D1
SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2017
Jimbo Gulle, Editor
Roger Garcia, Issue Editor
LGUs
Local Gov’t Units
mslocalgov@gmail.com
P550-M US PROJECT TO FIGHT EXTREMISM By Nash B. Maulana
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ESCOLTA'S HERITAGE. Student Len Micua looks at the drawing of the century-old El Hogar building and other iconic structures in Manila's Escolta District at a booth that aims to revive interest in the historic area and to promote it as a heritage hub during the Anthology Architecture and Design Festival in Puerta Del Parian, Intramuros, Manila. The threeday festival aims to show how architecture matters in Filipinos' daily lives. Norman Cruz
THE WANING ART OF ‘KOMEDIA’IN THE NORTH
By Honor Blanco Cabie
P
INILI, Ilocos Norte—Komedia, for scores the high point of many town fiestas in Northern Philippines, has lost its sound and colors with the last sound of the wind instruments accompanying the staged battle between the brightly robed notch performers.
Komedia had been undoubtedly the greatest and most popular theater during the last 100 years—1798-1898—of the Spanish rule, which began in 1521. That was the year Portuguese navigator Fernando Magallanes discovered the islands—later to be called Las Islas Filipinas in honor of King Philip II—for Europe, 141 years after an Arab sheikh established the first Muslim mosque in the country’s far southern island of Simunul in the province of Tawi Tawi. Known among Ilocanos as the “Moro-moro,” from the common Spanish identification
for Muslim, the stage drama had reference to Moors who once invaded Spain. Abruptly interrupted during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in the 1940s, komedia resurfaced in the 1950s and used to be staged at the center of each largely agricultural town. Hundreds, even thousands, trooped to the improvised theater soon before sundown so they would not miss a line from the performers from the time the curtains were raised. There they waited for the stage prompter and his performing artists, all garbed in colorful costumes. Near the performance site, the well-heeled and better dressed members of the town’s social class, many returning students from the metropolis, attended formal programs at the amphitheater or open air auditorium. For three or four nights in those bubble gum years, young Ilocanos—and surprisingly even adults and those in their senior years—enjoyed listening to the stories that usually revolved around tales of love and conquest between Christians and Muslims during the medieval period in Europe. The ear of listeners in those years could compete with the tympanic membrane of today’s
patrons of telenovelas, mostly imported from overseas. For nights on end during the town fiesta, the “Muslims” at the performance site were always beaten and ended up embracing the Christian faith. Unlike in better off towns of the archipelago, the duels between the two sides were not choreographed. But the lighting—from a 350-candle power Coleman or Petromax gas lamps at the time— was sufficient to sustain the enthusiasm and energy of the crowd who preferred the theater to the plaza or the Ferris wheels nearby. The dialogues—thanks to the indefatigable prompter who hid very discreetly behind the plywood wall near the hat wearing-musicians—were delivered in rhyming verses. That, while the participants leisurely strutted across the elevated stage as though digging their brains for an appropriate line of response. It is not clear when the first komedia was staged in the different towns of northern Philippines. Debate has been going on about the first such performance in the country. But many historians agreed that the first Turn to D2
WOMEN CO-OPS HELP BOOST FAMILY INCOMES
By Brenda Jocson
SAN AGUSTIN, Isabela—Women-based cooperatives here have launched their annual celebration to encourage the thriving women entrepreneurs, mostly local farmers’ wives who are land tillers themselves, aiming to create additional income for the rising needs of their families. According to Lilia Castillo of the Provincial Development Authority, these women cooperatives were financially supported in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment and the provincial government of Isabela. Castillo said they continually encourage women cooperatives by creating ways to have them trained in the different skills and courses offered by the Technical Education and Skills Develop-
ment Authority. “We want women to be financially independent and because of the growing needs of their respective families, women should rightfully have other income while waiting for the harvest or while the husband is out in the fields,” Castillo said. “Through these cooperatives, a woman could attain a great degree of self-reliance, make them productive and perhaps lessen those women who seek employment overseas as domestic helpers where some unlucky ones suffered grave mental and physical abuses,” she added. Mayor Cesar A. Mondala said women cooperatives in the municipality had grown in number and productiveness in terms of food production, waste recycling business and dairy aside from being a dominant workforce in agriculture since its organi-
zation in the 1990s. Mondala said these cooperatives are composed of more than 1,000 members from the 23 barangays of this town funded through a lending scheme with an individual initial loan of P5,000. “We offer the loan with a minimal interest of one percent annually under a memorandum of agreement with the provincial cooperative development authority and to double the amount of the initial loan upon full payment of the member without any collateral requirement,” Mondala explained. He said farming is a predominantly male work because of the back-breaking labor, but due to farm mechanization, a female could now do it as good as his male counterpart.
COTABATO CITY—It’s fighting terrorism on all fronts. The United States government is spending P550 million into a five-year program in the Philippines “to foster an environment that protects youth from extremism and radicalization,” a statement from the US Embassy said. On Friday, more than 100 young Filipino beneficiaries here finished vocational technical courses, under programs supported by the US Agency for International Development. USAID Mission Director Dr. Susan Brems said the US government funds the job training course programs under the Mindanao Youth for Development (MyDev) program of the agency. Dr. Brems said MyDev is being implemented in partnership with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Department of Education’s Alternative Learning System, and the Education Development Center. City Mayor Cynthia GuianiSayadi and Dr. Brems presented the graduates with certificates of completion. Rizza Mae Farafil, who completed her training course on bread and pastry-making, joins more than 2,600 other graduates from this city under the MyDev program. “Each of you has the power to promote peace and advance growth in your community. I urge you to take advantage of every opportunity to do so,” Dr. Brems told the graduates, adding: “Your local government, your local business owners, other local organizations, and the USAID are here to help.” Through the MyDev program, the US government has earmarked P550 million for a five-year program to engage 19,000 Filipino youth in eight conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, she said in a statement. Farafil said: “As an out-of-school youth, I could not have imagined myself participating in a graduation event like this. Life’s challenges [of] learning something new didn’t come to me early. But because of USAID, opportunities came my way.”
