2021 v21n8 - SUMMER + TECH

Contents

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APRIL 2021

VOLUME XXI • Issue VIII

PARADE 10 Fitbit Ace 3 11 Smart Rocket WiFi 12 Lenovo M2 Electric Scooter 14 XTREME Home Air Fryer 15 Samsung Smart Monitor 16 Samsung Galaxy A Series 18 ECS Liva M300-W 19 Coocaa S6G Pro 20 Redmi Note 10 Pro 21 Redmi Note 10S and Redmi Note 10 Redmi Note 10 5G 22 Vertux Gaming Peripherals 24 OPPO A94 26 Lenovo Gaming & Legion Monitors

29 realme Narzo 30A 30 POCO F3 31 POCO X3 Pro 32 LG 25UM58-P

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GADGETS LAB 34 ASUS ZenBook Duo 14 38 Samsung Galaxy S21 5G 42 Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i

Carbon 36 Samsung QA55Q60T

50 MOBILITY 50 Mythbusters: Hybrid Vehicles New Ford Ranger FX4 Max Nissan Navara All-New Honda XRM 125 How to choose a motorcycle helmet 64 Bike safety 101

52 56 60 62

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COVERSTORY

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66 Summer at home 50 Summer fun

for kids

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FEATURE 74 Summer PlayBook 76 Let Kids Play, Print

and Learn!

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82

78 Crash Bandicoot 80 Raft

82 Earth Hour 2021 86 Help Sneki Snek Save

1M Trees 88 Fuel cell technology for green-poweered cell sites

GAMING

6

GREEN

Contents

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90

EMPLOYMENT

APRIL 2021

VOLUME XXI • Issue VIII

TRAVEL

What to do if you lost your job during Covid-19

90 The women behind Masungi

Georeserve 92 Biyaheng Pinoy 2021

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VISUAL SPACE 94 Kababae Mong Tao 96 New flicks to watch out for on Netflix

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“It is becoming clear that these threat actors will keep on using topics related to the pandemic to trick the human mind. While vaccines are here, the situation continues to be uncertain. Countries are still implementing lockdowns, virtual learning and working are both here to stay, and digital payments are on the rise. This means IT infrastructure remains outstretched, further opening loopholes for threats targeting beyond Windows and internet-facing network devices as well as multi-platform and supply chain attacks,” reveals Park, senior security researcher, Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) at Kaspersky.

CYBER SECURITY

As of last year, more than 80,000 COVID-related domain connections and malicious websites were detected by Kaspersky in SEA alone. Malaysia registered the highest number followed by Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

This trend is expected to continue until 2021 as the region continues its battle against the pandemic and rolls out vaccines in different phases.

Covid. Codes. Cash.

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ENTERPRISE 114 Digiskarteng Pinay 118 Intel unleashed: Engineering the future

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INNOVATION The country’s biggest 5G hackathon

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FINTECH

GOVERNMENT

Start your investment portfolio with only P50

106 Vote Pilipinas 108 SSS Mobile App Online Payment Channels

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110 Supreme Court of the Philippines institutionalizes videoconferencing hearing

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FOOD Carabao milk in cans

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NEWSBYTES The latest in the world of tech 8

134 RELIC Entertainment Software Rating Board

PARADE

Activity Tracker for Kids

Fitbit Ace 3

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Smart Watch

PHP4,790

THE FITBIT ACE 3 is the brand’s nextgeneration activity and sleep tracker that makes it fun and easy for kids ages 6 and older to get active and build healthy habits with the whole family. It introduces more animated clock faces and new accessories to motivate kids and show off their personal style. With up to 8 days of battery life in a swim-proof design, Ace 3 can also keep up all week long.

The Fitbit Ace 3 helps kids develop healthy habits by encouraging them to get active and get the sleep their growing bodies need. The device helps motivate kids to get moving to reach the 60 daily active minutes with reminders to take at least 250 steps per hour, with an option to customize during school time. Plus, kids can easily set personalized goals and track their activity by reviewing their stats on the bright, easy-to-use touchscreen, setting timers, and racing against the stopwatch. Sleep tracking, bedtime reminders, and silent alarms April 2021

help parents and kids work together to develop a consistent sleep schedule that gives kids enough time to rest and energize for another day of staying active and building healthy habits. In the Fitbit app, kids can connect with parentapproved friends and family, engage in friendly competition via Family Face-Off challenges, and celebrate milestones with virtual badges and trophies.

Parents can also be assured their child’s privacy is protected. Through a Fitbit Family account in-app, parents

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are able to access Parent View, where they can easily see their kid’s activity, manage what is shown on their kid’s app experience, and approve their kid’s friend requests. Meanwhile, kids can experience Ace 3 in-app via Kid View, a focused view that promotes the development of healthy habits by showing the data that matters most, like activity and sleep stats, as well as parentapproved friends, clock faces, avatars, and badges. The Ace 3 experience is designed to meet the child privacy standards outlined by law. gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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Smart Rocket WiFi 5G Pocket WiFi

SMART COMMUNICATION is trailblazing in 5G innovation with the launching of the Rocket WiFi, the country’s first and fastest 5G Pocket WiFi.

Specially designed for sharing and multitasking, Rocket WiFi can connect up to 15 WiFi-capable smartphones, tablets, or laptops, making it simpler and easier for more users to experience the lightning speeds of Smart 5G on a wide range of devices. Rocket WiFi also enables users to enjoy all-

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day connectivity with its heavy-duty 5,000mAh battery.

The Rocket WiFi is currently offered with Signature Data Plan S at PHP 1,324 per month for 36 months, with a one-time cashout of PHP 5,300. Signature Data Plan S comes with 20GB per month to cover all online activities. It also comes with the Data Rollover feature, so all unused data from the previous month will be carried over to the next month.

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PARADE

Powered by Smart 5G’s super-fast speeds and ultra-low latency, Rocket WiFi enables subscribers to enjoy next-level digital experiences at home or on the go — from streaming HD videos seamlessly, playing action-packed mobile games without lag, making crystal-clear video

calls without buffering, and uploading and downloading heavy files in an instant.

PARADE Electric Scooter

PHP19,995

Lenovo M2 Electric Scooter

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LENOVO IS OFFERING daily commuters a smarter, safer, and more stylish alternative for traveling with its brand-new M2 Electric Scooter, delivering top-notch performance while focusing on rider safety and protection in an all-premium chassis.

The Lenovo M2 Electric Scooter is equipped with a powerful 350W motor and 7.5Ah high-capacity battery that has a range of 30km on one full charge.

To maintain optimum performance while on the road, an intelligent battery management system protects the battery against common issues facing electric vehicles: short-circuiting, overcurrent, overcharge, over-discharge, and extreme temperatures.

With a top speed of 25kph, the Lenovo M2 Electric Scooter also has a cruise control function that automatically lets the scooter maintain and control constant acceleration and speed while moving. This can help in lessening hand fatigue, especially on longer drives as riders no longer need to constantly press the acceleration button. It also supports speed shifting for quick gear changes.

The handle houses an LED screen that displays vital information such as speed, mileage, gear used, and battery capacity. It also comes with mobile app control and Bluetooth support, making it possible to connect the e-scooter with other devices or accessories.

For added protection and comfort on the road, the Lenovo M2 Electric Scooter

April 2021

has an innovative triple-brake and triple-damping system. In addition to the electronic brake that cuts the motor’s power, it also has a disc and pedal brake for added protection against sudden accidents. A triple-damping system— hidden shock absorption, spring shock absorption, and honeycomb tire shock absorption—removes any bumps even on rough surfaces, ensuring total comfort and stability while on the road.

With dimensions of only 1115x1115x515mm, the Lenovo M2 Electric Scooter is compact enough to easily breeze through sidewalks and avoid major roads where most of the traffic is. A one-step system allows it to fold down quickly in three seconds, making it easier to bring everywhere.

Its dustproof and waterproof IP54 rating makes it suitable for riding under light rain and on dusty terrain. It is also stable enough to support a load up to 120kg.

Riders will find its maximum 15° incline useful when going through steep roads.

The e-scooter’s frame is made from magnesium and aluminum alloy, giving it stronger impact resistance for further user safety.

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PARADE

April 2021

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PARADE

XTREME Home Air Fryer

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Smartphone

April 2021

PHP2,995

AIR-FRY. ROAST. Bake. Broil. Dehydrate.

All of these can be done with the new XTREME Home Air Fryer. It carries a digital touchscreen display, a functional timer that lasts up to 1hr and 30 minutes with an automatic shut-off, and temperature up to 200 Degrees Celsius.

The large capacity with a 3.5L barrel can help you prepare enough food for family and friends. You can even roast a whole chicken in it! Cleaning will also never be a problem as you can skip worrying about the hard-to-remove burned food thanks to its non-stick coating barrel.

The 3.5L XTREME Home Air Fryer works by distributing a rapid air heat system around the food, making it cook evenly and creating better crispiness and flavor, unlike traditional cooking methods.

This device promises to cook food faster, thus saving more time and energy. It is also a space-saver as its dimensions are more compact compared to regular deep frying machines or convection ovens.

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Smart Monitor

PHP18,999 27-inch Full HD

PHP22,999 32-inch Full HD

PHP28,999 32-inch Full HD

THE SAMSUNG SMART MONITOR, dubbed as the world’s first “Do-it-all” screen, is highly adept in meeting all types of demands for work, entertainment, learning, gaming, and just about anything in between, without the need for a PC.

The Samsung Smart Monitor also comes fully equipped with a slew of entertainment features in an easy to navigate hub for Netflix, YouTube, and other Smart TV apps, including AirPlay 2, Tap View,

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App Casting, and Screen Mirroring.

It comes with a remote controller, a built-in speaker, and voice assistance through Bixby. Its versatility is also uncompromised as it comes with a USB Type-C port on the 32” UHD M7 model, alongside other USB ports and Bluetooth connectivity. It is a flexible work and study monitor, aw well as a full entertainment hub for the whole family.

The Samsung Smart Monitor comes in three sizes and configurations: 27” Full HD, 32” Full HD, and 32” Ultra HighDefinition (UHD). The main advantage of the UHD can be seen in its crisp clear picture clarity. It has four times more pixel density and can provide a workspace four times larger than Full HD while taking up the same physical space.

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It is loaded with productivity features such as Remote Access, Office 365, and Samsung DeX. Remote Access allows users to have full access to their office PC or laptop via the Internet. With Office 365, documents and presentations can be viewed, edited, and saved in the cloud, while with Samsung DeX, Samsung Galaxy phone users are able to

easily connect with the Smart Monitor and open a desktop workspace.

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Samsung Smart Monitor

PARADE Smartphone PHP23,990 Galaxy A52 5G / Galaxy A72

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PHP18,990 Galaxy A52

Samsung Galaxy A Series SAMSUNG’S NEWEST Galaxy A Series smartphones — Galaxy A52, A52 5G, and A72 — make the brand’s powerful innovation accessible to everyone.

The latest Samsung Galaxy A Series lets you communicate and express yourself with an awesome camera, immerse yourself in a clear viewing experience with a smooth scrolling display, and enjoy greater peace of mind with innovative Galaxy foundation features including water resistance and a longlasting battery. The Galaxy A Series will also expand your mobile experience by providing access to the wider Galaxy ecosystem of connected devices, such as Galaxy Buds Pro and Galaxy Tab Samsung has set the bar high for camera quality, and the Galaxy A52, A52 5G, and A72 are no different. By making

April 2021

exciting camera innovations available, you can enjoy more fun and versatile photos and videos. Shoot vivid and crisp photos and videos with ease thanks to a versatile quad camera with 64MP highresolution. Instantly turn your favorite moments from 4K videos into 8MP high-resolution images with 4K Video Snap. Scene Optimizer uses AI to shoot with optimal settings for 30 categories of images and backgrounds such as food, landscapes, and pets.

moment anymore because of low lighting. Night mode uses multi-frame processing, resulting in a bright and crisp image even in the dark.

Whether filming the latest dance trend or capturing a new skateboard trick, OIS (optical image stabilization) ensures pictures and videos come out sharp and steady. No need to miss an important

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Meanwhile, the Galaxy A72 goes one step further with a telephoto lens that offers 3x Optical Zoom which can take a photo that looks like it’s just 3 meters away when really, it’s 10 meters out.

The 30x Space Zoom also allows users to zoom in on what seems to be a very small element in the photo and still see it clearly.

Enjoy your favorite show on Samsung’s Super AMOLED display. Now with 120Hz refresh rates on the Galaxy A52 5G, and 90Hz on the Galaxy A52 and A72, the scrolling experience is even smoother. Keep watching and scrolling social media posts even when outside thanks to an increased 800nits luminance.

The devices’ displays are also ‘Eye Care’ certified, automatically adjusting the color temperature based on smartphone usage patterns to reduce eye fatigue with ‘Eye Comfort Shield’.

The series’ refreshed design is simple yet purposeful with a soft-edge design and minimal camera housing. Take chances and get messy without worry as the Galaxy A52, A52 5G, and A72 are water and dust resistant with an IP67 rating and can be submerged in up to 1-meter of fresh water for 30 minutes.

By adding Samsung Care+, you can plan for the unexpected with instant support

and guaranteed coverage for damages, breakdowns, theft, and loss. Protect the things that matter with built-in Samsung Knox, a defense-grade security system that safeguards personal information and data in real-time.

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PARADE

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April 2021

PARADE gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Mini-PC

PHP19,995

ECS LIVA M300-W THE LIVA M300-W is the latest thin and light mini-PC from Elitegroup Computer Systems (ECS).

Its compact iron-grey metal chassis measures only 12.8x12.8x2.6cm. The LIVA M300-W is powered by Rockchip RK3399K SoC with quad and dual-core CPU which can support a dual operating system of Android 8.1 and Lubuntu 18.04. It is also equipped with an HDMI 2.0 port which can support up to 4K resolution and a CEC system. Its wide temperature and dustproof design is crafted for industrial use, making it the ideal mini PC for extreme environments such

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as construction sites, factories, and warehouses for diverse applications like surveillance, terminal, POS, and thermalsensing.

The LIVA M300-W features an outstanding fanless thermal design that can effectively dissipate heat and operate in temperatures ranging from -10°C to 60°C and humidity from 10% to 95%.

The LIVA M300-W also offers various connectivity options to meet different requirements. For video output, it features Display Port 1.2 and HDMI 2.0, which supports dual display and up to 4K high-quality resolution with 60Hz and CEC function. It also provides one blazing-fast USB 3.2 Gen 1x1, three USB 2.0 ports, and one COM port (RS-232/RS-422/ RS-485). It can support a Micro SD card reader and a Micro SIM card slot to connect 4G/5G mobile for use in public transportation or in advertising vans as a digital signage solution.

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Smart TV

PHP36,990

COOCAA S6G PRO THE COOCAA S6G PRO series takes the smart TV experience to the next level and lets you maximize the CooLife with its IPS screen, all-new Android 10 operating system, Chameleon Extreme 2.0, and 4K HDR10+ technology. Its frameless, ultra-slim build delivers an infinite visual experience for the whole family, bringing home entertainment to life as you rock a karaoke night, host a video game competition or enjoy sports events on a massive screen.

Two 20W speakers let you enjoy cinema stereo surround sound. It also packs the latest AV1 decoding, Dolby Audio, and DTS technology for memorable karaoke nights with the family.

Step up your home entertainment with ease with coocaa S6G Pro Smart TV’s voice control features. Powered by the Google Assistant Voice Control System that can be activated using the remote, access coocaa S6G Pro Smart TV’s multiple features such as checking the weather report and searching for movie and song titles by simply pressing the voice button.

The coocaa S6G Pro Smart TV also lets you experience multi-screen interaction. Share wonderful photos, videos, or video game walkthroughs when you connect your TV to your mobile device through the Bidirectional Bluetooth interconnection screen. Level up your video calls or your in-home workout sessions as you follow your favorite fitness video and witness your smartphone screen “get bigger” as it connects and broadcasts through the coocaa S6G Pro.

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Its 55-inch IPS screen can support up to 4K resolution while the Chameleon Extreme 2.0 and 4K HDR10+ technology simultaneously let you indulge in your favorite movies and basketball games on a massive screen with a stunning display.

Running on the all-new Android 10 OS, it can support multiple OTT Platforms so the whole family can enjoy applications such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and more. It also lets you download more apps from the Play Store.

The coocaa S6G Pro Smart TV features a Cortex-A 53 ARM processor, 2GB + 32GB storage capacity, and three HDMI and two USB ports. The builtin Bluetooth, dual-band WIFI, and Chromecast also let you maximize your digital leisure experience.

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April 2021

PARADE

Redmi Note 10 Pro

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Smartphone

THE REDMI NOTE 10 PRO ups the ante with one of the highest resolution cameras for smartphones, making it the mid-range king in mobile photography.

The phone’s 108MP sensor with 9-in1 binning technology and dual native ISO combine to capture the finest details, provide a higher dynamic range, and offer an array of photo editing possibilities. Thanks to the Night mode 2.0 powered by RAW multi-frame algorithm, users can capture stunning visuals even in low-light settings.

The Redmi Note 10 Pro offers both pro and telemacro time-lapse video shooting.

April 2021

Other new additions include Photo Clones, Video Clones, Dual Video, and Long exposure modes for extra fun photo or video sharing on your favorite social media apps.

Following a seamless redesign, including an Arc side fingerprint sensor, and a 6.67-inch 120Hz AMOLED DotDisplay, the device grants an all-around smooth user experience. Available in three headturning colors — onyx gray, glacier blue, and gradient bronze — Redmi Note 10 Pro is as elegant as it is durable, with Corning Gorilla Glass

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5 on the front protecting it from unsightly scuffs and scratches.

On the performance end, Redmi Note 10 Pro packs one of the most powerful 4G processors on the market, Qualcomm Snapdragon 732G. Ideal for gamers and streamers alike, the device’s high performance and low power consumption, paired with an immersive sound system featuring dual speakers, provides an optimal on-thego viewing experience. Thanks to the 5,020mAh battery and advanced 33W fast charging, time spent powering up will be kept to a minimum.

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Redmi Note 10S and Redmi Note 10 THE REDMI NOTE 10S AND REDMI NOTE 10 are each equipped with a 6.43-inch AMOLED DotDisplay along with an Arc side fingerprint sensor, 33W fast charging, a 360-degree light sensor setup, and immersive dual speakers.

Featuring the powerful MediaTek Helio G95, Redmi Note 10S delivers faster gaming, improved performance and GPU, with speeds of up to 900MHz. The Redmi Note 10, meanwhile, features the brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon 678, a quick, snappy everyday processor that easily powers through all your daily uses.

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Both smartphones are ready to capture all life’s moments with their quad-camera setups featuring an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera for group shots, a 2MP macro camera for close-ups, and a 2MP depth sensor for supporting portraits. The 64MP main camera on the Redmi Note 10S marks a tremendous improvement, even smashing some flagships in terms of pixels. Powered by 48MP, the Redmi Note 10 main camera is no slouch either. Both devices are equipped with Pro time-lapse capabilities, adding to the previous slow motion, night mode, and regular time-lapse features.

Redmi Note 10 5G WITH THE REDMI NOTE 10 5G, Xiaomi aims to delivers one of the most affordable 5G smartphones in the business, without cutting any corners. The MediaTek Dimensity 700 with its 7nm manufacturing node, Dual 5G SIM supported system, and integrated modem provides flagship-level power-efficiency.

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Featuring a captivating and immersive 90Hz 6.5-inch AdaptiveSync DotDisplay, Redmi Note 10 5G is capable of adjusting to content automatically. From streaming video at 30Hz or 60Hz to scrolling social media feeds or gaming at up to 90Hz, it guarantees a smooth experience and optimum battery usage.

The Redmi Note 10 5G sports a solid camera system with a 48MP main camera, 2MP macro camera, and 2MP depth sensor. Its 5,000mAh battery with 18W fast charging support makes it an ideal daily driver.

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April 2021

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VERTUX Gaming Peripherals

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Dubai-based gaming peripheral brand Vertux has officially landed in the country, making their wide array of products such as keyboards, mice, headsets, mics, and more available to Filipino enthusiasts.

Vertux Manila THE VERTUX MANILA gaming headset offers reliable 40mm speaker drivers for perfect competitive gaming sessions. It gives users the immersive feeling needed for intense gaming.

Vertux Sphere THE VERTUX SPHERE is a high-grade professional gaming microphone with a cardioid polar pattern that picks voice from the front and eliminates noise from other directions to let you sound the best. You may also adjust the microphone to suit the best angle as it has a 360-degree swivel head and foldable anti-slip tripod stand.

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Vertux SonicThunder-50 THE VERTUX SONICTHUNDER-50 is an ultra-powerful gaming audio system with Bluetooth 5.0.

It has two 10W satellite speakers and a 30W subwoofer that delivers rich, directionally accurate audio needed for high-performance gaming.

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Vertux Dominator PARADE

VERTUX DOMINATOR lets you feel a level of control beyond expectations with its four on-the-go DPI settings to let you one-up your competitors. As part of the Vertux gaming mice line, users can expect impeccable accuracy, enough to give you a competitive edge.

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April 2021

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OPPO A94 Smartphone

PHP13,999

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THE ALL-NEW OPPO A94 is designed for young trend seekers and mobile gamers looking for a powerful and reliable device that can keep up with their video and gaming needs.

