Ms sect d 20161204 sunday

D1

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016

Jimbo Gulle, Editor

jimbo.gulle@gmail.com

LGUs

BAGUIO’S ‘PANAGBENGA’

NOMINATED AS BEST FESTIVAL IN PH

B

AGUIO CITY—Panagbenga took its name from the Kankana-ey term for blossoming of flowers which is panagbenga in native dialect considering that the flower festival is being done in time for the blossoming of flowers in the city and surrounding municipalities of Benguet Province

The annual festival that drew thousands of local and international tourists and visitors to the City of Pines has been nominated as one of the five finalists for The Best Festival Category in Choose Philippines Awards 2016 organized and presented by the Digital Media Division of ABS-CBN Corp.

Choose Philippines is ABS-CBN’s online content hub will be celebrating its fifth year this 2016 and the program wants to commemorate the milestone through a special celebration through the Choose Philippines Awards.

Dedicated to promote Philippine tourism locally and internationally—and to share the breathtaking beauty of the country, meaningful experiences that can be shared with the people, the delicious delicacies that is offered and the priceless memories that people get from every local travel— the awards is the company’s way of recognizing the efforts being together by communities and its people.

The flower festival is usually conducted on the first week of February up to the first week of March and it is the longest festival in the country that lasts for more than a month compared to other prestigious festivals in the different parts of the archipelago.

Panagbenga had been reaping national and international awards for the orderly and disciplined conduct of the major

events for the festival which are the grand street dancing parade and the grand float parade that serves as an avenue for participating contingents to display their dynamic and sterling performances along the parade route and the flowerdecorated floats appreciated by the local residents and visitors.

Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan in a statement said that “being nominated by a prestigious program of a respected media company as a finalist for the Best Festival category is a welcome development.

“We are proud of the nomination and we hope for the best for Panagbenga. It will be an added feather to the cap of the organizers of the flower festival and the people of Baguio and as well as, the Benguet Province.

Domogan expressed his optimism for the festival’s chance of bagging the coveted recognition. “This nomination will be an added boost for the festival to continue moving on to greater heights,” he enthused.

For next year, the Panagbenga will be held from February 1 to March 5 with the theme “Inspired by Beauty, Nurtured

by Nature.”

Awards Night is scheduled on Dec. 1, 2016 at the Dolphy Theater, ABS-CBN Compound, Quezon City. Dexter A. See

WHY TARLAC IS THE‘BELEN CAPITAL’ TARLAC has laid claim to the title “The Belen Capital of the Philippines,” and the province underscored it starting last November 4 as it opened its “Belenismo sa Tarlac” Festival.

The festival brings together people from all walks of life as they try to creatively recreate the Nativity Scene or belen, a staple of every Christmas celebration in Tarlac and across the country. The Belenismo ends Jan. 6, 2017.

Included in the Department of Tourism’s calendar of events since 2007, this year’s Belenismo attracted 46 entries across five categories: Community, Church, Monumental, Municipal, and Grand Non-Municipal Category.

Winners will be announced on Belenismo Awards Night on Dec. 10, 2016.

Open to all bona fide residents of Tarlac, the contest features belen structures of varying sizes—the smallest being in the Community category at 2.8 meters (about nine feet)—and 50 percent of the belen’s materials must come from

6

5

7

Scan this icon to view the PDF

recycled items.

Tourism Undersecretary Oscar Palabyab dubbed Tarlac as the belen capital back in ’07, and the province embraced it by becoming a member of the Federacion Española de Belenistas.

Here are descriptions of some of the entries (pictured below): 1. Intellect Building (not pictured): A first-time participant, this is a stainedglass depiction of the nativity scene.

2. McDonald’s Concepcion: Another newcomer with a Filipiniana-inspired belen made from egg trays.

3. Municipality of San Manuel: Corn is a major product of this municipality, and this nativity display asks for prayers for a good harvest.

4. Municipality of Sta. Ignacia: Their theme uses the various products of the town—vases, flower pots, nipa, and bamboo, among others.

5. Our Lady of Ransom Parish: Bamboo, sinamay, cardboard animals, cardboard magi, and a patch of real

4

Some of the creations in the Belenismo sa Tarlac festival are pictured here (see text above). The festival started November 3 and ends January 6.

carabao grass make up this brightly-lit display in the church courtyard.