NOVELETA HOSPITAL BREAKS GROUND NOVELETA, Cavite—The local government led by Mayor Dino Reyes Chua and other officials will inaugurate on Monday, April 3, the construction of the Hospital of Noveleta. It’s a new two-story building to be erected on 370 square meters of land in Barangay San Jose 1 owned by Mayor Chua, which will be the first public hospital in the municipality. It is located behind the municipal government center here, across the river Ilang-Ilang. According to Chua, the hospital needs to be constructed immediately to serve the needs of constituents who don’t need to go farther for free hospital services. The mayor recently made his Deed of Donation for the vacant lot where the hospital will stand. Chua, along with Vice Mayor Donnie Torres, top Councilor Davey Chua, and local partners will lead the time-capsule ceremony of the program at 9 a.m. after the flag ceremony at the municipal hall.
SMFI GIVES SCOUT RANGERS A HELPING HAND
SM Corporate Communications Head Chito Macapagal, SMFI Executive Director for Health and Wellness Connie Angeles, and First Scout Ranger Regiment Commander Col. Rene Glen Paje unveil the official marker of the joint venture. Inset shows Regiment Surgeon Major Cesar Candelaria inside the refurbished health center.
SAN MIGUEL, Bulacan—With the rigorous training that would-be Scout Rangers are subjected to—under the scorching sun and heavy downpour—it is but natural that they collapse, get dehydrated or suffer heat stroke, stomach upsets and numerous other treatable ailments. But without a modern facility and lacking in medical supplies, the soldiers are forced to resort to natural medication— using grass and medicinal plants they can find in the 50-hectare Camp Tecson, headquarters of the 1stScout Ranger Regiment here. SM Foundation saw this predicament in the Army training camp and worked on the rehabilitation of the medical and dental dispensary. The newly-rehabilitated dispensa-
ry was inaugurated and turned over to the soldiers, headed by regiment commander, Col. Rene Glen O. Paje. The new dispensary—the first aid diagnostic and treatment center for soldiers, trainees and communities surrounding the camp—occupies 223.09 square meters of land within the camp and has the following services: dental, emergency and treatment area; observation room; consultation room; ward; operating room; supply room and administrative office. The dispensary has a doctor-surgeon, Maj. Cesar Candelaria; a dentist, Capt. Angelo Sarruca—both civilian practitioners who volunteered for military training and practice -- and nurse, Lt. Maria Pa-It. Col. Rene Glen Paje said the dispen-
sary operates 24 hours for seven days a week,“as we never know when an emergency would arise among the soldiers.” Paje expressed the gratitude of the soldiers for civilian organizations like SM Foundation for showing their care and sympathy to the soldiers’ needs and assured the civilian population that “they would sleep better as we would double our security efforts for the country.” SMFI Executive Director for Health and Medical Programs Connie Angeles assured the soldiers that the foundation’s help does not stop with the turnover of the completely new medical and dental dispensary but would also take care of maintaining the facility so that it would always be in tiptop shape.
LGUs
SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2017 D2 Standard TODAY Manila
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CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
POOR FAMILIES GET HOUSING IN BASECO By Sandy Araneta
W
HILE urban poor group Kadamay forcibly occupied government housing units in Bulacan, in Manila, another batch of 16 indigent families was awarded with their own houses and lots at the P44.5-million village built by Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada in Sitio Dubai, Baseco Compound. Estrada personally distributed certificates of usufruct and house keys to 16 informal settler families at the City Hall on Monday, March 27, seven months after the first group of 32 ISF-beneficiaries moved in to the so-called “Dubai” village last August. “I am elated that more poor families will get to have their own homes,” Estrada said. “Many more house-andlots will be distributed soon as we continue to find ways to provide decent shelters to the thousands of informal settlers here in Manila,” said Estrada. Addressing the 16 ISF-
beneficiaries, Estrada said what the city government wants in return is their commitment to help the government fight drugs: “Please help the President, please help your mayor, we want a drug-free country and a drug-free city,” he said. Urban poor group Dubai Kabalikat president Jeorgie Tenolete said the Dubai housing is the realization of the poor Baseco residents’ dream to have decent homes that they can call their own. With usufruct rights, the beneficiaries virtually own the property in an indefinite period,
according to Department of the Interior and Local GovernmentManila director Rolynne Javier. “All they have to do is take care of the property,” Javier said, “but they are not allowed to sell it or have it mortgaged,” he said. In February last year, Estrada ordered the construction of a housing village in the impoverished community of Baseco. The 3.5-hectare housing site aims to provide permanent settlement to hundreds of ISFs in the community.
The Office of the City Engineer has so far completed a total of 48 bungalow-type row houses, out of the targeted 128 units, each with a floor area of 30 square meters. The Dubai houses are also designed to be “eco-friendly” or energy-efficient shelters to lessen the effects of climate change, city engineers said. Each unit has a rainwater harvesting and grey water reuse system that will enable the occupants to collect rainwater and use it for sanitation, thus
significantly reducing expenses on water bills. With the “green” housing units, Estrada said there will also be no more additional expenses on lighting, cooling and sanitation requirements for the poor families. Since assuming office in 2013, Estrada has awarded 257 families with their own lots under his “Land for the Landless” program. Aside from the Dubai housing project, he also has similar housing for City Hall employees.
Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation and Communications CIVIL AERONAUTICS BOARD IN RE: PETITION FOR ISSUANCE OF FOREIGN AIR CARRIER’S PERMIT T’WAY AIR CO., LTD., Petitioner. x---------------------------------------------x
CAB Case No. EP-189-17/HED022017-012-0
NOTICE OF HEARING Pursuant to the provisions of RA776, as amended, Notice is hereby given that T’WAY AIR CO., LTD. has filed with the Civil Aeronautics Board a petition for issuance of Foreign Air Carrier’s Permit (FACP) to operate scheduled international air transportation services. The above-entitled case is scheduled for hearing on April 18, 2017 at 10:00 AM, CAB Conference Room, Old MIA Road, Pasay City before the undersigned, wherein the applicant shall present relevant evidence. Pre-marking and comparison of documents to be presented during the hearing shall be on April 4, 2017 at 10:00 AM, three (3) days thereafter. Applicant shall submit the marked documents together with the scanned copy to Hearing Examiners’ Division (HED) in accordance to CAB Resolution No. 6 (BM 01-01-27-2016) dated January 27, 2016, otherwise known as Less Paper Transaction of CAB. The applicant is hereby required to have this Notice of Hearing published at least once a week for three (3) consecutive weeks in a broadsheet of national circulation. The Notice of Hearing and the Application shall be served, by this Office, to all concerned parties/airlines, either by facsimile or electronic mail, in compliance with CAB Board Resolution No. 97 (2003). Parties/airlines opposed to the granting of this application must file their written opposition on or before the scheduled pre-marking date furnishing a copy of the same to the applicant or appear at the hearing with such evidence as may be proper under the circumstances. Failure on the part of any interested party to file their opposition on time or appear at the hearing shall be construed as a waiver of their right to be heard and the Civil Aeronautics Board shall proceed to hear and decide the application on its merits. Let a copy of the petition and this Notice be posted at the CAB Bulletin Board beginning today. 02 March 2017 Pasay City, Philippines
MARIA ELBEN SL. MORO Hearing Officer
(MS-MAR. 19,26 & APR. 2, 2017)
Republic of the Philippines Department of Health CENTRAL OFFICE BIDS AND AWARDS COMMITTEE
1.
INVITATION TO BID PROCUREMENT OF VARIOUS GOODS The Department of Health (DOH), through the General Appropriations Act CY 2017 intends to apply the sum of Forty Seven Million Two Hundred Thirty Five Thousand Philippine Pesos (PhP47,235,000.00) for the projects listed below. Bids received in excess of each ABC shall be automatically rejected at bid opening: IB No.
Name of Contract
ABC (PHP)
Cost of Bidding Documents (Php)
Single Largest Completed Contract
IB No. 2017-123
Procurement of Printers
35,735,000.00
25,000.00
11,500,000.00
25,000.00
At least Fifty Percent (50%) of the ABC within the specified period in the Section III. Bid Data Sheet
IB No. 2017-128 Procurement of 16GB Tablet TOTAL
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
47,235,000.00
The DOH now invites Bids from eligible Bidders for the procurement of the above-caption projects. Delivery of the Goods as specified in Section VI. Schedule of Requirements. Bidders should have completed, within the specified years from the date of submission and receipt of bids a contracts similar to each of the above-cited procurement projects stated in the Bidding Documents. The description of an eligible bidder is contained in the Bidding Documents, particularly, in Section II. Instructions to Bidders. Bidding will be conducted through open competitive bidding procedures using a non-discretionary “pass/fail” criterion as specified in the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of Republic Act (RA) 9184, otherwise known as the “Government Procurement Reform Act”. Bidding is restricted to Filipino citizens/sole proprietorships, partnerships, or organizations with at least sixty percent (60%) interest or outstanding capital stock belonging to citizens of the Philippines, and to citizens or organizations of a country the laws or regulations of which grant similar rights or privileges to Filipino citizens, pursuant to RA 5183 and subject to Commonwealth Act 138. Interested bidders may obtain further information from the COBAC Secretariat, G/F, Bldg. 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila and inspect the Bidding Documents at 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday to Friday. A complete set of Bidding Documents for each procurement package listed above may be acquired by interested bidders on 03 April 2017 to 24 April 2017 from the address above and upon payment of a nonrefundable fee for the Bidding Documents, pursuant to the latest Guidelines issued by the GPPB Resolution No. 04-2012, dated 24 February 2012, in the amount specified above. It may also be downloaded free of charge from the website of the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PhilGEPS) and the website of the Procuring Entity, provided that Bidders who are interested to participate shall pay the applicable fee for the Bidding Documents not later than the submission of their bids. Bidding Documents Fee may be refunded in accordance with the aforementioned Guidelines based on the grounds provided for under Section 41 of 2016 Revised IRR of RA 9184. The DOH will hold a Pre-Bid Conference and the Submission and Opening of Bids at the COBAC Conference Room, G/F, Building 6, Department of Health, San Lazaro Compound, Rizal Avenue, Sta. Cruz, Manila, which shall be opened to all interested parties on the schedule given below: IB No.