Thanks to its powerful MediaTek Helio P95 Octa-core processor, you’ll enjoy faster app startup time, more responsive on-screen touches, and less lag, allowing you to make most of your creative and gaming time. The OPPO A94 will also be sure to immerse you in your game with smooth graphics, optimized network latency, and Real HD Sound powered by Dirac. In addition, it comes with a baked-in cooling system that’s tailored to optimally dissipate the heat emitted by resource-intensive games.

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With the OPPO A94, you’ll enjoy every moment of your favorite games without distractions. A suite of gaming modes makes sure that messages are delivered subtly without completely interrupting your game.

The OPPO A94 features a quad camera set-up that includes a rear 48MP main camera and a 32MP front-facing camera perfect for taking videos day and night.

To add depth to your photos and videos, the main camera works in concert with an 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera, 2MP macro camera, and 2MP mono camera.

For vloggers and those who rely on their phones to record their daily lives, OPPO introduces a new way to capture two perspectives at once. Dual-View Video lets you record footage from the frontfacing and rear cameras simultaneously.

OPPO A94 enables you to continue living your fullest life as it showcases a larger 4310mAh battery and 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4.0 technology. When your battery has been nearly depleted, 30W VOOC Flash Charge 4.0 reliably and

When you are down to the last few percentage points of battery life, OPPO A94 has All-day Smart Power Saving which offers several power-saving modes to keep your phone powered.

You’ll also enjoy a new sleek design thanks to a 7.8mm Ultra Slim Body weighing only 172g and rounded out with a 3D curved battery cover.

To pack in cutting-edge hardware, including the Quad Camera and a larger battery, all the while keeping the phone slim, OPPO had to think big to keep the design small. The battery cover is only 0.55mm thick, while the screen dissipates heat through a slim 0.1mm graphite plate.

OPPO is also introducing its brand new Flowing Light Design concept, which showcases a gentler and warmer look to the phone. It uses a composite panel used on the back cover; this adds a high degree of transparency that’s comparable to glass but manages to convey a complex matte yet glossy texture that’s glare-free and soft.

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To better showcase your creativity, OPPO A94’s Monochrome Video highlights and enhances a single RGB color in any shot while filtering out all other color pallets, adding a splash of drama to your footage by juxtaposing contrasting colors.

rapidly charges OPPO A94, granting you 2.9 hours of watching on YouTube for just a 5-minute charge.

The latest OPPO A94 comes in two color variants, fluid black and fantastic purple.

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April 2021

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Lenovo Gaming G34w-10 – PHP 23,995

LENOVO LEGION releases five new

Lenovo Gaming & Legion Monitors Gaming Monitors

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gaming monitors offering top-notch quality at a value-for-money price segment — the Lenovo Gaming G25-10, G27-20, G27q-20, G34w10, and Legion Y25-25 monitors.

These modern monitors maximize home movie entertainment and the visual effects of smooth and speedy gaming. gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Lenovo Gaming G27-20 PHP 11,995

Combining higher refresh rates, better and safer viewing opportunities, and specialized software meant to reduce visual distraction, Lenovo’s newest monitors, push the limits of system performance with top-of-the-line components, allowing everyone to run any demanding game or visual content with ease.

The monitors are also compatible with NVIDIA G-SYNC and AMD Radeon FreeSync technology, which leaves no room for any disruptive screen tearing, blurring, and image lag. The G27-20, G27q27

The new monitors are also able to create vibrant and life-like colors. The G25-10, G27-20, and Y25-25 offer a perfect balance of clear visuals and attractive design through their FHD 1920 x 1080 resolution quality with either 72% NTSC or 99% sRGB color accuracy. Meanwhile, the G27q20 and G34w-10 have QHD 2560 x 1440 and QHD 3440 x 1440 resolutions, respectively, and 99% sRGB color accuracy, allowing high-quality and crisp images of games and movies.

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Lenovo equipped the new Lenovo Gaming and Legion monitors with lightning-fast refresh rates to give gamers the competitive edge they need on the battlefield. The G25-10,

G27-20, and G34w-10 come with a rapid 144Hz refresh rate, while the G27q-20 has a 165Hz refresh rate which makes all fast-paced action smoother. The Y25-25 monitor, on the other hand, has a whopping 240Hz refresh rate that makes it possible to spot opponents first before being discovered.

20, and G34w-10 have 1ms MPRT (Moving Picture Response Time) that removes ghosting and adds more clarity and quality in the middle of the action.

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Lenovo Gaming G27q-20 – PHP 15,995

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The G25-10, G27-20, G27q-20, and Y25-25 also feature HDR decoding technology that recreates images in real-time and renders sharp and stunning visuals without distortion.

Likewise, the larger G34w-10 has an ultra-wide 21:19 aspect ratio and a Narrow bezel 3-side NearEdgeless 1500R curved panel that shortens the distance between the eyes and both sides of the screen.

The G27-20, G27q-20, and Y25-25 have Lenovo’s Artery software that allows gamers to play by their own rules. It gives access to tools that quickly adjust settings directly on the screen through their PC for better performance.

Every monitor also has VESA Mount Capability that adds more flexibility.

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All the new monitors have TÜV Rheinland Flicker-Free certification assuring eyeprotection against harmful blue light radiation, flickering screens, and external reflections.

They’re also TÜV Low Blue Light-certified, helping reduce eye fatigue for dedicated gamers who play for extended hours.

Moreover, the new monitors have a 3-Year Carry-In Warranty and are fully covered within their lifecycles.

Today’s students and workforce can also use the new Lenovo Gaming and Legion monitors to advantage. All monitors have at least 72% NTSC color-accurate panels that make colors pop.

This enables users to completely see every detail while reviewing notes, spreadsheets, and other documents. Graphic artists and video editors will have the best use, as they need accuracy and precision in fine-tuning visual content. Film and series buffs can fully immerse themselves while binge-watching with the G27q-20 monitor’s Quad High-Definition resolution, four times sharper than the standard 720p HD resolution.

Additionally, the 34-inch G34w-10 gives users a bigger canvas to work on. With a larger screen, productivity is doubled as it cuts precious time wasted in actions like scrolling, zooming in, and repositioning programs.

Lenovo Gaming G25-10 – PHP 9,995

Legion Y25-25 – PHP 15,995

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realme Narzo 30A Smartphone

PHP6,490

THE REALME NARZO 30A is equipped with powerful specs that will cater to the needs of Filipino gamers. It sports a MediaTek Helio G85 gaming chipset that allows users to have a highlyimmersive time playing mobile games. Its octa-core gaming processor and powerful GPU allow the device to remain lag-free even when using large applications.

Available in laser black and laser blue colorways, its sleek and unique fauxembossed back panel sets the narzo 30 A’s exterior distinct from other models, giving its user a minimalist yet chic gaming companion.

The 6000mAh mega battery can support multiple activities such as gaming,

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online schooling, social media, and other daily routines. Its battery life can last users up to 52 hours of phone calls, 114 hours of music streaming, 27 hours of binge-watching, and 10 hours of playtime. Its fast charging 18W Type-C port ensures that users don’t have to wait long to resume their favorite mobile activities. The narzo 30A can also provide power through reverse charging so you can power up other devices.

Offered in a 4GB + 64GB storage variant, the narzo 30A is exclusively available on realme’s Lazada flagship store.

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The narzo 30A runs on the realme UI based on Android 10. With the realme UI 2.0 upgrade powered by Android 11 expected by the third quarter of 2021, users will be able to multi-task with floating windows and mini windows.

They will also benefit from the enhanced privacy and security of the realme UI. 2.0. Users purchasing the narzo 30A as an upgrade will be assured that this latest software will keep their device updated.

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Smartphone

POCO F3

PHP 17,990 - 6GB+128GB

PHP 20,990 - 8GB+256GB

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THE POCO F3 plays in the big leagues as the brand’s most powerful device yet, powered by the Snapdragon 870 5G Mobile Platform.

It features an upgraded Qualcomm Kryo 585 CPU with an industry-leading prime core clock speed of up to 3.2GHz. Along with the ultra-fast Qualcomm Adreno 650 GPU, the POCO F3 delivers a superb game-play experience. Paired with LPDDR5 RAM and UFS 3.1 storage, the flagship setup guarantees faster read-write speeds for multitasking. The boosted performance is embodied in its high efficiency 7nm processor as well as the LiquidCool Technology 1.0 Plus which allows the device to deliver sustained peak performance.

It meets all the latest benchmarks in connectivity, sporting a Snapdragon X55 5G Modem-RF System for the lightningfast 5G connectivity with support for the majority of global network bands.

The device also supports WiFi 5, putting it comfortably in league with high-end smartphones.

Its 120Hz high refresh rate provides unprecedented smoothness when gaming on the large 6.67-inch AMOLED display. It also features one of the tiniest dots in the industry at just 2.76mm.

Additionally, the 360Hz touch sampling rate and the fine-tuned touch algorithm allow the phone to respond extremely fast to the touch of a fingertip. The

MEMC technology, adding up to 60fps, further enhances the smoothness of video content. The HDR10+ certified display, along with the True Display and True Color features, provides a truly eye-pleasing viewing experience with vibrant, highly accurate colors.

Crafted from a non-slippery material and measuring only 7.8mm thin and 196g in weight, the device feels comfortable and secure in the hand. At the same time, Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on both front and back gives the phone sturdy protection.

Rocking a dual speaker setup with a bottom main speaker and a secondary speaker at the top, the POCO F3 produces superior, high-definition sound. It is the brand’s first device to feature Dolby Atmos sound technology.

The POCO F3’s AI triple camera setup and a myriad of crafty, innovative camera features help unleash photography skills. The rear cameras consist of a 48MP main camera with 1.6μm 4-in-1 large pixel, a 119° ultrawide lens, and a 5MP telemacro camera that supports 3cm–7cm autofocus. This finely tuned combo allows for stunning high-resolution and detailed images in

lightning time, greatly improving the camera’s versatility. The 20MP front camera also supports Night Mode selfie.

The POCO F3 has a triple-microphone setup and comes with an Audio Zoom feature. When shooting a video, the dedicated third microphone on the rear allows the device to “zoom in” on the sound along with the image, capturing clear audio of far-away scenes and considerably improving sound reception during filming. Meanwhile, the X-axis linear haptic motor provides short, crisp vibrations to complete the flagship-level entertainment experience.

Its 4,520mAh battery can be powered up at lightning speed thanks to the Middle Middle Tab (MMT) technology, which routes electric current into the device more efficiently. With the 33W in-box fast charger, the device is rated to charge up to 100% in just 52 minutes.

The POCO F3 comes in three colors: arctic white, night black, and deep ocean blue.

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Equipped with an ultra-large capacity 5,160mAh battery, battery life can last up to two full days. Built-in MMT technology and a 33W in-box fast charger make sure the device is powered up in lightning time.

Smartphone

POCO X3 Pro PHP 12,990 - 6GB+128GB

PHP 15,990 - 8GB+256GB

copper heat pipe and multiple layers of graphite that work together to reduce the device’s thermal capacity.

Along with enhanced UFS 3.1, the device offers snappy read and write speeds, so you don’t have to wait long to load files, games, and apps. The device also features LiquidCool Technology 1.0 Plus, a cooling solution packing an enlarged

Its 3D curved back instantly draws in the eyes with a rainbow finish that beautifully catches the light at different angles. Plus, the POCO X3 Pro sports an easily-accessible and accurate sidemounted fingerprint sensor.

Its stunning 6.67-inch FHD+ DotDisplay has a 120Hz refresh rate and 240Hz touch sampling rate, ensuring a super responsive, low-latency gameplay experience. The display uses DynamicSwitch to optimize the refresh rate for different applications.

Corning Gorilla Glass 6 offers upgraded protection against daily wear and tear.

The POCO X3 Pro can act as your pocket videographer with a complete quad-camera rear setup and a myriad of noteworthy camera functions. A 48MP main camera supporting 1.6um 4-in-1 Super Pixels allows for clear and stunningly detailed images. The 119° ultra-wide camera lens offers Night Mode so beautiful landscape shots or group photos can happen even in lowlight conditions. The macro camera and depth sensor complete the outfit by offering extra camera versatility and capabilities.

In the Philippines, the POCO X3 Pro comes in phantom black, frost blue, metal bronze.

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THE POCO X3 PRO delivers flagship performance, thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon 860, currently one of the most powerful 4G mobile platforms.

It features a Kryo 485 CPU boasting 7nm processing technology for peak performance of up to 2.96GHz, along with the Adreno 640 GPU for enhanced graphics rendering. Combined, the platform allows you to enjoy an ultrasmooth, high-quality gaming experience, even when playing processing-heavy 3D games at high settings.

Its dual top-and-bottom speaker setup provides a stunning flagship-level sound for streaming and gaming which, paired with the lively vibrations generated from the device’s precisely tuned Z-axis linear motor, make for gratifying gameplay.

PARADE

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PARADE

LG 25UM58-P Ultra-Wide Monitor

PHP12,699

HAVING A DEDICATED monitor for your work from home setup, such as the LG 25UM58-P, sets you up for success.

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The LG 25UM58-P is a budget-friendly monitor for your home that excels both at work and play. It has a 21:9 UltraWide display that offers visual comfort and ensures your best viewing pleasure.

There is absolutely no color shift or color distortion of color, even when viewing from other angles. An immersive work environment is ensured through realistic color expression thanks to sRGB over 99 percent and the IPS display. OnScreen Control and My Display Presets allow you

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to easily customize monitor settings with a few mouse clicks.

You can also use the LG 25UM58-P for competitive gaming. It offers LG’s Game Mode, consisting of FPS, RTS, and Custom modes, providing a customized gaming experience that varies with genres. Black Stabilizer is especially useful for detecting objects, including enemies that are hiding in dark areas. Dynamic Action Sync allows you to attack enemies faster with less lag time.

The LG 25UM58-P gives you the flexibility to adapt to situations as it happens, whether for work or leisure.

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YOURLI FE,UPGRADED Wear emor et hanj us tt ech

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REVIEWED BY REN ALCANTARA

ASUS ZENBOOK DUO 14 gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

BUSINESS LAPTOP

With a few notable exceptions, laptops have basically remained the same as far back as I can remember.

Enter the ZenBook Duo 14.

This laptop is a new take on the laptop as a creator’s tool, and we got to take it for a spin.

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HARDWARE

I have always been a fan of Asus’ minimalist take on laptop design. It’s nicely understated, with no unnecessary flashy logos, bells, or whistles. The lid is done in the brand’s usual understated circular pattern, so if the shiny Asus logo doesn’t give it away, the way the light comes off it does.

The ZenBook Duo 14 has up to an Intel Core i7-1165G7 processor running at 2.8 GHz, 16 GB of RAM (though you can upgrade it to 32 GB), and up to an NVIDIA MX 450 with 2 GB of VRAM. The main display is a roomy 14-inch deal with a resolution of 1920x1080 and is Pantone validated for correct color reproduction. It does support touch, which is a nice, uh, touch.

Opening the lid does a few things. First, it lifts the laptop’s base off the surface, giving it nice table clearance, and putting the keyboard at a more comfortable angle for typing on the nicely backlit, low-profile keyboard. Secondly, it angles the second screen perfectly to face the user and be accessible via finger, stylus, or your vision.

Did we not mention the second screen yet? Right. The Asus ZenBook Duo has a second screen. More on that in a bit.

The second screen, which rests just above the keyboard area, is called the ScreenPad Plus and is 12.65 inches on the diagonal, with a resolution of 1920 x 515 pixels, and likewise has stylus support for the included Asus Pen. Ports are reasonably abundant, with a full-size HDMI port, 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports for power and display, and a USB 3.2 port, along with the combo audio jack.

"Even non-creative work was made better by the second screen. Chats, emails, reference pages, and even cat videos remain visible and usable without taking up precious main screen space. I have no idea how I will ever use a regular laptop again."

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DESIGN

Asus ZenBook Duo 14

USER EXPERIENCE Over the course of the pandemic, I’ve picked up a few things, not the least of which are toying with video editing and creating a podcast. While I usually use my gaming laptop for that purpose (coincidentally also an Asus), I have frequently wished I had more screen real estate, particularly when working on our four-host podcast.

You can imagine my glee when I cracked the ZenBook Pro open to find a whole other screen below the main screen.

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The first thing I did after getting my credentials in was download and fire up Audacity and immediately get to work on a podcast episode.

Even non-creative work was made better by the second screen. Chats, emails, reference pages, and even cat videos remain visible and usable without taking up precious main screen space. I have no idea how I will ever use a regular laptop again.

It’s as great as one might imagine. The screen really is more than just a gimmick. An entire host track fits nicely in the space, allowing me to comfortably watch all the hosts’ audio without having to squint to hunch over the laptop. The beefy i7 processor made short work of effects such as noise cancellation, normalizing, and rendering, all of which were completed noticeably

faster than on my older i7 laptop or i5 desktop.

The included stylus was also quite useful, though, for my applications, it was less so than if I were a graphic artist or more heavily into video.

There are software enhancements the brand included to make life even better. Controls for some programs, including Adobe video editing software, make the lives of editors that much better, and even simple add-ons such as display controls and convenience features such as being able to flick a window from the top screen to the bottom one and vice-versa makes the screen a genuinely handy addition.

While we’re on the subject of speakers, the Harman/Kardon ones on this device are great, but there is a lot of distortion when the volume is maxed out. Somewhere around 80 percent appears to be the maximum you’re going to want to set the volume to keep from audio sounding blown out.

The battery life on the ZenBook 14 was excellent.

Under normal working conditions, it lasted a full 8-hour workday without having to plug into a wall outlet. Granted, there wasn’t any heavy lifting involved, and it was mostly Google Docs, youtube, and some browser windows, but that’s still quite impressive. And since the included power adaptor isn’t really that heavy, you can just toss that in with the rest of your gear if you know, you’ll be needing extra power.

While it’s not the main purpose of this particular device, I was able to get some gaming in as well, though it was just Overwatch. It manages a steady 50 FPS on recommended settings, which was more than enough for me considering it’s such a thin, light laptop with a second screen. Did I mention it has a second screen?

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WHAT'S HOT  It has a second screen  Plenty of power  IT HAS A SECOND SCREEN

WHAT'S NOT  Price is hard to justify if you’re not creating content  Speakers blow out

BOTTOMLINE

VALUE The value score of this needs some explaining. For a regular user, the PHP 89K price tag is clearly quite high and gets a 3. However, the additional functionality delivered by the ScreenPad Plus is a godsend if you’re a creative, and even more so if you’re a creative on the move, so that nets it a 5. Let’s just split the difference and give it a solid 4. If you need the features, definitely give this a good look.

SPECIFICATIONS Display: 14.0-inch, 1920x1080, IPS, matte, touch • Secondary display: 12.-inch, 1920x515, IPS • Processor: Intel Tiger Lake Core i7-1165G7 CPU, 4C/8T • Video: Intel Iris Xe • Memory: 32GB • Storage: 1TB M.2 PCIe x4 SSD • Ports: 1 USB-A 3.2, 2 USB-C with Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 1.4, microSD card reader, combo audio jack • Battery: 70Wh, 65W charger • Size: 12.72x8.78x0.68-inches • Weight: 3.46lb

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Creators rejoice!

This is a great laptop for making content on the move, or at your actual desk.

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REVIEWED BY GABRIEL PE

SAMSUNG GALAXY S21 5G SMARTPHONE

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The Samsung Galaxy S-series has been amazing every year, giving smartphone lovers something to look forward to. But after 12 straight years of phone innovation, is there still something to look forward to? Why yes! Yes, there is.

DESIGN

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The Samsung Galaxy S21-series is the best-looking Samsung phone yet. That camera layout at the back just looks so good. I have to admit, before seeing the phone firsthand, I thought that the camera hump would be obnoxious because the photos do make it look bigger.

Now holding the phone, I can say that Samsung’s designers have done their jobs well; the hump wasn’t really an issue, and the whole phone is just felt premium despite reserving the glass back for the Ultra model.

The screen of the Galaxy S21 5G is a 6.2inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display that goes up to a 120 Hz refresh rate. At the front, you can find the selfie camera and the forward-facing speakers; at the back is the main camera setup. On the right side are the volume buttons and power button, on top are two microphones holes, and the bottom is the USB Type-C port, the sim card tray, another mic hole, and of course, the downward-firing speaker.

HARDWARE The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G is equipped with Samsung’s newest Exynos 2100 processor with Mali-G78 graphics. The processor scored a 3022 in GeekBench 5.3.2 multicore and an 816 for single core.

On the graphics side of things, the combo scored an impressive 5745 points in 3DMark Wild Life.

Our review unit had 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Like the

last few Samsung Galaxy S-series and Note-series, the S21 5G does not have expandable storage, and you’ll want to check your memory space every so often.

Undoubtedly, the best feature of the phone is its cameras. It has a triple main camera setup with a 12-megapixel wide-angle, another 12-megapixel ultra-wide angle, and finally, a 64-megapixel telephoto that has a 3x hybrid zoom. The cameras

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can also shoot at 8K. The front is a 10-megapixel shooter.

For battery, it has a 4000mAh battery which lasted me a day of full use, but you can fully charge it in just under 2 hours using a non-fast charging charger.

The phone does have NFC and Wireless charging rated for up to 15W fast charging. At the same time, the phone itself can fast charge up to 25W.