6. Samahan sa Pura Municipal Belen: This colorful ornate depiction features bamboo, paper March doves, rubber sheets, straw mat, sawali and bilao.

7. Twin Pillars: Bamboo twigs, styrofoam made to look like bricks, artificial green plants creeping on the wall, and hay make this a native rooftop nativity scene.

2

3

Local Gov’t Units

BRIGHT PROSPECTS FOR COFFEE INDUSTRY IN THE NEXT 5 YEARS

By Dexter A. See LOCAL coffee industry stakeholders have projected bright prospects of the country’s coffee industry once all appropriate interventions and strategies have been put in place particularly by the private sector.

Citing specific and ideal industry directions, Dave Santos, chairman of the Commercial Crops Committee of the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF), asserted the need to rehabilitate the existing total production area of 117,454 hectares to be able to add up to the volume of production by at least 3 percent or an additional 35,235 tons to the existing over 74,000 tons of coffee beans.

He added both the government and the private sector must be able to expand the existing production areas by 50,924 hectares to be able to significantly increase the volume of coffee beans for the benefit of the growth of the industry.

Santos noted during the 2nd National Coffee Conference held in Baguio City that the expansion of production areas should be coupled with the improvement of the quality of planting materials as well as the availability of the said materials to encourage coffee farmers to embrace coffee production as the major source of their income.

The annual conference provided the venue for industry members and other stakeholders of the country’s coffee production sector—which also seek to reestablish the industry’s cost-competitiveness that is aligned with global quality standards, reliable and environment-friendly, at the same time help provide sustainable benefits to farmers, processors, traders and exporters.

ARMY TURNS OVER MOBILE COMPUTER LAB IN REGION 10 CAMP EVANGELISTA, Cagayan de Oro City—The Army’s 4th Infantry Division introduced its newly acquired Mobile Computer Laboratory (MCL) aimed at providing computer literacy program for the marginalized sector and communities.

In collaboration with civicoriented groups, namely Pinoy Batang Bayani Foundation (PBB) and Tuloy Foundation Inc. (TFI) that started more than three years ago, the Civil-Military Operations group of the Philippine Army jointly inaugurated the Mobile Computer Laboratory recently turned over the high technology equipment from the PA headquarters during a simple inaugural rites held at the 4ID grandstand.

Assembled inside a 40-footer fully-air conditioned container van the Mobile Computer Laboratory is installed with 21 high-technology computers, gadgets, and other equipment intended for Basic Computer Literacy learning worth P4 million.

Principally, the identified beneficiaries will be comprised of identified members of the marginalized sector and communities, especially the Outof-School Youth and Indigenous Peoples.

LGUs

D2

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 mst.daydesk@gmail.com

PHILEX BACKS CLEAR DEFINITION OF RESPONSIBLE MINING

TUBA, Benguet—Philex Mining Corp. has expressed support for government’s call on all miners to be guided by a clear definition of responsible mining to further enable industry players implement best practices and operate based on global standards.

Addressing the Mineral Industry Symposium, Eulalio Austin Jr., Philex Mining’s CEO and president said that the utilization of mineral resources be based on technical feasibility, environmental sustainability, social acceptability, and financial viability— so that the industry will move forward based on what is right.

Austin cited Philex Mining’s “working culture” particularly its founders, “who painstakingly taken into account the protection of the environment, to consider the welfare of workers and look into the upliftment of the lives of the host and neighboring communities where the company operates.”

And having put a human face on responsible mining through the development of communities, paying the required taxes religiously, and being on the forefront of environment protection through forestation and reforestation, Austin said Philex Mining was now “braver to charter unexplored territories,” and that “we will raise the bar on responsible mining.”

In a separate forum during the fourday 63rd Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference (ANMSEC) organized by the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association, Austin stressed that Philex Mining had institutionalized its mine-waste management and social development programs in the past years.

Austin said that he’s elated that Philex Mining was one of those companies not recommended for suspension, referring to the recent technical mine audit conducted by government regulators on all mining companies nationwide.

“And this can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of its men and women in ensuring strict adherence to given mining standards and processes through the years.”

