A group of prestigious technology and new media investors led by Robert Lessin and Scott Booth invests in Sendah, the unified online service for cross-border transactions.
Hong Kong, China – February 11, 2010 – A group of prestigious technology and new media investors led by New York-based investors Robert Lessin and Scott Booth invest in Hong Kong- registered VeriPay Mobile Systems, Ltd., the subsidiary of Ayannah Information Holdings, Ltd. operating Sendah, the unified online service for cross-border transactions.
According to Ayannah CEO, Miguel Perez, “Ayannah is very pleased to attract capital from Robert Lessin, one of the world’s most respected technology and new media investors. Bob invested in VeriPay Mobile Systems, Ltd., our operating subsidiary for Sendah, the unified online service for cross-border transactions.”
Lessin is the Vice-Chairman of Jefferies & Co., the global investment bank headquarter in New York. Prior to this, he was Vice-Chairman of Salomon Smith Barney, where he was also a member of the Executive Committee and Head of Investment Banking. Prior to this, he was Vice-Chairman at Morgan Stanley where he became the youngest-ever partner in 1987.
Perez adds, “We value not only Bob’s equity capital but also Bob’s deep knowledge of global financial markets. We will rely on his wisdom as we grow Sendah globally.”
Perez adds, “Ayannah is likewise very priviledged to attract capital from Scott Booth, one of the most successful emerging market hedge fund managers in the world. Scott is one of the largest personal investors in AliBaba prior to AliBaba’s IPO. Scott understands emerging markets and new media. Scott’s knowledge and network in emerging markets will be invaluable as we expand in other large inward remittance markets such as India and China.”
While Charity Lu, Ayannah CFO, declined to disclose the amount invested by the new shareholder group, she explained that the funds will be used for further product development of Sendah and its derivative products.
Ayannah recently launched Sendah, a unified online service that allows expatriates to stay connected and maintain relationships. Sendah is a preferred way to send load or prepaid airtime credits, money and gifts to loved ones in the Philippines.
For additional information of the news that is the subject of this release, you may contact Ms. Dyza Portugal or visit www.ayannah.com.
About Ayannah:
Ayannah provides innovative services that enable secure, reliable and convenient transactions for online and mobile communities. Since 2004, we have enabled billions of transactions globally. Ayannah operates Sendah, the unified online service that allows expatriates to stay connected and maintain meaningful relationships. Sendah is a preferred way to send load or prepaid airtime credits, money and gifts to loved ones in the Philippines.
Contact:
Dyza Portugal
Marketing and Communications
Ayannah Information Solutions, Inc.
###Sendah, the unified online service for cross-border transactions was chosen by KilosKo Foundation as a preferred e-commerce service provider for KilosKo’s online fundraising activities.
Manila, Philippines – February 25, 2010 – Ayannah, a leading provider of innovative services that enable secure, reliable and convenient transactions for online and mobile communities, announced that Sendah has been chosen by KilosKo Foundation to be a preferred e-commerce service provider for KilosKo’s online fundraising activities.
According to KilosKo spokesperson, Atty. Joy Roxas, KilosKo Foundation supports projects and initiatives that strengthen democratic institutions in the Philippines. As part of KilosKo’s participation in the historic May 2010 National Elections in the Philippines, KilosKo is raising funds to support the activities of volunteers who will insure that the May 2010 National Elections will be clean and peaceful and who will support the candidacy of honest and competent public servants who are running for elective positions in both legislative and executive branches of the Philippine government.
Atty. Roxas adds, “We are very pleased to work with Ayannah which has agreed to provide technical services to support our online fundraising activities.”
Ayannah Chief Legal Counsel, Atty. Christine Urgelllo adds, “We are privileged to have been chosen by KilosKo to provide technical services. We are happy to be involved in efforts that strengthen democratic institutions in the Philippines. The May 2010 National Elections are critical in the development of Philippine democracy. It will be the first automated elections in the Philippines. We hope to do our part in insuring that the elections are fair and peaceful.”
Ayannah recently launched Sendah, a unified online service that allows expatriates to stay connected and maintain relationships. Sendah is a preferred way to send load or prepaid airtime credits, money and gifts to loved ones in the Philippines.
For additional information of the news that is the subject of this release, you may contact Ms. Dyza Portugal or visit www.ayannah.com.
About Ayannah:
Ayannah provides innovative services that enable secure, reliable and convenient transactions for online and mobile communities. Since 2004, we have enabled billions of transactions globally. Ayannah operates Sendah, the unified online service that allows expatriates to stay connected and maintain meaningful relationships. Sendah is a preferred way to send load or prepaid airtime credits, money and gifts to loved ones in the Philippines.
Contact:
Dyza Portugal
Marketing and Communications
Ayannah Information Solutions, Inc.
