D1
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017
Jimbo Gulle, Editor
Roger Garcia, Issue Editor
LGUs
Local Gov’t Units
mslocalgov@gmail.com
DOE OFFICE TEACHES 50 ‘ENERGY SMART’ MAKATI KIDS
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Part of the Save the Kids PH program in Tacloban City is the Margarita’s Save the Girls, in which young local girls (pictured) are trained in livelihood projects such as baking and accessory making, both as a form of therapy and as a tool to encourage financial independence.
SAVE THE KIDS PH
EMPOWERING, PROVIDING HOPE FOR THE YOUTH OF TACLOBAN
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ACLOBAN CITY—Four years after the massive devastation brought about by Super Typhoon ”Haiyan,” this city’s local folks and its leaders continue to strive in earnest to help transform not only its land but likewise its people, particularly the youth that experienced the harrowing experience of a massive disaster that almost totally displaced their otherwise normal growing-up years of their lives.
Save the Kids PH recently launched its initial program in the city with a host of activities that more than anything else provided hope and empowered the young populace of this city. Rep. Yedda Romualdez, together with the Save the Kids PH officials, led in the ongoing efforts to promote and solicit massive participation among the younger generation of the city, in their quest to boost the trademark resilience of Filipinos specifically the people of Tacloban. “Empowering the kids emotionally and financially, at the same time enlivening their spirits and enhancing their self-worth are key components of the Save the Kids program,” Romualdez said. “Through teachings and subsequent immediate implementation of livelihood projects, the youth’s financial and self-sustaining abilities could, by and large, get them to stand on their feet and help in building a better future for themselves as well as their beloved homeland,” she added. Another critical aspect of the pro-
gram is to prepare them to become both physically and emotionally fit through various fitness, wellness and programs. Typhoon Haiyan’s impact was so much more than just the city’s environment; the natural disaster affected a recorded 9,679,059 people in total and left more than 10,000 dead in Leyte’s small capital alone. Almost four years after the devastation the residents are still reeling and trying to recover from the devastation. The ‘Save the Kids’ council felt that donating food and clothes to suffering victims was far from enough and thus chose Tacloban as the location of the organization’s launch in order to truly help kids sustain their emotional transformation that have had their homes, families, and basically everything stripped away from them. Save the Kids PH is an umbrella organization which—in partnership with government agencies, NGOs, and other groups—focuses on helping and empowering disadvantaged kids through livelihood programs, rehabilitation activities
Each program also starts with a proper singing of the national anthem to stimulate nationalism among the youth. and counselling. With Margarita Te as president, Martin Alindogan as vice president, and Rico and Renzo Lago as council members, Save the Kids is comprised of students of a variety of ages and schools; the organization is structured to ensure continuity and sustainability in future years. The launch had two simultaneous programs—Margarita’s Save the Girls, for which young girls are trained in livelihood projects such as baking and accessory-making, both as a form of therapy and as a tool to encourage financial independence, and Martin’s Rebound. ph, a basketball bootcamp meant to keep boys physically active and away from the harmful habits they may be inclined to be doing. The children were also invited to engage in a “Zumbathon” led
by both locally- and Manila-based Zumba instructors. The day commenced with an opening ceremony held at the main open gym. Around 200 girls, aged 13-17 years old, and boys aged 9-12 years old. Save the Kids PH officials led by Te and Alindogan personally assisted the conduct of various programs lined-up during the launch day activity These includes, accessory-making workshop provided by The Bead Shop group with Margarita as the lead coordinator. The tasks—to assemble bracelets and lanyards—were quite the challenge. The idea was that once they were familiar with the procedure, they would be able to make their own accessories and sell them. Turn to D2
THE Department of Energy taught 50 more grade school students on how to use energy efficiently recently bringing to 455 the number of its Energy Smart Kids. The DoE Consumer Welfare and Promotion Office staff conducted the energy briefing for grade school students to create awareness on energy conservation and efficient use of electricity at the DoE Headquarters in Bonifacio Global City with Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi attending the said workshop. “As part of the E-Power Mo! Campaign, we are more than committed to educate our youngsters to empower them so they’ll be able to discern the relevance of energy in their daily lives,” Cusi said in his talk during the event. “We have to inculcate the significance of energy to these children as early as possible to enable us to develop their energy consciousness and become part of our own army who can rally for efficient use of energy, among other energy aspirations that we have,” he added. Student participants from Grades V and VI students of Cembo Elementary School in Makati were accompanied by their science coordinator, Jeanne L. Angcaya, and Grade V teacher, Michael Madueño. DoE-CWPO head Helen B. Arias introduced the Energy Smart Kids Program and how DoE endeavors to make students “energy smart” by exposing them to new situations, new faces and true-tolife energy applications. The students were oriented on basic electricity concepts and household energy conservation tips. Engineers from the Renewable Energy Management Bureau highlighted the potentials of renewable energy. Sources of biomass and how they are transformed to produce electricity including the principles of solar and wind energy, the geologic settings of geothermal systems and how water is used to generate electricity were also presented and explained by top power engineers and experts. As take-home exercises, students were also asked to work on “Who Left the Lights on” by using logic to determine who is the culprit among the names mentioned in the short story; and on the “Energy Waste Coloring Page,” which directs the students to encircle all examples of energy being wasted in the given house configuration. As a tradition since its inception in 2016, the half-day educational program ended with the Pledge of Commitment branding the students as “Energy Cost Busters” to apply their newly acquired learning on energy in their day to day living.
