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Jimbo Gulle, Editor
Roger Garcia, Issue Editor
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HIGH DEMAND SPURS FIRMS TO RECLAIM MANILA BAY LAND By Kariza Aycocho
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AND values in reclaimed areas in Metro Manila have risen sharply due to the growing appetite for office, residential, and retail projects, global real estate firm Colliers International said in a recent report. Coupled with the lack of developable land in established business districts in Metro Manila, this compels developers to look for alternative landbanking options, Colliers added. “The popularity of reclaimed developments in the Manila Bay Area such as Aseana City is gaining traction among developers and this reinforces the viability of reclaimed land as a highly feasible landbanking strategy,” the firm said. “The strong demand for office buildings will be complemented by residential and retail projects hence the need to reclaim more developable land,” said Paul Vincent Ramirez, Colliers International Philippines director for valuation. The leading Central Business Districts like Makati and Fort Bonifacio, Ramirez said, is only hovering between 1 percent and 3 percent
vacancies, which made the Aseana City areas in demand for the business process outsourcing industry to sustain the country’s 6 percent to 7 percent annual economic growth. “As developable land in Metro Manila’s major business districts becomes scarce and prices continue to surge, it is only practical for developers to look for viable landbanking alternatives such as reclaimed land in the Manila Bay Area,” Ramirez added. The Manila Bay area ranges between P200,000 to P250,000 per square meter, growing by an average of 30 percent annually over the past five years. Meanwhile, land in Makati CBD and Fort Bonifacio hovers between P500,000 to P600,000 per square meter, rising about 15 to 20 percent per annum during the same period. The cost of the reclaimed area is more viable compared to the land established in CBDs, Colliers said. At present, Manila Bay has five active reclamation projects—the New Manila Bay City of Pearl project; The Manila Solar City Project; Pasay City Reclamation Project; Navotas City Coastal Bay Development Project; and the Las Piñas-Parañaque Coastal Bay Reclamation Project. The “live-work-play-shop” lifestyle popularized by Aseana City added to the eagerness of the developers to reclaim the land. Additional to the viability of mixed-use projects is the proposed public infrastructure projects nearby, including the Naia Expressway, Light Rail Transit (LRT) 1 Cavite Extension, Southwest Integrated Terminal, Sangley Airport, and Metro Manila subway.
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FISH FLOAT. A float designed like a tilapia fish—which is plentiful in Lake Sebu—steals everyone's attention during a parade for the 51st Foundation Anniversary of South Cotabato province and the 18th Tnalak Festival. Amiel M. Cagayan
OIL FIRM, RED CROSS GIVE OUT‘BAGS OF LIFE’ BLOOD shortage has been one of the most pressing problems experienced by many hospitals in the Philippines. For this reason, the Philippine Red Cross has been working double time to make sure there is ample supply of blood for Filipinos who need it. To encourage more blood donations, Red Cross ties up with different institutions from both government and the private sector for bloodletting activities. Among the private companies who yielded to the call of the Philippine Red Cross is Phoenix Petroleum Philippines through its foundation arm Phoenix Philippines Foundation.
“When we started, we were only able to donate 12 bags,” said Ben Sur, Phoenix Philippines Petroleum manager for corporate affairs. “But eventually, our employees gained an appreciation of the bloodletting activities and now we can donate at least 300 bags of blood.” Sur said the partnership with Red Cross has helped both institutions in times of need, in life or death situations. Red Cross Blood program coordinator Rizh Abellano said the roles played by the partners of Red Cross are crucial to the success of the mission of the institution. “A bag of blood can save a life, and we are
Local Gov’t Units
thankful to Phoenix Philippines Foundation for heeding our call,” said Abellano. Sur, on the other hand, hopes to increase the donation from its employees every year by providing appreciation seminars and other programs. He also said the foundation is tying up with its adopted communities as well as industry partners for blood donations. “When you give blood, you don’t give so much, but the impact of that one bag is significant to the person who requires it,” Sur said. “We wish that as we go on this journey, we can encourage more people to donate blood.”