Austin added. Dexter See

HOUSES FROM SPOUSES. The Duterte Cabinet Spouses Association launched 4R Home, a shelter program for drug

users and pushers who want to mend their lives for good, on November 30, Andres Bonifacio Day, at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. In partnership with the Metro Manila Mayor's Spouses Foundation Inc., the Cabinet Spouses Association, led by its president Mrs. Jocelyn Sueno, wife of Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno, established a free formation house that would address the reformation and treatment of drug users who voluntarily surrendered.

LOCAL FOLKS OPPOSE ‘THE GREAT WALL OF LEYTE’

By Sandy Araneta

T

HE people of Leyte need roofs over their head, not seawalls”.

In a nutshell, this is what coastal residents of three towns heavily damaged by Super Typhoon “Yolanda” exactly three years ago are clamoring for as calls for the immediate suspension of multi-billion peso seaside embankment project in the province continue to swell.

Led by the fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas or Pamalakaya and People Surge, residents of affected coastal areas suggested instead for the government to realign—the P7.9-billion budget allotted for the project instead—on resilient housing and safe evacuation centers built in their communities on which the residents can run into during the calamities.

The groups said the government project Tacloban-Palo-Tanauan Tide Embankment, locally known as The Great Wall of Leyte would displace more than 14,000 households, mostly fisherfolk from a city and two coastal municipalities in the province of Leyte.

The P7.9-billion TEP, is a long stretch of seawall from Tacloban to the town of Tanauan, Leyte, touted to protect people from storm surges.

Of the 27.3-kilometer length of the embankment, 20.1 km are in Tacloban, 4.1 km will cover Palo, and 3.1 km is in Tanauan. It shall have a height of about 4.5 meters and its center line is said to stand 30 meters from the seashore.

“TEP is not rehabilitation but another major disaster that targets the

NANCY'S VISIT. Public

school teachers welcome Senator Nancy Binay as she visited different towns in the province of Isabela that were hit by Typhoon ’Lawin’ to distribute sacks of rice and financial aid from the City Government of Makati to affected families. Together with Isabela Gov. Faustino G. Dy III and Vice Gov. Antonio T. Albano, Senator Binay met with local government officials and townspeople during the turnover ceremonies on November 24.

HEALTH SUMMIT FOR YOUTH IN QC SLATED THE Quezon City government has taken the lead in promoting healthy lifestyle among the youth focusing on addressing the perils of teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, among others.

City Mayor Herbert Bautista will mount an adolescent health summit to promote a healthy lifestyle among the youth, particularly high school students, on December 6 at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

With a theme “To Catch You, Hold You and Never Let You Go,” the activity will be highlighted by a video advocacy launch on the perils of teenage pregnancy and a teen walk by students from

the city’s different public schools and out-of-school youth, he said.

The city government will provide the youth with more access to medical services relevant to reproductive health and development, and preventive education programs drug abuse.

“The summit is a vital part of the city government’s continuing effort to address adolescent pregnancies,” Bautista said in a statement.

City health officials said high adolescent pregnancy also means high risk of maternal death.

For other physical and mental health concerns such substance abuse, habitual tardiness, absenteeism, poor

health conditions, campus conflicts, bullying and growing possibility of injuries and accidents resulting from impaired judgment will likewise be discussed as these factors contribute largely to students’ encountering drugs and alcohol problems.

Peer influence has been cited as the most common cause of drug abuse.

According to the Quezon City AntiDrug Abuse Advisory Council, chaired

by Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte, the profile of drug abusers in Quezon City based on the cases reported from 2002 to 2010 was within the age range of 12 to 17 years old when most of the students have entered high school.

fisherfolk and poor residents who were already victims of the onslaught of Yolanda, and have even yet to recover,” Fernando Hicap, Pamalakaya chairman, said in a statement.

Instead of providing concrete evacuation centers that can be a safe haven for residents during calamities, the government “wants to totally eject its residents from their only recourse,” Hicap added.

In Candahug, Palo, however, several residents already started demolishing their own houses and small businesses after the Department of Public Works and Highways compensated the structures based on assessed value.

In Cogon also in Palo, DPWH employees visited the community to assess the houses and put numbers in red vandals, indicating they will be affected by the Tide Embankment project.

According to Visayas-based People Surge, an alliance for disaster survivors in the Philippines, the affected residents will not be relo-

cated and will just instead look for themselves for any other available space within their barangay.