REPUBLIC COMMITS TO REGREENING DANAO COAST
OVER 500 eco-warriors led by employees of Republic, together with representatives from the city government, the Federation and the CENRO, lent a hand transplanting 2,000 mangrove seedlings and propagules along the coast of Barangay Dungo-an. Aligned with Republic Cement’s advocacy for water sustainability, the company’s regreening initiatives included mangroves, recognized as nature’s bio-shields in tropical ocean coastlines. Mangrove forests also contribute to the protection of coastal areas from storm surges, by serving as filter for ocean trash and debris, and as breeding ground for fish and other aquatic life, nurturing the ecosystem
of the communities. The cement firm continues its commitment to the environment with a three-year Mangrove Reforestation and Rehabilitation Project with the DENR, the City Government of Danao and the Women’s Federation of Danao City. Similar efforts were made last year, at Sitio Dancar, Danao, in celebration of Arbor Day. “We’re confident that whatever effort we put into taking care of our water bodies today will ultimately help secure our children’s future. This continues to motivate us,” shared lawyer Anda Bolinas, Republic Cement’s Sustainability director.
Fostering environmental responsibility in all aspects of its operations, Republic Cement also focuses on integrating sustainable consumption in its production practices, including product formulation of blended cement which features fly ash, a coal combustion by-product, and environmentfriendly alternative fuels such as rice husk and refuse-derived fuel. Aside from Danao, Republic continues to partner with the local government, the DENR and people’s organizations to grow and maintain mangrove sites in Malolos, Bulacan and Bayug Island, Iligan City, an area almost totally wiped out by Tropical Storm ”Sendong” in 2011.
One of over 500 eco-warriors, led by employees of Republic Cement, lend a hand in transplanting 2,000 mangrove seedlings and propagules along the coast of Barangay Dungo-an in Danao City.
LGUs
D2
SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 mst.daydesk@gmail.com
PANGASINAN HOSTS PH FOLK DANCE PROGRAM
HOW THE MARANAOS LOST MARAWI WILL ‘HISTORICAL INJUSTICES’ BE CORRECTED?
By Dexter A. See
By Nash Maulana
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—Educators from all over Northern Luzon region donning authentic costumes depicting Philippine cultural heritage presented folk dances to highlight this year’s regional seminar on Philippine folk dances hosted by the province of Pangasinan. Highlighting the ‘echo seminar’ mounted by the Philippine Folkdance Society, in partnership with the provincial government of Pangasinan, was the presentation of folk dances by the delegates held recently at the Provincial Training and Development Center here. Another feature of Pangasinan’s unique heritage during the regional seminar was the showcase of ‘binungey,’ a research dance to be registered as official folk dance of the Philippines, which was presented by the Danggoan Pangasinan, the performing arts group of the provincial government. PFDS president Childe Libertad said the province of Pangasinan under the watch of Gov. Amado I. Espino, III has sustained various programs which help preserve and enrich the cultural heritage of Pangasinan ‘for the next generations of Pangasinenses to appreciate, be proud of, and uphold.” “Having this ‘echo seminar’ in Pangasinan gives advantage to physical education and dance teachers who would want to participate in the national seminar on Philippine folk dances, but can’t participate due to financial considerations,” Libertad said. About 200 educators and performing arts students from schools divisions of Department of Education, and tertiary education institutions; and representatives of local government units participated in the folk dance seminar. The regional seminar brought the PFDS accredited folk dance trainers to Pangasinan to share their knowledge on literature and choreography of Philippine folk dances. Philippine folk dances taught during the seminar were: tiklos, haplik, kuradang, pang-alay, pupuri, la jota jogad. The participants also received training from the St. Louis University-Baguio City dance troupe members who taught contemporary dance, a course which is also offered in the Senior High School.
ARAWI CITY—Reporters here recently asked Lanao del Sur Assemblyman Zia Alonto Adiong to help them identify areas in ruins in this city from an array of photographs.
EMPOWERING,...
From D1
Additionally, the products created would be sold by Save the Kids, and the entirety of the profits would be given to those who took part in the workshop, contributing to the concept of livelihood and subsistence. Following the accessory-making was a baking demo in which Margarita exhibited the creation of two baked goods, brownies and homemade oreos, using the 1st district’s own tsokolate tablea (chocolate). Likewise with the bracelets and lanyards, the children could make a profit by selling these baked goods. While the girls’ livelihood project was ongoing, the boys, quite eager and already dressed in athletic wear and basketball shoes, began with the two-day basketball camp with Rebound.ph. Martin, alongside his own coach, trained 100 boys by teaching them the fundamentals of the game and drills that they can practice on their own. This was followed by a mini-tournament which fired up the kids’ competitive spirits. At the end of the camp, each kid went home with their own basketball, a signature gift from Rebound.ph. Lastly, to end the program, the girls and boys enjoyed themselves by partaking in the lively Zumbathon, led by a fellow Taclobaño, Robert Nee, with the kids requesting for one song after another. The dancing brought all its participants together as a community— aside from the Tacloban children and Save the Kids council, staff members and Taclobaño Zumba enthusiasts joined in to further expand the size and diversity of the crowd moving as one. The result of the outreach was rewarding and worthwhile, with the experience having left positive impacts on both the children from Tacloban and the members of Save the Kids.