HAGONOY: A TOWN OR A BODY OF WATER? THE town of Hagonoy in Bulacan has names of saints for almost all its barangays—San Jose, San Agustin, San Sebastian, Sto. Niño, San Miguel, San Pascual, San Nicolas, San Pablo, Sta. Ines, Sta. Elena, Sta. Monica, San Juan, San Isidro, San Pedro, Sta. Cruz, San Roque, and Sto. Rosario to be exact. The townsfolk have prayed to all these saints—and have sought more divine intervention—for a miracle for their seemingly eternal problem: flooding during the rainy season. Geographically, Hagonoy is on low-lying land near a coastal area —it sits on the northern shores of Manila Bay—which are primary factors for the community to submerge whenever it starts to rain heavily. The water released from the nearby Angat and Ipo Dams also cannot be held by the Bustos Dam, which caused the latter to overflow. The raging waters come down the Pampanga River (as its catch basin) and travels along different barangays on its path, including those in Hagonoy. With just a little downpour, the whole first-class municipality turns into a body of water. Another factor is the elevation of the town’s roads. The main roads were raised, but the residents who could not raise their homes to match them suffer. When it rains, the water flows back into the peoples’ homes, even if the rain is not falling anymore. Locals have also blamed the chronic flooding on improper waste management by some people. Even if the town is dismayed by the flood, the religious nature of the people in Hagonoy does not keep them from celebrating despite the natural calamity. There are still processions for the saints’ fiestas in the inundated streets, and devotees attend the church while dipping their legs into “normal” floods that sometimes reach two meters high. Visiting the muddied tombs, seeing fish on the streets, and watching children playing in huge “swimming pools” created by excess water from the dams, rivers, or by a monsoon rain, the people of Hagonoy have learned how to deal with this daily reality for almost four decades. According to the Bulacan Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, with the continued guidance of PRFFWC of Pagasa, they maintains and operates a network of rainfall, river and flood stage observation stations within the province as part of its flood disaster mitigation and management program. The local government unit in Bulacan claiming proper dam protocols can help to alleviate the perennial flood problems not just in Hagonoy but throughout the province of Bulacan. While the Municipality of Hagonoy, through its Environment Management Office in partnership with the Philippine Business for Social Progress last 2012 made an “eco-bike” project which helps in collecting the garbages in different barangays. The former mayor of Hagonoy, Angel Cruz participated and emphasized the value of initiative, but the issue of improper waste management became worst this 2017. Orlan Mauricio and Kariza Aycocho
USWAG DAREPDEP 2017 WINNERS NAMED THE Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (Commission on the Filipino Language) recently announced the winners of Uswag Darepdep 2017, the literary contests for the youth using various languages in the Philippines. Uswag Darepdep is a competition organized by the KWF under the Office of the President for young writers aged 12 to 17. Every year Uswag Darepdep features four different languages to encourage the youth to use the native language in writing. The objective of the project is to cultivate the native language and to enrich the Filipino language. The winners received a medal and cash prizes worth P15,000 for the 1st prize, P10,000 for the 2nd prize, and P5,000 for the 3rd prize. These are the following winners categorized with the language used:
Kapampangan: Maikling Kuwento (Short Stories)— Darrel G. Sanchez for “Gintung Gracia”, First Prize; Carl Dave P. Santos won second place for “Ing Pamanyulapagpo Que Tune Mong Sarili; and Kisses B. Manalo for “Aldo King Dalumdum”, third prize. Tula (Poetry)—Janrey Chester M. Gomez for “Pamuntok” (1st prize); Christianne Nicole A. Giron for “Kopra, Mais at Palay” (2nd prize); and Angelica Sibal for “Crisotan” ( 3rd prize). Ibaloy: Maikling Kuwento (Short Story) —Misty Joy S. Tam-awen for “Sota Makina Nën Nanang” (first prize); Javier A. Galac for “Ayat Tan Namnaman Na’y Bulos” and Joefrey D. Toriano for “Ngantoy Kavol Na Shibaley Ni Bi-i Pengisi-Chaan Shani Kalon”(3rd prize). Tula (Poetry)—Avemichi A. Kilaban
para for “Adivay” (1st prize); Kertney M. Balagsa for “Biyag ni Aysshi’y Anak” (2nd prize); and Charlote Celo for “Eskweda Jën Medigdigat” (3rd prize). Waray: Maikling Kuwento (Short Story)— Van Raymond M. Ganaba for “ Duha Nga Kalibutan” (1st prize); Rocajane C. Salac for “Pama-agini Blogger” (2nd prize); and Kelly Jean Paolo M. Calapano for “Tugtog” (3rd prize). Tula (Poetry)—Renz Louie C. Caliwan for “Pagbulay” (1st prize); Johani T. Ceblano for “Pagsunod Han Uso” (2nd prize); and Dennis A. Carolino for “An Ato Makagarahom Nga Ginoo” (3rd prize). Bahasa Sug: Maikling kuwento (Short Story)— Darwisa J. Sahali for “Putli’ Bar’ Akkal” (1st prize) at Mershayna J. Sintin for “Maas’ Miskinan” (2nd prize).
DISASTER SUMMIT. Science Undersecretary and Phivolcs Director Renato Solidum (center) joins Director Olivia Luces of the Office of Civil Defense Region 4A (left) and San Pablo Diocese Monsignor Gerry Bitoon (right) during a press conference at the San Pablo Central School in San Pablo City, Laguna. The event held last Friday was part of a Disaster Risk Reduction and Management symposium and an exhibit of static and kinetic booths of various regional disaster management member agencies in the Calabarzon region. Roy Tomandao
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MGB EYES DIDIPIO MINE REHAB PLAN By Brenda Jocson
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AYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya—With the recent declaration of stoppage by OceanaGold of its open pit operations in Didipio village, the Mines and Geosciences Bureau said it has stepped in and is now focused on the company's open-pit rehabilitation plan.
