4 gadgetsmagazine.com.ph Contents 2022SEPTEMBER GADGETS LAB 24 ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3402) 28 Infinix Note 12 32 realme Neo GT 336 36 Xiaomi 12 Lite PARADE 08 Acer Chromebook Vero 514 10 Asus Zenbook Pro 16X OLED 12 Epson WorkForce DS-1630 13 Sonos Ray 14 Oppo Reno8 Series 5G 15 Secretlab House of Dragon Edition 16 Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact 17 Xiaomi Smart Doorbell 3 18 Lenovo Ideapad Slim 5 Pro 19 Lenovo Ideapad Slim 3 | 3i 20 Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Series 22 Fujitsu UH-X Series 23 Fujitsu CH Series INNOVATION48 48 Elevate: HackathonAPI 50 Asia Pacific Seeds for the Future 52 Shopee Ultimate Case Challenge 54 Exploring Space-based 5G Technologies COVERSTORY40 40 Changing the Way We See 44 Pet Tech: Getting Smarter with our Furry Friends
5 gadgetsmagazine.com.ph 2022SEPTEMBER IIssue•XXIIIVOLUME MOBILITY56 56 Nissan Kicks e-Power 58 Toyota SolutionsMobility 60 Xiaomi TechnologyPilot 62 Must-Check Car Parts for Rainy Day Drives 64 Care Tips for Steering and Suspension Systems 66 Philippine Rallycross Series 2021 Winners 68 Mio Gear CampgroundMoto TRAVEL70 My First Euro Trip: Wacken Open Air, Germany HOME74 74 Three ways to more eco-friendly homes 78 Do It Better at Home ENTERPRISE80 80 Enstack SME Superapp 82 Fusion 13 Lite 86 Digital Frontier 4.0 Study FINTECH94 94 A New Way to Pay with Credit 96 GCash Jr. EMPLOYMENT90 Philippines Freelance Market 2022
6 gadgetsmagazine.com.ph Contents 2022SEPTEMBER IIssue•XXIIIVOLUME GAMING114 MultiVersus ENTERTAINMENT110 Diskarteng Pinay WELLNESS108 24/7 TeletheraphySECURITYCYBER102 102 2022 Unit 42 Incident Response Report 104 Fighting Financial Crimes 106 Cyberbulling A-Z EDUCATION98 98 Dedicated to Innovation 100 Windows 11 SE Tester Program GREEN118 Bring Your Plastic Waste to the Mall NEWSBYTES120 The latest in the world of tech RELIC128 The Gold Standard
PRU LIFE UK AND GCASH OFFER AFFORDABLE PROTECTION PLAN TO 60 MILLION APP USERS
Insurance penetration in the Philippines is still among the lowest in Asia, recording lower than 2 percent of the population according to the Insurance Commission1. On the other hand, mobile phone users in the country have grown to around 82.3 million, highlighting the potential in digitizing insurance to reach even more Filipinos.
Customers will be able to purchase both products through GCash under the GInsure feature. These protection plans are designed to provide accidental death and disablement (ADD2) coverage amounting to Php 100,000 and are available either as a basic or a full package.
“Our GCash partnership is part of our strategic digital initiatives to drive up financial inclusion in the Philippines. We plan to have more protection plans accessible through various digital platforms,” said Pru Life UK General to a Statista report to the PRUPersonal Accident Terms and Conditions for the complete details of each package. specified percentage of the ADD Benefit will be paid according to the Schedule of Coverage indicated in the Policy Contract. The range is from 1% to 100% of ADD Benefit.
2 Refer
1 According
PRUPersonal Accident Junior has four different packages with varying coverages that suit the policyowners’ needs. The ADD
For as low as Php 48.95/year, PRUPersonal Accident Junior, a renewable term insurance plan, is now available for students aged 1822 (if Life Assured is also the Policyowner) or for children aged 5-17 (if Life Assured is the child of the Policyowner). PRUPersonal Accident Standard, also a renewable term insurance plan, will be available to aged 1865 and fit for various occupations.
Meanwhile, the basic package of PRUPersonal Accident Standard will provide benefits for total and permanent disability, and death due to murder and assault. Others such as burial benefits and renewal bonus will likewise be provided. The full package will include the same benefits plus minimum of Php 5,000 medical reimbursement and Php 250 hospital income benefits.
Renewable accident plans
Manager and Chief Commercial Officer Gilbert Simpao.
Leading life insurer Pru Life UK’s health insurance product is now available on GCash, the mobile wallet provider, to offer easy access to protection to millions of Filipinos. PRUPersonal Accident Junior for children is now available, to be followed by its equivalent for adults, PRUPersonal Accident Standard soon this year.
A renewable accident plan for kids is now available, and another plan for adults soon.
3 The
coverage of the packages range from Php 30,000 up to Php 100,000. At the minimum, it provides a renewal bonus, burial benefits and field trip coverage. The full package adds Php 3,000 accidental medical reimbursement and Php 250 hospital income benefits.
Further information about Pru Life UK’s newest renewable accident plans is available on the GCash app. More affordable products are also available on Pru Life UK’s official website at www. prulifeuk.com.ph and official Shopee store at www.shopee.ph/prulifeukofficial
Powered by the latest 12th Gen Intel Core processors and featuring Intel Iris Xe graphics, the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 tackles collaboration, productivity, and entertainment needs. The fastcharging battery keeps customers powered longer throughout the day as the Chromebook can charge up to 50% of its 10-hour battery life in just 30 minutes.
The 14-inch full HD anti-glare Corning Gorilla Glass display – available on the touchscreen option – boasts 300 nits brightness and a wide 100% sRGB color range, providing a more vibrant and compelling viewing experience. The Acer Chromebook Vero 514 sports a thin bezel design that delivers an impressive 88% screen-to-body ratio. The full HD flare-reducing webcam and DTS audio with Smart Amplifier provide highquality video conferencing on the new DesignedChromebook.forcreating and connecting, the Acer Chromebook Vero 514 features fast and reliable Wi-Fi 6E and connects to a range of devices and displays. It also provides charging capabilities through its port selection, including two USB Type-C, USB 3.2 Type-A, and HDMI.
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THE NEW ACER Chromebook Vero 514 (CBV514-1H/T) features a thoughtful design that takes the entire product lifespan into consideration since it is easy to upgrade, repair, disassemble and recycle. It uses recycled materials in most areas of the product including 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic in the chassis and 50% PCR plastic in the keycaps, 100% ocean-bound plastics on the touchpad surface, and 90% recycled paper packaging.
Chromebook
Its unique exterior features a paint-free chassis with a cobblestone gray finish and a display panel that is 99% recyclable. Its life-extending impact-resistant exterior meets MIL-STD 810H testing standards, while its reinforced design protects it from drops as high as 122cm.
Acer Chromebook Vero 514
The new Acer Chromebook Vero 514 broadly integrates the use of PCR plastic with 30% in its chassis and screen bezel, and 50% in the keycaps and speakers. It uses ocean-bound plastics in its internal fan housing and on its OceanGlass™ touchpad, which provides a sleek, glasslike texture and responsive tactile feeling.
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gadgetsmagazine.com.ph PARADE 10 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022 Asus Zenbook Pro 16X OLED Laptop
Featuring a world-leading 16-inch 4K OLED HDR NanoEdge touchscreen with stylus support, this device promises the ultimate visual content creation
Pro 16X OLED is also packed with all the I/O ports needed for easy connectivity. Its ultrafast Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports support fast charging, 4K external displays, and up to 40Gbps data transfers. There’s also an
These innovative features are enclosed in a CNC-machined unibody milled from
It is powered by the flagship 12th Gen Intel Core i9-12900H processor and the studio-grade NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU with NVIDIA Studio drivers, delivering the ultimate performance and effortless graphics power. Complemented with 32GB LPDDR5 of RAM and an ultrafast 1TB PCIe 4.0 x4 SSD, this machine can handle any creative task with best-in-class speed to keep the creative juices flowing.
THE NEW ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X OLED (UX7602) has world-class cooling architecture, ultimate power, and stunning visuals to make up the best Creator laptop trifecta. It offers a wealth of innovative design features and a brand-new all-metal design featuring the Active Aerodynamic System Ultra (AAS Ultra) for enhanced system cooling and maximum performance. It is powered by a 12th Generation Intel Core i9 processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 GPU, complemented by a worldleading 16:10 16-inch 4K OLED HDR touchscreen and upgraded features to redefine what a creative machine should
all-new, precision-engineered AAS Ultra mechanism tilts the keyboard by 7-degrees when the laptop is opened to provide the most comfortable typing angle. This also enhances cooling by allowing 30% more airflow, cooling the laptop by 7 degrees, and unleashing the full performance of the powerful CPU and graphics. Additionally, the tilting mechanism creates a better stereo image by directing the sound from the dual tweeters for enhanced listening
An industry-leading IceCool Pro cooling system ensures the laptop is cooled
Withexperience.anexpansive
Changepleasure.brush
super-tough aerospace-grade 6000-series aluminum alloy, giving the Zenbook Pro 16X OLED a discreet yet elegant look and feel.
HDMI 2.1 port, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, and a combo audio jack alongside the latest SD Express 7.0 card reader.
This dream machine features an intelligent lighting system, adding a new dimension to creative experiences. This includes an illuminated monogram lid logo and per-key White-RGB keyboard backlighting augmented by light bars on either side of the keyboard.
size, enhance saturation, adjust layer opacity, or rapidly undo actions instantly with the ASUS Dial, an intuitive physical rotary controller. At 3.2 mm thin, the ASUS Dial is glasscovered for ultra-smooth operation. The Zenbook Pro 16X OLED has an enlarged touchpad to enhance efficiency and creativity, with linear resonant actuator (LRA) technology for the most precise haptic feedback.
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Thebe.
16:10 aspect ratio, the display is PANTONE Validated to ensure accurate color rendering. With 550 nits peak brightness, it’s also VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certified for the deepest blacks to give ultra-realistic detail. Its cinema-grade 100% DCI-P3 color gamut partnered with Dolby Vision deliver ultra-vivid colors, the 0.2 ms response time makes even the fastest action scenes look super-smooth, and the Dolby Atmos delivers multi-dimensional sound. To keep creative eyes comfortable and safe during the most prolonged work or relaxation sessions, it’s also TÜV Rheinland certified for low blue-light emissions.
Theeffectively.Zenbook
fuss-free A4 flatbed scanner is rated for scanning up to 1,500 pages daily, with a scan speed up to 25ppm or 10ipm at 300dpi resolution. Its high-capacity automatic document feeder can accommodate up to 50 pages for ease of use. Its automatic duplex scanning capability scans both sides of a document quickly.
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DIGITAL ARCHIVING is more than just the conversion of documents into digital form—it’s the streamlining and simplification of workflow, the transformation into smart archives, and the growth of increased efficiency and productivity in the workplace with the help of scanners.
to easily manage scanned files. It allows document skew correction, text enhancement, auto area segmentation, color enhancement, and color dropout. Documents can be scanned to searchable pdf files with the built-in OCR function.
Scanner
With the innovation found in today’s scanners, organizations can reduce their storage space by housing a scanner in the corner of the office. Epson, the market leader in document scanners in the Southeast Asia region, makes this possible with its compact and innovative
PARADE
scanners like the Epson WorkForce DSThis1630.compact,
Like other Epson scanners, the WorkForce DS-1630 comes bundled with a document management software
Epson DS-1630WorkForce
PHP26,495
Award-winningsetup.Hollywood sound engineers developed the Ray’s Speech Enhancement feature to give a crisp dialogue so listeners can follow the story with ease. Meanwhile, the Night Mode feature reduces the sound intensity, allowing others at home to sleep without any disturbance.
Thanks to its Split Waveguides Technology, it outperforms other similar-sized counterparts from competitor brands and delivers an unrivaled, immersive auditory experience. This technology is responsible for projecting sound from wall to wall and accurately positioning elements in the room, resulting in a precisely balanced sound.
The Ray is available through Mod Audio, the brand’s exclusive distributor in the country.
an audio jack. Apart from its built-in touch controls, users can also control it through the TV remote, the Sonos app, or the Apple Airplay 2 via WiFi. The Ray can also be connected to a PC for a nextlevel gaming
THE SONOS RAY is the most affordable variant in the brand’s soundbar lineup, but the sound quality, aesthetics, and performance it delivers are no joke. It’s geared to be an allaround entertainment companion for general media consumers. Whether it’s movies, series, music, or even games, the Ray promises a crisp, balanced, and customizable sound with a zero-stress
Sonos Ray
Soundbar
The Ray’s compact size and sleek and sophisticated design blend well with any room’s aesthetics. Users can simply connect the speaker to the TV through
other surfaces, thus allowing the music, sound effects, and dialogue to be heard the way they should.
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as the ideal soundbar for small spaces, the Ray embodies TruePlay Technology — a feature unique to all Sonos products, which adapts the sound to the room’s unique acoustics. It optimizes audio quality by measuring how sound is reflected off walls and
Perceivedsetup.
The OPPO Reno8 series 5G also features the Ultra Night Video and Ultra Night Portrait, which allow you to experience the perfect balance between brightness and shadows for movie-worthy low-light
OPPOSeriesReno85G
Packed with Dual Sony Flagship Sensors, the OPPO Reno8 5G produces posterquality portraits and ultra-clear photos, especially with its Sony IMX766 and IMX709 sensors that work together to deliver crisp, clear, and color-rich images.
Meanwhile,videos.
its Ultra Night Portrait, an AI-powered neural network for noise reduction and higher resolution, enables users to take clear photos faster, even at night. Lastly, the Portrait Mode also allows you to create a natural bokeh flare for portraits, almost indistinguishable from an SLR camera.
OPPO HAS LAUNCHED the all-new OPPO Reno8 series 5G, with enhanced portrait systems and flagship-grade
Throughspecs.
Aside from its camera specs, the allnew ‘Portrait Expert’ device boasts its brand-new Reno Glow design, 80W SUPERVOOC charging system, and MediaTek Dimensity 1300—all these make for a device that allows you to relive the night and truly shine at your best moments.
Built to help capture ultra-clear nights in portrait, the OPPO Reno8 series 5G allows you to experience the night as you have never experienced it before, especially with its innovative and flagship-grade features.
PHP19,999 – Reno8 Z 5GPHP27,999 – Reno8 5G Smartphone
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the years, the OPPO Reno series has been known as the “Portrait Expert” with its well-loved AI camera features, such as the AI Mixed Portrait, Dual View Video, and AI Scene Enhancement Video capabilities, among other innovations in mobile entertainment.
Secretlab House of the Dragon Edition
PHP27,999 – Reno8 5G
WARNER BROS. CONSUMER PRODUCTS has once again teamed up with award-winning gaming chair manufacturer Secretlab to create the Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 House of the Dragon Edition chair — a special homage to the Targaryens just in time for the launch of HBO’s House of the Dragon, the successor series to Game of EmbellishedThrones. with elaborate dragon scale leather which was specially designed for the Secretlab House of the Dragon Edition, the chair is an ode to the Targaryens at the peak of their power
Gaming Chair
in Dragonstone, the ancestral seat of House Targaryen. Their sigil is stitched on the front and back of the backrest in intricate red and white embroidery with the regal silhouette of dragons outlined on its side wings, a fitting nod to the majestic creatures that marked the
PHP26,390
Targaryen dynasty. This chair will be the latest addition to the Secretlab Game of Thrones Collection.
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Built on the award-winning Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022, the House of the Dragon Edition is available in sizes small, regular, and XL, in extremely limited quantities.
THIS SMALL BUT POWERFUL, compact-sized air purifier is suitable for home-wide or office-wide use. It traps 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns via 3-in-1 filtration for thorough purification and eliminates common indoor air pollutants effectively with layer-by-layer filtration. Certified by the authoritative TÜV Rheinland, Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact is proven
PHP4,799
In addition, it has real-time air quality monitoring for enhanced purification with intuitive indoor air quality from four-color indicator light. You can adjust your purification settings with a simple touch of the control buttons, and with one light touch to fulfill your air-quality needs.
Air Purifier
Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Compact
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to effectively filter out allergens in the air.
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Xiaomi DoorbellSmart3
This compact device runs on a 5200mAh built-in battery, which can easily be recharged via a USB port. It allows for long-lasting power and more time between charging.
PHP5,199Doorbell Camera
Apart from the camera, Xiaomi Smart Doorbell 3 has an intercom for visitors, making it ideal for those living in apartments and condominiums.
TAKE HOME SECURITY to a new level with Xiaomi Smart Doorbell 3, which is equipped with a camera offering sharp 2K clarity, and builtin high-powered infrared lights that ensure clear video in the dark. It also has multiple camera views, such as diagonal 180 degrees and ultra-wide, and advanced AI motion detection.
The IdeaPad Slim 5 Pro also comes equipped with a Smart Login with an FHD camera, array microphone, and Dolby Atmos speaker system. As an additional gift to customers, the laptop is bundled with the 3-Year Accidental
Starts at PHP86,995Laptop
Damage Protection for free. Combined with the standard 3-Year Premium Care Warranty and Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 Lifetime license, users are guaranteed to receive top-notch service with the IdeaPad Slim 5 Pro.
Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5 Pro
PARADE
DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ultimate and intensified performance, the IdeaPad Slim 5 Pro is focused on addressing the needs of professionals who wish to achieve a high level of productivity. Equipped with up to an AMD Ryzen R7-6800HS processor, Windows 11 OS, and the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050Ti, the IdeaPad Slim 5 Pro provides users with the high-quality performance of up to 85W TDP. It also comes in a 16-inch WQXGA model that features a 16:10 aspect ratio display, a refresh rate of 120Hz, and a high AAR design with up to 91% active display area.
With its full metal design, the IdeaPad Slim 5 Pro strikes the perfect balance of power and beauty. It also features up to 16GB DDR5 4800 of memory and 1TB of PCIe Gen4 SSD for storage to ensure users have enough space on their device and includes a cutting-edge cooling system, perfect for long hours of use.
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Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 3 | 3i Starts at PHP45,995 – IdeaPad Slim 3 (AMD Ryzen 5) Starts at PHP47,495 – IdeaPad Slim 3i (12th Gen Intel Core i5) Laptop
features. Students can also expect the latest Windows 11 OS, Dolby Audio speakers, and an array of microphones, proving the IdeaPad Slim 3 and 3i to be reliable work and personal devices equipped with the latest technology.
To further enhance user experience, the IdeaPad Slim 3 is equipped with a biometric power button, HD Camera with a privacy shutter, and smart learning
The IdeaPad Slim 3 also features up to 16GB DDR4 of memory and 512GB of storage to ensure enough space for work and personal files. The devices have also been engineered with a full-function USB Type C port that includes power and displays to provide innovative features that are beneficial for users.
BUILT FOR PURPOSEFUL performance and perfect for students looking for a device upgrade, the IdeaPad Slim 3 is powered by the latest AMD Ryzen 5000 series and 12th Gen Intel Core processors to guarantee users the perfect laptop for multitasking. The IdeaPad Slim 3 also comes in two kinds of models: 14-inch and 15.6-inch with FHD IPS screens, and has a high AAR design with up to 88% active display area, allowing users to see more on their screens.
The IdeaPad Slim 3 is available in Abyss Blue, while the IdeaPad Slim 3i comes in the colors Arctic Grey, Abyss Blue, and Misty Blue. Both variants come with a Lifetime Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 license.
gadgetsmagazine.com.ph PARADE 20 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022 Galaxy Watch5 Series Smart Watch SAMSUNG RECENTLY UNVEILED its smartest and most durable wearables, the Galaxy Watch5 and Galaxy Watch5 Pro. Loaded with insightful and intuitive tracking technologies, both devices are designed to become everyone’s personalized wellness companion day in and day out. PHP26,990 Galaxy Watch5 Pro (45mm) Bluetooth PHP29,990 Galaxy Watch5 Pro (45mm) LTE
Watch5 Series is composed of two exciting additions to the brand’s growing wearable lineup. The Galaxy Watch5, which comes in 40mm and 44mm Bluetooth and LTE variants, is designed to complement the lifestyles of trendy fitness seekers with its holistic health tracking and coaching Meanwhile,capabilities.
Hiking, cycling, and running enthusiasts who are looking for much more advanced functions will love the Galaxy Watch5 Pro’s special features designed for outdoor activities. It has Route Workout, which allows users to import preset route files in GPX format, and Track Back, which provides a guide on how to return to the jump-off point safely. It also boasts a Turn-by-Turn Directions feature that commands users on the road through voice and vibration guides.
Having a smartwatch is like having a smartphone on your wrist, but better. As part of Samsung’s mission to be part of its community’s wellness journey, the tech giant designed the Galaxy Watch5 Series with the cutting-edge BioActive Sensor to not just monitor essential health data but also provide insights that ultimately shape better wellness habits. With its advanced features and powerful capabilities, the newest iteration of the Galaxy Watch lineup is committed to helping its users achieve their fitness goals and milestones in the smartest way
the Galaxy Watch5 Pro, coming in 45mm Bluetooth and LTE variants, is suited for outdoor sports enthusiasts and athletes as it boasts the
advantage of having a double titanium casing, longer battery life, and outdoorspecialized features.
