Filipino Youth Join NEC World Children’s Nature Club

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NEC Philippines CFO, Harry Salas, with children, teachers, and volunteers at the NEC World Children’s Nature Club

NEC and the KEEP Foundation hosted an environmental education program called “NEC World Children’s Nature Club” from March 24th to March 26th at TALA Guesthouse, Baguio City. Using Skype, youth participants from Indonesia, Taiwan, China, Japan, the Philippines, and Malaysia were able to interact, exchange views, and share insights with one another.

Held annually since 2008 to study the potential of applying ICT to environmental education, this program is designed to train children’s awareness of the natural environment and create a global perspective.

For their first day, NEC Philippines CFO, Harry Salas, spent time with children, teachers, and volunteers from the Cordillera Green Network (CGN) and shared NEC’s Make-a Difference Day* activities and then went on to explore the nature around Benguet province. The children were greeted by other participants from China in the afternoon via video call. They excitedly exchanged information from their outdoor activities and ended the day with singing.

The next day, Hector Kawalig, CGN Project Coordinator, invited renowned Ifugao natives Gilbert and Billy Gano to teach children basic wood carving, one of the traditions of an indigenous ethnolinguistic group in the Cordilleras – the Ifugao people. The Ganos were the ones who sought and found alternative ways to continue the tradition of wood carving without harming the environment. Throughout the day, the children enjoyed themselves carving stones, driftwood, and fallen trees.


(*) NEC Group activities for contributing to societies

Filipino-owned Philippine Bottling Beverage Launches Banahaw Spring Purified Water

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Filipino-owned company Philippine Bottling Beverage (PBB), a new player in the purified water and non-carbonated drinks industry, has launched Banahaw Spring Purified Water at a well-attended media event on April 16 at the Manila House Private Club in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City.

According to Thor Jourdan Mutuc, Business Development Manager at PBB, the company brought one of the latest European technologies to ensure that the production process upholds international standards and quality. “Our production facility located at the foot of Mount Banahaw in San Pablo, Laguna is at par with world standards, fully automated and requires minimal human intervention preserving only the essential natural qualities of the water from the mountain,” said Mutuc.

Revealing that it took three years of research and testing before Banahaw Spring Purified Water has been finally released to the local market, Mutuc further emphasized the intricate process of producing the country’s first purified water to have been named after its source.

“Today, we are sharing with you a purified water product harnessed from sustainable natural sources and bottled with care to ensure you get only safe and quality purified water we Filipinos can be proud of,” he added.

Known for its pristine and lush rainforests, Mount Banahaw also serves as watershed for the provinces of Laguna and Quezon. The water from this vast mountain area is the source of these two provinces’ supply, which are used for domestic, agricultural, and industrial purposes.

Acknowledging the importance of Mount Banahaw, PBB also ensures it takes care of the rural community, where it belongs, and advocates strict compliance of environmental standards in its operation.

“Water sustainability is the most significant aspect of our business,” Mutuc explained, “Beyond careful usage of water, we are putting in place measures that are geared towards protecting forests that nurture groundwater and contribute to the healthy circulation of water in nature.”

Banahaw Spring Purified Water is available in 350ml, 500ml, and one liter bottles. Aside from being free of Bisphenol A (BPA-free), each bottle is design-engineered to support core handgrip.

For more information about Banahaw Spring Purified Water, visit http://thepbb.com

Cover Photo Caption: L-R

Alex  Calleja, Comedian and Event Host; Jimber Loyola, Chemist, Philippine Bottling and Beverage (PBB) Manufacturing Corp.; Julian Valencia, Triathlon Coach; Joan Decena, Brand Manager, PBB; Rey Anthony Batallones Mountaineer and Instructor; Thor Jourdan Mutuc, Business Development Manager, PBB; Reginald Burila, VP of Operations, PBB; and Jun Matos, National Sales Director, Beauty Elements Ventures, Inc. (BEVI)

Computrade Holds its Annual Technology Summit for 2018

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Computrade Introduces New Innovation Partners, Backs Blockchain Technology

Computrade Technology Philippines, Inc., (CTP) a member of IT Infrastructure Solutions company CTI Group, is hosting its Annual Technology Summit for 2018 at Dusit Thani Manila with the major themes of: Unveiling its latest solutions partners in the country and affirming its readiness to provide support for Blockchain technology.

During the Summit, CTP announced a number of new partnerships established to help reinforce its current capabilities to provide effective cybersecurity in enterprise networks, implement intelligent integration of software systems, enable secure and efficient collaboration in digital space and make available of dependable on-demand cloud computing platform.