Name of Contract
IB No. 2017-123 IB No. 2017-128
Procurement of Printers Procurement of 16GB Tablet
Activity (Date & Time) Pre-bidding Conference Submission and Opening of Bids 10 April 2017; 10:00 AM
24 April 2017; 09:00 AM
Bids must be delivered to the address stated below. All Bids must be accompanied by a bid security in any of the acceptable forms and in the amount stated below: Form of Bid Security
Amount of Bid Security (Not less than the required percentage of the ABC)
Cashier’s/manager’s check issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank. Bank draft/guarantee or irrevocable letter of credit issued by a Universal or Commercial Bank: Provided, however, that it shall be confirmed or authenticated by a Universal or Commercial Bank, if issued by a foreign bank.
Two percent (2%)
Surety bond callable upon demand issued by a surety or insurance company duly certified by the Insurance Commission as authorized to issue such security. Bid Securing Declaration
8.
9.
Five percent (5%) No percentage required
Bids will be opened in the presence of the Bidders’ representatives who choose to attend at the address below. Late bids shall not be accepted. The DOH reserves the right to accept or reject any and all bids, declare a failure of bidding, or not award the contract at any time prior to contract award in accordance with Section 41 of RA 9184 and its IRR, without thereby incurring any liability to the affected bidder or bidders. For further information, please refer to: COBAC-C Secretariat Department of Health San Lazaro Compound Sta. Cruz, Manila Tel. Nos. 651-7800 local 1625 to 1627; 1650 to 52 Facsimile No.: 741-9775; 740-6830 (SGD) MA. CAROLINA V. TAIÑO, CPA, MGM, CESO IV Assistant Secretary of Health COBAC – B Chairperson
(MS-APR. 2, 2017)
BANGSAMORO COUNCIL. Leaders from various Muslim communities across the country say a prayer before the start of the soft launch of their umbrella organization, the Bangsamoro National Coordinating Council. The group said it fully supports the Duterte administration's plan to shift to a federal system of government, and the President's planned executive appointment of barangay captains. Manny Palmero
TAGUIG‘E-GRADUATION’PLAN SET By Joel E. Zurbano THE city government of Taguig has relaunched its e-Graduation project, which provides public school students all their needs and expenses during their graduation days. Mayor Laarni Cayetano said the city government will also broadcast live on the Internet the streaming of the graduation rites of every public school in Taguig so their relatives abroad and outside of the city can view the event online. “Graduation is an exciting event in the lives of students, but at the same time it brings anxiety to parents who worry of the attendant costs. Luckily for parents of public school students of Taguig City, the local government will be providing
all the needs of the graduates and completers,” she said. About 13,000 sixth grade students are scheduled to graduate this year, while 8,000 10th grade students are set for completion in public schools in the city. “We want to assure that these activities will be memorable for the students, also to their beloved parents, that is why we want to make it enjoyable and comfortable for them,” said Cayetano. “Students and their families can now share their academic milestones with their loved ones outside our city with the advent of the Internet and live streaming,” she added. Taguig pioneered the e-Graduation in 2012 and has been observing this practice yearly,
where they live-stream all the graduation events in every public school in the city. City officials are congratulating the graduates and completers for their achievements in the elementary and secondary schools, saying they are like proud parents to these children. Meanwhile, Mayor Cayetano is encouraging high school graduates to continue their education up to the tertiary level. Taguig offers free college education at its own university and a P625-million scholarship fund, which finances students’ education in various institutions, including the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, and De La Salle University. There are eight types of scholarships granting subsidies of P10,000 to P100,000.
THE WANING...
From D1
komedia script was written by Jesuit Geronimo Perez which was staged in Manila on July 15, 1637. It was obviously ushered in to mark the triumphant campaigns of Sebastian Hurtado de Corcuera against Muhammad Dipatuan Kudarat, better known as Sultan Kudarat, who ruled the sultanate of Maguindanao from 1619 to 1671. At the time of his death in 1671, he was, by historical accounts, probably between 80 and 90 years old. Earlier in 1598, or 77 years after the arrival of Magellan and his fleet, Jesuit students performed komedia in Cebu, now described in picture cards as the queen City of the South. While the debate breathes every now and then on the exact place where the komedia was first staged, which is beyond the ear-split range of the Ilocanos of the country’s far north, what is clear is that the komedia was for decades a favorite show among different generations. It used to mark religious festivals or cap an agro-industrial fair and town fiesta. Ilocanos celebrated their fiesta in April or May in honor of their patron saint San Isidro Labrador. It is enough to soften the impact of the scorching summer sun in any northern town, caressed by the warm sun of northern Philippines during summer.
HOUSING FOR 20 PESOS A DAY. The City Government of Muntinlupa has signed a memorandum of agreement with 11 community organizations for the Savings Mobilization Program in socialized housing last March 22. Mayor Jaime Fresnedi vowed to help indigent constituents acquire decent housing units through the program of the Urban Poor Affairs Office, which encourages beneficiaries to save at least 20 pesos per day for their housing units.