The groups opposing the embankment project cited a recent study made by the Center for Environmental Concerns and expert scientists from AGHAM (Advocates of Science and Technology for the People) that show that the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted for the project did not comprehensively address environmental issues such as the effects on mangroves, concerns on inland flooding, liquefaction, and other environmental hazards.

“Aside from the social and economic impacts, TEP also poses threat to our environment, contrary to its promulgation that it will mitigate the post-effects of calamities like storm surges and floods,” Hicap stressed.

The two groups led the protest at the head office of the DPWH in Manila together with members of People Surge to urge the agency to completely suspend the TEP.

FROM SEAFARERS TO ENTREPRENEURS

‘WALIS TAMBO’ CONCEPT BAGS 2016 BUSINESS PLAN OF THE YEAR ASPIRING entrepreneurs from the seafaring workforce were pitted to comeout with the best business model aimed at developing and harnessing their potentials to become business owners This year’s competition dubbed as “From Seafarers to Entrepreneurs” awarded Ryan Mark Antiquera a certificate of recognition and cash totaling to P500,000.00 for bagging the 2016 BUSINESS PLAN OF THE YEAR” plum for his “Walis Tambo” business plan during the recently concluded NRCOISP Business Plan Competition.

The National Reintegration Center for OFWs, an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment, together with the Integrated Seafarers of the Philippines (ISP) presented the awards to all the winners recently held at the Century Park Hotel in Manila The 2016 NRCO-ISP Business Plan Competition (Harnessing Seafarers’ Capacities for Business Enterprises Development) shortlisted from this year’s total of 41 entries received, screened and mentored from June to October.

Antiquera’s concept presented by his parents, Freddie and Elsa who hails from Bicol stood out during the final round of the competition exhibited before a panel of judges.

Aside from its simplicity and practicality, the proposal also lives up to the competition’s objective of encouraging seafarers to become entrepreneurs and at the same time support the growth of jobs in the localities.

NRCO Director Chona Mantilla encouraged seafarers aspiring to stay in the country for good to start their own

business by joining the competition next year. She cited the successful story of 2015 Business Plan of the Year awardee, William Gaspay for his seaweeds farming project proposal which is now operational in Masinloc, Zambales.

Bagging the second prize recognition and prize awards was Jackie Lou Abejaron from Region 9 who was awarded with P100,000 for her “Hermosa Weaving” business proposal.

Other finalists, received consolation prizes ranging from P20,000 to P100,000 sponsored by various seafaring and manning agencies.

The Industry Choice Awardees, who received P50,000.00 each were Ma. Socorro Nonato from the National Capital Region for her organic farming proposal; Michaelle Legaspi from Region 4A for his “crickets as alternative to meat” proposal; and Juncel Rosal from Region 11 for his hog integrated business proposal.

The remaining finalists, who received P20,000 each were: Angelo John Carlo Cruz from NCR for his poultry farming proposal; Karen Anastacio from Region 9 for her quail raising, native pig farming, and cow lending proposal; Mitchelle Bringas from Region 11 for her integrated farming of butterfly garden along with vermiculture, plants, and other animals proposal; Zelda Into and group from Region 7 for their coco products proposal; and Nydia Delfin from Region 5 for her proposal on producing and selling naturally-grown rice, ducks, and eggs through integrated rice-duck farming system. NRCO-ISP Business Plan Competition dole.nrco/www.nrco.dole.gov.ph,

Gadgets & Games

D3

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

FIBER CONNECTIVITY IS NEXT BIG THING

LD Systems, a German pro audio brand, recently joined the November HiFi exhibition at Dusit Thani Manila showcasing its state-ofthe-art audio equipment which includes their newest game-changer—the Curve 500 ES Plus. Shown in photo is a guest DJ in the event enjoying the sound quality of the speaker.

CURV 500 ES SPEAKERS BLOW HIFI CROWD AWAY

L

D Systems, a German pro audio brand, recently launched the first-ever hybrid speaker system in the market—the Curv 500 ES Plus, during the HiFi Show recently at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati City.

The launch, attended by various media writers and personalities, highlighted this state-ofthe-art speaker as a sound system that you can practically use anywhere. It can be converted to either a stereo system (for home use), or a portable vertical line array system (for stage use).

