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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 Isah V. Red, Editor
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Young Life
Bernadette Lunas, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com.ph
By Daniel Reyes
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HEY say the way you look at the office translates to your performance, but in today’s workplace that is not the case anymore. Business attire has significantly changed over the past years. Decades ago, male employees typically wore longsleeve shirts and slacks at the office. Some companies today, however, are now allowing their personnel to dress casually—Friday or otherwise—to the extent that men can get away with wearing shorts to work. “There has been a shift in terms of office policies since most of the companies are young, if not, business owners are very adaptive to the emerging trend of wearing casual clothing to work,” opined Guam Partosa, a 25-year-old retail executive at a multinational fast fashion retail company. In Partosa’s workplace, there is no restrictions as long as their outfit is fashionforward because they have to introduce new trends to the market. “We are not only selling items, we are also educating customers how western trends can be adopted in the country,” he explained. Paolo Reyes, 26, a marketing associate at a retail company who wears shorts at work twice a week, said they are allowed to wear shorts and even slippers as long as those are the brands that they carry in their company. “In one of the multi-branded concept stores that I handle, we carry brands that cater to the youth. Thus, the way I wear my outfits are aligned with the lifestyle that we have in our store,” he shared. And wearing casual outfits happen to be the same for Keith Clemente (not his real name) who works at a start-up company. Clemente, a 20-year-old associate, said, “Our work attire policy is dress as decent and comfortable as you can. In fact, you can even go to work wearing slippers.” While some would think that shorts are too casual for work, there are ways to make them presentable. Partosa, who also handles the visual merchandising in one of their stores, said, “Having a ‘sophisticated casual’ look is one way to be presentable to your clients.” He explained that a “sophisticated casual” look can be achieved “through layering or by mixing classic apparel pieces with one’s go-to casual look.”
MILLENNIAL DRESS CODE:
MEN WEAR SHORTS TO WORK SHORTS STORY. Men wearing shorts to work
is now a thing, thanks (or no thanks?) to young male employees and start-up companies. (Photos from @davidguison and @iamgalle on Instagram)
Partosa, however, pointed out that it is still important for them to wear a more defined and professional outfit when they have meetings. “Whenever we are going to meet with our clients that is the time we wear trousers,” he said. Moreover, Reyes said that “the phenomenon of wearing shorts at work depends on the industry in which a person is working. But since there are several millennials starting up their companies, wearing shorts wouldn’t be as unusual as before— especially in the retail industry.” As for Clemente he believes that this can become a norm in the Philippines in the future as companies are becoming more flexible when it comes to office attire since several studies prove that comfort affects an employee’s productivity. Partosa argues, “We have to thank the millennials because what this generation is teaching us is to be practical; since we are living in a tropical country why would one force himself to wear something like a trouser pants made out of wool?”
AHLEI trainer Dr. Michael Terry with the executives of Seda Hotels, El Nido Resorts, and Hotel Benilde
RAISING THE BAR
IN PHILIPPINE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY THE American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, through the Asia World Hospitality, organized two separate sessions on hospitality education and training as part of its commitment to modernize the hospitality and tourism industry in the Philippines. Recently at Seda Nuvali, AWH convened hotel general managers and hospitality executives from Seda Hotels, El Nido Resorts, and Hotel Benilde to conduct a review workshop and administer examinations on the Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) professional credential. Seda BGC, on the other hand, played host for the recently concluded Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE) workshop facilitated by Dr. Michael Terry, an AHLEI inter-
national trainer who is also a certified hotel administrator, educator, and food and beverage executive. The CHE workshop was designed for the faculty members of several universities in the Philippines, namely Our Lady of Fatima University, Far Eastern University, Academy of Pastry and Bakery Arts Philippines, Centro Escolar University, Nueva Vizcaya State University, Tarlac State University, Philippine Maritime School, PHINMA Education-Araullo University, and PHINMA Education-Southwestern University. For more information on upcoming workshop sessions, visit asiaworldhospitality. com, email info@asiaworldhospitality.com, or call (02) 556-7994 or 0917-5232128.
