A celebration of love
Last Saturday, Jan. 27, I attended the wedding reception dinner of Jared Rhys Chua and Stephanie Marquez......»»
Vikings Spread Holiday Cheer Throughout Twin Cities Communities
Lindsey Young Throughout the December holiday season, numerous Vikings spent time in the community and giving back in various ways.Safety Camryn Bynum hosted a Filipino Fiesta, strengthening a connection to his heritage while raising money for the Bynum Faith Foundation; C.J. and Stephanie Ham supported a family that's fostered more than 100 children and is growing through adoption; several players partic.....»»
Vikings Spread Holiday Cheer Throughout Twin Cities Communities
Lindsey Young Throughout the December holiday season, numerous Vikings spent time in the community and giving back in various ways.Safety Camryn Bynum hosted a Filipino Fiesta, strengthening a connection to his heritage while raising money for the Bynum Faith Foundation; C.J. and Stephanie Ham supported a family that's fostered more than 100 children and is growing through adoption; several players partic.....»»
Rama on plans for two more IT parks in Cebu City: ‘The more, the merrier’
CEBU CITY, Philippines – Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama welcomed the proposal of two additional information technology (IT) parks in Cebu City. “The more, the merrier,” said Rama in an interview with CDN Digital on Thursday, November 30. During the executive session on November 29, Stephanie Lopez, resident manager of Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC), unveiled.....»»
20 years of championing tech and innovation among young Filipinos
The Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program or SWEEP, the first and longest-running industry-academe linkage in the Philippines, is now on its 20th year, a demonstration of PLDT and Smart’s commitment to championing technology and innovation among young Filipinos. SWEEP has become an avenue for long-term learning and discovery about technology as a catalyst for growth and development among the youth. “When we launched SWEEP or the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program in 2003, our dream was to make bold changes in the industry, by promoting a culture of innovation in schools and by encouraging more Filipino students to get into STEM and ICT-related courses,” said Cathy Yap-Yang, FVP and head of Group Corporate Communications at PLDT and Smart. “We believe that continuous learning and exposure to emerging technologies, through SWEEP, can equip the youth toward finding innovative solutions that can help create positive impact for present and future generations,” added Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and head of Stakeholder Management Team at PLDT and Smart. According to Roderick S. Santiago, head of Network at PLDT and Smart, “We continue to work closely with the country’s leading colleges and universities. We have likewise succeeded in producing industry-ready graduates to meet the increasingly digital demands of our customers, our communities and our country.” To celebrate two decades of SWEEP, the PLDT Group recently concluded a learning and networking summit called SWEEP@20 for its partner schools, where the PLDT Group discussed how 5G, AI or artificial intelligence, XR or extended reality, cloud computing and advanced networks can help create a sustainable and more inclusive world for all Filipinos and leave no one behind. Through the years, the PLDT Group has underscored the value of inclusive learning and industry-academe linkages like SWEEP, particularly in promoting STEM education in the country. This commitment also supports UN SDG #4: Quality Education and is aligned with the vision of the Philippine Government-mandated Private Sector Advisory Council. As one of the founding members under the Digital Infrastructure pillar of PSAC, PLDT aims to help narrow the digital divide by creating more STEM experts and upskilling more Filipinos toward jobs of the future. The post 20 years of championing tech and innovation among young Filipinos appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl jungolfers climb podium in Thailand
Brianna Macasaet, Aerin Chan, Stephanie Gaisano-Gan and Nicole Gaisano-Gan registered podium finishes to highlight the country’s campaign in the Chiangmai APJGA International Championships at the Royal Chiangmai Golf Club last week in Thailand......»»
JGFP players bag four trophies in Thai meet
Brianna Macasaet, Aerin Chan and Stephanie Gaisano-Gan captured trophies as first runner-up finishers, while Nicole Gaisano-Gan rallied back to take a third place plum that typified the country’s campaign......»»
