Unveiling the Tongits battlefield: Tongits Champions Cup preparation

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Tongits Champions Cup, the newest Tongits event from GameZone, features top-notch Tongits aficionados across the Philippines. Up for grabs in the highly anticipated face to face tournament is title of ultimate Tongits champion and an astounding prize pool of 1,000,000.

Inside the Tongits Champion Cup

The Tongits Champion Cup is open for all players and genders ranging from 21 to 60 years old, provided they are adept on the ins and outs of playing tongits. Additionally, selected players came from diverse origins from Northern Luzon, National Capital Region (NCR), Visayas and Mindanao.

GameZone has gone above and beyond to ensure that players can focus entirely on their gameplay and aim for the title of the first-ever Tongits Champion. With premium services in place, GameZone is dedicated to providing a seamless and comfortable experience for every participant. This includes round-trip air tickets and transportation to and from the hotel venue, so players can travel with ease and convenience.

In addition to travel arrangements, GameZone has taken extra care to ensure the comfort of the players throughout the event. Full-board meals are provided to keep them energized, and 24-hour emergency attention is available for any urgent needs that may arise during the tournament.

With all these premium services, GameZone is not only hosting a tournament but is offering a truly elevated experience for the players, enabling them to focus solely on competing for the coveted Tongits Champion Cup title and its grand prizes.

Furthermore, Gamezone conformed and gained partnership with PAGCOR (Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation) and GAB (Games and Amusements Board).

Meet The Star KOLs

Adding a new twist to the competition, GameZone also invited Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) to battle against 24 online qualified players.

Tisay Gaming, an Italian-Slovenian raised in the Philippines, is a certified esports expert and former "Warzone Heroes Showdown" champion. A passionate gamer, she proudly embodies the spirit of being "Pinoy" at heart.

Ephraim De Castro also known as GameClass, he’s more than just a content creator. As part of Tier One Entertainment under Amplfy, he showcases incredible streaming skills, covering NBA2K, sports games, esports, and more. From play-to-earn games to hilarious commentaries and creative mods, he’s a jack of all trades you can always count on!

Yuka, a 33-year-old half-Japanese known as Mt. Fuji, gained fame on Flippish and as an FHM model since 2013. She began streaming in 2019, quickly amassing followers. A gamer with a love for PC and mobile games, she’s the perfect mix of glamor and charm, your ultimate girl next door!

With GameZone’s commitment to premium services, top-tier players, and exciting partnerships, the Tongits Champion Cup is set to redefine the competitive gaming landscape. Will you be there to witness history in the making?

Driving Digital Progress: The Push for IPv6 Adoption in the Philippines

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In an era where digital connectivity forms the backbone of economies, societies, and innovations, the limitations of outdated technologies can significantly hinder progress. One such challenge is the limited capacity of Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) to accommodate the growing number of devices connecting to the internet. To address this, the deployment of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) has become an urgent priority. The Philippines, spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology - Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI), is leading efforts to advocate for IPv6 adoption, leveraging its rich history of innovation in network technology.

Understanding IPv6 and Its Importance

IPv6 is the latest version of the Internet Protocol, designed to assign unique addresses to devices connected to a network. Unlike IPv4, which is capped at 4.3 billion unique IP addresses, IPv6 offers an almost unlimited address space. This expansion is critical in an age where billions of devices—from smartphones to smart home appliances—rely on internet connectivity. IPv6 also facilitates more efficient traffic management, enhancing the overall internet experience.

The Philippine Context: Challenges and Opportunities

Since the late 1990s, DOST-ASTI has been at the forefront of IPv6 research and advocacy in the Philippines. Early milestones included the establishment of an IPv6 testbed under the Philippine Research, Education, and Government Information Network (PREGINET) and the issuance of Executive Order No. 893 s.2010, which promoted the deployment and use of IPv6 nationwide. Despite these efforts, the country’s IPv6 adoption rate remains at a modest 18.5%, according to the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC). In contrast, neighboring countries like India and Vietnam have achieved significantly higher adoption rates.

The primary barriers to adoption include:Infrastructure Limitations:

Many internet service providers (ISPs) and telecommunication companies have yet to fully transition their networks to IPv6.

Awareness and Training: A lack of technical knowledge and capacity-building programs among stakeholders delays implementation.

Collaboration Challenges: Insufficient coordination between government, industry, academia, and advocacy groups slows progress.