“The Curv 500 ES Plus is powered by a patented technology called WaveAhead® Technology,”Javin Garcia, Product Manager – Consumer Division of AV Solutions Corporation, the official distributor of LD Systems, said.

“In a single satellite enclosure of the Curv 500, there are actually four speakers—one full-range speaker and three

tweeters on top of the said speaker. What this gives you is consistent and clear sound with no drop-offs,” added Garcia.

Another clever technology is the SmartLink® adapter.

“It lets you connect the satellites without the hassle and complications of matching cables on each satellite speaker. This provides a lot of convenience and scalability,”Garcia said. “This is also the main reason why you can switch from stereo to line array and vice versa.”

For the first time, both home users and professionals can experience high-quality, live level sound with the LD Systems Curv 500 ES Plus.

“Home users get true professional sound, while performers can bring good sound anywhere,” Garcia said. “The Curv 500 ES Plus is good for 400 people inside a closed room, while outside, it can accommodate up to around 200 people.”

With a lot of competition in the

audio industry, LD Systems keeps up the race with its practicality and innovation. Johenson Tan, Marketing Manager in the Consumer Division of AV Solutions Corporation, believes that LD Systems products resonate well with the Filipino market.

“We are very smart consumers. We want to make sure that the products we buy are are well worth our investment,” he said.

Compared with other brands in the premium speaker category, LD Systems speakers bring comparable and oftentimes, better sound to the ears of Filipinos.

“Aside from really good sound, you get top-notch quality as well. It is engineered in Germany and comes with two-year warranty,” Tan asserts. “You can be sure that you’re getting very good value for your money.”

The Curv 500 ES Plus is priced at P74,990. It is equipped with a 4-channel mixer with Bluetooth, plus 16 DFX presets. The package comes with four satellite speakers, two SmartLink® Adapters, and a distance bar. It is available at SM Appliance, Gadgets Hub at The SM Store, Astroplus, Odyssey, Robinsons Appliance, Intune, and other leading appliance and music stores. It can also be purchased online via Lazada (http://www. lazada.com.ph/ld-systems/) and The WOW Store (https://thewowstore.com.ph/brand-ld-systems).

HYUNDAI AERO PLUS: A GENTLEMAN'S ACCESSORY CELLPRIME Distribution Corporation (Cellprime), one of the fastest-growing mobile technology brands, in partnership with online retailer Lazada and Hyundai dealer Autohub, announced the launch of the Hyundai Aero Plus, a unique smartphone that delivers on both aesthetic value and performance capabilities.

Cellprime expects the Hyundai Aero Plus to resonate strongly with design-andstyle-conscious men and car enthusiasts, given the phone’s sleek form factor and impressive features.

“Our partnership with Hyundai has enabled us to bring compelling smartphone devices to Filipinos, such as the Hyundai Aero Plus, the first smartphone designed as a gentleman’s accessory and essential daily companion,” said Eric Yu. “With the Hyundai Mobile brand, CellPrime is set to attract the Key figures of the Hyundai Aero Plus launch are shown here, namely (from left) Joey Oreta, CellPrime Chief Marketing Officer; Eric Yu, CellPrime President; Willy Tee Tan, President & CEO, Autohub Group; Lito Jose, General Manager, Hyundai Pasong Tamo

country’s population of young achievers, empowering us to fulfill the smartphone needs of every lifestyle.”

Sustaining Momentum for Hyundai Mobile

Hyundai Aero Plus

Cellprime forged a partnership with Korean automotive titan Hyundai, enabling both to benefit from their respective expertise in design, innovation, local market expertise and mobile technology leadership.

The Hyundai Aero Plus is the second phone modeltobelaunchedundertheHyundaiMobile brand in just a little over a year of partnership.

BeginningwiththesuccessfulreleaseofHyundai Aero earlier this year, Hyundai Mobile will continue to bring mobile devices for mid-to-high-end smartphone users in the Philippines.

The proper phone for the proper man

Ascribing to the Hyundai brand promise of ‘modern premium’, the Hyundai Aero Plus is packed with a smooth design and powerful features inspired by Hyundai’s latest vehicles.