Skin in the game
Where do you find yourself in the skincare spectrum? Are you still assiduously doing your 13-step Korean beauty routine, convincing everybody your glistening face is not “hulas,” but glass skin? “The word is dew-y!” Or are you the basic sunscreen, a chemical and physical exfoliant or two, maybe slathering a peptide, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, or whatever serum is in vogue type? Or are you, “I will fight the ravages of time until my skin is as taut as a drum head and as supple as clouds, or I die trying?” In a crowded field littered with skin and beauty “CEOs” being as high profile as the brands they carry, Skin Manila is positioning itself as a sober alternative, anywhere between Glenda, Rosmar (If you don’t recognize these names, maybe get thee a Tiktok app, Luddite!), the basic aesthetic clinics, and the Belo-Aivee industrial complex. Skin Manila has been around for a decade, and the brand quietly expanded to nine branches without much fanfare and hype, but they’re beginning to introduce it to a much wider audience. The company’s choice of name — Skin Manila — even has a generic bent to it. This is something they have done on purpose, trying to be above the fray of the skincare noise and hype, but also smack dab in the middle in terms of accessibility and affordability. Even Skin Manila’s retail line is called Prescription Skin Care, which calls to mind a no-frills approach, although a glance at the ingredient label will see active ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid in their creams and serums. One of Skin Manila’s most successful branches is in Baguio, already bedecked with a Christmas-winter theme where people keep taking selfies. This is where we found ourselves trying its services, during its first anniversary. Apparently, red-cheeked Baguio denizens with what seems like the perfect temperate weather for good skin aren’t taking any chances. Skin Manila offers infusion treatments, cosmetic surgery services, rejuvenation and skin repair, but a signature treatment I chose is the ALMA-Q/PICOLASE Carbon Facial (P8,000) because it sounded like a spacecraft model, and as someone middle-aged, you know you need something industrial strength. This is described on the brochure as “a non-invasive, painless laser skin facial that uses a formulated carbon liquid applied to the face that quickly and effectively treats a variety of skin imperfections. It is suitable for all skin types and particularly beneficial for oily skin, blackheads, enlarged pores, dull rough, uneven textured skin and acne.” [caption id="attachment_193124" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] The Exilis is used to contour both face and body.[/caption] As the kind of person who registers a mere 2.1 on the tiis ganda scale, I wouldn’t call this procedure completely painless. You feel fluttery pinpricks when the laser hits the skin because a fan is administered alongside, so the pain skates away, but the memory of it stays? (Yes, this is still about skincare) along with the smell of singed hair? Flesh? This is definitely medical grade. This is presumably nothing but a cakewalk to someone who’s already used to all sorts of facial treatments, but if a client is particularly pain-sensitive, the nurse can administer Emla, a topical cream-based anaesthetic. This same procedure is definitely painless on the underarms because skin is thicker there, and is more used to trauma with waxing and depillating. The laser definitely stimulates collagen because immediately after treatment, your face feels very soft, but the results would reveal themselves over a couple of days and weeks. One of our companions said he received compliments days later from people who didn’t know about his facials. The carbon facial is also supposed to reduce hyperpigmentation, which the aestheticist said wasn’t actually my main problem, and I could feel the smugness of my 14-year-old self for deciding to have an at-the-very-least-SPF-15-sunscreen-on-your-face routine whatever else happens because that’s what I read on the pages of Glamour in the late ‘80s. One of my other companions tried the Exilis Face and Neck Contour (P5,000), “which is supposed to contour and tighten the skin by forcing heat deeply into the skin while using cooling technology. The optimal heat stimulates heat production of collagen, which tightens skin, and reduces wrinkles.” He took a picture of his face when one side had already been treated and this half did appear visibly slimmer. According to the clinic brochure, this type of facial is for maintenance after you’ve done the other medical-grade facials. Aesthetic centers are like salons, where you go to a particular one because they make you feel good and pampered. Stephanie Nuestro, general manager of Skin Manila, said this is a large part of their training. “Customer training is as important as the technical know-how of machines…all our aestheticians are nurses.” No matter where you find yourself in your skincare journey, the old adage remains true — the most effective skincare routine is the one you’re able to stick to. The post Skin in the game appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Keeping it together