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2017
Isah V. Red, Editor / Nickie Wang, Issue Editor isahred@gmail.com
Showbiz
South Korea's K-Pop supergroup BTS
Kiko Estrada Or Jason Joseph Francis Carlos Diaz Ejercito in real life, came from a big family of actors and actresses. He is the son of actor-turnedpolitician Gary Estrada and former actress Cheska Diaz. He’s also the grandson of Filipino movie icons Paquito Diaz and George Estregan. Kiko was introduced in the industry as Kevin Del Mundo in the youth-oriented series Reel Love: Tween Hearts. He then transferred to ABSCBN where he did cameo appearance in Kapamilya shows Angelito: Ang Bagong Yugto and Annaliza. In 2014, he moved back to the Kapuso network where he was welcomed with numerous projects including Strawberry Lane and Yagit. Kiko currently part of a primetime series playing Rafael, Derrick Monasterio’s friend and rival in the fantasy Mulawin vs Ravena.
By Sundy Locus
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HE entertainment industry would not be complete without celebrity families that glam up the business. Some may have strayed away from the limelight but it has become more of a culture for celebrity parents to pass on their legacy to their children, creating a lineage of talented actors and actresses. The Manzanos, Sottos, and Gutierrezes exemplify this perfectly, as pool of artists carrying their surnames had etched their marks in the industry. Meanwhile, today’s generation paved the way for new breed of celebrity families to dominate the spotlight as their young springs take over both the social media and show business. For your eyes’ consumption, here’s a rundown of the five hottest showbiz scions . Bruno Gabriel He is a man of talent. Before entering show business, he dedicated his time as a sportsman. He trained with the Philippine Football team Azkals and participated in Tennis and Football competitions in California. His experience as an actor, on the other hand, stretches in theater arts. He seasoned his talent with Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), where he also honed his skills and versatility as an actor. Though he is studying Business Management in Ateneo De Manila University, Bruno shared that he has an innate flair for acting and directing. One of his directed works even won best cinematography in one of the local film fests in his school. He now works alongside Benedict Campos, Jazz Ocampo, and Ayra Mariano in GMA’s youth-oriented show G.R.I.N.D., where he sparked controversies after going naked in one of the show’s episode.
Santino Rosales He has the look and stature of his father. At a glance, Jericho Rosales and Santino could pass as brothers. The 17-year-old stole the attention of local TV scene after his appearance in Candy Teen Con as a Candy cutie back in 2016. Unlike the usual celebrity kids, Santino is not keen on entering the industry. His focus is on fashion and modeling instead as he struts the runway for Ayala Style Origins together with the fresh batch of Filipino models Tricia Santos, Marcos Suarez, and Shermaine de Ramos. Aside from modeling, football is also something that keeps him going. He plays for two different professional football clubs and wishes to be a part of his favorite international team, Real Madrid.
Donny Pangilinan The Instagram star turned recording artist proves that he is more than just a pretty face as he finally dropped his highly-anticipated single “Did You.” Growing up, the newest Myx VJ had been musically-inclined as he flaunted his talent in playing the piano at an early age. He also admitted that being in show business is something that he had always considered but kept it a secret mainly because he fears that his parents would not take him seriously. He was first seen in 2016 in the morning talk show Magandang Buhay where he guested alongside his mom Maricel Laxa. More than the popularity, Donny aspires to be an inspiration for the youth and an icon whom his fans can look up to.
Tony Labrusca Popularly known as ‘Jake’ in La Luna Sangre, the hunky 22-yearold showbiz scion continues to hook the hearts of his fangirls with his head-turning physique and commendable acting. Starting out as a commercial model, he first appeared in McDonald’s viral commercial where he acted as Elisse Joson’s ex-boyfriend. Tony is the offspring of ‘90s singer Angel Jones and actor Boom Labrusca. Apart from being an actor, he is also a gymnast, model and singer. He made his debut appearance in the small screen upon joining ABS-CBN’s Pinoy Band Superstar in 2016.