Mario Ancheta, MGB Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) director, said the Bureau's move is also in response to the municipal government of Kasibu town calling on the national government to order the rehabilitation of the
company's gold-copper mine site in Didipio village. Earlier, the Kasibu town officials also made the call for the open-pit rehabilitation as soon as the operation was ordered suspended by then Secretary Regina Lopez of the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The suspension was lifted after the company filed its appeal with the DENR. MGB officials said that while the Bureau has been continuously and stringently monitoring the Didipio mine's ongoing preliminary rehabilitation, they will look into the company's rehabilitation plan which should have started when the company has stopped its open-pit operation while shifting to tunnel mining. “We will assess whether or not under its mine-rehabilitation plan, the company is now supposed to undertake rehabilitation of the area at this
time," Ancheta said. He said they will also monitor whether or not the company is continually complying in its obligation to make deposits for the mine-rehabilitation fund. In a resolution, the MGB was asked by the Kasibu town council to direct OceanaGold Philippines Inc. to repair a “gaping crater-like pit” in Didipio village. It also cited the Mining Act of 1995 which mandates mining firm to undertake rehabilitation of “excavated, mined out, tailings covered and disturbed areas." The resolution also said: "The town government believes
that [OceanaGold] should have already started rehabilitating the said open pit." Mayor Chito Bumolo of Kasibu town said they have yet to see a concrete rehabilitation plan of OceanaGold once it ceases its operations in Didipio. "We have yet to know what they intend to do with the mine site once they leave, and whether their rehabilitation plan, if any, is acceptable to the communities affected," Bumolo said. In 2013, after two decades of explorations and preparations, OceanaGold has started commercial operations which necessarily flattened what was then
Dinkidi Hill and dug up an open pit in Didipio. This has caused some concern among local officials, some villagers and environment groups. In a telephone interview, however, Ramoncito Gozar, OceanaGold senior vice president for communications and external affairs, said “rehabilitation and closure planning is an integral consideration of the company's [Didipio] operations." “We know the risks in rehabilitating and closing an operating mine and we intend to minimize these risks as far as possible by working closely with our regulators and the community,” Gozar said.
PHILEX SPENDS P2M FOR REHAB OF DRILLED SITES TUBA, Benguet—Philex Mining Corp. had spent a total of P1.56 million between 2015 and 2016 for its rehabilitation efforts—such as the replanting and reforestation of disturbed areas as well as the backfilling of abandoned drill sites—at its two production-sharing agreements with the government and in connection with its Padcal operations in this province. This according to Julius Bayogan, manager at Padcal mine’s Environmental Quality Monitoring and Enhancement Department, saying the environmental work at Philex Mining’s MPSAs 156-2000-CAR and 157-2000CAR in the host towns of Tuba and Itogon also involved the sandbagging of excavated soil, soil-erosion prevention, handling of toxic materials, socioeconomic mitigating measures, and protection measures for employees. An MPSA, or Mine Production Sharing Agreement, provides for the government to share in the production of a contractor (miner) in kind or in monetary value. Bayogan, a licensed mining engineer and mine environmental protection and enhancement officer, said backfilling and sedimentation ponds fall within the progressive
rehabilitation of areas subject to exploration under Philex Mining’s Environmental Work Program for MPSAs, while the sandbagging is part of the management of stockpile of removed earth. The replanting and reforestation activities, he stressed, got the lion’s share of the 2016 EWPM expenditure to the tune of P1.28 million. “We have always been consistent in our efforts geared toward environmental protection,” he said. “There was no replanting and reforestation done in the said areas in 2015 pending the evaluation of drilling results.” Bayogan also said Philex Mining had completed drilling six holes at the Bumolo Prospect of MPSA 156-2000-CAR, with an aggregate meterage of 17,782 meters, between July and December last year. It was also in July 2016 when surface exploration was started in the TAPSAN area of Itogon’s Brgy. Ampucao. TAPSAN stands for Sitios Tapaya, Saes, and Nayen. A geologic mapping and smallscale adit (a nearly horizontal entrance to an underground mine) investigation was also done at Sitio North Midway, also in Barangay Ampucao, during the second semester of 2016.
Republic of the Philippines Department of Health CENTRAL OFFICE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE INVITATION TO BID HIRING OF A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR SHORT HEALTH MESSAGING SERVICE THRU TEXT BLAST (REBID) IB NO. 2017-124-A 1.
The Department of Health (DOH), through the General Appropriations Act of 2017 intends to apply the sum of Twelve Million Philippine Pesos (PhP12,000,000.00) being the Approved Budget for the Contract (ABC) to payments under the contract for the Hiring of a Service Provider for Short Health Messaging Service Thru Text Blast (Rebid) under IB No. 2017-124-A. Bids received in excess of the ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening.
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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 two (2) years from the date of submission and receipt of bids, a contract similar to the Project, equivalent to 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.
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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.
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Interested bidders may obtain further information from the COBAC Secretariat, G/F, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound and inspect the Bidding Documents at the address given above during 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. A complete set of Bidding Documents may be acquired by interested Bidders on 17 July 2017- 07 August 2017 from the address above and upon payment of an 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) provided that Bidders who are interested to participate shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids.
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The DOH will hold a Pre-bid Conference on 24 July 2017, 10:00 AM at the COBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, Sta. Cruz, Manilawhich shall be open to prospective bidders.
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Bids must be duly received by the COBAC-B Secretariat at the address below on or before 07 August 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 07 August 2017, 9:00 AM at the COBAC Conference Room, Ground Floor, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, 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.
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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 it IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders.