It’s no longer unusual, nowadays, for a family to have one or both parents working in another country, or for grown children to relocate abroad for work or start their own family. Single parenting is also quite common, right along there with blended families and LGBTQ unions with kids. Yet even when families are together in one place — one home, compound, neighborhood or city — it takes a lot to stay “together,” literally and figuratively. Perhaps sensing the threats to what is recognized as society’s basic foundation, our government in 1992 decided to declare the last week of September as Family Week, as mandated by Proclamation 60 signed by then President Fidel V. Ramos. Ramos wanted the week to emphasize the importance of the family as “the foundation of the nation” and “as a basic autonomous social institution,” as well as recognize “the sanctity of family life,” as stated in the Constitution of the Philippines. The world may transform in many ways, but the need for family will never change. “No matter how much life changes and the concept of family evolves, it may continue to benefit human health and wellness by offering a sense of belonging and support,” it aptly states in an article on Better Help, which also enumerates the factors affecting family life as “advancements in technology, changing cultural norms, new priorities and advanced forms of communication fueled by the internet.” The sense of belonging one gains from being part of a family — whether it is in a traditional setup, adoptive or “chosen,” a new kind of family defined in these modern times — has a profound impact on one’s well-being. With government providing the impetus for today’s families to connect or reconnect during the annual Family Week, it is up to each one of us to take steps to keep ours together in these fast-paced, nomadic, dysfunctional times. In the local setting, we already see so many signs of the changing dynamics among families. We could wade through studies to figure out all the issues affecting our core foundation, but we believe one may truly gain more understanding by examining our own experiences. Here, we share the views of people in our sphere, in answer to our query: What do you consider as the biggest challenge for your family in these trying times? Gigie Arcilla, Editor-in-chief Dealing with young adult children presents the challenge of establishing boundaries as they seek independence and transition into adulthood. Striking a balance between support and autonomy, as well as providing guidance while allowing room for growth, can be difficult, especially for a single parent. [caption id="attachment_187927" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] STEPHANIE Mayo (fifth, clockwise) with her family. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Stephanie Mayo[/caption] Stephanie Mayo, Film critic and writer I have senior-citizen parents, and my siblings and I are now at the age when our health naturally starts to decline. Even if someone has health insurance, no one can deny how debilitating and expensive getting sick is. Without health, quality of life is decreased. You also cannot work (no work, no pay for freelancers such as myself) if you are sick. Gratefully, none of us in the family are currently seriously ill. It’s just that given that these trying times are also marked by corruption, medical gaslighting, new diseases and viruses and climate change, health problems have become even more threatening. [caption id="attachment_187926" align="aligncenter" width="993"] PAULINE Songco (fifth from left) and dad Arnold, mom Dhen, grandmother Linda and sister Patricia. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Pauline Songco[/caption] Pauline Songco, Editor and writer I would say our biggest challenge is finding time to be together. I am always never at home. If I am, I would just be there for a few hours to sleep. I would get up, then go to work again. I find myself having less and less free time than before. My sister is busy with work, and so is my father. My mom is left alone at home with my cats. But, she goes to the gym to occupy herself and to see her friends. Yet, I’m thankful for what we have right now for these are the same things that we used to pray for before. [caption id="attachment_187924" align="aligncenter" width="641"] PAULINE Pascual (first from left) and dad Roy, mom Jocelyn and sister Prizcia. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Pauline Pascual[/caption] Pauline Joyce Pascual, Lifestyle writer Our family became even closer during the pandemic, and now that things are almost back to normal, it is the family bonding that we used to that we find the most challenging. My sister is studying and getting ready for her time at college while my parents are back in business and I am now working outside of our province. I miss the good old days even though we still saw each other every week. [caption id="attachment_187925" align="aligncenter" width="638"] RAPHAEL, Rachael, Joylen and Ruben Ramos. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Raphael Ramos[/caption] Raphael Ramos, STEM student at De La Salle Araneta The desire to act in spite of the potential consequences for everyone else. The family members’ immaturity leads to a more serious issue and may stunt each person’s development. [caption id="attachment_187922" align="aligncenter" width="2246"] GEL, Dino, Tei and Maui Datu. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Dino Datu[/caption] Dino Datu, Chef, journalist and entrepreneur The biggest challenge in families today is creating quality family time. Everyone is so busy and there are so many distractions. While working and school work are necessities, we need to create time to just sit together for regular meals and chat without our electronic devices. Even on rare occasions that everyone is together, dining out, for example, people look at their phones every few seconds. That’s what I think is a big difference between today’s families and those from a few decades back. We often see “perfect” families on social media. Sadly, it seems like that’s the only place it exists. Teresa Laurente, Business Consultant For me, it has to be family, healthcare, children’s education and social media effect on young people. Pamela Palacio, Statistician III, Provincial Government of Bataan Disrespect to God and parents. Negative effect of social media. [caption id="attachment_187920" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] YVETTE Chua-Carrion (fourth from left) beside her husband, businessman Melon. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESYOF Yvette Chua-Carrion[/caption] Yvette Chua-Carrion, Educator and breakthrough life coach In these financially trying times — the budget for groceries, how to have savings for emergencies (which we hope won’t happen), and high gas prices. [caption id="attachment_187919" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] (FROM left) Riley, husband Noel, Tiffany and Ashley. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Tiffany Cuna[/caption] Tiffany Sison Cuna, Former beauty queen turned entrepreneur Disciplining and inculcating values in our children knowing how the Internet plays a vital role in their lives — it could either influence them positively or negatively. [caption id="attachment_187923" align="aligncenter" width="1170"] JIA Bote and dad Milton. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF Jia Bote[/caption] Jia Bote, Student at the University of Santo Tomas With my father working away from home, the biggest challenge is having more time together as a family. When I was younger, I thought I had all the time in the world to spend time with my family. However, as I grow older, my responsibilities increase, and I have less free time than I used to. I remember spending the peak of the pandemic away from our father, and we could only talk through the phone for months. It was challenging for me not to see my father physically, especially when I go through difficult moments because I believe that we need more of our parents’ wisdom and guidance as we grow older. With the pandemic and the natural course of life, it feels like I have less time and opportunity to be with my father who is also growing old day by day. [caption id="attachment_187921" align="aligncenter" width="1242"] ALEX and Jet Capina (fourth and fifth from left) with their children. | PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY of Jet Capina[/caption] Jet Capina, retired bank vice president Our challenge is how to make the family complete on weekends. My children have their own gimmicks. Before every Sunday we were together attending church service but after the pandemic each of them esp Paolo is out of the house to be with his gf. I don’t think it’s good to write about it. Our challenge is how to make the family complete on weekends. My children are all good and well behaved but having grown up, the elder ones now and then have their own gimmicks. I am happy that my husband, who often plays golf, is with me always. The post Keeping it together appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
TOP GAN — JGFP’s dynamic chief steers jungolf to new heights
There’s a big room in Oliver Gan’s office building in Quezon City dedicated to the Junior Golf Foundation of the Philippines. It has two office staff, golf sets, boxes, trophies, shirts and two large white boards filled up with schedules and marginal notes. That particular afternoon, Gan was charting the interschool championships which is JGFP’s major event of the year. He was going through the logistics of the competitions as well as the events JGFP is staging leading up the interschool. Hectic day in the office for the 40-year-old Gan. Except that his real office was in the adjacent room where he runs the family business. “Running our family business and running the JGFP is easy for me. As long as there are no parents complaining,” Gan said jokingly. “But that is impossible. Between the two, it seems like running the family business is easier.” Yet despite that, Gan has been hands-on in JGFP. And for good reasons. One of them is the fact that Gan is himself a national jungolf champion. The other is because he has two daughters, Nicole and Stephanie, who happen to be two of the