2024v24n5-RISING STARS by Gadgets Magazine

Contents

JANUARY 2024

VOLUME XXIV • Issue V

1A 06

Rising Star HATASU’s Rise To The Top

Cover Story How Greener Tech Is Impacting Consumer Products and The World

The New Kings of Mobility

Transforming Visual Content

Parade

Lenovo Legion Go Seiko Prospex Watch Fujifilm Apeos C2450 S Midea Airstill Pure Bliss Epson EcoTank L3550/L5590

20 22 24 25 26 27

GadgetsLab HONOR X9b 5G Sony INZONE Buds

20 3

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Contents

JANUARY 2024

VOLUME XXIV • Issue V

Mobility Yamaha Mio Gravis

Hyundai Ioniq 5 Asean Tour

Urban Performance With Suzuki

Gaming Ready Or Not

TFT Remix Rumble and TFT Mobile

AP. Bren wins M5 Championship, as Pinoys continue ML:BB Dominance

Cyber Security Hackers Predict: The Biggest Cybersecurity Worries in 2024

2024 Advanced Threat Landscape

Financial Cybersecurity Landscape in 2024

Employment Jobstreet by SEEK

Innovation Solve For Tomorrow

Enterprise Life Enabling Digital Innovations

Fast Track By Rush

Store-Specific Planogram

60 4

Education 86

The Learning Hub

AI 88

Gemini

Apps 2023 Top Google Search Trends

FinTech eTap Bullish on 2024 Outlook

Transforming Banks for a Digital Future

Newsbytes

93 104

Acer Commits to Carbon Neutrality for Vero Laptop Line

realme Surpasses 200 Million Global Shipments in Just 5 Years

NLEX, BPI Signs 10B Loan Agreement

Teleperformance Bags 9 Awards, Re-enters Longest and Largest Awards Program in Europe

TNT Launches Prepaid eSIM

100

DOOGEE Supports Gawad Kalinga Foundation’s Education Initiative with Tablet Donation

101

‘Big Winner Ka Sa Petron’ Engine Oils Promo

102

Relic Skype 5

104

Rising Star

HATASU’S RISE TO THE TOP

January 2024

gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

n the last couple of years, the shape of mobility in the country has drastically changed. For one, mobility solutions have become more accessible and affordable to more Filipinos. One of the leading causes for the shift is the changing mobility landscape.

We have seen the rise of ebikes (electronic bikes) in the Philippine market. Ebikes offer Filipinos a more economical way of traveling within the metro: they don’t utilize gas so you’re under no pressure from rising costs; maintenance is easy with the electric motor and battery; and finally, you get more for your money’s worth since some ebikes can ride more passengers per peso spent. Among the various ebikes that have popped up, HATASU has stood out among the rest. Unlike most ebikes in the market, HATASU offers various models specially tailored for certain individuals. These models are also priced really well with a model suited for whatever budget you have. If you’re on the lookout for a HATASU bike for your needs, here’s what they have to offer.

January 2024

Rising Star

KUMI 2023 The KUMI 2023, is a two-wheeler ebike made for individuals who want a hassle-free ride to school or work. It may be the least powerful among HATASU’s lineup fitted with a 350W dynamo motor and a 48V 20AH lead-acid battery, but it can still keep up with the rest! It has a max speed of 25kph and can last up to 40-50kms in range. There’s also a display panel with an LED battery indicator to tell you when it's time to charge the bike. It comes with a front basket where you can store your bags and maybe some small groceries. It also has a passenger saddle, perfect for either bringing the kids to school or picking up the wife from work. The KUMI 2023 comes in two colorways: All Black and Black/Red.

Battery

48V 20AH Lead-Acid

Motor

350W Dynamo Motor

Speed

Up to 25kph

Distance/Range

40-50kms

Dimension

150 x 64 x 102cm (LWH)

Other Features

LED Battery Indicator, Cushioned Saddle

Starts At

PHP19,990.00

January 2024

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Battery

48V 20AH Lead-Acid

Motor

400W Dynamo Motor

Speed

Up to 25kph

Distance/Range

40-50kms

Dimension

150 x 65 x 103cm (LWH)

Other Features

Digital Display, Park Button, High Quality Body

Starts At

PHP28,990.00

NERO The HATASU NERO is the big brother of the KUMI. This two-wheeled ebike was made for those who want an upgrade from their usual bikes or even a break from the rising gasoline prices. As a bigger bike, it has a bigger 400W dynamo motor which can power it to reach up to 25kph. For battery, it has a 48V 20AH lead-acid battery that HATASU estimates can reach 40 to 50km on a full charge. It has tons of features like a park button that keeps the ebike securely motionless when parked even when on a hill 4A

or a steep road, and a digital display where you can see panel information like battery status, speed, and mileage clearly even in broad daylight. The NERO also comes with an underseat compartment in addition to the front basket, allowing for more storage. It has a passenger saddle with backrest so your passenger can ride with comfort and confidence. In case you don’t have a plus one, the passenger seat can be transformed to hold delivery boxes, a great feature for those who want to use the ebike for their business. The NERO comes in two color options: Red and White. January 2024

Rising Star

HARU The HARU is a compact three-wheeler perfect for those apprehensive about a two-wheel ride. This ebike offers better stability and comfort compared to the usual two-wheeler option, with the added benefit of still being small and compact for easy handling and parking options. The HATASU HARU is equipped with a powerful 500W differential motor that reaches up to 25kph. It also has a 40 to 50km range from its 48V 20AH leadacid battery.

Battery

48V 20AH Lead-Acid

Motor

500W Differential Motor

Speed

Up to 25kph

Distance/Range

40-50kms

Dimension

1500 x 680 x 1000mm (LWH)

Other Features

Wide & Soft Leather Saddle, Mini Underseat Compartment, Compact Body

Starts At

PHP36,990.00

The HATASU HARU makes rides more comfortable with its wide and cushioned saddle-seat. Storge space is plenty, with its mini underseat compartment and front basket, perfect for those brief market trips. The HARU comes in two colors: Red/Black colorway. January 2024

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MAKO 2 The HATASU MAKO 2 is made for families. The MAKO 2 seats three individuals, maybe even four if you’re carrying small kids. With a bigger frame and wide base, the MAKO 2 offers a stable ride. It’s also one of the most powerful ebikes in the HATASU lineup with its 650W differential motor enabling it to reach a maximum 25kph. It has a 48V 32A lead-acid battery that allows it to have a range of 60-70km, meaning less charging times and more savings.

Battery

48V 32AH Lead-Acid

Motor

650W Differential Motor

Speed

Up to 25kph

Distance/Range

60-70kms

Dimension

2120 x 860 x 1710mm (LWH)

Other Features

Roof Set & Temprered Glass Wind Shield, Brighter LED Headlight, Underseat Compartment Storage

Nationwide Price

PHP59,990.00

This three-wheeled ebike is also packed with family friendly features such a motorcycle suspension fork that compensates for bumps and uneven roads. Its roof set and tempered glass windshield protects both driver and passengers from rain or shine. Finally its brighter LED headlight keeps you and your family safe at night. The MAKO 2 comes in two colorways: All Black and Black/Grey.

January 2024

Rising Star

HERO The HATASU HERO is the brand’s flagship ebike. The HERO is made for the various needs of the everyday Filipino. It has a 650W differential motor allowing the bike to speed up to 25kph. It has a 60 to 70km range, allowing longer travels or lesser charge times. What makes the HATASU HERO stand out among other three-wheeled ebikes is its dual eagle-eye headlight that is three times brighter compared to ordinary ones and is visible even in broad daylight. Its patented leather roof and back cover make it lighter than most for a more energy-efficient ride yet still protects you and your precious cargo from the elements. The dual horn is an added safety bonus to keep you and your family safe during your travels. The HERO comes with multiple storage options including an underseat compartment and even a back compartment. There’s also a USB port which can be used to charge your phone as you navigate your way throughout the metro. January 2024

The HERO comes in two colorways: All Black and Black/Grey.

Battery

48V 32AH Lead-Acid

Motor

650W Differential Motor

Speed

Up to 25kph

Distance/Range

60-70kms

Dimension

2160 x 850 x 1710mm (LWH)

Other Features

Patented Leather Roof & Back Cover, Underseat Compartment Storage, Dual Horn, USB Port

Nationwide Price

PHP64,990.00

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Cover story

January 2024

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HOW GREENER TECH IS IMPACTING CONSUMER PRODUCTS AND THE WORLD Words by Chris Noel Hidalgo

he integration of green principles in technology and mobility-related matters is not a new thing. For example, we have gone from Euro 1 to Euro 6 fuel standards in just over two decades. The difference is that in recent times, these have become more mainstream. More and more manufacturers have been integrating eco-friendly principles into their business models. The maturing industry landscape has meant that prices have and will continue to go down for these green products, making them available to even more end users. This change from the status quo comes at a critical time when we are racing against the clock to cap global warming at 1.5°C hotter than the pre-industrial average. We outline below some of these recent trends that not only make tech more interesting but also more environment-friendly!

January 2024

Cover story

Slimmer out-of-the-box offerings and eco-friendly packaging

More affordable electric bills and more stable electric grid

If you have been canvassing flagship and pseudoflagship phones during the last couple of years, you probably have noticed that the inclusions in the box have been getting slimmer and slimmer as time goes on. Years ago, the bare minimum was the inclusion of a SIM ejector, wired earphones, charging brick, and charging cable. Then the SIM ejector disappeared, followed by the wired earphones in accordance with the disappearance of the 3.5mm jack. Some of the marquee names in the industry have even gone so far as to remove the charging brick, leaving customers with just the charging cable.

The price of generating solar power has significantly gone down over the years. From a wallet-busting USD 115 per watt in 1975, solar energy in 2021 cost just 0.27 USD per watt according to OurWorldInData. Locally, the market price for solar panel systems without a storage battery ticks at around PHP 50,000 per kilowatt-peak, and around PHP 100,000 per kilowatt-peak for battery-based systems. More affordable solar-powered LED lights, fans, chargers, and battery banks have also become more accessible. So much so that even households in remote villages can purchase solar LED bulbs to light up their homes at night, even if they don’t have reliable on-grid electricity to begin with. Given that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that the Philippines has a potential solar power capacity of 4.5 to 5.5 kWh per square meter each day, investing in solar energy is a no-brainer.

While it can be validly argued that the above are cost-saving measures in order to keep phone prices competitive and boost profits, there is an underlying true environmental reason behind it. In excluding these from box inclusions, manufacturers are encouraging buyers to reuse their current accessories and make the most out of their product life. Let’s face it, most of us probably have a drawer full of cables and bricks that we’ve accumulated over the years. Of course, greenwashing is a thing and these brands still have to be held accountable for the environmental impacts of their end-to-end business processes. But given the fact that in the last decade, an average of 44.16-million metric tons of electronic waste was generated globally per year according to the United Nations University, every little bit of diverted waste counts. Additionally, some manufacturers have excluded plastic wrapping from and are using more recycled materials in their products’ retail packaging, further reducing their business’ waste footprint.

January 2024

Moreover, excess energy produced by these systems can be sold back to the grid through the Department of Energy’s (DOE) netmetering program implemented under Republic Act No. 9513 or the Renewable Energy (RE) Act of 2008. The program allows owners of grid-tied solar power systems to sell any extra energy they produce to their utility provider, which is then discounted from their regular power account. Not only does this mean cheaper monthly bills, but it also helps stabilize the grid during times of peak demand. Of course, RE-based electricity has the invaluable advantage of having little to no greenhouse gas emissions, helping slow down global warming.

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January 2024

Cover story

January 2024

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Steadily growing electric vehicle fleet In terms of cars, the Electric Vehicle Association of the Philippines (EVAP) forecasts that by 2030, the number of registered EVs in the country will reach 6.6-million units. However, this spectrum of electric vehicles go beyond the typical private four wheeler. You also have more affordable personal mobility devices such as electric scooters, unicycles, and bicycles; and larger carriers such as electric trikes, jeepneys, and buses. These, as well as the growing number of hybrids on the road, all point to an eco-friendlier future of getting people from A to B. This growth is also being accompanied by the steady increase of the necessary charging infrastructure. EVAP states that as of October 2023, there are around 900 charging stations around the country. The DOE is targeting to have 65,000 chargers by 2028 and over 80,000 more by 2040, encouraging more people to make the shift by ensuring that they will never run out of juice at inopportune moments and locations. Sure, while charging e-vehicles means relying on traditional electric power sources, they still produce less than half as much life cycle emissions versus a typical car. The more that RE takes up of the local energy mix, the less these life cycle emissions will be. Moreover, more e-vehicles on the road means less environmental pollutants. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, air pollution is the highest environmental risk to human health and the third highest cause of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. This equates to less oven-like urban areas and a healthier population.

January 2024

Cover story

THE NEW KINGS OF MOBILITY Words by Gabriel Pe

here has been a small but noticeable shift in both the domestic and global car market in recent years. Once dominated by Japanese car manufacturers and German sophistication, the last couple of years have seen the rise of a new global car power, China. Touted as the biggest car market, it has evolved from being a mere market to a global exporter, leading electric vehicle (EV) production and supplying over 60% of the world’s EV population.

January 2024

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Taking over from the old guard In 2023, China overtook Europe and Japan to become the world’s largest car exporter — and not just in EVs. While Tesla still holds the title of EV king, BYD claims to have overtaken sales by the American juggernaut for the last quarter of 2023. According to reports, BYD was able to sell 3.02 million electrified vehicles last year, with 526,000 EVs sold in the last quarter alone. Tesla only sold 484,000 globally for the final quarter. China’s rise to the pinnacle of mobility is somewhat of a miracle, yet it was also bound to happen. It is a miracle in that it has massively transformed its auto industry. A couple of decades ago, the country was merely a manufacturer of foreign brands, with homegrown vehicles taking more of a back seat. Then, Chinese factories churned out products with foreign badges. The shift started in 2009 when China overtook the US as the world’s largest automotive market. Around this time, policymakers in China changed their strategy, finding an opportunity in a small automotive niche, Electric Vehicles. In this niche area, domestic manufacturers could tinker and experiment with new energy vehicles (their term for EVs). With government backing and incentives, manufacturers soon ramped up the pace.

January 2024

Cover story

The King of EVs It has been reported that there are over 500 EV makers in China, thanks to the government’s push for the technology. As most of the world shifts its policies to favor EVs, China is ready to fill in the demand, leaving the traditional brands to play catch up. There is also a bit of good timing here. Until recently, EVs were still on the back foot vis-a-vis ICE (internal combustion engines. In fact, when it comes to utility, many would argue they still are. However, in the ever-changing landscape of global politics and the establishment of various climate agreements, the rise of EVs is becoming much more imminent. As countries set goals for full EV adoption, the once niche market is now an indemand segment. Outside investments through the years have been another driving force in the rise of the Chinese EV industry. When the Chinese economy was at its peak, Chinaowned businesses invested in foreign auto-makers — one example is Shanghai

January 2024

Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), which now controls MG Motors, thanks to a merger with the Nanjing Automobile Corporation (NAC) in 2007. NAC bought the struggling British brand in 2005. SAIC is also a partner of General Motors in China and has several joint ventures with them, including the SAIC-GM-Wuling partnership that gave rise to China’s most popular EV, the small Wuling Hongguang Mini EV. Another notable player/investor is the Zhejiang Geely Holding Group. The company bought Volvo from Ford in 2010 and started ramping up their automotive plans. In 2017 the company added another international brand to its portfolio when it acquired a 51% controlling stake in British supercar brand Lotus. Then, in 2018, they bought a small stake in Daimler AG, the parent company of Mercedez-Benz and Smart. This inside track allowed the company to further expand its automotive capability and eventually step up its automotive manufacturing techniques.

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Offering Features beyond value In the domestic scene, Chinese automotive brands have slowly taken up spots left behind by other foreign brands. A perfect example was Geely’s Coolray, which quickly gained market share by filling the then-open sub-compact crossover category. In other categories, Chinese brands have also slowly gained traction. Sedans, for instance, have seen MG, GAC, and Geely enter the fray—thanks to their great looks and aggressive pricing. You can have a car with nifty features like Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, Adaptive Cruise, and many more for the same amount of money or even less.