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Thepossible.Galaxy
Both watches provide personalized feedback that aims to let their users understand their bodies better and improve sleeping patterns. This is made possible by their built-in Body Composition feature that measures muscle mass, fat, and water, Heart Rate, and Blood Oxygen tracker that monitors the invisible vascular conditions and any abnormal symptoms, and Sleep Coaching feature that provides data-based insights to improve the quality of sleep.
All models of the Galaxy Watch5 Series are powered by the Exynos W920 processor with 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. Other features include compatibility with any Android 8.0 phone or higher, LTE and WiFi support, and Bluetooth 5.2.
PHP16,990 Galaxy Watch5 (40mm) Bluetooth PHP18,990 Galaxy Watch5 (44mm) Bluetooth PHP19,990 Galaxy Watch5 (40mm) LTE PHP21,990 Galaxy Watch5 (44mm) LTE
The Galaxy Watch5 Series also doesn’t disappoint when it comes to battery life. The 40mm Galaxy Watch5 carries a 284mAh battery and the 44mm Galaxy Watch5 a 410mAh, both guaranteeing longer usage and faster charging. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch5 Pro carries a massive 590mAh, the largest Samsung smartwatch battery to date.
DESIGNED WITH DETAILS that will appeal to the needs of today’s working professionals, consumers can look forward to the Fujitsu UH-X series.
Fujitsu UH-X Series
Focused on addressing the needs of professionals who wish to achieve a high level of productivity, the UH-X series is engineered for robust multitasking. Equipped with up to an Intel CoreTM i7-1255U processor, Intel Iris Xe Graphics, and Windows 11 OS, the UH-X delivers exceptional performance for both personal and professional uses. It also comes equipped with the Intel Iris Xe Graphics for great visuals perfect for handling basic graphical tasks. The UH-X series is designed with a 13-inch FHD.
Crafted from durable yet light magnesium alloy, the Fujitsu UH-X strikes a perfect balance of strength, power, and beauty. Weighing at only 878g and comes at 15.5mm thin, the laptop is known to be one of the lightest devices in the country. It also has an official MIL-STD 810H certification, assuring customers that the device can withstand bumps and drops.
Havingkeyboard.passed
Made in Japan, The UH-X Series was engineered to the standards of Takumi: a Japanese brand of perfection achieved over decades of meticulous
Thecraft.UH-X series features up to 16GB of memory and 512GB of SSD of storage. Users will also experience less lag with
rigorous tests, the UH-X series is built to last, providing consumers with a reliable work device. The UH-X series comes in a sleek dignified black color, perfect for that minimalist design. It comes bundled with free Microsoft Office Home and Student, and 3-year onsite warranty.
Starts at PHP64,995
the Wi-Fi 6 antenna placement and a 64 Whr battery capacity. The device is also fitted with innovative features and functions to enhance the user experience including a fingerprint sensor built-in power button supported by Windows Hello, and a full suite of ports for full connectivity (HDMI, USB Type-A, USB Type-C, SD card slot, and a backlit
Laptop
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Fujitsu CH Series
The Fujitsu CH also features 8GB of memory and 512GB SSD of storage. It supports WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1. The device comes with multiple features such as a combo headphone and mic jack, Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB 3.2. port, and an HD Camera supported by Windows Hello.
Starts at PHP54,995
With a 53Whr battery capacity, consumers are assured of power that lasts throughout the day. It comes with free Microsoft Office Home and Student, and 3-year onsite warranty.
Laptop
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PERFECT FOR CONSUMERS who wish for a lightweight yet premium device, the Fujitsu CH series is an Intel EVO-certified device crafted with precision.
Enjoy entertainment anywhere with a 13.3inch Full HD OLED display with 2.5D glass and stereo speakers powered by Dirac Audio. The CH series also features an Intel Core i5-1135G7 processor and Windows 11 OS to address the needs of mobile professionals. It also comes equipped with the Intel Iris Xe Graphics to grant users visuals perfect for entertainment and work-related functions.
REVIEWED BY GABRIEL PE ZENBOOK
ASUS
ASUS has an excellent reputation for producing great laptops with outstanding performance. And their laptop technology’s creme de la creme has always been the flagship Zenbook lineup. The Zenbook 14 OLED is one of their newer Zenbooks, and ASUS has a jewel in this ultra-portable yet powerful device.
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14 OLED (UX3402)
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DESIGN
The Zenbook 14 OLED has ASUS’ ErgoSense keyboard and touchpad. It’s a full-sized keyboard, and typing feels alright. The keys have a bit of travel distance, something rare for this form of laptop. The travel distance made the keys do a little “twang” sound whenever I typed fast, which made me do a double take at first, but I eventually got used to it. There’s also ASUS’ NumberPad 2.0 on the touchpad, a feature I have always liked.
25 September 2022
Ports selection is limited, as in most thin and lights. On the left is a single USB 3.2 Type-A port. On the right are two USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an HDMI port, a MicroSD card reader, and LED notification lights. Both Type-C ports also function as the laptop’s power input when you run out of juice.
If asked to describe the Zenbook 14 OLED in one word, I would say it’s “Stunning!” The laptop features an allaluminum body, making it lightweight yet durable. Our review unit was in their Aqua Celadon color which, according to ASUS, was supposed to be a pale green color; to me, it looked more silver than green. I liked the nice silver lines that added a bit of flare to the laptop’s cover.
I think the laptop’s greatest strength, though, is its form factor. It is just 16.9mm thin and a mere 1.39kg (more on this later).
Opening the laptop, you’ll be greeted by the 14-inch 16:10 2,8K OLED display. The display is one of the laptop’s most notable features, offering excellent viewing angles and great colors. For those wanting to do a bit of designing on the laptop, the display is 100% in the DCI-P3 color gamut. For those wanting a bit of light gaming, the display also has a 90Hz refresh rate.
The Intel 12th Gen processor was more than enough for my workload. It was ultrafast when loading files and photos and moving through multiple open programs.
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3402)
The battery is likewise great: I only needed to charge it at night, confident it could last
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Lastly, the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is equipped with a 75Whr battery, and an included 65W charger. The battery lasted me a whole day with heavy use. Charge time is over two hours, but you can power up to at least 50% in one hour, enough to last half a day. If you run out, you can use a power bank to keep the laptop going.
testing, I tried playing Dota 2 on it. Surprisingly it did well, running at 80-90fps at the lowest setting and up to 30-40+ at the highest setting. This is pretty good, considering the Iris Xe isn’t made for gaming. That said, 3DMark Nightraid gave it a 13016 score, meaning it will run light games easily.
USER EXPERIENCE
me the whole day. Instead of the power brick, I just brought my phone charger.
The laptop is also excellent for watching Netflix and other streaming sites. The 2.8K OLED display is gorgeous, plus the speakers (tuned by Harman-Kardon) deliver good audio that’s loud enough to fill a room.
during our weekly zoom meetings. There’s also the AI noise-canceling on the built-in mics.
As I said earlier, the greatest strength of the ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is its portability. I recently went on a trip to Kuala Lumpur and was happy to use the Zenbook 14 OLED as my daily driver. Its portability is a blessing, especially when getting through airport security. The size is also compact enough to allow me to work on the cramped seat table.
Underneath the gorgeous exterior, our ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED has the Intel Core i5-1240P, a 12-core processor (4 Performance cores and 8 Efficiency Cores) with Intel’s own Iris Xe Graphics. Our review unit also had 8GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD storage.
The laptop wasn’t meant for heavy processing work like video rendering, but it will handle light to medium workloads. You can edit photos on it, with PCMark10 scoring its Photo editing capability at For9539.further
VALUE
Coming in at PHP72,995, the Asus Zenbok 14 OLED is in the pricier range. Still, I would recommend it if you’re in the market for a thin and light device. It has a solid military-grade build quality, a great design and display, and, best of all, is supremely portable.
Lastly, the built-in webcam and mic are suitable for professionals who take their online meetings on the go. ASUS utilizes AI to sharpen webcam images, though I couldn’t tell the difference when I used it
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HARDWARE
gadgetsmagazine.com.ph 27 September 2022 Processor: Intel Core i5-1240P Graphics: Intel Iris Xe OS: Windows 11 Home Display: 14-inch 2.8K (2880 x 1800) OLED 16:10 aspect ratio, 0.2ms response time. 90Hz Refresh Rate, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut Memory: 8GB (up to 16GB) Storage: 512GB NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD Ports: 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2x USB Type-C with Thunderbolt 4 (supports display/power delivery), 1x HDMI 2.1 TMDS, 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack, MicroSD card ready Battery:75Whr with 65W charger Connectivity: WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5 Dimensions: 313.6 x 220.6 x 16.9mm Weight: 1.39kg Pricey A good-looking, thin and light portable that is also ultra-fast WHAT'S SPECIFICATIONSHOT WHAT'S NOT BOTTOMLINE Portable Great design Intel 12th Gen
INFINIX NOTE 12
For a budget phone under PHP10,000, there’s a lot to expect from is putting the spotlight on its
the Note 12, and Infinix’s game
strong,
storage and performance. SMARTPHONE 28 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
REVIEWED BY FRANCESKA AGUILA
gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
DESIGN
This is the first time I’m reviewing an Infinix device, and I was very stoked to use it. Taking it out of the box revealed a sleek smartphone in Sapphire Blue. The front is made with pre-applied tempered glass. The back has a wavy textured finish, and the camera is mounted on a midnight blue glass panel for a classy look. The package does not include the usual earphones and ejector pin. The warranty guide, user manual, silicon case, and a USB-C flash charger are in the box. The sim and microSD card tray are located on the left. Under the volume keys on the right is the power button that doubles as a fingerprint scanner. I found this placement awkward because I’d always land my thumb on the volume keys. In front is the selfie camera; the charging port and 3.55mm jack are at the bottom, alongside stereo speakers.
The Infinix Note12 features a 6.7” FHD+ True Color AMOLED Display, which is excellent for watching videos and playing games since it delivers true blacks and vibrant colors.
29 September 2022
The camera did not meet my expectations. The AI processing was too
I always test review units based on their camera and performance, so when I received the Infinix Note 12, I immediately set it up and installed my favorite apps, including fast-paced games that require massive storage
30 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
USER EXPERIENCE
HARDWARE
gadgetsmagazine.com.ph Infinix Note 12
the gaming experience was the audio quality. When cranked up to 70 to 80% volume, the SFX isn’t compromised at all, plus the acoustics from the audio vibrates on the back of the smartphone, which I think is interesting.
This smartphone is powered by a Mediatek Helio G96 processor and runs on XOS 10.6 over Android 12. The display has a 60Hz refresh rate. It has 8GB of RAM expandable up to 13GB and 128GB of internal storage expandable via a dedicated SD card slot. The Note 12’s battery is a massive 5000mAh that can last the phone for up to over 10 hours, depending on usage. It comes with a 33W flash charger that can charge to 100% in about an hour. Its front camera is 16MP with dual Flash Light that captures 1440p videos at 30fps, and the rear is a triple camera with 50MP + 2MP + QGVA that also captures 1440p videos at 30fps with quad Flash Light.
and, of course, a couple of slow-paced games to see the phone’s performance in different game settings. Performance in fast-paced games was up to par, and the graphics were quite surprising, even in medium settings. The colors were still vibrant and not pixelated compared to other smartphones in the same price range. What I also liked about
adaptor to use it with your usual Type-A
Overall,outlets.
gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
WHAT'S
FINGERPRINT: Side-mounted COLORS: Sapphire Blue, Force Black, Snow Fall PACKAGE INCLUDES: USB-C cable, 33W charger, protective case, user manual and warranty, pre-applied screen protector
Bloatware, most can’t be uninstalled 60Hz refresh rate Type-C charger plug Possibly one of the best budget available.phones
SPECIFICATIONSHOTWHAT'SNOTBOTTOMLINE 31 September 2022
The Infinix Note 12 is worth the buy if you’re looking for an affordable smartphone. Camera performance may not be the best, but with decent phone performance and massive storage for just PHP8,499, Note 12 is possibly one of the best budget phones in the market.
BATTERY: 5000mAh, USB-C 33W charger
visible, although it did produce some good-quality pictures and videos in proper lighting, and the colors were pretty accurate. Taking photos in lowlight settings was a bit of a struggle, especially if you’re only using the default camera mode. Using the Super Night mode made a lot of difference, enhancing the images to be sharper, for decent photo and video output.
256GB) Gaming experience is satisfactory even in medium settings Great processor
CHIPSET: MediaTek Helio G96 OS: Android 12, XOS 10.6 STORAGE: 8GB RAM, 128GB internal storage DISPLAY: AMOLED DIMENSIONS: 164.6 x 76.8 x 8mm FRONT/BACK: Glass front/plastic back
Massive internal storage (also available
CAMERA: Triple (Main) 50MP wide, 2MP depth, QVGA / Front 16MP
VALUE
Switching in-between apps wasn’t a problem. Even with a 60Hz refresh rate, it still did the job. Battery and charging are impressive. However, the USB-C charger means you will need an
the Infinix Note 12 didn’t disappoint, performance-wise. in
REALME NEO GT
gadgetsmagazine.com.ph SMARTPHONE 32 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
REVIEWED BY FRANCESKA AGUILA
realme never fails to surprise us with their new upgrades, always improving their technology to cater to consumer needs especially in this fast-paced world that we’re living in. Producing state-of-the-art smartphones with sleek designs and greater performance that does not disappoint.
The realme Neo GT has a 6.7” AMOLED Display that includes 1B colors and HDR10+ that enhances the colors and contrast of photos and videos.
gadgetsmagazine.com.ph 33 September 2022
realme devices usually come in a bright yellow box. The Neo GT 3, however, comes in a black box with a holographic print of the realme logo. The unit is in Nitro Blue, an almost purple hue with a metallic finish. It also has two white stripes that resemble the iconic Ford GT40 — personally, this is my favorite design from realme so far. The phone is packaged with the user manual and warranty, a silicon case, an ejector pin, and a USB-C cable with an adaptor. No earphones are included, as the phone does not have a 3.5mm jack.
The power button is located on the side of the phone; volume keys are on the left; the fingerprint scanner is in-display; the dual speakers are on the top and bottom of the phone; the sim card tray is also at the bottom beside the speakers.
DESIGN
realme Neo GT
HARDWARE
Starting with the camera, the Sony IMX766 really played a big role in its primary 50MP. Photos in low-light settings produced promising results, with details enhanced, accurate colors, and minimal pixelation. I thoroughly enjoyed taking nighttime cityscapes at locations with neon lights, as the resulting photos had a cinematic vibe. In brighter settings, the images produced
The Neo GT is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 8100 for powerful performance. It runs on Android 12 and realme UI V3 operating systems, and has a high refresh rate of 120Hz. It has expandable 8GB RAM, and although it doesn’t have a dedicated card slot, the internal storage capacity is a whopping 256GB. It has a triple main camera with the flagship Sony IMX766 50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, and 2MP macro that can capture 4K resolution videos at either 30fps or 60fps. The 16MP front camera captures 1080p videos at 30fps or 60fps. It has a 5000mAh battery with an 80W SuperDart fast charger.
Since its release, I had been looking forward to testing the realme GT Neo, so I was excited to receive the review unit. As mentioned earlier, I’m a big fan of its simple design, and the addition of two stripes seemed a smart way of showcasing the phone’s performance.
Nextfeature.up is its performance. I always test smartphone performance on fast-paced mobile games with massive storage requirements. Also, I always play the same games – Call of Duty Mobile and
USER EXPERIENCE
gadgetsmagazine.com.ph
were vivid, had accurate colors and sharper details. The images were highresolution even without using the HDR
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Consuming media is very pleasant, especially for watching videos and playing games. The audio is sharp, and although
BATTERY: 5000mAh, USB-C 80W SuperDart fast charger
VALUE
COLORS: Nitro Blue, Sprint White PACKAGE INCLUDES: USB-C cable, 80W SuperDart fast charger, protective case, user manual and warranty, pin ejector Toolkit
CAMERA: Triple (Main) Sony IMX766 50MP wide, 8MP ultrawide, 2MP macro / Front 16MP
FRONT/BACK: Glass front with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection/ glass back
CHIPSET: MediaTek Dimensity 8100 OS: Android 12, realme UI V3 STORAGE: 8GB RAM, 256GB internal storage DISPLAY: 6.7” AMOLED DIMENSIONS: 163.3 x 75.6 x 8.2mm
Priced at PHP29,000.00, the realme GT Neo 3 is a good investment, as its battery life is promising, while camera and performance are top tier.
the bass is not as good, sound quality is still quite impressive.
The GT Neo 3 has a 5000mAh battery. The video playback lasted up to almost 20 hours, which really wowed me. You could go for a day without having to worry about the battery dying. The 80W SuperDart fast charger is able to deliver a full charge in under an hour. I did encounter a minor issue once, when it stopped charging at 80%.
gadgetsmagazine.com.ph 35 September 2022
FINGERPRINT: In-display optical fingerprint scanner
Bloatware Audio quality can be improved The realme GT Neo is perfect for gaming and consumptionmedia WHAT'S SPECIFICATIONSHOTWHAT'SNOTBOTTOMLINE Sony IMX766 primary camera Fast performance Huge storage capacity Game
League of Legends: Wild Rift, and Apex Legends Mobile. Honestly I think this is where the GT Neo 3 chipset really flaunted its performance. The graphics were high-resolution even in low to medium settings and ran the game at 60 to 90fps. The colors weren’t washed out compared to other android smartphones. Game play was seamless, and thanks to the Game Toolkit (GTK), I had the freedom to customize and manage the settings to achieve a much better gaming experience. On GT mode that boosts phone settings while gaming, it did heat up momentarily but cooled down almost immediately.
REVIEWED BY GABRIEL PE
Xiaomi’s flagship line has always shone. Recently, the Xiaomi 12-series received accolades for outstanding camera performance. Understandably, it was also priced at flagship levels. Enter the Xiaomi 12 Lite, a mid-ranger that brings the 12-series performance to those on a budget.
XIAOMI 12 LITE
SMARTPHONE
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36 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
You’ll immediately notice how sleek and lightweight the phone is. It comes at a mere 173g and is 7.29mm thin. I have to say that while I am not a fan of boxy phones (they’re a pain to hold for a long time), the sleek and light body of the Xiaomi 12 Lite makes it a joy to use.
DESIGN
The Xiaomi 12 Lite is similar to its predecessors in more ways than one. It carries the Xiaomi 12-series’ gorgeous camera layout and retains the Xiaomi 11 Lite NE’s boxy design.
Once you open the phone, you’ll immediately notice the 6.55-inch AMOLED display. The display has HDR10+ and Dolby Vision support as well as up to 120Hz refresh rate. There’s also an in-display fingerprint reader beneath the You’llglass.
gadgetsmagazine.com.ph 37 September 2022
see the secondary speaker, a microphone hole, and the IR blaster on top of the phone. Beneath is the main speaker, the microphone hole, and the sim card tray. On the right are the volume rocker and the power button. Lastly, the back has the pièce de résistance, the triple-camera setup with the 108-megapixel shooter.
The Xiaomi 12 Lite is available in three color variants: Lite Pink, Lite Green, and Black. Our review unit came in the black colorway, which I loved because of its simple yet classy look.
For video, the Xiaomi 12 Lite is adequate. It can capture 4K videos at 30fps and FHD at up to 60fps. The video quality is not the greatest, but usable. There is built-in EIS
The Xiaomi 12 Lite is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G processor, similar to the Xiaomi 11 Lite NE 5G. Our review unit had 8GB of RAM (6GB + 2GB extra) and 128GB of Storage.
pretty neat bells and whistles on the selfie camera, including an upgraded auto-HDR and a new Xiaomi Glow lighting which consists of two LED lights lighting up on the front of the
There are also some great video features like the Vlog mode where you can shoot clips, and the phone can edit it out for you as a mini vlog for your gram.
Inphone.terms
gadgetsmagazine.com.ph Xiaomi 12 Lite 38 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
I had doubts about the 778G, as it is the exact same chip in the Xiaomi 11 Lite NE. The chip is already a year old. But I was pleasantly surprised at how well it performed. It wasn’t the fastest, but it still had the power to get the job done and with room to spare, especially in gaming (more on that later)
Where the Xiaomi 12 Lite truly shines is at its shooters. The phone is equipped with a 108-megapixel main camera, an 8-megapixel ultra-wide, and a 2-megapixel macro lens. The primary camera takes excellent shots both in the daylight and even in low-light situations.
of battery, the 12 Lite has a 4300mAh battery with up to 67W fast charging (a nice upgrade from the 11 Lite NE).
HARDWARE
limited to 1080p 30 fps. If you want to shoot in 4K, you’ll need a gimbal or tripod to keep it steady.
Then there’s the upgraded 32-megapixel selfie camera. Xiaomi has added some
Battery: 4300mAh with 67W fast charging
try out the Xiaomi 12 Lite, Xiaomi Philippines invited us to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the MalaysiaPhilippines launch of the device. I didn’t bring any camera and used the Xiaomi 12 Lite as my main shooter for the entire Finally,trip.