WATER SUPPLY FOR HOMES IN ARINGAY By Dexter A. See ARINGAY, La Union—At least 5,000 households in the southern part of this town that were longing for a very long time for safe potable water supply will now have it through the installation of around P40 million worth of modern water system by the Metro Agoo Waterworks Inc. “At last, we now have safe drinking water which we are longing for a very long time. This will help us a lot and will spur economic activities in our town,” said Mayor Eric Sibuma. Sibuma and MAWI president Roderick Ongcarranceja signed on Friday a memorandum of agreement for the construction of the water distribution facility. The MOA signing was witnessed by Gov. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III, Second District Rep. Sandra Eriguel and husband former congressman Franny Eriguel, MAWI Chairman Jolly Ting, and lawyer Rolando Rivera, the legal consultant. “We hope to finish the construction within three months. We will use purely new pipelines. This is entirely a new system. The water supply is very abundant and more than enough even during summer,” Ting said. Ting said Aringay is one of the waterless towns in the second district of La Union adjacent to Agoo. He said MAWI will provide vast water to the residents and businesses of Aringay by connecting the new pipeline to the existing water lines from Agoo which has abundant water supply. “Water is one of the basic elements to spur economic growth and attract the inflow of investments. With this development, it is expected to boosts the development of Aringay,” he said. MAWI, a subsidiary of the Calapan Waterworks Corp., launched its operation around five years ago, by delivering to Agoo vast supply of clean and potable water coming from its infiltration well installed along the riverbanks in Barangay Garcia Tubao, La Union. After 25 years since the devastation of the 1990 killer quake that destroyed the water supply in Agoo, potable drinking water started flowing in the town in December 2015 after MAWI has completed the construction of P400 million worth of water facility. The July 1990 killer quake has destroyed the water table or aquifer of Agoo and Aringay and that the underground supply becomes salty because these towns are covered by the Lingayen Gulf.
PAMPANGA AETAS GAIN FUNDING FOR COLLEGE SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga—A total of 63 Aeta scholars, mostly from Porac and Floridablanca, received their financial education assistance worth P385,000 from the provincial government during a simple ceremony here yesterday. Elizabeth Baybayen, Provincial Social Welfare Development officer, said the college scholars received P10,000, while the others received P5,000 each. Baybayen said the amount given to the scholars represents only the allowances of the Aeta scholars, while their tuition fees are also being shouldered by the provincial government every semester.
The scholars were enrolled in the different local university and colleges in Pampanga, namely Don Honorio Ventura Technological and State University, Mary the Queen College, Megabyte College and the Floridablanca National Agriculture School. Giving financial assistance to the less fortunate Cabalens like senior citizens, people with disability, single mothers, and students who want to study but cannot financially afford it are some of the regular activities of Gov. Lilia Pineda. Others who received their financial assistance starting January this year include 957 bedrid-
den elderlies from the third and fourth districts, who through a provincial board resolution received P45 million as social pension. The senior citizens each received P3,000 in checks they were able to encash through the Land Bank ATM on wheels,which went to the Bren Z Guiao Convention Center to assist the elderly. Last March 20, about 1,597 persons with disabilities also received P3,000 each. The approval of the P13-million annual budget by the provincial board was also announced at the same time, Baybayen added. Romeo Dizon
CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
Gadgets & Games
D3
SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2017 rumallari@thestandard.com.ph
ESCAPE TO YOUR NEXT SONY SUMMER ADVENTURE
Selfies will never be the same now with the whole gang in the picture!
GROUFIE ERA BEGINS WITH NEW OPPO F3 PLUS
T
HIS is no joke. Mobile technology brand OPPO launched its flagship dual selfie camera phone, the F3 Plus—the first-ever smartphone with a wideangle dual front camera to easily accommodate ‘groufies’ in a single shot on April Fool’s Day at Philippine stores as well as in India, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia. Its new features, particularly the awesome dual camera and the high-capacity battery are nothing to be laughed at, either. “Since OPPO started the Selfie Revolution in the Philippines with the F1 Series, we’ve gone through incredible growth especially when we became the country’s second bestselling smartphone in 2016,” OPPO Philippines Brand Marketing Manager Stephen Cheng said.“We are very excited to see the F3 Plus start a new trend in groufies and reinforce our position as the Selfie Expert.” “The F3 Plus was developed for both selfie lovers and photography buffs who want a smartphone that lets them take stunning shots wherever they are, no matter the
time of day. Our newest camera phone packs state-of-the-art hardware and software in a sleek body to deliver outstanding performance and style, perfect for the urban lifestyle,” Cheng added.
Effortless from selfie to groufie
Set to be the ultimate Selfie Expert, the F3 Plus builds upon the technology of the earlier OPPO F1s to deliver outstanding selfie photography. The new smartphone sports a similar 16-megapixel (MP) selfie camera with a 1/3-inch sensor for clear image results even in low light, as well as an f/2.0 aperture for depth-of-field aesthetic. The difference lies in the addi-
tional secondary camera. This 8MP groufie-camera has a wide 120-degree angle—105 percent larger than the regular 80-degree lens field of view— which allows more people to fit inside the frame. The wide-angle shot is also complemented by a 6P lens to minimize distortion. Ease of use has been carefully designed into the front camera’s functionality to reflect OPPO’s “useroriented” philosophy. The built-in Smart Facial Recognition, for instance, notifies users to switch to “Groufie” mode when more than three people are detected. This makes the switch from selfie to groufie effortless while keeping image quality stable. The new smartphone still comes with the brand’s pioneering image editing software, Beautify 4.0, which offers a range of beautification modes for a flawless look in every selfies and groufies.
Built for professional photography
Significant improvements have also been made for the rearfacing camera. Co-developed by Sony, the 16MP back camera is now powered by a customized
1/2.8-inch IMX398 sensor for fast focusing speed, outstanding noise reduction, and advanced low-light performance—ideal for serious photography. The sensor has been developed using dual-phase autofocus (DUAL PDAF) technology to double the pixel array area, which is composed of photodiodes that determine the camera’s point of focus. This increases focusing speeds by 40 percent even in less-than-ideal lighting conditions.