Globally, Chinese EV makers have strategically priced their models way below their Western counterparts. They can do this by implementing vertical integration within their factories. Vertical integration is the process by which the manufacturer creates most of the parts of the vehicles. Traditional car manufacturers make only around 15 to 20% of the vehicle internally and source the other parts from original equipment manufacturers like Bosch or Continental. However, companies like BYD and Wuling have managed to create up to 75% or more in-house. Lower manufacturing costs translate to lower retail prices.

It’s the same for Evs. While many other brands (both Western and Eastern) have strategized bringing flagship and premium EVs to the Philippine market, Chinese automakers have done the opposite and are looking at more entrylevel pricing. Brands like BYD and MG have strategically priced their models to be competitive in the EV market.

These factors, aided by government incentives and geopolitics, have allowed China to evolve from being an automotive importer into a rising star of the automotive world. No one can say Whether they’ll stay at the top. But, until the rest of the world catches up on the EV front, China will likely hold on to the title for a while longer.

January 2024

Cover story

Words by Alyssa Joji Silva

TRANSFORMING VISUAL CONTENT I n the ever-expanding realm of technological progress, visual content has grown as more people are capturing and sharing countless photos and videos. These moments seamlessly make their way onto social media channels, inviting viewers to explore and experience the digital adventures. This year, advances in camera technologies are bringing new cinematic qualities to the visual realm, continuously elevating the art of visual content in photos and videos.

January 2024

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January 2024

Cover story

Photo by Jonas Leupe, Jonny Caspari and eaterscollective on Unsplash

Embracing the concept of “Beyond the Limits,” advancements in camera technologies have paved the way for capturing extraordinary moments. This elevates the technical aspects of photography and videography and cultivates a more immersive and emotionally moving experience. These advancements feature unmatched image clarity, exceptional low-light functionality, rapid and precise autofocus, diverse lens options, advanced video capabilities, immersive 360-degree capture

experiences, seamless social media integration, creative enhancement through editing features, and numerous other advancements. All these allow everyone to explore, enjoy, and capture every moment authentically without worrying about the quality of your visual material or its focus on the subject. Camera industry players continuously innovate the functionality of their cameras to enable anyone to keep up with the boundaries of creativity they wish to explore.

“These features showcase the ongoing dedication of mobile companies to push the boundaries of mobile photography and videography, providing users with a comprehensive toolkit to express their creativity in visual content.”

January 2024

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However, these cool and modern camera innovations have a hefty price tag. Given the Philippines’ high import fees and taxes, acquiring the latest device can challenge visual content creators. But, despite this obstacle, if you hope to dedicate your life to enhancing your visual content capabilities, investing in a camera with the latest features has advantages. You can unlock creative possibilities, such as improved content quality and creative expression, to share more genuine experiences with your audiences. On the flip side, another option emerges in the form of smartphones. Many mobile companies have integrated excellent camera systems, rivaling even the most modern camera advancements. Smartphone technology innovations have transformed these devices into powerful tools for creating visual

content. These mobile camera innovations feature a range of advanced features, ensuring a versatile and high-quality photography and videography experience, such as multiple camera lenses, different image stabilization systems, stunning lowlight for night mode, integration computational technology, AI and machine learning, and the inclusion of pro-mode. These features showcase the ongoing dedication of mobile companies to push the boundaries of mobile photography and videography, providing users with a comprehensive toolkit to express their creativity in visual content. Importantly, this technological breakthrough shatters financial barriers for users without compromising on quality. While dedicated cameras offer a premium experience, smartphones present a more accessible path for individuals to engage in visual content.

January 2024

PARADE

Lenovo Legion Go gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Handheld Gaming Device

PHP49,995

LENOVO IS SET to redefine gaming experiences with the new Legion Go, its first gaming handheld device operating on Windows 11. This high-performance portable gaming handheld device ensures gamers the power to bring their A-game wherever they go. The Legion Go encapsulates performance, versatility, and accessibility. It currently stands as one of the best Windows 11 gaming handheld devices offering the hybrid experience of powerful gaming capability and unmatched portability. The Legion Go brings Windows 11 PC gaming power to a handheld mobile form and is powered by the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor with AMD RDNA 3 Graphics to deliver unmatched PC gaming performance for the most power-demanding games. It features a stunning 8.8-inch QHD+ display with a 16:10 aspect ratio, the largest display on handheld gaming devices in the market and is further enhanced with a 144Hz refresh rate. It features 16GB of LPDDR5X (7500Mhz) RAM with power management flexibility that delivers optimal gaming performance and faster loading times, in addition to up to 516GB of SSD storage. The Legion Go also has a long-lasting 49.2Wh battery January 2024

that supports Super Rapid Charge. This will allow gamers to play all day long and return to gaming in no time. Innovations for the Legion Go collectively raise the bar for performance, portability, and gaming experiences. The detachable TrueStrike controllers, featuring hall effect technology, provide precision and portability, outperforming transitional handheld gaming consoles. The new gaming modes, such as the ‘Battlestation’ and ‘FPS mouse mode’ allow the device to transform into the perfect device for casual, competitive, or shooter games. This handheld gaming machine is also engineered with the Legion Space, a gaming hub that combines a centralized game library comprising popular industry game platforms, libraries, immersive game pages, and quick launch features to make it easy to browse, manage, and configure settings to personalize gaming experiences. These innovations mark Lenovo Legion’s contribution to the evolving landscape of gaming, promising a future rich in innovation and player empowerment. To learn more about the Legion Go, check out the Lenovo Legion PH Facebook page.

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January 2024

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Seiko Prospex Watch

Philippine Limited Edition Ifugao Rice Terraces Series gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Mechanical Watch

EVEN FROM THE grayed-out pages of history books, one cannot deny the glory that sits at the heart of the Cordillera region in the Philippines. Despite being bookended by great distances, some 348 kilometers (approximately, at least) from the nation’s capital and 1500 meters above sea level, the lush mountainous terrain has long enchanted many, with its winding, often arduous path a small price to pay to marvel at its magnificence up close. Throughout the years, the humanity and heritage carved into the Ifugao Rice Terraces have continued to endure, proving that there is simply nothing quite like this wonder of the world. From exceeding boundaries to endless possibilities, the sacred traditions, folklore, and customs that steam from and surround the Ifugao Rice Terraces remain an inspiration to many. With its sweeping views and undulating curves that slope, swerve, and swoop through the perimeter of the corrugated mountain range, the pride of Ifugao parallels the commitment to bring awareness to the conservation of the environment for future generations by classic timepiece brand, Seiko. Carefully designed and inspired by the Ifugao Rice Terraces, the new Philippine Limited Edition Prospex watch will not January 2024

only be known for is exceptional function but also a timepiece that aimed to preserve this breathtaking site. Made to appreciate its every detail, every element, and every aspect, there is a lot of adventure brimming from within. Realized in its movement (caliber 4R35, automatic with manual winding, a power reserve of approximately 41 hours, and 23 jewels), case (stainless steel and bezel with ceramic display, sapphire crystal with magnifier, anti-reflective coating on inner surface, and LumiBrite on hand, indexes, and bezel), and a water resistance of 200m/660 ft, as well as ridging etched on the face reminiscent of the Ifugao Rice Terraces, the limit seemingly does not exist for this thing of beauty. Limited to only 1,500 pieces, it’s a gem for collectors and enthusiasts alike. For this endeavor, Seiko partners with Save The Ifugao Terraces Movement (SITMo), the non-stock, non-profit, non-government organization formed by the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement. Extending its help to the preservation and conservation of the Ifugao Rice Terraces, which is in constant threat of deterioration, a portion of the proceeds from the sales of the new watch will be donated to the NGO.

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PARADE

January 2024

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Fujifilm Apeos C2450 S Printer

FUJIFILM Business Innovation Philippines has launched the Apeos C2450 S, a new compact A3 color multifunction printer (MFP) that enhances business productivity for small businesses. The lightest A3 color MFP in the Fujifilm Apeos series, the Apeos C2450 S is equipped with standard functions such as print, copy, scan and fax and has improved printing, copying, sleep mode recovery, and Duplex Automatic Document Feeder (DADF) scanning speed as compared to the previous model. January 2024

The Apeos C2450 S features an enhanced user interface (UI) with its new 7-inch color touchscreen control panel, allowing users to customize display icons for easy operation. They can now register frequently used operations such as printing and scanning to Pins, without going through tedious settings. Users can also preview, enlarge, and confirm the scanned image using the preview function on the UI. Moreover, users can print files and photos stored on a mobile device by downloading the Print Utility application, and sending the data to the device.

For added security, the printer is installed with the IC Card Reader that supports user authentication. To prevent data leakage from the multifunction printer, a user is required to authenticate his/her digital identification using the IC Card on the IC Card Reader. Each department can control and monitor an employee’s usage of the printer by presetting print guidelines for its employees. For example, the number of prints allowed as well as print requirements for either color or monochrome can be preset for particular users.

Midea Airstill Airconditioner

UPGRADE YOUR HOME with comfort beyond breeze as Concepcion Midea Incorporated Philippines (CMIP), one of the country’s leading and most trusted names in home solutions, brings back its Midea Airstill inverter air-conditioning line.

Aside from its outstanding costefficiency, the Midea Airstill series boasts of its superior draftless technology with its Mini Hole Matrix of 7,928 micro holes that evenly scatter, mix, soften, and disperse the airflow for comfortable cooling. Its ultra-fast fan drops a room’s temperature in as fast as 40 seconds and, on top of that, features a sleek, S-shaped side outlet that allows more

cool air to surround every corner of a room, providing satisfying cooling for everyone. Additionally, Midea Airstill is IOTenabled, letting you connect with, control, and monitor the air-conditioner anytime, anywhere. CMIP is inviting every Filipino household to elevate their homes with the Midea Airstill inverter aircon series, available in 1.0hp and 1.5hp variants at all Abenson branches and other major appliance stores. To learn more about the Midea Airstill series, visit www.midea.com/ph.

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CMIP is looking to make every moment more memorable through its air treatment solution that delivers beyond savings, beyond comfort, and beyond speed. The Midea Airstill Inverter Split Type air-conditioners are rated with 5 stars on the Energy Efficiency Performance Rating of the Department of Energy. It is listed as the number one most energy-efficient out of the

700+ split-type models available in the Philippine market, per Department of Energy data, making it a perfect choice for upgrading your home without breaking the bank.

PARADE

January 2024

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Pure Bliss Essential Oil Blends

PHP1,500 – 15ml bottle

PHP3,500 – boxes set of 3

PURE BLISS Essential Oil Blends by SkinStation consists of 9 all-natural essential oil blends, the developed and imported from France. As many as 20 ingredients go into each blend, based on research by experts and specialists in essential oils from the world’s leading supplier of natural ingredients. The Pure Bliss line includes: • Age Defy – for firmer, hydrated, and renewed skin • Circulation Booster – to boost blood flow and circulation • Clear Skin – anti-bacterial blend to fight acne and reduce redness January 2024

• Energy Booster – to liven up the body and combat tiredness • Muscle Soother – to relax and soothe muscle tension. • Skin Calming – to relieve dryness, irritation, and itchiness • Air Defense – natural air purifier • Stress Away – to relieve tension and reduce stress • Immune Booster – to strengthen the immune system Pure Bliss essential oil blends are now available at all 107 SkinStation branches nationwide.

Epson EcoTank L3550 | L5590 Printer

The new additions to the EcoTank printer series are designed with sustainability in mind. It is powered by Epson Heat-Free technology which uses less power than laser technology as heat is not required in the printing process. Additionally, the hardware of these printers is made from 30%

recycled plastic, and they utilize 84% less consumables compared to ink cartridge printers, with the packaging comprising over 80% recycled cardboard. These result in significantly reduced carbon footprint being generated by the printers, a testament to Epson’s focus on sustainability. Epson’s new additions to the EcoTank series have improved upon the design of previous models by incorporating a replaceable maintenance box. A replaceable maintenance box significantly reduces downtime, as users can replace it with ease, anytime and anywhere without the hassle of bringing their printer to a service center.

or envelope— can be selected on the easily navigable Panel UI. Additionally, L3550 supports robust connectivity features, including smart printing features such as AirPrint, Mopria, and Epson Smart Panel. With Epson’s Smart Panel App, users are given direct access to functions such as remote On/Off, printing, scanning, and copying while monitoring the printer’s operation and ink level.

The Panel User Interface (UI) of the L3550 provide printing options to aid the needs of the users. The size of media, for example — standard, photo,

Visit https://www.epson.com.ph/ and contact your nearest Epson Authorized Dealer store for more information.

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THE NEW ECOTANK L3550 AND L5590 printers offer higher printing speed and durability, targeting users who demand a more premium printer for their homes or offices. They boast an increased print speed, with black/ color printing speeds hitting 15/8 ipm. The faster printing speed can be attributed to the incorporation of the upgraded PrecisionCore Print Head. The L3550 and L5590 printers also come with increased durability and an overall longer product life, with awarranty coverage of up to 50,000 pages or 2 years, whichever comes first.

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January 2024

REVIEWED BY CHRIS NOEL HIDALGO

HONOR X9B 5G gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

SMARTPHONE

I have dropped my daily driver more times than I can count. There were times when it was just a slight nudge off my work table onto a carpeted floor. There were also times when it was from a chesthigh faceplant onto a concrete sidewalk. Luckily, it’s protected by a pretty hefty case from a reputable brand, but that does not guarantee that the phone would walk away unscathed. Imagine my surprise when HONOR sent us the newest X9b 5G, with instructions to drop it and use it to smash stuff. Yes, you read that right. HONOR is so confident in their latest X lineup member that they wanted us to physically abuse it ON PURPOSE. That’s precisely what we did in addition to our usual gauntlet of tests to see if the HONOR X9b 5G is as durable and reliable in real life as it is on paper. Spoiler alert: it is. January 2024

DESIGN The HONOR X9b 5G review unit came in a Sunrise Orange colorway. I’m not much for loud palettes and would have preferred either the Emerald Green or Midnight Black variants, but this was a beautiful and classy-looking device. The back itself is made of vegan leather, which provides a little more grippiness versus a plastic back, in addition to giving a satisfying feel in-hand. It was honestly a shame to use the included transparent jelly case. Luckily, the phone’s durability meant I could use it ala carte and enjoy the premium in-hand experience without worrying about being a klutz.

The front has a nearly 6.8-inch AMOLED Curved display with slim bezels, adding to the device’s premium look and comfortable handling. This display maxes out at 1200nits of beak brightness and is tuned to a 120Hz refresh rate and 1920Hz

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The round camera module occupies the top part of the back shell with a ridged, piano black outer ring whose perimeter has the lenses and flash unit and an off-white inner circle with branding marks. Specifically, the primary camera sits on the outer ring’s left, the wide camera on the right, the depth camera on the top, and the flash on the bottom. Various other branding marks sit at the bottom of the back shell. I’m not a fan of the glossy piano black camera hump, but at least the lenses themselves are quite small. It’s also a relatively unique design that stands out from more common rectangular camera modules. PWM dimming capacity. There’s a camera punch hole at the top and an in-display fingerprint scanner at the bottom. Meanwhile, the phone’s edges are made of aluminum with a microphone pinhole

at the top; minimal branding marks on the left; volume rocker and power button on the right; and the dual nano-SIM tray, another microphone pinhole, USB Type-C port, and sole speaker along the bottom.

January 2024

HONOR X9b 5G

HARDWARE

USER EXPERIENCE

The HONOR X9b 5G runs on the midrange 4nm octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 platform, which features an Adreno 710 GPU, 4 cores running at 2.2GHz, and another 4 clocked at 1.8GHz. This is paired with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of non-expandable storage.

Let’s start with the drop test, shall we? I was so nervous to purposely drop the HONOR X9b 5G on its face from head high (I’m 5’6”). But after being assured that I wouldn’t be charged should the phone be damaged, I became more comfortable doing the unthinkable. I hoisted it up and let go. It fell face first with a cringe-inducing thud onto a tiled floor before bouncing and resting on its back. I picked it up to see if there were any scratches and was pleasantly surprised to find none. I turned it on to see if the phone still worked as intended, and it still did.