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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-JULY 16, 2017)
NEW TOLLGATE. Valenzuela Mayor Rexlon Gatchalian (on pickup, left) joins Manila North Tollways Corp. and North Luzon Tollways president and chief executive officer Rodrigo Franco and city officials officially open the new NLEX Lingunan Exit in Valenzuela City. This project is made possible with the help of Johnny Sy of John Wilter Land, Robert Que of Flash Built Corp., and Winston Lim of Northgate Corp., who donated their properties for the construction of the new access road. Valenzuela City has the most number of exits and major entries to NLEX, according to MNTC. Jun David
1,300 NCIP SCHOLARS TO PLANT TREES IN BENGUET LA TRINIDAD, Benguet—Some 1,300 beneficiaries of the government's Educational Assistance Program under the Cordillera office of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples will participate in the regreening of the region's forests through tree planting activities involving them and the members of their families. Lawyer Roland P. Calde, NCIP-CAR regional director, said under their new program, each of the scholars will be required to plant 10 tree seedlings per semester during the duration of their EAP scholarship to boost the efforts of the government in inculcating among the youth the importance of preserving and protecting the environment apart from their being educated on the region's renewed quest for regional autonomy.
Notice of Dissolution of HYDRO CHINA SUBIC LTD. CORPORATION Notice is hereby given of the dissolution of HYDRO CHINA SUBIC LTD. CORPORATION as of December 31,2016. Any party who has any interest in this regard may be give notice thereof at Sapalo Velez Bundang and Bulilan Law Offices, 11th Floor Security Bank Centre, 6776 Ayala Avenue, Makati City (MS-JULY 2,9 & 16, 2017)
NOTICE The State of Hawaii to Lawrence Antonio Lago, you are hereby notified that a petition for adoption of the child born to Marie Venensi Widmann has been filed in the Family Court, First Circuit, State of Hawaii. The petition alleges that your consent to the adoption of the above-named child by the petitioner above-named is not required and may be dispensed with pursuant to Hawaii Revised Statutes Section 578-2(c) as amended. A hearing on the petition will be held on Sep 5, 2017 at 1:30 pm at the Family Court located at the Kapolei Court Complex, 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Third Floor, Kapolei, Hawaii. If you fail to appear at the hearing on date and time and at the place noted above or if you fail to file a written response to the allegations reflected in the Petition for Adoption, further action may be taken including the granting of the adoption without further notice to you. Your written response should be addressed to the Presiding Judge, Family Court, First Circuit, Kapolei Court Complex, 4675 Kapolei Parkway, Kapolei, Hawaii 96707-3272. Failure to obey this notice may result in an entry of a default and default judgment against you. You are further notified that the child, the adoptive parent and the natural parent have rights under H.R.S. Section 578-15 regarding confidentiality of adoption records after the child reaches age 18. (MS-JULY 2,9,16 & 23, 2017
He explained if a grantee is enrolled in a four-year course and is a beneficiary of the EAP for the said period, the beneficiary could have planted at least 80 tree seedlings with a 100 percent survival rate. "We want to teach the youth the important role that our watersheds play in the country's agriculture sector through their active involvement in tree planting activities plus the fact that they will be educated on the importance of the region's renewed quest for regional autonomy so that they will be the ones to help us spread the benefits of the Cordillera achieving autonomous status," Calde stressed. The NCIP-CAR official said the tree planting activities will be launched in the different parts of the region from July 9-31 so that it will also be replicated by the EAP scholars' fellow youth in their places. According to him, the members of the families of the beneficiaries will also be required to help the students maintain the planted trees to guarantee their ultimate survival and for the immediate replacement of tree seedlings that die in the course of the project duration.
Calde emphasized the involvement of the youth in tree planting activities will help them understand the reason why indigenous peoples (IPs) continue to fight for their rights against the entry of multinational companies that will develop, exploit and utilize the region's natural resources, citing the fact that they will also be empowered to stand for the rights of IPs to their ancestral domain and the proper utilization of the resources that should result in bigger benefits for the host and neighboring communities. He said the monitoring of the planted trees will be done in coordination with concerned government agencies, local governments, and various stakeholders to make sure that the beneficiaries comply with their mandate of helping bring back the greenery of the Cordillera mountains. Calde urged the family members of the EAP beneficiaries to support their participation in the new rules that were crafted by the agency so that more tree seedlings will be able to survive and serve their purpose for the benefit of the present and future generation of Cordillerans. Dexter A. See
MEDICAL MISSIONS, BLOOD DRIVE MARK DZRH ANNIVERSARY THE country’s oldest surviving radio station—DZRH—marks its 78th anniversary with medical missions in provinces throughout the country, and a blood drive for soldiers wounded in Marawi. Partnering with public and private organizations through its “Makabagong Bayanihan” program, DZRH will underscore its commitment to public service via a series of events focusing on public health this month. On July 18, residents of Baseco Compound in Tondo will benefit from the Villar Sipag multi-services caravan, sponsored by Senator Cynthia Villar. Then, on July 20, DZRH will hold a bloodletting drive at the Georgetown Subdivision Covered Court, Brgy. Molino IV, Bacoor, in partnership with Dugong Alay, Dugtong Buhay. That same day, DZRH, together with some private companies will be extending assistance and providing recognition and
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entertainment for soldiers wounded during the Marawi conflict who are currently confined at the AFP Medical Center, also known as the V. Luna General Hospital in Quezon City. On July 29, DZRH teams up with World Class Presidents, Rotary International District 3780, and the Baguio City Lions Club to hold a medical and optical mission at the Gov. Bado Dangwa Agro-Industrial School, Brgy. Balakbak, Kapangan, Benguet. The following day, July 30, DZRH and the Rotary Club of Downtown Session will be conducting a medical mission in Baguio. As the flagship station of Manila Broadcasting Company, DZRH operates the longest running and farthest-reaching radio news network in the country, which enables it to serve Filipinos all throughout the nation not only through its broadcasts, but also through social responsibility and outreach projects.