Flawless inside and out
The F3 Plus is engineered with hardware designed to support its powerful front and rear cameras. The phone’s octa-core processor is backed by a 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM to ensure speed, while OPPO’s ColorOS 3.0 optimizes performance to lower energy consumption. A built-in 4000mAh battery provides more than 284 hours of standby time for whole-day use. OPPO’s proprietary and industry-leading rapid VOOC Charging Solution also cuts charging duration by four times compared with standard units; even five minutes on the plug is enough for a continuous two-hour call.
LENOVO GIVES BACK. Lenovo Philippines recently awarded 10 units of ThinkCentre M73 Tiny Desktop to Miriam College in Quezon City. This comes a few months after the installation of several Lenovo desktops for the learning institution’s computer laboratories. The Think University program is one of Lenovo’s avenues in helping students and teachers to experience an interactive learning in the classroom through Lenovo devices in delivering the right response to the changing needs of the students. In photo are (from left) Marianne Angeles, Corporate Account Manager of Advance Microsystems Corp.; Janine Librea, Large Enterprise representative for the Commercial Group of Lenovo Philippines; Anna Abola, Marketing Manager of Lenovo Philippines; together with Miriam College officials: Engr. Dexter Llevares, ICTO Manager; Ma. Concepcion Lupisan, Finance Director; Dr. Noel Racho, Human Resources Director; and Dahl Bennett, Communications & Media Coordinator. Lenovo is a $45 billion global Fortune 500 company and a leader in providing innovative consumer, commercial, and enterprise technology.
A VIRAL TV SHOW SEGMENT, THANKS TO SOCIAL MEDIA HOW do you make a TV show go viral? For talk show host James Corden, what he did was invite famous personalities for a ride, tape sing-a-longs and duets, and share the videos via social media for the world to see. Thus, Carpool Karaoke on The Late Late Show was born. Carpool Karaoke has featured the likes of Mariah Carey, Lady Gaga, Selena Gomez, One Direction, Adele, and former First Lady Michelle Obama. These and other acts have taken the digitala world by storm, turning what started as a TV show segment into a global phenomenon. With each guest guaranteed to deliver a hit performance, here’s a wish list of celebrities we want to make an appearance on the segment:
Meryl Streep
The three-time Oscar Winner received her 18th Academy Award nomination for Florence Foster Jenkins, a biopic portraying the life
in the live-adaptation of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. Now the world is on a countdown to witness her Carpool Karaoke debut.
Former President Barack Obama
Hop aboard the world’s most musical ride Carpool karaoke acts we want to see on The Late Late Show with James Corden
of an American soprano who drove audiences wild with her horrible singing. The character required Meryl to do some artful bad singing, but the artist is never behind in pulling off musical acts like her performance in Into the Woods.
Emma Watson
Emma Watson’s journey from Harry Potter sweetheart to feminist fighter has endeared her to countless fans the world over. She sparked so much excitement and nostalgia after announcing that she will star
The 44th President of the United States has been out of office for less than three months, but a lot of people already miss him for his humor, wit, and charm. Should the dream appearance happen soon, viewers will want the former president to exceed another performance of his that made headlines: dancing to the tune of Eminem’s“Lose Yourself” during a backstage moment at the Democratic National Convention last year.
The X Factor UK Judges
What might we expect if topnotch music executives plus a Broadway singer come together in James Corden’s car? A powerhouse performance no less! Former Pussycat Dolls lead Nicole Scherzinger, tal-
ent manager Louis Walsh, and music manager Sharon Osbourne made their comebacks last year as judges at The X Factor UK, where they are still trying to best co-judge Simon Cowell. Will they be able to outshine him in a Carpool Karaoke ride?
Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling
The La La Land stars put on a brilliant chemistry on-screen that earned them critical acclaim and accolades, including an Academy Award for Emma and a Golden Globe for Ryan. We’re not over the duo’s performance and we want their magic to sweep us off our feet again. The Late Late Show airs at 11:45 p.m. on weekdays, express from the US, on RTL CBS Entertainment available on SKYcable channels 53 (SD) and 196 (HD), Destiny Cable channel 53, Dream Satellite channel 17, and Cablelink channels 37 (SD) and 313 (HD).
THIS summer, seek adventure and travel with a Sony device. Under Sony’s “Summer Vibe” campaign, customers can get great deals on their devices across the digital imaging and personal audio categories. From March 24 to June 18, Filipinos nationwide can enjoy cash discounts on some of Sony’s hottest devices. Travel to an exciting destination and shoot amazing photos with the Sony A7M2 Alpha mirrorless camera. You can choose from 3 different A7M2 Zeiss lens package—wide-angle lens kit, portrait lens kit package and all-around lens kit package all at 12 months’ installment at 0% interest. Aspiring photographers can upgrade their photography game with the lightweight A5100, now at the summer promo cash price of P26,999.00. Compact and well-featured, the A5100 is designed for entry-level photographers looking to master their skill. Consumers can also find offers on Zeiss and G Master lenses, camera accessories, and many more. Listen in excellent high-resolution with the latest headphones and speakers from Sony’s Extra Bass Line and High Res/Noise Cancelling line up. Get the noise-cancelling MDR-1000X at the promo price of P17,999, available at 12 months to pay at 0% interest. At a 10% discount, you can grab the MDR100ABN, MDR-XB50BS, and SRS-HG1 and hear your summer song in style. Whether it is capturing new places with a digital camera or listening to new tunes in style, Sony has your summer gadget to make the season unforgettable. Head to your nearest Sony Center to get to know more about these exciting deals. For more information on the latest products from Sony, visit www.sony. com.ph/. To hear the latest from Sony Philippines, like and follow them on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/ SonyPhilippines), Twitter (twitter.com/ SonyPHinc), and Instagram (instagram. com/sonyPHInc).
RICOH...