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Alonto, the spokesman of the Provincial Crisis Management Committee, admitted, after a long pause, that he could hardly name them, as shown by the images appearing in current camera shots. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who has often said that he wanted to "correct the historical injustices done to the Bangsamoro," is seen as the first Philippine President to give back to the Maranaos the birthright of land possession, which they have lost to the government since the colonial periods. Mr. Duterte also traces a Maranao ancestry from his maternal bloodline—and, in fact, his Muslim appointees to top posts are from Lanao: Director General Gene Mamondiong of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Secretary Abul Khayr Alonto of the Mindanao Development Authority, and Dabs Mama-o, the Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers and Muslim Concerns. The President may also have the last ink to put an end to a series of public land policy proclamations by Philippine Presidents from as far back as 1934 through 1992, which have subdivided
Marawi for some vital interests and purposes. According to the records of the old Bureau of Lands, now the Land Management Bureau, Marawi City has a total area of 8,396 hectares. During a recent meeting here, Gov. Mujiv Hataman of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao submitted copies of LMB records to the Presidential Task Force on the Rehabilitation of Marawi created by Mr. Duterte. “Practically, there's nothing left (of the city's land area) to the Maranaos,” Hataman told the Manila Standard. ARMM Environment Secretary Hadji Kahal Q. Kedtag said the regional Department of Environment and Natural Resources office has preserved original copies of the documents from a sequence of older sources. Of the city’s original total area, the government has classified 6,667.16 hectares as a military reservation under Presidential Proclamation 453, issued by President Elpidio Quirino on Dec. 23, 1953. It was apparently a “midnight” executive issuance, since Quirino's term officially ended on Dec. 30, 1953, after he started as a constitutionally succeeding Vice President with the death of President Manuel Roxas in 1948. Also toward the end of his term, President Carlos Garcia issued PP 806 on Dec. 4, 1961, to set aside 999.356 hectares of Marawi for the Mindanao State University school campus, following the enactment that year of Republic Act 1387, the MSU charter authored by Senator Ahmad Domocao Alonto. Three months before he died in a plane crash on March 17, 1957, President Ramon Magsay-
say signed PP 375 on Dec. 26, 1956 to apportion 171.45 hectares in Marawi for the Lanao Provincial Capitol. On May 22, 1959, Lanao was divided into Lanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur, which has retained the Marawi-based capitol. Still, on Dec. 3, 1974, President Ferdinand Marcos signed PP 1354, putting 803.14 hectares in the city under the control of the state-run National Power Corp. for the development of hydroelectric power facilities. President Fidel Ramos then signed PP 992 on June 26, 1992, allocating 3.0697 hectares for the development of the Lanao Park and Library. In all, the total area of the apportioned parts of Marawi is 8,644.1836. This means 248.1836 hectares of the lands divided by those presidential proclamations do not actually belong to the city, which has a total area of only 8,396 hectares, per its original survey in the records of the Bureau of Lands. Mas Yahya, a veteran journalist and local publisher, asked: “Why did our forebears agree to turn our lands in Marawi City or Lanao into a Military Reservation? Who was in collusion [with the government]?” Around 300,000 people have been displaced since pro-ISIS militants, said to be of different nationalities, occupied the city on May 23 and seized at least 80 people, including a Catholic priest. Government security forces are into the third month of heavy ground offensives and air attacks on Marawi, but extremists in urban battle fashion have been evasive, moving from one house or level to another. (To be continued)
SISTERHOOD. City Government officials of Tanauan, Batangas, headed by Mayor Antonio C. Halili (fourth from left) and members of Tanauan's Sangguniang Panlungsod join San Antonio, Nueva Ecija municipal officials led by Vice Mayor Julieta E. Maxwell (fifth from left) to formalize the first sisterhood agreement between the two towns. Roy Tomandao
MAKATI KIDS GET DENGUE VACCINES By Joel E. Zurbano THE Makati City government has started vaccinating public school children aged 9 to 14 years old to boost their immunity against dengue, which according to health officials is the fast emerging pandemic-prone viral disease worldwide. The program, according to Mayor Abigail Binay, kicked off at the Guadalupe Viejo Health Center on Aug. 14 and will continue until Aug. 31. Binay said the community-based vaccination program is part of the city’s larger campaign for dengue prevention, especially since cases of dengue are expected to spike during the rainy season. “We want to give children the best possible defense against dengue since their immune systems are still
developing,” she said. Binay also encouraged parents to bring children aged 9 to 14 years old to the nearest health center or allow their children to be vaccinated in school. The Makati Health Department received some 65,000 dengue vaccines from the Department of Health. Acting on the Mayor’s directive, the MHD mobilized doctors and nurses for the community-based vaccination. To cover more ground, health representatives also went around public elementary schools and high schools. MHD chief Bernard Sese said 5,813 children have been vaccinated in the schools and health centers so far. Nurse Lea Torio of Department of Education-Makati reported that students from 23 out of 39 schools
have already received the free dengue vaccine. Sese said the dengue vaccine they are administering covers all four strains of the dengue virus. Children who signed up for the vaccination program will be receiving a second dose in February 2018; and the third and final dose in August 2018. Apart from the community-based dengue vaccination program, the MHD has also been organizing cleanup drives, doing preventive misting operations as well as holding health education seminars in the barangay and school levels to help prevent the spread of dengue. The dengue virus is carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which also transmits the Zika and Chikungunya viruses. The vector mosquitoes
grow in number during the rainy season because of damp weather and stagnant water. Reports showed that the ages of dengue-stricken patients ranged from three to 57 years old, with one to 10 years old as the most affected age group at 43 percent of total cases. World Health Organization officials said dengue is fast emerging pandemic-prone viral disease in many parts of the world. The disease is a mosquito-borne viral infection causing a severe flulike illness and, sometimes causing a potentially lethal complication called severe dengue. It flourishes in urban poor areas, suburbs and the countryside but also affects more affluent neighborhoods in tropical and subtropical countries.