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In the camera department, the HONOR X9b 5G is rocking the following at the back: a 108MP f/1.75 main rear shooter with a 1/1.67-inch sensor; a 5MP f/2.2 ultra-wide secondary; a 2MP f/2.4 macro lens; and an LED flash module. At the front, it sports a 16MP f/2.5 selfie shooter. Battery-wise, the phone has a 5800mAh power pack with an included 35W wired HONOR SuperCharge brick and USB Type-C cable. HONOR claims it can endure up to three days of use before needing a top-up. We talked a bit about the phone’s display in the previous section. On paper, those specs should equate to a great viewing experience. But what about its nonoptical quality — its claimed durability? HONOR claims that the X9b 5G is #TheToughestPhone, capable of taking a five-foot drop and able to smash fruits

thanks to its Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop Display with SGS Five-star Overall Drop Resistance certification. SGS is a Switzerland-based testing, inspection, and certification company, and as far as our Google-fu can tell, only a handful of phones have received SGS’ five-star drop rating. Most of them are premium flagships. It is exciting to see that the same technology has trickled down to the midrange through the HONOR X9b 5G. Additionally, the phone is IP53 waterand dust-resistant, which should enable it to survive accidental spills into liquids or fine material. This potentially means you’ll get even more value out of your money because the phone should remain problem-free for years to come, even if it has accidents now and then. As with my previous reviews, I did miss the headphone jack. Bluetooth headsets are fine to use, but in my opinion, it’s just always nice to have the option of going wired.

Using the HONOR X9b 5G’s main (left) and wide (right) camera. | Photos by Chris Hidalgo

At this point, all pretense of care went out the window. I proceeded to yeet it straight down, some ways away and even tried the water bottle flip challenge on it. It survived all. I smashed it face-first angrily on a table. It still worked. I also dropped it from head high in public a few times and got shocked reactions from those around me. Still, the phone chugged on like nothing happened. I had to remind myself not to do the same to my actual phone because I’m certain mine would crack if I subjected it to the same form of abuse. The #ToughestPhone moniker is well deserved and is not just marketing hype. You can catch snippets of the drop-testing fun over at the Gadgets Magazine social media pages. Toughness is nothing without reliability. Thankfully, the HONOR X9b 5G is a solid all-around performer. In everyday use, the processor-RAM-display refresh rate combo led to a silky smooth experience juggling between emails, social media, and binge-watching online videos. Regarding gaming, the HONOR X9b 5G also ticked all the performance boxes. I tuned the graphics setting up to the maximum possible across all the games I tested, and never did I feel like the phone was struggling to hit 60fps. For your information, these included Call of Duty Mobile, NBA 2K Mobile, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, and Pokémon Unite. More demanding titles such as Diablo: Immortal and Genshin Impact also ran well at the

January 2024

Sample shots using the HONOR X9b 5G’s main camera. | Photo by Chris Hidalgo

highest possible graphics settings with all eye candy turned on, although there are noticeable, but not game-breaking, texture pop-ins and flickers.

Despite its capable processor, the HONOR X9b 5G can still go a long time without needing a charge. However, it does not quite reach the three-day battery life it’s advertised with. With mobile data always on, browsing social media, watching some videos, and playing a few MOBA rounds, I found that I had just enough battery to make it home on Day Two. Using the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test, the phone lasted around 11.75 hours, from 100% to 20%. Regarding charging speed, I found the 35W brick relatively slow in filling up the sizeable power pack. Starting from empty, 15 minutes of charge gave the phone almost a quarter tank, and it took nearly two hours to fill it up. It’s a good thing that the battery lasts as long as it does, so charging sessions while you’re mobile should be few and far between. Finally, I found the camera adequate across all scenarios, with in-app postprocessing on the tamer side without much boosts in image saturation and sharpness. The main camera gets decent

VALUE Coming in at a price tag of PHP16,999 for the lone 12GB + 256GB variant, the HONOR X9b 5G makes a great case for itself, especially among those with butterfingers such as myself. Smartphone screen replacements typically cost at least PHP1,000, with the prices going higher depending on where the repair is being done. The fact that you can drop it and not worry about going through the financial and time burden of having a cracked screen repaired makes it that much more worth it. I can imagine that it would also be great for the elderly and children who are more prone to dropping their phones. Add to that the impressive performance and battery life, and you have a phone that should last you for years to come. Pre-order HONOR X9b 5G from January 12 to 19, 2024 and get a FREE HONOR Gift Box and HONOR Choice X5 Earbuds worth PHP4,000. Shopee - https://bit.ly/Shop_X9b_ GadgetsMagazine Lazada - https://bit.ly/Laz_X9b_ GadgetsMagazine TikTok Shop - https://bit.ly/TikTok_X9b_ GadgetsMagazine

Display: 6.78-inch 2652x1200 px FHD AMOLED Curved, HONOR Ultra-Bounce Anti-Drop Display with SGS Five-star Overall Drop Resistance certification, 120Hz refresh rate, and TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light Certification Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 OS: MagicOS 7.2 (Android 13) RAM: 12GB Storage: 256GB Camera: 108MP f/1.75 with a 1/1.67inch sensor (main rear); 5MP f/2.2 ultra-wide (secondary rear); 2MP f/2.4 (macro rear); 16MP f/2.5 (front) Connectivity: 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 5, Bluetooth 5.1, GPS, NFC, USB Type-C, dual nano-SIM Battery: 5800mAh, 35W HONOR SuperCharge Others: In-display Fingerprint Scanner, IP53 dust and water-resistance Dimensions: 163.6 x 75.5 x 7.98mm Weight: 185g Colors: Emerald Green, Midnight Black, Sunrise Orange

WHAT'S HOT  As tough as advertised Impressive daily and gaming performance Long battery life

WHAT'S NOT  Charging speed could be faster  Cameras are decent at best

BOTTOMLINE Never experience a cracked screen again with the HONOR X9b 5G.

January 2024

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Synthetic benchmarks resulted in scores of 12104 in the PCMark Work 3.0 performance test, 2382 in the 3DMark Wild Life test, and 478.05 MB/s and 591.61 MB/s of sequential write and read speeds using the CPDT storage test.

colors and details when lighting is present. Meanwhile, the ultrawide camera is excellent for squeezing in more of what you see into the photo. There is a noticeable delay when switching between the rear cameras. Selfies also come out fine.

SPECIFICATIONS

REVIEWED BY REN ALCANTARA

SONY INZONE BUDS gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

TRUE WIRELESS EARBUDS

Try as I might, I can’t put gaming behind me. My gaming backlog ebbs and flows as reliably as the tides, and as such, I’m always on the lookout for peripherals that can enrich that experience. When Sony announced the INZONE Buds, I knew I had to give them a try. They ticked all the right boxes, but as with any new tech, there was room for error. I got my hands on a pair a few days after the launch, and have been using them extensively. Here’s what I found. January 2024

This is something of a mixed bag. The buds themselves are amazing. Small, light, and comfortable, you can pop them in and almost forget they’re there. I’ve had several pairs of TWS earphones before, including other offerings from Sony, and these beat all the others out handily. The case though, is quite large top to bottom, so keeping them in a pocket really isn’t going to be the most comfortable affair. The case of course needs to make a little extra room for the dongle, so that’s understandable, but is nonetheless a pain.

HARDWARE The spec sheet of the INZONE Buds is impressive. Sporting the same drivers as the class-leading WF1000-XM5 true wireless buds, and the Bluetooth LE standard for greatly improved battery life, these buds have all the makings of greatness. A claimed 12 hours of use on the buds alone over BT, with another full charge thanks to the case is the cherry on top. USB C charging is acceptably fast, and despite the plastic build, the hinge design is more robust than most other TWS buds. There’s even a little spot in the case for the 2.4 GHz USB C dongle, so you won’t lose it five minutes after tearing the device out of the packaging. As expected from the brand, it also comes with silicone eartips of different sizes so you can get the best fit for your ears.

January 2024

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DESIGN

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Sony Inzone Buds

360 spatial sound for gaming

USER EXPERIENCE Before I get to the meat of the review, I have to preface it by saying I really really wanted these buds to be the one solution for my gaming and music needs. AS it stands though, there are a few problems that put it just shy of an amazing true wireless experience. As I mentioned earlier, these might just be the most comfortable TWS buds I’ve ever used. The combination of a small size, light weight, and great ANC make for a very pleasant fatigue-free listening experience. Sound quality is also above average, and while it’s just a hint bassier than I’d like, it’s not as offensive as other buds out there, particularly among those geared towards gaming.

Customizable controls

Transparency mode is also impressively good. It lets outside sounds in amazingly well, with such little distortion it’s startling. Switching ANC modes can be set to different tap combinations on touch pads on either earbud. Bluetooth works as expected, with a decent amount of latency. Sound is full, on the bassy side, but with acceptably clear mids. The noise floor is noticeably high, but nothing that is overly distracting, and more than OK for listening to music while out and about.

January 2024

No distractions and a quality soundscape

been warned. It should be noted that this device will only work on Bluetooth LE, so whatever your device is, if it doesn’t have BT LE, you’ll need to use the USB dongle. This is also the way you’d connect it to a PS5, in case you want to go that route. Hopefully all these concerns can be addressed with a firmware update, but it might be prudent to just wait for those updates to roll out first.

VALUE

Personalized your INZONE Buds using INZONE Hub PC software

While the ability to switch between Bluetooth mode and 2.4 wireless is

great, I found the execution of the dual functionality to be lacking. I frequently had problems getting the music touch controls to respond as intended, and those same music controls only really work with BT anyway. There also appeared to be no way to consistently get the device to work with BT and phone calls, so I’d have to pull an earplug out and hold the phone to my ear. This wasn’t a problem with the dongle though, which always worked seamlessly. A friend with a Samsung S22 also couldn’t get the buds to connect to his phone. This is apparently a known problem that many S22 (and S21) owners are facing. You’ve

SPECIFICATIONS Drivers: 8.4mm Noise canceling: Active Connectivity: 2.4 GHz via USB-C dongle, BT LE Microphones: Yes PS5-compatible

WHAT'S HOT  Great extended-wear comfort  Above-average ANC  BT and 2.4 GHz connectivity

WHAT'S NOT  Price  Plagued by firmware issues  A number of compatibility issues.

BOTTOMLINE

A USB-C® dongle connection provides latency of less than 30 ms

It falls short of being the device it promised to be.

January 2024

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Should you want practically zero latency, and the ability to listen to stereo audio while talking through the microphone as you would when gaming and using comms, you’ll have to plug in the included dongle and switch the buds over to USB Transceiver mode by pressing and holding the pads on both earbuds. This mode works well, and I’ve attended entire meetings on both my phone and PC this way, with no complaints from anyone on the other end. Mic quality isn’t amazing though, as is the case with most wireless audio solutions, but it’s more than clear enough to be understood.

Perhaps once the problems are fixed, there will be reason to change this score, but at a local price of about PHP 14,000 for a device that’s hamstrung by a multitude of issues, you’re going to have to really want the two-in-one functionality to make the purchase worth it.

MOBILITY

YAMAHA MIO GRAVIS OUTRUN YOUR LIMITS Y

amaha’s signature AT lineup, the Mio, has revamped its Gravis model for a more premium and active lifestyle. It breaks the stereotype of what being in your prime is, and is sculpted for the rider who is ready to stay in the game. The multiple design upgrades of this revamped model keep the rider

January 2024

engaged and ready to stay in the game to enjoy an ever-exciting lifestyle. It also boasts of better handling and stability with its low center of gravity because of its fuel tank placement. Its front fuel lid is now easily accessible for more convenient refueling. A large 25L storage space allows more items to be carried by the rider.

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Its body has been redesigned to be sharper, representing lightness and agility. A tighter and slimmer seat design, forward momentum design, Sporty LCD, and sharper character lines contribute to its overall active body look. The almond-shaped blue inner lens for the position light helps produce a sense of “intelligence” while accentuating the twin-eye headlight adds a confidence-building look of strength. These design updates have made it possible to add a sportier feel that adds a new sense of quality and status. Also new to the model is the large front storage pocket that aims to meet the numerous needs of daily use and can fit a plastic bottle along with other small items. It is now Y-Connect compatible, linking you with your motorcycle and allowing you to check your personal riding log, last parking location, malfunction notifications, fuel consumption, and more. The Yamaha Mio Gravis is available in the YZONE, Yamaha RevZones, and 3S Shops nationwide. It comes in Dark Petrol, Matte Brown, Matte Black with an SRP of PHP93,900.

January 2024

MOBILITY

January 2024

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HYUNDAI IONIQ 5 ASEAN TOUR Spanning five Southeaset Asian countries, the tour served as a dynamic proving ground, showcasing the IONIQ 5’s reliability, eco-friendliness, and long-distance capabilities

he Hyundai IONIQ 5 ASEAN Tour, themed Go Far with Zero Worries, reached its final destination in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on November 30, 2023, after traveling through Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Cambodia. This EV tour featured the most visited countries in Southeast Asia, with a total journey of 3,197km.

January 2024

MOBILITY

It was a dynamic proving ground showcasing the IONIQ 5’s reliability, eco-friendliness, and long-distance capabilities, especially in the Southeast Asia market, where many are still doubtful of EV capabilities. As a bonus, the IONIQ 5 showcased remarkable cost efficiency, with a total cost of only USD116 per car for the entire journey. This is approximately two times more cost-efficient in comparison to an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.

Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) from Indonesia and Thailand, began in Singapore with a thrilling flag-off ceremony. In Malaysia, participants participated in a media convoy featuring the sleek IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6. In Bangkok, Thailand, the IONIQ 5’s revolutionary Vehicle to Load (V2L) technology transformed the cars into power hubs, enhancing outdoor lamps, music performances, mini cinema experiences, and culinary experiences.

“Hyundai is fueled by an unwavering commitment to innovation and shaping the future of mobility – a commitment that reverberates in every action we take,” exclaimed Youngtack Lee, president of Hyundai Motor ASEAN HQ. “Our dedication to making electric vehicles more accessible as the definitive clean mobility solution of tomorrow has taken a giant leap forward. Witnessing the tremendous success and excitement generated by the IONIQ 5 ASEAN Tour, we are propelled to intensify our comprehensive innovation aimed at fortifying the EV infrastructure and ecosystem across the region. The journey may have concluded, but the electric excitement has just begun.”

Nithi Thuamprathom, an influencer who joined the tour from Hat Yai, Thailand, expressed his exhilaration, stating, “Being part of the Hyundai IONIQ 5 ASEAN tour has exceeded all my expectations! I am convinced that electric vehicles,

The IONIQ 5 ASEAN Tour, a groundbreaking electric mobility initiative comprising five vehicles — 2 manufactured in Indonesia and 3 in Singapore — and in collaboration with several participants from the Association of Singapore (AAS), Hyundai Motor Company, local community influencers, and January 2024

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particularly the IONIQ 5, are the future of transportation. This transformative tour removes my anxiety on EVs capabilities, conclusively proving that EVs not only cover long distances but do so with such style, comfort and reliability.” Nithi, a prominent figure in the electric vehicles industry, has expressed optimism for the Thai market, highlighting the potential of electric vehicles in promoting a sustainable and exciting era of electric mobility. As the tour ventured into Cambodia, Fitra Eri, an influencer from Indonesia as well as an automotive expert took the stage, sharing compelling insights and enlightening the Cambodian market on the immense potential of electric vehicles in shaping the future of transportation. Culminating in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, the tour reached its grand finale with yet another electrifying media convoy, featuring a high note from Fitra Eri, who declared, “As the first proud owner of the IONIQ 5 in Indonesia, my electric vehicle journey shattered the anxiety about city limits. This tour not only confirmed that beyond urban boundaries, we experienced zero worries and unmatched convenience during long-distance drives with the IONIQ 5 crossing borders of different countries, but it also erased anxieties about finding charging stations. We arrived at our destinations rejuvenated, waking up to a fully charged vehicle the next morning.”

“Even during the challenging stretch from Cambodia to Vietnam, where charging stations are limited, the IONIQ 5 showcased an impressive range, boasting around 50% battery life remaining. This journey emphatically validates the tour’s slogan, Go Far With Zero Worries, underscoring the pivotal role of electric vehicles in shaping the future of transportation. Importantly, it signals that the ASEAN region is ready for future electrification,” added Fitra, foreseeing this success as a testament to the potential of electric vehicles, predicting a transformative era in ASEAN.

January 2024

MOBILITY

URBAN PERFORMANCE WITH SUZUKI

Suzuki Burgman Street 125

January 2024

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Navigating the busy cityscape needs more than just any two-wheeler. The demands of fuel costs, practicality and style all require a ride that delivers more than the ordinary. Suzuki knows this, and delivers a trio of modern scooters that are set to redefine your journey.