Gadgets & Games
SONY'S MID-RANGE WONDER NOW HERE
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SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2017 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph
New PowerEdge 14th generation servers —the bedrock of the modern data center—include performance gains to provide customers a secure and optimized platform for every workload with simplified management
DELL EMC LAUNCHES NEXT GEN OF SERVER PORTFOLIO Sony outs the highly anticipated Xperia XA1 Ultra in the Philippines
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FTER making waves at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona in February, the Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra finally lands in stores nationwide. Sporting a sleek borderless design and performance driven specs, Sony’s brand new XA1 Ultra sets the bar high for smartphones in its price range. A Screen to Love
in producing best in class digital cameras, Sony has equipped the XA1 Ultra with an impeccable rear camera that can shoot photos up to 23 megapixels in resolution with a large, 1/2.3-inch Exmor™ RS for mobile sensor and bright F2.0 lens so that photos will still come out beautifully. Combining Hybrid Autofocus and its quick launch and capture feature, the camera is able to capture subjects with speed and accuracy. The XA1 Ultra also features a Crisp Photos, Sharper Selfies 23mm-wide, 16 megapixel front Taking their decades of experience camera that’s equipped with an Op-
The XA1 Ultra touts a generous 6” borderless Full HD screen with 2.5D glass for a comfortable fit. An immersive viewing experience awaits you right at the palm of your hand when watching your favorite movies or playing action-packed games. With precision-edge detailing, aluminum sides and the endless loop surface, the XA1 Ultra’s polished design is a wonder to behold.
tical Image Stabilizer which helps eliminate effects of handshake, ensuring sharp selfies all the time. Its front camera is wide enough to take group selfies without missing anyone out, too. Topping off its selfie-enhancing features is a smart selfie flash which helps illuminate your face and a ‘Hand Shutter’ camera option that takes photos via simple wave of your hand.
ports quick charging, giving you hours of smartphone use in just a few minutes. Cache and unused apps are also automatically cleared by Sony’s Smart cleaner to ensure optimum performance. The XA1 Ultra is also equipped with Xperia Actions—it learns your usage patterns to simplify tasks by suggesting customizable settings and personalized recommendations. For example, your XA1 Ultra Every Bit Efficient can learn your bedtime routine to Built for efficiency, the Xperia automatically adjust the screen XA1 Ultra is powered by a MediaTek brightness and call volume. Helio P20 octa-core processor. This powerful processor assures your Colors That Stand Out phone stays lag-free while you You can get the Xperia XA1 Ultra browse online, watch videos, or in the following contemporary colorplay mobile games. The XA1 Ultra ways: Rainbow White, Black, Pink, also totes Qnovo Adaptive Charg- and Gold. Also available are a range ing technology that monitors the of accessories for a perfect match. battery’s health and adjusts chargThe Sony Xperia XA1 Ultra is now ing current at just the right levels available at Sony Centres, Sony Moto avoid damage and maximize its bile Stores, and authorized dealers lifespan. The XA1 Ultra also sup- for P21,990.
GET THE SAMSUNG J7 PRO THRU HOME CREDIT
WHEN it comes to smartphone photography, lighting is often a big factor, and can make or break a great shot. A scenery that yields a stunning pic during the day can all too often turn into a so-so image once the sun sets. With Samsung’s “Capture the Night” campaign, this problem is now a thing of the past, with an exciting new model that can take great-looking photos even at low lighting conditions. But there’s more: smartphone photographers are in for a double treat, as they can avail of this model at low monthly payments across 9 months with 0% interest— even without a credit card! Samsung is teaming up with Home Credit, a global Fintech company that helps consumers to purchase smartphones and other goods on installment, to offer the new Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro at 0% interest in Samsung concept stores and partner retailers throughout the country starting July 15. The Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro is the perfect flagship for the “Capture the Night” campaign, which has no less than popular actress Liza
Soberano as the endorser. With the Galaxy J7 Pro’s 13-megapixel main shooter and F/1.7 aperture, users can snap vivid, bright-looking photos even in low lighting conditions—letting them capture the night, literally! Selfies at night are likewise a cinch, thanks to a nifty front LED flash. And with a 5.5-inch Full HD Super AMOLED screen, you can enjoy your gorgeous pictures and videos to the fullest. When it comes to performance, the dual-sim Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro is no slouch, as it has an Octa Core 1.6GHz processor on the flagship Exynos 7870 chipset, running on the latest Android Nougat 7.0 OS. The ultra-large 3,600mAh battery life allows users to engage their smartphones more, for longer. Plus, LTE Cat.6 Double Carrier Aggregation Technology gives users faster data speeds on both networks. And if sleek looks are your thing, you came to the right place, as the Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro has an incredibly fluid design thanks to its full metal unibody, curved back, and 2.5D glass. When it comes to value-for-
money, the Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro is already a tough model to beat, as it packs all of the above features in an easy-on-the-pocket P15,990 smartphone. But with Home Credit’s 0% interest promo, consumers can get their hands on the Galaxy J7 Pro at low monthly payments that are even easier on your budget. All you need to do to avail of this promo is to go to any of the participating outlets, approach the Home Credit sales associate, present two valid IDs, fill in the form, and wait for the loan application result within minutes! “We know just how important having a great camera is to smartphone users, and the Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro is a great choice for anyone who loves taking photos, day or night,” said Home Credit Philippines Head of Sales Adam Bernasek. “Home Credit is excited to partner with Samsung so that more and more people are able to enjoy this smartphone, through a fast loan approval with affordable installments.” For more information on store lo-
Samsung J7 Pro
cations, new Home Credit promos for Samsung, and useful tips for customers and interested loan applicants, visit www.homecredit.ph.