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SAMSUNG GALAXY S21 5G

USER EXPERIENCE Going to the phone itself, Samsung did a job well done in making the phone every bit as exciting as their previous flagships.

One of the biggest features of the Galaxy S21 5G is its cameras. The phone was able to capture great images in various conditions; some even came out better than a DSLR. Like previously tested phones, I used our in-house model/ cat Butterscotch and looked at how the phone handled fur. To no one’s surprise, it did it really well in distinguishing her fur from the background.

upgrades of this from older Samsung flagships is its productivity features like Wireless DeX and optimized linking to Windows devices.

Aside from those, I enjoyed using the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G as my go-to media device. From watching Netflix, enjoying music with its loudspeakers, and of course, playing games. The Exynos processor was surprisingly great for gaming, giving me about 30 to 60fps in Genshin Impact in High settings and Ultra Graphics setting in Mobile Legends.

But the most important feature of the camera is its 30x digital zoom. I was able to capture readable texts from a faraway object with no problem. Another great feature that I loved was the phone’s great stabilization. The phone gave an almost gimbal-like smooth stabilization to videos I took, even while I was walking.

The Samsung Galaxy S21 5G isn’t just a camera-centric phone. One of the biggest

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One thing to note is that the device does get warm during long gaming sessions. It’s not painfully hot, but it is noticeable. Another thing is that the phone’s screen is no longer a 1440p one, but for most who’ll upgrade from a two to three-year-old phone, this one’s a non-issue.

The Galaxy S21 5G is also the smallest in the series, but for me, it might be the right size. You can use it with one hand, and it can fit in most pockets.

SPECIFICATIONS

VALUE Is the Samsung S21 5G worth its PHP 47,990 price tag? It’s a flagship smartphone, but it depends on you. Is the small form factor a problem for you? Then you might want the Samsung Galaxy S21+ 5G. But for me, the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G itself is the right flagship smartphone in the series.

WHAT'S HOT  Great phone overall  Great cameras  Great display

WHAT'S NOT  Phone does get warm  Non-expandable memory  FHD resolution display

BOTTOMLINE Samsung has produced another great, no frills, flagship in the Galaxy S21 5G. 41

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Display: 6.2-inch FHD Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1300nits Processor: Exynos 2100 Graphics: Mali-G78 MP14 RAM: 8GB Storage: 128GB Camera: 12MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76”, 1.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS, 12MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55” 1.4µm, Super Steady video, 64 MP, f/2.0, 29mm (telephoto), 1/1.72”, 0.8µm, PDAF, OIS, 1.1x optical zoom, 3x hybrid zoom OS: One UI 3.1 running on top of Android 11 Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Hotspot, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC, USB Type-C 3.2 Features: Under display ultrasonic Fingerprint reader, accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX, Samsung Knox, Samsung Pay Battery: 4000mAh Li-Ion with 25W fast charging, Wireless Charging up to 15W, reverse wireless charging up to 4.5W Dimensions: 151.7x71.2x7.9mm Weight: 163g

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REVIEWED BY RACINE ANNE CASTRO

LENOVO YOGA SLIM 7i CARBON BUSINESS LAPTOP

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Flexibility and endurance are two things we value greatly in our gadgets—especially during these times. That’s because those same two things are demanded from us. We need to be flexible to maintain a work-from-home/learn-from-home setup. We need to be prepared to withstand anything because the world could change any minute (like it did last year!). Enter the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon, a laptop that promises the adaptability and resilience we need.

DESIGN By virtue of its name, Lenovo’s Yoga lineup is all about flexibility, having more range of movement than most laptops.

Notably, the Yoga 500 Series and C Series models are designed to have screens that pivot to a full 360-degree flip, bending all the way back until the device looks like a tablet with keys on its underside. The Yoga Slim 7i Carbon, however, is part of the S Series, which means it can only bend as far as 180 degrees back, from protracted to flat. (Savasana, for the yogis reading this review.)

What sets the 13-inch 7i Carbon apart from other Yoga devices is its ultra-tough construction. Lenovo claims that this model has undergone 9 military-grade

tests for durability, proving that it can withstand extreme temperatures, dust and debris, and even a two-and-a-halffoot drop (76cm). This is because of the high-strength carbon-fiber material from which the device was built.

perfectly fit in. The Slim in its name refers to its 14.9mm thickness (or rather, thinness) when closed. It also weighs no more than 2.2lbs, making it easy to carry in your bag and bring productivity anywhere.

The 7i Carbon comes in only one color: moon white. Its milky hue, matte texture, and anti-fingerprint finish give it a fashionable minimalist vibe—one that blends nicely in one of those quaint Instagram workstation photos. (Picture it: the 7i Carbon placed neatly on a speckless white desk in a sunlit room, next to a potted plant, pastel-colored stationery, and a framed inspirational quote. Double-tap that.)

Durability and looks make the 7i Carbon stand out, yet it is also designed to

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Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon

HARDWARE This lightweight machine runs on a powerful 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor clocked at 2.8GHz and 16GB RAM. Graphics are fueled by Intel Iris Xe, while audio is delivered by two Harman Kardon speakers, optimized with Dolby Atmos.

Combined, you can expect an impressive multimedia experience.

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On its sides, you’ll find a 3.5mm audio port and three USB-C ports (1x USB 3.0 Type-C and 2x Thunderbolt 4). You’d need a hub or a dongle to connect to a typical flash drive, which, unfortunately, I do not have. I don’t know many people who have that either, so the presence of a Type-A USB port is most likely something you’d miss.

USER EXPERIENCE

The 7i Carbon is decked out with a 13.3-inch (2560 x 1600) display wielding a beautiful 2.5k resolution. What I love about the screen is the super-slim bezel measuring just 3mm, giving the 300-nit vividness of the screen more real estate than a lot of 13-inch laptops. The display has no touchscreen capabilities, though, so you can’t fully enjoy tablet mode.

April 2021

My job involves a lot of multitasking.

Building presentations in one window, watching videos in another—sometimes all while in a Zoom meeting. The 7i Carbon can handle all of that in a breeze.

No lags. No failure in quality. Even while performing several jobs simultaneously, this laptop runs quietly. The underside and the keys only felt warm to the touch whenever I was charging it.

Battery life is solid as I was able to work at maximum capacity for 8 hours on a full charge. That’s a whole workday without having to whip out the charger, providing battery efficiency while working on the go.

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Despite not being heavily tricked out for graphics-intense activities (gaming and video editing) the 7i Carbon delivered seamless viewing as I watched fastaction, high-definition wrestling videos in my spare time. Colors are punchy and viewing angles are generally great, even in sunlight.

Typing on the device’s chiclet keyboard was a pleasant experience. Surprisingly, for such a thin notebook, key travel on the 7i Carbon felt sufficiently deep. The keys are fairly quiet, too. You won’t feel as if the sound of your typing will cut through the serenity of your work-from-home space or the cafe you’re in. The keyboard is also equipped with a nifty sensor that activates the white backlight in low light and

SPECIFICATIONS Dimensions: 13.9-14.9 x 296.9 x 208.55mm Weight: 2.2lbs (< 1 kg) Display: 13.3” QHD (2560x1600)

with Dolby Vision Processor: 11th Gen Intel Core i7 GPU: Intel Iris Xe RAM: 16GB LPDDR4X Dual Channel Storage: Up to 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD Ports: USB 3.0 Gen 1 (Type-C), 2x USB-C Thunderbolt 4, 3.5mm Audio Jack Camera: 720P IR Cam Battery: Rapid-charging available with 65W adapter

 Stylish matte white design  Slim, lightweight body  Military-grade durability  Tactile typing experience

VALUE

automatically dims under bright, natural light—automation that helpfully saves battery life in daylight.

Pleasantly enough, the touchpad delivers with ease, precision, and terrific sensitivity. Though I do feel that the touchpad itself is too close to the bottom edge of the device. The palm rests also have limited space that could make it feel too cramped for those with larger hands.

A few more things to note: the 7i Carbon also comes with smart security features, including hands-free facial recognition login. It also has a built-in webcam and two digital microphones, which both delivered excellent quality during Zoom calls.

I delved into the keyboard experience a lot because I imagine that the 7i Carbon will mostly be appealing to those who want to take their productivity anywhere. That’s why it was designed to be lightweight and tough enough to withstand drops and intense outdoor conditions.

A price of PHP 74,995 isn’t easy on the wallet (the Intel i5 model costs PHP 64,995). Granted, getting military-grade durability in a slim machine is a feat that bears great value, and this is probably what’s hiking up the price. Yet, I’m not so sure if those who hop from one cafe to another or are engaged in a work-fromanywhere situation necessarily need that extreme level of build quality.

Nevertheless, if you’re buying the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon on the sheer basis of its beautifully purposive design, practical portability, and powerful functionality, every peso will be well-spent.

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WHAT'S NOT  No touchscreen capability  Limited ports

BOTTOMLINE A rugged build housed in a chic design. A minimalist featherweight packed with power and productivity.

The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Carbon definitely delivers on its promise of flexibility.

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WHAT'S HOT

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REVIEWED BY MARIBELLE ALBA

SAMSUNG QA55Q60T 55-INCH QLED 4K TV

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DESIGN The 55-inch QA55Q60T is designed as a 3 bezel-less slim look TV. The all-black color adds to the all-screen impression, and the boomerang-shaped feet are unobtrusive enough so as not to detract from the floating screen effect. Overall, you get a sleek, elegant, and minimalist design that’s a great addition to any room in the house.

Samsung has also very smartly added Ambient Mode so you can use the TV to enhance your home decor by showcasing a collage of family photos or with a slideshow of your travels.

HARDWARE The star of this TV is, of course, the quantum dot technology that delivers 100% color volume, ensuring the color stays constant at every brightness level, while Dual LED backlighting improves

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contrast and color. With quantum HDR (high dynamic range), you get deeper blacks and more detailed images. The chip that powers all these is the Samsung Quantum Processor Lite.

The Dolby Digital Plus audio system consists of 2-channel stereo speakers that produce 20W sound output.

The QA55Q60T runs on Samsung’s proprietary Tizen operating system, with an intuitive user interface that’s quite distinct from the usual Android OS used on other smart TVs. At the back of the unit are 3 HDMI, 2 USB, 1 composite, digital audio out, RF-in, and ethernet ports. It also has WiFi 5 and Bluetooth 4.2 for connectivity The remote control (TMC2050A) is a simple, compact joystick with just a few buttons to control everything. There are dedicated buttons to quickly access Netflix, Prime Video, and the web browser. Personally, I wish they’d included a YouTube button in place of the www.

April 2021

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QLED or quantum dot LED is the new buzzword in TV displays, and for most of us still stuck at home and spending a huge chunk of our days in front of a TV screen, it may be time to think about getting an upgrade. Is the Samsung QA55Q60T a good choice? Let’s find out.

Samsung QA55Q60T

USER EXPERIENCE

But, of course, beyond the bells and whistles, the key performance indicators for any TV are its video and audio outputs. On the QA55Q60T, the former is great but the latter needs improvement.

distinct, contrasts are sharper, and colors more subtle and well-defined — creating a great cinematic viewing experience. From the proper viewing position, the picture quality on the QA55Q60T is so refined and natural-looking without being overly bright allowing me to binge-watch for hours without any eyestrain. My only caveat is that from the side, images can be blurry with noticeable reflections on-screen.

The 4K video quality is truly outstanding with picture quality that’s noticeably better than mere full HD. Finer details are more

The one area that Samsung seems to have stinted on is on audio quality which, despite having Dolby Digital Plus

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Setting up the Samsung QA55Q60T is a breeze — just link it to your home network (whether through WiFi or ethernet cable) and register for a Samsung account. Basic apps such as YouTube, Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Viu are pre-installed, along with the web browser. You can quickly download and install other apps from the Smart Hub according to your preferences.

Install SmartThings on your phone and add the QA55Q60T if you want to be able to use your phone as a remote controller for the TV — really cool!

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support, is limited by its 20W 2-speaker setup. I find myself constantly having to adjust volume up/down, and movies somehow lack that thumping sensurround oomph. A soundbar will definitely make a welcome improvement to the total experience.

SPECIFICATIONS Display: 55-inch screen, 3840x2160 resolution Video: Quantum processor lite picture engine, 120+ motion rate, 3100 PQI, Quantum HDR, HDR 10+, HLG, dual LED, 100% color volume with quantum dot, supreme UHD dimming, contrast enhancer, auto motion plus, film mode, natural mode support

VALUE As the entry-level tier in Samsung’s QLED 4K TV product category, the Q60T is the most affordably priced of the Samsung QLED 4K TVs. A 55-incher like our review unit carries a PHP 56,999 price tag — well below the six figures you’d expect to pay for its more premium QLED 4K cousins. Watch out for the seasonal promo offers and you’ll probably be able to get a good bargain, possibly with a soundbar thrown in.

Audio: 20W sound output, 2CH speakers, Dolby Digital Plus, dialog enhancement, multi-room link, Bluetooth audio

Connectivity: 3 HDMI, 2 USB, 1 composite, ethernet, digital audio out, RF-in, WiFi 5, Bluetooth 4.2, Anynet+ Power: AC100-240V 50/60Hz, 140W max power consumption Dimensions: 1230.1x783.7x243.3mm with stand, 1230.1x705.9x57.4mm without stand Weight: 17.4kg with stand, 17.2kg without stand Remote control model: TMC2050A

WHAT'S HOT  Great 4K resolution  Smart features

WHAT'S NOT  Audio needs improvement

BOTTOMLINE Premium yet priced within reach.

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Smart Features: Tizen OS, Bixby, web browser, SmartThings, gallery Convergence: Mirroring mobile-TV, DLNA, multi-view, WiFi Direct, sound mirroring

MOBILITY

MYTHBUSTERS:

HYBRID VEHICLES How much do you really know? ou’ve seen them in your favorite movies and TV series. You’ve read about them on popular websites and magazines.

They’ve created buzz on social media.

And no, we’re not talking about A-List celebrities, though many stars drive

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MYTH #1

around in one. We’re talking about hybrid cars, especially the uberpopular Toyota Prius. Globally, Toyota’s hybrid cars have established themselves as reliable choices for amazing fuel economy. It’s no wonder why you see Hybrids almost everywhere in most other countries.

Electric Vehicles and Hybrid Electric Vehicles are basically the same

THE TRUTH: Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) operate on only one power source (electric motor) while Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV), as the name “hybrid” suggests, runs on a combination of a petrol engine and an electric motor. They’re similar in that they both have electricity as a power source but different because hybrid vehicles also have a second power source — the petrol engine.

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It’s a very different story, though, here in the Philippines, where there’s still a lot to be understood about hybrids.

Here we’ll address the top myths to hopefully clear the air (pun intended) about these environment-friendly vehicles.

MYTH #2

Hybrid cars need to be charged before use

THE TRUTH: Hybrids do not need to be plugged in to be charged. They are self-charging through the motion and braking of the car. This is called “regenerative braking” and is what makes hybrids unique and extra convenient as electrified vehicles. This makes them ideal for the Philippines since there’s no need for added infrastructure like charging stations.

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MYTH #3

Hybrids are difficult to maintain.

THE TRUTH: Similar to regular cars, hybrids just need to be brought to your local car dealer for preventive maintenance service (PMS).

While usage circumstances still play a key role, hybrid batteries don’t need any special maintenance on top of PMS.

MYTH #5

Hybrids are expensive.

THE TRUTH: Hybrids are a lot more affordable now and are priced competitively with their conventional counterparts. And since Hybrids are very fuel-efficient, you’ll also save a lot on fuel expenses in the long run.

MYTH #6

Hybrids are hard to drive

For added piece-of-mind, Toyota provides a 5-year warranty on the hybrid battery alongside the standard 3-year warranty on the vehicle itself. Moreover, you won’t need to replace the battery after 5 years as, with proper care and maintenance, Toyota’s hybrid batteries are designed to last the lifetime of the car.

MYTH #4

THE TRUTH: If you know how to drive a conventional vehicle, then you know how to drive a hybrid. Hybrids actually have the smallest learning curve among electrified vehicles.

You just need to gas them up like your conventional car — With The All-New X-ADV, Honda Philippines (HPI), theintelligent No.1 and though not as often.

The hybridInc. system is very motorcycle manufacturer in the country, makes it possible for riders automatically switches between EV and gas mode to give you and bike enthusiasts to future, as people turn to the thestart mostriding out of into yourthe fuel! latest, most innovative, and most convenient technology to help them make their lives easier.

Driving hybrids in flood will cause you to get electrocuted

Hybrids may be thought of as the future, but they’re also the now!

THE TRUTH: No, you definitely won’t get electrocuted! The power shuts off once in contact with water. In terms of safety, it is no different from a conventional vehicle since both hybrids and conventional vehicles have their engines at similar heights from the ground.

Toyota Motor Philippines offers several hybrid models available now, ready to be driven on Philippine roads. No need for charging stations. No worrying about running out of juice in the middle of a trip. Reduce your emissions today and start saving on fuel.

Toyota now has many hybrid offerings, from the iconic Toyota Prius to hybrid variants of the Toyota Corolla Altis sedan and the Toyota Corolla Cross.

Visit http://toyota.com.ph/hybrid to discover more about Toyota’s Hybrid vehicles.

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MOBILITY

NEW FORD RANGER FX4 MAX April 2021

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ord Philippines adds to its Ranger portfolio with the Ford Ranger FX4 MAX, a new pickup truck that delivers off-road driving capabilities.

It is inspired by the Ranger Raptor while living up to the Ranger’s brand of comfort, safety, and versatility.

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Upping the ante in off-road driving The FX4 MAX’s suspension brings an off-road stance and capability with the new 2.0-inch monotube FOX shock absorbers in both front and rear. The rear suspension has a remote reservoir and leaf springs, enabling rapid recovery from extensive and prolonged off-road use. These are teamed with tuned coilsprings at the front. The leaf springs have been modified to provide greater compliance off-road while balancing payload and towing capability.

Complementing the FX4 MAX’s suspension are 17-inch alloy wheels with BFGoodrich all-terrain tires that provide outstanding traction on unsealed surfaces and feature tougher sidewalls.

Tough look outside, premium feel inside The Ranger FX4 MAX stands out from the crowd with a tough and sporty design that reflects its rugged personality and off-roading capabilities.

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Its exterior catches the eye with the iconic F-O-R-D grille, and a full-length tubular sports bar finished in matte black that allows easy access to the load box. Body-mounted metal hoop side steps with a non-slip finish toughen the look and showcase the FX4 MAX’s commanding presence and attitude.

On the inside, the FX4 MAX offers a rugged yet comfortable style. The leather seats feature materials new to the Ranger, including carbon-accents

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with Miko suede inserts and FX4 MAX embroidery. It also comes with allweather front and rear floor mats that provide convenience. The driver’s feet are also treated to sports pedals, while a leather-wrap steering wheel shares Black Alley inserts with the door trims and dash applique for greater contrast and a fresh, bold character throughout.

Unique to the FX4 MAX is the auxiliary switch pack. Fitted on Ford trucks globally, including the

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legendary F-Series, this feature gives FX4 MAX owners the ability to easily connect and operate auxiliary accessories and equipment in a seamless and integrated solution. To support such additions, the FX4 MAX features a specific 250A alternator to support power supply to multiple accessories and reduce reliance on the vehicle’s battery.

Powerful performance Just like the Ranger Raptor and Wildtrak 4x4, the Ranger FX4 MAX is equipped with the 2.0-liter Bi-Turbo diesel engine, capable of generating 213PS of power and 500NM of torque.

This is seamlessly mated with the 10-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain enables the FX4 MAX to carry a 981kg payload as well as 3,500kg of towing capability.

For convenience and connectivity, the Ranger FX4 MAX features an 8-inch color touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, smart keyless entry with push-button start, SYNC 3 with voice-activated controls, Bluetooth with phone/audio streaming, two USB ports, and six speakers.

The Ranger FX4 MAX also offers unmatched safety and security with driver-assist features such as cruise control, ABS + EBD, electronic stability control including roll-over mitigation and traction control, hill launch assist, hill descent control, driver and

passenger airbags, rear parking sensors, and child seat ISOFIX anchorage points.

Colors, availability, and pricing The Ranger FX4 MAX comes in six colors, including arctic white, absolute black, aluminum metallic, meteor grey, blue lightning, and true red. It is available in all Ford dealerships nationwide at a launch price of PHP 1,698,000.

To know more about the new Ranger FX4 MAX, visit the Ford Philippines website or a Ford dealer nearest you. G

Smart and safe The Ranger FX4 MAX is also equipped with a host of smart and safety features that elevate the driving experience while keeping both drivers and passengers protected on the road.

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NISSAN

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NAVARA BUILDING ON 80 YEARS OF NISSAN PICKUP HERITAGE, THIS NEW TOUGH AND SMART MODEL IS THE MOST ADVANCED NAVARA EVER issan in the Philippines rocks the pick-up truck segment anew with the unveiling of the new Nissan Navara. Known for delivering unmatched riding comfort, the new Navara delivers an enhanced level of safety and driving pleasure, while continuing to bring durability, reliability, and versatility to bold and daring road adventurers.

The Nissan Intelligent Mobility features for the Navara lineup in the Philippines include:

A reliable partner for work or travel, the new Nissan Navara comes with many best-in-class technologies, including an array of Nissan Intelligent Mobility features and safety systems, making it the most advanced Navara yet.