MILLENNIAL ROMANCE RULES THE CINEMA LOVE You to the Stars and Back is a road trip filled with adventures and misadventures. It revolves around a boy and a girl who serendipitously meet each other under embarrassing circumstance. The film is their story of love and compassion. Starring Joshua Garcia and Julia Barretto,
Antoinette Jadaone’s latest directorial assignment is making a killing at the box office. As announced by Star Cinema on Tuesday, the movie has already earned more than P60 million at the tills, a week after it premiered in local cinemas. In the movie, Garcia plays Caloy, a cancer patient who falls in love with a girl named Mika (Barretto) who believes in aliens. The two embark on a roadtrip filled with adventures and misadventures, not knowing that it will lead them to experiencing their most memorable romance at such a young age. They unexpectedly teach each other an important lesson on love and life – one that takes most people a lifetime to learn. The movie has been screening in the US and Canada since Friday, and will have another international screening in
Australia and New Zealand on Sept. 14. Meanwhile, another millennial themed romantic film premiered on the big screen on Wednesday. Dance duo Ella Cruz and Julian Trono took their tandem to a higher level with Fanboy/Fangirl , a coming-of-age flick produced by Joyce Bernal Production for Viva Films and N2 Productions. Heavily influenced by K-Pop, the film is directed by Barry Gonzalez and is about a wannabe actor and a talented teleserye dubber who agrees to help him improve his acting. Her coaching helps him achieve his dream of becoming a star only to find herself heartbroken when he becomes successful.
K-POP GROUP BTS SETS A GUINNESS WORLD RECORD SOUTH Korean boy band BTS recently received the honor of being featured in the 2018 edition of “The Guinness World Records,” which was released on Aug. 29. The seven-member boy band, also known as Bangtan Boys and Bulletproof Boy Scouts, had the second most Twitter engagements just below former One Direction member, Harry Styles. As for group acts, BTS topped the list, according to the popular K-Pop breaking news site, AllKPop. The section is based on the average number of retweets per tweet they receive in which the count was calculated back in May (an average of 152,112 retweets per tweet). Since then, BTS’ average retweets has gone even higher to reach the highest rank and surpass Harry Styles’. According to socialblade, which tracks social media statistics and engagements, BTS now averages 217,283
BTS member Jimin in the group's latest music video entitled "Serendipity"
retweets per tweet making the band one of top influencers on the microblogging platform. Meanwhile, following the news of their Guinness feature, BTS’s record label, Big Hit Entertainment, released the teaser music video for one of the songs included in the group’s upcoming record Love Yourself. The music video, entitled “Serendipity” is a two-and-ahalf minute-long music video focusing on a BTS member as he sings a contemplative alternative R&B love songs amidst a variety of light and airy sets. The song contained lyrics written by Rap Monster and has gained more than 14 million views since it was uploaded on YouTube on Sept. 4. In the Philippines, BTS had a two-day concert back in May. It was the group’s third visit in the country in support of its 2016 album, “Wings.” It was also a historical concert as it was the first time that BTS staged a twoday concert outside Korea.
Pets
Manila
Standard
TODAY
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 isahred@gmail.com
URGENT HIRING : (VALENZUELA CITY / PAPER INDUSTRY) MALE MAINTENANCE SPVR. KNOWLEDGEABLE IN ELECTRICAL /MECHANICAL MACHINE & VEHICLE MAINTENANCE MALE : INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICIAN FEMALE Q.A. ANALYST W/ EXPERIENCE IN PAPER INDUSTRY DRIVER: RESTRICTION 123 FAMILIAR IN MLA / NORTH & SOUTH CONTACT# 4323466-9849069 LOOK FOR TINA PASCUAL EMAIL:hr@coreasiapaper.com (SEPT. 8 & 10, 2017) Republic of the Philippines Department of Health CENTRAL OFFICE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE for the
InvItatIon to BId Procurement of fIrewall devIce/aPPlIance IB no. 2017-300
1.
The Department of Health (DOH), through the General Appropriations Act of 2017 intends to apply the sum of Fourteen Million Philippine Pesos (PhP14,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Procurement of Firewall Device/Appliance under IB No. 2017-300. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.
2.
The DOH now invites bids for the procurement of the above-captioned project. Delivery of the Goods is required within the period specified under SECTION VI. Schedule of Requirements. Bidders should have completed, within three (3) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project, equivalent to at least fifty percent (50%) of the ABC. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.