CONNECTIVITY A MUST IN GOLDEN AGE OF INFRASTRUCTURE THE Philippine government would be the “third” telecommunication company within the next three to four years competing with such giants as Globe and PLDT-Smart in providing the country fast, efficient and reliable connectivity. This is envisioned in the government’s National Broadband Plan, which is being fast tracked to build the corresponding network infrastructure for the country under the administration of President Duterte. National Telecommunications Commission Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba the NBP would require an estimated allocation of P77 billion to P199 billion to make the plan a reality before this decade ends.
Cordoba explained during the Philippine Telecoms Summit held recently, that all other ASEAN countries have telecom networks that are either wholly-owned, partly financed, or operated by their respective governments. It is only in the Philippines that the broadband networks are constructed, owned and operated by private companies. Cordoba said the lack of infrastructure for telecommunications makes the Philippines lag behind the connectivity factor, as compared to neighboring countries where their governments constructed and funded their respective national broadband network infrastructure.
The implementing agency for the NBP is the newly formed Department of Information and Communications Technology, headed by Atty. Rodolfo Salalima. According to Salima, the NBP is establishing broadband infrastructure from the northern to the southern parts of the country with a goal to deliver telecommunications services to areas in the countryside without access to the internet. He added that they prefer the option to build a broadband infrastructure that will be operated and managed by the government through the DICT.” In order to implement the plan, DICT needs operational telcos like PLDT-Smart and Globe Telecom to participate in the program.
However, the existing telcos – PLDTSmart and Globe Telecoms – might be affected by the aggressive intervention of the Philippine Competition Commission in the work, decisions, and actuation of both the National Telecommunications Commission and the DICT. There is a real fear among industry observers that the NBN program will be hindered by the PCC’s unjustifiable overlapping role with that of the NTC and the DICT. The bigger picture shows that the NBN program, as supported by PLDT and Globe, is a significant step forward in upgrading the state of the telecoms industry in the country for the benefit of a more connected public.
DELL EMC is announcing worldwide availability for its next generation of the world’s bestselling server3 to help customers of all sizes fuel their IT transformation initiatives. Recently previewed at Dell EMC World 2017, the award-winning design of the new 14th generation Dell EMC PowerEdge server portfolio forms a scalable, automated and secure compute platform for traditional and cloud-native applications, designed for new Intel® Xeon® Scalable processors. “The Dell EMC PowerEdge 14th generation servers improve upon the world’s bestselling server portfolio, designed to drive our customers’ IT transformations,” said Ashley Gorakhpurwalla, president, Server Solutions Division at Dell EMC.“Our modern infrastructure solutions are a game changer in today’s digital economy. With our cyberresilient architecture and performance innovations, we will enable our customers to unleash their business potential.” In a recent ESG 2017 IT Transformation Maturity Curve study commissioned by Dell EMC, organizations furthest along in their IT transformation initiatives are seven times more likely to view IT as a competitive differentiator. To achieve this, the priority for many IT transformation initiatives is a modern infrastructure that can securely deliver improved efficiencies while driving innovation that enables new business models. “There is an evolution in the role applications and the data center play in the organization of today,” Pang Yee Beng, Senior Vice President, APJ, Compute & Networking, Dell EMC commented.“The demands on today’s data center have changed – it has to deliver a modern infrastructure that can adapt and scale with business needs and ultimately enable faster IT transformation. The Dell EMC PowerEdge 14th Generation servers effectively modernize the core of the data center to meet these demands.” With its scalable business architecture, intelligent automation and integrated security, the new Dell EMC PowerEdge 14th generation server portfolio delivers on these desired benefits. PowerEdge servers, the bedrock of the modern data center, enable customers to push innovation further and faster to achieve their IT transformation goals. The scalable business architecture of Dell EMC PowerEdge servers helps customers efficiently meet their changing business needs with enhanced performance capabilities for traditional, virtualized and cloudnative workloads in a software-defined data center. The new Dell EMC PowerEdge server portfolio, highly optimized for non-volatile memory express (NVMe), helps customers accelerate deployment of software-defined data storage and hyper-converged infrastructure stacks with: Accelerated database performance and lower latency with up to 12 times more database IOPS1 and up to 98 percent less database latency in a VMware vSAN cluster. Faster and seamless live migration of virtual machines now up to 58 percent faster with up to 75 percent less CPU usage when using 25GbE with Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA). Faster storage performance in compute to maximize application performance with up to six times more NVMe drives, up to five times total flash storage, 30 percent more input/output slots and 25 percent density improvement. Intelligent automation in Dell EMC PowerEdge servers enable IT professionals to focus on mission-critical tasks that drive greater customer and business value. Specifically, OpenManage Enterprise with a powerful RESTful API offers tools for automating deployment, updates, monitoring and maintenance. The new, more powerful OpenManage Enterprise management console offers users: Easy server lifecycle management from deployment to retirement and repurposing with enhanced Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC9). It gives up to four times more improved performance in user interface and experience and a 30% time reduction to set up iDRAC with QuickSync 22 mobile-based management. Up to 90 percent faster PowerEdge server issue resolution using ProSupport Plus and SupportAssist proactive and predictive technology.