PHILEX GRANTS P3-M PHILHEALTH INSURANCE TO INDIGENT STAKEHOLDERS
GOOD SEED.
Orani Water District general manager Benni Andres plants a sapling during the company's annual tree planting activity in upland Barangay Tala, Orani, Bataan. Butch Gunio
TUBA, Benguet—Philex Mining Corp. has for this year granted an additional health insurance coverage to 620 individuals, together with their families, totalling P3.4 million amount of coverage given to the indigent residents in the outlying communities of its Padcal mine in this province over the past four years. “We received and still continue to receive so many requests for free health insurance from residents in our host and neighboring villages, and granting them forms part of our commitment to assist in the communities and peoples within our areas of operations” said Aurora Dolipas, manager at Padcal’s Community Relations Department. ComRel’s Crisel Rosado and Mila Salinas, meanwhile, stressed that spouses and children of the respective beneficiaries were given the same free health insurance coverage, the funds of which were taken from Padcal’s Social Development and Management
Program, one of the three major CSR, or corporate social responsibility, projects being pursued by Philex Mining. In line with is adherence to conscientious and responsible mining operations, the company is mandated to allot 1.5 percent of its previous year’s total operating expenses for the current year’s SDMP; Information, Education, and Communications campaign; and Development of Mining Technology and Geosciences. Of the total allocated budget, SDMP gets the lion’s share of 75 percent while IEC is given 15 percent and, DMTG, 10 percent. Between 2003 and 2015 alone, Philex Mining had spent P25.2 million for its health care program in its host and neighboring villages. The company had also constructed health care centers and sanitary facilities in the outlying communities. Dexter A. See
Gadgets & Games
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph
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OTOROLA brings the sunshine indoors, once again making its mark in the smartphone scene with the Moto Z2 Play and Moto Mods. From instant movie theater vibes to an impromptu house party, Moto Mods are the rainy-day busting devices er that make every day interesting. Moto Insta-Share Projector: Instant Mini-Movie Theater Spend the day binge-watching a new TV series, stream a favorite movie or revisit favorite memories with homemovies the Moto Insta-Share Projector to create a your own private movie theater experience.. The Moto Insta-Share Projector can convert any flat surface big screen up to 70 inches in an instant. This means users can enjoy a movie or two in the comfort of the room as content is projected at the ceiling or any flat surface with a front-row viewing feel. The Moto Insta-Share Projector can extend the screen time up to one hour with its additional battery life, perfect for rainy weekend movie marathons. JBL SoundBoost Speaker: Get The Party Started Drive away rainy day gloom with great music with the JBL SoundBoost Speaker. Keep the party going without worry—this Moto Mod has 10 hours of battery life and a built-in kickstand so you can host your own karaoke session or re-set the mood with upbeat tunes during a storm.
Photo by Giana Atienza
MOTO MODS BRING SUNSHINE ON RAINY DAYS Latinazo
DELL EMC PH INAUGURATES NEW OFFICE By Patricia Bianca Taculao
From instant movie theater vibes to an impromptu house party, Moto Mods are the rainy-day busting devices er that make every day interesting.
Incipio offGRIDTM Power Pack: Instant Recharge Rainy days and tropical storms can mean sudden power failure, but you can avoid any charging mishaps with the handy Incipio offGRIDTM Power Pack, which adds 22 hours of battery life in a snap. Added bonus: It’s also available with wireless charging. Hasselblad True Zoom: Focus In A Snap Sharpen photography skills while stuck indoor on a rainy day with the Hasselblad True Zoom . Go up close with the powerful 10x optical zoom and take
high-quality photos with precision. It also has Xenon flash for great photos in any lighting conditions.Enjoy more flexibility and higher level of control by shooting in RAW format, and physical shutter and zoom controls make capturing great shots easy. You’ll also experience the Hasselblad legacy for the first time on your smartphone Use the advanced imaging experiences to explore your passion for photography and fuel creativity, no matter where you are. Availability and Pricing: Moto Z2 Play and Moto Mods are
available in three exclusive Motorola outlets located in the CyberZone areas of SM Mall of Asia, SM Megamall and SM North EDSA. They are also available in major Motorola retailers nationwide and via online shopping site Lazada. Every purchase of the Moto Z2 Play until Aug. 31 will come bundled with Unlimited Possibilities gift box, full of smartphone accessories that are extremely useful for the dynamic Filipino consumer. This accessories haul includes four freebies, including a Moto Style Shell, protective metal bumper, selfie stick and liquid nano screen protector.