Photo taken using Xiaomi 12 Lite
USER EXPERIENCE
Toroom.fully
Dimensions: 159.3 x 73.7 x 7.3mm Weight: 173g
39 September 2022
As I said earlier, the phone still has a good power performance. It was able to handle everything I threw at it, even hard-hitting games like Genshin Impact. In fact, it was able to run Genshin at high graphic settings at around 40-ish fps. While it did drop a few frames now and then, you could play the game without any issue. For lighter games like League of Legends: Wild Rift, it just crushed it with no problems.
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 778
Fingerprint Reader: Under display Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, IR Port, USB Type C 2.0. Other features: Xiaomi Glow selfie lighting
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Coming in at PHP20,999 for the 6GB + 128GB variant and PHP21,999 for the 8GB + 128GB variant, the Xiaomi 12 Lite offers a good bargain for those looking for a mid-ranger that can handle everything you throw at it.
on the device. Speaking of media, the speakers also exceeded expectations, delivering audio loud enough to fill a
Display: 6.55-inch AMOLED display with 1080x2400 resolution, OS: MIUI 13
RAM: 6GB or 8GB Storage: 128GB UFS 2.2
Photo taken using Xiaomi 12 Lite
Camera: Front 32-megapixel; Rear 108-megapixel f/1.9 main, 8-megapixel f/2.2 ultrawide, and 2-megapixel Macro
Boxy design is not for everyone A definite contender for mid-ranger of the year WHAT'S SPECIFICATIONSHOTWHAT'SNOTBOTTOMLINE Great camera Stellar display Suprisingly great audio
the battery. The 4300mAh battery was enough to give me a whole day of use — gaming with a bit of photography. The included 67W charger was able to fully charge the phone from 13 percent to 50 percent in around 10-minutes, enough to last for half a day.
VALUE
I was excited about the Xiaomi 12 Lite yet, at the same time, a bit skeptical. The Xiaomi 11 Lite NE is a good mid-ranger, while the Xiaomi 12-series is a great phone overall. I was wondering how a repeat of the 778G would affect the phone’s performance. I am happy to report that it is still a great phone.
Another thing that impressed me was the display. The brightness is excellent, with good readability even under direct sunlight. It also has Dolby Vision which makes Netflix bingeing a joy. The 120Hz adaptive refresh rate was a great help during my long Wild Rift gaming sessions
Creating images as innovation is often overlooked. After all, humans have done it since time immemorial. From early humans painting their lives on cave walls to the
have pushed imaging technology to its limits by fitting more and more megapixels on the tiny Smartphonessensor.
have also taken over videos. New smartphones offer higher video resolutions, with many now sporting 4K 30fps. Then there are also improvements to the phone’s image stabilization. Most flagship smartphones have Optical Image Stabilization, ensuring stable video capture without needing external stabilization. Even lower-end models feature electronic stabilization that delivers comparable results and just at the expense of a bit of cropping.
The smartphone camera has dramatically improved in two main aspects — hardware and software. On the hardware side, the sensor on phone cameras has gotten bigger every year. Recently Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 12s Ultra, a smartphone with a full 1-inch sensor. As for the non-flagship models, phone makers CHANGING THE
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camera obscura and pinhole cameras, to eventually the first modern camera in the 1800s, to the DSLRs and compact cameras, and now our phones, imaging has evolved to cater to our ever-changing needs.
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storyO
Innovations in imaging technology
ver the last decade, innovations in technology have changed how we live. Nothing can better represent that, literally and figuratively, than the innovations in imaging technology and photography.
In recent years, camera technology has improved so dramatically but is so much a part of our daily lives we now barely notice how much it has evolved.
One of the most apparent changes in cameras, in general, is our shift in preferences. Now, the smartphone camera has become the primary shooter for the general public. This is no surprise because smartphone cameras have gotten so good that a separate digital compact camera is no longer needed.
Words by Gabriel Pe
THE SHIFT TO SMARTPHONE PHOTOGRAPHY AND CINEMATOGRAPHY
41 September 2022
THE WAY WE SEE
Mirrorless cameras are so-called because they don’t have the reflex mirror found in SLRs. While initially dismissed due to multiple issues, mirrorless camera systems have overtaken the DSLR in terms of sales volume and performance. In fact, the whole market has shifted, and major camera manufacturers are now focusing on their mirrorless lines over their DSLRs, with camera giants equipping their best sensors and processors on their mirrorless systems. Additionally, camera manufacturers have bolstered their lineup of mirrorless lenses to cater to the needs of professionals.
More megapixels don’t necessarily equate to a better image. For example, a Mirrorless camera with 24-megapixel sensors would still take more detailed pictures than a 48-megapixel smartphone. This is because mirrorless and professional cameras have a bigger sensor allowing them to capture more details despite the lower megapixel count.
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In the 2010s, HD (1280 x 720) and FHD (1920 x 1080) reigned supreme as the best resolution you can have. However, recent developments have paved the way for the adoption of the bigger QHD and 4K resolutions. This means that we see much more detailed images or videos on screen.
Aside from the shift in form factor, higher resolutions are another massive change in imaging technology. This isn’t just on cameras but also on monitors and TVs. Image resolution is how detailed an image is. It is represented by Pixel Per Inch (PPI), which means how many pixels are in an inch of the screen. If you’re still confused, the image resolution specifications are the 1920 x 1080, FHD, and 4K you find on your monitor, phone, or TV.
When it comes to cameras, it is megapixels that have risen in recent years. Just compare your current and previous phone models, and you’ll immediately see the increased megapixel count. More megapixels means more pixels fitted on the sensor for a more detailed image.
For those who need a much more versatile shooter, a smartphone will not suffice. Dedicated cameras help professionals capture the most significant moments. These devices have interchangeable lenses to help photographers and filmmakers capture the moment perfectly.
For the longest time, Single Lens Reflex cameras (SLRs) have been the choice for professionals and entering the digital age, the Digital SLR was king in professional photography. It was quick, versatile with its multitude of lenses, and, best of all, you could easily frame the perfect shot. But since the 2010s rolled around, a new challenger, the Mirrorless Interchangeable lens system
camera, has competed with the DSLR as the champion of versatility.
MIRRORLESS TAKING OVER THE PROFESSIONAL MARKET RESOLUTIONS ON THE RISE
Cover story
SECURITY CAMERA (XIAOMI) SMART DOORBELL (EUFY) 43 September 2022
HOW THE INTERNET AND CLOUD CHANGED THE VIDEO AND CAMERA GAME
has really dominated is in WiFi-enabled surveillance cameras. They’re cheaper and easier to set up compared to traditional security cameras, leading many to consider them as viable alternatives.
For keeping your family safe, having higher resolutions could mean the difference during emergencies. It could mean the difference between having a blurred image and a clear, precise one.
Almost all cameras now have built-in WiFi for seamless transfer of images between devices. Some brands have developed their own apps that allow you to control the camera through your Wherephone.theinternet
Undoubtedly the most significant change in the imaging and video world is the adaption of the internet and cloud technology.
Another aspect that makes WiFi cameras much more appealing is their ability to store recordings on a microSD card or in the cloud. WiFi cameras also have benefited from the rising resolution, with many offering Full HD resolutions as standard and high-end ones going up to 4K.
in imaging and video have definitely changed how we see life and are expected to pave the way for more innovations in the future.
WiFi cameras can also be controlled remotely, with many offering pan and tilt features to help you see at least 180 degrees of your designated area. They are also equipped with excellent IR capabilities to allow clear night vision and backup batteries to avoid any downtimes.
WiFi cameras are also the basis for smart doorbells. Smart Doorbells will typically have a camera attached to them and, with new facial recognition technology, notify you who’s at the door through your smart speaker or even your Developmentsphone.
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THE RISE OF PET TECH 45 September 2022
Among the most game-changing developments are home devices dedicated to our furry and notso-furry friends. Commonly known as pet tech, this latest segment of intelligent home appliances aims to deliver efficient and remote basic care to domesticated animals even in the absence of the
Theowners.demand
PET TECH: getting smarter with our furry friends
for pet tech devices has drastically increased as technology leaps forward. Pet technology extends the liberty and flexibility of busy pet owners by ensuring the overall welfare of their pets. Thanks to automation and artificial intelligence, pet owners can now communicate better and give their beloved friends the right amount of care and attention.
ver the years, the outlook on smart homes has continued to change. From kitchens and bedrooms to home energy management systems, innovations have paved the way for us to experience a more efficient way to cook, relax, and even automate households.
Words by Jewel Sta. Ana
O
Cover story SMART BATTERY CAMERA (CHERRY HOME) SELF-CLEANING LITTER BOX (PETSAFE) SMART PET FEEDER (CHERRY HOME) AIR TAG (APPLE) 46 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
Cherry Home’s smart feeder integrates a smart camera and microphone to the automatic feeder so pet owners can monitor their pets from a mobile app. You can schedule automatic dispensing of pet food and water from a smartphone. The Cherry Home smart pet feeder has a large capacity of 3.7L, while its smart pet
Another category of innovative pet tech devices includes automatic feeders and water dispensers which can be controlled using a smartphone.
PET TECH FOR SURVEILLANCE AND HEALTH fountain has a 2L capacity. The latter also has a multi-filtration and purification feature, a UV light, and a filter replacement alert to ensure that your pet is safely hydrated all day.
Pet technology is undeniably on the rise. More and more tech brands are developing various pet tech devices that resemble the functions of smart health devices. Focusing more on your pets’ health, this new category of smart devices aims to improve your fur-babies’ lifestyle physically, emotionally, and even mentally. We can’t wait to see what’s next!
Last on the list are smart pet collars and smart tags useful for keeping an eye on your fur babies. Apple’s air tag can be an alternative GPS tracker for dogs and cats and can be attached to their collars. If you want to go all in, there’s the PetKit Smart Tag that works like a smartwatch for four-legged pets. It can search their current location, monitor sleep and calories, track activities, and call your pet through an alarm.
THE FUTURE OF PET TECH
47 September 2022
Most of the pet tech devices available in the market are designed for surveillance and health monitoring. In the Philippines, pet owners can check smart cameras from D-Link, Xiaomi, and Cherry Home. These smart cameras can swivel from 180-degrees to 360-degrees, can be mounted on a wall or stand on a flat surface, allow smart WiFi control via app, provide twoway audio, and are equipped with up to 1080p video recording for communication with your pets while away from home. Cherry Home’s Smart Battery Camera is a game-changer with its AI detection for movements, IP65 water resistance, and a 9000mAh rechargeable battery.
For cat lovers, self-cleaning litter boxes help you monitor your cat’s health and deodorize their waste. Compared to the traditional litter box, this one from PetSafe monitors the usage of your cat’s litter box and automatically cleans the waste trap and locks away the smell 20 minutes after the cat leaves the litter box. It also reminds the owner when it is time to change the litter tray.
Team 5 emerged as the Elevate grand winner, with members Rico Estribo Guinanao, Mark Edson Rico, and Leo Jomar Reyes, creating a social networking platform called TellMe where users can post confessions anonymously. The winning team was able to integrate several APIs, including Concati’s OTP Service, User Service, Consent Management, and Feedback Services. Their competitors managed to use three or less in their output.
oncati and KodeGo, tech startups under Globe venture builder 917Ventures, spearheaded their first Application Programming Interface (API) hackathon last August 4 to 6, 2022
C
917VENTURES TECH STARTUPS HOST 1ST API HACKATHON
The event — Elevate: API Hackathon — challenged KodeGo students to hone their coding expertise by making a solution, platform, or app using Concati’s API products. The hackathon ran for 48 hours, with 15 KodeGo participants divided into five teams with three members each. Participants came up with various outputs, including e-commerce, scheduling, and social networking platforms.
Innovation 48 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
APIELEVATE:HACKATHON
solutions
and
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Launched in April, Concati is a one-stop API hub that offers a APIs to integrate digital designed for Philippine customers use cases.
wide collection of
It has 13 APIs: • Address Service • Centralized Logistics • Consent Management • Feedback Service • Inventory Service • Leaderboard and Missions • Maintenance Service • OTP Service • Push Notifications • Referral Service • Scheduling Service • Voucher Service • User Meanwhile,ServiceKodeGo
offers full-time Information Technology (IT) courses and end-to-end career assistance and support for students. The following classes started last August 31: Full-Stack Web Developer (both full-time and part-time), and UX Design (part-time).
into
Those interested may check https://kodego.ph/ for more Concatidetails.also
Concati subscribers receive free 500 credits upon signing up and may immediately explore the API hub and begin testing.
recently launched the Insights Page, the newest feature on its website https://concati.com/ insights. Interested customers may download the “Connect with the Digital World Fast through APIs” whitepaper for free by sending their name, email address, company, and designation.
KodeGo and Concati share the goal of changing the landscape of technology by training web developers and developing APIs. The two companies are under Globe’s 917Ventures, currently the Philippines’ largest corporate venture builder.
uawei held this year’s Asia Pacific Seeds for the Future from August 19 to 27, 2022. The program brought together 120 outstanding students from 16 countries across the Asia Pacific region for a 9-day digital boot camp in Thailand, including ten students from the Philippines.
50 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
The opening ceremony was attended by local government officials and representatives of multiple international organizations. They highlighted the vital role multi-party collaboration plays in creating a solid foundation for the region’s digital talent ecosystem.
ASIA PACIFIC SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE
ASEAN Secretary-General H.E. Dato Lim Jock Hoi stressed that digital talent will be the driving force in the construction of a Digital ASEAN: “The private sector can play a pioneering role in realizing this vision. In this regard, I commend Huawei Asia Pacific’s Seeds for the Future Program initiative. This project underscores the long-term commitment of Huawei to collaborate and prepare the ASEAN youth for the changing world of work and industry demands. I hope such efforts could also be extended to the other ASEAN Member States.”
H
HUAWEI STARTS OFF OUTSTANDING STUDENTS ON AN INSPIRED DIGITAL JOURNEY
Innovation
Huawei Seeds representatives from AP countries
experiences, and proposed technical solutions to address social problems through Tech4Good projects. Fifty-six of the 120 participants this year are women, making the 2022 cohort the most gender-balanced in the region since the program
Asia Pacific Simon
ASEAN Foundation executive director Dr. Yang Mee Eng said: “The growth of ASEAN Digital Economy is entirely dependent on the capability of the region’s young people to participate in it. To nurture a generation of digitally savvy and innovative problem solvers, it is pivotal for stakeholders of ASEAN to create a robust learning ecosystem that allows our youth to advance their digital skills.”
After the opening ceremony, the participants embarked on a cultural and digital journey filled with site visits, including the United Nations Regional Hub in Bangkok, the Metaverse Expo, and the Grand Palace in Bangkok. At the same time, the participants were given
During the digital camp, the participants teamed up and created a “Tech4Good” pitch where they shared their visions for a better digital world.
Seeds for the Future is Huawei’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility program, bringing together young talent from top universities worldwide. Huawei Philippines launched the program in 2015 to inspire ICT talent and encourage them to tackle social challenges with digital solutions. By the end of 2021, the program had reached over 200 students from over 30 universities in the country.
For more information, please visit Huawei online at www.huawei.com or follow: https://www.facebook.com/HuaweiTechPH
Presidentstarted.ofHuawei
Mr. Simon Lin, President of Huawei Asia Pacific
training in cutting-edge technologies like 5G, AI, and cloud computing from industry-leading experts.
The participants were immersed in technologies and cross-cultural
Emmy Lou V. Delfin, director for the ICT Industry Development Bureau of the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT) in the Philippines, remarked: “Thank you to Huawei for this partnership with the DICT in developing Filipino youth to become entrepreneurs through ICT. Huawei Seeds for the Future program is timely and relevant, especially for our college students. Getting the right skills and training builds for a brighter future. Just as your tagline says - inspiring talents to shape the future.”
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Lin reiterated Huawei’s commitment to talent development: “The ‘Seeds’ represent hope, passion, and future. As the corporate-level flagship CSR project with the longest history, this program has been brought to nearly 140 countries and regions, reaching over 12,000 students from 500 universities. The ‘Seeds’ have grown to a global ‘forest’.” Digitalization is the driving force for our future. Talent is the key to digital transformation and sustainable growth. We sincerely believe that the young generation will grow as the constructors of Asia Pacific when pursuing their tech dreams.”
Innovation 52 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
S
SHOPEE ULTIMATE CASE CHALLENGE
hopee Philippines has launched its first-ever Ultimate Case Challenge, a business case competition open to Filipino undergraduate students. Finalists of the competition will get the chance to win up to PHP50,000. Throughout the duration of the case challenge, each team consisting of 3-4 members will be asked to pitch their own unique ideas and solutions to a real-world challenge included in a business case brief.
Apart from the opportunity to put their skills to the test, teams will also receive mentorship from leaders at Shopee and the chance to fast-track their
careers in tech through Shopee’s career development programs: (a) the Global Leaders Program, Shopee’s 2-year flagship graduate program for young professionals; and (b) the Apprentice Program, Shopee’s specialized internship program.
Karen Perez, head of people at Shopee Philippines, said, “We’re thrilled to support Filipino tech talents from all over the world by providing them with opportunities to develop their skill set. Through the business case competition, we aim to hone their analytical and process improvement skills, preparing them to be proactive problem solvers in the fastpaced tech industry. We hope to inspire a new generation of talents who will continue to drive the tech industry forward.”
The regional business case competition has already garnered over 4,000 participants across four other markets, including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the Shopee Ultimate Case Challenge’s pioneer run in the Philippines. Ready your teams and sign up at careers.shopee.ph/succ — accepting entries from August 22 to September 30, 2022.
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Innovation 54 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
SPACE-BASEDEXPLORING TECHNOLOGIES5G
L
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eading Philippine telco company PLDT’s wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. is collaborating with U.S.-based Omnispace to explore and demonstrate the capabilities of space-based 5G communications using low earth orbit (LEO) satellites.
The Omnispace 5G NTN global network will interconnect with terrestrial or land-based mobile networks to serve mobile subscribers utilizing the company’s 2 GHz mobile satellite spectrum allocation and operating in 3GPP band n256.
“Weservice.are
Having launched Omnispace Spark-1 and Spark-2 in April and May, the company recently completed the deployment phase of Omnispace Spark™. This program is the initial phase in the company’s development and delivery of the world’s first global 5G-capable satellite network.
“This collaboration with Omnispace will allow our companies to work together to define use cases for the Philippine market,” said Arvin L. Siena, head of PLDT’s technology strategy and transformation office, adding that possible use cases include enabling 5G connectivity in remote areas, incorporating IoT and sensors for use in monitoring weather disturbances and natural calamities, and augmenting network coverage for disaster relief, maritime and telematics for vessels and
“Thisequipment.isalso part of PLDT’s broader initiatives to future-proof our services, including Smart 5G. This includes exploring opportunities to team up with companies like Omnispace, to test the interoperability of our network with their 3GPPcompliant 5G non-terrestrial network (NTN), which will support the 5G ecosystem of the future,” Siena added.
excited to announce this collaborative agreement with Smart Communications, which shares our vision of delivering reliable mobile connectivity to consumer, government, and enterprise users everywhere,” said Brian Pemberton, Omnispace. “Together with Smart, we seek to bridge the digital divide while also providing the communications infrastructure to power the development of the Filipino economy of the PLDTfuture.”and
Smart’s pioneering foray into satellite-powered communication is part of a broader initiative to deliver worldclass customer services across the country, complementing the nationwide rollout of their fiber infrastructure and wireless networks based on 4G and 5G technologies.
As the world’s first 3GPP-compliant 5G NTN system, the Omnispace network is expected to deliver the power of 5G directly to billions of devices everywhere, extending the reach of mobile connectivity to enable people and assets to communicate in real time through a single, seamless global
country still has limited infrastructure to support EVs, leaving many with the question: where to juice up?
The All-New Nissan Kicks e-POWER is a unique combination of a traditional fuel injection car and an EV. Its e-POWER system delivers an EV-like performance minus the dreaded range anxiety. The vehicle is solely driven by the electric motor at all times, but charging the electric motor is a
NISSAN KICKS e-POWER Fuel Efficiency + Power
Enter the All-New Nissan Kicks e-POWER with its revolutionary 100% electric motor-driven system.
n recent months, Filipino motorists have struggled with skyrocketing fuel prices, the likes of which no one has seen before. With no relief in sight, consumers are beginning to consider the merits of electric vehicles (EVs) as a possible solution. But there’s a catch. The
I
THE ALL-NEW
So why not have a car that straddles the best of both worlds?
Thepedal.All-New
The unique e-POWER system gives the innovative SUV an unparalleled 22km/L fuel economy1 on combined city and highway driving, or a range of approximately 900km on a single 41L full tank of fuel, dependent on driving conditions.
1 Based on UNR 101 testing but actual consumption may vary depending on different driving conditions and habits.
You ask, “what’s the trade-off?” Perhaps it’s a dull, no-fun-to-drive vehicle that just chugs along? No! With its electric motor, you’ll be able to instantly tap into the full 280Nm of torque with just a single step on the pedal.