From D4
RICOH’s multi-function printers (MFP) can convert a scanned page to text or PDF, as well as print on a wider variety of papers to produce business cards, brochures, flyers and banners up to 320mm by 1260mm or more than four feet long. The 10.1” Smart Operation Panel provides a user interface very similar to smart phones, with enhanced widgets and faster response speed. And by accessing RICOH’s Integrated Cloud Enterprise Solutions, documents can be scanned and emailed, or directly be saved in a folder or cloud storage such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Evernote. RICOH MFPs can also automatically bind up to five printed pages without the need for staple wire, so documents can be prepared faster. Moreover, an in-built human detector sensor wakes up the machine from sleep mode as soon as a user is nearby—its 0.5 second switch-on time is the fastest in its class. Meanwhile, presentations can be done in easier and more interactive ways with RICOH’s network projectors. Discussions are more efficiently facilitated as the projectors allow up to four mobile devices to wirelessly project images simultaneously. The projectors can also show 3D images and feature a built-in speaker to play audio. RICOH’s Interactive White Board—a more sophisticated version of the penand-eraser writing board—allows multiple conference participants to make annotations on a projected image or content remotely and at the same time. It can also save, e-mail or print what is written on the board. In addition, RICOH’s Unified Communication System (UCS) equipment makes videoconference meetings more effective, as these por table devices have high video quality and are simple to use. Using the Internet, laptops can share data anywhere and in real time. Mobile phones can also be connected and linked to up to 20 sites during a meeting.All these features are available without expensive video conferencing hardware. RICOH products are showcased at its main office in Makati (tel. no. 8659500) and branches located in Laguna (045-502-7243), and Cebu (032-2564559). For more information, visit www.ricoh.com.ph
D4
SUNDAY, APRIL 2, 2017 Riera U. Mallari, Editor rumallari@thestandard.com.ph
Gadgets & Games
SAMSUNG EYES REBOUND WITH S8 AND BIXBY
Samsung Director of Product Marketing Suzanne De Silva unveils the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ during Samsung Unpacked at David Geffen Hall on March 29, 2017 in New York City. AFP
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EW YORK—Samsung on Wednesday unveiled its new Galaxy S8 smartphones, incorporating the virtual assistant Bixby, as the market leader seeks to rebound from a chaotic handset recall and a corruption scandal. The South Korean giant’s mobile chief DJ Koh told a New York event the Galaxy S8 and S8+ handsets marked “a new era of smartphone design.” Fitted with screens of 5.8 and 6.2 inches, the two handsets include Samsung’s upgraded digital assistant Bixby, competing in a crowded field that includes Apple’s Siri, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. The most striking feature of the new phones is what Samsung dubs an “infinity display”—an expanded glass screen that covers the entire front of the device and appears to curve seamlessly around its edges. The home button has been replaced with a pressure-sensitive section embedded under the screen. Both phones are water resistant and allow for biometric authentication with fingerprint and iris scanners.
Bixby marks a further step into services for the world’s biggest smartphone vendor, allowing users to shop, search for images and get details about nearby places with image recognition technology and geolocation. Samsung’s services chief Sriram Thodla said Bixby would allow for better navigation of applications on the phone. “We’ve built intelligence into the camera,” he said. “If you see something you want to buy, just point the camera at it and Bixby will find it from one of our partners.” The digital assistant will also enhance the phone’s capabilities as a remote control for connected home devices, Thodla said. The South Korean electronics giant late last year bought Viv, an artificial intelligence startup with co-founders
who were part of the team that built virtual assistant Siri, which Apple bought some seven years ago. As Samsung’s top-line handsets, the Galaxy S8 models will challenge the latest Apple iPhones. The new phones will be available starting April 21, Samsung said. In the US market, they will be sold through major carriers and retailers, with unlocked devices priced from $725.
After the debacle
The Galaxy S8 release comes after Samsung was forced to recall its Note 7 phones for catching fire due to overheating batteries. The debacle cost the South Korean company billions of dollars in lost profit and hammered its global reputation and credibility, during a torrid period that has also seen it embroiled in a corruption scandal. Its vice-chairman Lee Jae-Yong, heir to the parent Samsung group, has been arrested and indicted for bribery, along with four other senior executives, in connection with a graft scandal that saw ex-president Park Geun-Hye impeached.
Positive reviews
Analysts offered generally positive reviews while expressing caution over the high price tag. “The price of the new phones is up to $100 higher than their predecessors and almost all of the premium smartphones they’ll be competing with, which feels like a big risk,” said Jan Dawson of Jackdaw Research. Dawson said Samsung is betting “that its phones will justify a higher price, whereas it could have used these new phones as a way to drive higher sales after a couple of years of stagnation.” Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy said he was “impressed than I thought I’d be,” adding that Samsung had “done everything they could at this point” to produce a quality handset. Avi Greengart of the consultancy Current Analysis said in a tweet that the new phone “has a lot of new tech but not much changed in the camera. Its all about the (amazing) form factor.” Bob O’Donnell of Technalysis Research tweeted that “The phone as a true pocket computer is starting to get more real.”
RICOH: IMPROVING PRODUCTIVITY GLOBAL imaging and electronics leader RICOH continuously seeks to improve business productivity and cost-efficiency with its innovative technologies that simplify the most demanding day-to-day processes— from printing and photocopying of documents and visuals, to conducting presentations and meetings with counterparts from around the world online. Revolutionizing ways of doing things through more creative and time-saving solutions is the underlying principle behind the company’s “Workstyle Innovation Technology,” said RICOH Philippines president and CEO Eric Sulit.