Similar to the all-new Hyundai Tucson, the Hyundai Aero Plus brings a sleek, highly optimized body structure, a sophisticated matrix, and maximum storage space. The device comes in 32GB and 64GB models. Powered by a 64-bit octacore processor, it can easily multitask to give a smoother app experience, particularly for male executives who use their devices for work and play while on the go.

Running on the latest mobile OS Android Marshmallow 6.0, users can enjoy flexible storage and personalization options, easy to

use interface, biometric security, and power optimization among many other useful features. The Hyundai Aero Plus is LTEready for high-speed browsing, and also comes pre-loaded with indispensible apps for every gentleman such as ESPN, Spotify, Waze, Lazada, and Zomato, providing the tools to enjoy their interests and hobbies anytime, anywhere.

Taking its cue from a luxury car’s silhouette, the Hyundai Aero Plus has a 5.5”full HD curved screen made with in-plane switching (IPS) LCD technology, giving text and images unprecedented clarity and vibrance.

Both phones are equipped with a 21MP rear camera and 8MP front facing wide angle camera, providing crisp and sharp photos—a feature that today’s highly-social Filipino male will love given their fondness for capturing share-worthy moments. The phone’s aluminum unibody gives it a strong, masculine appearance, making it ideal for style-conscious males who appreciate a sophisticated yet sturdy design.

At PHP13,990, the 32GB Hyundai Aero Plus comes with a quick charger and 3GB of RAM; while at PHP15,990 the 64GB comes with a wireless charger and 4GB of RAM. Both are powered by a high-performance 3000mAh battery that can last at least 20 days on standby or 18 hours of talk time.

Spreading Holiday Cheer with the Hyundai Aero Plus

The Hyundai Aero Plus is a limited edition phone which will be in Lazada and other channels beginning December 7, in time for the gadget-buying rush this Christmas. Simply visit http://bit.do/ hyundaiaeroplus to purchase while supply lasts. Concurrently, Hyundai Mobile will also be giving away a Hyundai Aero plus to the first ten (10) buyers of Hyundai Tucson from Hyundai Pasong Tamo.

THE demand for high-speed internet among businesses accelerated recently.

This is due to the widespread adaption of business applications and cloud computing services, which both require a great deal of bandwidth in order to run smoothly.

However, while these applications are beneficial for boosting business productivity, these reduce the capacity of the company network to deliver highspeed internet. It also slows down business operations and causes the lost in manpower hours due to sluggish connectivity.

According to a study conducted by SanDisk, a producer of flash drives and other storage devices, employees waste an average of one week every year because of slow internet speed caused by inadequate network bandwidth.

To address this problem, most companies demand a high-bandwidth broadband connection from their internet service provider (ISP). Below are some features that allow for superior bandwidth.

Pure fiber cable vs DSL

A number of ISPs in the country deliver internet connection using domestic leased lines (DSL). These lines are capable of providing high bandwidth broadband internet via conventional telephone lines. Each line is made of copper wires that stretch for a maximum of 100 meters. It can also send broadband data through signals with a bandwidth of 1Gbps at most.

However, pure fiber cables are better materials for internet connectivity. Unlike conventional copper cables, these use optical fibers that are made of lightweight plastic material. They are also more compact and flexible. One fiber cable can stretch up to several kilometers and are capable of transmitting a bandwidth of 100 Gbps.

Hence, these fiber optic cables are capable of benefiting companies with a higher bandwidth, necessary for better streaming high definition videos, video conferencing, file sharing, and running cloud service applications.

Pure fiber technology also exhibits other features essential for improving business operations. These include reliability, symmetric connectivity, and minimal latency.

Reliability

Reliability is another feature necessary for companies that run applications on the internet. Any unplanned downtime, or interruption in the data flow, may lead to a loss of productivity.

Pure fiber technology is extremely reliable when compared to conventional DSL. Unlike DSL, pure fiber cables are more durable because it does not corrode lasting for up to 30-50 years.

They are also not prone to damages caused by inclement weather, which brings most of the downtimes among copper cables. Finally, because fiber optic cables allow more data to pass through, data traffic is faster.

Symmetric Connectivity

Fiber optic cables also allow for symmetric connectivity. This means downloads and uploads speeds are relatively the same. This is brought about by the capability of pure optical fibers to transmit data by light.

Thus, companies are benefitted with efficient data transfer.