Of course, the All-New Nissan Kicks e-POWER’s hidden sporty side comes from its illustrious heritage. The car’s powertrain was developed by Naoki Nakada, the same engineer who developed the legendary Nissan GT-R as well as the world’s first mass-market EV, the Nissan LEAF.
Nissan Kicks e-POWER comes at an affordable introductory price that starts
In fact, the excitement is built into this unique 100% electric motordriven vehicle, which delivers powerful, instant torque and smooth acceleration, as well as a convenient and enjoyable drive as you speed up and slow down using the e-Pedal Step of the accelerator
at PHP1,209,000. For worryfree ownership, it comes with a standard warranty of 5 years or 150,000 km (whichever comes first) for the vehicle and its e-POWER system, including the battery. Plus, it only requires twicea-year preventive maintenance services for lower cost of
Checkownership.outthe
leading-edge All-New Nissan Kicks e-POWER at nissan. ph/kicks to get a quote, find a dealer, or schedule a test drive.
1.2-liter gasoline engine that acts as a generator. This makes the Nissan Kicks e-POWER a self-charging electrified vehicle, so you can safely go on those long-distance road trips without fear of power loss.
TMSPH President Cristina Arevalo
utomotive industry leader, Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation (TMP) has established Toyota Mobility Solutions Philippines, Inc. (TMSPH), a wholly-owned subsidiary that will be a provider of mobility-related services.
furthers its effort to provide safety and comfort for Filipinos with TMSPH’s Vehicle Usership (VU) platforms, available for individuals and the business Accordingsector.toTMP
SOLUTIONSTOYOTAMOBILITYMOBILITY
NEW COMPANY AIMS TO PROVIDE MOBILITY-RELATED SERVICES58
TMSPH ventures into the development and offering of a range of ‘new mobility solutions’ that will enhance Toyota as a brand that creates value for society through a service business model. Along with automotive manufacturing and distribution businesses, TMP
president Atsuhiro Okamoto, this new venture will “better shape the industry’s role in building our modern societies and enriching human lives. We will accelerate the fulfillment of Toyota’s global mission to Produce Happiness for All and vision to create Mobility for All,” he added.
A
gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary His Excellency Kazuhiko Koshikawa
Confident that the Philippines can rebound to the pre-pandemic momentum of motorization, TMP says the automotive manufacturing remains the Company’s core business and will continue to serve as a major driver of economic development.
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that TMSPH will primarily support the operating efficiency and growth of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) of various industries which are vital in driving economic growth.
TMSPH presented an initial pipeline of services which include fleet-connected service, an on-demand shuttle booking app, car sharing or rental, logistics matching service, and fleet management service. Additionally, TMSPH will complement Toyota Financial Services Philippines Corporation (TFSPH) in promoting and managing units under its full operating lease product called KINTO.
The first of its kind among Toyota affiliates in the Southeast Asian region, TMSPH is considered a ‘New Mobility Dojo’ that is projected to modernize domestic mobility systems and the Internet of Things (IoT), potentially
Toyota provides staunch support to local manufacturing, a backbone of the Philippine economy, through a strategic network of vehicle and parts manufacturing industries, as well as the export of automotive parts and components by local Toyota Group suppliers.
Further strengthening core business
“Our vision has always been to contribute to the Philippine economy and society through our automotive manufacturing business,” TMP chairman Alfred V. Ty said. “As of the end of last year, Toyota is happy to provide jobs for approximately 63,000 Filipinos at TMP, our dealers, suppliers, and affiliates. We have also contributed $17.1 billion in terms of auto component exports to our Toyota group worldwide since we started export operations in 1997.”
TMSPH president Ma. Cristina Fe Arevalo defined TMP’s concept of ‘new mobility’ as a suite of technology and data-driven lifestyle and business solutions that can address the day-today challenges of moving people and goods from one point to another. “We envision TMSPH to be at the center of the new mobility ecosystem as an integrated, one-stop mobility solutions provider to help advance businesses and address local communities’ needs,” she Arevaloexplained.highlighted
At its manufacturing plant in Santa Rosa City, Laguna, TMP currently produces two models, the Innova and the Vios – a participating model with a PHP5.58-billion investment under the government’s Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy or CARS program.
creating employment opportunities for technical but customer-centric professionals.
First R&D phase investment planned at RMB 3.3 billion, talent recruiting, and industry-wide deployment
X
enterprises have also allowed Xiaomi to steadily build out its mid-to-long-term industrial capabilities in the field of autonomous driving.
Since announcing its entry into the smart electric vehicle industry, Xiaomi has remained committed to enter the field of autonomous driving. The company’s zero
Xiaomi also released a live road test video of its autonomous driving technology, demonstrating its advanced algorithms and capability to handle a comprehensive list of “Xiaomi’sscenarios.autonomous driving technology adopts a self-developed full
XIAOMI TECHNOLOGYPILOT
stack approach, and the project has made progress beyond expectations,” said Lei Jun, founder, chairman and CEO of Xiaomi Group.
iaomi Group officially revealed the development status of Xiaomi Pilot Technology, in the first R&D and staffing update since announcing its entry into the smart electric vehicle segment in March 2021. Xiaomi plans to invest RMB 3.3 billion in the first R&D phase of its autonomous driving technology, and has established a sizable R&D team of more than 500 world-class professionals. A series of valuable acquisitions and strategic investments in upstream and downstream
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team have experience working for some of the most celebrated companies in the field of AI. Their professional expertise covers all areas necessary to develop Xiaomi’s self-developed autonomous driving technology, including: sensors, chips, algorithms, simulation, tool-chain, data platform, and more.
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also mentioned that Xiaomi plans to create a fleet of 140 test vehicles in the first phase of its autonomous driving technology development. They will be tested individually nationwide, with an aim of becoming an industry leader in the smart EV industry in 2024.
In the demonstration video, Xiaomi’s test vehicle showcased accurate, safe
Apart from utilizing internal resources, Xiaomi Auto team also receives strong support from multiple other teams within Xiaomi, such as the Xiaomi AI Lab, XiaoAi AI Assistant team, and Smartphone Camera team to jointly create a cutting-edge autonomous driving
a year, Xiaomi’s autonomous driving technology has achieved a real 0 to 1 breakthrough, and has become a new force attracting considerable attention in the industry.
and intelligent assisted driving in multiple scenarios including U-turns, roundabouts, and continuous downhill Withdriving.an
Self-developed algorithm, aiming to become an industry leader in the smart EV industry in 2024
emphasis on parking, Xiaomi’s autonomous driving team announced an innovative auto-parking solution that covers scenarios such as reserved parking spaces, autonomous valet parking, and automatic robotic arm charging. In the future, other parking lot services will be made available, and, in order to comply with relevant national laws and regulations, a mix of AI and service-oriented features will be
Leiadded.Jun
to one breakthrough has been enabled through heavy resource allocation to R&D, selective hiring of the industry’s best talents, and investment in upstream and downstream enterprises.
Since official establishment last year, Xiaomi’s autonomous driving team has attracted many top industry professionals. Currently, the 500 member department incorporates 50 industry experts who form the backbone of the team, and an exceptional education background team wide, with over 70% holding master’s or doctorate degrees. Core members of the
Inexperience.justover
As revealed by Lei Jun, Xiaomi plans to invest RMB 3.3 billion in the first R&D phase of its autonomous driving technology, and the size of the dedicated team now exceeds 500. By the end of the year, the team is expected to continue to grow to more than 600 members.
Xiaomi has wholly acquired autonomous driving startup Shendong Technology, in order to enhance its autonomous driving technological expertise and talent pool. In addition, Xiaomi is also committed to building its mid-to-longterm strategic industrial capabilities by investing RMB2 billion in more than ten upstream and downstream enterprises in the autonomous driving field. These enterprises cover a variety of categories, such as core sensors, core actuators, domain controllers, and more.
Xiaomi adopts a self-developed full stack approach to autonomous driving technology, covering all core areas, such as hardware and software development, perception and positioning, and focuses on full-scale proprietary solutions to enable complete closed-loop data capabilities. This approach allows autonomous driving algorithms to be quickly iterated based on user needs.
he rainy season is in full swing and with that comes puddle-filled roads, muddy highways, and other conditions that could alter what you usually encounter in fair weather driving. It is imperative to take the time to check your vehicle to ensure it is ready for anything the torrential rains may bring.
The condition of your vehicle’s wiper blades is crucial to driver visibility once it rains hard. Before heading out, quickly check if the wiper blades are still in good condition. If the rubber is worn out, it will be good to replace these soon. Also, wiping the wiper blades with a wet cloth prior to driving also helps ensure there
Tires
With a car’s tires being in close contact with the road, it’s crucial that they have enough tread to maintain traction against slippery conditions. If a tire is worn out, it will be slippery and can lead to hydroplaning. Doing a quick visual inspection before driving out
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that your vehicle is ready if the rain starts pouring during your usual drive.
are no small stones or debris in it. This also helps prevent any uneven streaks when the wipers are used.
Windshield Wiper Blades
MUST-CHECK CAR PARTS FOR RAINY DAY DRIVES
FORD BLADES AND BRAKE PADS
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EXTENDS DISCOUNT ON WIPERS
MOBILITY
To ensure a safe and worry-free driving experience, Ford Philippines shares these must-check car parts to ensure
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As part of its special promotions for the rainy season, Ford Philippines is extending a 10% discount on wiper blades and brake pads for the Ford Everest, Ford Ranger, Ford Ecosport, and Ford Territory. Covered in this promotion are brake pads and wiper blades of Ford Everest and Ranger (model year 2012 onwards) and Ford EcoSport and Territory (all model years). Customers can avail of this promo until September 30, 2022.
Special offer for parts, battery package
These parts are not commonly seen by car owners, but if these gaskets are worn out, it may lead to leaking engine or gear oils and also leave an opening for water to seep through when you pass by puddles or flooded roads. This can lead to car damage. When worn out, these need to be immediately replaced. A quick visual check you can do is to see if there are any oil leaks underneath your car when parked. Mechanics check on these to ensure that gaskets are always in good working condition and will replace them as needed.
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) functionality is crucial in a lot of unpredictable driving situations as it helps prevent the wheels from
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS)
locking up in instant and hard braking situations–allowing the driver to steer the vehicle towards safety. If the ABS is in great condition, the vehicle is maneuverable especially in rainy situations. Ford vehicles equipped with ABS flash a warning message on the vehicle’s dashboard if it requires servicing, so always check the dashboard prior to moving the vehicle on your first drive of the day.
To ensure safety and peace of mind on the road especially during challenging driving conditions, Ford Philippines is advising its customers to keep their vehicles in top condition amid the rainy season. All Ford owners are encouraged to follow their PMS schedule at their nearest dealership, where Ford technicians use Fordapproved fluids, filters, and genuine parts.
Ford is also offering an all-in battery package that starts at PHP6,300, inclusive of parts and labor, for the Ford Focus, Ford Fiesta, Ford Ecosport, Ford Ranger, and Ford Everest. All parts of eligible Ford vehicles covered by this promo automatically come with a 24-month warranty.
Oil Pan Gaskets
ensures you see the depth of tire treads. During periodic maintenance service (PMS) at Ford dealerships, service mechanics will also check on the age of your tires and will advise if they need replacement.
Drive carefully and slowly when there are road bumps and potholes. Despite government efforts to keep the roads in good condition, there are still areas where there are holes and bumps along the streets. School buses, vans, SUVs, or cars can surely handle those road issues, but take note that frequently hitting those hazards can eventually cause possible wheel misalignments and potential damage to suspension parts. Always drive more carefully and slowly when passing through potholed roads.
BSB Junrose, the local distributor of Sankei 555 Steering & Suspension Parts, shares these helpful tips for maintaining your vehicle’s steering and suspension systems.
MOBILITY
s a machine for transportation, your vehicle is subject to the usual wear and tear. You may not be fully aware, but there are some driving habits that could cause unnecessary strain to specific parts of the vehicle, especially the steering and suspension systems.
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Keep your hands on the steering wheel while driving. Many drivers, especially on manual transmission vehicles, may not be fully conscious that they are resting their hand more frequently on the gear lever. The gear stick connects directly to the vehicle’s control rod. Your arm’s weight could push the car’s selector forks against gears unnecessarily, leading to wear. Make it a habit to keep both hands on the steering wheel as often as possible when driving.
CARE TIPS FOR STEERING SYSTEMSSUSPENSIONAND
Always use the vehicle’s parking brake. The hand brake or emergency brake must always be used whenever the vehicle is parked — not just when
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“Some driving habits and delays in regular vehicle maintenance procedures could bring about or worsen problems affecting handling, steering, and suspension,” said Benjamin Bangayan Jr, president of BSB Junrose, a local distributor of the best and most trusted autoparts brands.
65 September 2022
“You can protect your vehicle’s steering and suspension by observing ideal driving habits. When there are issues caused by the usual wear and tear, among the most recommended steering and suspension parts in the market
today come from the leader, Japan’s Sankei Industry Co. Ltd. Steering and suspension parts are safety items, so when it comes to safety and lives of passengers, second best should not be good enough,” he added.
rod, control arm, pitman arm, ball joint, stabilizer link, and cross rod that are all directly imported from the Japanese manufacturer. These carry Japanese engineering, manufacturing processes, and precision care.
Know the simple signs of possible damage to steering or suspension. Be aware of the common warning signs of possible steering and suspension issues. Is the steering wheel shaking or vibrating when you are driving? Are there noises when turning your vehicle’s steering wheel? Is the vehicle pulling to a side as you drive? Do you notice squeaking, clunking, or banging sounds under the hood? Is there excessive play or looseness in the steering wheel?
Available from the Sankei 555 brand are rack & pinion steering type, front suspension & steering linkage type, and joints steering parts — including tie rod end, rack end, arm shaft, idler arm, side
parking on hills or slopes. It provides added safety and a secure hold when parked, and helps protect the vehicle’s transmission and other parts.
“For decades now, Sankei 555 has successfully endured the toughest roads in the Philippines. It has proven its reliability and is still proving itself today,” Bangayan concluded.
1st – Dindo de Jesus
T
3rd – Paul Santos Group 3
UV Class
1st – Kathy Villar
1st – Patrick Ng
Ladies Class
Group 1
1st – Louie Camacho
2nd – Steve Acayan
RWD Class
2nd – Jun Magno
2nd – Mon Dimapilis
2nd – Paul Santos
The 2021 Philippines.Philippines,MotoringPraderaTwoJSDevelopmentDelco,Depot,Impenetra,TyronWheels,Sports,AcceleraandPhilippinesPulseGlobalmadeRallycrossPhilippineSerieswaspossiblebyClarkCity,PhoenixTechnology,IsuzuCorporation,wassupportedbyTires,AutoplusMethodRaceIronman4x4PH,Runflat,Armormax,CWHomeAguilaGlass,ACAtoyCustoms,ClarkCorporation,MinaAudioSystem,Bott’sRestoBar,Verde,MartinDV,Today,AutocarandWheels
PHRX organizers Olson Camacho, Ronnie Trinidad, and Eggay Quesada led the awarding ceremony which was attended by the Rallycross participants. Awards were handed out to champions of the Series from Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, Open, UV, AWD, RWD, Novice Class, and Ladies Class.
3rd – Mon Dimapilis
3rd – Alex Gonzales
1st – Patrick Ng
Open Class
2nd – Elysse Menorca
PHILIPPINE RALLYCROSS SERIES 2021 WINNERS
he Philippine Rallycross (PHRX) Series honored the winners of the 2021 Rallycross Season during an awards night held at the Two Bott’s Resto Bar Co., in Southwoods Ecocentrum in Biñan, Laguna, last August 11, 2022. The awarding ceremony finally took place after being postponed numerous times due to the Ranpandemic.mainly on a specially laid-out dirt track at the Clark Global City in Pampanga, the 2021 Rallycross Series was held over 12 rounds that flagged off in March 2021. However, due to the unexpected lockdowns and IATF restrictions, the 2021 Season dragged on until the following year with the final round being run in April 2022.
2nd – Choy Mabunay
1st – Steve Acayan
2nd – Steve Acayan
Group 2
3rd – Paul Santos
2nd – Mon Dimapilis
3rd – Allan Sarmiento
1st – Patrick Ng
3rd – EZ Ligaya
The Novice Driver Award was given to Mr. Daniel Urian. Special and Fun Awards were also given out to the participants.
Group 4
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3rd – Pauline Barrenchea
AWD Class
MOBILITY
1st – Noli Tinio
2nd – Dindo de Jesus
1st – Louie Camacho
3rd – JP Polintan
3rd – Allan Sarmiento
GROUP
GROUP winners
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Ladies
GROUP 3 winners Class winners 2 winners 4 winners Class winners
Open
1
UV Class winners
Rear Wheel Drive winners GROUP
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Motomotorcycle.camping
MIO GEAR CAMPGROUNDMOTO
C
amping off your motorcycle can be part of your bucket list as a two-wheel rider, and Yamaha is back with its Mio Gear Moto Campground! Exploring the queen city of the South, Cebu riders, media partners, and moto vloggers joined the tough and fun adventure in Durhan White Beach, last August 13-14, 2022. In this exclusive camping event, riders were tested to show off their ready-toplay attitude with their own Mio Gear
quenches the thirst for exploration. Balancing excitement and toughness along the way, the rider must know where he wants to go and which motorcycle completes the adventure.
SUN RAYS AND BEACH WAVES IN CEBU!
full-of-life city and buildings of Cebu City, the participants traveled for hours to reach the picture-perfect shore of Durhan White Beach Resort, some 90kms away. At the campsite, the scenic view of the white beach welcomed the riders after the long
Now that the second leg of the Mio Gear Moto Campground has finally happened in the Visayas region, Yamaha is onto the next camping chapter, seeking more fun and challenging avenue in the Philippines.
Yamaha’s weekend was well spent with the riders, media partners, and vloggers who shared the same interest in exploring the new playground.
started. The beach battleground tested the participants’ endurance, toughness, and speed — proving their ready-to-play attitude. Completing the fun onshore, Yamaha also prepared activities such as beach volleyball, kayaking, and paddle boarding.
of relaxation turned into a competition when the battleground
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The Yamaha Mio Gear is created to traverse rugged terrains with a design that heightens the rider’s toughness. It also has built-in advantages and functional features that ensure riding confidence on the road, and even off the
Theride.sense
Frommetro.the
Words by Franceska Aguila Photos courtesy of Alvin Chan
MY EUROFIRSTTRIP WACKEN OPEN AIR, GERMANY
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Travel
’m a huge fan of music festivals, and to be able to attend a historical one was a singular privilege for me. A month ago, I received news from Numinous PH – an organizer of one of the biggest music festivals in the Philippines – that I would be part of the team bringing the Filipino metal band Orca, the grand champion of Wacken Metal Battle PH. The band would battle with 28 other countries on the stages of Wacken Open Air in Germany, the world’s biggest and longest-running music festival. Now in its 32nd year, with an attendance of over 85,000 every year, the festival gathers metalheads from all over the world to celebrate music, people, and culture. It was a rare opportunity, and I gladly accepted the invitation.
I
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with all the band equipment, go through immigration, and then airport security.
Coming back from Germany a few weeks ago, I still have sepanx, and I continue to miss being there, so let me share my firstever trip to Europe and my experience at the Wacken Open Air.
It was already 6:45 AM by the time we went through airport immigration, but we managed to board the plane just 10 minutes before they closed the gate. Our first leg was an 8-hour trip to Dubai. Fortunately, Emirates seats offer good legroom. They handed our hand sanitizers and face masks along with the usual blanket, pillow, and headset.
trying to find our gate. By the time we sat down for lamb burgers and beer at a restaurant, we had less than 10 minutes to quickly devour our food and rush to the gate to beat the last boarding call.
The next day, we got ready to go to Wacken, where we would camp from August 1 to 7. The Wacken Open Air proper was set for August 3 to 6, 2022. When we arrived at the artist check-in area, they handed us two wrist tags, a backstage pass for when Orca performed at W:E:T: Stage, and an RFID wrist tag for contactless and cashless transactions. The campsite was a good 45-minute walk, but the staff were kind enough to call for service vehicles to drive us to there.
Building the tents was such a fun activity and although I didn’t do much to help, it
The second leg was a 6-hour flight to Hamburg, and that’s when the excitement built up. We landed at 7:45 PM, to be met by a long line at border control. After getting our passports stamped, we waited for our baggage and bought sim cards which was a bit of a struggle as the store that activates the sim was already closed and we couldn’t quite figure it out. It was 9:30 PM by the time we left the airport, taking a cab to our hostel in Spaldingstraße. We were only staying overnight in Hamburg as we were moving to the festival venue the next day.