Suzuki Burgman Street 125 EX

Suzuki Avenis

January 2024

MOBILITY

The Suzuki Avenis is a scooter with a sharp, aerodynamic design, and Suzuki’s renowned reliability. With a 125cc four-stroke, single-cylinder engine enhanced with Suzuki Eco Performance technology, the Avenis delivers superb fuel efficiency, and unrivaled versatility.

Suzuki Avenis January 2024

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Digital Speedometer

21.8L Capacity Underseat Compartment

External Hinge Type Fuel Cap

An LED headlight, and sporty split-type LED tail light, along with a strong, muscular stance come together to create a scooter that’s a head-turner and perfect for those who need a practical ride, without compromising looks. A large 21.8-liter storage compartment lets you carry everything you need to live your adventure the way you want. The Avenis isn’t just about looks though, it delivers an excellent ride. The 125cc engine comes with Suzuki’s Eco Performance engine to deliver an impressive 54 kilometers of range per liter of fuel, and instant torque that comes on without hesitation. The smooth CVT transmission means easy urban riding even through traffic, and kick and electric start mean worryfree performance. The full digital instrument panel gives great visibility, and all the information you need on

your ride. With 6.4 KW of power and 10 NM of torque, it’s a scooter that can get moving even with full bags and a passenger. To add even greater convenience, the Avenis has an easilyaccessible external fuel cap, so you don’t have to pop the seat to top up.

Sporty Split-Type LED Tail Light

The Avenis is available in Metallic Matte Black, Pearl Blaze Orange, and Pearl Mirage White, for just PHP 80,400*. *Price as of December 2023

Fuel Injected Engine with SEP

Glove Box with USB Socket

January 2024

MOBILITY

Suzuki Burgman Street 125 Level up your game with the Burgman Street. Featuring a sophisticated design, maxi-scooter comfort, and real-world practicality, the Burgman Street strikes the perfect balance between performance and style.

January 2024

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125cc Suzuki Eco Performance Fuel Injected Engine

21.5L Underseat Compartment

Despite high levels of comfort, the Burgman Street’s 125cc fuel-injected Eco Performance engine is extremely efficient, capable of going an impressive 53.5 km per liter of fuel. With a fuel capacity of 5.6 liters, the Burgman street is ready for the long haul. But the practicality doesn’t end there. Along with a generous 21.5 liters of underseat storage, the Burgman Street has a 2L glove box with optional USB charging for your devices. The Burgman Street has plenty of seat space for extra gear or a passenger, and relaxed ergonomics for a comfortable ride whether it’s across the city, or the country. If you’re traveling solo, the rear pegs fold neatly away following the Burgman’s lines, making fr a very neat, extremely sleek look. Powerful torque early in the range mean you can pull effortlessly away

Digital Speedometer

from a standstill, and city-friendly dimensions let you get through tight gaps with ease. The Burgman Street is available in Metallic Matte Bordeaux Red, Pearl Mirage White, Matte Black, and the gorgeous Pearl Moonstone Gray, for PHP 83,400*. *Price as of December 2023

Body Mounted Windscreen

LED HeadLights

LED Rear Combination Light

Glove Box with USB Charge

Flexible Foot Position

January 2024

MOBILITY

Suzuki Burgman Street 125 EX The Burgman Street 125 EX takes the regular Burgman Street, and upgrades it to Executive class. The king of Suzuki’s three scooter offerings, the Burgman Street 125 EX takes the best of the line, and elevates it even further.

January 2024

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Engine Auto Stop Start and Silent Starter System

Digital Speedometer 12-inch Rear Wheel

Front Disc Brake

Featured upgrades include a 12-inch wheels front and rear for greater road presence and ride comfort, to go with its premium maxi-scooter looks, and executive styling befitting its executive status. The Suzuki Eco Performance Alpha engine that powers the Burgman Street 125 EX comes with an Engine Auto StopStart system for lower fuel consumption in traffic, a silent starter system that delivers impressive power at optimal fuel efficiency. The Bugman Street 125 EX has a smooth fuel-injected 125cc single cylinder power plant that allows the scooter to achieve 52.6 km per liter.

LED Headlights and Position Lights

The Burgman Street 125 EX has the same excellent level of comfort you

21.5L Large Underseat Compartment

can expect from its Burgman lineage. Whether riding solo or two-up, there’s plenty of room on the plush one-piece seat for a quick spin in the city, or a longer haul through longer roads. The Suzuki Burgman Street 125 EX comes in two premium colors– Metallic Matte Black, and the eye-catching Metallic Royal Bronze, and is available for PHP 92,400*. *Price as of December 2023

Dual Tone Seat Cover

Suzuki Eco Performance Alpha

Flexible Foot Position For Rider

January 2024

MOBILITY

Model

Avenis

Burgman Street 125

Burgman Street 125 EX

Engine Type

4-Stroke, 1 Cylinder, SOHC, 2 Valve

4-Stroke, 1 Cylinder, SOHC

Max Power

6.4KW at 6,750 RPM

6.4KW at 7,000 RPM

6.3KW at 6,500 RPM

Max Torque

10.00Nm at 5,500 RPM

10.2Nm at 5,000 RPM

10.00Nm at 5,000 RPM

Displacement

124cc

125cc

Fuel System

Fuel Injection

Cooling System

Air-Cooled

Starting

Kick and Electric

Electric + Kick

Transmission Type

CVT

Suspension (F/R)

Telescopic/ Hydraulic Type

Telescope, Coil Spring, Oil Damped / Swing-Arm Type, Oil Damped

Tire Size (F/R)

90/90-12 54J Tubeless / 90/100-10 53J Tubeless

90/90 - 12, Tubelss, 100/80 - 12, Tubeless

Brakes (F/R)

Disc/Drum

Wheelbase

1,265mm

1,290mm

Seat Height

780mm

Dry Weight

106kg

Fuel Tank Capacity

5.2 Liter

5.6 Liter

5.5 Liter

Curb Mass/Weight

110 kg

112 kg

Ground/Road Clearance

160mm

Price

PHP80,400*

PHP83,400*

PHP92,400*

Color

Mettalic Matte Black, Pearl Blaze Orange, Pearl Mirage White

Mettalic Matte Bordeaux Red, Matte Black, Pearl Mirage White, Pearl Moonstone Gray

Metallic Royal Bronze, Metallic Matte Black *Price as of December 2023

Suzuki Burgman Street 125

January 2024

Suzuki Burgman Street 125 EX

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Suzuki understands the urban mobility needs of the Filipino, and these three scooters are a testament to this. Rides that deliver style, performance, fuel efficiency, and comfort have always been important to the company, and the Avenis, Burgman Street 125 and Burgman Street 125 EX embody these goals perfectly. Powerful, practical, and stylish, anyone looking to get around the city and beyond can find everything they need with the latest scooter lineup from Suzuki.

Suzuki Avenis

January 2024

Gaming

DEVELOPER

VOID Interactive

PUBLISHER

VOID Interactive

PLATFORM

Words by Jose Alvarez

irst-person shooters have always been my bread and butter since I started online gaming. Arcade-style shooters such as Fortnite, Overwatch, and Call of Duty have always caught the eyes of gamers. Some shooters are more complex and require strategy (think Rainbow Six or Total Conflict). Blending strategy with FPS, especially with today’s games, seems like mixing oil and water—but would that be the case in Ready or Not? You play the David “Judge” Beaumont, a leader of a police tactical unit, and your goal is to wipe out criminals by any means necessary in the fictional city of Los Sueños. Much like in real life, it is actually better to arrest the criminals than go in with guns blazing — and even more so given the reputation hit that law enforcement around the world has taken in recent years.

January 2024

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January 2024

Gaming

There is an insane amount of customization in this game as well — along with a wide array of firearms and other equipment, you can use tactical gear to ensure maximum (or minimum) bloodshed. For example, you can consider granular stats such as fire rate, bullet penetration, and ammunition caliber before going into a mission. While better guns will make you a force to be reckoned with, you also have to consider collateral damage, such as hostages and, of course, capturing your target alive. I tried the single-player Commander Mode and was immediately disappointed. While video game AI has improved over the years, it seems to have taken a drastically huge step back in Ready or Not. If the objective is to not kill your target, for instance, the AI is more likely to kill than not kill. Your enemies are no exception either—in one instance, they might do next to nothing, but in another, they’ll resemble John Wick levels of accuracy and danger. Therefore, always be prepared for some sort of shenanigans from your allies or enemies.

January 2024

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There are 18 missions available as of this writing. Many of them are supposed to mirror real-life situations and, in some cases, mirror real-life events. There are levels taking place in a nightclub and on a college campus, which were the sites of rather significant tragic events in real life that garnered considerable international attention. Many critics have slammed VOID Interactive for including these levels in a game, but politics and tragedy aside, these levels are rather intriguing if you ignore the awful AI. You can also play with your friends in co-op mode, which makes the experience better. You’ll need to do more intricate planning than the average shooter, but at least you’re working together with actual people to achieve an objective rather than relying on the unpredictable AI. For example, using non-lethal means such as tasering or using beanbag rounds can get you greater rewards. You can also choose various tactics that might come at a price—for instance, heavier armor for lower movement speed, which can let you take more damage.

Overall, Ready or Not puts you in the shoes of a SWAT team, but it doesn’t really give a realistic deep dive into what it’s like to be the long arm of the law if you’re playing alone. This means that you should try diving in with your friends to see what lies ahead. It’s a decent game to add to your library if you can brush aside some of the real-world issues regarding law enforcement — after all, the point of playing video games, in my opinion, is to escape the harsh realities of the real world.

Another realistic aspect of the game that I enjoyed was the upkeep of morale for your squad. You can send your own units to therapy so they don’t quit. Given that mental health often takes a backseat to physical health in the real world, I like that Ready or Not has this feature, and might ever-so-slightly redeem the very issues that VOID Interactive makes light of in this game—if it wasn’t for the fact that you can just easily replace those officers.

January 2024

Gaming Words by Gabriel Pe

REMIX RUMBLE AND MOBILE DEVELOPER

Riot Games

PUBLISHER

Riot Games

PLATFORM

PC, Mobile

eamfight Tactics (TFT), Riot Games’ auto battler, has come a long way since its debut in 2019. The game remains one of the world’s biggest auto battlers, thanks to consistent content updates that make the game fresh and enjoyable for any level.

January 2024

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A BRIEF INTRO TO TFT Teamfight Tactics, or TFT, is an auto battle game. There are elements of tower defense and even chess as you navigate your way to create a board stronger than your opponents. Your units automatically move and fight against the 7-other players in the lobby, so your in-game knowledge and skill are essential.

to play the right unit with the right synergy and the right item. You’ll also need to learn how to pivot from one trait to another in case you’re contested. It’s also a game where no single match is precisely the same. Sometimes, you can get the units you want; other times, you need to learn how to find the most optimal way to change your strategy. There’s no one answer in TFT, and sometimes you’ll be rewarded for experimenting instead of relying on the meta.

To create a powerful board, you have to consider the origins and traits of a unit and try to create synergies among your units. There are other things to consider, such as leveling up a unit, gold and economy to purchase units, and level to add even more units to the board. There’s also the unit pool, items, and character skills to consider, among others.

Overall, TFT has a lot of elements with a massive opportunity for skill expression. It can be frustrating and rewarding at the same time, depending on how you play the game. It’s a game where you must try it out and take time to learn and master.

Entering TFT, you’ll be greeted with a massive learning curve. Getting a win means learning

January 2024

Gaming

REMIXING YOUR WAY TO THE TOP On its 10th expansion, TFT is celebrating with a music-themed set titled Remix Rumble. There’s a lot to be said about the newest expansion, but one thing is for sure: the music is the highly of the set. Each trait/origin for this set was given its own distinct music. For example, Jhin the Maestro brings classical music to the board whenever he is placed, while Jazz units bring a Jazz tune whenever the trait is activated. Best of all is that the music flawlessly mixes which ever traits you have active. Every game can have its unique track, depending on the board you are playing. Remix Rumble also brings back the “chosen” mechanic first introduced in Set 4. Remix Rumble reintroduces the mechanic as headliners. Headliner units are more of a version of a unit since they have an additional effect. They’re also automatically upgraded to 2 stars when you buy them. Headliners will be available in your shops until you have one on your board. Afterwards, they’ll be available every after four shop refreshes. This means you can sell your current headliner for a better one fitting your comp later. Headliners and pivoting away from them are among the unique ways Remix Rumble has increased the game’s skill cap. Good TFT players know when to switch out of their headliner for a better one or utilize the one available to its fullest potential.

January 2024

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BRINGING TFT TO MOBILE After four years since its launch, TFT is finally on mobile in the APAC region. It’s a perfect time, with the game finally entering its 10th set, bringing loads of new content updates and a new way to play the game. TFT is a separate game mode within Riot Game’s League of Legends. It was initially set for mobile in 2020 for most of the world, except for the APAC region (minus China, Korea). TFT Mobile is essentially a mobile port of the game. TFT Mobile still has all the things you love about TFT and brings it to the portability and accessibility of mobile devices. Best of all, it has cross-play and progression, meaning you retain all your in-game purchases from the League client and in-game rank. You also play against players on either mobile or PC.

successfully complete a full pivot by instantly buying, selling, and rerolling from your shop compared to the PC.

There are some things you need to get used to in the mobile version. Unlike the PC version where you have more control via the mouse, the tapping to move your little legends (character) can often lead to misplays (especially on the carousel stage) if you’re not careful. You also lack some of the resources found in PC, like the information on how much gold is needed to level up. There’s also the capability to

Still, TFT Mobile is loads of fun. A TFT game is not a quick game, but you can still sneak a quick one during your morning commute or lunch break. What TFT Mobile excels at is bringing the joy, complexity, and satisfaction in playing a TFT match on the road wherever you are, a must in a mobile-centric community such as the Philippines. It took a long time coming, but I am nonetheless extremely happy that TFT Mobile is finally available in our region.

January 2024

Gaming

Words by Gabriel Pe I Photos courtesy of Moonton Games

AP. BREN WINS M5 CHAMPIONSHIP, AS PINOYS CONTINUE ML:BB DOMINANCE AP. Bren wins M5 World Championship

“Pinas lang malakas!”

his was the rallying cry of millions of Filipino gamers for the last two years — a reflection of the country’s passion for Mobile Legends, and its burgeoning competitive scene.

January 2024

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January 2024 Photos courtesy of ONE Esports

Gaming

For the last three years, Filipinos have lifted the game’s most prestigious trophy. Bren Esports started the dominance by winning M2; Blacklist International changed the game with their preeminent run in M3. Finally, the clash between Echo and Blacklist earlier this year showed how far ahead the country is in the global scene, such that this has been dubbed the “PH Era.” With M5, Mobile Legend’s World Championship, many questioned whether the Philippine era was finally over for Mobile Legends. After all, heading into the tournament, the heavy favorite was Onic Esport, an Indonesian team that just a couple of months prior had bested the Filipino representatives at the Mobile Legends Southeast Asia Cup (MSC).

Becoming better than great As the tourney proceeded, it was clear that two teams stood out, favorites AP. Bren and Onic Esports. The two overcame all odds to remain the last teams standing for the grand finals.

The group stage showed that the Filipino penchant for Mobile Legends was still very much active— Philippines’ top-seed AP. Bren easily topped their group. Meanwhile, second-seeded Blacklist International showed how deep their roster was, placing second in their group despite playing without their two franchise players OhmyV33nus and Wise.

The grand finals featured a storyline for the ages. It was the first grand finals that saw two storied nations in Mobile Legends Esports, the Philippines and Indonesia, face off after years of back-and-forth. The two finalists were also the two most dominant teams of the year, with Onic winning all the Moontonorganized competitions. A win here would make them the first team to ever achieve a grand slam. AP.Bren, on the other hand, was the international championship king, having brought home golds from the 2023 SEA Games as well as the 2023 IESF World Esports Championship.

Beyond the two squads, Filipinos were making their mark in other organizations. The Cambodian squad SeeYouSoon had two Filipino Imports who managed to go all the way, just shy of 4th place. Indonesia’s second seed GeekFam played with two Filipinos, Baloyskie and Marrky, with the latter stepping up when the team’s jungler was handed a two-game ban. Finally, the favorites Onic Esports had Kairi and Coach Yeb, two Filipinos who elevated the young squad to international favorites. There were also other Filipinos who took teams beyond — there’s Coach Lyrick for MENA squad Triple Esports, coach Pao of Team SMG, and coach Flysolo of Deus Volt, who turned an unknown squad from CIS to become the tournament’s dark horse.