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SUNDAY, JULY 16, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph
Gadgets & Games
LG G6 BRINGS FULLVISION DISPLAY TO NEW LINEUP
L
G ELECTRONICS Philippines announced that the LG Q6, part of its new Q series, will be the first smartphone to offer the FullVision display following the LG G6.
LG’s Q series is the company’s latest line of powerful, mid-range smartphones which boasts of the essential features of LG premium phones at exceptional price points. As the first in the Q series to be launched, the LG Q6 features some of the most desired innovations from LG’s premium G6 smartphone and packages them in a sleek, stunning body highlighted by its FullVision display with minimized bezels. At a time when minimized bezels are an emerging trend in premium smartphones, the Q6 is the first smartphone in the mid-price category to bring this feature to the masses. The unique 5.5-inch FHD+ FullVision display in the LG Q6 with its 18:9 aspect ratio makes video browsing, gaming and multi-tasking more immersive. The smartphone’s “bezel-less” form factor was designed to maximize the screen while still preventing accidental touching of the screen when being held. With no unsightly camera bump and sleek appearance, the Q6 features attractive curves with rounded corners of the body matching the corners of the display. Packaged in a stylish metallic frame, the Q6 manages to be both lightweight and sturdy for a more durable day-to-day usage experience. And not only does the Q6 look good, but it is also extremely easy to use. Benefiting from ergonomic research during the development of the LG G6, the Q6 is also comfortable to hold and use with
Motorola opens its new Motorola kiosk at SM MOA Cyberzone to better serve Filipino consumers in Southern Metro.
MOTOROLA BOOSTS LOCAL PRESENCE WITH OPENING OF SM MOA KIOSK LG’s newest Q6 brings the essential features of LG’s premium devices to a mid-range portfolio.
one hand. In another nod to user convenience, LG’s proprietary Face Recognition feature allows owners to unlock the Q6 faster and with less hassle than other facial recognition technologies currently available. As expected, the LG Q6 carries on LG’s heritage of excellence in optics. The smartphone incorporates a 100-degree wide angle selfie camera that allows shutterbugs to include a large group of friends and family in the shot without effort. The camera’s improved LG UX 6.0 takes full advantage of the 18:9 aspect ratio of the FullVision display. Square
Camera Mode makes it easy to “share your squares” or create photo collages using multiple square images. The LG Q6 is also durable. The metal frame surrounding the Q6 is constructed of ultra-strong 7000 series aluminum, one of the highest strength aluminum alloys available and used extensively in industries such as aerospace. The device is subjected to LG’s demanding regimen of over 20 battery tests which include heat, penetration and shock, conditions more stringent than international testing protocols. And to disperse heat
inside the unit, a thermal pad cooling system is placed and the components are also positioned as far from each other as possible. “We look forward to introducing the LG Q6 to the Philippine market,” LG Mobile Philippines VP Jay Won said. “We believe that its premium features, top-notch performance and competitive price point would really appeal to our digitally-savvy consumers. With Q6, LG again addresses consumer needs with advanced technology, and now many can enjoy it thanks to its affordability.”
LENOVO CALLING OUT ALL GAMERS LENOVO, the world’s leading PC manufacturer, recenly launched a call for all fans in the Philippines to join Gamers Legion, a new, exclusive and one-of-akind community in Asia aimed at taking the modern PC gaming experience to the next level. As a member of Gamers Legion, participants from the Philippines will not only play a pivotal role in Lenovo’s future product development, but will also be the first to know about Legion’s newest offers and events. Interested fans and gamers simply need to visit the dedicated Legion microsite at http:// www.legionlenovo.com/ph in order to fill out a short online questionnaire about their gaming habits, preferences and views. Lenovo will then select
30 gamers in the Philippines to join the exclusive community of 270 people across Asia that will make up Gamers Legion. What’s more, Lenovo Philippines will also be raffling off 30 tickets to Garena’s Rampage 2017. Everyone who submitted their applications via the microsite gets a chance to win. The Gamers Legion recruitment phase begins today and only lasts until July 20. All successful applicants will be notified on July 24 via email. All fans and gamers are also encouraged to visit the Facebook Page of Lenovo Philippines at https://www.facebook.com/ lenov ophilippines to follow the latest updates of the Gamers Legion.