We had a 3-hour layover in Dubai, and we thought that would give us enough time to grab a snack. However, the airport
Our preparations for it were less than three weeks, including buying the tickets, applying for a Schengen visa, and finding big enough luggage for my stuff. I excitedly packed everything I needed one day before the flight, and the next day my heart was racing with joy. Our flight was at 7:40 AM but the team met at the airport at 2:00 AM, since most of us were first-time international flyers. There
Travel 72 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
for us seeing this amazing band represent our country, and listening to their story. Hearing the crowd cheer for them made me teary-eyed. After their performance, we went to the Artist Village where the metal battle artists went to be interviewed, relax, eat, and drink. We spent a couple of hours there to charge our devices as we don’t have electricity at the
On the last day at the festival, we packed up early and headed back to our hostel in Hamburg. There a Filipina friend treated us to dinner at a nice Vietnamese restaurant in Sternschanze. The trip going there was lovely. We rode the train and had a relaxing walk, and I fell in love with the streets of Hamburg. The architecture was beautiful, the streets were filled with graffiti, and the fashion was pleasing to look at. That evening, we went out to party in Reeperbahn.
of camp was interesting. We knew it was summertime in Europe and the longer days meant that the sun didn’t set until 8:00 PM or 9:00 PM. We expected it to be warm, and brought mostly summer clothes, packing just one jacket. As the night fell, it started to get cold, and I checked the Weather app periodically to see how cold it was going to get. By 11:00 PM, the temperature dropped to 2 degrees and we were freezing inside the tent! Sleeping inside a tent was no hardship, but I struggled with constantly waking up from the cold and having to use the outside restroom. We managed to survive the night, and thankfully the next days brought better weather conditions.
We stayed three more days in Hamburg, touring the city, eating a bunch of stuff, and shopping — my favorite thing in the world. I bought a lot of magnets and chocolate for everyone, but the clothes and shoes that I got were so affordable, and slightly cheaper when you convert it to peso. Our friend invited us to her cozy home and there we cooked Filipino food with, of course, rice. On our last night in Hamburg, we shared pizza and drinks to celebrate a successful show at the Wacken Open Air and a fun tour in Hamburg.
Thecampsite.following
was amazing, and the crowd was even more amazing.
For our flight home, we arrived at the airport 4 hours early —just the right amount of time to have lunch, check-in, and pass through border control again. We landed in Dubai around midnight, and finally arriving in Manila at almost 7:00 PM. Now we were back in our own little lives here, still missing Germany.
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Themerchandise.firstnight
Orca was set to perform on W:E:T: Stage to battle with other metal bands on August 3, 2022. It was a heartfelt moment
days, we got to watch like Judas Priest, Arch Enemy, Behemoth, As I Lay Dying, Powerwolf, Bleed from Within, and of course everyone’s favorite Slipknot. Watching Slipknot was one of my favorite parts of the festival. The band
was entertaining to watch the team figure out where things go. Then, it was time to explore the event grounds consisting of the Camping Plaza, The Infields, Wasteland, and Bullhead City.
A cool experience for me was topping up the RFID wrist tag. How it worked was you go to a top-up center (installed all over the venue), tap in your wrist tag, insert your euros, confirm the amount, and tap in again to check your balance. You use this RFID wrist tag to pay for all transactions — food, drinks, and
THREEHome WAYS TO HOMESECO-FRIENDLYMORE
Words by Chris Noel Hidalgo
74 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
At the top of this list is renewable energy at home. Electricity use accounts for over 50% of the Philippines’ carbon dioxide emissions. With over 93% of Filipino homes having access to electricity, pursuing renewable energy use at home will significantly dampen the sector’s greenhouse gas output. Luckily, the Philippines is rife with clean energy sources, two of which can be tapped to power homes— solar and wind power.
According to the Department of Energy, harnessing the sun’s power has the potential to generate up to 5.5-kilowatt hours (kWh) per square meter per day. This potential is so great that solar power ranks number two in the country’s renewable energy capacity mix, right behind hydropower. Unless you can build a dam in your backyard, solar power is your next best bet.
gone down by almost 90% in the past ten years. The price of a solar panel system starts at around PHP 100,000 for smaller setups. This already enables homeowners to run essential appliances during the day. During the night or when it is overcast out, these systems default to tapping your regular electricity provider.
T
he Philippines currently sits 17th as the world’s most affected country by extreme weather events caused by climate change. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) has observed a 0.75°C increase in the country’s annual temperature in the past 70 years, with the figure expected to soar up to 2.2°C by 2050—well above the international
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While the cost of solar panel installation was once a massive barrier to entry, it has
Stopping global warming boils down to limiting our greenhouse gas or carbon emissions. Every little bit helps, and our humble abodes are as good a place to start as any to contribute to the fight against climate change. Tech innovations have advanced to a point where we can significantly minimize our carbon footprint at home. Below are three ways we can make our homes more eco-friendly.
Consumer-grade renewable energy teChnology
target of limiting global warming to While1.5°C.
the difference might seem small, the slight temperature increase could spell even hotter summers; loss of entire coastal cities and villages due to rising sea levels; loss of biodiversity; stronger typhoons; and more unpredictable monsoon rains. Of course, the effects of these cascade into worsened poverty, widespread hunger, and more disease pandemics.
The Philippine government has duly recognized the potential of solar power through the net-
Another avenue for utilizing renewable energy at home is through small-scale wind
metering mechanism under the Renewable Energy Act of 2008. This allows solar panel users to sell their excess electricity production back to their utility provider, helping stabilize the national electric grid and drive further savings for homeowners.
However,turbines.these
are not as mainstream and as productive as solar kits for the home. With the Philippines being along a typhoon corridor, windmills have to be pretty robust to withstand gusts howling at over 300 kilometers per hour. This robustness you can currently only get with stories-high windmills. The good news is that there are efforts to downsize these giant fans and make them more viable and reliable for home
filtration and sanitation systems are in place. These systems can easily be found in large hardware
Rain barrels are the simplest method of collecting rainwater. As the name implies, it is a barrel—or set of barrels—usually attached to a roof’s downspout. Some homeowners also use full-blown water tanks to harvest more rain and keep water for longer. The water itself can be used for gardening, car washing, house cleaning, laundry, and even drinking, provided proper
clean energy source you go with, you will be able to enjoy lower utility bills while also contributing to the global fight against climate change.
rain harvesting systems
The average household wastes almost 700 liters of water each week, or nearly three cubic meters of water per month6. Multiply that by the number of households in the Philippines (as well as add all the water wasted in other societal sectors), and you will quickly understand why we often face water shortages, especially during the dry season. It is quite ironic, given that we are an archipelago exposed to an average of over 2,300 millimeters of rainfall each year.
Whicheveruse.
Why not harvest some of that rain for use around the house?
ensuring that you always have water and your water meter is spinning less, rain harvesting systems can help reduce soil and pollution runoff, lessen local flooding, and put less strain on dams and natural water sources.
Morestores.than
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Home
77 September 2022
Just as renewable energy and water filtration systems have gotten more affordable and more accessible over time, so too did eco-friendly
Water savings can also be had as some newer washing machine models use less water outright or even recycle water for multiple loads.
does become necessary, you have an array of lowwattage options to choose from. Induction cookers produce fewer carbon emissions than propane or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) stovetops. LED technology has become increasingly efficient for home lighting and televisions. Inverter technology has made its way to most large appliances, including air conditioners, refrigerators, washing machines, and dryers. Even newer models of the humble electric fan come with inverter motors installed!
not go out and replace your entire suite of appliances if your current ones are still working fine. Though the science is still up for debate, it can be argued that buying a new, more energy-efficient device is as carbon-intensive as using your old, less energy-efficient ones. This is due to the carbon footprint associated with the production of said energy-efficient
Whendevices.replacement
However,appliances.do
moreapplianeffiCientCes
DOHome ATBETTERITHOMEA
“TheMendiola-Manzano.fastestconnection of PLDT Home makes everything simpler. We live in an age where everything must be quick and instant. Having a fast and efficient connection gives you more chances to do things better for yourself and others in a day, whatever hat you have on,” Luis Manzano added.
78 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
WithSky. multiple online work and activities, it is incredibly important for the couple to always have the fastest connection at home. That is why in PLDT Home’s newest Do It Better campaign, the Manzanos show how the country’s fastest home broadband network suits their different lifestyles and needs with the best digital products and services. The Manzanos gave us a glimpse of their daily life and how PLDT Home enables them to handle tasks such as vlogging, holding meetings, arranging their finances, and taking care of their pets, just to name a few.
s two of the most sought-after celebrities in the Philippines, power couple Luis Manzano and Jessy Mendiola-Manzano know all about living a life juggling all their passions. Aside from their on-camera projects, the Manzanos are also well-known content creators, entrepreneurs, and loving fur-parents to their dogs — Chanel, Chewy, Louis, and
“The internet is a vital part of our everyday lives. It helps us to connect to each other and learn new things. When you are open to learning new things and exploring new possibilities, you will surely be able to do things better at home and in life,” said Jessy
As Filipinos embrace a more digital lifestyle, PLDT Home continues to address the demand for better, faster, and stronger Withconnections.thefastest
With the fastest internet speeds, families can do all of these and more without worrying about having enough bandwidth for PLDTeveryone.Home
Life at home made better
remains the undisputed fastest broadband in the Philippines for five consecutive years after it was once again awarded at the Ookla Speedtest Awards Q1Q2 2022. PLDT bested all major internet providers in the Philippines, achieving a speed score of 77.91. It also logged the fastest download and upload speeds at 210.83 Mbps and 234.21 Mbps, respectively.
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Learn more how you too can #DoItBetter at home and in life — powered by the fastest fixed internet, PLDT Home. Visit https://pldthome.info/Fiber2022 to know the best PLDT Home Fiber plan for your family.
Home Fiber plans, subscribers can do more at home. The whole family can comfortably watch their favorite shows on HBO GO, Lionsgate Play, and Viu, or work, study, create content, level up in their games, and enjoy the convenience of smart gadgets in the home.
SUPERAPPSMEENSTACK
80 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
Enstack is a fast, free, and easy-touse SME superapp that provides entrepreneurs with all operational, logistical, and financial tools they need in a single platform. The superapp allows small and medium businesses to take their first leap towards digitization by letting them manage orders, track inventory, get paid, ship packages, and record daily business transactions on their mobile Inphones.addition to the superapp, Enstack’s mostly female team and entrepreneurs created vibrant online and offline communities primarily through its Facebook group and regular events
“If more Filipinas start a business, it could add USD40 billion to annual GDP in 2025 — creating wealth not just for themselves but for their communities. We created Enstack to ensure women have all the tools and support to make it easy to run a successful small business, create more female entrepreneurs, and contribute to the growth of the economy,” shared Macy Castillo, CEO and co-founder of Enstack.
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Enstack has helped many different femaleowned businesses run more efficiently and find success. Here are some of them:
Helping female-owned businesses increase sales and improve operations
ccording to the Department of Trade and Industry, nine in every ten small business owners in the Philippines are female, showing how Filipinas are defying the odds despite insufficient access to opportunities, education, and capital. This desire to achieve financial freedom, improve their socioeconomic status and be independent drives SME superapp Enstack to focus on helping these female entrepreneurs manage their businesses more efficiently and Female-ledsuccessfully.Enstack has a unique perspective as it was created with a deep understanding of the market and the challenges faced by women running a business in the Philippines. The superapp digitizes daily business tasks and shortens the time spent on managing orders,
around the country. Here, Enstack and its entrepreneurs connect, share challenges, and exchange learnings, while also fostering feedback to constantly improve its tools and offerings.
tracking inventory, and bookkeeping by up to four hours, so they can do more with their time.
Founded by computer engineer Aimee Guerrero as a passion project, popular local retailer Beauty with Love sells and distributes affordable skincare, makeup, and wellness products directly to consumers and resellers. Aimee needed to reduce operational costs to fulfill her dream of developing her own line of products, so she replaced her original website with Enstack’s Web Store. In just two weeks, she saved on fees, doubled her orders, and delivered better customer service to buyers and resellers. Aimee is now on her way to developing her own line of products.
Rhowen Hermogenes of Rhowen’s Kitchenette
Full-time mom and wife Baby Jane Reveral was nine years old when she started selling stickers to her classmates using her allowance as capital. The born-entrepreneur has since opened many businesses, including Angel’s Treasures, an online ukay-ukay shop that helps generate extra income for her growing family. As sole owner, Baby Jane does everything from ironing merchandise for live selling, to listing orders and inventory, and preparing packages for shipment. Enstack has enabled Baby Jane to complete administrative tasks such as accounting and inventory faster. At the same time, the app’s invoicing feature allows her to automatically bill all her customers and get paid promptly. She can now monitor and grow her finances in real time.
Aimee Guerrero of Beauty with Love
During the lockdown, housewife Rhowen Hermogenes expanded her leche flan business to delivering homecooked meals to neighbors working from home. She would painstakingly list down in-person or text message orders while managing the entire kitchen, which became too challenging and led her to close the business temporarily. Rhowen restarted her business when her daughter discovered Enstack and now counts Enstack Cashier, shipping, and payment features as major tools that support order management. Enstack’s Same Day shipping also allowed her to bring her beloved home-cooked dishes to customers beyond her building and increase revenue.
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Baby Jane Reveral of Angel’s Treasures
For more information, please visit www.enstack.com
“Epson aspires to be an indispensable company,” said newly appointed Epson Philippines president and director
ver the course of the past decade, the need for more innovative solutions to address the demands of modern businesses has rapidly increased. There is also a renewed pressure on corporations to hold themselves accountable, be transparent with consumers, and offer more sustainable solutions, further stressing the importance of innovation to address both the business demand and the need to have the least possible impact on the environment.
FUSION 13 LITE
In the recently concluded Fusion — the 13th iteration of the annual media event hosted by Epson — the global technology leader in innovative solutions drummed up excitement as it shared its extensive range of products and assured that businesses can be a step ahead on the demands of both the present and the future while still being sustainable.
“Our strong stance on creating the least possible impact on the environment is rooted in our belief of Better Products for a Better Future,” said Eduardo Bonoan, Epson PH general manager of marketing division, adding: “Planning for the
O
Epson Philippines underscores its commitment to helping businesses shift toward a more productive, reliable, and sustainable future
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Masako Kusama, as she welcomed media attendees to the first face-to-face Fusion since 2019. “We work hard to be trusted throughout the world by staying true to our commitment to openness, customer satisfaction, and sustainability.”
2. 3LCD Liquid Crystal technology for more brilliant images
future demands a strong commitment toward environmental conservation and protection, and this is why we strive to create innovative, reliable, recyclable, and energy-efficient products.”
For nearly four decades, Epson has been at the forefront of printing technology. The market leader
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High-quality solutions for business
With a rich history in innovation, Epson’s extensive portfolio boils down to three key technologies:
To ensure that its printers are performing at their best and that no detail is missed, Epson Genuine Inks were carefully
These technologies are well-integrated into everything Epson develops, ensuring high quality and performance, adaptability, and efficiency down to the very last detail.
of different printer models to suit every business need and customer requirements — from output as large as outdoor signage and vehicle wraps, down to smaller creations such as fine art and stickers — whatever the application, Epson has it covered.
3. Force Sensor technology for robotics
Epson PH president and director Masako Kusama, the first female Japanese country manager across Epson’s global operations, welcomes the attendees of its Fusion 13 Lite media event at Marco Polo Ortigas Manila.
1. PrecisionCore printhead technology for heat-free printing
produced following the most stringent quality control standard to deliver highquality prints with consistent and longlasting brilliance.
It is no secret that Epson is a leader in the printing industry. As the bestselling printer brand in ASEAN, the company has developed an extensive portfolio
Sustainability at the core of Epson’s technology
Through Epson’s heat-free technology, its inkjet printers shorten the printing process by removing the stages that use heat. Not only does it reduce power consumption, it also saves time with efficient high-speed printing.
“By focusing on the details that can make a world of difference, we want to offer the best of both worlds when it comes to sustainability,” said Kusama.
Innovative solutions for the Next Normal
Moreover, Epson’s innovative 3LCD technology allows its laser projectors to deliver vibrant, true-to-life images with higher color brightness and wider color spectrum while utilizing fewer watts and ultimately reducing energy consumption. No mercury is used in their production, which avoids the use and disposal of five lamps throughout
the product’s lifespan, significantly reducing environmental impact.
For education, Epson is big on details to inspire learning discovery. Its Hyflex Classroom solution is designed to accommodate the simultaneous teaching of in-person and online
“We work hard to be satisfaction,ourstayingthethroughouttrustedworldbytruetocommitmenttoopenness,customerandsustainability.”
Now more than ever, the company is focused on creating an environmentally sustainable future through its efficient, compact, and precise technologies in its printers and projectors.
As the world continues to reopen, the hybrid set-up is likely to become the new normal for a majority of the sectors. Epson offers a wide range of solutions to help consumers adapt to the world post-pandemic — from Epson’s Hyflex Solution for learning institutions to computer-aided design (CAD) printers for technical professionals.
Eduardo Bonoan, Epson PH general manager of marketing division, officially the annual media event.
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continually seeks to find new ways to innovate and meet the ever-changing market demands.
an entry projector to monitor online attendees; and a multi-function printer to directly print lessons with the annotations from the projector.
Meanwhile, Epson also offers collaborative solutions to businesses that are adapting a hybrid work arrangement moving forward. Whether one is working from home or printing out documents to take to a job site, Epson offers a variety of desktop and floor-standing CAD technical printers that are appropriately sized, scaled, and priced for small office use, including multifunction printers with built-in scanners to archive, share, and copy large
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students. The classroom setup puts Epson’s visual products at the forefront: interactive projectors as the interactive display for convenient annotation and collaboration between teacher and students; a document camera as a visualizer tool for sharing physical materials that cannot be digitized;
Thea Maria Austria, Epson PH department manager for corporate commercial and industrial product management, talks about the wide range of applications of Epson’s SureColor signage printers.
“Withdocuments.hybridlife likely to become the new normal, having the flexibility is essential,” said Bonoan. “Our wide range of solutions aims to help our consumers adapt more quickly without losing productivity and collaboration.”
results for the customers. As the Philippines assesses the implications of COVID-19 and the economy shows a strong growth momentum, enterprises must equip their customers with secure digital offerings by strengthening their ability to develop and deliver superior digital experiences that are easily accessible on any app, any cloud and any device. VMware intends to continue to be a trusted partner and enabler in helping Filipino businesses adapt and accelerate into this new digital reality where digital experience will be key” said Walter So, VMware Philippines country manager.
Digital Frontier 4.0 Study
Filipino consumers are the most receptive to new technologies
• High internet service (76%) and better connectivity (68%) are the most important contributing factors for Filipino consumers to buy homes in the •futureFilipino consumers lead in adaptability over the rest of the world (55.5%)
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to the survey, Filipino consumers are the most confident (78%) in Southeast Asia (SEA) in believing that technology is an enabler in connecting families and people in their communities during a pandemic. Filipinos surveyed also demonstrated the highest faith (83%) in the digital progress of the nation and the potential of technology in creating jobs and livelihood to create a more powerful economic impact.
As the Philippines advances in its journey toward a digitally empowered future, Filipino consumers continue to show high reception to new technologies compared to other SEA countries, with the following •highlights:55areaware of the concept of Metaverse and optimistic about the implications of it, the highest in the region
mbracing technology innovations and advancements to positively impact people’s lives has been the key differentiator for Filipinos, as reflected in the recent multi-country Digital Frontier 4.0 Study by VMware, Inc., a leading provider of multi-cloud Accordingservices.
• 43% of the Filipino consumers surveyed believe that the Metaverse will be
favorable for the society
“Fostering digitalization and modernization requires more than the ability to acquire immersive technologies. It also means creating environments where businesses can leverage innovation by delivering meaningful change to drive the best
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Empowering businesses to build a multicloud and app future: Unlocking multicloud future with app-driven innovations for greater agility in a consistent and more secure environment that enables continuous innovation.
Withimportance.aneye
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Intrinsic security for uninterrupted innovation: An intrinsic approach to enterprise security will provide an additional layer of robust protection for mission-critical operations and infrastructures to fast-track business innovation and resilience.
on securing long term success and accelerating growth in the new world of work, businesses must re-think how their customers can harness technology to better innovate and collaborate in this digital-first environment. VMware outlines key priorities that will further strengthen the Philippines’
Enterprise
from the Philippines also strongly believe that technologies that push new boundaries are necessary to improve the well-being of citizens and the society. Hence, 78% of the respondents in the Philippines feel that connectivity in rural areas must improve to create a truly digital future, the second highest in Southeast Asia after Indonesia. Six in ten respondents (61.4%) in the Philippines are worried that their older relatives are not able to keep up with the new digital world and that organizations should further their agenda to include every community as they propel towards creating a digitally empowered society.
A robust and inclusive tech economy for a digitally empowered future
The Philippines’ accelerated digital economy post-pandemic reflects the need of rapid business transformation to meet the evolving needs of the customers. In building the Philippines’ rapidly digitalizing business environment, a robust approach that enables organizations to deliver superior digital experiences across any cloud, any application and any device in a seamless and secure manner is of paramount
Enabling innovation and productivity for a distributed workforce: Future ready workforce solutions will enable a seamless and more secure digital employee experience, driving greater outcomes in the new world of work.