AXA PH REVEALS ONLINE PRODUCT: MY AMBITION Macy Castillo, Head of Commercial Business at Shopee PH, and Ina Raymundo officially launch Shopee 9.9 Mobile Shopee Day.
SHOPEE 9.9 MOBILE SHOPPING DAY SLATED
By Nathanielle Punay
SHOPEE has finally announced its 2nd annual, Southeast Asian-wide, Shopee 9.9 Mobile Shopping Day with better discounts and promotions in a press launch last Aug. 23 at the Manila House Private Club Net Park in Taguig. The event, slated from Sept. 1 to 9, will include discounts that goes up to 99% off, top picks for only P99 in multiple categories and daily promos and giveaways via social media accounts and the Shopee app. Shopee 9.9 will be a Southeast Asian-wide event to be launched in seven countries, including Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. “Last year, our 9.9 Mobile Shopping Day successfully achieved a five-fold increase in orders and three-fold increase in traffics within 24 hours,” said Macy Castillo, Head of Commercial Business at Shopee. “This year, with over P50 million worth of marketing activities, we
aim to increase traffic by five times and triple our sales. We look forward to having all users across the Philippines join us in the biggest sale of the year.” Shopee now has a gross merchandise value of $3 billion since it came to the Philippines in 2015 with more than 50 million downloads and 100 million listings. The platform now has major partners such as PLDT Alpha Enterprise, Johnson & Johnson, Oppo, Lysol, Sandisk, Mustela and Makeup World. The launch was graced by one of Shopee’s newest endorsers, Ina Raymundo. Shopee is a Southeast Asian eCommerce platform that has only been open to Filipinos since 2015. They have programs such as Shopee Guarantee which offers a secure transaction between the buyers and the sellers and Shopee University that allows the sellers to know more about strengthening their business. Shopee Philippines had also recently celebrated their 2nd anniversary last June.
AXA Philippines has released its latest investment and life insurance plan named “My Ambition,” the first of their products that can be availed and managed online. My Ambition was launched last August 23 at the Green Sun Hotel in Makati City. This insurance plan’s target audience are for the young entrepreneurs who are more comfortable with technology and too busy to consult a financial advisor. The insurance plan can be established with an initial investment of P50,000 to a maximum of P125,000, with several choices suitable for all types of investors ranging from the conservative ones to the risk-takers. Application can be accessed at AXA’s website at www.axa.com.ph that will be started by assessing an investment profile, choosing a suitable portfolio, and paying for the plan that can be through credit cards, debit cards, and other payment options. “Through our initiative, through our products and through how we make our products available to our customers, we try to reach out to every Filipino possible,” Rahul Hora, President and CEO of AXA Philippines said. “We try to figure out how does each Filipino would want to buy or think about insurance and we try to level up our strategy around that particular site. It is all about AXA strengthening its capability on the digital platform. ‘Digital’ is no new concept for us. ‘Digital’ is now a way of life,” he added. The launch was also attended by Gian Javelona, the founder of OrangeApps, and Reese Fernandez, the CEO of Rags2Riches, who are on the list of “Forbes’ 30-under-30” to talk about how they started from nothing and finding and giving business opportunities to youngsters. “I’m just really happy to see opportunities where I am able to give hope in this country,” said Javelona. “At the same time, to give jobs to the people when they think that it’s hopeless. And lastly, to build something where you can see that it is being used by other people and being skilled with it not just in the Philippines but also in other countries.” AXA Philippines also announced that it will move its IT Shared Services Center in the Philippines and is expected to be launched at the 2nd half of 2017. “The Philippines is one of the countries with IT capabilities and IT talents in its abundance and we wanted to take advantage of that and creating employment for the Filipinos,” Rahul stated. AXA is a multinational insurance firm that is headquartered in France and has extended to the Philippines, Canada, United States of America, United Kingdom, Mexico and other parts in the Middle East and Africa. The company was founded in 1816 and has now been labeled as the Best Global Insurance Brand for past eight years. Nathanielle Punay
IN LINE with its 20th year of operation in the country, Dell EMC Philippines provides its customers and partners easier access as it inaugurated its new office located between the Makati and Ortigas business districts. The new Dell EMC office is presently located at the World Plaza Building in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City. “Dell EMC is all about modernizing technology infrastructure and it is our commitment to create working spaces that foster collaboration and support work styles of our team members,” said Country General Manager of Dell EMC Philippines Ronnie Latinazo. Merging the Dell EMC team in one dynamic workplace marked another milestone between the two prominent names in IT. “Centralizing our facilities under one roof gives us a better advantage in streaming our business processes to better serve our customers and partners,” Latinazo added. Previously, the Dell EMC teams were located at two separate facilities - Enterprise Center in Makati and Eastwood Avenue in Quezon City. To further celebrate 20 years of operation, Dell EMC Philippines will host the 2017 Dell EMC Forum. The annual forum is a venue for IT professionals in the country to interact with peers, learn new strategies, gain insights and explore the solutions of Dell EMC that drive IT innovation, enhance workforce mobility and reduce risk in the digital era.