• Intelligent Around View Monitor, which uses four cameras to help drivers notice people and cars surrounding and approaching the vehicle, making it easier to parallel park or to position the vehicle when hitching to a trailer.

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• Intelligent Forward Collision Warning that monitors the second vehicle ahead as well as the vehicle directly in front to reduce the risk of multi-car accidents.

• Intelligent Emergency Braking that activates the brakes to avoid collisions, thus reducing the stress of driving in traffic or on busy streets.

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New to the system is an off-road monitor, which checks surrounding obstacles at low speeds when in fourwheel-drive mode.

In addition, Nissan Intelligent Mobility safety features such as the Driver Attention Alert, Blind Spot Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Rear CrossTraffic Alert, and High Beam Assist enable drivers to do more and see more.

The new model features a strengthened rear axle, increased payload capacity, additional truck bed volume, and a new integrated step in the rear bumper for easier access to the truck bed. A new steering rack has been adopted to enhance maneuverability at low speeds and steering response across the speed range. New key features in the new Navara include a rear differential lock, quad projector LED headlamps, new 17” and 18” wheels, rain-sensing wipers, and auto-folding mirrors.

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It offers a quiet and comfortable ride thanks to a significant decrease in vibration and improved noise isolation.

The upgraded interior comes with a new steering wheel with audio, handsfree and multi-information display controls, dual-zone automatic airconditioning, a 7-inch high-resolution Nissan Advanced Display Audio unit, new fabric and leather seat design, and a redesigned rear bench for added comfort and style that is agile enough to suit every need.

These new features make the vehicle the ultimate travel and worksite partner, prepared to take on new challenges while still offering optimal room, comfort, safety, and ease of work. With an updated rear suspension with dualrate coil springs, the Navara can adjust to any situation on the road.

The new model features an “unbreakable” design language. It

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introduces a new ruggedly bold, stylish exterior made for extreme elements.

For the first time for the Navara, Nissan will offer the PRO-4X grade, a style package aimed at adventure lovers and travelers craving an escape from their daily routine. The PRO-4X grade comes with its own athletic look, with a black emblem, orange-accented front bumper, black grille, door handles, roof racks, and running boards accented by 17-inch black wheels and all-terrain tires.

Nissan is also offering a five-year vehicle warranty exclusive only for the new Nissan Navara. The five-year warranty applies to all new Navara variants, making it a unique offering for the pickup segment.

For more information, visit https:// www.nissan.ph/vehicles/new/np300navara.html

These new features make the vehicle the ultimate travel and worksite partner, prepared to take on new challenges while still offering optimal room, comfort, safety, and ease of work.

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ALL-NEW HONDA XRM 125 TOUGHER, MORE DURABLE, MORE VERSATILE THAN EVER! f you’re one of those who have been eagerly looking forward to the upgraded versions of Honda’s XRM125 lineup, the wait is finally over with the arrival of the All-New XRM 125, now tougher, more durable, and more versatile than ever before.

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The Honda XRM125 has been a trusty staple for both urban and off-road riding. Now, the All-New XRM125 comes equipped with a modern design, upgraded features, and improved performance.

At first glance, the most noticeable upgrade is its headlight’s modern April 2021

design, replicating its CRF150L stablemate’s head-turning aggressive winner design. Its digital speedometer also flaunts a futuristic design with higher quality display and easy-toread meter. For that added appeal, the All-New XRM125 has a tough modern image that is made even more remarkable with its masculine body shape and new stripes on its cover.

An added under-cowl provides better protection.

Power is produced by an air-cooled, 125cc four-stroke single overhead cam (SOHC) engine that delivers a maximum power output of 7.12kW @ 7,500rpm and a maximum torque

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of 9.55Nm @ 6,500rpm. The engine is paired with a four-speed, constant mesh gearbox. It also has disc brakes fitted on both wheels, except for the Dual Sport variant, which has a combination of front disc brake and rear drum brake.

Based on the World Motorcycle Test Cycle (WMTC) suited for longer rides, fuel efficiency is 64km/L from a fuel tank with 3.9L capacity.

“The All-New XRM125 unleashes the true potential of dual-sports motorcycle riding. Riders can only expect to experience versatility and toughness to help them face any riding environment.

With an all-new design and improved features reflecting its toughness and gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

durability, Filipino riders can experience the joy of mobility to the fullest,” said Honda Philippines Inc. president Susumu Mitsuishi.

The Honda XRM125 is a unique motorcycle model made exclusively in the Philippines.

Since its introduction in December 2001, the total production volume has reached over 1.83 million units.

New Modern Accent Decals

New CRF – Inspired Headlight and Winker

New Digital Meter Panel

Three Variants The All-New XRM125 Dual Sport (DS) is perfect for off- or unpaved roads. It comes in dark green and fighting red, plus new colors ceramic gray and aura blue. Suggested retail price is PHP 67,900.

The All-New XRM125 Dual Sport Extreme (DSX) is suited for both paved and unpaved roads. It comes in a black color variant and is priced at PHP 71,400.

The All-New XRM125 Motard is also a great ride on all types of road surfaces. It is offered in fighting red with a PHP 73,600 price tag.

The All-New XRM125 is available at all Honda dealerships nationwide, and as part of Honda’s One Dream campaign, this motorcycle aims to cater to everyone’s daily commuting and leisure needs and to fulfill their dreams through the joy of mobility.

Explore more from Honda and its wide array of motorcycles. For more details about Honda products and promos, visit www. hondaph.com. Their contact numbers are: Landline (02) 8581-6700 to 6799 | Mobile (917) 884-6632.

All-New Honda XRM125 DSX

All-New Honda XRM125 Motard

All-New Honda XRM125 DS

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HOW TO CHOOSE A MOTORCYCLE HELMET THAT'S SAFE AND COMFORTABLE? Words by David Martin | Photos courtesy of Motoworld Trading Inc. iding a motorcycle is one of the most freeing experiences.

However, it is not without its risks as accidents can always happen while on the road. One of the main things that can protect you when this takes place is wearing a good helmet. With modern designs, you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for safety, as there are options out there that provide you with both.

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TYPES OF MOTORCYCLE HELMETS

There are many different types of motorcycle helmets, from those that offer full head and face coverage to helmets that don’t cover your face at all.

If you are involved in an accident with another vehicle, a motorcycle accident attorney will be better able to protect your rights if you were wearing a helmet at the time. But which type of helmet is the one you prefer?

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MODULAR OR FLIP-UP HELMET The main characteristic of this type of helmet is that both the visor and chin bar can be lifted, making it a perfect mix of a full-face helmet and a ¾ helmet. If you are getting a more advanced design, you will have a double visor, which helps you with solar light coming into your eyes.

OFF-ROAD HELMET This type of helmet is designed to be as light yet as solid as possible as it is intended for those riding on dirt roads and irregular paths. They are more commonly used in races and riding sports and they are designed to allow for a wider visual range as well as better ventilation than other models.

HALF HELMET If you like to feel the air on your face then half helmets might be your best choice. They don’t have a visor at all, offering you full contact with the outside world. They cover the very top of your head and go right down to your eyebrows. You should consider getting safety glasses to avoid being harmed by any possible debris from the road.

DUAL-SPORT HELMET These helmets are another in-between, in this case between off-road helmets and full-face helmets. They offer fuller coverage while still prioritizing a wide visual range as these are also used in riding sports.

FULL FACE HELMET This is the best option when it comes to full protection. Thanks to their chin bar, you will be protected from this type of impact. In addition, full helmets provide partial coverage for the neck, which is a very vulnerable area when there is an accident. Among full helmets, you have options with higher or lower coverage, which adapt to the type of activity you will be performing.

Tech improvements have been added to some of the higher-end full helmets.

Now, you can have Bluetooth speakers, something that is possible thanks to the additional space in this model.

DETERMINE YOUR HEAD SIZE AND SHAPE

WHAT IS THE BEST MATERIAL FOR MOTORCYCLE HELMETS?

The shell of a motorcycle helmet is the one that gets the initial impact. The best helmets are made of fiberglass, which can be mixed with Kevlar for a truly durable and safe item. In addition, carbon and plastic can be used, but Kevlar is one of the best options out there.

Special thanks to Motoworld Trading Inc. for providing the images used. Visit their website at www.motoworld.com.ph David Martin is a marketing executive and paralegal assistant at motorcyclelawyerla.com

In the United States, the Department of Transportation (DOT) is the one that has established the safety standards applicable to motorcycle helmets.

Among the standards, it is required that all helmets have chin straps with solid rivets. In addition, helmets should have a thick liner made of polystyrene foam, which should be at least one inch thick.

While there isn’t an established minimum weight, compliant helmets tend to weigh around three pounds.

Lastly, any outer add ons to a helmet should have a height of less than twotenths of an inch according to these safety standards.

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BIKE SAFETY 101 Ride Safe with these bike safety tips from Allianz PNB Life ith the ongoing pandemic, transport options have narrowed down for many Filipino commuters. Due to limited transport options as well as strict health protocols that make public transit more difficult, a number of people in the metro have turned to biking as an alternative means to get around.

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Here are some things newbies should know before hitting the road so they can safely navigate the busy streets of Metro Manila:

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1. FIND THE RIGHT RIDE. The right bike ensures comfort and safety while cycling. A hybrid bike or road bike are usually an amateur’s best bet for navigating a mix of bumpy to paved roads and slow-moving traffic. Additionally, a bike with the correct size should correspond to a rider’s height.

2. GEAR UP. When it comes to cycling gear, the first and most important one to get is a safety helmet.

A properly fitting helmet should cover the forehead about an inch above the eyebrows and not tip forward or backward. Bright, reflective clothing is another must while riding. Neon or fluorescent-colored wear such as hivis (high visibility) jackets or stick-on reflectors is recommended, especially when biking during early morning, cloudy days, or evenings.

3. PRACTICE BIKING TECHNIQUES. Practice is key to building confidence on the road.

Ascending, descending, keeping balance when turning corners, and looking over one’s shoulder without swerving are basic skills to master. Even knowing how to change flat tires using a patch kit could come in handy.

In San Juan, riders can actually rest and repair their bikes through pit stops.

4. CHECK EQUIPMENT. Before setting off, it’s important to ensure all parts of a bicycle are secure and working. Tires should be properly inflated, and the seat should be adjusted to and locked at a proper height, ideally at the same level or just slightly lower than the handlebars.

5. FOLLOW TRAFFIC RULES. Bicycles are vehicles, and obeying traffic rules is a must, not just out of respect to drivers and pedestrians but also to avoid any accidents. Cyclists are more vulnerable than their driver counterparts and should be extra careful. Riding a bike does not mean one is exempt from following stoplights.

6. KNOW HAND SIGNALS. Signals are another key aspect of following traffic rules. When turning, cyclists are urged to signal left or right. The same is true for slowing down or stopping. Learn more basic hand signals here.

7. JOIN A CYCLING GROUP. There are many cycling communities in the Philippines where

new riders can learn valuable knowledge from their more experienced counterparts. Riding in a group is also a lot safer than riding solo. Plus, it’s just more fun to ride with buddies.

8. ENJOY THE RIDE! Last but not least, it’s important to enjoy the ride! Biking is a great way to get exercise, spend time with family and friends, and reduce carbon emissions. Much like insurance, biking is a long-term investment for your health, your loved ones, and the environment.

Since launching its Ride Safe campaign last year, Allianz PNB Life has been hard at work promoting bike safety and green mobility across the metro, partnering with the San Juan City government to make San Juan one of the most bike-friendly cities in Metro Manila. They collaborated on new bike lanes around the city and also set up the country’s first solar-powered pit stop for cyclists.

“At Allianz PNB Life, we want to encourage more Filipinos to think of cycling as an alternative and more sustainable means of transportation,” said Gino Riola, chief marketing officer for Allianz PNB Life and an avid cyclist himself. “A very big part of that is, of course safety, which is why we put a primer on promoting and spreading awareness on bike safety and education.”

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Cover Story

Words by Ren Alcantara

he pandemic continues, and we’re faced with the second year of being stuck in our homes. For better or worse, we’ve all gotten into some kind of routine — working, playing, and generally living at home — but as the summer months roll in, we’re once again reminded of summers spent outdoors.

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The way things are going, it’ll be a bit of time before we can get back to getting outside to enjoy the season, but not all is lost. With a little creativity, some effort, and a small change here and there, we can still enjoy the summer, even in our own homes.

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GO CAMPING Staying home doesn’t necessarily mean staying indoors. If you have a yard with some space, you can hang out there! If you have camping gear, it’s time to take it out of storage. Set up the tent, lay some sleeping bags in there, and enjoy an afternoon and evening out in the yard under the sky. You can even take the experience up a notch with a portable stove and do some cooking while you’re out there. It’s a well-known fact that food tastes better when it’s prepared outside, so go break out some of the camping staples like instant noodles with rice, sardines with garlic and onions, and luncheon meat. You can even have some easy desserts like s’mores over your camping stove or even a flower pot with some charcoal.

If you don’t have a tent, find an old sheet and some string, and make one, running a line across your space and draping the sheet over it, then weighing the sides down with rocks, water bottles, or whatever you can find. It doesn’t have to be typhoonproof; it just has to be fun!

Once you’re done eating and the evening settles, spread a mat out and stare at the stars for a bit. You’ll feel a lot better just being outside the walls that you usually face.

“What about those of us who don’t have a yard?” you may ask.

If you’re a condo-dweller, more some furniture around, and put the tent up anyway! Point the entrance towards the TV, switch off the lights, and head over to YouTube and take your pick of scenery to keep you company. My wife and I live in a condo and, so far, we’ve indoor-camped at a beach, in the mountains, and in front of a roaring bonfire. You may have to prepare the food in the kitchen as usual, but do as many of your activities in your “outdoor” space as you can, just to get the feeling going.

It’s a lot of fun, we swear!

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TRAVEL THE WORLD While there are more restrictions on travel than we care to think about at the moment, this doesn’t mean we need to be stuck. Relive your own travels! Open up Google Photos, and do a search for places you’ve visited, then cast the photos on your TV. There are probably a lot of nice memories you’d love to recount as you go through some of your own travel photos.

You can take it a step further. Quite a number of tourist places all over the world have opened virtual tours that you can take just with a screen and an internet connection. Most recently, the Louvre has opened its virtual doors for people from all over the world, so you can see some amazing works of art, without the hassle, crowds, or danger of actually having to go there.

If you run out of official virtual tours, scour YouTube for any number of travel videos for the full tourist experience.

EAT YOUR FEELINGS Travel isn’t ever complete without the eating. Take a world tour through global cuisine! Look through the Internet to find your favorite dishes from places you’ve been or places you want to go and make a list of ingredients you need. On your next grocery run, get everything you need, and have a culinary adventure. It doesn’t matter if you don’t think you’re good at cooking! There’s always a place to start! Once you’re done, take a few photos, maybe make a post about it, and, if you’re really feeling it, try something new the next time!

If you’re more of a visual learner, once again, YouTube offers great resources that you can cook along with across regions of the world.

If you’re feeling up to it, plan a dinner with your friends, and have everyone pick a dish from different parts of the world, so you can have a virtual potluck dinner with some nice company.

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EXERCISE! While the “summer bod” these days is something more closely related to having a built-in salbabida, there’s no reason to keep things this way. From online workouts to apps, and fitness trackers, having all this time at home means there’s no better time to work on your health. While going out for a jog or a bike ride might not be the best idea (even though it’s technically allowed), there are a lot of workouts you can do at home with little to no equipment necessary. Bodyweight exercises are a great way to stay fit, and something as simple as a large bottle of water can provide enough weight to keep you in shape. Stay motivated with some music or, better yet, a group video workout with friends so you have someone to be accountable to, and you can have a beach bod worthy of pre-pandemic times!

As we’ve shown, there are a lot of things you can do to keep cabin fever at bay. Summer indoors doesn’t have to drive you nuts. Do what you can to stay sane and occupied, and know that things will be better.

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Cover Story

Words by Gabriel Pe

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ummer’s usually the greatest time to be a kid — no school, no homework, games every day, and, of course, the usual summer getaway. But the recent spike in COVID-19 cases has once again postponed the once glorious summer days.

Still, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy your summer break in the safety of your home. Here some meaningful ways you can enjoy the summer holidays.

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GO ON A VIRTUAL ROAD TRIP Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated (or dreaded) events during summer vacation is the family road trip. Nothing beats driving down the expressway with your family, listening and singing along to the tunes from the radio, playing games in the car, or just enjoying the sights along the way.

The pandemic’s roadblock can’t hold back your family getaway if you do it virtually. Some tourist destinations, as well as museums, have started offering virtual tours so you can experience all the things they offer in your living/ bedrooms. Hey, you can even visit famous world landmarks at home minus the dreaded jet lag and airport rush. All you need is to hook up the computer to the TV and, viola, it’s almost as if you were there. If you’re a bit fancy and have a VR headset you can use those as well for a truly immersive feeling.

Miss the car tunes? You can always open the dusty old radio for that bit of nostalgia. If you don’t have one lying around at home, there are a few alternatives you can try. First, your smartphone, most of which have a radio app. If there’s none, you can always download an app from the app store.

There are also online radios that you can access on the family computer. A notable one is Radio Garden, which has an interactive globe where you can look around and listen to online (or on-air) radio stations from around the world.

HAVE AN ONLINE PARTY One of the biggest downsides of staying indoors is not seeing our friends.

Thanks to the powers of the internet, now we can meet up with our friends anytime. We can even have a party online with everyone eating the same food.

Having an online party is easy. You just need a computer or a smartphone with a camera, an internet connection or mobile data, and meeting apps like Zoom or Google Meet and you can have an online gathering with your friends.

For the food part, restaurants have started offering “online conference” meals, wherein they’ll deliver orders directly to participants wherever they may be.

These restaurants take note of the location of each participant and direct the orders to the nearest branches so all the party-goers receive their party meal freshly cooked and on time.

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TAKE ONLINE CLASSES/ WORKSHOPS A lot of parents use the summer break as a chance to “encourage” kids to learn something new whether by teaching them themselves or enrolling them in summer camps, workshops, or classes. With face-to-face learning suspended due to the pandemic, kids are missing out on their regular summer activities.

But since learning never stops, a lot of educational outfits have moved their traditional summer camps and workshops online, similar to online classes utilizing apps such as Zoom, Google Meet, and Google Classroom.

If you feel that your kid won’t absorb much attending online classes, you can always teach them yourselves. There are online resources available to parents on how to teach children new things such as coding, cooking, and many others.

TAKE UP A NEW HOBBY Of course, summertime is the perfect season to take up new hobbies. With the pandemic preventing us from going out, maybe it’s time for self-discovery, to find something you never knew you were good at.

As more and more resources are uploaded online you’ll realize that you can start doing something you have never done before like coding a game, cooking, and even simple content production.

For parents of younger children, you can start encouraging their creativity by downloading and printing simple arts and crafts activities you and your child can enjoy.

READ AN ENTIRE LIBRARY For the bookworms who spend their summers with a book near their nose, the pandemic has given them one of the greatest opportunities out there. Libraries, publishers, and even some authors have made their collections available online.

Children’s books, as well as young adult novels, are now offered as ebooks and are free to access from certain online libraries so you don’t have to go to the nearest bookstore to get your fix.

As for children who still want the feel of the hardbound book, certain libraries have allowed online borrowing of their collections, while collectors can shop for new series via the different online shops and various e-commerce platforms.

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ummer playbook collection highlights all things that make fun in the sun memorable — in an exciting new way.

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Kids, after all, are spending more time at home, but it doesn’t mean they can’t play it cool in the pool; get sporty in their own backyard, or simply have fun bonding with family at home.

Make a splash in your own backyard with cool inflatable pools, floaters, and bubble blasters. Create your own exciting water adventure with a

whimsical Unicorn Island or Mermaid Tail Ring.

Girls will love to play all day with playhouses and playsets. Meanwhile boys will enjoy some backyard sports activities with basketball sets, inflatable hoop sets, and Nerf Fortnite adventures.

Check out the Toy Kingdom’s Summer Playbook at www.toykingdom.com.ph and order now thru their Call to Deliver services at 0917.5578797 and have a personal shopper assist you. Follow ToyKingdomPH on Facebook and Instagram

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April 2021

Feature

Let Kids Play, Print, and Learn!

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ith quarantine restrictions still encouraging children to stay in the safety of their homes, parents continue to search for ways to keep them engaged. Most commonly, children would be playing and watching with their gadgets, leaving them with prolonged exposure to screen time.

But while there are plenty of things to learn online, parents still exert much effort to conduct a more active and holistic development for their kids.

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Indeed, one lesson everyone has realized from the pandemic is that school isn’t the only place to learn.

Parents can lead their kids on a creative learning session at home, with the free worksheets and lesson plans from HP Printables.

With the variety of free content found on the HP Printables website, kids can be enrolled in a School of Fun as they enjoy learning through coloring pages, answering math problems, playing educational games, and more! The free activity sheets can also be sorted by different categories — from art, sports, food, among others.

One of the best ways parents can teach their children is to do learning activities with them. This way, kids can be more inspired and confident as they have someone to guide them when their curiosity is brought into play.

Fortunately, HP Printables not only has activity sheets for kids but adults as

well. These can span from mandala templates, red-letter day cards, to productivity calendars, and so on. The worksheets can be sorted by age so both kids and adults can find something that best fits their potentials.