• Heavy reliance on technology to create advanced ways of managing and working with the finances (67%), thesecond highest in Southeast Asia after Thailand •(68%).Highest preference (76%) for in-person interactions over chatbots in the finance and banking sector, 4% more than the rest of TheSEA.respondents
As digital innovations accelerate in the Philippines across industries, Filipinos showed a preference for digital empowerment in some sectors more than the others.
transformation into a resilient, inclusive and innovation-led economy:
• Least enthusiasm and acceptance (21%) — compared to the rest of SEA (25%) — in embracing robotics in healthcare or having virtual medical consultations with doctors (22%)
Similar to last year, personal data privacy and security remain top concerns for consumers in the Philippines. The consumers are highly apprehensive about how their data is being used by organizations and the government; 51% of the respondents think the government has not been transparent enough in this regard, up from 46% in 2021; 60% are paranoid about being tracked by organizations on their devices; and 29% cite the loss of privacy to organizations with access to their personal data as their top concern. The Filipino consumers have shown the most eagerness in this region (65%) to pay more to the internet services if that meant keeping their data private.
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THE GIG ECONOMY REMAINS STRONG IN THE COUNTRY DESPITE UNCERTAINTIES
FREELANCEPHILIPPINESMARKET 2022
Freelancing opportunities are on the rise in an uncertain world–the gig economy in the Philippines is an unstoppable trend and the pandemic merely accelerated the movement to freelancing.
Employment
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inancial services company Payoneer and mobile wallet app GCash recently released The Philippines Freelance Market 2022 Report, a survey report on the current state of the gig economy in the Philippines. Results indicate that many Filipinos are thriving as freelancers, benefiting from growing overseas freelancing opportunities.
The survey on freelancing trends and behaviors tapped 5,560 GCash users across the country as respondents. Among the key findings is that freelancers who work with local and overseas clients earn 57% more per hour than those who work with just local clients.
multiple income streams. Given the many benefits of freelancing, many Filipinos now prefer this flexible livelihood option that suits their lifestyles better than traditional Withemployment.thegovernment promoting entrepreneurship and digital innovation, freelancers in the Philippines are driven to find work opportunities through online marketplaces and apps. Digital platforms have made it easier for Filipino freelancers to find clients who need services such as photography, blogging/ vlogging, graphic design, writing, videography, architecture, and engineering.
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unpredictability of a steady income stream and job stability, Filipino freelancers continue to take advantage of the benefits of freelancing, such as job flexibility, workload control, and greater earning potential from
Freelancers continue to grow post-pandemic–many freelancers are likely to continue working because they prefer the flexibility and the additional sources of income. They also stay open to taking training courses, coaching sessions, or other educational programs to learn more about their chosen niche.
In Payoneer’s Global Gig Economy Index 2019, the Philippines placed sixth among the fastest-growing market in the world, with a 35% growth in freelance earnings. At the onset of the pandemic, more Filipinos turned to freelancing as a way to generate income despite mobility restrictions. This accelerated the gig economy trend in the country and increased the ranks of Filipino freelancers in
Despite2020-21.the
Why the gig economy in the Philippines flourishes
According to the survey, freelancers consider security and accessibility when selecting payment platforms. They also choose payment platforms based on other factors like transaction fees, the convenience of transferring to bank accounts, fast crediting, exchange rates, and live technical support.
Importance of timely and secure payment
“Asservices.Filipinos are renowned for their creativity, work ethic, and customer service orientation, it is not surprising that more and more international businesses are willing to pay for Filipino talent. This should motivate more freelancers in the Philippines to take their freelancing journey to the global stage and benefit from higher earning potential,” said Miguel Warren, vice president of Payoneer for South East Asia.
One thing that keeps Filipino freelancers from pursuing overseas clients is the challenge of securing timely payments from foreign clients. Delayed or denied payments can negatively affect freelancers’ finances. To ensure timely and secure payments, freelancers need a reliable payment platform that connects them to clients from anywhere in the world. With a payment platform, freelancers can conveniently request payment from local and international clients.
While most freelancers still source their jobs in the Philippines, the survey suggests that more and more Filipino freelancers are in demand across countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates. The report mentioned that according to Creative Economy Council of the Philippines president Paolo Mercado, up to 1.5 million Filipinos are registered on international online platforms for freelancing
Overseas opportunitiesfreelanceabound
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Recognizing freelancers’ need for secure and timely payments, Payoneer simplifies payment for cross-border and manages the complexities of moving money through its easy-to-navigate, secure, and affordable payment platform.
overseas with Payoneer and withdraw the funds locally in PHP instantly for free, via the GCash app. This enables freelancers to receive payments from global clients in foreign currencies like USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and “Withmore.the
By signing up and linking a Payoneer account to GCash, users can receive foreign currency
Supporting Filipino freelancers in going global
As many freelancers mainly use GCash to receive payments from local clients and Payoneer for receiving overseas payments with higher rates, Payoneer partnered with GCash to provide freelancers with a more seamless and convenient payment experience.
feature that allows users to link their Payoneer and GCash accounts, we hope to encourage more freelancers to provide their services to international clients. Together with GCash, we hope to do something more in the future to help our Filipino freelancers succeed in the global economy, ” added Warren.
GCash and Payoneer: enabling payments from overseas clients–Payoneer has partnered with GCash in the Philippines to enable freelancers, online sellers and digital entrepreneurs to access global clients and receive payment in foreign currencies. By signing up and linking a Payoneer account via GCash, users can receive foreign currency overseas with Payoneer and withdraw the funds locally in PHP instantly for free via the GCash app.
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tome, a leading buy-now pay-later platform in Asia, has partnered with Mastercard to launch the Atome Card in the Philippines, offering Filipino consumers a new way to pay with credit. The Atome Card provides cardholders with a line of credit that can be used to pay online and in-store retailers by simply presenting their Atome Card during check-out.
Consumers in the Philippines can register their interest for the Atome Card with one click, directly via the latest version of the Atome app, or via this Early Bird registration link: https://www.atome.ph/atome-card
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A NEW WAY TO PAY WITH CREDIT ATOME CARD
FinTech
leading buy now pay later platform, partnering with over 15,000 online and offline retailers in ten markets, including Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Philippines, Thailand, mainland China, and Japan). In the Philippines, it partners with over 600 online and offline retailers, including SM Store, ZALORA, Suyen Corp, Primer Group, Agoda, Converse, Giordano, Rustan’s, Timex, National Bookstore, Time Depot, Anker, Garmin, Uratex, Fitness First, Skechers, Toby’s, Bayo, Pretty Looks, Boozy.
Mastercard is accepted. For merchants, this also means increased sales and better conversion rates, extending the benefits of digital commerce to more consumers and businesses in the Philippines,” said Simon Calasanz, country manager, Philippines, AtomeMastercard.isAsia’s
“Mastercard is delighted to partner with Atome on this innovative product that will contribute to building a cash-lite society and drive financial inclusivity by serving more than 70% of Filipinos who are unbanked or underbanked, and do not qualify for credit cards. The Atome Card will enable cardholders with choice, control and flexibility to manage their finances and is available to use anywhere
Puts you in control: Easily view/manage payment schedule, all in the Atome app
Shop anywhere: In-store or online, virtual or physical card can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted
The Atome Philippines mobile app is available on the App Store and on Google Play.
Instant approval: Easy application on mobile, no minimum income required
THE MAIN FEATURES OF THE ATOME CARD OFFERED IN THE PHILIPPINES INCLUDE:
No fees: No annual fees, sign up fees or other hidden charges
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“The launch of the Atome Card marks an exciting new chapter, as it’s the first financial service we offer apart from Buy Now, Pay Later. With no annual fees and minimum income requirements, the Atome Card will give many underserved segments in the Philippines access to a flexible credit facility, the first such innovative solution across the region with more markets to come in the next few months,” said Magic Tang, Atome payment partnerships director.
Payment flexibility: Buy now, pay up to 45 days later with up to PHP200,000 limit
Safety and security remain top priorities. Similar to regular GCash accounts, GCash Jr. follows a stringent KYC (Know-your-customer) process. All you need to do is to download the GCash app and minors aged 7 to 17 years old will just need to submit a photo of any of the following IDs:
YourBlacklist!time to achieve financial freedom starts with GCash! You can download the GCash app for free on Google Play and the App Store.
student ID, passport, or national ID. Their parents will also be required to input their fully verified GCash account for reference and will be asked to take a selfie with the ID submitted by their child. GCash Jr. users are also required to submit a photo of their birth certificate. Upon submission of all the requirements, users will receive an SMS confirmation as a fullyverified GCash Jr. user!
o give young Filipinos a safe and secure cashless payment channel and a fun digital experience, GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet, introduces GCash Jr., the newest e-wallet in the GCash app for minors aged 7 to 17 years old! With the GCash Jr., young users can access a host of digital financial services along with exciting offers such as exclusive fandom deals, gaming vouchers and discounts, premium access to their favorite shows, music, and so much more in a trendy user interface made just for them!
Jr. allows younger users to properly manage their finances with an e-wallet size of up to PHP50,000 and a PHP10,000 limit for daily incoming and outgoing transactions.
Ready, Set, G! Great news for kids and teens who can’t wait to have their very own GCash account!
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GCashtrends.
The new GCash Jr. lets youngsters learn how to be financially aware and responsible at an early age while still pursuing their passion and doing what they love — whether it’s gaming, music, shopping, and more.
Kick-starting their digital financial journey, GCash Jr. has designed an easy dashboard to access GCash’s convenient features such as online payments and Pay QR for their K-Pop merchandise, buying load for their gaming credits and skins, and GLife for food deals and the latest fashion
Getting GCash Jr. opens up users to a whole lot of exclusive offers and deals. On top of that, GCash has gone all out with GCash Jr.’s hit song and music video featuring actress and top Tiktok content creator Andrea Brillantes, one of the country’s most phenomenal P-Pop band and Billboard charttopper SB19, and 2021 Mobile Legends World Champions
he FEU Tech Schools — comprised of FEU Alabang, FEU Diliman, and FEU Institute of Technology — have long recognized the importance of innovation. This is why they are proud to announce that its innovation efforts were recently recognized in the latest rankings of the WURI (World’s Universities with Real Impact) Top Global Innovative Universities for 2022.
FEU Tech ranked alongside universities like the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Stanford University, and Harvard University, with excellent placements in four major categories:
T
These categories considered a school’s ability to invest and use emerging digital technologies, support student innovation, craft an agile response during the pandemic, and continue collaboration with schools worldwide.
Off the news of the recent WURI rankings, FEU Tech Schools announced that both the FEU Tech and FEU Alabang campuses are offering leveled-up undergraduate Bachelor of Science (BS) courses in the fields of data science, entrepreneurship, and business analytics. These programs seek to prepare fresh graduates for a swiftlyevolving job market, equipping them with the practical skills they need to land jobs in growing technology fields.
#19 - PROGRESS DURING THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION #30 - ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT #37 - CRISIS MANAGEMENT #44 - STUDENT MOBILITY AND OPENNESS READY FOR THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION DEDICATEDEducation INNOVATIONTO FEU TECH SCHOOLS IMPROVE WURI RANKINGS, INTRODUCE NEW SPECIALIZATIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS 98 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
The WURI rankings compare universities all around the world using criteria measuring a university’s contributions to society and innovative approaches to education.
According to FEU Tech director of information technology Dr. Ace Lagman, programs like Information Technology are designed to ‘future-proof’ students and prepare them for an increasingly competitive job market. “It’s not enough anymore to leave students with a degree; we want to equip them with skills they’ll be able to use for their whole career,” he notes.
The innovation-focused courses offered by
The partnership with Accenture is part of FEU Tech’s rich tradition of working with both large enterprises and startups. “By working with established businesses and startups, we’re able to give students an accurate picture of what life will be like when they start working,” said Gianina Napo, FEU Tech Innovation Center director for innovation programs. “They’ll access key resources and see firsthand what it takes to innovate and grow a business— and understand how they can contribute, even before they Overall,graduate.”FEU
include:
PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESS
Additionally, the specializations offered by FEU Tech give students a bird’s-eye view of the changing structure of the business. For example, specializing in business analytics will provide students with an overview of the current information technology trends that drive enterprises.
• BS Computer Science with specialization in Data Science • BS Information Technology with specialization in Innovation and Business • BS Information Technology with specialization in Business Analytics 99 September 2022
Graduates from these programs can expect to pick up critical skills such as design thinking, marketing principles, project management, software development, and so much more.
“When they put all their learnings together, graduates of our programs can go on to be business development officers, innovation and growth specialists, and even startup founders,” added Rolan M. Garcia, FEU Tech group chief innovation officer and director of new ventures.
Tech Schools are more than happy to support innovation. Whether by constantly updating its course offerings to be more relevant to the real world or working closely with changemakers in business, the institution’s dedication to innovation never stops.
Students looking to be part of FEU Tech’s and FEU Alabang’s pursuit of excellence and innovation can visit the official websites on feutech.edu.ph and feualabang.edu.ph.
Meanwhile, data science will teach them how to analyze large volumes of often unstructured data with the goal of producing meaningful insights. “By using scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems, they can extract knowledge and apply this knowledge from data across a broad range of application domains,” explained Elisa Malasaga, OIC program director for computer science.
Yet FEU Tech’s relentless dedication to innovation and shaping future-ready graduates goes beyond the courses they Recently,offer.they partnered with business process outsourcing giant Accenture to initiate research and development programs on the use of 5G and Industry X technologies. The partnership is part of Accenture’s initiative to help innovation-focused local universities via a PHP80-million grant to strengthen programs focusing on emerging technologies, sustainability, inclusion, and diversity.
FEU Tech senior executive director Dr. Benson Tan had much to say on innovation: “The importance of innovation can’t be overstated. Though it’s a big part of it, we don’t pursue innovation solely because it will help our students in their future. The pursuit of innovation is important because we believe our students will have a big part in nationbuilding and creating a better society. That alone makes everything we do worth it.’” FEU Tech
Education 100 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
Acer and Microsoft have partnered with OB Montessori to test Windows 11 SE, a new edition of Windows that is designed for education and runs on web-first devices. The Philippines is among the first countries in Southeast Asia to roll out the tester program, with OB Montessori being one of the first schools to try Windows 11 SE.
WINDOWS 11 SE TESTER PROGRAM
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“As the Number 1 IT brand in the country, Acer has always been focused and committed to the education sector. Acer’s mission is to break the barriers between people and technology, and with that comes our vision for our educators and students to be fully equipped in the hybrid learning setup,” said Carren Garcia, Acer senior channel sales manager, “Windowscommercial.11
Windows 11 SE provides a simplified, secure, and curated experience for students that was designed to run essential education apps. Administrators remotely manage Windows 11 SE devices using Microsoft Intune for Education. The administrators also make sure that student privacy is a priority.
s one of the first members of Acer Academy, OB Montessori was invited by Acer Philippines to experience Windows 11 SE. Acer Academy is a program that helps develop real and innovative IT solutions to help aid in education. Acer Academy helps teachers gain experience by extending the use of technology in the whole teaching planning and practice.
The tester program with OB Montessori is a fiveweek course where teachers and students experience learning with the help of Acer laptops installed with Windows 11 SE. Throughout this period, Acer and Microsoft demonstrate how the devices can help with hybrid learning. After the course, the school provides feedback on their experience, and how they think the program can be improved.
SE was built with students and teachers in mind and is meant to provide an environment that’s free from distraction so it’s perfect for today’s hybrid and flexible learning environment,” said Cuki Pendor, Acer & Microsoft Champ.
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“We are very happy and proud to be a part of this program and for our educators and learners to try this software that’s classroom focused,” said Alejandro Alanano, JHS academic coordinator at OB ForMontessori.moreinformation
about Acer Academy, follow @AcerAcademyPhils on Facebook or go to www.acer.com.
2022 UNIT 42 INCIDENT RESPONSE REPORT
Cyber Security
ccording to a new report from Palo Alto Networks the global cybersecurity leader, the heavy use of software vulnerabilities matches the opportunistic behavior of threat actors who scour the internet for vulnerabilities and weak points on which to focus. The 2022 Unit 42 Incident Response Report offers a multitude of insights gleaned from Unit 42 by Palo Alto Networks’ extensive incident response (IR) work, leveraging
Visaya, country manager for the Philippines at Palo Alto Networks, shared, “As cybercriminals find more ways to exploit these software vulnerabilities, organizations must take
A
a sampling of over 600 Unit 42 IR cases, to help chief information security officers (CISOs) and security teams understand the greatest security risks they face, and where to prioritize resources to reduce Oscarthem.
Phishing and Software Vulnerabilities Cause Nearly 70% of Cyber Incidents 102 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
the necessary steps to minimize the risks for the company and its stakeholders. Organizations must ramp up patch management and orchestration to try to close these known holes as soon as Ransomwarepossible.” and business email compromise (BEC) were the top incident types that the Incident Response team responded to over the past 12 months, accounting for approximately 70% of
incident response cases. The findings reflect local data of research company Statista in which phishing emerged as the most frequent fraud scheme targeting consumers in the Philippines in Q1 2022.
A new ransomware victim is posted on leak sites every four hours. Identifying ransomware activity early is critical for organizations. Typically, ransomware actors are only discovered after files are encrypted, and the victim organization receives a ransom note. Unit 42 has identified that the median dwell time — meaning the time threat actors spend in a targeted environment before being detected — observed for ransomware attacks was 28 days. Ransom demands have been as high as USD30 million, and actual payouts have been as high as USD8 million, a steady increase compared to the findings of the 2022 Unit 42 Ransomware Report. Increasingly, affected organizations can also expect
threat actors to use double extortion, threatening to publicly release sensitive information if a ransom isn’t paid. In the same report, the Philippines was also discovered as a key target for BlackCat Ransomware which emerged in late 2021.
customers can take advantage of Cortex Xpanse for attack surface management to identify vulnerable internet-exposed systems and can often catch systems that organizations may not be aware are running on the network. Customers also receive protections against the specific vulnerabilities discussed in this post through Cortex XDR, Prisma Cloud, Cloud-Delivered Security Services, and other products.
cost and often high returns. As such, unskilled, novice threat actors can get started with access to tools like hackingas-a-service becoming more popular and available on the dark web,” said Wendi Whitmore, SVP and head of Unit 42 at Palo Alto Networks. “Ransomware attackers are also becoming more organized with their customer service and satisfaction surveys as they engage with cybercriminals and the victimized Paloorganizations”AltoNetworks
Business Email Compromise (BEC)
“Right286,000.now, cybercrime is an easy business to get into because of its low
Cybercriminals used a variety of techniques in business email compromise wire-fraud schemes. Forms of social engineering, such as phishing, offer an easy and cost-effective way to gain covert access while maintaining a low risk of discovery. According to the report, in many cases, cybercriminals are simply asking their unwitting targets to hand over their credentials — and getting them. Once they have access, the median dwell time for BEC attacks was 38 days, and the average amount stolen was
Ransomware
103 September 2022
Cyber Security 104 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported that the Philippine financial system is at ‘medium risk’ of being used for money laundering last year. While preventive measures have been placed to curb risk of dirty money, the country remains in the gray list of international watchdog on money laundering and terror financing Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as of June 2022.
Tookitaki launches in PH to improve anti-money laundering compliance
CRIMESFINANCIALFIGHTING
H
eadquartered in Singapore, the regulatory technolofy (regtech) firm Tookitaki provides end-toend financial crime solutions to some of the world’s leading financial institutions. In the ASEAN region, some of the largest banks and fintech companies rely on Tookitaki to transform their anti-money laundering (AML) compliance needs.
Named Anti-Money Laundering Suite or AMLS, it became an instant hit with the region’s digital banks and fintechs because of its unique Hub and Spoke model for powerful transaction monitoring. The ‘Hub’ is an extensive and evolving collection of latest intelligence on money laundering patterns sourced from AML expert network globally in a privacy-preserved manner. The ‘Spoke’ represents a simulation setup and allows local companies to download and test relevant patterns from the Hub, detect illicit money trails and stay protected. The Spoke is installed within the environment of a financial institution without letting the test data leave the network, therefore providing utmost security. Built on BigData, AMLS extensively uses machine learning for its transaction monitoring, smart screening and customer risk scoring solutions. The alerts from all solutions are unified in an interactive, modern-age Case Manager that offers companies with speedy alert disposition and easy regulatory report filing.
Designed on three C-principles — comprehensive, convenient and compliant — Tookitaki’s AML solution can empower FIs in the region to strengthen their risk coverage and mitigate risks seamlessly in the everevolving world of regulatory compliance.
“We are deeply committed to empower the banking and financial services (BFS) sector in the Philippines to fight money laundering in the most effective and efficient manner,” shared Abhishek Chatterjee, founder and CEO of
Ahead of its local launch, Tookitaki secured partnerships with the country’s leading all-in-one money platform and PayMongo to rapidly help the growing fintech industry of the country reduce risk and design a robust anti-money laundering program, aligning with the compliance norms set out by the local regulator. This will offer safer and more secure transactions for the money platform’s over 47 million users and the digital payment platform’s over 10,000 partner merchants. “We look forward to partnering with more fintechs and local banks in the region offering an endto-end AML detection and prevention software solution,” mentions Chatterjee. Earlier this year, Thunes, a global leader
Earliercountry.this
year, Thunes, a global leader in powering payments, took a majority stake in Tookitaki to accelerate global business expansion and a major focus was laid to deepen presence in core APAC markets, including Philippines. Setting up its Philippine office in Q3 2022, Tookitaki will be employing Filipino talents for its local operations to strengthen the country’s pool of regtech talents and contribute to the economic growth of the country.