CTP and its new partners will also share its insights on Blockchain technology, which is radically changing the sharing of digital information across networks, including the Internet.

Expanded Portfolio and New Partnerships 

In line with its mission to deliver innovative products and services to a demanding customer base, Computrade has entered into new partnerships with data protection and analytics innovator Varonis, leader in analytics SAS, and high-performance network management professionals Flowmon Networks.

CTP Managing Director Teddy Sumulong is confident that the latest partnerships will take Computrade to the next level as a total IT solutions company. “The new alliances we are forging at the Summit align perfectly with our corporate direction and leverage our offerings into a comprehensive suite of products and services for a whole spectrum of clients, from the private sector to government agencies.  We are really excited to partner with leading technology providers who will not only help enhance our present operations but also fill the gaps in our ability to respond on time to fast-paced developments in information technology.

CTP expressed optimism that its new partners will provide unique value as it moves aggressively in the areas of cloud computing technology, enterprise data security, network management and digital transformation.

Tomas Šárocký, Area Manager at Flowmon Networks, a long-standing innovator in the field of high performing network monitoring and security based on flow data said, “In Flowmon, we understand how computer networks serve as a nervous system of our customers’ business services. Our solutions empower businesses to take control over their networks and secure them against cyber-threats that bypass traditional security borders. Together with Computrade, we will supply leading edge network monitoring and security solutions to local industry.  Our synergistic approach will also enable a range of enterprises to benefit from our expertise in enhancing network and applications performance so the IT managers can take decisive actions for their businesses.”

SAS Country Manager for the Philippines Ryan Guadalquiver welcomes the new partnership with Computrade, “SAS has been at the forefront and a far leader in predictive analytics for decades, consistently delivering accurate data, and valuable insights enabling customers to make decisive and well guided decisions worldwide.

Traditionally, we have always engaged only the top tier markets from a direct approach. Partnering with Computrade Technologies enables us to reach out to that bigger part of the market providing better collaboration, innovation and value to customers.”

Varonis is a global leader in data security and analytics. “We are pleased to partner with Computrade to help organizations in the Philippines gain full visibility and control of their data by knowing where their most critical data assets are, making sure that their data is monitored and secured, and intelligently detecting and responding to threats both on premises and in the cloud," said Antonio Soriano, Senior Technical Consultant, Varonis.

Blockchain Technology

Computrade’s recent partnerships serve as foundation for the wide-scale adoption of Blockchain technology.

Blockchain technology is the backbone of a new type of Internet. It allows digital information to be distributed but not copied. Originally designed for the digital currency Bitcoin, the technology is now finding other potential uses.

Information held on a Blockchain exists as a shared — and continually reconciled — database. Using the network this way has obvious benefits. The Blockchain database isn’t stored in any single location, such that the records it keeps are actually public and easily verifiable. There is no centralized version of the information, which a hacker may corrupt. Its data hosted by millions of computers simultaneously, and is accessible to anyone on the internet.

Computrade foresees the application of its expertise in data infrastructure, big data analytics and data security to play a significant role in the roll-out of Blockchain technology in the Philippines.

CTP’s Teddy Sumulong said, “Blockchain technology is the wave of the future. For Computrade, it represents what is likely to be the next stage of digital transformation. We are preparing ourselves to provide the solutions that will ease its acceptance in the country and to fully secure the transactions facilitated by this innovative technology. We are excited at the possibility that we will be able to contribute our share in enabling Filipino enterprises and individuals as well to take full advantage of an emerging technology.”


Photo caption:

IN PHOTO (L-R): Miroslav Mandel, VP APAC, Flowmon Networks; Tomas Sarocky, Area Manager, Flowmon Networks; Lubos Milan, Country Manager, Flowmon Networks Philippines; Teddy Sumulong, Managing Director, Computrade Technology Philippines, Inc.; Harry Surjanto, Founder and CEO of CTI Group; Ryan Guadalquiver, Country Manager, SAS Philippines; Jason Loh, Analytics Platform & Global Technology, SAS; Antonio Soriano, Senior Technical Consultant, Varonis; Cedric Tan, Regional Manager, Varonis

Tugade Tells MRT-3: File Charges VS Passengers Who Will Disrupt Operations

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Citing public inconvenience and damages, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade has directed the management of the MRT-3 to identify the passenger that caused an unloading incident by leaning on or forcibly opening the train door Friday morning, April 13.