###
I'll Take Your Password Please
I think I had a computer meltdown. Not so much with a p-c per se. More like with my mind. As I tried to log on to my computer at work yesterday, there was a malfuction.. with my brain. I entered my username, but then I just sat and stared at my password. It's something that comes to me naturally everyday. I don't really think about it, but on this day I just couldn't come up with it. I think the neurons were misfiring from lack of sleep.
This quandry, as I sat there, led me to question how many passwords are associated with life. A Social Security number issued at birth, is a password of sorts- for most, an unchanging password of a lifetime. As we grow up, there are more. Locker combinations, test identification numbers, college student identification numbers, voicemail passwords, pin numbers for debit and credit cards, and that doesn't even include the endless usernames and passwords needed to log onto computers at school and work: the numbers, the phrases, the pet names followed by two numbers. They are essentially your access to your life. It amazes me to know that on most days my brain keeps track of them all without so much as a second thought.
Pam
It’s amazing the sense of renewal the New Year brings. It seems we all have our own way of tossing out the old and welcoming the new. I made one real resolution this year: to find an outlet for my life. No, not an electric outlet, but a place to burn off my energy, my stress, a place to find inspiration. So, I’m running. I hope that I can stick with it, as this is not the first time it’s been a resolution. I hope the days don’t pass by, and I’m suddenly making excuses not to run, instead of remembering the reasons I should be.
It’s funny how you feel really geared-up about resolutions as the year ends, but once you’re a week or two into the New Year the dedication wears away. Here’s to you this 2010 and may you do what you said you would!
Making a conscious effort not to spoil our daughter at Christmas my husband and I vowed to stick to two gifts. Even though it’d be her first Christmas “understanding” presents and the joy they bring, we said we’d stick to two. I’m just of the mindset that spoiling early complicates the future. So, with this plan in mind we set off for our two gifts: one from us, one from Santa. I’m proud--we stuck to our guns, but what I surely didn’t take into account was the spoiling from others. By the time we finished our 5 days of family Christmas festivities we could barely get everything loaded to get it home. Gifts were literally oozing from our vehicle. Abby now has more toys then she knows what to do with, and I’m pretty sure she understands Christmas perfectly at this point. Despite our best attempts, she’s been spoiled. And while we are grateful to everyone for the beautiful gifts and love, we’ll try to make a run at an unspoiled Christmas again next year.
Do you ever have a moment when you don’t think you can do it all? I certainly do. Balancing life takes work. There’s work itself, tending to a family, keeping a house. Did I mention eating? Yeah, sometimes I forget too. These last six months have been particularly challenging. I’ll spare you the details. Let’s just say it’s been abnormally crazy. But with all new experiences in life come opportunity. For me, there have been several. I would say the experience that has had the most impact is the new relationships I’ve made. A few days a week, I’m surrounded by a new group of women who are absolutely inspirational. Most juggle work, a home and most importantly a family. Get us together and there are a few comments about how stressed we are, but mostly there’s kind words and encouragement. For me, it’s refreshing to be around a group of women who are striving to be the best they can and willing to help others do the same. I feel lucky to know them and even luckier to have them as role models.
I can’t pretend to know how every wife, every family feels, when a loved one is deployed. I only know how I felt when my husband, Todd, left shortly after we were married. He was in the inactive portion of his contract with the National Guard. He only had three months left when he was called to duty. I’ll never forget the Friday the 13th he got the orders. He did not flinch. He signed up knowing that it was a possibility, and he was ready for that possibility until the day he was discharged. I think Todd got that from his Dad – a strong, proud Marine who served bravely in Vietnam. You don’t flinch, you move forward.
I can’t pretend to understand what he and his unit went through in Iraq. They were responsible for securing a major route. They were blown up by IEDs many times. It was a long 18 months. For me, it was just hoping to hear from him. For him, it was protecting his country, his unit, his mission and himself.
I know that Todd made great friends over there. Some I have met, others I’ve just heard stories about. They keep in touch through phone calls and the internet. Some stayed in service and are on second and third tours. Others have bought homes, gotten married, had kids. Still others are suffering the lasting effects of war.
I am reminded of the service and sacrifice of our brave men and women on Veterans Day. I am also reminded of the sacrifice families bravely make as they wait at home.
I’ve had my share of sickness this past week. As a person who is usually not superstitious, I’m knocking on wood that this is it for me for the flu season. It started with a warm feeling that turned to a prickle that escalated to a full-blown assault of my senses; coughing, sneezing, headache, runny nose. Just typing it makes me reach for the Kleenex. While I tell viewers about the H1N1 virus on a daily basis lately, I didn’t think that I’d be assessing my symptoms to figure out if that’s what I’m sick with, but that’s what I’ve been doing the past week from the confines of my home that seemed like a cage some days.