If Onic won, they would be the first team to complete a grand slam. It would be a redemption for the young squad who stuck it out through thick and thin for a shot at glory. Should AP.Bren win, they would be the first team ever to lift the trophy twice. It would be a massive achievement since the squad started their rebuilding a couple of years back. AP.Bren took first blood, winning game one dominantly. Onic won game two. But then, AP.Bren took games three and four. With their backs against the wall, Onic Esports found solace in Midlaner Sanz and Goldlaner CW, who each played an amazing role in their game five and six wins, once again evening out the series and taking the game to a do-or-die game seven.

January 2024

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Surpassing greatness With one game away from winning or losing it all, both teams fielded unique strategies. For Onic Esports it was bringing out a roaming mage in the form of Kadita, capable of bursting down AP.Bren’s heroes, as well as a return of control mage Yve, ultimately changed the tide of the team fight. AP.Bren returned to their earlier strategy, finding heroes that could dive the backline; they drafted Khaleed and tanky heroes in the form of Edith and Fredrinn, all being kept alive by a midline Faramis and his ultimate. When the land of dawn beckoned for one final time, it would be AP.Bren who got her favor as their strategy proved stronger, forcing Onic Esports to make uncharacteristic mistakes as they tried to find an early game lead.

A showcase of Filipino passion for the game

It would be a team fight around the bottom lord pit that ultimately gave AP.Bren the win as they quickly dismantled an out-of-place Onic squad. With the win, AP.Bren was rewarded with the lion’s share of the USD900,000 price pool or more than PHP1.66 million.

If there was one thing that stood out beyond the games in M5, it was the fans’ passion for the game. From the group stages until the Grand Finals, Filipino fans showed their support.

AP.Bren’s David Charles “FlapTzy” Canon was named as the Finals MVP, thanks to his crucial plays in the series. He was the team’s anchor with his aggressive playstyle finding crucial earlygame pick-offs to give AP.Bren control of the games they won.

“Nakakatuwa kasi sobrang daming Pinoy na sumusuporta sa amin, pero hindi din kami nagpaoverwhelm sa crowd (We felt happy because there were a lot of Pinoy supporting us, but we also didn’t let that overwhelm us),” said Rowgien “Owgwen” Unigo, the team’s roamer after their victory against Onic.

The win also made AP.Bren the only team in the world to have lifted the M-trophy twice. It also made AP.Bren coach Francis “Ducky” Glindro a three-time M-series winner, having been part of Evos Indonesia’s win in M1, before leading Bren to their first title win in M2. Meanwhile, Midlaner Angelo “Pheww” Arcangel and FlapTzy each earned their second title.

FlapTzy added that he was overwhelmed by the number of fans who came and supported the team. He said this was his first experience seeing that many people cheering for the team, and this made him feel that the whole country was really behind them. When everything was over, the team was asked to reflect on the phrase “Pinas lang Malakas” and Flaptzy best expressed it saying, “Pinas lang malakas is for all Filipinos. Because Filipinos, even if they are at a disadvantage, will not give up.” After all the struggles of AP.Bren, the Filipino teams, and the uncertainties of the tournament, it was the cheer “Pinas lang Malakas” that would push the teams to do the impossible and truly embody being Better than Great.

January 2024

Cyber Security

HACKERS PREDICT:

THE BIGGEST CYBERSECURITY WORRIES IN 2024 Hacking courses, leaked nudes, and AI usage in scams – these are the most discussed topics on the dark web forums

very year around December, experts at NordVPN try to predict the cybersecurity risks awaiting us in the next year. This year they decided to take a different route and look into the biggest dark web forum to find out what were the most discussed topics and base their predictions on their findings. “Every year, we try to predict sophisticated attacks from experienced hackers, who mostly target businesses or influential people,” says Marijus Briedis, a CTO at NordVPN. “Taking this year’s approach helped us realize that regular internet users, however, are often attacked by amateur hackers who are still developing their craft. They can also cause a lot of harm to their unsuspecting victims, and users need to be informed about their plans.”

January 2024

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Here are the top five predictions made by cybersecurity experts at NordVPN based on what hackers talk about online.

Leaked nudes will be trending on the dark web The most commented threads on the forum included those about leaked nudes from OnlyFans, Instagram, and other content-sharing platforms. Threads about leaked nudes received almost 1,850 comments and were among the top 20 most commented threads on the forum. “This means that next year we will see even more attacks, where pictures of naked people will be leaked. Another route criminals can take is using AI or deepfake technology to create fake nudes to trick their buyers,” says Marijus Briedis. To avoid having pictures leaked online, Warmenhoven recommends abstaining from sending photos through social media and using encrypted cloud solutions when sharing photos.

The number of amateur hackers will be growing Every tenth post on the forum was about learning how to execute some kind of attack. Among the most commented threads were: How to dox, List of useful resources for pentesters and hackers, How to hack WhatsApp of your friend by sending a single ink, How to instantly crack TikTok accounts easily, WiFi hacking course, and others. This means that hackers are sharing their knowledge, and we can expect the number of amateur hackers to rise together with the number of attacks they execute. Users should be even more serious about their cybersecurity education and keep themselves updated about the latest attacks.

Customer data will be selling like hotcakes Researchers found that around 55% of discussion threads were around leaked customer data, such as social media credentials, driver licenses, addresses, emails, and other bits of personal information. This means that hackers are still after vulnerable personal data, and no user is safe from hacking. Warmenhoven says that the simple thing users can do to protect their online data is to use MFA (multi-factor authentication) wherever possible.

Biometric authentication won’t be the answer

AI will be there to help hackers

Many platforms that care about the security of their users now provide the ability to authenticate biometrically. However, the research showed that hackers have already learned how to bypass some of the biometric authentication methods, such as the selfie verification that some crypto platforms use. The thread explaining how to bypass selfie verification collected more than 200 comments. “Biometric authentication will surely be a part of authentication in the future, but only if it is multi-factor,” says Marijus Briedis. “We can not only predict that biometric authentication will show to be unreliable, but that more layered ways to protect online accounts will appear.” One of the latest developments in the sphere has been passkeys technology. A passkey is a pair of related keys: public and private. Public and private keys do not work without one another and, therefore, are useless to hackers. Moreover, the passkey on your gadget (private key) cannot be accessed without biometric identification (of the device’s owner) or a PIN, which adds extra protection.

Hacked ChatGPT accounts and tutorials on using AI for attacks are very popular amongst hackers. This not only means that AI users are on the radar, but hackers are learning how to use AI to increase the capacity of their work and make their job easier, quicker, and more effective. “The utilization of AI tools will facilitate the automation of a significant portion of phishing attacks, and it is anticipated that the frequency of such attacks will escalate in the future, posing significant cybersecurity threats,” says Briedis. He also mentions that users who are unsure they can identify phishing emails can use browser extensions created to serve that purpose.

January 2024

Cyber Security

2024 ADVANCED THREAT LANDSCAPE Kaspersky Global Research and Analyses Team (GReAT) experts offer insights and projections for 2024 in the Kaspersky Security Bulletin, with a focus on the evolution of Advanced Persistent Threats (APT). January 2024

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aspersky researchers predict APT actors will introduce new exploits on mobile, wearables, and smart devices and use them to form botnets, refine supply chain attack methods, and utilize AI for more effective spear phishing. These advancements are anticipated to intensify politically motivated attacks and cybercrime.

AI-powered impersonation, the rise of creative exploits for mobile, and new botnets Emerging AI tools will streamline spear phishing message production, even enabling the mimicry of specific individuals. Attackers may devise creative automation methods by gathering online data and feeding it to LLMs to craft letters in the style of a person connected to the victim.

delivery methods, including zero-click attacks through messengers, one-click attacks via SMS or messaging apps, and network traffic interception. Protection of personal and corporate devices has become increasingly vital. The exploitation of vulnerabilities in commonly used software and appliances is yet another point where we should be vigilant. The discovery of high and critical severity vulnerabilities sometimes receives limited research and delayed fixes, potentially paving the way for new, large-scale, and stealthy botnets capable of targeted attacks.

“Operation Triangulation” marks a groundbreaking year for mobile exploits, potentially inspiring more research into APTs attacking mobile, wearables, and smart devices. We will likely witness threat actors broadening their surveillance efforts, targeting various consumer devices through vulnerabilities and “silent” exploit

January 2024

Cyber Security

Growth in cyberattacks by statesponsored actors and hacktivism as a new normal State-sponsored cyberattack numbers also have the potential to surge in the year ahead, amid increasing geopolitical tensions. These attacks will likely threaten data theft or encryption, IT infrastructure destruction, long-term espionage, and cyber sabotage. Another notable trend is hacktivism, which has become more common as part of geopolitical conflicts. Geopolitical tensions indicate a likely increase in hacktivist activity, both destructive and aimed at spreading false information, leading to unnecessary investigations and subsequent alert fatigue of SOC analysts and cybersecurity researchers.

Other advanced threat predictions for 2024 include:

Supply chain attacks as a service: operators’ bulk-buying access Supply chain attacks targeting smaller firms to breach major ones: the Okta breaches in 2022-2023 highlight the threat’s scale. Motives of such attacks may range from financial gain to espionage. 2024 might witness new developments in dark web access market activities related to supply chains, enabling more efficient and large-scale attacks.

Emergence of more groups offering hack-for-hire services Hack-for-hire groups are on the rise, providing data theft services to clients ranging from private investigators to business rivals. This trend is expected to grow in the coming year.

January 2024

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Kernel rootkits are hot again Despite modern security measures like Kernel Mode Code Signing, PatchGuard, HVCI (HypervisorProtected Code Integrity), kernel-level code execution barriers are being bypassed by APTs and cybercrime groups. Windows kernel attacks are on the rise, enabled by WHCP abuses, and the underground market for EV certificates and stolen code signing certificates is growing. Threat actors are increasingly leveraging BYOVD (Bring Your Own Vulnerable Driver) in their tactics.

Managed File Transfer (MFT) systems used for advanced attacks Managed File Transfer (MFT) systems face escalating cyber threats, exemplified by 2023 breaches of MOVEit and GoAnywhere. This trend is poised to escalate, with cyber adversaries eyeing financial gains and operational disruptions. The intricate MFT architecture, integrated into broader networks, harbors security weaknesses. Organizations should implement robust cybersecurity measures, including Data Loss Prevention and encryption, and foster cybersecurity awareness to fortify MFT systems against evolving threats. “In 2023, the notable surge in the availability of AI tools didn’t elude the attention of advanced malicious actors engaged in extensive and highly sophisticated campaigns. However, we anticipate that upcoming trends go beyond AI implications, including new methods for conducting supply chain attacks, the emergence of hack-for-hire services, novel exploits for consumer devices, and more. Our goal is to provide defenders with advanced threat intelligence that stays ahead of the latest threat developments, enhancing their capacity to fend off cyberattacks more effectively,” says Igor Kuznetsov, director, Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) at Kaspersky. The APT predictions have been developed thanks to Kaspersky’s threat intelligence services used around the world. Read the full report on Securelist.

January 2024

Cyber Security

FINANCIAL CYBERSECURITY LANDSCAPE IN 2024 January 2024

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inancial institutions and organizations should fortify their defenses in 2024, as threats will surge driven by AI and heightened automation, according to Kaspersky experts. Its crimeware report and financial predictions for 2024 anticipate an increase in cyberattacks, exploitation of direct payment systems, the resurgence of Brazilian banking trojans, and a rise in open-source backdoored packages.

software, compromising security and potentially leading to data breaches and financial losses. And the experts forecast affiliate groups in the cybercriminal ecosystem will exhibit a more fluid structure in the coming year, with members frequently switching between or working for multiple groups simultaneously. This adaptability will make it more challenging for law enforcement to track them and combat cybercrime effectively.

The report also includes a comprehensive review of the accuracy of last year’s predictions, emphasizing trends like the rise in Web3 threats and increased demand for malware loaders. Adapting to the evolving landscape, 2024 demands proactive cybersecurity strategies, sector collaboration, and innovative defenses.

Other important predictions include:

Last year, Kaspersky experts accurately predicted the rise in Web3 threats, increased demand for malware loaders, and the shift of ransomware groups towards destructive activities. Notably, the foresight on “Red Team” frameworks and a Bitcoin payment shift remained unfulfilled. Looking ahead, 2024 predicts an AI-driven surge in cyberattacks that mimic legitimate communication channels, leading to a proliferation of lower-quality campaigns. Moreover, the Kaspersky experts expect cybercriminals to capitalize on the popularity of direct payment systems, resulting in the emergence of clipboard malware and increased exploitation of mobile banking Trojans. Families like Grandoreiro have already expanded abroad, targeting over 900 banks in 40 countries.

• Global adoption of Automated Transfer Systems (ATS). The global adoption of mobile ATS will extend beyond Brazilian borders, allowing cybercriminals worldwide to exploit these systems for financial gain. • Decrease in zero-days, increase in one-day exploits. Crimeware actors will shift to more reliable one-day exploits due to the scarcity of zero-days, aiming for increased accessibility. • Exploitation of misconfigured devices and service. An increase in the exploitation of misconfigured devices and services, providing cybercriminals with unauthorized access for launching attacks. “In the ever-evolving landscape of financial cybersecurity in 2024, we anticipate a surge in threats, heightened automation, and the unwavering persistence of cybercriminals. To stay ahead, financial institutions and organizations must proactively adapt their cybersecurity strategies, fortifying defenses to safeguard assets and sensitive data. The key to success lies in fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors, forging a united front against the escalating risks that define the financial cybersecurity terrain in the year ahead,” says Marc Rivero, lead security researcher at GReAT.

Another concerning trend in 2024 could be the rise in open-source backdoored packages. Cybercriminals will exploit the vulnerabilities in widely used open-source

January 2024

Employment

The Philippines is the first to launch this new, innovative AI-powered platform to offer better job matches, experiences, and insights for Filipino talents and employers

obstreet by SEEK redefines the way talent and employers connect following the transformation of its employment platform in the Philippines. The completely new platform now uses its parent company SEEK’s world-class artificial intelligence (AI) technology to offer better job matches, new experiences, and deeper insights for both Filipino talent and employers. SEEK is an Australian Securities Exchange-listed company with a portfolio of online employment marketplaces operating across Asia Pacific and Latin America.

SEEK. We are excited to be delivering even better job and talent matching with the transformation of our platform that is powered by SEEK’s innovative AI technology,” says Dannah Majarocon, managing director, Jobstreet by SEEK (Philippines).

The transformation of the Jobstreet platform stems from SEEK’s AUD180 million investment across the last three years to unify its three online employment marketplaces in APAC, namely SEEK (in Australia and New Zealand), Jobstreet (in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore), and JobsDB (in Hong Kong and Thailand). It aims to enable the company to accelerate growth and unlock a larger opportunity across the APAC region. The Philippines is the launch market for SEEK’s multimillion-dollar unification program, which will conclude in early 2024. At the program’s completion, Filipino talent and employers can have access to more job opportunities and a larger talent pool respectively across SEEK’s entire APAC region. “Over the last 20 years, Jobstreet has been helping millions of people in the Philippines improve their working lives, guided by our vision of ‘a job for every Filipino’. In recent years, we’re seeing an increasing disconnect between the availability of jobs and talent due to the rise in skills mismatch and the ever-evolving job market. As the country’s leading online employment marketplace, we are constantly improving our platform to meet the needs of our Filipino talent and employers, and it’s now time to say hello to the new Jobstreet by

January 2024

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New Features and Capabilities for Better Job and Talent Recommendations The new Jobstreet by SEEK platform employs AI models to assess talent suitability, shortlist applications, and provide personalized recommendations by processing data from various sources, including the talent’s resumes, the job ad descriptions, and the employer’s past behaviors. With that, talent will now see a ‘Top Applicant Badge’ if they are a strong applicant for the position, which increases the chance of them applying for the role, and ultimately creating better matches as their experience and skills align with the job requirements. This also benefits employers who would receive a more qualified and relevant list of applications for the job vacancies that they publish. as approachable to employers depends on a range of factors, some of which include how active the talent is on Jobstreet by SEEK and what information they have in their profile. This feature is particularly helpful for employers who want to headhunt for the right person to fill their role.