DEALING... From D4 Remove obstructions by rearranging furniture and appliances that block radio waves. • Upgrade your router. Part of maximizing your signal strength is ensuring that your firmware or driver software is updated for optimal performance. • Set up a wireless repeater. As the name implies, a wireless repeater can extend your WiFi coverage to a larger area. This is ideal especially if you have a large or multi-level house. • Migrate your connection. If possible, look for a less crowded channel so you don’t have to share your bandwidth allocation with multiple users. • Ask your service provider. Your service provider knows best how to help you maximize your WiFi connection. You can ask about a customized plan to amplify your connection based on the unique structure of your home and your online habits. Even with the rapid pace of today’s internet and mobile technology, WiFi dead spots are still unavoidable because of structural and network factors that are sometimes beyond our control. Although there are ways to manage dead spots at home, the jury is still out on a holistic and reliable solution that can address WiFi issues for the entire home. Hopefully, the same technology that allows us to enjoy meaningful digital connections at home can also empower us to overcome pesky WiFi dead spots.
OPPO F3 RED AVAILABLE AT 0% VIA HOME CREDIT
OPPO brand ambassadors Coleen Garcia and Robi Domingo are shown with Stephen Cheng, Brand Manager of OPPO Philippines and Garrick Hung, OPPO PH vice president.
THE long wait is over as the all-new OPPO F3 Red Limited Edition is now available in the Philippines, officially launched during the opening of the SM Aura OPPO Concept Store last Aug. 12. OPPO fans who have been eagerly anticipating the release of this model are in for an additional treat, as the OPPO F3 Red Limited Edition, priced at P15,990, is also available at 0% installments through Home Credit Philippines! All customers need to do is present two valid IDs to the Home Credit sales associate in the store, and wait for just a few minutes to get approved for their loan application. The promo is part of OPPO’s Selfie Supreme campaign with Home Credit, where OPPO’s most in demand models can
be availed through very affordable 0% interest monthly payments in participating stores across the country. The new OPPO F3 Limited Edition Red highlights OPPO’s advanced technology infused with flair and a more lifestyle approach, as it is a perfect combination of OPPO F3’s innovative features in premium red color and metal finish. It is the ideal smartphone for users who aspire to create a statement through the smartphones they carry. Not to mention that the OPPO F3 Red is one of the very few smartphones in the market with highquality finish with such distinct color. The OPPO F3 is a dual-selfie camera smartphone that can let customers experience wider selfies and include more
people on a groufie. Additionally, it has 4GB of RAM for multi-tasking and generous 64GB of storage for apps, photos, and videos; all in a sleek metal body and 5.5”Full HD screen protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. Customers need not to worry on maintaining the finish of their smartphones because the F3 Red comes with a soft transparent case and a pre-installed screen protector. Other phone accessories and enhancements are also available for purchase at OPPO concept stores. “The new OPPO F3 Red Limited Edition smartphone answers the need of our customers who are looking for a more stylish, chic, and sleek smartphone. OPPO believes that smartphones should
not only be multi-functional, but should also be bold enough to stand out as it’s part of everyone’s daily essentials”, said Stephen Cheng, OPPO Philippines Brand Marketing Manager. OPPO ambassadors Coleen Garcia and Robi Domingo graced the launch event and gladly shared their insights and best moments with the F3 Red. The OPPO F3 Red Limited Edition is now available at OPPO Concept Stores nationwide and in Lazada as the exclusive online store for only P15,990. Online purchasers may check out bit. ly/OPPOF3Red via Lazada for more details. For a complete list of OPPO Concept stores, fans may check out bit.ly/F3RedEdition
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SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph
Gadgets & Games
LENOVO BOLSTERS ITS LEGION LINE-UP
Gen Intel® Core i7-7700 processor, optional 16GB Intel Optane™ memory for fast system responsiveness, and up to NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070 8GB graphics, the Lenovo Legion Y720 Tower offers the critical package of processing and graphical prowess for playing the most demanding titles. Survive battlegrounds with ease and assurance, and blast through an alien invasion without a hiccup on the Lenovo Legion Y720 Tower.
For entry-level gamers— Lenovo Legion Y520 Tower
For console players looking to dip their toes into the expansive world of PC gaming and are looking for their first-ever PC gaming device, Lenovo created the VRready Lenovo LegionY520 Tower for them. This rig puts the necessary graphics and processing speed at the forefront, making it an excellent entry to PC gaming. It also runs on Windows 10 – the best version of Windows for gaming, including support for native live game streaming through Mixer, DirectX® 12, uncapped frame rates and 21:9 wide aspect ratio and the ability to stay connected with fellow gamers through Xbox Live®. All this comes complete with up to a NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 GPU and up to a 7th Gen Intel® Core i7-7700 processor. The Lenovo LegionY520 Tower also comes with Lenovo Entertainment Hub, an app for access to a vast catalog of popular video game codes with VR upscaling on select FPS games.1 The machine also upgrades easily for users who want to swap parts—making the Lenovo Legion Y520 Tower a great introduction to PC gaming.