In a speech before business groups and investors at the Philippine Economic Briefing in Pampanga, Tugade expressed his disappointment over a passenger that caused the failure of the door of a southbound train at 8:01AM, which resulted to the unloading of approximately 1,000 passengers at the Santolan-Annapolis station.

This was the first unloading incident recorded at the MRT-3 since April 2.

“For the last 11 days, there was no unloading, it was smooth. Today, we have the first unloading. Do you know the cause? There was someone who put pressure on the door. Pinilit na pumasok habang sarado na. It’s not about parts, it’s about this passenger. My instruction, identify this person,” said Tugade.

He also wants charges filed against passengers who will disrupt train operations.

“From now on, lahat ng mahuhuling sumasandal o nagpipilit magbukas ng pinto ng tren kahit sarado na, kasuhan! I told MRT to file cases and collect damages from them. Maraming naaabala dahil sa kawalan ng disiplina,” he added.

Passengers were loaded in the next train that arrived 4 minutes later. Despite this, MRT-3 was still able to deploy 15 trains at the mainline.

The MRT-3 has been consistently running 15-17 trains daily, an improvement attributed to the arrival of spare parts and general maintenance conducted over the Holy Week

Airport Authorities Arrest Package Padala Scam Suspect

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Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) operatives apprehended a suspect upon a complaint filed by a would have been victim of the "package padala scam".

Shirley Campones sought the help of the Airport Police last April 12, 2018, suspecting that the person who was asking her USD $11,000.00, in exchange for a package sent to her from abroad, was a scam. The package was supposedly sent by a man who Campones met in the internet identified as Fred Mc Neil.

Campones said that Mc Neil told her that he was held by customs in an airport in Turkey due to some jewelry found in his baggage. Campones said that a texter asked for a meet-up on April 12 at a restaurant at the departure level of NAIA Terminal 1 saying that he/she already have the baggage from Mc Neil. Campones was advised to bring 11,000 USD in exchange for it.

Thinking that this could be a scam, Campones told the Airport Police that she can give only a partial amount of the USD $11,000.00.

Operatives of the Airport Police planned an entrapment operation and accompanied Campones at the meet up place. They discreetly monitored Campones until a black foreign national, suspected to be the texter, approached Campones. While eating snacks, Campones handed a white envelope with money to the suspect, as part of their agreement to release the package. At that instance, operatives of the Airport Police approached and arrested the foreigner.

The suspect was identified as Miriam Kanoute, 34 years old, single, Maly national, with address in Makati City.

Campones said that Kanoute was the same foreigner she previously met in a mall in Makati. Kanoute was then with another foreigner Ronald Morris. The meet up was also regarding the supposed package for Campones.

Suspect Kanoute was brought to the Pasay Prosecutor’s Office for inquest proceedings for Violation of Article 315 (Syndicated Swindling/Estafa) of the Revised Penal Code and violation of Republic Act 10175 (Cybercrime Prevention Act of 2012).

Kanoute is now temporarily detained at the MIAA police headquarters pending issuance of an inquest resolution from Pasay.

MIAA GM Ed Monreal lauded the MIAA-PIID operatives for their swift action.

“I call on everyone to be careful with their dealings with people they do not know. It pays to be cautious in this regard. We advice the public to seek the help of police authorities in case of doubt," Monreal said in closing.

UP Euro Presents After Sunset: An Open Field Film Showing

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UP Euro-Filipino Understanding and Relations Organization is holding its annual Open Field Film Showing entitled 'After Sunset' this April 19 at the College of Science Amphitheater. This is in accordance with the organization’s vision to promote Euro-Filipino cultural appreciation

This year, UP EURO will showcase short films with a feel good theme, tackling stories about romance, comedy, inspiration and music. It features films such as Wes Anderson’s Castello Cavalcanti, Olga Osorio’s Einstein Rosen, William Mager’s Hands Solo and many more! Not only that, the organization will also be featuring performances from Any Name's Okay, Sofasky, Carl Bognot and Granny Lee!

This free event will be held from 6pm-10pm this April 19 at the College of Science Amphitheater. For rsvp For more information, you may visit our page at facebook.com/upeuro

Caption for Omnibus poster

“It's the chill of a beautiful sunset that promises a lovely night ahead.” - Anthony T. Hincks

Wazzup Pilipinas! UP EURO presents:

AFTER SUNSET: An Open Field Film Showing

Get ready to fill your hearts with feel good European short films such as Castello Cavalcanti, Paris Quintet, La Huida, Rhinos and more!