Which leads me to the guilt that comes with sickness: I know it’s in everyone’s best interest for a sick person to stay away, but, for me, it’s not that easy to rationalize. I’m always busy with something, there’s always a To-Do list to go with another To-Do list. Forcing me to slow down takes effort. Being relaxed while I’m slowed takes even more effort, especially when I know others have to adjust their busy lives and schedules to pick up my slack.
After several days of private suffering, I decided I was ready to take myself to the walk-in. The planner that I am, I called ahead. The receptionist kindly told me there was a 2 hour wait there, mostly people with H1N1 symptoms. The question became is it worth it to sit in a waiting room with all the sick people, when there’s a chance I don’t have H1N1. The answer for me, however ill advised, was no.
So here I am, back at my desk, catching up on a week’s worth of work and blogging to you. I feel better. Not 100 percent, but better. Good luck to you this flu season.
Often times, we’re asked to go out on stories and find a topic of interest related to it. That was the situation a few years ago, when we had exhausted many of the traditional stories covered at the fair. We’d been through the setup, rides, games and animals. I thought I’d zero in on fair food. After all, who doesn’t love it and then feel guilty after? So, let’s just say the goal became eating as much of it as I could (I like to call it taste testing) in the two hours my photographer, Tom Zurawski, and I were there. I think it was Tom’s idea because he’s had a lifelong love affair with food. Fast forward those two hours, and I had eaten, among other things, cheese curds, a gyro, an elephant ear and chocolate covered cheesecake on a stick. The total intake: 2500 calories in two hours. And, you know what? I didn’t feel guilty one bit.
Happy Fair Going!
I feel like I have a personal stake in Brett Favre’s decision. It’s ridiculous, I know, but it’s true. After all, I grew up very close to Lambeau Field. Close enough to hear Sunday games, fans and all, from inside our house while we watched on tv. The years Favre spent in Green Bay were glorious. I can list stats from the team he led to the Superbowl with the best of them. Robert Brooks, Dorcey Levens, Gilbert Brown, Antonio Freeman-- they were magic. And, who could forget Desmond Howard (who I loved at Michigan, btw) and his huge return that day. When they came home we lined the streets as city buses, with the windows out, carried them to a celebration at Lambeau. We cheered them on, shook their hands, we even gave them hugs.
My point is those were happy days in a city where much of its identity is wrapped in its hometown football team. Brett Favre brought rain after a long drought. He let many of us feel excited again about the game. He allowed us to regain some pride.
There are many stories I could share about the Packers and my time growing up in Green Bay. There are many memories--ask me how my cousin ended up in his legacy book if you see me sometime. So, it’s sad to see this legacy of his dragged through the mud as he debates, or we debate, his future. Any team would be lucky to have Favre, but in my mind he’ll always be a Packer.
Just wanted to let you know what a pleasure it is to watch you on FOX55.. I switched to FOX a few years ago because 10pm is just too late for me.. Could not get used to some of the other anchors, but you do such a great job..
Stick around.
President Obama held a prime time news conference Wednesday night to discuss healthcare. What are your thoughts on his proposal?
New reports today say transportation officials kept the dangers of driving while using a cell phone quiet because they feared losing taxpayer money. In the story we aired Tuesday night, experts said the research would have likely discouraged drivers from using phones while driving and possibly saved lives.
Would that kind of information have changed your cell phone habits while driving? What are your thoughts on the story?
I apologize for the long delay since my last entry. As you can see, some major things have changed on the Fox 55 website. Take some time to explore what this new site has to offer. The "Offbeat" news tab on the homepage is always a personal favorite. Don't forget to talk back on our blogs and message boards!
There haven't been a lot of studies performed about the love at first sight phenomena , but countless books have been written on the subject, and I oftentimes feel surrounded by couples who feel their unions were decided upon exceptionally early into their relationships. eHarmony commercials tout married folks who openly state they "just knew" when they met that they'd get married, Arielle Ford's The Soulmate Secret pretty much relies on the concept to sell its premise, and one of my siblings recently celebrated her eighth year anniversary with the man she married three months after their first date.
As for me as a dating tips? I'd like to think that love at first sight is possible. There is an innate romanticism attached to the thought of meeting someone and having them hitting enough emotional triggers immediately to just know. Now, Have I ever had it happen? Not the love bit, but I've met three folks over a span of twenty years where I just knew they'd be a huge part of my evolution as a person; I just wasn't sure how initially. One became a great friend, another a very emotionally charged but short lived relationship (although we still stay in touch), and one recent, and still playing out. Not one have told I love them, although admittedly love all three very much. And thus, in my head, no love at first sight for me. A strong hunch, and a driving need to get to know someone better? Definitely.
But what about you? Do you believe in love at first sight? Why or why not?
Resource: Do You Believe in Love at First Sight?