To make the selection of free activities extensive for all its audience, HP Printables has collaborated with various organizations to create diversified themes. Kids can learn about the basics of colors with content from Crayola or know more about different animal species with the worksheets from WWF (World Wide Fund). Younger children, ages 2 to 4, can also learn the alphabet creatively, with the fantastic printables from Homer Learning.

4175 All-in-One Printer. Its printpermanence and fade-resistance can surely make all images appear vivid and color-accurate, most especially when used with HP Original Inks.

With the introduction of these activities, HP aims to provide a free online learning resource to advocate for families who have transitioned to remote work and schooling. Keep the kids company in a creative learning experience! See art come to life through the HP Printables worksheets, printed on HP’s most reliable printers.

Parents can make the home learning of their children more fun with the highquality prints that can be produced by the HP Smart Tank All-in-One Printer series and HP DeskJet Ink Advantage

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April 2021

Gaming Words by Jose Alvarez

DEVELOPER

Toys for Bob

PUBLISHER

Activision

PLATFORM

PlayStation 4, Xbox O

or Christmas 1995, I was given a PlayStation along with the original Crash Bandicoot. PlayStation intended for Crash to be their mascot, just like Sega had Sonic and Nintendo had Mario. This was the first game I had ever played on the PlayStation and thoroughly enjoyed it. I had also bought its two sequels, as well as the racing game Crash Team Racing. In recent years, they remastered these games for various new platforms after a five-year hiatus for the franchise. They have also added a new game to the franchise called Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time.

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Crash is brought back for a new adventure alongside his sister Coco, his old girlfriend Tawna, and many returning characters as they encounter the Quantum Masks and must once again stop his old nemesis Dr. Neo Cortex as they travel through the multiverse. There are two play modes: Retro Mode, which uses limited lives much like in the classic games, and Modern Mode, which replaces lives with a death counter. Several levels also include two variations: the main story and the alternate timeline versions.

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One, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

You can play as Crash and Coco on the main storyline, or as Dr. Cortex, Dingodile, and Tawna on alternate timeline levels. Each character has their own strengths: Crash and Coco maintain spinning and sliding move sets, but now add wall running. Dr. Cortex uses a ray gun which attacks and can turn enemies into types of platforms and can forward dash, while Dingodile can vacuum up and fire enemies and objects. Tawna uses the same move set as Crash and Coco,

but can also use a grappling hook to hit things from long distances. In addition, special masks can help the characters traverse obstacles or even phase objects in and out of existence.

Gems can be collected in a number of ways—smashing all of the crates in a level, finding them hidden in the scenery, or collecting Wumpa fruit, and from not dying too much. Collecting all of the gems unlocks skins that Crash and Coco can use. There are

28 of them in the game.

Players can also unlock bonus flashback levels through VHS tapes—these are levels that take place before and after the events of the original Crash Bandicoot, giving fans nostalgic value. You can even play levels in N. Verted Mode, which has levels taking place underwater or other properties.

You can now play with your friends in cooperative and competitive modes in Bandicoot Battle, where you can compete for the best times in Checkpoint Race or Crate Combo where you break the most crates in a certain time period. For cooperative multiplayer, you can do Pass N. Play Mode, where four players can complete the story mode.

This is a beautiful addition to the Crash Bandicoot franchise and definitely one you should check out. It brings the classic Crash Bandicoot experience with the updates it sorely needed. Yes, it’s about time we had a great Crash Bandicoot game.

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April 2021

Gaming Words by Gabriel Pe

DEVELOPER

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Redbeet Interactive

PUBLISHER

Axolot Games

PLATFORM

PC

ummer is the perfect season to binge all the latest triple-A games you might have missed last year or even try out new launches. New games are great and all, especially the new action-packed ones, but if you like me who wants a chill game which you can turn and have a relaxing time, may I suggest picking up Raft.

Raft is a survival, adventure game, which just might be the Minecraft on water. You build and design your own raft (hence the title) and just enjoy the relaxing waves of the vast ocean.

Minecraft on water If you’re looking for a Minecraft-like game with a bit of twist and slightly easier, then you definitely like the journey of Raft.

The main goal of the game is to expand your raft and try to find other human beings in the world.

You can expand your raft by gathering the floating materials on the water. There are wood, plastic, leaves, and scrap metals which you can use to initially expand the ship, one square at a time.

There’s also a crafting aspect as you progress. You can craft weapons to protect yourself against the pesky shark chasing after you. You can craft larger stoves to make more food or even a better water distillery.

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Surviving on the ocean waves Like Minecraft, Raft does also have a survival aspect to it. The player is given three bars to watch out: water, food, and of course your HP. You can only drink water once it is distilled so you first need the materials to make a water purifierbecause drinking salt water is bad. As you progress you can create big purifiers so you can have more water supplies.

Foodwise, the game does occasionally provide barrels on the ocean that contains potatoes or beets that you can eat. But the three main sources of food in the game is fish (by fishing or killing the shark), and fruits and animals on the scattered island.

There are hostile units in the different islands, so you need to keep a close eye on your health bar when facing them. You can gain health by eating food so always keep a bunch in your inventory.

Solving the mystery of the islands and the ocean

Underneath the scenic game is the main story which will take you about 10-15 hours depending on how fast you want to do it. The story follows the player’s quest to learn more about the world and find other people.

The story is sort of optional, with players not being forced to complete it once.

However, completing parts of the story will give the players blueprints that they can use to craft new useful items for their raft, like a stirring wheel, an engine, and even generators to power various types of machinery.

Feel the vibes of the waves If there’s one thing that Raft does well, it’s the music.

Listening to the music of Raft, you’ll feel like you’re exploring the unknown in a chill environment.

The melody gives it’s a sort of mysterious feeling yet when the music slowly shifts tones it turns into something you’ll hear at the start of an adventure game or movie.

There is a downside to the game, vertigo, and nausea. Playing the game for a long time will literally give you a sense of the up and down of the waves.

Add to that the weird panning when you turn the steering wheel, and you have a serious case of seasickness even without going to the beach.

Still, Raft will be an enjoyable experience for many, especially if you play it with your friends or family.

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April 2021

Green

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n Saturday, 27 March at 8:30 p.m., Earth Hour united individuals, businesses, and leaders from all over the world to shine a spotlight on the health of the planet, raising awareness on the importance of nature and inspiring action for a brighter future for nature and people. With COVID-19 safety regulations continuing in several parts of the world, many countries celebrated Earth Hour online, mobilizing millions of people from across the globe to speak up for nature.

As lights dimmed in homes and cities, Earth Hour brought people together to put a virtual spotlight on our planet and the role people can play in global efforts for nature.

With mounting evidence establishing a close link between nature’s destruction and rising incidences of infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19, Earth Hour served as an unmissable opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of nature, in a year when leaders will take key decisions on nature, climate change and sustainable development. ‘’Whether it is a decline in pollinators, fewer fish in the ocean and rivers, disappearing forests, or the wider loss of biodiversity, the evidence is mounting that nature is in free fall. And this is because of the way we live our lives and run our economies. Protecting nature is our moral responsibility but losing it also increases our vulnerability to pandemics, accelerates climate change, and threatens our food security,” said Marco Lambertini, WWF International director-general.

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“We must stop taking nature for granted, respect its intrinsic value, and - importantly - value the crucial services it provides to our health, wellbeing, and economy. We need to unite and take urgent action now to set nature on the path to recovery and secure a nature-positive world while supporting climate action.

By acting for nature, we can all create a healthier, fairer, and more sustainable world.”

Renowned public figures, celebrities, youth organizations, and businesses from across the globe supported Earth Hour to draw attention to the nature and climate crises. In recognition of the critical role young people will play in creating a more sustainable world, many global youth groups including Fridays For Future, AIESEC, United Nations Global Youth Biodiversity Network, Global Scouts, YMCA, and Global Youth Action Team participated in Earth Hour calling for a safer, healthier future for all.

PHILIPPINE HIGHLIGHTS Earth Hour Philippines generated a total of 3,917,073 social media impressions locally prior to March 27, with Facebook alone reaching 3,472,323 individuals. A further 97,177 individuals were reached on the night itself during the screening of WWF-Philippines’ Earth Hour celebrations.

A number of establishments across the country also participated in this years’ Earth Hour with their own lights-off events. The lights of the Rizal Monument at Luneta Park were switched off, as well as those of Araneta Coliseum, the headquarters of GMA, Ayala Malls, Filinvest, and CityMall properties, and other locations across the country. Multiple cities and LGUs across the Philippines also participated in the iconic switch-off event.

Various businesses and government agencies offered pledges of support to the movement, including a message from the Republic of the Philippines President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.

“I join everyone in the annual observance of this symbolic switching-off of non-essential lights for an hour, which is an important call for climate action in this crucial time of history.

The previous year has truly been a challenging period for us all, and the environmental adversities we faced have shown us the urgency to unite in addressing pressing issues that directly affect our planet,” said President Duterte.

“It is clear that we are active agents that can change the fate of all living things, even those that come into being beyond our lifetimes. Our responsibility, then, becomes clear - because our actions as human beings have grown in scale, power, and scope, it is incumbent upon us to fashion systems, policies, and practices that are sustainable. This is why movements like Earth Hour and the greater environmental cause will always be relevant. The protection of our environment is not just an advocacy — it carries the foundation of our way of life and the world,” said Vice-President Leni Robredo.

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April 2021

Green EH PHLIX, A WEB SERIES FOR A SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW In celebration of Earth Hour Philippines 2021, WWFPhilippines held EH PHlix, a web series put together with the help of the organizations’ many ambassadors and official partners. PHlix gathered experts in environmental education, sustainable dining, and plastic waste management, to discuss measures that ordinary Filipinos could take to lead more sustainable lifestyles.

EH PHlix opened with Wildlife Conservation for Kids, hosted

by WWF-Philippines ambassadors Mikee Cojuangco-Jowarski and Xia Vigor, together with the WWF-Philippines Education for Sustainable Development team. Afterward was Feed the Future: Sustainable Dining 101 with WWF-Philippines Ambassadors Pia Wurtzbach and KC Concepcion as well as Chef Robby Goco of Cyma, Souv! and Green Pastures, Rina Papio of SoilMate and Green Space, and the WWF-Philippines Sustainable Diner team. This was followed by Tackling the Plastic Problem, hosted by WWF-Philippines national ambassador Iza Calzado and KALIPI president Wilma Arevalo alongside the WWF-Philippines Plastic Program.

EH PHlix concluded with the Countdown to Earth Hour, hosted by WWF-Philippines national ambassadors Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez. Messages on the significance of climate change and appeals for climate action and conservation were delivered by Secretary Emmanuel M. de Guzman of the Climate Change Commission, WWFPhilippines Earth Hour Pilipinas national director Atty.

Angela Ibay and WWF-Philippines executive director Katherine Custodio. A message to the youth of today from the members of the WWF-Philippines National Youth Council was also delivered. This was followed by a short panel discussion where Climate Change Commissioner Atty.

Rachel Anne Herrera joined Atty. Ibay, Ms. Custodio, and WWF-Philippines ambassador Karen Ibasco in discussing the need for a green recovery post-pandemic. This, in turn, was followed by the final countdown to Earth Hour. Videos from WWF International, as well as from partners and ambassadors of WWF-Philippines, were played throughout the hour.

“Earth Hour, for one, is a thank you to everyone who has been joining us over the years and for joining us again this year.

It is also a call to action - even as we celebrate Earth Hour, we know that there are a lot of things we still need to do. We still need to push our government to submit the country’s NDC, we still need to be able to do a lot of things for the environment not just in the Philippines but all over the world, but I know that with everyone’s help and with this movement of Earth Hour, we’ll be able to get to a sustainable future,” said Atty. Angela Ibay, Earth Hour Pilipinas national director and head of the Climate Change and Energy Programme of WWFPhilippines.

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Earth Hour Philippines 2021 also encouraged Filipinos from all across the country to push for stronger climate action and to protect and speak out for the environment in their individual lives. Filipinos were invited to share their hopes and dreams for a sustainable future through the hashtag #SpeakUpForNature and to stand in solidarity with individuals from across the globe.

“While we exercise safety and stem the effects of the pandemic, we must also address the root causes, which is the degradation of nature compounded by climate change. Meanwhile, millions of low-income Filipinos suffer disproportionately from the impacts of climate change and loss of nature. In the midst of this dire situation, we do need to stay focused and solutions-oriented, and say that we can work with nature and not against it, and that nature should benefit all… How can we speak up for nature? The best way, really, is to let our actions do the talking,” said WWF-Philippines executive director Katherine Custodio.

Earth Hour Philippines 2021 is co-presented by CityMall. Major sponsors include Globe Telecom Inc., foodpanda, GCash, Araneta City, and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang Professional League (MPL) Philippines. Official media partners are GADGETS Magazine, ABSCBN News, ANC, CNN Philippines, GMA, Net 25, GTV, Teleradyo, CLTV36, DZBB, DWLS, Radyo Veritas, Radyo Agila, Philippine Star, The Daily Tribune, Esquire, Adobo Magazine, WhenInManila.

Com, Our Awesome Planet, GRID Magazine, Commoner PH, and Globaltronics.

The following national government agencies extended support: The Office of the President of the Philippines, The Office of the Vice President of the Philippines, The Presidential Communications Operations Office, The Climate Change Commission, The Department of the Interior and Local Government, The Department of Energy, The Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, The Department of Education, The Department of Trade and Industry, The League of Cities of the Philippines, The League of Municipalities of the Philippines, The National Parks Development Committee, and the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.

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April 2021

Green

HELP SNEKI SNEK SAVE 1M TREES azer™, the leading global lifestyle brand for gamers, announced a new goal of protecting 1-million trees with the hugely successful Sneki Snek campaign, ten times the original target. In partnership with Conservation International, the initial target of 100,000 trees was achieved in less than 2 months, thanks to the popularity of the Razer Sneki Snek mascot and the overwhelming support from the Razer fanbase. The campaign has been so successful, it is fast approaching saving 150,000 trees, equal to almost 600 acres of forest.

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To celebrate this success, Razer is stretching the goal, aiming to protect a total of 1-million trees, with milestones along the way that will see new Sneki April 2021

Snek merchandise released as each new target is achieved.

Since escaping from Razer’s Labs last year, thanks to tremendous demand from the community, Sneki Snek has proved to be a massive fan favorite, inspiring Snek lovers to even tattoo their favorite serpentine on themselves. This level of fan passion and, of course, a hit YouTube video, made Sneki the ideal mascot to lead Razer’s global conservation and sustainability campaign #GoGreenWithRazer.

“The support for our #GoGreenWithRazer campaign, led

by Sneki Snek, has been truly insane.

We thought it would take some time to save 100,000 trees, but we have

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smashed that target in less than 2 months and are well on the way to the next target of 250,000 trees,” says Razer co-founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan. “So we decided to be more ambitious in protecting nature together with our community and Sneki Snek by extending the target to 1-million trees. The more trees we save, the more we protect the nature and wildlife that depends on it for survival.” gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

The new milestones to reach will be 250,000, 500,000, 750,000, and finally 1,000,000 trees. As the community rallies to hit these milestones, Razer will continue to launch new Sneki Snek merchandise at each milestone, rewarding the community for their efforts and encouraging them to reach the final goal of 1-million trees. Every piece of Sneki Snek merchandise sold will protect 10 trees and contribute to the enormous new goal of 1 million trees saved.

Aided by Razer’s support, Conservation International is securing the protection of trees in dozens of forests around the world, such as Costa Rica, Ecuador, Suriname, Brazil, Madagascar, and Indonesia, among many others.

Conservation International works

directly with the communities who live in, and depend on, these forests, using innovative tools, technologies, and approaches to prioritize the most important forests and the benefits they provide to people and wildlife, to protect them sustainably for the long term; and to monitor their ongoing protection and health.

For more information, please visit https://www.razer.com/campaigns/ sneki-snek

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April 2021

Green

WHAT IS FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY?

n a fuel cell, hydrogen and oxygen are combined to generate electricity, heat, and water to produce electricity through an electrochemical reaction instead of combustion. The system is based on methanol-powered fuel, which can be combined with solar, wind, and other renewable resources to present a sustainable, cost-effective ecosystem. Stationary fuel cells provide

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virtually emission-free power and do not produce particulate pollutants or unburned hydrocarbons. They emit less carbon dioxide than other technologies, and when using fuel generated from renewable sources such as biomass, fuel cells are completely carbon neutral.

Aside from the environmental benefits of fuel cell-powered sites, the technology is said to be more cost-effective over the lifetime of the unit compared to existing

technologies. In cost-per-unit-of-energy terms, methanol compares favorably with both gasoline and diesel.

In many cases, fuel cells are also able to offer higher reliability, with no degradation of capacity over time and limited maintenance needed. These solutions also operate with low noise and vibration, meeting regulations for low environmental impact. In terms of safety, methanol is less prone to ignite than gasoline.

SMART SHIFTS TO GREEN ENERGY In an effort to transition to more sustainable and environment-friendly solutions while providing connectivity to more communities, Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) will roll out fuel cell sites in challenged-grid areas nationwide starting Q2 2021 until the end of the year.

As the wireless arm of the Philippines’ largest integrated telecommunications company PLDT Inc., Smart’s shift to green energy follows the announcement of the Department of Energy in Q4 2020 that the Filipino government will no longer accept proposals to build new coal power plants from the new Energy Conservation and Efficiency Act signed into law in 2019. These significant policy shifts help boost the deployment of cleaner energy sources to help ensure more sustainable growth for the country.

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“PLDT and Smart are active advocates of sustainable development. As we face daunting challenges on how to protect our environment and promote more equitable social development, Smart’s cutting-edge technologies can play a significant role in rallying the right socio-environmental mindset and driving a greater sense of responsibility to the planet,” said Smart Communications president and CEO and PLDT chief revenue officer Alfredo S. Panlilio.

Smart’s 2021 foray into green technology will be made possible through a partnership with Denmark-based renewable energy company SerEnergy. A world-leading developer and supplier of methanol-based fuel cell solutions, the company will install over 90 green cell sites for Smart in off- and bad-/challenged grid urban and rural locations.

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“Smart’s transition to green energy places the company upfront as one of the pioneers in its industry, setting an important agenda in securing the environment through sustainable solutions,” said PLDT and Smart SVP for network planning and engineering Mario G. Tamayo.

With over 15 years of experience with cutting-edge fuel cell technology, with power and backup solutions for telecom as a prime segment, SerEnergy also provides utility and industrial sectors with methanol-based fuel cell systems. “We are excited that Smart has chosen our clean power technology that, besides from delivering people-, nature- and environmentally friendly energy, makes no compromise on quality,” said SerEnergy commercial manager Morten Thomsen.

GSMA’S RACE TO ZERO GLOBAL MOVEMENT Smart’s partnership with SerEnergy follows its commitment to the Race to Zero campaign of the United Nations and GSM Association (GSMA) as a member of the trade alliance’s Climate Action Task Force.

The movement of the global industry organization of mobile network operators highlights broad-based commitment to zero emissions from all stakeholders, building back better from the COVID-19 context. Race to Zero is a global campaign that aims to mobilize leadership and support from business cities, regions, and investors for a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy by 2050, preferably earlier.

“PLDT and Smart have been incorporating sustainable development into our strategies and have adopted relevant practices such as shifting to green technologies, progressively improving operational efficiencies, and pursuing the use of renewable energy in our facilities,” Panlilio said.

LIVE SMARTER FOR A BETTER WORLD Smart’s venture into fuel cell technology for more environment-friendly cell sites is a key pillar of its Live Smarter for a Better World campaign. Under the movement, Smart intends to inspire people to commit to sustainable actions with a lasting, positive impact on society.

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April 2021

Travel Words by Amanpreet Bajaj, Airbnb General Manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan

BIYAHENG PINOY 2021 IS ALL ABOUT MEANINGFUL TRAVEL his pandemic has been a global, fork-in-theroad moment for all of us. COVID-19 has impacted communities, governments, industries, and businesses of all sizes, not just within the Philippines, but across the world as well.

It continues to be a challenging time for the tourism and hospitality sector as we learn to adapt nimbly and innovatively to the evolving circumstances.

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As our co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky recently wrote in our global From Isolation To Connection—Travel in 2021 report, “Once people feel safe to

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travel, they will. But it will look different than before the pandemic. Travel will be viewed as an antidote to isolation and disconnection. People don’t generally miss landmarks, crowded shuttles, and lines and lobbies packed with tourists.

Mass travel is really just a different form of isolation—you are anonymous, herded around with other travelers, never really experiencing the people and culture of a community. What people want from travel now is what they’ve been deprived of—spending meaningful time with their family and friends.”

We know that travel has fundamentally changed in this current state of global

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uncertainty, and to better understand the changing realities in domestic travel, we sought to find out how and why Filipinos intend to travel this year through a survey with the data analytics firm YouGov. The results were clear: Filipinos want meaningful travel this year with the people that matter most to them—their family. This 2021, Filipinos are seeking a new form of leisure travel in less crowded, off-thebeaten-path destinations, far from mass tourist hotspots. They are determined to deepen their connection with their loved ones through affordable and nearby getaways that adhere to health and safety standards.

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Enjoy a Sulu Sea honeymoon suite with an epic ocean view.