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becomes more sophisticated, the financial institutions (FIs) in the region need to look beyond traditional and siloed AML systems to keep pace with growing business and compliance requirements.”
HeTookitaki.adds,“The volume of digital banking and ecommerce transactions is rising exponentially, with global cashless payment volumes expected to increase by more than 80% from 2020 to 2025 and total cross-border payments reaching over USD156 trillion. Unfortunately, this vast flow of money crisscrossing the globe provides cover for money laundering and the Philippines is no exception. As more Filipino consumers become part of the banking ecosystem and financial crime
in powering payments, took a majority stake in Tookitaki to accelerate global business expansion and a major focus was laid to deepen presence in core APAC markets, including Philippines. Setting up its Philippine office in Q3 2022, Tookitaki will be employing Filipino talents for its local operations to strengthen the country’s pool of regtech talents and contribute to the economic growth of the
Ais for apple? Think again. In cyber lingo, as these parents have experienced, the alphabet takes a whole new meaning, but not necessarily all Thesegood.cyber expressions could range from AMP, a shorter version of a Filipino cuss word, to other derogatory terms.
And sometimes, cyberbullying does not even use letters or words. Instead, people resort to emojis such as a pig face or
snout to shame a person for being fat, or a clown to denote stupidity.
Offensive language and emojis, which often victimize users of social media and social messaging apps, do not stop at inflicting emotional pain. It may cause anxiety, fear, and depression that could prove damaging to mental health, especially among kids and young adults. Cyberbullying is also known to lead to negative self-talk and low self-esteem among children.
#makeITsafePH
106 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022 Cyber Security
“To stop cyberbullying, we start with understanding how and where it happens. Parents can protect their children better if they know how young people communicate. Globe is sharing helpful tips on how parents can guide their kids in this new digital environment,” said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer at Globe.
CyberbullyingA-Z
Or you might have heard someone say “Go KYS” or “Reincarnate.” These are simple but disturbing terms with the harmful intention of telling a person to “kill yourself.”
The portal is part of Globe’s cyber safety advocacy, which runs parallel to its support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which fosters innovation towards economic development under SDG No. 9, and inclusive and equitable quality education under SDG No. 4.
includes bullying, and online sexual abuse and exploitation of children
Explore the new language of the youth and learn the A-Z of cyberbullying prevention through Globe’s new portal, www.makeitsafe.ph, accessible via mobile and desktop browsers. You can talk about the alphabet on the site and how each corresponds to lessons on cyberbullying.
The country’s leading digital solutions platform has various initiatives to protect people, particularly, minors and the youth, from cyberviolence, which
Globe(OSAEC).also
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You may even add words you may have heard used in cyberbullying to help expand the glossary.
implements the Digital Thumbprint Program (DTP), a series of workshops and modules that teaches students, parents, and teachers about online responsibility and safety. It has been rolling out initiatives under the #makeITsafePH campaign to raise awareness about cybersecurity, partnering with various local and international organizations to block sites that promote OSAEC.
MindNation redefines mental health
108 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
Since 2019, MindNation has helped over 200,000 individuals worldwide achieve the company motto of Better Mind, Better You! through comprehensive services like 24/7/365 online therapy sessions with psychologists and wellbeing coaches, webinars, surveys, and more. “When mental health support is convenient and easily accessible, people are motivated to proactively take care of their mental health and make it a habit,” says MindNation chief impact officer Kana Takahashi.
Wellness
W
hile the COVID-19 pandemic may seem to be coming to an end, 50% of Filipino workers are struggling with some form of mental health issue because of financial concerns, job pressures, and return-tooffice anxieties. This is because there are many barriers to proper mental health care, including stigmatization, lack of awareness, and poor accessibility to mental health services. Quite simply, people do not know when, where, or how to go for help. They only think to talk to a psychologist when their symptoms are already serious. They do not know that mental health is something that needs to be taken care of every day.
The MindNation app makes
24/7 TELETHERAPY
TELETHERAPY
MindNation partners who avail of the MindNation CareNow Plan©, its comprehensive and measurement-based mental health program for organizations, are automatically Premium app members.
Users can get a boost through a Premium subscription that comes with 24/7 Chat with a WellBeing Coach© and the 21-Day Microsteps Program©. Premium costs PHP249 per month or PHP2,490 per year.
Introducing the MindNation app
Since 2019, MindNation has helped over 200,000 individuals worldwide achieve the company motto of Better Mind, Better You! through comprehensive services like 24/7/365 online therapy sessions with psychologists and wellbeing coaches, webinars, surveys, and more. “When mental health support is convenient and easily accessible, people are motivated to proactively take care of their mental health and make it a habit,” says MindNation chief impact officer Kana Takahashi.
healthcare more accessible
Committing to better habits
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EntertainmentDIGISKARTENGPINAY
YouTube helps women creators succeed
s part of Google’s mission to help women upskill and create livelihood opportunities through its platforms and content, YouTube held this year’s edition of its Digiskarteng Pinay with an online training workshop for aspiring and budding creators.
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Digiskarteng Pinay is a platform for women empowerment and development, believing that when we uplift women in the country, we uplift households and communities,” said Google Philippines country director Bernadette Nacario. “As we strive to help more women, part of our goals at Digiskarteng Pinay is to give people more resources created by Filipinas and allies, for Filipinas.”
“
110 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
Find your voice
thing is to know your ‘Why’ and your ‘What.’ Find your voice,” said Andrea Romualdez, strategic partner manager at YouTube. “A good first thing to consider asking yourself is how would you like to have an impact? Are you there because you want to share something specific? Do you have a passion for something or a talent that you really want to get out there?”
advice for creators is to be consistent, as a sustainable release schedule goes a long way in building a presence on the platform. Viewers and fans are constantly tuned in and will appreciate constant releases, and will also notice when new content is sporadic.
Andrea’saccordingly.biggest
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“Theresonate.mostimportant
One of the most daunting things about starting a content creation journey on YouTube is the idea that you need the best equipment to shoot the best content. With the advent of accessible and affordable devices that can shoot in relatively high definition, however, it’s now easier than ever to use what you’ve got.
Here are some helpful tips from experienced content creators and insider advice from YouTube:
YouTube has a host of options that can help creators succeed once they figure out their goals, such as content verticals that cover and classify a wide range of topics, branding elements that establish a channel’s identity, settings that will allow creators to monetize their content
and potentially sustain a livelihood, and analytics that can measure their performance and help them adjust
The most important thing for a content creator to establish first is what their channel will be all about. Defining the goal will make it incredibly easier for a creator to find their way and consistently come out with content that can
Make the most of what you’ve got
Once a creator starts a channel and sets up their first few videos, it may be hard to keep going and figure out what else they want to show the world.
it’s like, I don’t feel like making a video right now. Sarah will feel lazy. But no, it’s the movement — so record,” said Tanch. “Do it, do you. It’s hard to edit if you don’t have material, if you don’t have enough videos.”
really do is just document ourselves, just being real. We came out, we shared our story, we were brave to show the world who we really are, that’s when viewers started relating to us. Eventually, we grew a family and community on YouTube. That’s the thing about content creating — first you do you, then you listen to your community,” said Tanch.
Authenticity opportunitiescreates
It’s also that authenticity in one’s content that can ultimately create opportunities for monetization, which is a big goal for many YouTube creators.
This is why Team Tarah has stuck to a philosophy of not only planning possible content to make but also of simply
“Sometimesresonate.
This mindset is a way of both making sure there is content for them to upload, and also retaining the valuable authenticity and genuineness that their fans
For relatively smaller creators, there’s no need to deliberately curate posts and content releases just to attract brands for a partnership, says Vern and Verniece Enciso, who have made the successful transition from well-known bloggers to popular vloggers on YouTube.
“Once you’re being yourself and you find your little family on YouTube, the brands will just come,” says Vern. “You don’t have to pressure yourself. When you’re just really being yourself and you’re listening to your audience and community, the brands will come “It’snaturally.really okay to take a lot of videos, just put it out there–at the end of the day, you’re going to find the niche that would really like the content that you put out,” says Verniece. This strong engagement is also more important for potential
documenting everything that happens. They quote from the musical Hamilton: “This is not a moment, it’s a movement,” referring to how they don’t wait for any “shootable” moments to come around — instead, they simply record and let it all
Lyqa stressed that it is far more important to learn creative production techniques using the tools one already has, instead of seeking out top-of-the-line equipment and setups that may not make up for a lack of experience and production skill. It’s easy to learn how to shoot and edit properly with a wealth of free resources on the internet.
“Whatlove.we
Entertainment
“The best equipment you can use is the one you already have,” said Lyqa Maravilla of Team Lyqa. “The thing is, you have the ability to create quality content simply because you are able to consume content right now. We all have a smartphone, and what that means is you have in your hands the power to be a content creator.”
It’s not about the moment, it’s the movement
112 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
“A great way for experienced YouTube creators to practice supporting upand-coming creators is to mention inthemyour vlog, attribute their content, and encourage them with your own stories of how you started and what your struggles were. It will help create the culture of repeating one’s stories and magnifying them through your network of subscribers,” Miami said.
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a creator does actually get a partnership with a brand, it’s a good practice to actually try the product or service first to form an honest opinion about it. Audiences will know if a creator promotes something they haven’t actually tried, and doing that will go against the idea of being authentic and genuine.
brand partners, who will likely succeed more with a dedicated and supportive
A huge part of women’s success on any platform is the power of self-promotion, which can be intimidating to do. That’s why Google established its far-reaching #IAmRemarkable global initiative that empowers everyone, especially underrepresented groups, to celebrate their achievements in the workplace and beyond.
One of the most important roles #IAmRemarkable has is raising awareness of people’s roles as allies to each other, which can be very helpful in self-promotion of underrepresented groups. Google’s global content manager for Pixel and #IamRemarkable champion, Miami Cabansay, explained that there are three ways to do this: (1) attribute ideas correctly, (2) acknowledge accomplishments, and (3) ask probing questions to encourage people.
The life-changing power of self-promotion
To watch the full replay of Digiskarteng Pinay online training workshop for creators, head over to the Google Philippines YouTube channel.
Andaudience.when
Words by Jose Alvarez
Gaming DEVELOPER PUBLISHER PLATFORM Play First Games Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC 114 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
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The idea of a character of one franchise fighting another in another franchise really took off with this game and spawned the crossover fighting genre. Over 20 years later, MultiVersus seeks to do the same thing with Warner Bros. Discovery characters, once again sparking new schoolyard debates (and now online debates) about these fictitious matchups, bringing decades-old characters to a new generation of gamers.
W
hen Super Smash Bros. came out in 1999, it may have settled a lot of schoolyard debates (and created new ones in the process). Could Mario really beat up Pikachu? What about Kirby taking on Samus from Metroid?
MultiVersus pulls characters from multiple Warner Bros. Discovery franchises such as Adventure Time, the DC Universe, Game of Thrones, Looney Tunes, Rick and Morty, Game of Thrones, Scooby-Doo, Tom & Jerry, and more. Additional characters will continue to be released in the game as well through DLC. This means you can pit characters such as LeBron James (Space Jam: A New Legacy) up against the octogenarian Bugs Bunny (Looney Tunes) or Arya Stark (Game of Thrones) against Shaggy Rogers (Scooby-Doo What makes MultiVersus appealing is that characters your parents (and even your grandparents) might know, making it a great tool to connect with previous generations.
MultiVersus deviates from Super Smash Bros. in a unique way—it classifies each character into five categories: Bruiser, Tank, Support, Assassin, and Mage. There are further sub-groups under these categories: Horizontal, Vertical, or Hybrid, indicating what the character is generally good at doing. Horizontal characters can knock enemies off the platform more easily, while Vertical characters can send them flying into the air and out of the ring. Hybrid characters can do both equally well. Bruisers are generally well-rounded, while Tank characters are harder to ringout and provide other abilities such as preventing ringouts (Wonder Woman) or stunning characters (Superman). Support characters can buff or heal other characters, while Assassins rack up damage. Mages can be among the hardest characters to learn as they have mostly ranged attacks.
Gaming 116 gadgetsmagazine.com.phSeptember 2022
I played as each character type and found that Mages, despite their high learning curve, can easily frustrate any opponent if played right, and is generally one of my favorite play styles. Slower characters such as The Iron Giant may have to find an opening against faster opponents, but the satisfaction of launching people into the air as him gave him my runner-up status. Taking the bronze medal for me was Finn from Adventure Time, namely because of the ease of play and the well-rounded nature of Bruiser characters. One thing I didn’t like was the Attack Decay mechanic, which decreases the effectiveness of your attacks if you use the same one in a row too many times. I can understand why it’s there—you don’t want to give into button-mashing to win, which is something that Play First Games was probably aware of, and rightfully so.
Mastering each character can be timeconsuming, so the emphasis on picking a “main” in each category may be wise if you seek to play this game seriously. If you purchase the game’s Battle Pass, all characters are available from the start, while if you go to the free-to-play route, you’ll have to unlock characters. Gleamium, the game’s premium currency, can only be purchased with real-life money, but can unlock cosmetic items or even
You can also purchase a number of cosmetics for your characters that don’t affect their gameplay, but owning some of them may show that you have a bit of mastery of the character. Each character is leveled individually, which allows you to unlock perks for them. These are also grouped into their own categories: offense, defense, and utility. You can choose any three to suit your play style, although they are generally unlocked after you reach a certain level with a character. The levels might as well be themed variations of the same level, such as Batman’s Bat Cave or the Tree Fort based off of Finn and Jake’s house in Adventure Time.
new characters. You can get some pretty interesting cosmetic items in the game, such as Brunhilde Bugs, a throwback to the 1957 short “What’s Opera, Doc?” with the Season 1 Battle Pass, or Tune Squad ‘96 Taz, a throwback to the original Space Jam movie.
Overall, MultiVersus is a breath of fresh air in the platforming genre in that it focuses purely on the fighting without random power-ups tossed in. It also gives you the ability to choose a character and add perks that may make it more effective in your own unique way. As of this writing, there’s no telling who will be added next, so get on the game and settle your schoolyard (or online) debates in the game today.
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Unlike in other platform games, there are no power-ups falling from the sky, so the focus is purely on whether or not you can beat your opponent versus getting lucky by getting a power-up and then ringing someone out.
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BRING YOUR PLASTIC WASTE TO THE MALL
N
Snackswater.
ot many people know what happens to plastic waste after it is thrown in the waste bin. Ideally, when you throw it in the bin, plastic waste should end up in the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) of your barangay for segregation – if not already segregated at home or by your waste collectors. After segregation, the plastic is recycled depending on its type, whether it is a bottle or sachet. In the Philippines, plastic recycling companies and organizations already exist and are growing; providing ways for waste to be reused. However, not all waste follows this ideal journey, plastic or not. The unfortunate reality is that waste whether plastic, metal, or paper ends up as litter when it is not disposed of properly in bins, or if they are collected but illegally dumped on open land or in bodies of
company Mondelēz International in the Philippines is continuing its partnership with social enterprise The Plastic Flamingo (PLAF) for plastic waste collection and recycling. Started in 2020, the growth of the partnership shows the potential of the recycling industry in the Philippines and how it can support waste management to avoid marine litter. This 2022, Mondelēz International and PLAF are working with Megaworld Corporation for plastic collection initiatives in five of its malls to provide avenues for communities to practice proper waste collection and disposal.
Green
Providing ways for plastic to be recycled
He continues, “We have worked with the PLAF since 2020 to collect post-consumer plastic for reuse and recycling. Since then, the plastic we have collected has been turned into outdoor furniture which were donated to the City of Paranaque and into eco-boards which are sold by the PLAF to fund further collection
Aleli Arcilla, Mondelēz International
Fromactivities.”2020 to 2021, Mondelez International and PLAF have collected 43,000 kilos of post-consumer plastic which were repurposed into upcycled products. For this year, the company continues to strengthen its partnership with the social enterprise to collect and recycle another 20,000 kilos and turn it into usable eco-boards.
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This year, Mondelēz International is also supporting PLAF’s partnership for a year-long waste collection drive in five Megaworld Lifestyle Malls, namely Eastwood Mall, Lucky Chinatown Mall, McKinley Hill, Uptown Bonifacio and Arcovia City. The collection drive begins on August 15 in Eastwood Mall, and for three launch days in each mall, consumers who bring in their plastic waste can get Mondelēz International treats as thanks for helping support proper waste management.
Currently, the PLAF can make and sell eco-lumber and eco-boards which can be used to make outdoor furniture, bike racks, benches, tables, and others.
“Sustainability is one of our core thrusts as a company, we are always open to collaborating with organizations that promote the same values. I want to thank Mondelēz International and PLAF for working with us on this milestone project,” says Megaworld Lifestyle Malls head Graham Coates. “We are glad that our malls have become avenues where people can practice a greener lifestyle. At Megaworld, we are committed to a culture of environmental consciousness and we continuously look for ways to practice and incorporate it in our township and lifestyle properties.”
Strengthening the circular economy
“We support circular economy organizations like the PLAF,” explains Atty. Joseph Fabul, Mondelēz International country manager for corporate and government affairs. “The Circular Economy is one where plastic remains in the economy by being reused and recycled; and stays out of the environment. Our goal is to make snacks with better packaging, to make it easier to recycle; to use less packaging by optimizing our pack sizes; and supporting improved systems through the collection of as much plastic as we put into the environment. We call this focus sustainable snacking, where people and planet thrive.”
Contrary to the misconception that plastic is waste, the PLAF is demonstrating that it can be reused to make new things that we need. “We want to become part of the solution, and not the pollution,” shares PLAF chief operating officer Erica Reyes. “Our work at PLAF consists of collecting, segregating, transforming, and designing plastic for reuse. We make practical construction materials out of plastic, like eco-lumber and eco-boards. This ensures that we are able to recycle plastic and at the same time help reduce the use of precious resources like wood or minerals to make furniture or even shelters.”
CLB was also awarded the Rural/ Cooperative Bank of the Year in the 2021 ABF Retail Banking Awards. In addition to its long list of accolades, the bank was also recognized by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) as one of Philippine banking’s notable players, naming it an Outstanding BSP Stakeholder in 2021 and further recognizing it as one of its notable resources in the agency’s Financial Inclusion Steering committee.
CEBUANA LHUILLIER BANK WINS RURAL/COOPERATIVE BANK OF THE YEAR AT THE 2022 ASIAN BANKING & FINANCE AWARDS
fast and easy processing of microfinance transactions within and outside Cebuana Lhuillier’s financial ecosystem, allowing its clients to access their accounts and perform various bank transactions like funds transfer, bills payment, e-Loading, and cash pick-up through any of Cebuana Lhuillier’s branches nationwide.
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Since the pandemic in 2020, the bank saw an increase in its current portfolio of new basic deposit account holders, netting more than six million savings account holders by mid-2022.
This year, the ABF Awards once again underscored CLB’s feat in their commitment to providing financial services to unbanked and underbanked Filipinos. CLB’s mission of financial inclusion continued to be a success since the launch of its flagship product, Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings, and integrating its services through a digital transformation. Its Micro Savings product encourages ordinary Filipinos to save by lessening the pain points of opening a bank account that hinder them from accessing their funds.
Aside from these efforts, customers can easily access CLB’s services through its eCebuana app. This digital channel enables
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“For many years, our goal of financial inclusion for our kababayans remains unchanged. To be able to meet the evergrowing financial requirements of our clients, we wanted to bring our services closer to many Filipinos. The pandemic taught us the importance of saving money and having a savings account that we can rely on during difficult times. CLB pushes for innovative solutions that allow our kababayans to access their hard-earned funds, anytime and anywhere,” Cebuana
Lhuillier president & CEO and Cebuana Lhuillier Bank vice chairman Jean Henri Lhuillier said.
Together with Philippine micro-financial services giant Cebuana Lhuillier acting as the bank’s cash agent through the chain’s over 3,000 branches nationwide that are complemented by initiatives and technological innovations, CLB continues to redefine banking for ordinary Filipinos.
“The pandemic didn’t stop us from introducing groundbreaking financial solutions for our clients. Rather, it pushed us to develop more strategic partnerships with different institutions to cater to the needs of Filipinos. We collaborated with giant bank card service providers, UnionPay and Bancnet, to intensify our Cebuana Lhuillier 24k Debit Card, which is compliant with international standards (EMV) for more secured transactions. We also deployed new self-service point of sales machines in our branches and accredited cash agent branches nationwide, which provide our clients convenience and accessibility to their funds without the assistance of bank personnel,” CLB president Dennis Valdes added.
Cebuana Lhuillier Bank (CLB), the banking arm of Cebuana Lhuillier, won the Rural/Cooperative Bank of the YearPhilippines at the 2022 Asian Banking & Finance Retail Banking Awards for its impressive initiatives and innovative financial products and services offered during the pandemic.