“As markets become more competitive, industries are even more so geared towards cost efficiency and productive workflows. RICOH continuously streamlines technology and processes to help companies meet the needs of these changing times,” adds Sulit. The company brings its line of printers and photocopiers, projectors, and videoconferencing devices more effectively to users through a series of exclusive, hands-on pocket sessions targeting various industries, the most recent of which was at the Philippine Economic Zone Authority area in Laguna where manufacturing companies abound.
Improved and simplified processes are vital for manufacturing companies as they accelerated production in more cost-effective yet high-quality ways, according to Sulit. For instance, RICOH provides a wide variety of solutions or software for cost accounting, including the EZ Charger Xpress which is a software that customizes automated cost charging for different users of printing equipment. Under this scheme, an IT administrator can track and set a limit on the usage level of individual users or departments. It also offers full document management, including archiving. Turn to D3
RICOH’s multi-function printers can convert a scanned page to text or PDF, as well as print on a wider variety of papers to produce business cards, brochures, flyers and banners.
DELL WYSE 3040
DELL UNVEILS WYSE 3040 DELL announces its lightest, smallest and most power-efficient thin clienti that offers superb performance and manageability for task and basic productivity users. Compatible with Citrix, Microsoft and VMware virtual workspace environments, the Wyse 3040 thin client provides a cost-effective endpoint solution that is highly secure, yet easy to deploy and manage. It is the industry’s first entry-level Intel x86-based quad-core thin client, delivering robust connectivity options and a choice of Wyse ThinOS or ThinLinux operating systems. Today’s workforce requires access to highly efficient, powerful systems and tools that enable them to innovate, collaborate and share information in a secure environment. In fact, more than 70 percent of millennials feel that advanced technology is crucial to a collaborative, productive and efficient work environment, according to the Dell Future Ready Workforce Study. The Wyse 3040 thin client is an affordable, efficient and easy to manage endpoint solution that allows IT managers to keep costs low while supporting basic productivity and light multitasking. It is ideal for customers across a range of industries, including highly-regulated sectors such as retail, finance, healthcare and education. “Our customers are looking for that ideal blend of security, performance, energy efficiency and price,” said Jai Sahney, Director, Cloud Client Computing, South Asia, Dell. “The new Wyse 3040 thin client—the smallest and most efficient thin client—exceeds expectations of what an entrylevel thin client can do.” With a new slim line form factor starting at just 0.24kg (0.53lbs), the Wyse 3040 is the first entry-level thin client to feature an Intel Atom X5 1.44GHz quad-core processor that supports up to 2GB DDR3 RAM and 8GB flash. Designed for efficiency, the Wyse 3040 delivers 30 percent better performance than previous generations, making it ideal for light multimedia use and local application activity. With its small size, it’s also easy to mount on the back of a monitor for a clean, de-cluttered workspace. Additional features include: Choice in Operating System: The Wyse 3040 comes with the virusresistant Wyse ThinOS software that is ultra-secure with no published APIs and therefore no attack surface. Starting in June 2017, customers will also be able to choose Wyse ThinLinux, a thin client-optimized software based on SUSE Linux that has been further hardened and optimized by Dell for thin client environments. Robust Connectivity: Supporting a broad range of peripheral attachments and network connections to meet business needs, the Wyse 3040 thin client includes two DisplayPort interfaces, support for dual digital display (2560x1600), and four USB ports—one of which is USB 3.1 Gen 1 for high-speed connectivity.
A SMARTPHONE THAT COMPLEMENTS USER'S LIFESTYLE OVER the past couple of years, smartphones have truly taken over the world and shaped modern culture through allowing for constant and immediate access to a world of information and entertainment. Smartphones come in all shapes, sizes, and materials—with something for every kind of users, each with a specific set of tech and lifestyle needs. However, the smartphone market has become increasingly crowded, but users’ expectations and demands are far from being satisfied. The pressure is on for smartphone manufacturers to deliver not only cutting-edge technology, but also plenty of opportunities for creativity, connectivity, and meaningful experiences.
For users, by users
LG, a global innovation leader, believes that the smartphone of tomorrow is powered by technology designed to complement different aspects of the user’s life. This belief is the core of its latest flagship smartphone, the LG G6. Instead of cramming novel yet eventually inept features into every model, LG has constantly worked to place user concerns at the forefront in every part of the design and development process. The G6, the latest iteration of the successful premium G range, is the culmination of the company’s efforts to enhance user-friendliness and complement users’ lifestyles.
Amplifying life at the palm of in a taller 5.7-inch display in a device that your hand comfortably fits in one hand. This single-
LG smartphones have always been known for their sleek, stylish design, but the company is taking this reputation to the next level with the G6. A seamless combination of ergonomic single-handed usability, a new type of display design, and a water- and dust-resistant body, the G6 serves not only as a capable and durable device but as an empowering companion in today’s fast-paced, information-heavy, and demanding world. The G6 allows users to see and immerse themselves more in the screen while holding a whole lot less of phone— LG developed a new smartphone body with significantly smaller bezels to pack
handed usability is complemented by the device’s IP68 rating and military standards that allows users to focus on their lives, instead of worrying about their delicate smartphones. Built for the unexpected, the G6 is sealed against dust and can be safely immersed in water up to one meter in depth for up to 30 minutes and is less vulnerable to accidental drops or rough everyday use. This new flagship smartphone also has user safety in mind, as the G6 is powered by a battery that allows users to keep going without worry, as it was repeatedly tested to high standards.
LG believes that the smartphone of tomorrow is powered by technology designed to complement different aspects of the user’s life.