most promising jungolfers in the country. Gan said he’s playing golf at least once a week. But his downtime is not entirely for golf. “I used to play baseball and volleyball back in high school but concentrated on golf when my teammates outgrew me,” Gan said. Lately, his evenings are spent on the basketball court. “I used to play in the Xavier Alumni Basketball League,” said Gan, who acts as the team “owner,” being both the manager and playing coach of their batch. He is also chairman for sports in the alumni association of Xavier School. On the national level, Gan is former program officer of the Philippine Sports Institute for the National Capital Region and adviser for golf at the Games and Amusements Board. Clearly, his heart belongs to golf. And it shows in his work at JGFP. “We parents invest so much time and effort in our kids’ golf. We now know that our efforts are not wasted,” Gan said. “Before, golf was very exclusive. Not everyone can play it. Especially the children. Now our efforts to give golf a wider talent pool is gaining traction. Everyone is taking notice and is starting to cooperate.” That’s why JGFP is working on “giving it back to the kids, especially the under-privileged,” supporting several scholars. Through Gan’s initiatives, JGFP has been gaining the support of the private sector which is crucial in every grassroots program. JGFP, too, has reached Mindanao where there are a lot of untapped talents. And just recently, it announced that former Rep. Juan Miguel “Mikey” Arroyo as JGFP’s “godfather.” “I think we are doing well. People know junior golf is in good hands. Businessmen are supporting the foundation. We are staging tournaments left and right. Golf courses offer to hold our events. We are getting invitations and accreditations from all over the world,” Gan said. But what Gan is counting as his biggest moment was when JGFP managed to span to Visayas and Mindanao which will soon have their own inter-school meets. “All the regional winners, we will pit them against each other in a truly national inter-school championships,” Gan said. “And from there we get the players to represent the country in international meets.” Such ambitious plans for JGFP. But nothing far-fetched with Gan at the helm. The post TOP GAN — JGFP’s dynamic chief steers jungolf to new heights appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Three-way collaboration to promote innovation and engineering excellence
PLDT and its wireless unit, Smart Communications Inc. recently joined the University of Baguio during its Annual Tripartite Collaboration to further enhance the existing curriculum of programs in the College of Engineering. “Under our Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program or SWEEP, the country’s first and longest-running industry-academe linkage program, we continue to promote and culture of innovation and excelling by extending learning opportunities to students and faculty,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and head of stakeholder management team at PLDT and Smart. This initiative brought together partners from the academe and the private sector, specifically those in the technology industry, to align the current engineering program with the latest technological trends and to strengthen linkages between the academe and the industry. “We acknowledge the contribution of the industry reaching out to and partnering with the academe. Under this collaboration, we have extended our expertise in the field of wireless telecommunications and technologies to add value to what UB currently has,” said Hope Mamucud, senior core network supervisor at PLDT and Smart. “We currently offer a Technopreneurship subject in the School of Engineering and Architecture that requires our students to create prototypes and explore innovations. We also have Robotics incorporating Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in our curriculum. With PLDT and Smart extending their technical expertise, we can further improve these subjects under this partnership,” said Engineer Annalyn D. Soria of the UB Faculty. “I chose to take Electronics Engineering so I could learn more about the current and upcoming trends in technology. I also believe through technology and innovation, I can contribute to addressing the waste management challenges in our community,” said 24-year-old John Reynald Garcia, a UB Electronics Engineering student. “Trainings extended under SWEEP can help us gain knowledge in technology and enable us to become familiar with advanced innovations and equipment available. This can eventually add value to our academic and professional development,” Garcia added. Since 2003, PLDT and Smart have been supporting colleges and universities all over the Philippines through SWEEP. The program underscores the PLDT Group’s commitment to innovation and digital inclusion and supports the government’s key digitalization efforts by fostering industry-academe linkages. The PLDT Group is a founding member of the Digital Infrastructure pillar of the presidential Private Sector Advisory Council or PSAC. The post Three-way collaboration to promote innovation and engineering excellence appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