3.
Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the 2016 Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183.
FAMILY. Dog Milky, guinea pig Flippy, and cat Whisky sleep, eat, and play together.
LIVING IN HARMONY
By Yumi Burgos
I
WAS in grade 4 when I got my fourth pet. My first three have all been gone a long time ago. It was a guinea pig. My cousin, Kuya Migs gave it to me as a birthday present.
Once again, Mama reminded me that “pets are not things or properties like toys that you would acquire and you can just leave lying around, not bothering to think if it is hungry or if it is comfortable enough or if it is happy with its life with you; they are family members just like myself and that meant that I would need to give them the same things that I need for them to be healthy and happy just as I am.” I named her Flippy. At first, we didn’t have money yet to buy a bigger cage for her so we put Flippy in a box and I made box tunnels and caves for her. Sometimes, I took her out of the box and I played with her in the living room of our small apartment. When we fed her, we went out looking for grass instead of buying pellets. There were times that I brought Flippy to school. Then my friends and I would play with her. There was a time also that we nearly lost her. That was when we brought Flippy to the farm. We put her on the grass outside the house. As she roamed around, she got lost because she went under the tree where there were a lot of plants and she got hidden from our sight. But we found her under the tree and never brought her out to the grassy part again outside the house. I loved Flippy and I enjoyed having her with me. In March, 2015, while in Quezon City, Mama and I saw on Facebook a post that Tita Desiree put up about dogs that need to be adopted. Tita Desiree is a close friend of our family. She and her friends put up
this shelter for dogs and cats (Save Animals of Love and Light or Save ALL shelter) that they save from the streets, and take care of them until they find good homes for them. I asked Mama if we could adopt a dog. Mama said we couldn’t. Not yet, at least, because the income that Mama was earning at that time was not enough even for ourselves. Nonetheless, we contacted Tita Des and inquired on how to adopt a dog from the shelter. She offered us a pair of pups the first time. She said they couldn’t take the two pups apart that is why we had to take both. That made Mama’s mind up not to adopt anymore. So, I thought I wouldn’t have the chance to have a dog of my own. After a few days, I was so surprised and overjoyed when Mama came home carrying a puppy! And Tita Des was with her. They told me that the puppy’s name is “Milky” and that I can change it if I wanted to. I told them, “Nope. I won’t change it anymore. I like Milky.” That was one of the unforgettable moments in my life. Since Milky became part of our family, I often hear Mama say that it’s as if she has three children—me, Flippy, and Milky. I was the ate, Flippy was the diche, and Milky was the bunso. How we had a lot of fun together! Although, time and again, I had to remind Milky not to play too rough with Flippy because she was a little too big compared to a guinea pig. In time, she learned. Whenever we played together, it’s as if she always knew she had to be gentle with Flippy.
Summer came and went. When the new school year was to start, we had to go back to Bulacan. This time, it wasn’t just me and Mama traveling. There were four of us now. We had Flippy and Milky with us. It was little harder to commute but I felt happier than ever. Then, just as I thought our family couldn’t get any bigger, Mama and I saw this almost newly born kitten along the highway. She was nearly hit by a car. I told Mama we should get it and take care of it. But she told me that it might not survive long without its mother. Still, we took it off the street and we tried our best to take care of it. Mama said it’s as if she had a newborn baby. I named it “Whisky.” After a few weeks, she grew up to be a pretty kitten. And much later on, a gorgeous cat of ours. We taught her the same way we taught Milky about how to live in harmony with all the members of our family. Mama is still not earning enough at present. But we do everything we can to survive and keep each other healthy and happy. It didn’t matter to us that Flippy, Milky, and Whisky are what others describe as “natural enemies”. They do not consider each other as such. Instead, they see each other as sisters as we taught them. Mama and I barely even noticed at first just how funny our family members are in the eyes of those who are not used to a setup like ours. But Flippy, Milky, and Whisky clearly see that they are one and the same—a part of one family. The guinea pig, dog, cat and two humans consider themselves as one family and love each other so much that it is easy for them to live in harmony. To us, our family will always be our greatest treasure. (Yumi is a 12-year-old animal lover who rescues kittens from the streets. She plans to put up an animal shelter when she grows up.)