The ON-IDLE Project: A Catalyst for Change

To address these challenges, DOST-ASTI, with funding support from the APNIC Foundation through the ISIF Asia grant, launched the Open Network Testbed Laboratory for Internet Technologies Deployment and Experimentation (ON-IDLE) Project. The initiative leverages DOST-ASTI’s two decades of experience with IPv6 and aims to:Build capacity and provide training for stakeholders.
Advocate for widespread IPv6 deployment.

Foster research on advanced network technologies.

Collaborating with the Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA), the project also engages telecommunication companies, ISPs, academic institutions, and network operators to build a robust ecosystem for IPv6 implementation.

The Stakeholders' Discussion Meeting

As part of the ON-IDLE Project, a Stakeholders’ Discussion Meeting was organized to bring together key players from various sectors. The meeting served as a platform to evaluate the progress of IPv6 adoption in the Philippines, identify persistent challenges, and forge collaborative strategies to advance the initiative. By reflecting on both past achievements and current gaps, the event highlighted the importance of a multi-stakeholder approach in overcoming barriers to adoption.

The Way Forward: A Collective Responsibility

The path to full IPv6 deployment in the Philippines is a collective endeavor requiring active participation from all sectors:Government Agencies must create policies and incentives to encourage IPv6 adoption.

ISPs and Telecommunications Companies need to invest in upgrading infrastructure.

Academia and Training Institutions should integrate IPv6 into their curricula and conduct research on related technologies.

Advocacy Groups and Stakeholders must sustain awareness campaigns to emphasize the urgency of transitioning to IPv6.

With initiatives like ON-IDLE and the continued commitment of DOST-ASTI, the Philippines is poised to make significant strides in digital transformation. Achieving widespread IPv6 adoption will not only ensure the country’s technological readiness but also position it as a leader in the Asia-Pacific region’s digital landscape.

For further inquiries or to participate in ongoing efforts, interested parties are encouraged to contact the ON-IDLE Project team at on-idle@asti.dost.gov.ph. Together, stakeholders can help the Philippines unlock the vast potential of a digitally connected future.

Given the Philippines' current IPv6 adoption rate of only 18.5%, what strategic measures should the government implement to accelerate deployment and usage, taking cues from successful neighboring countries like India and Vietnam?

Toxic watchdog warns against kiddie slippers with harmful chemicals that pose serious risks to children

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Toxic watchdog BAN Toxics has called the attention of the public to refrain from buying kiddie plastic slippers sold online after detecting lead, a brain damaging toxicant.

The group purchased the popular kiddie slippers on the online platform shopee for testing, priced at Php 45-55 only. The colorful slippers with elastic bands, bearing the name of popular brands, are intended for 1-3 year olds.

Using a Vanta C XRF Chemical Analyzer, the group screened the slippers and detected toxic lead levels ranging from 393 parts per million (ppm) to as high as 4,300 ppm. Additionally, the chlorine content exceeded 100,000 ppm, indicating that the material is likely polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a substance potentially hazardous to children's health.

“Children’s products, such as kiddie slippers, should undergo testing and screening for toxic chemicals before being marketed to the public. Consumers must be aware of the risks associated with exposure, such as skin contact with hazardous chemicals,” said Thony Dizon, Advocacy and Campaign Officer of BAN Toxics.

“Toxic chemicals like lead can compromise children's immune systems and brain development. The government must take action to prohibit the entry of unregistered and unnotified children’s products into the market. Likewise, online shopping platforms should implement stricter quality control measures; otherwise, we are putting the public at risk,” he added.


According to the US Environment Protection Agency:

“Lead is particularly dangerous to children because their growing bodies absorb more lead than adults do and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the damaging effects of lead. Babies and young children can also be more highly exposed to lead because they often put their hands and other objects that can have lead from dust or soil on them into their mouths.”

“Children may also be exposed to lead by eating and drinking food or water containing lead or from dishes or glasses that contain lead, inhaling lead dust from lead-based paint or lead-contaminated soil or from playing with toys with lead-based paint.”

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has issued a Chemical Control Order for Lead and Lead Compounds to regulate, restrict, or prohibit the importation, manufacture, processing, sale, distribution, use, and disposal of chemical substances and mixtures that pose an unreasonable risk or injury to health or the environment.

The group also raised concerns about the potential presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in the plastic slippers, including additives like phthalates. These plasticizers, used to make PVC soft and flexible, are known to disrupt the hormonal system and are classified as probable human carcinogens.

BAN Toxics advised consumers to carefully check product labels, purchase from reputable stores that issue receipts, verify products using the FDA verification portal, and choose rubber slippers as a safer alternative. However, they cautioned that surface paint coatings on such products should also be assessed for safety.