To make the talent-hunting process more efficient for employers, they can also choose to include AIrecommended screening questions for their job posts, as part of the job application process. This way, the most suitable talent can be easily identified based on their responses to the questions.

Besides that, Filipino talent can now decide on their profile visibility on the new platform, signaling to employers that they are open to job opportunities even if they are not actively applying for jobs. This makes it easier for employers to proactively contact talent with opportunities, if applicable. The AI-powered platform also introduces a new feature – the predictive approachability signal, which is designed to assist in matching talent with potential employers more effectively. By using state-of-the-art predictive technology, Jobstreet by SEEK is able to anticipate talent that may be approachable to discuss a new job opportunity, even before the vacancy has been advertised. Whether or not a talent is marked

Continuous investment in AI technology The new platform will help link talent with the right job opportunities and increase the chances of landing the right job. Jobstreet now draws on its parent company SEEK’s over 25 years of APAC-wide data and optimised it for the Philippines, based on local insights drawn on over two decades of operation in the market. This is driven by SEEK’s data and AI team of over 200 strong, who are completely focused on the APAC region. “At SEEK we are committed to leveraging data and technology to provide the most effective, efficient, and fair recruitment solutions for talent and employers. We have been investing heavily in data and AI for over a decade with strong results, and will continue to do so as we aspire to make our products more effortless, personalised and trusted for our customers,” said Grant Wright, general manager of Marketplace and AI Products at SEEK. To experience the new Jobstreet by SEEK platform, visit jobstreet.com.ph or download the app on Google Play Store or the App Store.

January 2024

Innovation

From left to right: External Partnerships Service Representatives of DepEd: Mr. Rolly V. Soriano (3rd from left) and Ms. Zeny Lastimoza (4th from left), Min Su Chu (5th from left), President of SEPCO, Hwang Yongduk (6th from left), Head of Samsung Research PH, and Ms. Yna Quimson (7th from left), Head of Corporate Marketing SEPCO.

Solve For Tomorrow SAMSUNG ANNOUNCES WINNERS FOR ITS FIRST STUDENT INNOVATION COMPETITION IN THE PHILIPPINES

amsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (SEPCO) has announced the winners of its first-ever Solve for Tomorrow competition, a global program that aims to empower young innovators with opportunities to come up with ideas to solve societal challenges and be the drivers of positive change in their local communities. Over 200 entries were received from Grades 8-10 students of governmentmanaged Science High Schools from all over the country, which were narrowed down to 10 finalists. January 2024

After a round of mentoring from Samsung Philippines representatives, the top 10 teams were asked to present their proposal to an esteemed panel of judges, composed of Monchito Ibrahim, vice president of the Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines and member of the National Innovation Council; Jaton Zulueta, founder and executive director of AHA Learning Center; Shumate Royo, growth and strategy consultant, community and startup enabler, program director and non profit advisor; Dr. Ria C. Canlas, founder of Po Lite Technology, director of Center of Innovation, National University, and executive member of the National

Innovation Council; and Yna Quimson, head of corporate marketing, Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation. From the judging, three of the most innovative solutions were selected to be this year’s winners. Sustainable Solutions to Community Challenges This year’s Grand Prize winner hailed from the Philippine Science High School Cagayan Valley Campus, with members Ethan Marc L. Bautista Resha Amora I. Gaspar Zion Mhar Kaezer P. Corpuz Enzo Miguel E. Abad, and adviser Bryle C. Eusebio. gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Their entry “Intellimeter - Smart Electric Management System with App Interface” focused on the energy problem, and proposed a smart electric management system operated via an app. The solution aims to improve energy efficiency, help the sector manage energy deficits, and help to mitigate climate change. They will receive PHP650,00 worth of tablets and a TV for the school, PHP100,000 for the team members, PHP20,000 for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for team members and their teacher.

(From left to right) Solve for Tomorrow lead, AA Abjelina, with the panel of judges, Mr. Monchito Ibrahim, Member of the Board Of Trustees, Analytics and Artificial Intelligence Association of the Philippines Member of the National Innovation Council, Dr. Ria Canlas, Founder, Po Lite Technology Director of Center of Innovations & Entrepreneurship, National University Member, National Innovation Council, Ms. Shumate Royo, Growth and Strategy Consultant, Community and Startup Enabler, Program Director, Non Profit Advisor, Mr. Jaton Zulueta, Founder and Executive Director of AHA Learning Center, and Ms. Yna Quimson, Head of Corporate Marketing, Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation.

January 2024

Innovation

The Inteilinnovators from Philippine Science High School – Cagayan Valley Campus is awarded the Grand Prize of the first-ever Solve for Tomorrow in the Philippines.

The second prize winners were from Bansud NHS - Regional Science High School in Oriental Mindoro, with members Ezekiel M. Agarap. Carmelo Gian B. Domingon, Zayra Bhea L. Caguioa, and adviser Karen Clyde M. Obo. Their entry “Project O.A.S.I.S.: Oil and solid waste Agricultural absorption System with Integrated Solar-power via Filtration Bin Technology” focused on creating a filtration system to remove oil and microplastics from the ocean, thus helping communities “sea” a bluer future.

Their entry “TomPost: Agricultural Waste Compost Processor” focused on the serious problem of waste in the agricultural sector, helping them to manage waste by repurposing tomatoes and other agricultural waste into compost and other products. This not only provides a sustainable solution to waste but also helps farmers to minimize losses and increase profits. They will receive PHP150,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school,

PHP50,000 for team members, PHP8,000 for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for team members and their teacher. The other seven teams to make it to the final round included: • Philippine Science High School Cordillera Administrative Region Campus, with their entry “Machine Learning-Integrated GIS-Based Technology for Soil Analysis and Landslide Hazard Assessment”

They will receive PHP350,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP75,000 for team members, PHP15,000 for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for team members and their teacher. The third prize winner is also from the Philippine Science High School Cagayan Valley Campus, with members Aliyah Kaye P. Alejandro, Princess Alyssa D. Cudal Tyrone B. Liquigan Cedrick Alexis M. Rivera, and adviser Jerickson S. Chua. January 2024

Project O.A.S.I.S. Team from Bansud NHS - Regional Science High School

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The TomPost team from Philippine Science High School – Cagayan Valley Campus

• Philippine Science High School Eastern Visayas campus with their entry “Red Alert: Detecting Red Tides in Cancabato Bay” • Philippine Science High School Cagayan Valley Campus with their entry: “ECOPOP: POPPING BUBBLES, NOT THE PLANET!” • Biñan City Science and Technology High School with their entry “Improving the decomposition rate of food waste in modified composting setups” • Calamba City Science Integrated School with three entries: • “ArMeCoFuse: Mechanical Waste Collector Utilized in Sewage Lines for Water Filtration and Solid Waste Extraction Equipped with an Arduino-Based Flood Warning and SMS Notification System” • “H2O-CLEANER: Harnessing Okra, Tamarind, and Rice-Husks for Oil and Microplastic Filtration” • “ACWA PURA: Automatic Garbage Collector and Wastewater

Phytoremediation Utilizing Water hyacinth with Capacity Notification, Water Level and Quality Monitoring, and Flood Detection System Operated in Canals.”

Tomorrow! Enabling People. Its mission is simple: to empower and support the next generation to achieve their full potential and pioneer positive social changes.

The top 10 finalists also received PHP15,000 for their team and PHP5,000 for their teacher.

Min Su Chu, president of SEPCO Philippines said: “At Samsung, it is our long-held belief that our company thrives when our employees, partners, and communities thrive. We are committed to empowering communities – now, and for the future. Solve for Tomorrow is a testament to this, which manifests our global CSR vision of ‘Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People.’ It is our goal to always find opportunities to support providing education for future generations, and we want to empower future innovators to achieve their full potential.”

Meaningful innovations for a better tomorrow Launched globally in 2010, Solve for Tomorrow aims to provide opportunities for top students to transform emerging ideas into actions and unlock their full potential as future leaders for a better future. The program has successfully helped over 2 million people and has reached beyond the boundaries of 50 other countries, including the Philippines, as the latest addition this 2023. Launched with the support of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Solve for Tomorrow is part of Samsung’s CSR vision of Together for

For more information on Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow program in the Philippines, you can visit https:// www.samsung.com/ph/solve-fortomorrow/.

January 2024

Enterprise

LIFE-ENABLING DIGITAL INNOVATIONS Globe Group 2023 year-ender report highlights a year of firsts

January 2024

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he year 2023 was a time of greater expansion for the Globe Group, as it continued to deliver life-enabling innovations that solve daily pain points of Filipinos.

From its network optimization and data center business to its debut in climate tech and fintech expansion overseas, the Globe Group cast an even wider net across industries this year, with unstoppable momentum going into the new year. “Despite the challenges we faced, 2023 was another banner year for Globe, as we continued to cement our standing as the foremost digital solutions provider in the Philippines, with an unrivaled ecosystem of products and services that make life better,” said Ernest Cu, Globe Group president and CEO. Here are highlights of the year for the Globe Group:

January 2024

Enterprise

STT-GDC Philippines breaks ground in QC, Cavite STT GDC Philippines is a joint venture between Globe, Ayala Corporation, and ST Telemedia Global Data Centres of Singapore, is in the thick of an aggressive expansion, breaking ground on two major infrastructure projects this year.

building with a gross floor area of over 4,500 square meters in a campus just south of the country’s capital region. It will serve to complement its enterprisegrade STT Cavite 1 at the same campus in General Trias, Cavite, which has a 4.3 MW capacity.

STT GDC Philippines is closing the year with a total seven facilities in Metro Manila, Cavite and Davao, as it aims to serve the as the next data center hub in Southeast Asia amid steadily rising demand for data center services. Gogoro Philippines hits Metro Manila’s roads

In May, it broke ground on the STT Fairview data center campus, touted to become the largest interconnected and carrier-neutral data center in the Philippines at a capacity of 124 MW upon its completion in early 2025.

Gogoro Philippines, a leader in electric mobility and battery-swapping technology, launched commercially in the country this year, bringing a new sustainable transport option to Metro Manila’s congested roads.

Six months later, STT GDC Philippines also announced the start of construction on the 6-MW STT Cavite 2, which will rise as a two-storey January 2024

It also expanded its existing data centers to 5.2MW.

A collaboration of Globe’s 917Ventures Inc., Ayala Corporation, and Gogoro

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continued its international expansion this year. The app is now available for use with international mobile numbers for Filipinos in Japan, the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Canada, and the US, with services such as send money, pay bills, bank transfers, and buy load available in these key countries. Its Global Pay business, which allows users to pay via QR, is now available in 17 countries including Macau, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, France and Italy. GCash users may also use their Visa-powered GCash Card for cashless transactions in over 36 million merchants across 210 countries. 917Ventures launches new startups 917Ventures, the Globe Group’s corporate venture builder, had a prolific year, introducing new startups in various areas. To date, 917V has vetted over 700 ideas, launched and tested 29 ventures, and has a total portfolio of 13 companies. Taiwan, Gogoro Philippines opened the Gogoro Experience Center in Makati City in November, giving the Filipino public access to its Smartscooters®, battery-swapping technology, and other merchandise. It formally went to market in December, launching its Energy Plans for Filipino riders.

For one, Housify was launched as a proptech (property tech) digital solutions platform for Filipino realestate brokers meant to increase productivity and sales conversions. It has a strict no-duplicate policy, ensuring that listings are served on a first-come, first-served basis. To date,

it has partnered with 550 sellers and brokerage firms, with almost 7,000 verified listings in its database. 917Ventures also launched PetPal this year, an all-in-one digital pet care solutions provider with a stable of licensed and accredited veterinarians– making pet care services more accessible to Filipino pet owners. It offers hassle-free online consultations and home grooming services, with more services set to be launched in the coming year. In the new year, 917Ventures aims to strengthen its growth strategy by maximizing its Systems of Advantage — continuing to innovate and develop digital solutions that will positively impact Filipino businesses through digital inclusion and sustainably-driven solutions. Going into 2024, the Globe Group is set to sustain its change-making and trendsetting pace to bring even more life-enabling digital solutions to Filipinos here and abroad. “Our wins in 2023 fuel our momentum going into the new year, as we continue to innovate to drive digital transformation in the country,” said Cu. To know more about Globe, visit globe. com.ph.

Currently, Gogoro Philippines will close the year with a total five GoStations for battery swaps in BGC, Taguig, Parañaque City, Makati City and Pasig City. It will open 6 more GoStations by Q1 of 2024: two each in Quezon City and Makati City, and one each in Marikina and Pasig City. GCash expands global footprint Globe Group affiliate GCash, the No. 1 finance super app in the country,

January 2024

Enterprise

FAST TRACK BY RUSH Business acceleration program boosts SME sales by 62%

USH Technologies, a frontrunner in digital business solutions, reached a groundbreaking achievement for its Fast Track Business Acceleration Program, with participating merchants experiencing a staggering 62% growth in sales. This milestone underlines the program’s effectiveness in boosting the capabilities and readiness of small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) for the January 2024

digital economy and signifies RUSH’s dedication to fostering a thriving business environment. Fast Track by RUSH is designed to aid and educate budding entrepreneurs in their journey toward sustainable business success, covering essential areas such as branding, digital marketing, customer engagement, and financial management. It transcends traditional learning, providing a platform for real-time

business advancement and networking opportunities. From August to October 2023, over 100 representatives from 40 brands engaged in the program at The Globe University in Mandaluyong. Participants enjoyed access to RUSH’s comprehensive eCommerce solutions at a reduced cost, coupled with free educational tracks led by industry experts that focused on practical and actionable strategies. gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

This blend of technological support and expert-led learning, in collaboration with The Hapag Movement and other partners, has been instrumental in the digital transformation of these SMEs, steering them towards significant business growth. Applying their learnings in their respective businesses, participating merchants saw a 62% sales growth between September and November. “Since launching the RUSH eStore in 2021, we knew that there were a lot of tools to go digital in the market but there was also an obvious lack of guidance for SMEs to navigate through these tools. We knew that it was not enough to offer an all-in-one platform, we needed to transform our enablement to empowerment,” said Jeffrey Alejandrino, COO of RUSH. He added: “This is why we launched Fast Track. It was designed to be a comprehensive yet intense training program aimed at accelerating the growth of SMEs by teaching them in a

matter of months what would have taken years of trial and error.” During the program, 10 selected merchants participated in the pop-up bazaar at the Globe Tower, managing to achieve transactions equivalent to their average monthly orders in just two days. They were among 40 local brands that joined the Fast Track Bazaar held on November 11 and 12, bringing delicious food finds, unique gift ideas, and other handcrafted products to holiday shoppers. Merchants also actively shared their business challenges and learnings, cultivating a strong sense of community, leading to an invaluable exchange of best practices, resources, and mutual encouragement. The Fast Track program embodies the commitment of RUSH to empower entrepreneurs and small businesses by providing them with the technological tools and knowledge necessary to build enduring and prosperous ventures. It also aligns with the empowerment goal of the Hapag Movement, a Globe-led

initiative against involuntary hunger, whose beneficiaries also underwent business training. “We are beyond thrilled by the positive impact that RUSH’s Fast Track program has made. We are grateful for our partners, who have taken on the roles of professor to teach our merchants the best practices of their respective industries; and our merchants, who have taken on the roles of students and invested the time and effort to truly improve their craft. It really does take a village, and we are so proud of the constructive community this program has built across our beloved team, partners, and merchants,” notes Jefferson Cruz, CCO of RUSH. With the conclusion of this edition of the Fast Track program, RUSH continues to offer its innovative all-inone eCommerce platform and digital solutions to assist more businesses in their growth journey. Interested merchants can visit https://www.rush. ph/pricing/estore for more details and to schedule a product walkthrough. January 2024

Enterprise

STORE-SPECIFIC PLANOGRAM Relex Solutions shares insights on emerging AI-driven retail space planning January 2024

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Commonly referred to as a planogram, space planning involves optimizing a store’s layout and product placement to enhance customer experiences and increase sales. Effective strategies include positioning high-demand and seasonal items near the entrance, ensuring accessibility and visibility in key areas, and adapting layouts based on sales data and customer feedback. In the Philippines, planogram preparation is mainly a manual process, although retailers use digital tools for sales data analysis. However, for larger retailers dealing with extensive data and numerous products, manual adjustments can become overwhelming. Through advanced tech, retail space planning driven by artificial intelligence is now possible. This is in the form of store-specific planograms. RELEX Solutions, a leading supply chain and retail solutions provider, shares its insights on this emerging trend.

n the retail industry, customer expectations are straightforward: they want to easily find the products they need and enjoy a hassle-free shopping experience. If a store falls short in these aspects, it risks losing its place as a preferred shopping destination for customers. That is precisely why the foundation of a great customer experience lies in effective space planning.