4.
Interested bidders may obtain further information from the COBAC Secretariat, Ground Floor, Building 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given above during 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday.
5.
A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 11 September – 02 October 2017 from the address above and upon payment of the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB, in the amount of Twenty Five Thousand Philippine Pesos (PhP25,000.00) It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.
6.
The DOH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on 18 September 2017, 10:00 AM at the COBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Building 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila, which shall be open to prospective bidders.
7.
Bids must be duly received by the COBAC-B Secretariat at the address below on or before 02 October 2017, 9:00 AM. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18. Bid opening shall be on 02 October 2017, 9:00 AM at the COBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Building 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila. Bids will be opened in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address above. Late bids shall not be accepted.
8.
The DOH reserves the right to reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.
9.
For further information, please refer to: COBAC-B Secretariat Department of Health San Lazaro Compound Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. Nos. 651-7800 local 1625 to 1627; 1650 to 52 Facsimile No.: 741-9775; 740-6830 (SGD) MA. CAROLINA V. TAIÑO, CPA, MGM, CESO IV Assistant Secretary of Health COBAC – B Chairperson
(MS-SEPT. 10, 2017)
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES National Capital Region REGIONAL BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID CONCRETING OF ROAD ACCESS 1. The DENR-NCR, through the GAA-CY 20171 intends to apply the sum of TWO MILLION SIXTY FOUR THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED FORTY PESOS (PhP2,064,140.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for “Procurement of Infrastructure Project – Concreting of Access Road.” Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening. 2.
The DENR-NCR now invites for the Concreting of Access Road located in DENR-NCR, Mechanized Nursery, DOST Compound, Bicutan, Taguig City. Completion of the Works is required within One Hundred Twenty (120) calendar days. Bidders should have completed, within five (5) years, a contract similar to the Project. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders.
3.
Bidding will be conducted in accordance with relevant procedures for open competitive bidding as specified in the IRR of RA 9184 (R.A. 9184), with some amendments, as stated in these bidding documents and is open to all bidders from eligible source countries as defined in the applicable procurement guidelines of the World Bank. The contract shall be awarded to the Lowest Calculated Responsive Bidder (LCRB) who was determined as such during post-qualification. The Estimated Project Cost for this project is Two Million Sixty Four Thousand One Hundred Forty Pesos only, PhP2,064,140.00
4.
Interested bidders may obtain further information from the Regional Bids and Awards Committee of the DENR-NCR and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given below from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Mondays to Fridays.
5.
A complete set of Bidding Documents may be purchased by interested Bidders from September 05 to September 22, 2017 from the address below and upon payment of a non-refundable fee for the bidding documents in the amount of Five Thousand Pesos (Php5,000.00).
MY FURRY BESTIE THIS corner will feature pets of animal lovers every week. We hope also hope more people will be moved to be kind to animals when new owners and those thinking of getting a pet will be encour- they read about the great relationship that can be created beaged to be responsible “furparents” through these features. We tween humans and animals. MALING was abandoned in Singalong. Manila and was rescued by CARA Welfare Philippines. Bea Salazar of Indang, Cavite adopted him and now enjoys the company of this playful, intelligent cat.
BROLLY and his two siblings were found on the street in Manila by the nephew of Mayanne Naguit Dee when he was only three days old. He was the only one who survived. Dee and his nephew took turns giving kitten milk to this cute furball every two hours. Now here he is, a rather spoiled but very sweet cat, Dee says.
It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the DENRNCR website (http://www.ncr.denr.gov.ph) provided that bidders shall pay the non-refundable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. 6.
The DENR-NCR will hold a Pre-Bid Conference on September 13, 2017 at 10:00 AM at the DENR-NCR Conference Room, 4th Floor, National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, which shall be open to all interested parties.
7.