Not only that, we will also be featuring special performances from Grammy Lee, Sofa Sky, Any Name's Okay and Carl Bognot!

This FREE event will be held on April 19, Thursday, at the College of Science Amphitheater! Grab your friends and see you there!

For RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/AfterSunset-OFFs

This event is co-presented by:

UP Tomo-Kai

UP Palaweños

UP Radio Circle

UP Le Club Français

In partnership with our major org partners:

UP Economics Society

UP SPECA : University of the Philippines Speech Communication Association

UP Círculo Hispánico

Minor org partner:

UP PsychSoc

Our media partners:

DZUP 1602
When In Manila
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See you there!

SAP Announces First Collaboration in eSports and Becomes the Official Innovation Partner of Team Liquid

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SAP SE announced a new sponsorship deal with Team Liquid, one of the most successful teams in eSports. The sponsorship of Team Liquid is the first collaboration of SAP with a professional eSports organization. As official innovation partner, SAP will work with Team Liquid on co-developing software based on in-game data, which will help Team Liquid analyze performance and achieve greater precision in areas like team and player performance and scouting new talent.

SAP will support Team Liquid by implementing a range of innovative technology solutions that deliver cutting-edge analytics to the team to improve overall performance in training and in competition. The SAP HANA business data platform will serve as the core technology for co-development. Additional components such as SAP Cloud Platform, the SAP Leonardo digital innovation system as well as the Internet of Things (IoT) and predictive and machine learning functionalities will be evaluated as part of the co-innovation process. By equipping Team Liquid with the most innovative tools possible to track and improve performance, SAP hopes to participate as an authentic, global and sustainable player in the eSports ecosystem, addressing a young and tech-savvy eSports community.

“After deciding to become a sponsor in the field of esports, SAP took time to observe and analyze the market and its ecosystem before finally deciding to partner with Team Liquid – one of the most successful teams in the business,” said Stefan Ries, chief human resources officer, SAP. “For SAP, esports opens us up to a tech-savvy and highly skilled young audience and potential new talent for SAP. As a global, innovative and forward-looking technology company, SAP provides a high brand fit to the esports ecosystem.”

“There is a strong demand for meaningful data and analytics software in esports,” said Victor Goossens, co-CEO, Team Liquid. “For Team Liquid, competitive performance is key – and smart technology and data give us the best possible tools to analyze and improve. As a technology company at the cutting edge of innovation and with sponsorship experience across sports and entertainment, SAP is the perfect partner to collaborate with Team Liquid to create tools and solutions to fuel our competitive journey.”

“eSports is a highly interesting field for SAP. With a team sponsorship, SAP will be able to activate its full potential by working closely together with Team Liquid to understand their needs and apply innovative technology solutions to address them,” said Lars Lamadé, head of sponsorships, Europe & Asia, SAP. “SAP as an innovation-driven company is interested in eSports as a 100% digital sport with a high speed of development. The partnership with Team Liquid, with a true and authentic co-innovation mind-set at its core, will become a great use case for SAP technology.”

FDCP Announces Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino 2018

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After the success last year, the Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP) will once again be hosting the second year of the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino (PPP) on August 15-21, 2018.

In partnership with all the theaters in the country, PPP will be selecting eight (8) films to have their Philippine premiere during the event. “PPP was so well-received by our audience last year and we believe that this industry event is worth doing again this year. We are very proud that Filipinos came together to support our own and enjoy our amazing slate of quality genre films,” said FDCP Chairperson and CEO Liza Dino during a meeting with the producers last April 4, 2018 at Salu Restaurant in Quezon City.

“Everybody is looking forward to PPP 2018 and we are working hard to make it even more successful,” she added. PPP will also be an opportunity for producers to enhance their experience and learn more about the ins and outs of the industry, from marketing, to booking, and distributing their films.”

PPP 2018 is open to all Filipino producers with finished films who may submit more than one (1) entry with the following criteria:

A. The film should have themes reflective of the Filipino sensibilities culture with wide audience appeal.

B. The film should have been produced from 2017-2018.

C. The film must have its Philippine premiere during the Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipino and must not have been previously shown in any format in the country. Films which premiered internationally are eligible.

D. The film should have a minimum of 75 minutes and a maximum of 180 minutes in length.

E. The film must be submitted with English subtitles.

F. The producer must have a distributor.

G. The producer must have a marketing plan ready in the event of selection.


Applications open on April 20 with the deadline on June 15, 2018. For more information, visit www.fdcp.ph and Pista ng Pelikulang Pilipinio facebook page and other PPP social media accounts.