For entry-level gamers—Lenovo Legion Y520 Tower
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T GAMESCON 2017 in Cologne, Germany, leading global technology brand Lenovo launched four new powerful additions to its Legion gaming lineup family—three VRready Windows® 10 PCs Lenovo Legion Y920, Y720 and Y520 Towers, and the new Lenovo Legion Y25f Gaming Monitor. Combined, the three Lenovo Legion towers give PC gamers of all stripes a level of customization, power and selection that fits their needs. According to Lenovo, community feedback shaped how they developed these new additions. “Among other things, gamers want speed and performance in their devices. We built these new Lenovo Legion towers with that as our main focus. They are designed to easily handle today’s best games, from the most-demanding in terms of graphics to the light ones released by indie platformers,”said Lenovo Philippines Country General Manager Michael Ngan.
For the Hardcore gamer — Lenovo Legion Y920 Tower
The Virtual Reality-ready Legion Y920 Tower is designed for the most serious PC
gamers who want to push every known setting to the max. This fully-stacked machine runs on Windows® 10 and houses up to 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7700K quad-core processors designed to run the most demanding games, from visceral first-person shooters (FPS) to atmospheric space simulators at optimum, uninterrupted speeds. The tower is also powered by up to a NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 8GB graphics card, one of the leading GPUs on the market. It offers exceptional visuals to future-proof the machine to tackle the sequels of today’s chart-topping titles. Gamers who are looking for faster loading times are also in for a treat as the Lenovo Legion
Lenovo Legion Y25f Gaming Monitor
Y920 Tower has optional 32 GB 2800 MHz CORSAIR® VENGEANCE® LPX overclockable DDR4 memory and optional integrated Asetek® liquid cooling to overclock the CPU. This helps with increased frame rate stability, smoother gameplay, reduced system noise and motherboard stress, so gamers can play with confidence and certainty without compromising killstreaks or that split-second first place lead.
For the Mainstream gamer — Lenovo Legion Y720 Tower
The VR-ready Lenovo Legion Y720 Tower gives mainstream players the reliable performance they need to play all-nighters. Loaded with Windows 10® and up to a 7th
Bonus — Lenovo Legion Y25f Gaming Monitor
A 24.5-inch FHD display with a 144Hz refresh rate for sharp undistorted images, the Lenovo Legion Y25f Gaming Monitor brings out incredible details and textures in your favorite games. Featuring all-new HDR capabilities including 400 nits of brightness, the near-frameless display makes images extra vibrant for games that appear to explode off the screen—meaning grass grains are greener and blue skies are clearer. Every frame counts in a competitive gaming session, and the Lenovo Legion Y25f Gaming Monitor has an incredibly fast 1ms extreme response time, equipping players for any high-octane firefight with little-to-no lag. On the customization front, the Lenovo Legion Y25f Gaming Monitor adjusts by height and angle, and offers a convenient headphone hook.
TCL TAKES SMART ENTERTAINMENT TO NEXT LEVEL TCL Multimedia, the world’s third largest TV manufacturer and leading QLED TV innovator, redefines the smart entertainment experience as it recently unveiled the Android M-powered 4K TV C2, the company’s latest offering from TCL CityLine Series. The C2 Smart TV is powered by Android M and allows users to access a wide range of content and functions including Google Play Store, Games, Music, Movie and TV, Chromecast built-in, and Voice Search. Eason Cai, chief executive officer of TCL, said the C2 Smart TV, as well as their other latest models of Smart TV devices, are designed to empower consumers to create touching moments in life and bring people together through memories with its innovative technology.