“A store-specific or local planogram is one designed for a particular store or location. Unlike a standardized planogram that may be used for multiple stores, a local planogram takes into account the unique characteristics of a specific store, such as its layout, customer demographics, and sales data,” said Donald “DJ” Felbaum, head of Sales for the Philippines at RELEX Solutions. “It is tailored to the individual needs and conditions of that particular location to optimize product placement and merchandising to drive sales and improve customer service.” However, it is often seen as challenging and time-consuming due to the anticipation of lengthy, costly, and uncertain implementation projects. For instance, imagine 85

a retailer with 1,000 stores, each needing weekly updates to five planograms. If one planner creates ten planograms daily, it would require an impractical workforce of 100 planners, along with ongoing training. But the integration of AI and machine learning automation can address these challenges. AI-powered automation can help users configure parameters and apply them across thousands of planograms, saving costs and avoiding additional expenses related to inventory adjustments for layout and local consumer preferences. The benefits of AI-generated local planogram optimization also include precise store shelf configuration and a one-touch replenishment model. This approach, which enables immediate stacking of incoming stock onto display units, facilitates one-way inventory that results in cost reduction by eliminating the need for staff to transport excess stock to back rooms, enhancing the efficient use of available storage space, and reducing restock frequency of fastselling products. Furthermore, AI and machine learning automation usher in interactive, standardized merchandising reports. These insights unveil concealed issues and provide both macro and micro data perspectives, empowering retailers to proactively optimize product placement, fine-tune pricing, and enhance inventory management. Store-specific planograms epitomize the future of space retail planning, optimizing product placement, and enhancing customer satisfaction. Harnessing advanced technology in retail, this tailored approach allows retailers to adapt swiftly to market changes, leading to elevated customer experience, improved profitability, and fostering brand loyalty. January 2024

Education

PLDT and Smart Communications Director, President, and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio and Zone V Camera Club President Angela Panlilio with beneficiaries of the Virlanie Foundation

The Learning Hub PLDT Home empowers communities with access to learning resources January 2024

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In line with its commitment to make digital services accessible for Filipinos and to help uplift lives across the country, PLDT Home, together with Zone V Camera Club and the Virlanie Foundation, launched The Learning Hub in Barangay Bagong Silangan, Quezon City. This initiative aims to empower Filipino students and their communities through reliable broadband internet connectivity, linking them with the rest of the world, and providing much-needed access to quality learning resources.

he Learning Hub seeks to provide Filipino children with a free-to-use learning space, powered by a fast internet connection from PLDT Home and learning tools such as computers with digital applications. This initiative is likewise designed to unlock livelihood opportunities to benefit lowincome families, while also offering communities a safe entertainment hub.

“PLDT has long been committed to building a digitally inclusive Philippines where communities are empowered through technology. Connectivity has become a human right, and we believe in the project’s goal of helping provide quality education to ensure that no learner is left behind,” said PLDT and Smart Communications director, president and CEO Alfredo S. Panlilio. “We want kids in these communities to have access to the internet’s global databank and create a learning hub.” “Witnessing the transformative impact that The Learning Hub will have on our beneficiary communities

will be amazing. The potential for a graduating student to positively influence their family’s life is profound, and we are honored to be part of such meaningful change,” said Angela Panlilio, president of the Zone V Camera Club, which donated the gadgets for communities to use. “The Learning Hub is a very helpful program, and it fits our foundation’s goals of providing quality education to children,” said Arlene Fernandez, executive director of Virlanie Foundation, an organization that provides a safe space for children of abuse. The Learning Hub also aims to become a sustainable initiative, aligning the PLDT Group with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) by boosting the country’s overall digital inclusivity. It likewise supports PLDT and Smart’s continuing contributions to the UN SDGs — particularly SDG 1: No Poverty and SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth — and reinforces the Group’s broader goal to promote technologies that foster educational and livelihood opportunities. January 2024

The largest and most capable AI model from Google

n a significant leap forward in the field of AI, Google DeepMind, a pioneer in AI research, proudly introduces Gemini, a revolutionary multimodal AI model designed to transform the landscape of AI applications. Gemini’s creation is poised to set new standards in the performance, flexibility, and safety of these apps. Gemini, a collaborative effort across DeepMind and various other Google teams, is a state-of-the-art multimodal AI model capable of seamlessly understanding and processing diverse types of information, including text, code, audio, image, and video. Demis Hassabis, CEO and co-founder of Google DeepMind, described Gemini as “the most capable and general model we’ve ever built.” Spearheading the unveiling, Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressed his enthusiasm for the transformative potential of Gemini. “The transition we are witnessing with AI will be the most profound in our lifetimes, far surpassing previous technological shifts,” he said. “Gemini has the power to create unprecedented opportunities for people worldwide, fostering innovation and economic progress on an unprecedented scale.” People around the world also won’t need to wait before getting their hands on the amazing new technology, as Google is rolling out Gemini across its products starting with Bard and Pixel. In the coming months, Gemini will be available in more Google products like Search, Ads, Chrome and Duet AI. Meanwhile, developers can also start working with it via Google AI Studio or Google Cloud Vertex AI.

January 2024

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Built for the future with responsibility and safety

What Gemini is truly capable of

Acknowledging the many different critical conversations surrounding the development of AI technology, Google reaffirms its commitment to responsible AI development with Gemini, incorporating the most comprehensive safety evaluations in the industry, including assessments for bias and toxicity.

Gemini 1.0, optimized for three different sizes— Ultra, Pro, and Nano—has sophisticated reasoning capabilities that make it adept at extracting insights from vast amounts of data, leading to breakthroughs in fields ranging from science to finance. Notably, Gemini Ultra surpasses human expert performance on the Massive Multitask Language Understanding (MMLU) benchmark, demonstrating its unparalleled reasoning capabilities across various subjects. Its native multimodality sets it apart, allowing it to understand and reason about different inputs seamlessly.

Gemini undergoes stress testing, including adversarial testing and evaluations for potential risks in areas like cyber-offense, persuasion, and autonomy. Responsibility with AI is also a collaborative effort, so Google is also partnering with the rest of the tech industry to define best practices and set the highest security and safety benchmarks.

A more specific example of where Gemini excels would be coding tasks, understanding, explaining, and generating high-quality code in popular programming languages. Its prowess extends to competitive programming, where Gemini’s performance outshines its predecessor, AlphaCode, solving nearly twice as many problems.

As Google DeepMind continues to innovate from here, Gemini Ultra and future versions are on the horizon, promising even more advanced capabilities. The Gemini era signifies a transformative period for AI, with the potential to enhance creativity, extend knowledge, and transform the way billions of people around the world live and work every day.

January 2024

Apps

2023 TOP GOOGLE SEARCH TRENDS W

hat were Filipinos googling in 2023? Google has released the Year In Search 2023, its annual compilation of the top trending keywords and terms that Filipinos search for. These top 10 lists serve as a record of the many events and issues that people have gotten caught up in over the year. For example, SIM registration topped the News list because of the new law that mandated everyone to register their phone numbers, and because Filipinos wanted to know more about the process. Major international events are also high on Filipinos’ awareness, as the Israel-Hamas war is ranked fifth in the top News trends. The pop culture lists are also full of names that are bound to trigger specific memories from months past. Among many other keywords, there’s Japanese actor Mackenyu who ranked #2 in Male Personalities because of the reception to his One Piece role, Jenna Ortega (#8 in Female Personalities) who’s enjoying her career highs from Wednesday and Scream 7, and local TV drama Maria Clara at Ibarra that gripped Filipinos during its TV run. TV shows and movies available on streaming platforms earned more places on this year’s lists, which lines up with the steady growth of online media consumption as projected in this year’s eConomy SEA Report.

January 2024

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Below is the full list of the top search trends in the Philippines:

To see the full Year in Search 2023 list, click here. 91

January 2024

FinTech

BULLISH ON 2024 OUTLOOK Top self-service payment kiosk provider in the Philippines reaching out to unbanked sector

Tap Inc., the leading self-service payment kiosk provider in the country with 70% of the market share, is bullish on its outlook for 2024.

The people behind the wholly-Filipino owned company noted that innovations and its passionate commitment to reach out and tap the unbanked segment of the PH population propelled the company to be the leading self-service payment kiosk provider in the Philippines today. Leveraging on eight years of groundbreaking solutions, eTap Inc. has consistently stood as the number one choice by leading brands providing accessible and convenient financial services in the country. “At eTap, we believe in the transformative power of technology to uplift communities. Our self-service payment kiosk system is more than a convenience; it’s a gateway to financial independence for the unbanked. We are dedicated to providing excellent customer service to ensure that every individual feels supported on their financial journey,” shares Percy Hernandez, CEO of eTap Inc. Founded in 2015, eTap Inc. has been guided by a dedicated team of visionaries committed to shaping the future of financial accessibility. The faces behind eTap are passionate advocates for financial inclusivity and innovation zeroing in on the unbanked sector of the PH population. eTap is passionate about creating solutions that cater to the unbanked lower sector, ensuring financial services are within reach for all. eTap Inc.’s self-service payment kiosk system offers a wide range of services, from

January 2024

Percy Hernandez, president and CEO of eTap, Inc. with Mr. Marlon Portugal, eTap, Inc. COO, at the launch held in Mandaluyong City.

bill payments to ticketing, providing users with an intuitive and efficient way to conduct transactions. The user-friendly interface ensures a hassle-free experience, making it accessible to all demographics. It is dedicated to shaping the future of seamless transactions with its state-of-the-art self-service payment kiosk system. Leveraging innovative technology, eTap Inc. aims to simplify and enhance the customer payment experience across various sectors. In 2024, eTap will further expand to reach out to the unbanked from far flung communities. To complement its wide range of self-service payment kiosk system, eTap Inc. formed its subsidiary, eTap Solutions; which is dedicated to deploying and operating its own machines for the retail, food, services, and transport industries to fast-urbanizing cities nationwide. eTap Solutions is poised to set a new benchmark for reliability and functionality in the industry. For more information about eTap Inc., please visit etapmo.com.

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FinTech

TRANSFORMING BANKS FOR A DIGITAL FUTURE Publicis Sapient highlights the strategic advantages in adopting core coexistence models for deploying future-ready infrastructure for financial institutions in the Philippines

he financial services industry in the Philippines is poised for transformation, due to accelerated digitalization and the adoption of open finance, according to the Philippines Central Bank, with one of the central bank’s goals this year is for 50% of retail payments done digitally, as well as to have 70% of adult Filipinos onboarded into the formal financial system. With nearly universal mobile penetration and three-quarters of the population with access to the internet, the Philippines’ young and tech-savvy consumer base is driving a surge in demand for financial services.

January 2024

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Alongside factors such as a rapidly growing adult population, ongoing regulatory support in promoting financial inclusion, and the introduction of new digital technologies, the stage is being set for accelerated growth. Philippines banks can now move away from legacy infrastructure that constrains innovation and prevents them from providing the real-time, personalized banking products and experiences that customers have come to expect.

#2: Use technology to better support coexistence Gone are the days of stitching together a manual process which would inevitably place additional pressure on operations colleagues. Instead, utilize the program’s target architecture to enable technology-centered coexistence. Banks can be safe knowing that any interim builds can more easily be changed as you transition from one state to another with a more loosely coupled architecture. For example, a dedicated service could be set up to serve as the ‘control center’ for managing coexistence indicators across various systems of record.

Aman Sud, chief growth officer, ASEAN, Publicis Sapient says, “Embracing cutting-edge technology is a clear imperative for banks seeking to thrive in the digital era. The adoption of a modern core banking system and a comprehensive infrastructure overhaul necessitates the strategic concept of coexistence, which proves to be a highly effective path to success. Nevertheless, meticulous planning for coexistence becomes increasingly critical as the scale of the bank expands.” Each bank will have its own unique and complex data landscapes, so there is no one-size-fits-all model when it comes to coexistence. Here are some common lessons that banks’ IT and delivery teams can keep in mind on their coexistence journey.

#3: Investing tactically in legacy can help but remember to plan for legacy decommissioning. Changes to the source system or data are needed to enable a successful transformation. For example, additional flags or tags may be required on legacy accounts to indicate which have been migrated. Plan these changes early with the teams supporting the legacy core to ensure that things go smoothly. Equally important is that there are concrete steps in place within the migration plan to decommission the legacy estate, to ensure stakeholder buy-in on the journey, and to recognize the full benefits of the core modernization program.

Embrace coexistence and set up the right team for the job.

Recognize coexistence and actively plan for it during your transition state or states. Set up a central team of experts to ensure comprehensive planning and decision-making. This may be distinct and separate from the business and technical teams that define the target state operating model and architecture. This central team will lay the required implementation path, working through each challenge and finding answers for the coexistence situations as they arise.

On their way to a new digital core, banks can position themselves to embrace the concept of coexistence by adopting the right tools, adopting a well-planned approach, and adopting a strategic attitude. In the near future, the banks that are successful in this modernization path will become the leaders.

Having the appropriate senior sponsorship to smooth the working process across the many teams involved is necessary to keep the program and its stakeholders aligned while moving forward with a holistic changemanagement strategy.

Learn more about how Philippines banks can succeed in their core banking migration efforts here.

January 2024

Newsbytes

ACER COMMITS TO CARBON NEUTRALITY FOR VERO LAPTOP LINE Acer has shared its commitment to carbon neutrality for its Aspire Vero laptop line, starting from the new Aspire Vero 16 (AV16-51P). Following international standards for carbon footprint calculation and carbon neutrality, actions are taken at each stage of the device lifecycle to minimize its carbon footprint, and then, high-quality carbon credits will be applied to attain carbon neutrality. “To help tackle the increasing challenges posed by climate change, on the product side, Acer is proposing ‘conscious technology’ designed and made with consideration for the future,” said Jerry Kao, COO, Acer Inc. “On the corporate side, Acer has joined the RE100 initiative and committed to achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2035. We have also pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.” Since the inception of the series, Aspire Vero laptops have been ecoconsciously designed to minimize

January 2024

their carbon footprint throughout their lifecycle. From manufacturing to packaging to end-of-life recycling, each process has been examined and continuously fine-tuned to help contribute towards less emissions. The latest iteration of the product, the Aspire Vero 16 (AV16-51P) has seen efforts across: • Color, Material, and Finish: The chassis is made from a blend of more than 60% recycled plastic (vs. 30% in the first generation), and its surface contains no volatile organic compounds, paint, or additives. The touchpad uses ocean-bound plastic on the surface. • Components: Features the latest Intel Core Ultra processors which are more power efficient than previous generations. Intel AI Boost, the new integrated neural processing unit (NPU) delivers new AIpowered capabilities with extreme power efficiency. • Packaging: Steps are taken to reduce the carbon footprint by recycling the scrap material generated

during production and using 100% recyclable packaging. Thoughtful designs allow the 100% recycled FSC-certified paper box to be easily repurposed. • Shipping: Acer has partnered with logistics providers to reduce standard sea containers’ emissions thanks to biofuel on various routes. • Usage: AcerSense battery management software focuses on energy efficiency with four performance modes: Eco+, Eco, Balanced, and Performance. • Recycling and Repair: For quick and easy disassembling to repair, upgrade or recycle, standard screws are used. After the implementation of these emission reduction efforts, Acer will retire high-quality carbon credits to achieve carbon neutrality. Expect more details of the Acer Aspire Vero 16 to be announced shortly. Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region.