Click HERE to book a stay with this host

Prior to the pandemic, the Philippines enjoyed a strong and vibrant tourism economy that attracted millions of global tourists to its stunning nature and cultural attractions. As international travel remains at a standstill, this presents the opportunity for Filipinos to explore their backyard and discover new domestic destinations, subject to local restrictions on travel and gatherings.

Around the world, Airbnb Hosts have long enabled their local communities to share in the benefits of tourism brought about by opening their homes to guests.

In the Philippines, we believe that this bayanihan culture—of Filipino Hosts encouraging guests to explore their surrounding neighborhoods and Filipino guests supporting local businesses in the area—will help contribute to domestic tourism and economic recovery.

Book an entire 2-bedroom villa for memorable family bonding. Click HERE to book a stay with this host.

As we look ahead, it is clear that Biyaheng Pinoy will be less about where Filipinos go, but more about who they travel with and how they travel. Airbnb is committed to continue finding new ways to bring meaningful travel closer to Filipinos amidst this new normal while working with local industry stakeholders and government to support the gradual recovery of tourism in the Philippines.

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Travel

omen are changing the landscape.

Some, more literal than others.

Meet Billie & Ann Dumaliang, the two sisters behind the massively successful initiative to preserve and promote the Masungi Georeserve in Rizal Province.

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Known to many as an ecotourism site, the real journey of the acclaimed Masungi Georeserve is a story to behold. Billie & Ann grew up loving and enjoying the scenery of their area since they were kids. Before it became a sanctuary, the assault of poachers and land grabbers caused severe damage to its flora and fauna.

Inspired by their mutual love for the land, and by the example of their father, the sisters took up the call to action. Billie left a profitable brand manager position and locked arms with her sister Ann and expanded their family’s efforts to fight for the land they love. The two sisters then launched an expedition to reclaim and restore the forest and protect it, at all costs.

According to their website https://www.masungigeoreserve.com, this geotourism destination is now a conservation area and a rustic rock garden tucked in the rainforests of Rizal. In this sanctuary, guests can commune with nature and reenergize themselves as they wander

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through the pathways for an encounter with wildlife and plant species, enjoy light snacks before exiting the trail, and learn more about the history of the place and a community rich with heritage and life.

work. We manage these risks through learning best practices from the experts and our mentors, and also by forming alliances. It is important to assess each situation differently and react appropriately when the need arises.”

“There is a lot of opportunities to make a difference in the environment field.

There is momentum, and while it is very difficult, it is also very rewarding and fulfilling,” Said the sisters in a recent interview. When asked about the dangers in the field that they operate in, they said, “Yes, there are indeed inherent risks to conservation

Asked about the importance of having connections and influencing one another, the sisters added, “We recognize that we cannot win these fights alone. We need the help of all sectors to be able to create long-lasting change for the landscape we are trying to conserve. It is important to come together with different people like

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women and mothers to be able to change mindsets and cultivate new behaviors.”

Billie shares, “I am proud that even despite our physical limitations, we can do as much as men can.

We are honored to be recognized as champions and to be with other amazing women who, like us, are very passionate in empowering our generation through our collective advocacies.”

Watch their masterclass video on PLDT Home’s YouTube page here.

April 2021

Visual Space Words by Jewel Sta. Ana

New Flicks to Watch Out for on

Flipped

unny days are upon us. As the temperature continues to go up in the country, Netflix is also increasing its catalog of films to binge-watch this summer. And since it’s still not safe to go outdoors, it is still ideal to coop up on your sofa and stream new movies within the comfort of your own home. Check out these muchawaited films that you may also sync and watch with your friends online!

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Based on Wendelin Van Draanen’s young adult novel, the 2010 coming-of-age film follows two eighth-graders, Bryce Loski and Juli Baker, who were childhood friends and developed feelings for each other despite being each other’s opposites.

Directed by Rob Reiner, it stars Callan McAullife as Bryce and Madeline Caroll as Juli.

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Coded Bias

Gifted

A Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize nominee for 2020, this tech documentary film by Shalini Kantayya delves deeper into encoded bias on algorithms found on facial recognition. It features Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher Joy Buolamwini and follows her journey in promoting the firstever U.S. legislation governing tech algorithms.

Directed by Marc Webb, the 2017 comedy-drama movie revolves around seven-year-old child prodigy Mary Adler, who is caught in a middle of a custody battle between her maternal uncle and maternal grandmother.

Played by Chris Evans, Mckenna Grace, and Lindsay Duncan, the blockbuster hit has earned over USD 43-million worldwide.

Destination Wedding

The Interview

Featuring two of the most soughtafter actors in Hollywood, this romantic-comedy film shows two strangers named Frank and Lindsay who turn out to be attending the same wedding in Paso Robles, California. Directed

by Victor Levin, the 2017 movie features Golden Globe winner Winona Ryder and veteran Canadian actor Keanu Reeves.

Child’s Play 2

Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg partner once again to co-produce and direct a political comedy film. This time, it’s about two journalists recruited by the CIA to assassinate North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-Un who is played by Randall Park. Heavily inspired by a 2012 documentary of Vice, the controversial film was released online and in a limited number of theaters due to threats.

The Cable Guy

The second installment of the iconic horror movie in the 90s is about the continuous pursuit of Chucky for the eight-year-old Andy Barclay. This time, the possessed doll aims to claim Andy’s soul no matter what.

Distributed by Universal Pictures, the slasher film is directed by John Lafia and written by Don Mancini. Alex Vincent and BAFTA awardee Brad Dourif reprise their roles as Andy and the voice of Chucky, respectively.

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Probably one of the darkest Jim Carrey movies of all time, this 1996 film directed by Ben Stiller talks about the eccentric Chip Douglas. Working at a cable company, Chip meets Steven Kovacs, who is currently recovering from a failed marriage proposal. However, Chip begins to show stalkerish behavior toward his new-found friend.

Produced by Columbia Pictures, it earned a total of USD 102.8 million.

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Visual Space

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Kababae Mong Tao A film by Coca-Cola challenges unconscious biases against women

or most Filipinas, the phrase ‘Kababae mong tao…’ is a statement that they have probably heard at least once in their lives. It’s a seemingly harmless remark that aims to put them in their place, a reprimand that tells them what they should and should not do.

And while society has over time become more progressive, we still have a long way to go in addressing this deeply ingrained and unconscious discrimination — one that inhibits women from realizing their full potential.

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Coca-Cola Philippines believes that the place of a woman is anywhere and anything she wants to be. And this Women’s Month in the Philippines, CocaCola is reappropriating ‘Kababae mong tao…’ by re-telling and re-casting the narrative in an inspiring way. Coca-Cola’s simple yet powerful online film advocates for uplifting women and fighting against gender biases. The film features women from different walks of life who choose to challenge societal norms by showing how their perceived ‘faults’ are actually their strengths. As such, the film celebrates the very traits that make them who they are whether it is a ‘brusko’ drummer, a ‘palaban’ photojournalist, and more.

One of the women in the story is the ‘loud’ carinderia cook, a woman who tirelessly calls to passersby as she sells her dishes to provide for her family. The carinderia owner represents many other women with untapped entrepreneurial potential whose ventures are sometimes seen as small and insignificant. Within their homes, they are also oftentimes relegated to the role of housekeeper and caretaker because of the outdated belief that it’s their duty as women.

Contrary to common assumptions, businesses like sari-sari stores and carinderias actually make up a whopping 88% of the total MSMEs in the country, with women contributing 35%-40% to the Philippine economy.

See how empowered women choose to challenge the #KababaeMongTao statements in society. Watch the film here and share your own story of how you broke away from unconscious gender bias.

To learn more about the women economic empowerment vision of Coca-Cola, visit https://www.coca-colacompany.com/shared-future/women-empowerment.

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April 2021

Employment

WHAT TO DO IF YOU LOST YOUR JOB DURING COVID-19 Words by Artur Meyster

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osing your job during the pandemic may lead you to a stressful situation.

As paying the bills and dealing with all the expenses can be a struggle, you can get frustrated.

You should remember that every problem has a solution and if you want to get a new job, you must take action.

CHANGE YOUR MINDSET The first step before looking for a new job is to change your mindset.

Most of the time, when people are in stressful situations, they feel everything is falling apart. If you have a negative mindset, everything will go wrong. You’ll feel depressed, and even getting up in the morning will be a challenge.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, most organizations are leaning on tech talent to move forward and survive.

As they can work from home, the coronavirus lockdown isn’t a barrier.

For that reason, the demand for skilled candidates has increased, and the competition has become more fierce.

However, if you keep a positive mindset, you’ll find the motivation and inspiration to move forward. No matter how hard challenges are, they can be overcome. When people have a positive mindset, they can focus on analyzing their job alternatives. This way, finding a job that can fill their needs becomes much easier.

If you’re willing to land a new job these days, you should open your mind and plan new strategies.

Today’s employers are more likely to be convinced by facts rather than impressive resumes. If you’re looking to get a new job, but don’t know where to start, here’s a guide that will help you get back on track.

RESEARCH During the coronavirus outbreak, many organizations have had to stop their operations because of the lockdown. To find a job these days, you need to research. Look for vacancies in sectors like healthcare or online retail. As they are currently active, employers are looking for new hirings.

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Research also allows you to know what the new demands of employers are. As remote work has become the new standard, you probably need to learn new skills. Sometimes, updating your skills is enough to secure a new position.

For example, today’s consumers are using even more digital channels to shop. So, learning digital marketing skills or enrolling in a coding school can be a good option.

MAKE A LIST OF YOUR ALTERNATIVES To analyze your job alternatives, you can make a list. It’ll help you to set a priority level for each option.

Remember that time is valuable, and you should start by applying to those that best fit your needs.

Also, by making a list, you’ll be able to set new goals. As you’ll know what each alternative requires, you can identify similarities. It’ll help you to stay motivated and move in the right direction. As you’ll focus on achieving your new goals, you won’t give up in the middle of the process.

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Employment

START A COURSE TO LEARN NEW SKILLS After analyzing what you need to get hired, you can start a course to learn new skills. If what you seek to improve are your painting skills, there are plenty of platforms out there that can help you. Art-Res, for example, boasts a large collection of useful resources for artists. Here you will find excellent tutorials, reblogs, and quick tips, among others.

Most companies are looking for candidates with exceptional tech skills. As tech talent is helping companies to reshape the market, it can be key to get a new position.

An excellent skill to learn nowadays is coding. There are dozens of different career paths a student equipped with coding skills can take.

A tech career is also an avenue for students to gain experience in an industry that piques their interest.

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Hollywood is a great example.

The final versions of films require hundreds of different artists and tech workers to deliver a cinematic experience like Avengers or Star Wars.

You can learn in-demand programming languages like Python, JavaScript, or SQL. They can help you to attract employers’ attention and increase your chances of getting hired. Python has been used by data scientists and other tech professionals to create insights and help organizations remain competitive.

SQL has become popular as it helps organizations and tech professionals to enhance data management. As SQL allows developers to merge data from different sources, it’s the perfect skill to deal with IoT devices.

Most companies gather data from

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different devices and platforms to improve their products and services.

On the other hand, if you are more creative and prefer to create visually appealing designs, you can learn web design skills. Web designers are responsible not only for creating visually appealing interfaces but also mind-blowing experiences. As customers are more concerned about the user experience (UX), it can help you to get back on track.

At Thinkful, you can enroll in courses on UI/UX design and data science.

The company offers several courses in software engineering, data science, and digital marketing, so you have a wide variety of classes to choose from.

Thinkful is a company dedicated to the success of its students. As their students learn from the best, gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

after graduation, they have the right skills to land a job in companies like Amazon and Google. During Covid-19, money can be a barrier to start a course. But, you can take advantage of Thinkful’s financial options to deal with the expenses.

actually do can get the job done.

The third and last step is to write a summary. For this step, you should make a list of your most relevant skills, including soft and hard skills.

It’ll let employers know if you’re prepared for the job.

BUILD AN IMPRESSIVE LINKEDIN PROFILE Many hiring managers and employers use LinkedIn to find new candidates. So, if you’re looking to increase your chances of getting a new job, you should build an impressive profile. The first step is to select a profile photo that looks professional. It will help you gain employers’ trust.

BUILD A PORTFOLIO YOU CAN USE DURING INTERVIEWS To get back on track and overcome unemployment, you’ll need to show your actual abilities. Creating a portfolio is the best option to show employers how capable you are.

Nowadays, employers prefer a good portfolio rather than a world-class resume.

The second step is to write an eye-catching headline that makes employers feel engaged. Most people use the headline field to write their job title. However, you can use it to say a bit more. Writing about what you

You can add personal projects or team projects. As long as you can show your abilities, it’ll be quite useful. For tech professionals like web developers, having a portfolio is essential. It not only helps them

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to show their skills but also to have better job opportunities.

CONCLUSION Generally speaking, this guide will help you to face unemployment during the pandemic. If you lost your job and you are stressed, take a breath and start over. You’ll probably need to get out of your comfort zone.

But, I can assure you that, in the end, you’ll have no regrets. Learning tech skills will help you not only to get a new position but also to be ready for the future.

Artur Meyster is the CTO of Career Karma (YC W19), an online marketplace that matches career switchers with coding bootcamps. He is also the host of the Breaking Into Startups podcast, which features people with non-traditional backgrounds who broke into tech.

April 2021

Cyber Security

COVID. CODES. CASH. What do they have in common?

Cybercriminals.

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n a virtual media conference, global cybersecurity company Kaspersky unmasked the latest cyberthreats the banking and financial services industry should be on guard against, as the pandemic continues in Southeast Asia (SEA).

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Kaspersky’s cybersecurity expert noted the main trends witnessed in cyberspace last year and will continue in 2021. These include the abuse of the COVID-19 theme, the exploitation of researches related to the pandemic, and the scams and misinformation about the virus and the vaccines.

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“It is becoming clear that these threat actors will keep on using topics related to the pandemic to trick the human mind. While vaccines are here, the situation continues to be uncertain. Countries are still implementing lockdowns, virtual learning and working are both here to stay, and digital payments are on the rise. This means IT infrastructure remains outstretched, further opening loopholes for threats targeting beyond Windows and internet-facing network devices as well as multi-platform and supply chain attacks,” reveals Park, senior security researcher, Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) at Kaspersky.

As of last year, more than 80,000 COVID-related domain connections and malicious websites were detected by Kaspersky in SEA alone. Malaysia registered the highest number followed by Vietnam, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

This trend is expected to continue until 2021 as the region continues its battle against the pandemic and rolls out vaccines in different phases.

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Cybercrime groups are targeting banks, cryptocurrency exchanges in Southeast Asia

Banks remain charming targets for cyber adversaries. In fact, data from Kaspersky’s GReAT revealed that banks and financial institutions were the second and third most targeted sectors last year, globally.

One of the campaigns singling out banks in SEA is JsOutProx malware. Even though this malware is currently not a highly sophisticated strain, Kaspersky experts noted its continued attempts to infiltrate banks in the region.

The cybercriminals behind this module malware exploit file names associated with bank-related businesses and use heavily obfuscated script files, an anti-evasion tactic. This social engineering technique particularly preys on bank employees to get inside the institution’s network. Once in, Park shares that “JSOutProx can load more plugins to perform malicious acts against its victims including remote access, data exfiltration, command and control (C2) server takeover, and more.”

The other lucrative target for cybercriminals is the emerging cryptocurrency business in SEA. As the worth of cryptocurrency surges, many cyber threat groups are now waging online attacks against this sector.

A Kaspersky researcher recently identified that one of the cryptocurrency exchanges in the region was compromised. The result of a thorough forensic investigation confirmed that the Lazarus group was behind this attack detected in Singapore.

Another cryptocurrency-related threat is the SnatchCrypto campaign, which was conducted by the BlueNoroff APT. This gang is a subgroup of Lazarus which particularly attacks banks. It was also allegedly associated with the USD 81M Bangladesh Bank Heist. Kaspersky has been tracking this SnatchCrypto since the end of 2019 and discovered that the actor behind this campaign has resumed its operations with a similar strategy.

In terms of the factors behind the increased threats against the sector, Yeo Siang Tiong, general manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky comments, “Cryptocurrency is steadily being embraced in SEA, hence it is a natural progression for cybercriminals to set their eyes here. Its growth is part and parcel of the region’s digital transformation, and is parallel to the increased adoption of e-commerce and digital payments.”

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“As we continue to move our money to the online world, we have also witnessed massive data breaches and ransomware attacks last year which should serve as a warning for financial institutions and payment service providers. It is crucial for banking and financial services providers to realize, as early as now, the value of intelligence-based, proactive defense to fend off these costly cyberattacks,” Yeo adds.

The last cybercrime group discussed by Park is the Kimsuky APT. Kaspersky first reported about Kimsuky in 2013 and it has since evolved in terms of tactics, techniques, and victimology. It initially targeted think tanks in South Korea, particularly for cyberespionage. However, recent telemetry showed that the versatile and agile group now has strong financial motivation.

“We have been monitoring Kimsuky’s strong presence in South Korea. Our research showed they are using two infiltration techniques --- attacks via spearphishing and attacks against the supply chain. Either way, they target cryptocurrency investors to exfiltrate data and for remote access.

With the group showing strong financial motivation, it is highly possible that their attacks can go beyond South Korea, particularly towards its neighboring regions like Southeast Asia,” explains Park.

To improve banks’ and financial organizations’ cyber defenses, experts in Kaspersky suggest the following: • Integrate Threat Intelligence into your SIEM and security controls in order to access the most relevant and up-to-date threat data

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• Conduct regular security training sessions for staff, ideally, a personalized one that uses a cognitive-driven approach, taking into account the abilities and needs of each and every learner • Use traffic monitoring software • Install the latest updates and patches for all of the software you use • Forbid the installation of programs from unknown sources • Perform regular security audit of an organization’s IT infrastructure • For endpoint level detection, investigation, and timely remediation of incidents, implement EDR solutions that can catch even unknown banking malware

April 2021

Government

VOTE PILIPINAS OTE PILIPINAS is the official Voter Registration Information campaign partner of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) that showcases easily digestible information on the registration process, voting precincts, requirements, and important dates to remember.

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A project of Impact Hub Manila (IHM) in partnership with the Philippines’ Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the voter education site Vote Pilipinas has been updated to include a Voter Registration Service Test, a new feature that provides additional information users need to know to register and encourage them to vote.

The innovative Voter Registration Service Test gives users additional

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information such as (1) the nearest Office of the Election Officer office to contact, (2) a list of IDs to bring, (3) forms to download, and (4) other important reminders to reduce the time spent at COMELEC headquarters during on-ground registration.

right information so they can register and ultimately vote.

We hope that through the Vote Pilipinas campaign, we can shift mindsets and make people realize that every vote counts,” says Ces Rondario, Impact Hub Manila’s co-founder and the brains behind Vote Pilipinas.

“We are thrilled for Filipino people to utilize and take advantage of Vote Pilipinas.

This is a crucial step to educate voters and bring more people in to exercise their right to suffrage,” says James Jimenez, COMELEC spokesperson.

Data from the COMELEC show that in 2019, only 75.9% of registered voters turned up to cast their votes. This means about 1 in every four registered voters did not participate in the elections.

Come 2022, more young people will be eligible to vote.

Through Vote Pilipinas, IHM aims to encourage 7 million more Filipinos to register.

Started in August 2020, the campaign aims to increase voter registration and election turnout in time for the next national elections.

“One of the campaign’s goals is to provide every Filipino with access to the

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Learn more about Vote Pilipinas through its official Facebook and Instagram pages, or visit https://www.votepilipinas.com

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April 2021

Government

SSS Mobile App Online Payment Channels

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he Social Security System (SSS) has added the Bank of the Philippine Islands as a new payment channel for members to pay their contributions through the SSS mobile app conveniently.

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SSS President and Chief Executive Officer Aurora C. Ignacio said the new online payment gateway is very timely with the pension fund’s shift to digital platforms since its members are now familiarized with various electronic and online facilities.

“While the pandemic played a major role for SSS to focus its resources on the digitalization of its core and business processes, the transition is actually one of the top priorities under the new charter. We are glad our payment partners are also integrating their systems with ours to further improve services thru hassle-free and safe transactions,” Ignacio said.

Individual members such as Self-employed, Voluntary, and Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) who have existing BPI accounts can now enjoy a fast, convenient, private, and safe way of paying their contributions right at the comfort of their homes.

prompted payment details, and “PROCEED” to be redirected to the BPI secure site.

SSS members must download the SSS Mobile App in Google Play Store, Apple App Store, or Huawei AppGallery. The app requires log-in details as registered in the member’s My.SSS account. They can then generate a Payment Reference Number (PRN) in the SSS Mobile App by clicking the “Generate PRN/SOA” icon.

At the BPI authentication page, members must provide their BPI log-in credentials and select the preferred account. BPI will then send a 6-digit One-Time-PIN to the member’s enrolled mobile number, which they must enter to confirm and complete the payment process. Successful payment notifications from BPI and the SSS Mobile App will be displayed showing the date and time of payment, PRN, applicable period, SSS contributions, total contribution, total payment, and transaction reference number. A convenience fee of P15 will be deducted from the BPI account for each successful transaction.

Members may opt to download a PDF copy of the PRN or pay immediately using the “Pay” button in the interface. They must tap “BPI” as the payment method channel, then “OK” to confirm the

Aside from BPI, SSS members can also pay their contributions through their PayMaya accounts and other online transactions offered by partner banks and collection partners.

