for the "Pinakahihintay", repackaged edition album as Male Pop Artist of the Year.

September 2012, PrinceStar Music released his 3rd Album "Gerald Santos The Prince of Ballad" which garnered 4 nominations in the 5th Star Awards for Music including Male Recording Artist of the Year, Male Pop Artist of the Year and Revival Album of the Year. 

October 2013, His 3rd album won as the Revival Album of the Year in the 5th Star Awards for Music. 

He was also nominated as the Best Male Concert Performer for 3 consecutive years (2011-2013) in the prestigious ALIW AWARDS, winning the coveted award in 2011 for his MAJOR MOVE concert at the Music Museum. 

In 2013, "The Prince of Ballad Soaring High" concert also got nominated in the 5th Star Awards for Music as Male Concert Performer of the Year. 

He also did some musical plays in the country where he was nominated as the Best Actor in a Musical in the 2011 ALIW AWARDS. And lastly, He played the role of "San Pedro Calungsod" the musical for the 2nd Filipino Saint.

We're inviting you to witnessed the NEW GERALD SANTOS on June 28, 2014; 8PM at SM Skydome North Edsa. Tickets are available at all SM Malls Ticket Station and TicketNet.Com

Written and Created By: Robbie Chan, MBA

How to be a Successful Leader for Small Business

I was inspired in writing this because of a student from Ateneo De Manila University who asked me a question earlier...

"How would you know if you're a good leader in your business?" 

Leadership is a topic that sometimes gets overlooked by Entrepreneurs who are running their own small businesses and who dealt with different people, different ideas, personality and attitude. In a small business specially ones you start building up your team and having other people help build your business; Leadership is truly an important factor in building up that business.

There are 5 Secrets to Successful Leadership in Small Business that I learned from Different Leaders in Different Countries.

First, YOU MUST LEAD BY EXAMPLE, I learned this from a great leader with a big heart; William Vargas from Las Vegas, Nevada who taught me to lead by example when I was working at Federal Housing. Leading by example is crucially important because others looked to you as an example. You set the tone in your work environment. For example, If you showed up late for meetings other people think that they can show up late for meetings too. But if you were there working hard, come-in early as a first one to get to the office and the last one to leave, other people see that as an example that they should follow. So leading by example is really an important recipe to a successful leadership in a business.

Secondly, WORK SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH YOUR TEAM, I learned this one from a very understanding and result-oriented leader; Jeff Brown from Las Vegas, Nevada too who taught me how to be a better leader by listening to my people. Get in the transients and share in the struggle with your team. And just because you have people working for you and with you it doesn't mean that you don't get on working and do that type of work. You're not better than anybody else. And if you have that attitude that you're better than other people because they're working for you then other people will lose respect for you. But if you're sharing the struggle or sharing the hardship with your team other people respect you and see you as a true leader.

Third, FOLLOW THROUGH ON EVERYTHING YOU SAY, I learned this from a very idealistic leader; Edwin David from Brooklyn, New York who taught me how to build my credibility back after duress. He once said, Do the things that you say or  that you do and the things that you have committed to do because by doing that you will build back your credibility and other people will look at you as somebody as trustworthy and that's a sign of good leadership.

Fourth, ALWAYS GIVE YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION, I learned this again from a realistic leader William Vargas from Las Vegas, Nevada who also taught me how to appreciate the ideas and opinions of other people. Make each person you talked to on your team feel like he/she is the most important person in the whole room when you're engaging with them, because people want to feel that their opinions matter and by YOU listening to them as a leader, other people will feel good and it creates resonance within your team.

And Lastly, RECOGNIZED CHALLENGES AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH, I learned this recipe from a very wealthy man of Perth, Australia; Steven Da Silva, PhD who taught me to grow again after I fall and use those failures as an opportunity. Have a good attitude and view potentially negative events that occur as opportunities to learn. Have a positive outlook on these type of events because if you could come negative about a certain event, other people who look to you for leadership will be negative as well. But if you challenge the occurs opportunities to learn, other people will start developing that positive attitude which will enable the business feel better for all.

So far, this was being applied to my businesses after my duress and failures before. We need to learned how to be a better person after all. And by learning those we need to set an example to our people so that they will respect us for who we are and for what we are. Let your mistakes be your guide to a better you in the future. Learned from it. Don't mind what other people say about you when you failed. Instead, use it as your leverage. Show to them that through those struggles and challenges that you've been you can stand again and be a better leader or a better person.

Of course, I would like to use this opportunity also to Thank those people who stand by me despite of my struggles and hardships before. Thank you to Vicente "Gio" Tegio for Staying at my side through thick and thin. To Atty. Shai Dizon, Atty. Marwin Cortezano, Atty. Engel Supan, Atty. Leo Mas, Cristina Asuncion and Lester Dy who never stopped believing me and who never stop giving me advices. To my Family who always believe in my capability to surpass those struggles and hardships and to the Almighty Father, Jesus Christ for never leaving me and for staying all the way until I reached my success.





Written and Created By: Robbie Chan, MBA