AXN Welcomes Britain’s Got Talent to its Slate of April Programming

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New series will air within 24 hours of the UK Telecast

Britain’s Got Talent, the UK version of the world’s favorite talent competition, will make its home on AXN this Sunday, April 15 with the electrifying premiere of season 12. 

The kings and queens of entertainment Simon Cowell, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and David Walliams return once again to their rightful thrones on the judging panel.

“AXN is Asia’s undisputed pan-regional home of talent where we provide performers of all backgrounds with a powerful platform to showcase their unique skills. The addition of Britain’s Got Talent to our programming line-up complements our record-breaking original production, Asia’s Got Talent, giving viewers even more access to diverse, global entertainment,” said Virginia Lim, Senior Vice President and Head of Content, Production and Marketing, Sony Pictures Television Networks, Asia.

Over the past few months, the popular judges have travelled the UK seeking out the weird and the wacky, the wonderful and the inspirational. With thousands of applicants, AXN viewers will be astounded by the impressive line-up of acts competing to be crowned this year’s winner. From choirs and dance acts, to a group of mysterious aliens and a musician skilled in the classical Russian jaw harp, the Britain’s Got Talent judges have seen it all, and this series looks to be the most entertaining yet.

The past decade has seen Britain’s Got Talent deliver some of the most talked about winners including Paul Potts, Diversity, Ashleigh & Pudsey, Lance Corporal Richard Jones and most recently Tokio Myers. No doubt this year, there will be many more must-see moments to come.

Britain’s Got Talent premieres Sunday, April 15 at 9.05pm on AXN, within 24 hours of the UK telecast.

AXN is available on Cablelink Channel 38, Cignal Channel 121, Destiny Cable Channel 49, G Sat Channel 51, and SKYCable Channel 49. AXN HD is available on SKYCable Channel 247.

Nielsen and ONE Championship to Launch World Sports Business Conference in Singapore

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Nielsen - the leading source of sports measurement, analytics and insights around the world, and ONE Championship™ (ONE) - Asia’s largest global sports media property, have announced the launch of the What’s Next in Global Sports conference, which will tackle the driving factors behind Asia’s rise on the global sporting stage.

Taking place on May 17 & 18 at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore, this exclusive, invite-only conference will engage attendees in dynamic discussions on key technology, media and marketing trends shaping the future of the sports industry with thought leaders from prestigious global organizations.

“Asia remains a vast, untapped opportunity for global sports, and this conference will spotlight what’s driving the region’s rise,” said Glenn Lovett, Global Managing Director, Nielsen Sports. “What’s Next in Global Sports will also showcase the crucial role measurement plays today as well as what trends are shaping the industry’s future. We’re delighted to be collaborating with ONE Championship on this event as they are a fantastic example of the commercial viability of Asian sports properties, and provide a unique and important industry perspective.”

“I am thrilled to be able to announce ONE Championship’s sponsorship of Nielsen's What’s Next in Global Sports business conference, which will be held in Singapore,” said Chatri Sityodtong, Chairman and CEO of ONE Championship. “The conference aims to explore the rising global sports industry in Asia and how it affects various markets. Featuring discussions on how media, technology, brands, and sports can all work together to engage consumers in the region, the conference looks to highlight the relationship between sports and business. As part of the conference, we are happy to provide attendees with the unique experience of ONE Championship’s ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS, delivered live at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.”

Key topics at What’s Next in Global Sports will include: ‘How is Sports Disrupting the Emerging Markets Media Scene?’, ‘Leveraging Sports to Drive Consumer Engagement in Asia’, ‘New Fans, New Markets: Thinking Differently for Greater Fan Engagement’, ‘The Allure of Asia Sports: Why Everyone is Making a Play’.

In addition, the conference will kick off with a welcome dinner on May 17, and conclude on May 18 with ONE Championship’s world-class production of ONE: UNSTOPPABLE DREAMS, beginning at 7:00 PM at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. The main event will feature a thrilling world championship bout as reigning ONE Women’s Atomweight World Champion “Unstoppable” Angela Lee will defend her title against Mei “V.V” Yamaguchi of Japan.

For information on What’s Next in Global Sports, contact: events.asia@nielsen.com.

For more updates on ONE Championship, please visit www.onefc.com, follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @ONEChampionship, and like them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ONEChampionship.