Bids must be delivered on or before September 25, 2017 at 10:00 AM at the DENR-NCR BAC Secretariat/Procurement Unit, 3rd Floor, National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. All bids must be accompanied by a Bid Security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated in ITB Clause 18 or in a form of Bid Securing Declaration. Opening of Bids will immediately follow in the presence of the bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted.
8.
The DENR-NCR reserves the right to accept or reject any bid, to annul the bidding process, and to reject all bids at any time prior to contract award, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.
9.
The DENR-NCR likewise assumes no obligation whatsoever to compensate or indemnify any bidder or winning bidders as the case may be from any expenses or loss that said party(ie) may incur in its participation in the prebidding and bidding process nor does it guarantee that an award will be made.
10. All bids must be accompanied by a Certification of Site Inspection issued by the implementing office (end-user), 11. For further information, please refer to:
His name is KOMANG, 3 months old. He was born this way but his physical challenge did not lessen one bit his zest for life. He plays with other cats all the time. Axl Yonson says he always waits in front of the door in the morning for his food. But his taste is quite different from other cats: HE WANTS DOG FOOD! Handsome and unique, this guy is indeed.
BAC Secretariat Procurement Section, 3rd Flr, DENR-NCR Bldg. National Ecology Center East Avenue, Quezon City Tel. 373-43-99 August 30, 2017. (SGD) ATTY. ALVIN JOSEPH G. CONSTANTINO Chairperson, Regional Bids and Awards Committee DENR-NCR National Ecology Center, East Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City Telephone No. (078) 304-1800 1. In the case of National Government Agencies, the General Appropriations Act and/or continuing appropriations; in the case of GOCCs, GFIs, and SUCs, the Corporate Budget for the contract approved by the governing Boards; in the case of (LGUs, the Budget for the contract approved by the respective Sanggunian. (Section 5(a), R.A. 9184) (MS-APR. 18, 2017)
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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph
Gadgets & Games
OPPO A71: SPEEDY TRENDY, ENJOYABLE
HE Philippines’ Top 2 international smartphone brand OPPO proudly announced the new OPPO A71 smartphone, equipped with the company’s latest trendy design and Color OS 3.1 UI that gives the best experience for an affordable price of P8,990. The A71 is a 5.2” smartphone with OPPO’s latest sleek uni-body design and luster edge for a more compact, enjoyable and ergonomic grip at just 7.6mm thickness and 137g of weight, finished with a nano-silver technology for a more elegant overall premium feel. Fill up your heart’s desire with the A71’s immersive IPS HD display. Watch movies or play games with confidence because of the great screen color reproduction and protected with scratch-resistant glass.
and HDR mode for the best output. Additionally, you can have more dramatic effect with preset filters, selfie panorama, or bokeh for a richer selfie experience. All these with OPPO’s famous Beautify technology, to give the best selfie experience through natural enhancements. Shooting more complex photos is also easier with OPPO’s expert photography mode. Settings such as white balance, exposure level, ISO, Shutter speed and focus can all be manually adjusted for the most ideal setting in any scenario. More details Improved Photography can also be captured with the A71’s Ultra HD mode to take Ultra highExperience Alongside the strong perfor- definition 52MP photos. mance of the A71 is the improved camera optics of a 13-Megapixel Fluid User Experience camera with a 1/3.06 sensor size for Experience speedy operation with better sensitivity. It even includes the A71’s latest Color OS 3.1 based on multi-frame de-noising technology Android version 7.1. User experience for an overall clearer performance is enhanced with fluid launching even in dark conditions. time of apps, more intuitive controls The 5MP front camera with a and even more caring with OPPO’s bigger 1.4 µm pixel size will give night shield mode to reduce eyebetter selfies with more detail, light strain in scheduled times. Users can
also take advantage of the splitscreen feature to use two apps simultaneously like watching videos while browsing the web. All these are possible with the A71’s 3GB RAM and Octa-Core processor that is built for multi-tasking when needed. Designed to last all-day too with its bigger 3000mAh battery.
F5 NETWORKS BAT FOR MORE SECURE IT LANDSCAPE
Value like no other
As with any OPPO smartphone, the A71 comes with a pre-installed screen protector and included soft-transparent case for complete protection against everyday elements. The OPPO A71 is now available, both in-stores or via online at all OPPO authorized resellers nationwide.