REALME SURPASSES 200 MILLION GLOBAL SHIPMENTS IN JUST 5 YEARS After entering the highly saturated global market in 2018 and since achieving the 100 million sales milestone in 2021, realme has continued to leap forward against all odds and announced that its global smartphone shipments have surpassed 200 million units. Amidst the increasingly competitive market and a stable hierarchy of leading brands, realme embarked on phases of growth to gain widespread recognition as a key player, becoming the fifth-fastest brand to achieve said milestone and officially joining the elite ‘200 Million Club’ in the international arena. Since its inception, realme remained true to its commitment to providing a disruptive technology experience that is backed up with deep consumer insights and propelled by product innovation. Fast-forward to 2023, realme focused on delivering a breakthrough tech, design, and performance experience to its users by following the “No Leap, No Launch“ in which leap-forward technology is guaranteed in each generation of products. Driven by the diverse demands of global users, realme gains value recognition from users and grows alongside them, achieving mutual success. On bringing realme to new heights and growing with its global consumers realme upheld healthy and steadfast growth in the thick of a shrinking global smartphone market despite the pressure from external environments. The weight and influence of its stance in the international market have increased. This only empowered realme to persevere with its

mission and bring an even better, comprehensive lineup of products to young people worldwide. With the milestone of 200 million global shipments, realme has truly become a mainstream international smartphone brand. It has established a strong presence in most global regions with a market share from emerging markets (88%) far exceeding other members of the ‘200 Million Club. realme devotes itself to continuous innovation and invests in R&D. As a matter of fact, the brand set up the realme Global Institute of Leapforward Technology early this year to oversee product competence and focus on groundbreaking technologies in four key areas: display, photography, gaming and charging. In 2024, realme plans to significantly boost its technological capabilities with a planned 470% increase in

R&D spending. The brand will bring together over 33 leading international tech partners to develop cutting-edge technologies, specializing in imaging, gaming, display, and charging. Moreover, realme also looks forward to expanding its pool of tech talent, engaging in Research & Technology team expansion, with an expected 400% increase in research personnel next year. As realme founder and CEO Sky Li expressed in the brand’s fifthanniversary open letter, the era of “elevator-style” development in the smartphone industry is over. Future steps will be more challenging, but each step brings realme closer to its next destination. As it climbs towards new milestones, realme remains committed to its original vision, continually scaling new heights, listening to its users, and growing with them worldwide, creating more realme miracles together.

January 2024

Newsbytes

NLEX, BPI SIGNS 10B LOAN AGREEMENT

The said agreement was signed by (L-R) NLEX Corp chief finance officer Maria Theresa O. Wells, MPTC chief finance officer Christopher C. Lizo, NLEX Corp president and general manager J. Luigi L. Bautista, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) president and CEO Rogelio S. Singson, BPI EVP and segment head of institutional banking Juan Carlos Syquia, BPI SVP and group head of corporate banking Barbara Ann C. Untalan, and Top Corporates SVP and division head Juan Jesus C. Macapagal.

NLEX Corporation entered into a 10-year term loan facility agreement with the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) to fund ongoing and future projects aimed at boosting the convenience and safety of those traversing its expressways. With an aggregate amount of Ten Billion Pesos (PHP10,000,000,000), the proceeds will also partially fund its capital expenditures and refinance its maturing debt. “This loan agreement will help us to meet our current obligations with our key stakeholders and finance all repairs and maintenance of the expressway as well as our ongoing and future projects like the Candaba 3rd Viaduct,” said Singson. Adding that, “Our company remains committed in providing faster and more convenient travel. Thus, we also want to focus on improving our

January 2024

expressways and beyond just building roads.” The NLEX Candaba 3rd Viaduct project is a new five-kilometer bridge in the middle of the two existing viaducts between Pampanga and Bulacan. Expected to be completed by the 4th quarter of 2024, this will boost the safety and convenience of motorists as it increases its road capacity from three lanes without shoulder to three lanes with inner and outer shoulders in each direction.

“This project is just one of our company’s major initiatives in solving the growing traffic demand of the north. In partnership with the government, we aim to contribute to elevating the transportation system of the country,” Bautista said. NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).

TELEPERFORMANCE BAGS 9 AWARDS, RE-ENTERS LONGEST AND LARGEST AWARDS PROGRAM IN EUROPE

Teleperformance, a global leader in digital business services, bagged nine awards at the European Contact Centre & Customer Service Awards (ECCCSA) in December.

• Two-time Best Approach to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging • Best New Customer Contact Operation

The recognition was awarded to TP by “the longest running and largest awards programme in the customer contact industry.” In 2022, Teleperformance bagged eight awards at the prestigious program.

TP bested large names in the field after the award-giving body had a thorough review of the organization’s remote work solutions, comprehensive security measures, and exceptional client support. Among Teleperformance’s cutting-edge technologies are the multiawarded Cloud Campus, a cloudcentric model to support work-athome-agents (WAHA); and TP GenAI, the company’s very own artificial intelligence (AI) platform.

The organization’s 2023 ECCCSA awards include the following: • Best Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Partnership (Large) • Best BPO Partnership (Small) • Two-time Best Multilingual Customer Service • Best Supporting Team • Best Cross-Functional Collaboration

“Our title as a leading digital business solutions provider knows no borders. Teleperformance’s triumph in the

prestigious European Contact Centre & Customer Service Awards reflects our team’s unparalleled commitment to deliver exceptional customer service across the globe,” said Teleperformance Philippines’ chief executive officer Rahul Jolly. To date, Teleperformance operates in 95 countries globally, with nearly 500,000 employees currently serving 170 countries in 300 languages and dialects on behalf of many of the world’s most respected brands. In 2023, Teleperformance Philippines was certified as a Great Place to Work® in the Philippines for the sixth consecutive year. TP is the first, the largest, and the first BPO company in the country to achieve the Great Place to Work® certification.

January 2024

Newsbytes

TNT LAUNCHES PREPAID ESIM

TNT, the Philippines’ biggest mobile brand, has announced the launch of its embedded SIM or eSIM, the digital version of the physical SIM to bring added value, flexibility, and convenience to Filipino mobile users. Available for only PHP89 bundled with a PHP300 TNT Load Card on the Smart Online Store (https://store1. smart.com.ph/view/2681), the TNT eSIM conveniently comes in a QR code printed on a card, which customers simply have to scan to register and activate. The TNT eSIM is also available at Smart Stores nationwide, accredited retailers, SM Supermalls Customer Service desks, and Smart Flagship Stores on Lazada and Shopee. Soon, it will also be available in digital form and via more retail touchpoints nationwide.” The TNT eSIM is also available at Smart Stores nationwide, accredited retailers, SM Supermalls Customer Service desks, and Smart Flagship Stores on Lazada and Shopee. Soon, it will also be available in digital January 2024

form and via more retail touchpoints nationwide. Easy, worry-free, secure Perfect for many Filipinos who are upgrading to a new eSIM-capable device this holiday season, the TNT eSIM enables users to enjoy its widest network coverage and it line-up of affordable data, call, and text services without having to insert a physical SIM card or take up an extra SIM slot. Because it is digital, the TNT eSIM is fast to activate, worry-free to maintain, and secure from loss or damage compared to physical SIM cards. “We’re glad to finally launch our TNT eSIM, which brings the benefits of eSIM technology to the fingertips of more Pinoys,” said Lloyd R. Manaloto, FVP and head of prepaid and content at Smart, the parent company of TNT. “The TNT eSIM also enables us to welcome more subscribers in our growing ‘tropa,’ and provide them with their daily dose of ‘saya’ through our

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most budget-friendly promos powered no less than by the Philippines’ fastest and best mobile network.” Simply scan and connect The TNT eSIM may be used in eSIMcapable devices, such as the latest flagship devices of Apple, Google, Huawei, and Samsung. To activate the TNT eSIM, Apple and Android users simply have to open their phone’s camera and then scan the unique QR Code containing their TNT account. All subscribers are required to register their TNT eSIM at www.smart.com.ph/simreg. The launch of the TNT eSIM follows the brand’s groundbreaking showcase of its network superiority last November 18 to 19, 2023, when it helped Filipino content creators set the Guinness World Records for the Longest Travel Livestream for 26 hours, 15 minutes, and 29 seconds under the TNT Petmaloop Challenge. Know more about the new TNT eSIM at https://tntph.com/Pages/sim.

From L-R Mr. Zandro dela Cruz, Marketing Officer - DOOGEE, Ms. Vangie Sesma, Head of Key Accounts - Gawad Kalinga, Mr. Kent Buaya, Creative Officer - DOOGEE

DOOGEE SUPPORTS GAWAD KALINGA FOUNDATION'S EDUCATION INITIATIVE WITH TABLET DONATION Recently launched technology brand DOOGEE has made a donation of tablets to the Gawad Kalinga Foundation in support of the organization’s ARAL program, which covers reading and comprehension tutorials. At DOOGEE, “It’s The Season To Give,” and what better way to support Gawad Kalinga’s ARAL program to encourage the love of reading and learning than with the donation of U10 Kid Android tablets. “These tablets have a special app called Kids World, which has 300+ learning activities installed that can help accelerate literacy programs like ARAL. We are very honored to be a part of this noble program of Gawad Kalinga, which will benefit children and, in the long term, help alleviate poverty in the Philippines. We didn’t hesitate to say yes when they approached us,” said Igue Bonifacio, integrated marketing head of DOOGEE Philippines.

DOOGEE will continue to find ways to support NGOs like Gawad Kalinga and bring appropriate technology for learning and recreation. “Gratitude is the melody of generosity. Thank you DOOGEE for your heartfelt donation. You’ve orchestrated a brighter future for children who dream of learning. Your gift of a tablet is not just a device; it’s a key that unlocks doors of knowledge and opportunities for those who cannot afford their own. Your

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kindness resonates in the eager minds of these kids, empowering them to reach new heights. Thank you for composing a symphony of hope and education,” said Vangie Sesma, Gawad Kalinga Foundation’s head of key accounts. For more information, follow DOOGEE Philippines on their Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts (@doogeeph). You may also check them out at Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok shop (@doogeeph).

January 2024

Newsbytes

'BIG WINNER KA SA PETRON' ENGINE OILS PROMO Attention, motorists, gearheads, and thrill-seekers! Get ready to rev your engines and fuel your dreams because Petron Corporation, the undisputed industry leader, is dropping a firstever engine oils promo. Mark your calendars from January 8 to June 30, 2024, because the ‘Big Winner Ka Sa Petron’ Engine Oils Promo is roaring into action! Here’s what’s waiting for you at participating Petron service stations, Car Care Centers, auto supplies, auto

January 2024

repair shops, and other retail outlets nationwide: • Win BIG with every purchase of PETRON REV-X and PETRON BLAZE RACING Engine Oils. These top-tier lubricants, trusted by champions, are your ticket to a pot of incredible prizes, as follows: • 50 lucky winners will drive away with a cool Php 10,000 worth of fuel, loaded onto their Petron Value Cards! Fill up your tank and your wallet with this exciting reward.

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• Two grand prize winners will bring home the ultimate joyride — a brand-new Toyota Vios 1.3 E CVT! Imagine cruising in style and comfort, knowing your fortune came from caring for your car with Petron’s top-tier engine oils. This is your chance to win big while giving your engine the best care. PETRON REV-X and PETRON BLAZE RACING Engine Oils are formulated with cutting-edge technology to deliver outstanding

performance, protection, and fuel efficiency. So, not only are you giving your car the TLC it deserves, you’re also putting yourself in the running for incredible prizes.

Step 3. ENTER DETAILS. In the promo microsite, enter your details with the unique alphanumeric code from your sticker. Attach the photo of the sticker with the unique code.

Here’s how to join: Step 1. PURCHASE. Buy Petron Rev-X or Petron Blaze Racing engine oil with a promo sticker. Participating products are 1-liter, 4-liter, and 6-liter sizes, with a corresponding sticker entry. Step 2. PEEL, TAKE A PHOTO, SCAN QR. To officially enter the raffle, peel off the tamper-proof sticker to find the 8-digit unique alphanumeric code. Take a photo of the sticker with its unique code, then scan the QR code to go to the promo microsite: https:// onlinepromo.petron.com/PEOP/ PromoDetails.

Step 4. Sit back and wait for the monthly draws. There will be a total of 50 winners of Php 10,000 worth of fuel via PVC points, with a grand prize draw for the Toyota Vios 1.3 E CVT in April and July. Don’t miss out on this opportunity! Show your engines some love and fire up your dreams with the Big Winner Ka Sa Petron Promo.

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January 2024

Relic

Words by Jose Alvarez

p-and-coming technology can be hit or miss, and there are many tales of products and services that have succeeded or failed due to a variety of reasons. But when something blazes brightly in the proverbial sky of technology and disappears, one might ponder the reasons why it came and went —which is how I come up with topics for this Relic feature. My research on something that fulfilled the parameters of something that was upand-coming and that everyone once used, but (largely) abandoned for the next upand-coming technology took me back to the not-so-distant past. That technology? Skype.

January 2024

Skype started in 2003 as the brainchild of Swedish entrepreneur Niklas Zennstrom and Kazaa founder Janus Friis. Skype was short for “Sky peer-to-peer,” shortened to Skyper, and then became Skype, as Skyper had already been trademarked in some countries. The team responsible for developing Skype’s software was a group of Estonians — Ahti Heinta, Priit Kasesalu, Jaan Tallinn, and Tolvo Annus. Friis and Annus, in particular, wanted to reduce the cost of voice calls by utilizing a peer-to-peer (P2P) protocol similar to Kazaa. Calling overseas in the early 2000s was extremely expensive —

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around PHP10 (USD0.27 at the time) per minute, so calling friends and family abroad would rack up a gigantic phone bill, and Internet connections weren’t ultra-fast as they are today with the robust infrastructure to support it. The public beta version of Skype came out by the end of August 2003. Users of Skype had a unique Skype ID and username and included voice chat, messaging, and other standard features that similar services offered via voice to IP (VOIP). Skype had a proprietary audio codec and quickly became the choice for calling friends and relatives overseas — all you needed was an Internet connection

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and Skype. For people who were reticent to use the Internet, you could even tie Skype to your landline number or call landline numbers per minute or with a monthly subscription. This effectively lowered the cost of calling friends or relatives abroad. You could host group calls or group chats on Skype as well.

Messenger in favor of Skype. Microsoft also created an enterprise version, Skype for Business, and started to move towards centralized servers instead of using peerto-peer technology. By 2014, Skype had about 40% of the international call market.

Skype then partnered with Polish web portal Onet.pl in 2005 to break into the Polish market. While this may have been a blip on the technology radar unless you used that particular web portal, this was an essential step in what would come next. In September 2005, Internet marketplace eBay bought Skype Technologies SA for USD2.5 billion. It then sold 65% of Skype to Silver Lake, Andreessen Horowitz, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for USD1.9 billion in 2009. Friis and Annus’s plan to make Skype the premier VOIP app had only begun. After rapid growth in the mid-2000s and early 2010s, Microsoft bought Skype in 2011 for USD8.5 billion. Some saw this as a good thing — Microsoft is one of the largest technology companies in history, while Skype was an up-and-coming software that greatly reduced the cost of overseas calling and revolutionized the market as a result. Microsoft even discontinued long-running products and services such as MSN Messenger/Windows Live

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So what killed Skype? Other competitors such as WhatsApp, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams took over the scene in the late 2010s, and the COVID-19 pandemic forced everyone to work from home to reduce the spread of COVID-19. One would think that Skype would have thrived in such an environment, but Microsoft Teams eventually took over from the enterprise side and Zoom/ WhatsApp/Facebook Messenger took over from the consumer side. “Skype is still seen primarily as oneto-one,” said Jim Gaynor, a research vice president at advisory firm Directions on Microsoft in a CNBC interview. While Skype did support group calls, other apps tended to do it better, leaving Skype by the wayside (although still operational as of this writing). Skype founding engineer Jaan Tallinn isn’t bitter about the fall of Skype. In fact, he still uses it for calls. “If people want to use some other channel, then I’m happy to comply,” he said. While Skype was an up-and-coming technology at one point, others built on that foundation, and as the saying goes, the rising tide raises all ships.

January 2024

Volume XXIV Issue V

January 2024

MEET THE TEAM

You want more? We recommend you check out our other issues

EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief MARIBELLE ALBA Editors-at-Large PRESY ALBA REN ALCANTARA Mobility Consultant ARNEL DORIA Editor GABRIEL PE Writers/Contributors JOSE ALVAREZ CHRIS NOEL HIDALGO ALYSSA SILVA CREATIVES Creative Consultant RAYMUND RAVANERA Creative Lead JERICO LUTRANIA Creative Staff CHINI YU SORIANO ADMINSTRATION President & CEO MARIBELLE ALBA Senior Managers MARITESS MAULION AMY CHRISTINE GIRAY MARISA CONSUELO Coordinators CAROL AGABIN LORIE BERNARDO Administration Staff RAMIL ALMOJANO Legal Counsel ALBA LAW OFFICE

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