Asian Banking & Finance (ABF) is a leading publication catering to banking and finance executives in Asia. The 2022 ABF Wholesale and Retail Banking Awards honor the accomplishments of over 150 exceptional financial institutions across the Asia-Pacific region.
Jean Henri Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier president & CEO and Cebuana Lhuillier Bank vice chairman with Dennis Valdez, Cebuana Lhuillier Bank president.
Bank-Genie, a Singaporeheadquartered technology company, is powering the digital transformation of banks across the Philippines by helping accelerate the digitization of the economy and, thus, driving financial Bank-Genieinclusion.provides
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With a large rural population and infrastructure gaps, it is estimated that roughly 7 in 10 Filipinos are financially excluded. According to data from the Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP), more than half of borrowers source their loans from informal sources. Lack of access to financing is also a key barrier to the growth of SMEs and MSMEs, especially rural-based small Withoutenterprises.access to financial services, the cycle of poverty is hard to break. Bank-Genie co-founder Raghu Nandan explained, “Without a credit history, borrowers cannot secure loans from the banks, so what people do instead is they go and take a loan from a loan shop or a moneylender, which means that they have to pay very high interest. Which also means that already poor people get even poorer.”
Co-founder Ram Sharma advised, “We believe technology that can be deployed at scale with minimal costs is the key driver to address the problem of the unbanked. Our vision has always been to bring the bank to every doorstep and democratize financial services to make it accessible to every citizen of the world”
Bank-Genie’s technology platform is one way of overcoming the cost factor that inhibits banks from serving remote Bank-Geniecommunities.isbacked by institutional investors: including Dutch development bank FMO. This technology company has partnered with more than 30 client banks and financial institutions across Africa and Southeast Asia, with 13 client banks in the Philippines.
low-cost technology solutions enabling banks to digitize retail banking and consumer banking services. With Bank-Genie technology, banks can open branches that provide a suite of financial services with just a tablet, a small Bluetooth printer, and a card reader.
The company has successfully deployed its technology solution for banks including UnionBank, East West Bank, PSBank, and Land Bank, among others, enabling digital transformation and frictionless banking.
BANK-GENIE: POWERING THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF PHILIPPINE BANKING
Aside from supporting ethernet connectivity, this service also supports different protocols to interconnect customer equipment housed in the data centers. For the subscriber’s Storage Area Networking (SAN) requirements, Fiber Channel is the best solution as DC Express supports FC800 (20G) and FC3200 (40G) for business-critical DCapplications.Expressaims
DC Express is complemented by the Optical Transport Network, for customers who want to use their own network terminals for their high capacity requirements.
about DC Express, Converge Business, and its enterprise solutions, visit convergeict.com/business
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CONVERGE BUSINESS OFFERS DATA CENTER SERVICES
DC Express provides clear channel, dedicated connectivity between data centers, such as those used in BPOs, banks, and multinational companies, through the Converge Data Center Interconnect (DCI) Network. This product leverages the latest DWDM (dense wavelength division multiplexing) technology for high-capacity requirements to reach data transfers of up to 100Gbps to data centers in the Philippines and, in the future, key international data centers as well.
Converge chief operations officer, Jesus C. Romero, shares how Converge is continuously improving its offerings to cater to more clients in the country, especially in the business sector. “DC Express is yet another expansion of our services, leveraging on our interdata center connections, to ensure faster, better, and more secure data
transfer for our enterprise subscribers,” he Convergesaid.
Business continues to provide enterprises with the impactful network and data solutions that will help propel all types of businesses forward. The company’s robust network infrastructure makes them a trusted enabler for digital transformation, dramatically improving customer experience for local and international Tobusinesses.learnmore
Fiber broadband provider Converge ICT Solutions, Inc. continues to provide secure and dynamic solutions not just to residential customers, but to business customers as well. Thanks to the company’s dynamic growth, Converge now offers its Data Center Express (DC Express) under Converge Business.
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to cater to the connectivity needs of enterprises whose equipment are based in data centers. The service can be provisioned quickly, has enterprise-grade SLAs, and has a 24-hour support and restoration team.
sales figures have been largely driven by the highly popular Infinix NOTE 12. The NOTE 12 is a powerful yet affordable gaming smartphone that packs a MediaTek Helio G96 Ultra Gaming Processor, an octa-core processor that combines two Cortex-A76 chips, and up to 13GB Extended RAM memory that gives unparalleled performance and smooth gameplay. These features make the NOTE 12 a hit among Filipinos who are heavily into mobile gaming.
INFINIX IS NOW TOP 3 SMARTPHONE BRAND IN PH
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helped its parent company Transsion Holdings achieve the #2 ranking in the Infinix’sPhilippines.impressive
The NOTE 12 is available in Force Black, Sapphire Blue, and Snowfall in 128GB and 256GB for PHP8,999 and PHP9,999, respectively at Infinix stores nationwide, via Shopee and Lazada. For more information, visit com/http://www.infinixmobility. .
Infinix is also taking the experience a notch higher with the announcement of the NOTE 12 PRO 5G, revealed at the recent PUBG Mobile Infinix Cup. The NOTE 12 PRO 5G, an addition to the NOTE 12 Series, will be available in the Philippines later this year.
Infinix continues to impress with its stellar performance in 2022. The burgeoning mobile technology company recorded an amazing 507,945 devices sold and a whopping 320% growth year-on-year in the Philippine market in the second quarter of 2022, according to the latest rankings released by the technology industry analytics firm International Data TheseCorporation.numbers put Infinix at #3 in terms of market share in the country at 12.1%. It also ranks #3 in terms of overall smartphone shipment. Overall, Infinix’s contributions have
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A public-private partnership (PPP) project between the Department of Public Works and Highways
(DPWH) and Metro Pacific-led NLEX Corporation, this new road, which is also part of the Luzon Spine Expressway Network, offers a much-need recourse to shorten the travel time of cargoes going to and from the north and south of Luzon. It seeks to improve the mobility of the supply chain and logistics sectors, which are considered integral to the country’s economic growth and Thecompetitiveness.DPWHhasturned
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Targetingsection.
to serve around 35,000 motorists per day, the four-lane, allvehicle class elevated expressway, in its entirety, spans eight kilometers, and terminates at the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila. It passes through Tondo, Sta. Cruz, Sampaloc, and Sta. Mesa in Manila and has three interchanges located at C3 Road/5th Avenue in Caloocan, España Boulevard, and R. Magsaysay Boulevard in Manila.
The NLEX Connector runs mostly above the alignment of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) and features innovative, pre-stressed box girders called Super Ts that are widely used for bridges in Australia and New Zealand. It is seen to significantly reduce travel time from NLEX to South Luzon by at least 60 percent and is expected to enhance the journey between international airports such as NAIA and Clark and will stimulate development between Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces.
NLEX CONNECTOR ESPANA SECTION NEARS COMPLETION
over 91 percent of the right-of-way for the España section and 83 percent for the Sta. Mesa
The first five-kilometer section of the NLEX Connector between Caloocan Interchange on C3 Road and the future España Interchange in Manila is now 80 percent complete and poised to make a positive impact on the traffic conditions in the metro.
“We are pleased to note that this vital infrastructure project aimed at easing travel achieves another milestone as it reaches 80 percent completion. This inspires optimism for the logistics sector since, in a few months, truckers will have a 24/7 alternative route which will enable unimpeded delivery of goods,” said NLEX Corporation president and general manager J. Luigi L. Bautista.
This segment has on and off ramps and toll plazas along C3 Road and España Boulevard, crosses over the Blumentritt Station of LRT 1 and Dimasalang Bridge, and uses steel box girders for its curved and highly elevated areas.
NLEX Corporation is a unit of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC).
acceptance solutions closer to merchants.
“These recognitions are a testament to our thrust to improve lives for consumers, merchants, the government, communities, and our employees. At the heart of Maya is our commitment to bring our gamechanging fintech innovations to help empower more people,” said Nick Bautista Wilwayco, head of public affairs and communications at Maya.
Navigating New Ways of Working in the Better Normal through the SAFEwork Campaign. An initiative that empowered employees to practice safe work while
These initiatives are:
LEAD Program: PayMaya powers LGUs to build a digital-first community. A public affairs initiative that enables government agencies to adopt digital payments and disbursement tools to improve the ease of doing business.
Maya also won a Merit Award for its I am PayMaya Town Hall, a series of signature events that fostered open and bold conversations among leaders, teams, and employees in the time of the company’s hypergrowth period in 2021.
Maya received four Merit Awards for its efforts to enable Filipinos to adopt a digital and cashless lifestyle:
Maya, the country’s all-in-one money platform, received recognition at the 19th Philippine Quill Awards for its transformative initiatives that enabled employees, consumers, enterprises, and government to thrive amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
MAYA INITIATIVES WIN QUILL AWARDS
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Its Maya Center is the country’s most expansive digital financial services agent network, serving customers on-ground through its over 65,000 touchpoints. Meanwhile, on the enterprise side, Maya Business is the largest fully integrated payment service processor in the Philippines. It now offers digital banking services such as enterprise deposits, payroll management solutions, and credit products powered by Maya Bank.
PayMaya: Unlocking the Digital Life of Filipinos through a Superior Fintech Experience. A consumer campaign that promoted the top-rated app’s better digital customer experience across use cases.
PayMaya: Online Payment Gateway of MSMEs in the Philippines. An initiative that brought innovative payment
Promoting SAFEwork Anytime, Anywhere, and on Any Device with the SAFEwork Playbook. A guide for employees promoting Maya’s safe work and health protocols.
PayMaya’s Flash Donation Drive: Using fintech to give back to medical frontliners. A corporate social responsibility effort that encouraged inapp digital load purchase with a matching donation from PayMaya for meals to medical professionals during the height of the COVID-19 surge.
Maya’s award-winning initiatives have helped propel the company’s rapid and strong growth. In April this year, PayMaya rebranded to Maya with a new all-in-one money app for consumers that seamlessly integrates wallet features and crypto with savings and credit powered by Maya Bank. As of endJune, Maya had 50 million registered users across its consumer platforms. More than 650,000 customers opened a Maya Save account three months after it launched, making it the fastest-growing digital banking service in the country.
The award is conferred by the International Association of propellingtheenableditsMayamaterialsexcellentbodyPhilippines),Communicators-PhilippinesBusiness(IABC-aprestigiousaward-givingthatrecognizesstrategicandprograms,campaigns,andinbusinesscommunications.wontwoExcellenceAwardsforcampaigncalledSAFEwork,whichemployeestothriveamidheightofthepandemicin2021,thecompany’sstellargrowth as it transformed from PayMaya to Maya.
enjoying greater flexible work arrangements that enabled agility and innovation.
“OnCanon.behalf
Celebrating 25 delightful years
Continuous cutting-edge solutions and technologies have defined the past 25 years of Canon. To date, the company has built a complete roster of imaging solutions from cameras, printers, and complementary innovations that are designed to be consumer-friendly and fit to evolving needs; as well as provide businesses with the capabilities to adapt, collaborate better, and maximize productivity in a hybrid working
(L-R) Mr. Kazuhiro Ozawa, President & CEO of Canon Marketing (Philippines) Inc. and Anuj Aggarwal, new president & CEO of Canon Marketing (Philippines) Inc.
A toast to celebrate CMP’s 25th Anniversary. (L-R): Benny Yu, Allena Areola,. Anuj Aggarwal, Kazuhiro Ozawa, Kevin Kobayashi, Masahiro Nakata, Ramon Arteficio, Kenichiro Kitamura, Sally Baldorado
Canonenvironment.hasreceived
of Canon, I would like to thank our dearest partners, vendors, and guests for continuously trusting us these past 25 years. With the support of the Filipino community, we have developed advanced solutions, built strong corporate social responsibility programs, and been recognized for several local and international awards. We hope today sparks a reborn spirit and mindset in all of us as we grow deeper in strengthening our Kyosei values - achieving goals, building stronger relationships, and delivering reliable products and services that will help improve business operations and bring joy to the Filipinos across the nation,” said Kazuhiro Ozawa, outgoing president & CEO of Canon Marketing (Philippines) Inc.
To commemorate their 25th year in the country, Canon Marketing (Philippines) Inc. held a thanksgiving gala for its valued partners and vendors that highlighted the quarter-century while looking towards a better future that would define the rebirth of
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CANON PH CELEBRATES 25THANNIVERSARYNewsbytes
New Canon Leadership Assignments
multiple awards from local and international bodies for its commitment to customer service and excellence. The company also proudly embraced its role as a model citizen of the Philippines by giving back and supporting Filipino communities through its many corporate social responsibility programs, including school donations and disaster relief projects. Most importantly, with its zerodishonesty culture, Canon continues to give high importance to the wellbeing of its internal stakeholders and employees.
Canon also announced a change in its Philippine leadership team. Effective September 1, Kazuhiro Ozawa will transfer to lead Canon Hongkong Co. Ltd as president and CEO.
He is succeeded by Anuj Aggarwal, who brings over 25 years of experience in finance and corporate planning. Internationally recognized among his peers, Aggarwal has continuously demonstrated a wealth of industry knowledge and a deeper appreciation for exploring new ventures that will be essential in Canon’s growth in the coming years.
DEL MONTE ENGAGES KYNDRYL TO MANAGE IT INSFRASTRUCTURE
Since the inception of integrating an SAP system in 2009, Del Monte has been looking to Kyndryl as its technology partner for managed services for IT operations as it continues to modernize its aging hardware. In this renewed collaboration, Kyndryl will offer Del Monte services critical to its transformation journey, application management for SAP Solutions in any cloud, and technology infrastructure services support to over 2,000 end users across 14 locations in the Philippines. Taken together, these enhancements will help Del Monte advance how it leverages the cloud to gain more agility in how it meets the evolving demands of its “Delcustomers.Monte’s partnership with Kyndryl is one that stands on trust and accountability. Since the
“Our customers acknowledge the differentiated value that our cloud technologies offer them in a highly competitive business landscape, especially in streamlining operations and enhancing visibility into missioncritical workloads. Kyndryl is pleased to partner with DMPI as they embark on new cloud transformation strategies, and further strengthen their leading market position in the Philippines,” said Wilson Go, managing director, Kyndryl Philippines.
and beverage sector are modernizing their technology infrastructure to capture greater market share by accelerating the speed of product to market.
beginning of our relationship, Kyndryl has demonstrated its capability in managing our SAP infrastructure as well as migrating our workloads to any cloud, irrespective of the hyperscaler chosen. As a business, this has offered us high availability support and improved levels of control and governance as we work towards fulfilling our consumers’ growing desire to eat healthier foods,” said Tsikee Esguerra, IT operations director at Del Monte Philippines, Inc.
Del Monte Philippines, Inc (DMPI), a world-renowned original plantbased food company, has engaged Kyndryl in the Philippines in a fiveyear technology services agreement to manage their Infrastructure workloads. This transformation journey will enable DMPI to achieve greater flexibility and scalability to support its business growth.
DMPI is a leading producer, distributor and marketer of premium quality, healthy food and beverage products. It has been in operation in the Philippines for 95 years and is a market leader in the packaged pineapple and mixed fruit, ready-to-drink juices, tomato sauce and spaghetti sauce categories. It also markets products under its second-tier brand, Today’s. DMPI innovates, produces, markets, and distributes its products
Asworldwide.businesses
across the global economy continue to grapple with the ripple effects of pandemic-induced supply chain disruption, enterprises within the food
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W
standard to tie currency to gold reserves, preventing the inflation that we are seeing today in many parts of the world. Gold was originally used for worship, and it took until 700 BC for gold to be turned into coins. In fact, much of the conquest of the New World came about because of tales of large amounts of gold and other valuable minerals. It is estimated that Spain’s conquest of the New World raised the gold supply in Europe five-fold. Gold rushes in the 19th century in the Americas, Australia, and South Africa brought people (and economic development) to these newly explored areas.
Relic
Like all things, however, gold is considered a scarce resource and thus its value fluctuates depending on its availability. The U.S. Constitution gave Congress the sole right to coin money and the power to regulate its value. The explanation of how governments historically regulated financial instruments is
THE GOLD STANDARD
Words by Jose Alvarez
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hile technological and lifestyle innovations have helped us live a more fulfilling life and given us the freedom to pursue more leisurely activities, we often forget about innovations in finance that allow our economy to operate the way it does, including the consumption of tech and lifestyle products. For example, tech products today can be financed the same way we would purchase a car or home by paying over time with some interest added on top. What many people may not know, however, is that all currency used to be tied to gold. This is called the gold standard, and according to historians, the gold standard was (un) officially in place for over 5,000 years.
The gold standard was a monetary system where a country’s currency or paper money has value that is directly linked to gold reserves. For many years, the world’s economies used the gold
World War II created an economic boom due to the Bretton Woods Agreement in which all national currencies were valued in relation to the dollar, which at this time became the dominant reserve currency in the world. It is estimated that by the end of World War II, the United States had 75% of the world’s monetary gold. The dollar was also convertible back to gold at $35/oz. While the explanation of the relationship between gold and the dollar is also another complex issue, the United States also depleted its gold reserves due to two factors: money going to war-torn nations and the United States also having a high demand for imports. There was also a high inflationary environment in the late 1960s that brought the favorable economic conditions in the United States to a halt.
complex, but a bimetallic standard came across due to the abundance of silver compared to gold. England was the first country to adopt the gold standard in 1821, which aided their rise in the 19th century as British colonies such as Australia and South Africa had large deposits of gold. Countries had the incentive to stockpile gold as trade imbalances between nations were usually settled with exchanges of gold. By 1871, the international gold standard came about when Germany also adopted the gold standard shortly after its unification. Ironically, the United States was one of the last countries to join the gold standard due to the strong silver lobby present in the
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The Great Depression of 1929 greatly accelerated already-fragile economic situations, completely exposing the flaws of the gold standard. The situation became so severe that England went off the gold standard completely in 1931. Former United States President Herbert Hoover once said, “We have gold because we cannot trust governments” in response to the Emergency Banking Act of 1933, which forced all Americans to convert all gold coins, bullion, and certificates into dollars. The United States also revalued gold to $35/oz in 1934 (about $774 in 2022) to improve its economic situation. This had a ripple effect in converting gold reserves to United States dollars. By 1939, gold
production reached a point where there was enough of it in the world to replace all global currency in circulation.
March 2022
in 1914 greatly disrupted the gold standard due to changes in political alliances and heavy debts incurred by the participants. Many people started to question the gold standard’s effectiveness due to these factors. The United States dollar and the British pound sterling became the world’s global reserve currencies around this time. Developing nations began to hold more of those currencies instead of gold, which created wealth inequality as only a few countries had enough gold to hold on to the gold standard. Between the wars, the global economy rose in the 1920s and just as quickly collapsed.
By 1968, the Gold Pool, which included the United States and several other European nations, stopped selling gold in the London market. This allowed the market to freely determine the price of gold. Between 1968 and 1971, only central banks could trade with the United States at $35/oz. At this time, another war (the Vietnam War) and the cost of
social programs in the United States were already weighing on their balance of payments. The United States already started turning deficits as early as 1959. In 1971, then-President Richard Nixon halted the direct convertibility of dollars into gold, therefore ending the era of the gold standard and starting the era of fiat money, or inconvertible paper money made legal tender by government decree. The dollar would no longer be defined by gold (officially) in 1976.
Most (if not all) countries still keep stockpiles of gold to this day. The advantages of the gold standard were that governments and banks could not manipulate the money supply simply by printing money, but some of the disadvantages (other than environmental damage done by mining) was a simple supply and demand issue which made it inflexible during bad economic times. Given the issues we have with inflation today, some may be nostalgic for the gold standard. However, we also must remember that the global economy is completely different than what it was between 1871-1971, and economic situations are always in flux due to the very nature of fiat currency and the ability of governments to affect monetary policy and manipulate the money supply.
September 2022
Proud member of Digitally powered by Follow us on Social gadgetsmagazine.com.phMediaE-mail:info@gadgetsmagazine.com.ph All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. GADGETS Magazine is a registered trademark of Great Minds Media Inc. GADGETS Magazine is published monthly by MEET THE TEAM EDITORIAL Editor-in-Chief MARIBELLE ALBA Editors-at-Large PRESY ALBA REN ALCANTARA Mobility Consultant ARNEL DORIA Editor GABRIEL PE Writers/Contributors FRANCESKA AGUILA JOSE JEWELCHRISALVAREZNOELHIDALGOSTA.ANA CREATIVES Creative Consultant RAYMUND RAVANERA Creative Lead JERICO LUTRANIA Creative Staff CHINI YU SORIANO ADVERTISING Sales and Advertising Manager MARISA CONSUELOZ Account Executive CAROL AGABIN ADMINSTRATION President & CEO MARIBELLE ALBA Accounting Manager MARITESS MAULION HR & Administration Manager AMY CHRISTINE GIRAY Circulation Officer LORIE BERNARDO Administration Staff RAMIL ALMOJANO Legal Counsel ALBA LAW OFFICE Volume XXIII Issue I September 2022 You want more? We recommend you check out our other issues