“We are still exploring more online payment channels to provide convenience to our growing membership base, especially since the community quarantine is restricting movements. Our main goal is to encourage them to use online platforms instead of personally going to the branches. We are focused not only on improving our online payment transactions but also that all our services can already be accessed online using the website, mobile app, and other electronic and self-service channels,” Ignacio pointed out.

For more information and update, members may follow the SSS Facebook page Philippine Social Security System, Instagram account @mysssph, Twitter account @PHLSSS, and SSS Viber Community MySSSPH Updates.

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Government

SUPREME COURT OF THE PHILIPPINES INSTITUTIONALIZES VIDEOCONFERENCING HEARINGS 170,000 virtual hearings enabled nationwide and digital proceedings resulted in successfully processing 81,000 persons through Microsoft technology

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he Philippine justice system has taken a significant digital leap forward as the Supreme Court of the Philippines formally institutionalized videoconference proceedings for all its courts nationwide.

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Utilizing Microsoft 365 — a unified communication and collaboration platform with innovative Office web applications, intelligent cloud services, and world-class security — transparent proceedings and fair justice are becoming more available for more Filipinos at all levels of the justice system, even amid the ongoing community quarantine throughout the nation.

The Supreme Court recently approved the Guidelines on the Conduct of Videoconferencing, allowing remote appearances in court proceedings from individuals across and even outside the Philippines.

“On January 16, 2021, videoconferencing was formally institutionalized, and the guidelines and the conduct of video conferencing became effective. For the first time in its 119-year history, the Philippine judiciary has blazed a new trail by allowing remote testimony from parties situated even in different parts of the nation and the globe,” said Honorable Jose Midas P. Marquez, Court Administrator of the Supreme Court of the Philippines.

The Supreme Court chose Microsoft to be one of its key partners in their digital transformation journey and invested in Microsoft 365 because the solution is cost-efficient and ensures security and compliance.

Moreover, it is interoperable with the judiciary’s other projects, and Microsoft supported the necessary skilling for their IT team throughout the pandemic.

“We are privileged to work alongside the Supreme Court of the Philippines in this historic achievement where remote appearances from parties across and beyond the country are now part of court proceedings. The leaders of the national judiciary aspire to provide Filipinos with innovative and accessible citizen services, and we’re fully committed to empowering them with the right technology solutions to do so—today and in the future,” said Microsoft Philippines public sector director Joanna Rodriguez.

During Microsoft’s recent Asenso Pilipinas: Building Digital Resilience Summit, Marquez shared how the Supreme Court of the Philippines embraced innovation to spark digital transformation throughout the 27,000 courts across the country under its jurisdiction.

“At present, all courts are authorized to conduct videoconferencing hearings bringing the total to 2,715 courts. I am pleased to note that from May 4, 2020, to January 8, 2021, while parts of the country are still on varying forms of a lockdown and with hardly any mentoring, almost 170,000 video conferencing hearings in both civil and criminal cases have already been conducted by our judges with a success rate of 80%.”

According to Marquez, the imposition of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) at the onset of the pandemic brought challenges across all judicial levels.

In the early months of the pandemic, Community Quarantine and reported infections of Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) with COVID-19 in different detention facilities restrained the movement and travel of PDLs, judges, and court personnel. At that time, Marquez said, the judiciary worked with a skeletal workforce and was mandated only to act and resolve matters filed before the courts electronically.

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“This was as much as we could do as we did not have any official regulating platform to mount video conferencing hearings which was badly needed at that time”, Marquez said.

The Supreme Court evaluated various tools in the market that will enable them to launch virtual court hearings immediately. After assessing the full spectrum and balance of Microsoft 365 with their security, privacy, and compliance requirements through collaborative workshops, the Supreme Court decided to avail the solution for a trial.

With the substantial capability to launch virtual hearings, the Honorable Chief Justice Diosdado M. Peralta issued Administrative Circular 37-2020 for the pilot testing of hearings of criminal cases through videoconferencing in select courts in cities nationwide on April 27, 2020.

In just over a week of the pilot testing, 4,683 PDLs were released, and after two months, 21,375 videoconferencing hearings were conducted by judges. As of October 2020, more than 81,000 PDLs and children in conflict with the law were released through virtual court hearings.

Moving forward, the judiciary is aware that there are still improvements to be made, and enabling more technology will allow the courts all over the country to be more efficient, effective, and responsive. “This should reduce, if not totally eliminate, the biases that could stall exponential technological developments to enhance and expedite the administration and dispensing of justice,” according to Marquez.

He added that with more people gaining access to the internet and accustomed to technology, virtual access to justice could be a reality in the country sooner than later.

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Innovation

THE COUNTRY’S BIGGEST 5G HACKATHON or innovation to take flight and new technologies to flourish, collaboration across industries is important. Globe has been at the forefront of network improvements and innovations to further uplift the connectivity experience of Filipinos nationwide.

As the world moves at full throttle in digital transformation, Globe and DLSU’s Animo Labs launched the country’s biggest 5G Hackathon competition for students and professionals hungry to dive into innovation and digital learning.

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The competition, running from March through July of this year, will focus on the use of 5G technologies in various

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sectors of the Philippine economy, namely: 5G for Society - Education, Health Care, and Livelihood. To improve patient health monitoring and provide remote consultations, address mixed learning gaps and opportunities, and enhance ways of working for Filipinos’ current livelihood such as farming, fisheries, and the like.

5G for Industries – Retail, Manufacturing, Logistics, E-Commerce. To increase the efficiency of different sectors through wide-scale artificial intelligence (AI) automation and internet of things (IoT), and improve customer

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experience and satisfaction through personalized real-time customer insights.

5G for Smart Cities – Disaster risk management, Sustainability, Asset and Resource Management, Transportation. To transmit and process real-time information to solve traffic, urban planning, disaster risk, and other issues.

The competition will be divided into two parts, the Pitch and the Hackathon, with a total of PHP 500,000 in cash prizes and endless learning opportunities from SMEs and industry leaders through mentoring and workshops. On top of that, the Hackathon winners will

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get a unique chance to be part of 917Ventures’ Velocity, a venture builders program, and work directly with the Globe 5G Acceleration Lab. The competition is open to students, professionals, start-ups, and OFWs (80% of the team’s members should be Filipino). Interested parties are invited to register NOW and pitch their ideas through the official 5G Hackathon website at https:// globe5ghackathon.com/.

Enablement workshops, set to begin on April 23, 2021, will equip participants with the right knowledge and resources to help them with their ideas. The learning series will be brought to schools nationwide through Globe Prepaid’s Virtual Hangouts

GoCAMPUS to immerse participants in interactive pocket summits and workshops. GoCAMPUS is looking forward to reinventing school and learning experiences for students and empowering them to eventually bring to life real-world applications of 5G technology in society, industries, and smart cities.

Once the competition is down to the Top 30 finalists, there will be separate mentoring exercises by tech leaders in the country. Throughout the competition, participants will learn from the leaders in various industries such as: Case Study of a Successful Startup that ‘Made it Big’ - Jared B. Reimer, CASCADEO President & Founder

Social Impact and Innovation Virgilio Linis, ANIMO LABS Program Manager & Federico Gonzalez, ANIMO LABS Executive Director SME Innovations in the New Normal - Fay Cruz, GLOBE Head of Small and Medium Business Strategy The Basics of Pitching - Natasha Bautista, 917VENTURES Head of Marketing Communications and Program Management The Evolution of G (Exploring the Possibilities of 5G) - Gerhard Tan, GLOBE Director of Network Strategy Moreover, participants will further learn from more industry experts from Google, Amazon, Intel, Huawei, and more of Globe’s technology partners.

“We commit to enabling the youth to carve out their own digital futures and transform various industries in the Philippines into digital innovation hubs. Together, we will explore new technologies like 5G with resources that can further their skills and enrich their case studies. Globe is their willing partner in this learning opportunity,” said KD Dizon, Globe’s head of consumer mobile business.

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For more information, visit www. globe.com.ph.

April 2021

Enterprise

DIGISKARTENG PINAY Inspiring Filipinas create upskilling and livelihood opportunities with YouTube oogle celebrated International Women’s Month with the Digiskarteng Pinay online event to demonstrate how women can learn new skills and create livelihood opportunities through YouTube. It highlighted the experiences of successful female YouTube content creators and the stories of inspiring ma-Digiskarteng Pinays who used YouTube to bounce back from the pandemic.

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“At a time when women’s resources are being hit the hardest, YouTube remains to be a platform that they can use to their advantage. It allows them to upskill and seize the opportunities of the growing digital economy to augment their lives and those around them,” said Bernadette Nacario, Google Philippines’ country head.

Digiskarteng Pinay is done in partnership with nonprofit organizations, government agencies,

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and YouTube creators who contribute videos on various topics such as Family Nutrition, Financial Literacy, Beauty and Fashion, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), Coding Skills, Technical Skills, Mindset Skills, and Native Arts and Crafts.

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“Digiskarteng Pinay empowers women to learn and develop skills in their own time and pace so they can take full control of their lives while pursuing growth and entrepreneurial opportunities,” says Google Philippines’ industry head Gara Santos-Ontiveros.

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April 2021

Enterprise

Striving forward

Madiskarte women Juliette Piquero and working student Dielian Certeza turned to YouTube to start their own businesses when the pandemic hit.

After leaving her job as an accountant, Juliette stayed in the province to take a break but found herself staying for longer than planned due to the lockdowns. Being naturally fond of cooking, she spent her spare time wanting to level up her skills and learning how to bake. After picking up recipes and tips from local channels like Madiskarteng Nanay, Chef RV Manabat, and Lutong Tinapay, she turned her hobby into an online cake shop called Nenita’s CAKES and Pastries.

“YouTube makes it very easy for us to learn new things at our own pace.

Because it is accessible anywhere and anytime, I had more opportunities to equip myself with the latest techniques in baking. I used it as my reference for recipes to baking trends, which now translated to sales.

It definitely helped me and my family during these challenging times,” Juliette shared.

After losing her part-time job, Dielian had to immediately look for an alternative source of income to fund her and her siblings’ studies.

She thought of putting up an eatery that serves unlimited chicken wings.

Dielian turned to channels like The Sauce and Gravy Channel, Gneth’s Life, Kuya Fern’s Cooking, Lian Lim, Friend-Cheap Menu, Fixitsamo, Epoy’s Kitchen, Panlasang Pinoy, and Ninong Ry to diversify her knowledge on sauce recipes. Through the content she found on YouTube, she was able to put up Hot Chicks, which is now able to support their family’s daily needs.

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For other Pinays who are having second thoughts about pursuing putting up a business, Deilian advises, “YouTube is like a free school. Small-scale entrepreneurs like me who have no formal background in cooking can instantly feel like a chef. Just trust the process, calm your mind and your heart, and find what you are passionate about.”

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Passion for a purpose

For multi-awarded actress Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, her YouTube channel started like any other — an outlet to share what she loves doing.

Now with over 1.5 million subscribers, the actress shared that she has seen her channel grow into being a destination for women to learn new skills and even create entrepreneurial opportunities.

“YouTube is a space for learning and exchanging knowledge. It’s empowering in the sense that doing what I love to do inspires my fellow Filipinas to upskill and that opens up meaningful opportunities for them,” shared Judy Ann.

For lifestyle-turned-business vlogger Tinmay Arcenas, the pandemic convinced her to share her knowledge on business handling during a time when people are in need of guidance in finding ways and alternatives to have continuous income. With her new content, she feels that she has found her space in the world of content creation. To date, Tinmay has 40K+ subscribers and shares videos about their poultry farm and pungko-pungko business, along with tips on how to be more productive and earn money even in the middle of a pandemic.

Visit the Digiskarteng Pinay YouTube channel to watch informative videos on family nutrition, financial literacy, beauty, fashion, coding skills, and technical skills.

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April 2021

Enterprise

Intel Unleashed: Engineering the Future ntel CEO Pat Gelsinger outlined the company’s path forward to manufacture, design, and deliver leadership products and create long-term value for stakeholders during the company’s global Intel Unleashed: Engineering the Future webcast. Gelsinger shared his vision for “IDM 2.0,” a major evolution of Intel’s integrated device manufacturing (IDM) model.

Gelsinger announced significant manufacturing expansion plans, starting with an estimated $20 billion investment to build two new factories (or“fabs”) in Arizona.

He also announced Intel’s plans to become a major provider of foundry capacity in the U.S. and Europe to serve customers globally.

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“We are setting a course for a new era of innovation and product leadership at Intel,” said Gelsinger.

“Intel is the only company with the depth and breadth of software, silicon and platforms, packaging, and process with at-scale manufacturing customers can depend on for their next-generation innovations. IDM 2.0 is an elegant strategy that only Intel can deliver — and it’s a winning formula.

We will use it to design the best products and manufacture them in the best way possible for every category we compete in.”

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IDM 2.0 represents the combination of three components that will enable the company to drive sustained technology and product leadership:

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Intel’s global, internal factory network for at-scale manufacturing

This is a key competitive advantage that enables product optimization, improved economics, and supply resilience. Gelsinger reaffirmed the company’s expectation to continue manufacturing the majority of its products internally. The company’s 7nm development is progressing well, driven by increased use of extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) in a rearchitected, simplified process flow. Intel expects to tape in the compute tile for its first 7nm client CPU(code-named “Meteor Lake”) in the second quarter of this year. In addition to process innovation, Intel’s leadership in packaging technology is an important differentiator that enables the combination of multiple IPs or “tiles” to deliver uniquely tailored products that meet diverse customer requirements in a world of pervasive computing.

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Expanded use of third-party foundry capacity

Intel expects to build on its existing relationships with third-party foundries, which currently manufacture a range of Intel technology — from communications and connectivity to graphics and chipsets.

Gelsinger said he expects Intel’s engagement with third-party foundries to grow and to include manufacturing for a range of modular tiles on advanced process technologies, including products at the core of Intel’s computing offerings for both

client and data center segments beginning in 2023. This will provide the increased flexibility and scale needed to optimize Intel’s roadmaps for cost, performance, schedule, and supply, giving the company a unique competitive advantage.

Building a world-class foundry business, Intel Foundry Services

Intel announced plans to become a major provider of U.S.– and Europe-based foundry capacity to serve the incredible global demand for semiconductor manufacturing. To deliver this vision, Intel is establishing a new standalone business unit, Intel Foundry Services (IFS), led by semiconductor industry veteran Dr. Randhir Thakur, who will report directly to Gelsinger.

IFS will be differentiated from other foundry offerings with a combination of leadingedge process technology and packaging, committed capacity in the U.S. and Europe, and a world-class IP portfolio for customers, including x86 cores as well as ARM and RISC-V ecosystem IPs. Gelsinger noted thatIntel’s foundry plans have already received strong enthusiasm and statements of support from across the industry.

To accelerate Intel’s IDM 2.0 strategy, Gelsinger announced a significant expansion of Intel’s manufacturing capacity,

beginning with plans for two new fabs in Arizona, located at the company’s Ocotillo campus. These fabs will support the increasing requirements of Intel’s current products and customers, as well as provide committed capacity for foundry customers.

This build-out represents an investment of approximately USD 20-billion, which is expected to create over 3,000 permanent hightech, high-wage jobs, over 3,000 construction jobs, and approximately 15,000 local long-term jobs. Intel expects to accelerate capital investments beyond Arizona, and Gelsinger said he plans to announce the next phase of capacity expansions in the U.S., Europe, and other global locations within the year.

Intel plans to engage the technology ecosystem and industry partners to deliver on its IDM 2.0 vision. To that end, Intel and IBM announced plans for an important research collaboration focused on creating next–generation logic and packaging technologies. For more than 50 years,

the two companies have shared a deep commitment to scientific research, world-class engineering, and a focus on bringing advanced semiconductor technologies to market. These foundational technologies will help unleash the potential of data and advanced computation to create immense economic value.

Leveraging each company’s capabilities and talent in Hillsboro, Oregon, and Albany, New York, this collaboration aims to accelerate semiconductor manufacturing innovation across the ecosystem, enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. semiconductor industry and support key U.S. government initiatives.

Finally, Intel is bringing back the spirit of its popular Intel Developer Forum event this year with the launch of Intel On, a new industry event series. Gelsinger encouraged technology lovers to join him at this year’s Intel Innovation event planned for October in San Francisco.

Click here to watch a replay of the webcast.

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FinTech

Start your

o i l o f t r o p t n e investm with only P50 nvestment for most Filipinos has always been shrouded under a veil of mystery. Most would rather not try to understand or deal with the seemingly complicated process behind it, nor would they be willing to entrust their hard-earned cash to an investment broker and let it sit in virtuality. GCash, the mobile wallet app, seeks to make the investment process worry-free and more inclusive with a press of a button through their new product, GInvest.

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GInvest is the first-ever digital investment platform that allows Filipinos as young as 18 years old and with a valid ID to explore investments and conveniently grow their wealth through a tap of their GCash app. “We want to allow people from all walks of life to be able to start understanding the benefits of investing,” said Martha Sazon, president and CEO of Mynt, the company behind GCash. “Through GInvest, they are able to use their savings and make it grow so they can use their returns to travel or fulfill their dream purchases.”

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world. We have lowered the minimum investment requirement for our funds to allow new investors to get started on their investment journey without having to put up large sums of money. We believe that through GInvest, investing will become a habit for Filipinos and allow them to build a more financially secure future,” said Mike Ferrer, CEO, ATRAM.

Together with ATRAM Trust Corporation, the leading independent asset manager in the country, and SEEDBOX Philippines, a company that has introduced digitized investing in the Philippines, GInvest provides access to expertly managed funds with industry leaders like Ayala and Globe locally, and the likes of Alibaba, Apple, and Google globally. Users can trust the funds they put in are being managed by the most trusted fund managers in the country and are kept secure by GCash infrastructures.

We are thrilled to partner with GCash in providing Filipinos easier access to investment opportunities around the

Users may choose to invest in five different types of funds: Money Market Fund (the more traditional way of investing, like time deposits), Philippine Total Return Bond Fund (which lets users invest in bonds in local companies and government), Philippine Smart Equity Index Fund (which lets users invest in local companies through the PSEi index, like BPI, BDO, and Ayala), Global Technology Feeder Fund (which lets users invest in tech trailblazers like Google, Apple, and Samsung), and Global Consumer Trends Fund (which lets users invest in innovative companies like Shopee, Nintendo, or Alibaba).

Investing through GInvest has been made easy: after logging into the GCash app (using a fully verified account), they will need to go into the GInvest module, then select “Proceed to start registration”. From there, they will need to answer the Risk Profile assessment to help GInvest gauge what kind of investments to recommend. After reading and confirming the Terms and Conditions that follow, users are ready to start investing.

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GInvest aims to elevate Filipino financial literacy and democratize investments. A minimum PHP 50 buyin for local funds and PHP 1,000 for international funds allows any GInvest user to start their investment journey, making GInvest by GCash the first fintech company in the Philippines to offer low investment buy-ins. Users also have the assurance of seeing where their money is and tracking its growth. To assure new or experienced investors, GInvest gives users complete control and transparency over their investments and those handling their investments. GInvest lets users track and subscribe to assets they’re interested in, monitor their investments, buy and sell stocks, and be reminded of their investment schedule—all without leaving the GCash app.

GInvest is set to revolutionize the way Filipinos see and do investment. While investments do come with some level of risk, GInvest lessens it with the lowest buy-in rates coupled with highperforming assets—a surefire way to generate a passive income, regardless of how aggressive or conservative a user may decide to be. It will let you #UnlockYourLifeGoals at the press of a button—the money the user earns in returns could fund their next vacation, or help them start a new business: the possibilities are endless.

GInvest by GCash is available to the fully KYC’d customers of the Gcash app. For more information, you may visit www.gcash.com.

April 2021

Active Lifestyle

SUNPIOLOGY CHARITY FUN RUN unPIOLOgy, the annual charity fun run of Sun Life Philippines and brand ambassador Piolo Pascual, concluded its 12th year with two milestones: successfully transitioning into a virtual race and raising PHP 4.2 Million for its health and education advocacies.

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Close to 1,000 runners joined the virtual race, all of whom finished the distance they signed up for at their own time and pace. Participants say April 2021

SunPIOLOgy helped them stay fit even if they could not do their usual fitness activities given the quarantine measures.

Participants found fulfillment in the experience and encouraged others to try running as well. “I advise everyone, especially the youth, to go out and run,” says Crispin Banares, 1st Placer for the 30km category. This was seconded by Aurie Roque, 1st Placer for the 100km category. “Set aside your fears and explore your strength,” she said.

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The event concluded last February 12, 2021, with a virtual awarding ceremony, led by Piolo himself, along with fellow Sun Life brand ambassadors Enchong Dee and Inigo Pascual. Guest celebrities Klarisse de Guzman, Vivoree, and the Nocturnal Dancers rendered special performances.

Participants were also treated with rewards through the raffle prizes like a brand-new TV and 15 Garmin Vivofits.

On top of these, special prizes were gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

given to the top three male and top three female runners who finished by December 25.

facilities such as the Sun Life-ISDFI Nutrition Studio and the ISDFI-Sun Life GoWell Fitness Center.