Minimal Latencies

Latencies are the delays that occur while running business applications over an internet connection. Pure fiberoptic Internet eliminates the latency issues experienced by most DSL users.

This benefits the companies with uninterrupted uploading and downloading huge files, better quality of voice information sent over the internet, and the ability to run more applications to the cloud.

Pure fiber technology has been in the country for years now, gearing up businesses with fiber-powered connectivity.

Converge ICT, a provider of worldclass ICT products and services, takes the lead in offering pure fiber technology in the Philippines. Among its product offerings are iBiz solutions. It is a suite of internet packages that can help business processes run seamlessly with up to 50 Mbps internet. These packages include one public IP address, 100 MB Web Mail, 100 MB Web Space and 10 GB Cloud storage, respectively.

With its more than two decades of cable and telecommunications expertise in Central Luzon, Converge ICT is now taking on new markets in Metro Manila and South Luzon to meet the increasing connectivity demands of the communities in these regions.

D4

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2016 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph

Gadgets & Games

CURRY IS NEW VIVO BRAND AMBASSADOR

NEXT-LEVEL CRAFTING WITH BROTHER SCAN N CUT FILIPINO crafters and creative entrepreneurs, welcome the world’s first home and hobby cutting machine with built-in scanner and Wi-Fi capability: the Brother ScanNCut CM700.

Working on your next big arts and crafts project can be fun, convenient, and wireless with the new Brother ScanNCut CM700. Designed for different types of artists and crafters—from newbies and amateurs to serious professionals and modern entrepreneurs—this machine can scan, cut, and even draw an endless range of patterns and designs with ease and precision like never before.

At Brother, we believe in using innovation to complement the lives and passions of our customers,” said Glenn Hocson, Brother Philippines President. “The Brother ScanNCut CM700 is just one of the latest innovations we are bringing in for Filipino artists, crafters, hobbyists, and entrepreneurs to bring their ideas to life.”

Create on different devices with the new wireless feature

NBA superstar Steph Curry is introduced as Vivo’s next brand ambassador during the smartphone’s grand launch recently. Peter Paul Duran

By Peter Paul Duran

V

IVO, the fifth best global smartphone manufacturer, revealed a couple of surprises during their recent grand launch at the Solaire Grand Ballroom in Pasay.

The manufacturer unveiled the new Vivo V5 with an hitherto unheard of 20MP front cam and teased the V5 plus.

But the real surprise came when the brand revealed its new

brand ambassador.

Two-time MVP and Golden State Warriors’ point guard Stephen Curry will serve as the new face of the Vivo V5, as the company feels the NBA star aptly represents what Vivo is.

Vivo V5 boasts of an unheard of 20MP front cam. Peter Paul Duran

“We have chosen Steph Curry because he’s aligned with the core values of our brand,” said Vivo Philippines VP Hazel Bascon. “Our brand is a premium smartphone brand, so we only choose the best.”

During the reveal, Vivo Overseas Brand Manager Brent Loree announced that it was important that the brand select an ambassador that is “of upstanding character who could be a role model for young people in the Philippines.”

Steph Curry certainly fits the criterium.

The brand manager also said that that they have selected Curry because his dedication to the pursuit of perfection has launched him to the pinnacle of success in the international stage.

“His determination and performance on and off the court is an inspiration yo all of us (in Vivo). We are very proud to have him represent the Vivo brand here in the Philippines,” added Loree.

In a statement, the record-breaking three-point specialist said that he is very much happy for the selection.

“I’m really thankful for being part of the Vivo family and I’m looking forward to doing more activities with Vivo and its Filipino plans soon,” said Curry.

In the same launch, Vivo revealed the secret to the perfect selfie with the launch of the V5--the first ever smartphone with a whopping 20 megapixel front cam.

But wait, there’s more.

“The V5 embodies Vivo’s relentless pursuit of innovation with technologies and functions that

our consumers look for in their device,” said Bascon.

“With the V5 and its industryleading features, we continue to push the boundaries of a premium mid-range smartphone,” added Bascon as the brand also teased the next tier V5 plus during the launch but bared that the phone will be available early next year.

The Vivo V5 has a revamped 13MP rear cam that can autofocus in a snap, while the phone ports an all-metal unibody shell back case that comes in champagne gold and rose gold.

The 5.5 inch HD display is clad with the 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass.