Lenovo IdeaPad Y910
The kick-off follows Lenovo’s highly anticipated launch of its Legion sub-brand in the Philippines early this year. Legion offers both casual and professional gamers cutting-edge products that are inspired by, and co-created with, gamers based on their needs. In the Philippines, Lenovo
marked the launch of Legion through the introduction of the Legion Y520, IdeaPad Y910, and IdeaCentre Y710 Cube, stylish, powerful and portable plug-and-play devices with DIY flexibility that offer the most immersive experiences. “As PC gaming becomes more popular in the Philippines, our research shows that gamers are becoming increasingly discerning when it comes to expectations around performance, flexibility and immersive experiences,”said Michael Ngan, Lenovo Philippines Country General Manager. “Lenovo is committed to working more closely with gamers to create best-in-class experiences in eSports and gaming PC. With this in mind, we are proud to have launched Gamers Legion,
our one-of-a-kind community that ensures we are giving a voice and platform to our highly passionate customers, that continues our tradition of cocreating products that meet their continuously evolving needs.” “This campaign is but one in a series of initiatives that support our ambition of being the world’s leading gaming brand, bar none.” Pricing and Availability1 Prices for the Lenovo Legion Y520 Notebooks start from just P49,995. Prices for the Lenovo IdeaCentre Y710 and Y720 start from just P81,990 and P90,990, respectively. Lenovo Y27G curved gaming monitor retails at P29,999.
MOTOROLA continues to strengthen its retail footprint in the country with the opening of its new Motorola kiosk at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City. Say #HelloMoto once again as the new Motorola kiosk located at the 2nd level of SM MOA CyberZone brings the full Moto smartphone lineup to Filipino smartphone consumers in the Southern Metro. As part of its goal to become the definitive no. 3 player in the global smartphone market, Lenovo is continuously expanding its Moto smartphone presence across emerging markets, including the Philippines. The three strategic outlets in key SM Cyberzones—Megamall, North EDSA and most recently, MOA— increase the visibility of Motorola in high-traffic malls. “The Philippines is an important market for Motorola, and we are committed toward bringing the Moto experience to more Filipinos through our latest outlet in SM Mall of Asia. By continuously increasing our retail footprint, Motorola is definitely keen on revolutionizing Filipinos’ digital lifestyle,” said John Rojo, Country Manager, Lenovo Mobile Business Group Philippines. Exclusive freebies and discounts await those purchasing Motorola smartphones at the new Motorola kiosk from July 8 to 16. These include two free Moto Mods and free premium smartphone accessories like Moto Style Shell, Skull Candy earphones, Powerbank, and cash vouchers. All Motorola concept stores carry the Moto smartphone lineup: Its flagship family composed of Moto Z, Moto Z Play and the Moto Mods; its mid-range family, which consists of Moto M; and the newly launched Moto C, Moto C Plus and Moto E4 Plus.
SMART RETAILERS TURN DIGITAL PLDT subsidiary Smart Communications has made it easier for partnerretailers to keep track of their sales, receivables, inventory, and manage their cash flow better with the introduction of the Ka-Partner Retailer mobile application. The initiative is in line with the digital transformation that Smart is implementing across its operations and the way it does business. “Smart is in the midst of a digital pivot. Our partner-retailers play a very important role in our business. They are our frontliners in the community and it is imperative that we bring them along in this digital journey. With the mobile app designed exclusively for them, our partner-retailers will be able to digitize the way they do business,” said Alex O. Caeg, head of Wireless Consumer Division Sales and Distribution at Smart. Retailers play a crucial role in
Smart’s growth. Together, they account for 80-85 percent of Smart’s total prepaid revenues. The app is retailer-friendly, making navigation through the menu and browsing through the various load offers for selling easy. It also helps the retailer track his load wallet balance inventory and prompt him if the balance is already below the threshold. The app’s digital ledger feature effectively automates sales records, allowing the retailer to track his load sales without manually recording these daily transactions on actual paper. It also allows him to track the account receivables from his patrons for better cashflow management. New features have been added to the app allowing the user to check on historical performance not only of total sales but also of repeat customers, and to view digital ads of the latest
brand offers and promos from Smart, TNT, and Sun. For the next phase, the retailer will be able to place an order from the distributor through the app for faster and more efficient way of purchasing load credits. Smart has more than a million partner-retailers across the country. In recognition of their valuable contribution to the business, Smart has been giving incentives for every sale made via its Ka-Partner Rewards Program, with a number of retailers each year becoming instant millionaires. Every P100 Smart Load they sell every day is converted to one point. These points can be accumulated and used to avail of instant prizes and services such as free SMS and airtime, load wallet value, or e-raffle tickets for prizes of up to P1 million.
‘BOSSING’ USES CHERRY MOBILE DESIRE SERIES! Vic “Bossing”
Sotto recently switched to Cherry Mobile. In June, Sotto officially singed a contract with Cherry Mobile, the leading local mobile phone brand in the Philippines. Sotto joins the brand’s powerhouse endorsers such as Kim Chiu, Xian Lim, Piolo Pascual at Anne Curtis.