Experience speedy operation and trendy design with the new OPPO A71
FIND HIDDEN SPOTIFY EMPOWERING STUDENTS CODES IN CALL OF DUTY WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
WITH the Call of Duty: WWII Private Beta Weekends coming to a close, you might have noticed the ‘top secret’ Spotify codes hidden in various game maps. For those who missed these video game Easter Eggs, Activision partnered with Spotify for the first time to hide a set of cryptic audio messages for players to decipher, featuring the voices of the Call of Duty: WWII campaign cast. Stepping into new territory, this activation is the first brand execution that leverages Spotify Codes in an alternate reality gaming capacity by incorporating an in and out-ofgame code-breaking puzzle. Now there’s something that’s never been done by other brands!
Using the Spotify mobile app, some players were able to uncover a five-letter code that can be entered into the Call of Duty: WWII Classified site for an exclusive in-game Calling Card that can be used once the full game launches on Nov. 3. Now that the beta has concluded, there are Spotify Codes found in the game for players to decipher and uncover the secret in the files. Think you can crack the code? Experts in Morse code need not reply… Spotify is an award-winning digital music service that gives you on-demand access to over 30 million tracks.
DIGITAL transformation is coming to all industries, including education. In the recent Microsoft Asia Digital Transformation Study done across 13 markets in Asia, 87% of business leaders from the education sector agreed that every organization, including educational institutions, needs to transform into a digital business to enable future growth. While the study has been done in Asia, it is now more paramount to the Philippines, a country with 25.4 million K-12 learners and a fast growing economy, to ensure that technology is used to engage all learners and prepare them for the future. To engage all
M LHUILLIER BRINGING TELEMEDICINE TO PH M LHUILLIER, one of the most trusted providers of financial service in the Philippines, takes its business to another level as it ventures on a new partnership that puts emphasis on an important issue: our health. With the goal of always finding new ways to make the lives of the Filipino people easier, M Lhuillier goes beyond its familiar territory and partners with Mediaxes A.S. from Denmark to bring telemedicine in the country, through the app MyPocketDoctor. Established in 2006, MyPocketDoctor aims to provide medical consultations in the easiest, most convenient way possible, with topnotch
doctors from Europe and the Philippines using European telemedicine standards to give the best consult to patients. A service that can be enjoyed via a subscription, MyPocketDoctor can easily be accessed 24/7 in three different ways: through the app which can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play, the website (www. mypocketdoctor.com), and through a simple SMS (which can be sent to the service hotline, free to all networks). Anyone can get a medical consultation anytime, anywhere, from medical doctors who will give their diagnosis, prescription, and other instructions either through a phone call, or
a video call for cases that require visual assessment. Patients even have the option to have their medicines delivered to them. MyPocketDoctor subscriptions, which are available as scratch cards, with codes that are then entered into the app or website upon prompt, or given to an actual nurse on call, can be purchased at different M Lhuillier branches around the country, 15 of which are open 24 hours. Patients can choose from four different packages: a one-time consultation at P450; three consultations valid for six months at P499; unlimited consultations valid for one year at P900; and unlimited consultations with two dependents at P1,995.
learners including those with special needs our government needs to be able to harness the power of technology. Last year, the Department of Education had 250,000 enrollees at the elementary level and 100,000 at the high school level, with a continuing thrust to provide quality and inclusive education for all. Bertrand Launay, Managing Director, Microsoft Philippines, reiterates Microsoft’s firm commitment to the digital transformation of education in the Philippines. “We at Microsoft create technology that recognizes the diversity in learning and we have created tools that empower all students,”he said. Today, Microsoft
F5 Networks Country Manager Oscar Visaya (center) is shown during the NICT Summit.
Launay
has launched a video that shows one example of Microsoft’s commitment to inclusive learning, wherein the video focuses on technology for the visually impaired. The video shows students from the Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Im-
paired (ATRIEV), and shows how visually impaired learners can gain important computer science skills that will help increase their employability opportunities. Accessibility tools and assistive technology tools such as audio Narrator were utilized in order for the students to use basic office productivity tools and even computer programing and coding. In addition, the video shows how visually impaired trainers teach other students. This shows how fundamental concepts can be better explained in the context of the students’ special learning needs and how assistive technology can truly transform a classroom to be 100% inclusive.