C2 Smart TV “When people purchase a TV set, what they are really looking for is to create an exciting entertainment experience with their loved ones at home. And with so many different entertainment options families can choose from today, what TCL’s new models can
offer are smart functions that make HD TV episodes, movies, music and more really easy to access,” explained Mr. Cai. Easier App management and navigation. With Google Play Store, the users can search and install all
Android apps for movies, shows, music, and sports. This feature is complemented with its built-in Chromecast streaming capability. It enables the users to cast their favorite videos, games, and apps from their mobile devices in full quality right in their TV screens with just one tap of the Cast button found in Android or iOS devices. User navigation is also made easier and simpler because it is equipped with Google-enabled Voice Search. This feature allows users to go through the installed apps just by voice commands. Wide selection for Video Streaming. And for a more exciting family movie experience, C2 is bundled with Netflix—the world’s leading streaming video service provider. The Netflix application delivers TV episodes and movies of up to 4K
DEALING WITH WIFI DEADSPOTS IMAGINE booking a muchcoveted‘seat sale’flight online for you and your friends. You walk over to the kitchen to grab a snack while waiting for the booking confirmation page to load. All of a sudden, the connection lags and then you are disconnected. You’ve just entered a WiFi dead spot. A WiFi dead spot, also sometimes called a dead zone, is quite simply, an area within your house wherein the WiFi does not work. Anyone who has ever experienced it knows how extremely frustrating and disruptive it can be, es-
pecially if your lifestyle or job is internet-dependent. Why causes WiFi dead spots? WiFi connections work by transmitting radio waves that can be picked up by any device with the right reliever technology. If these waves are interrupted, obstructed or altered, the result is poor network performance or worst, a completely dead spot. Radio waves can be hampered by thick walls, doors, large metal objects and signal interference-producing devices and appliances like microwave
ovens, wireless security and sound systems and baby monitors, among others. If you live in an area with a dense wireless network (e.g. a residential building where every unit has a wireless connection), signal strength will be diminished, possibly creating dead zones. When it comes to the reliability and consistency of your WiFi connection at home, it’s not just the signal strength and the speed that matters. Here are some tips to help you get out of that dead spot: • Assess the problem areas. You can use an ap-
plication like WiFi Analyzer (available on Google Play Store) to assess the strength of your network and the frequency of the surrounding networks. Once you have the application on your mobile device, you can go around your house to see where the signal fluctuates. • Maximize signal strength. Remember: The farther you are from the router, the weaker the signal becomes. Reposition your router to make sure it is in a central spot in the house. The antenna should be up and pointing vertically. Turn to D3
on TCL TV, allowing customers to watch thousands of Netflix content. What’s more, TCL has an exclusive “Netflix” button on the C2 remote, which directs users to Netflix with just one click. There is also“T”button on the remote that directs users to content express, where TV channels and internet content are perfectly integrated for users to discover what they want instantly. High-quality specs and design. In terms of resolution, C2 delivers a stunning viewing experience with its HDR Pro, Wide Color Gamut (WCG), 4K UHD, and Micro Dimming technologies. It delivers an immersive audio experience because of its frontfacing Harman Kardon speakers and the Dolby Audio and Smart TV Volume that combine to give a studio-like effect.
DRONES HELP SWISS RESCUE DOGS FIND THE MISSING WINTERBERG, Switzerland—Capo, a golden retriever wearing a bright orange rescue harness, runs with his handler in tow towards a body sprawled in the high grass as a giant drone whirrs overhead. The scene was part of a simulated dog rescue operation this week aimed at highlighting the rapidly growing use of drones to help speed up and expand such searches in Switzerland. The exercise took place on Wednesday, the same day as a massive landslide on the Piz Cengalo mountain in the Swiss Alps that left eight people missing and triggered a search-and-rescue mission where dogs and drones were deployed. “The main benefit is to gain more time, to be more efficient and to be faster to find the missing person,” Dominique Peter, a pilot with the Swiss Federation of Civil Drones, told AFP. The federation has for nearly a year been working with the Swiss Association for Search and Rescue Dogs (Redog), providing drone teams to help with searchand-rescue. Since then they have assisted with 12 out of 22 Redog missions.
Nose on the ground
“This allows us to have an eye in the air and a nose on the ground,” Redog president Romaine Kuonen told AFP. Her colleague Christa Koller said the goal is to have drones on all missions. She said the drones are particularly useful for searches around cliffs and other areas in the Swiss Alps that are too dangerous for dogs and their handlers to access. The drones, with their mounted highdefinition and infrared cameras, can also quickly survey flat, open areas, leaving the dogs to search in wooded terrain where the drones cannot fly. Wearing a bright orange and yellow emergency worker jumpsuit, Peter expertly steered the Matrice 600, a large, professional-level drone made by the world-leading civilian drone maker DJI, over a vast field. An accompanying search specialist surveys the footage and communicates by mobile phone with Capo’s Redog handler Marie Sarah Beuchat to let her know which direction to send the dog. High-end drones can fly at high speeds, allowing them to quickly cover large areas. The Matrice 600 can fly up to 65 kilometres (40 miles) per hour, while DJI’s Ispire 2, which was also on display Wednesday, can go up to 100 kilometres per hour and five kilometres away from its pilot. “This can save lives,” Peter said. And while the drones used by the rescue teams can cost up to 30,000 euros ($35,000) each, Kuonen insisted that using them saves money because they speed up searches and can often be deployed instead of costly helicopters. Peter stressed though that the drones are meant to complement the work of the dogs, not to replace them. A dog is a “very well-engineered tool for search and rescue,” he said, voicing scepticism that researchers will be able to develop an artificial nose that can match the sensitivity of a canine’s. AFP
SEA GAMES STICKERS.
IN celebration of this year’s Southeast Asian Games, Facebook released a special sticker pack to help people cheer on their favorite athletes. The special edition stickers show the official SEA Games 2017 mascot, “Rimau” in 16 sports-themed moods with local Malaysian expressions such as ‘cun lah’ (awesome) and ‘Bangkit Bersama’ (Rising Together), which is the theme of SEA Games 2017. “Rimau” is inspired by the graceful and powerful Malayan Tiger. People can use the stickers for comments, photos and in Facebook Messenger. The Rimau sticker pack is now available for download in the Sticker Store, which can be accessed in Messenger directly and here http://bit. ly/RimauStickers. The Rimau sticker pack was designed by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia, Grey Group, m/SIX and Facebook.