Championing health and education SunPIOLOgy was able to raise PHP 1-million for scholars of Hebreo Foundation, which was founded by Piolo’s family. The Hebreo Foundation has been supporting the education of young Filipinos since 2009. Meanwhile, PHP 228,000 was donated to Star Magic scholars, or children of ABS-CBN employees who were affected by the network’s closure.

“The positive impact that SunPIOLOgy brings to communities and individuals truly encourages us to continue advocating our causes,” says Gilbert Simpao, Sun Life’s chief marketing & client experience officer. “Our foray into the virtual realm is just a glimpse of things to come as we reach out even further with our commitment to be the nation’s lifetime partner.”

For its health advocacy, more than PHP 3-million was granted to the Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation, Inc. (ISDFI), to enable it to continue providing critical care and improve its

“We launched SunPIOLOgy 12 years ago with the objective of inspiring Filipinos to pursue their health and wellness goals as well as to support our partner charitable institutions. When the pandemic happened, we had to quickly shift into a virtual race. It was unfamiliar

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territory for us, but we rested our fate on the community we have built through the years, and on the significance of our advocacies especially amid this prevailing pandemic,” says Benedict Sison, CEO and country head of Sun Life Philippines. “With everyone’s help, the first-ever SunPIOLOgy Virtual Race turned out to be a success.”

“I’m really thankful for the support for our event despite the current situation,” says Piolo. “This success is proof that together, we can make things happen and we can help make lives brighter.”

The SunPIOLOgy Virtual Race ran from November 21, 2020, to January 21, 2021.

For updates about future SunPIOLOgy events, follow @sunpiology on Facebook or check out www.sunpiology.com.

April 2021

Food

CARABAO MILK IN CANS SMC’s new packaging technology saves farms, feeds the undernourished amid COVID-19

ore Filipino children from far-flung and hard-to-reach areas in Luzon will soon be able to taste and benefit from local carabao’s milk.

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San Miguel Corporation (SMC) is partnering with carabao cooperatives to boost their incomes by providing milk for the government’s nationwide milk feeding

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program utilizing its new packaging solution that will prolong the product’s shelf life.

carabao’s milk, to be distributed in Regions 1 to 3 and parts of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

SMC’s packaging unit, San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp. (SMYPC), recently signed an agreement with the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, that will see SMYPC packing an initial four million cans of sterilized

SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said that under the agreement, SMYPC will act as a thirdparty toll packer utilizing its new retort process to package some 40,000 liters of carabao milk supplied by local farmer’s cooperatives in Nueva Ecija, for the

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nationwide school-based feeding program under the Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Last year, the PCC-assisted dairy cooperatives committed to providing milk to 503,955 children while for 2021 so far, 1,012,840 children are benefiting from carabao milk provided by local dairy cooperatives. The agreement with SMC, set to start later this month, significantly increases the carabao milk supplied from local dairy cooperatives to the DepEd and the DSWD under the national feeding program.

“We are very happy that almost one year since we promised to help the carabao cooperatives, we will now see both farmers and our school children benefit from this worthy endeavor. I’m very proud that we at San Miguel were able to use our resources and our expertise to help build the capacities and capabilities of our local farmers at this time of the pandemic,” Ang said.

With the retort process, carabao’s milk can be preserved for up to six months without preservatives and packaged in aluminum cans. Previously, carabao milk in flexible packaging was good only for a maximum of seven days.

local dairy farmers who have always been looking for ways to keep carabao milk fresh and prevent spoilage,” Ang said.

Aside from the extended shelf-life, the sterilized canned milk can easily be transported, stored under ambient temperature, and delivered in bulk rather than on a daily basis.

“With this technology, we expect that more school children will be able to drink nutritious carabao’s milk, particularly those who reside in far-flung, mountainous, and hard-to-reach areas, and those with no electricity or limited storage facilities,” he added.

The DepEd and DSWD’s feeding program, mandated by Republic Act 11037 or the Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act, aims to address the nutritional needs of undernourished children to combat hunger and malnutrition. It serves the undernourished children in public daycare kindergarten and elementary schools from kindergarten up to Grade 6.

With funding provided by the DepEd and DSWD, PCC will consolidate carabao

“With a longer shelf life, carabao’s milk will now reach more children in need of nutritional support and address nutritional deficiencies that impair their health and learning ability. At the same time, this will boost the livelihood of

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milk from local dairy farmer cooperatives in Nueva Ecija and deliver these to the San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corp. facility in San Fernando, Pampanga, for sterilization and packaging.

From the SMC plant in Pampanga, the sterilized carabao milk will then be delivered to schools division offices (SDOs) for distribution to undernourished children.

Ang said the company’s new equipment for the new retort process can also be used for a variety of beverage products, including teas, coffee, soya, and other milk-based products.

Last year, SMC had helped farmers by buying up thousands of liters of excess carabao milk for donation to poor communities at the height of pandemic restrictions. It also promised to help make carabao milk more marketable by developing a packaging format for the farmer cooperatives, for free.

“It is through meaningful and sustainable programs like this that we will empower various sectors to not just weather the impacts of the pandemic, but have more opportunities to grow in the future. Apart from supplying the needs of our school children, our cooperatives and farmers can even think about creating their own brands and competing in the market.

Carabao milk is very nutritious and is loved by many Filipinos. This can only serve to grow their market and reach and boost the industry overall,” Ang added.

April 2021

Newsbytes

GO NEGOSYO LAUNCHES AGRI MARKETPLACE DIGITALIZATION PROGRAM Following the shift towards digitalization, Go Negosyo is launching its Agri Marketplace Digitalization Program in partnership with the Department of Agriculture and Lazada Philippines.

The inclusive business program aims to nurture and develop agribusinesses in the Philippines. It seeks to expand the market reach of products of farmer associations, cooperatives, or agribusinesses through partnerships with online market platforms. By successfully marketing their farm produce or products online, participants in the digitalization program will be able to scale up and maximize their potential.

A memorandum of understanding was signed last March 16, 2021, formalizing the partnership. The signatories include presidential adviser for entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo founder Joey Conception, Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar, Lazada Philippines CEO Ray Alimurung, Go Negosyo senior adviser for agripreneurship Ginggay Hontiveros-Malvar, and Lazada

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Philippines head of government affairs Cyril Alfred Castro.

“One thing this pandemic has done for many entrepreneurs is embrace digitalization and that has created a lot of opportunities for many of our aspiring and existing entrepreneurs.

Back in 2019, we have been aggressive in encouraging our MSMEs to utilize how digitalization can jumpstart their business. That added value back in 2019 is already reaping its rewards especially with our situation with the pandemic,” Concepcion forwarded.

“As a testament of how important digital transformation is for MSMEs, we even launched the SIGN UP Summit last 2019, where we educated our MSMEs on the range of technology innovation that they can access for their business.

That same year, we created the Digital Alliance which Lazada is a part of,” Concepcion added.

“This is very timely, we can now take this opportunity to take the power of digital agriculture, the digital e-commerce, for the benefit of everyone.

Digitalization has been accelerated,

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and now, we have embraced totally the power of digital agriculture to jumpstart and transform Philippine agriculture,” Sec. Dar noted.

With this partnership, agripreneurs will have access to Lazada’s resources and network which will enable them to learn the ropes of eCommerce —utilizing the platform’s resources and wide network to grow their businesses on a digital scale.

“We are excited to collaborate with Go Negosyo on this initiative as agriculture is an important part of the Philippines’ economy. Supporting small businesses to digitalize and helping them scale their growth online is at the core of what we do at Lazada. We hope that this will encourage agripreneurs to take the first step and inspire more peers to join in this digital transformation that can tap on our platform’s consumer base,” Lazada Philippines CEO Alimurung said.

The program is expected to launch

by April benefiting a total of 127,226 members across cooperatives and associations.

REWIRE, LEADING NEOBANK FOR EXPATS, RAISES USD 20M Rewire, a fintech startup that develops cross-border online banking services tailored for the needs of expatriate workers worldwide, announced a Series B funding round of USD 20M and a significant line of credit from a leading bank.

The funding round further builds on the firm’s explosive growth in Southeast Asia. Since launching its services in the region in 2016, Rewire has seen users remit hundreds of millions per year to Asia, and has acquired over 230,000 users originally from China, the Philippines, India, and Thailand. The firm’s user base continues to grow rapidly, with users from the Philippines and Thailand growing at 300% year-onyear. Similarly, the number of users originally from India is growing at 350%, while the pool of users originally from China is growing at 1000% year-on-year.

in its mission to provide secure and accessible financial services for migrant workers worldwide.

To boost its cross-border solution, Rewire plans to enrich its platform with new value-added services such as bill payments and insurance, in addition to credit and loan services, investments, and savings. Adding these to its existing remittance services, payment account, and debit card, Rewire is able to make its first-rate financial services more accessible to migrants and, thus, include them in the financial systems.

Rewire saw success in 2020 despite the COVID-19 pandemic. With USD 500M processed through its systems, the company has tripled its customer base in 2020 and will soon reach 0.5M registered users, with 40% attributed to

organic growth. Rewire has penetrated new markets in Europe and the UK and introduced new cross-border bill payments.

Rewire established solid partnerships with prominent financial institutions in multiple countries such as UkrSibbank in Ukraine and mobile wallet enablers in Nigeria and the Philippines. Other partners of note across Asia include the likes of Philippine-headquartered Metrobank and Indian private sector bank Yes Bank.

Serving dozens of nationalities, Rewire offers its cross-border solution in 8 different languages and a localized app.

In June 2020, Rewire gained global recognition as a fintech leader at the Samsung-powered Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC) 2020 competition.

Rewire was founded with the vision to empower every migrant to fulfill their financial potential for a better future, for themselves and their families.

The current round of funding will enable the fintech startup to continue enhancing its product portfolio and services, as well as its strategic partnerships in the migrant’s country of origin and the country in which they currently reside.

Rewire has recently secured its EU Electronic Money Institution license (EMI), granted by the Dutch Central Bank, which allows the fintech startup to (a) issue electronic money, (b) provide payment services, and (c) engage in money remittance. Rewire was also granted an expanded Israeli Financial Asset Service Provider.

Acquiring these licenses is another major step for the fintech startup

Rewire founders (L-R): Saar Yahalom, Guy Kashtan, and Adi Ben Dayan.

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April 2021

Newsbytes

LRT-1 MAXIMUM SPEED INCREASED TO 60KPH The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) has secured a safety certification from a reputable international testing facility that the LRT-1 can now lift the restriction of 40 kilometers per hour (kph) and safely run at a faster speed.

The LRT-1 will run at a maximum speed of 60kph beginning 5 April 2021 as LRMC has completed all relevant improvement activities needed for the 36-year-old railway system. This will result in a shorter trip time from Baclaran to Balintawak (vice-versa) and increase the daily number of trips made

by LRT-1 trains. The reduced travel time will allow passengers to reach their destinations in the soonest possible time.

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The LRT-1 system is designed for a maximum service speed of 60 kph, but the speed was reduced to 40 kph in 2011 due to the deteriorating condition of its tracks and uncertainties in the railway subsystems such as rolling stock (railway vehicles), power distribution, and signaling system. When LRMC took over the operations and management in 2015, it has invested PHP 11.6-billion for the rehabilitation, restoration, and upgrade of the existing system. Recognizing the importance of maximizing LRT-1’s operational capacity, LRMC embarked on a project to increase the service speed by tapping an international partner to assess, perform verificatory tests, and identify the corrective works needed to comply with European standards.

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“Despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic, we continue to improve the LRT-1 in order to provide our passengers a safer, more comfortable, and reliable commute, especially in this new normal. All these upgrading works also serve to complement the team’s preparations for the commercial service of our new Gen-4 trains in the latter part of the year to further bring comfort to Filipino commuters,” said Enrico R. Benipayo, LRMC chief operating officer.

For more updates and info on the LRT-1, follow LRMC on Facebook at facebook.com/officialLRT1, Twitter at @ officialLRT1, or download the ikotMNL mobile app for free on Google Play and App Store.

Newsbytes

EPSON ANNOUNCES "BE COOL" PRINTER SUSTAINABILITY CAMPAIGN In many industries, one of the most significant side effects of the increased output impact on the environment, with greater use of resources affecting carbon footprint. For businesses, it can be a tricky balancing act to weigh productivity against sustainability, but the two do not have to be mutually exclusive.

This is the premise of Be Cool, the new printer sustainability campaign launched by Epson Southeast Asia.

The regional campaign was created to remind customers that it is possible to maximize efficiency and productivity while reducing environmental impact.

Banking on the brand’s expertise in innovation, businesses can choose to Be Cool and discover how Epson technology makes the sustainable choice a simple one.

features the world’s first dry process office paper-making system, PaperLab. “Our Be Cool campaign demonstrates how Epson’s Heat-Free Technology and PaperLab can transform the way businesses work by helping increase productivity while saving on energy consumption and use of resources.

By making the switch to our cool products, businesses can take an active role in the journey towards promoting greener, more sustainable businesses across Southeast Asia,” said Tan May Lin, regional director for Epson sales division, retail products, and regional brand & communications.

The campaign is fuelled by Epson’s range of EcoTank and Business Inkjet printers that use Heat-Free Technology to deliver advanced benefits over laser and thermal inkjet technology. It also

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PRINTING CAN BE COOL Be Cool brings three product lines front and center to highlight how its eco features can significantly streamline processes and give businesses a competitive advantage.

Epson’s Heat-Free Technology ensures that its EcoTank and Business Inkjet printers use no heat in the ink ejection process, which means less power consumption and more savings on electricity costs.

With this original technology, no heat is required for printer warmup, allowing you to save time with consistent high-speed printing. Since inkjet printers do not have fusers that need heating, less energy is consumed, resulting in cost savings for the business. Epson’s EcoTank and Business Inkjet printers also use fewer parts and consumables that require replacement which minimizes user intervention and increases productivity.

Pushing the envelope on environment-friendly technology is Epson’s first in-office paper recycling system, PaperLab. Powered by Dry Fiber Technology, PaperLab turns waste paper into new paper, using a virtually dry process, in just 3 minutes. It uses only about 1/100th of the water it takes to make an equivalent mass of ordinary paper so that businesses conserve water while reducing the volume of paper that must be transported to off-site recyclers.

When data security is crucial for your business, PaperLab delivers absolute certainty that key confidential waste is safely and effectively destroyed. It removes toner and inks and reduces the wastepaper into fibers. This means information stays safely on site with no need to trust external contractors.

With PaperLab’s unique technology, water is conserved, less heat is used, the carbon footprint is reduced, and wood resources are saved.

Combined with Epson’s heat-free printing solutions,

PK UMASHANKAR MOVES FROM FORD PH TO LEAD FORD INTERNATIONAL MARKETS GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE Ford Motor Company announced that PK Umashankar (‘Uma’) has been appointed director, Ford Customer Service Division, International Markets Group (IMG), effective April 1, 2020.

In this regional role, Umashankar has overall responsibility for Ford’s customer service and after-sales initiatives across the diverse and geographically widespread markets that comprise the company’s IMG region. He is relocating to Bangkok, Thailand, and reporting directly to Dianne Craig, president, International Markets Group.

“Uma has been instrumental in leading our business in the Philippines amid a very challenging time. Under his leadership, customers’ choices in the Ford showroom expanded with the successful launches of the Everest Sport, F-150, and all-new Ford Territory in 2020. His handson approach also allowed customers to enjoy improved parts availability and enhanced ownership experience supported by our dealer partners,” said Yukontorn ‘Vickie’ Wisadkosin, president, Ford ASEAN. Uma’s replacement as managing director of Ford Philippines will be announced at a later date.

PaperLab helps build a recycling loop in the office and promotes a circular economy for businesses.

MAKE THE SWITCH By highlighting the synergy between Epson’s Heat-Free Technology or Dry Fiber Technology with the products’ productivity features, the Be Cool campaign presents how performance and sustainability can go hand in hand and urges businesses to make the green choice with Epson’s business solutions.

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April 2021

Newsbytes

FOODPANDA CONTINUES 24/7 DELIVERY As Metro Manila reimplements curfew hours, on-demand food delivery service foodpanda is considered a provider of basic necessities, and will thus continue to operate round the clock with contactless delivery on every order.

Dedicated to serving the public, foodpanda provides more reasons for people to stay safe at home through their big discount deals and promos both for food and grocery delivery from thousands of select partners.

leave their orders to make sure social distancing protocols are followed.

To also ensure all health and safety protocols are strictly implemented, customers are asked to follow the steps below for contactless delivery:

6. Customers may use the chat function within the foodpanda app to confirm receipt of their order.

1. Place an order and opt for online payment via credit cards, debit cards, or GCash.

2. Upon ordering, go to the rider chat function on the foodpanda app and inform the rider that you are opting for contactless delivery. Customers can include instructions on where to

April 2021

3. Food will be placed at the designated drop-off spot at the customers’ delivery address.

4. The rider will notify customers that food has arrived via the rider chat function on the app or via call / SMS. 5. Throughout the delivery, a one-meter distance will be maintained between the rider and customer.

7. Delivery completed!

All foodpanda riders are instructed to wear their masks at all times. They are to wash their hands every two hours and after each time they handle a delivery.

Lastly, if they have symptoms of illness, they are to immediately go for a medical check-up through affiliated clinics and hospitals.

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Download the foodpanda app on iOS or Android for free and follow its official accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @foodpanda_ph.

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Relic Words by Jose Alvarez

ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE RATING BOARD

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The ESRB is a self-regulatory organization based in the United States that assigns content ratings to video games. However, violent video games and other video games with objectionable content existed long before the ESRB—as far back as 1976. The arcade game Death Race was probably the first violent video game on the market, while 1982’s Custer’s Revenge was so controversial that Atari tried to sue the game’s makers due to its graphic depictions of rape and other adult content.

By 1985, Nintendo of America had begun to take action against low-quality video games by instituting standards on thirdparty developers. While this was to stop the influx of low-quality games that caused the video game crash of 1983, Nintendo of America also gained a reputation for censoring objectionable content such as violence, sexual content, and even references to religion, tobacco, and alcohol.

By 1987, the media touted an idea for a film-like rating system for video games, but the Software Publishers Association said, “Adult computer software is nothing to worry about. It’s not an issue that the government wants to spend any time with.

They just got done with a big witch hunt in the music recording industry, and they got absolutely nowhere.” However, as games got more and more detailed, the inevitable would happen.

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Illustration from https://www.esrb.org

rowing up in the early 1990s, I had the experience of witnessing two significant events in video game history: the console wars and the formation of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). The two events are closely related to one another because the console wars were directly responsible for the formation of the ESRB. This also spawned a media frenzy that has been going on for over 30 years and continues to the present day: are violent video games responsible for actual violence? (Hint: they’re not.)

From 1992 to 1994, then-United States Senators Joe Lieberman (D-CT) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) held congressional hearings on violent video games and the corruption of society, specifically citing Mortal Kombat, Lethal Enforcers, and the lesser-known but cult classic Night Trap, for violence and objectionable content. At this time, there were no content ratings—platforms such as Sega and 3DO had their own rating systems in place, while the Recreational Software Advisory Council (RSAC) had their own ratings for PC games, but no age guidelines. These hearings famously included then-Nintendo of America president Howard Lincoln and then-vice president of Sega of America Bill White trading barbs over regulating content on each of their platforms. In the eyes of the media and observers, Lincoln appeared to have the upper hand over White, due to the former’s willingness to regulate video game content. This also signaled the console wars coming to a head in the halls of the United States Congress itself.

On September 16, 1994, the ESRB was officially formed, with the following ratings: Early Childhood, Kids to Adults (renamed to Everyone in 1998), Teen, Mature, and

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Adults Only. Games that received an Adults Only rating were generally not carried in stores and had to be re-edited to gain a Mature rating; one of the games that had temporarily gained the Adults Only rating was 2005’s Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which included an explicit mod known as the Hot Coffee mod; it was later removed. In 2005, a new rating was added: Everyone 10+. There were also 30+ content descriptors that included stuff like references to alcohol, blood and gore, cartoon violence, gambling, use of drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, alongside others.

While the ESRB was born out of controversy, the ratings generally are not strongly enforced today. While some stores do require you to show proof of identification before buying a game, they are not legally binding. While some jurisdictions have recommended the banning of violent video games even as recently as this year, there is still no direct correlation between video game violence and actual violence and has never been for over 30 years. When you look at the rating and introduce your children to new games, just be wary of what you want your kids to be exposed to.

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Volume XXI Issue VII

April 2021

MEET THE TEAM EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief MARIBELLE ALBA Editors-at-Large PRESY ALBA REN ALCANTARA Mobility Consultant ARNEL DORIA Junior Editor GABRIEL PE Writers JOSE ALVAREZ GERRY GAVIOLA JEWEL STA. ANA RACINE ANNE CASTRO

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CREATIVES Creative Consultant RAYMUND RAVANERA Creative Lead JERICO LUTRANIA Creative Staff CHINI YU SORIANO CARMELA BIRAO ADVERTISING Sales and Advertising Manager MARISA CONSUELO Account Executive CAROL AGABIN ADMINSTRATION President & CEO MARIBELLE ALBA Accounting Manager MARITESS MAULION HR & Administration Manager AMY CHRISTINE GIRAY Circulation Officer LORIE BERNARDO Administration Staff RAMIL ALMOJANO Legal Counsel ALBA LAW OFFICE

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