THE attack surface created by app-driven transformation is expanding rapidly, with 72 percent of the total number of attacks focused on user identities and applications, the gateway to personal data. This was one of the key topics discussed during the recently concluded 2017 National Information Communications Technology Summit. This year’s theme, “Revving Up Information Infrastructures for Development,” highlights the vital role of telecommunication and information systems, also known as infostructures, in the 10-point Philippine Socioeconomic Agenda of President Rodrigo Duterte. The annual conference, which brings together more than 300 participants from the government, education sector and various industries, aims to help stakeholders understand the value of leveraging technology to improve public service delivery and ensure transparency and accountability within government. Leading application delivery and application security solutions provider F5 Networks, represented by its Country Manager Oscar Visaya, participated in the summit and underscored its thrust of building a more secure IT landscape to help support the connectivity improvement and aggressive infrastructure expansion plans of the president. Visaya, one of the event’s key resource speakers, shared his insights about transformations in the Philippine ICT landscape and the security required to thrive in an app-driven digital economy. He emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in how businesses and enterprises look at cybersecurity. According to him, security budgets today emphasize in less-grave risks such as protecting the network, which accounts for 90 percent of budget, with only 10 percent allocated for the most serious and common risks today which are user identities and applications. “We cannot focus on the historical approach of incrementing forward as the application landscape is already changing the world one industry at a time. The growing number of applications, where most user data are stored, has tremendously increased the surface area of attack vectors and more apps directly mean that there are more opportunities and choices for attackers. Given this, a larger portion of IT budgets should be allocated for the re-orientation of security around the applications,” Visaya shared. He further explained how and why existing approaches fail, stating that insufficient visibility and application awareness post serious security risks.
ACER UNVEILS NEW MODELS AT BERLIN GIG
By Nathanielle Punay
ACER has unveiled a number of new models and products that have been made to be more convenient for all kinds of work-related activities and hobbies in a global press conference held in Berlin, Germany last Aug. 30. Their new iterations includes laptops, PC parts for gaming, Projectors, 360˚ cameras, projectors and Pet Care devices in which most of them are powered by Intel’s latest innovations: the 8th Generation Intel Core processor and Intel Core i9 Extreme Edition processors for gaming. To give a more enjoyable viewing experience, Acer also had speakers installed that are powered by Acer TrueHarmony and Dolby Audio Premium as well as NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 and 1080Ti graphics for the display. Most of their new models
are laptops that are convertible and detachable to tablet mode or tent mode. These are the Swift 5, Switch 7, Spin 5 and Nitro 5 Spin. Swift 5 is the lightest laptop Acer has ever made, weighing less than one kilogram and comes with a backlit keyboard to make sure that its user can also work at night. Switch 7 is also one of Acer’s firsts as this detachable notebook has a fanless structure made possible by Acer Liquidloop cooling technology. It is the first of their products to have a kickstand installed for better adjustment of display angle. The Spin 5 and Nitro 5 Spin Notebook both have better graphics and front-facing speakers. However, the Nitro 5 is designed for all kinds of PC games whether it uses a keyboard or a touchscreen for the controls. Acer also showed their Chromebook 15 laptop that has a 15.6-inch display, two upward
speakers and a 12-hour battery life. The laptop also has a fanless structure that creates less noise from the device and can access apps from the Google Play Store. The company revealed their Desktop PC lines as they introduced Aspire 24 and the latest PC Gaming set for the Predator series.
Aspire 24 is an all-ino n e desktop that is only 5.97 mm thin with only a 2.7 mm bezel that brings a 90-percent screento body ratio. The PC can also provide a wireless charging system for smartphones as it comes with a charging base for Qi-enabled mobile devices.
Acer Aspire 24
The new Predator gaming set includes Cestus 500 (Gaming Mouse), Galea 500 (Gaming Headset), Orion 9000 (Gaming Desktop), and X35 (Gaming Monitor).