The 3,000mAh phone was revealed to have an all-new front-facing finger print scanner that can unlock as fast as 0.2 seconds. It is also equipped with a MediaTek MT6750 1.5GHz octa-core paired with 4GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage expandable to 128GB via micro SD slot.

The V5 redefined the perfect selfie as the 20MP Moonlight front cam features the Sony IMX376 sensor that can shoot with f/2.0 aperture coupled with a soft-light flash to capture the perfect selfie anytime, anywhere.

The phone will still retain the Smart Split feature albeit an exponential improvement from the previous version all the while sporting the Android Marshmallow 6.0.1 OS and the Funtouch 2.6.

The V5 will be available in Vivo concept stores and major retailers nationwide for P12,990. Consumers can also pre-order the V5 in major retailers to receive exclusive freebies including Vivo speakers, Vivo selfie stick and phone stent.

BUY a laptop, get new shoes (or athletic gear) for free.

This is made possible by computer giant Acer, which has teamed up with shoemaker New Balance in a Christmas promotion called #GoSwift that’s targeted at millennials who find “new and exciting ways to celebrate and have fun.”

With every purchase of a qualified Acer product—such as the trendy Acer Swift 3, Swift 5, and Swift 7—customers can get a New Balance gift card worth P5,000 absolutely free, said Sue Ong-Lim,

sales and marketing director of Acer Philippines.

To claim the New Balance GC, Acer laptop buyers just need to fill out the promo claim form and get the official receipt of their computer purchase from the store, Ong-Lim added in a press conference in Quezon City on Tuesday.

“Submit these requirements together with the cut-out of the box serial number (of the Acer product) and two valid IDs to claim the gift card,” she added.

With the gift card, an Acer customer can choose to claim New Balance shoes or items at any of 50 New Balance, Athlete’s Foot or

Planet Sports participating stores nationwide, Ong Lim added.

“Taking a stroll in New Balance shoes or journaling on a handy Acer Swift laptop are surefire ways to set things right and usher in the New Year,” said Jonathan De Guzman, marketing lead for New Balance.

Swift promotion runs until Dec. 31 at par ticipating Acer stores across the country. For more about the latest Acer Swift units and other Acer Philippines products, go to www.acer.com.ph, follow Acer via Twitter (twitter. com/acerphils) or www.Facebook. com/AcerPH.

Working on your next big arts and crafts project can be fun, convenient, and wireless with the new Brother ScanNCut CM700

Four-step creative process

With the Brother ScanNCut CM700, the next big creation is completed in four simple steps: See, Scan, Cut, and Create.

Users can take magazine clippings, online images, favorite photos, and even their own drawings and sketches, scan them on the built-in 300dpi scanner, and immediately cut the design on a wide range of materials, from paper and cardstock to fabric and vinyl. A simple press of a button is all it takes to cut out designs perfectly!

The Brother ScanNCut CM700 comes with various accessories and the ScanNCutCanvas web app to get users started on creative projects right out of the box.

Eye-catching projects and creations

WANT NEW SHOES? BUY AN ACER LAPTOP

By Jimbo Gulle

Always at the forefront of technology and innovation, Brother is constantly designing and developing features that enhance daily life and activities for its users. With the CM700, users can now create patterns and designs on their smartphones and tablet computers anytime and anywhere, then instantly send them over to the cutting machine through a wireless network.

“By giving the CM700 Wi-Fi capability, Brother is truly changing the way users think about cutting machines forever,” added Hocson. “Users can enjoy hundreds of built-in designs that can eliminate the need for design cartridges or PC connections, and now they can use their own unique designs created on mobile devices for their projects whenever, wherever.”

Acer Swift 7, the world's thinnest

The Brother CM700’s impressive features take the tedious tasks out of the equation, allowing users to focus on translating their big ideas on paper, cardstock, vinyl, and even fabric.

Creating customized greeting cards, decorative stickers and decals, plush toys, fashion accessories, and more can be fast, easy, and fun—as well as allow entrepreneurs to maximize their time and resources, and keep products uniform in shape and size. All these can help with profit margins and management of customer expectations.

Get started on exploring endless creative possibilities with the Brother ScanNCut CM700! For more information on this product and the latest innovations from Brother Philippines, visit brother.com.ph or call (02) 581-9888.