An eBiz bazaar
PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart, together with TikTok Philippines, recently joined the Provincial Government of Laguna, Laguna Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Department of Trade and Industry Provincial Office of Laguna, and Enchanted Kingdom in the first-ever province-wide summit for MSMEs. This platform has enabled attendees and partners to collaborate and to access learning opportunities on market reach, e-commerce, and financial technology. The PLDT Group showcased its “eBiz Buy Local Bazaar” on TikTok Shop initiative, a digital upskilling-to-e-commerce program designed to equip local business owners with the right digital tools to enhance their online business expansion. Laguna-based MSMEs sign up for the eBiz Bazaar on TikTok Shop Speaking before an audience of over 500 local entrepreneurs at Laguna MSME Summit, Euan Rex Toralballa, Customer Relationship Management Head for SMBiz at PLDT Enterprise, underscored the commitment of PLDT and Smart to boost livelihood opportunities through technology. “Part of the PLDT Group’s thrust is digital inclusion and we want to help as many local businesses as possible thrive through technology. With our joint efforts with TikTok Philippines and our partners from the public and private sector, we will continue to find avenues to uplift local MSMEs through livelihood opportunities,” he said. “We at PLDT and Smart continuously explore inclusive and sustainable tech-enabled tools. We believe that technology can help boost efficiency and productivity that can expand livelihood opportunities for MSMEs,” added Stephanie Orlino, AVP and head of Stakeholder Management at PLDT and Smart. “Our partnership with the government and private sector including PLDT, Smart, and TiKTok Shop can help Laguna MSMEs grow their business and expand their market reach. With the advent of technology, the possibilities are limitless. Through capacity development, we can assist local enterprises take advantage of the digital tools available so they can quickly get their products out there,” said Atty. Rose-Lyn Coloma, LCCI president. The post An eBiz bazaar appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Project REACHED goal: A disaster-resilient PH
PLDT and Smart underscored their commitment to building the disaster-resilient Philippines through Project REACHED, the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation initiative, and the Australian Embassy in the Philippines. Project REACHED, or Resilient Emergency Communications and Enhanced Disaster Response, is a two-year program to bridge communication gaps during emergencies or disasters. “The PLDT Group recognizes the vital role of communication during emergencies and disasters, which has now become a lifeline. As network operators, we at PLDT and Smart are uniquely positioned to provide communications support before, during, and immediately after disasters,” said Stephanie V. Orlino, AVP and Head of the Stakeholder Management Team at PLDT and Smart. PLDT and Smart will extend technical expertise in the field of communications to contribute to accelerating the goals of Project REACHED. A multi-sectoral collaboration, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Office of Civil Defense and the World Food Programme are also committed to this Project, among others. The post Project REACHED goal: A disaster-resilient PH appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Sid Lucero patindi nang patindi ang paghuhubad sa pelikula; Stephanie Raz, Millen Gal ‘battle of the boobs’ sa ‘Kahalili’
GRABE! As in grabe talaga ang napanood naming latest Vivamax Original movie na “Kahalili” na pinagbibidahan ng mga palabang hubadera na sina Stephanie Raz at Millen Gal, kasama si Sid Lucero. Naku, siguradong may pagpipiyestahan na naman gabi-gabi ang mga kalalakihang mahilig sa mga Vivamax movies kung saan sandamakmak talaga ang mga sex scenes. Ito The post Sid Lucero patindi nang patindi ang paghuhubad sa pelikula; Stephanie Raz, Millen Gal ‘battle of the boobs’ sa ‘Kahalili’ appeared first on Bandera......»»
Mental health awareness conversations for student-scholars
PLDT and Smart, through their Better Today program, recently partnered with Passerelles numériques Philippines on a three-part mental health awareness conversation series for the benefit of the student-scholars of PNPh. The talks centered on key topics that impact the mental state and wellbeing of today’s youth such as stress, fatigue, anxiety and managing strong emotions. The series also discussed topics on self-care, self-worth and self-love and delved on topics such as the effects of the Internet and social media on mental health, as well as how to manage social media consumption to protect one's mental health and wellness. The speakers included Dr. Gia Sison, content creator Macoy Dubs and Riyan Portuguez or “Your Millennial Psychologist.” “We are grateful to Passerelles numériques Philippines for collaborating with us to promote safe spaces and raise mental health awareness among their scholars. These collaborations remain guided by the goal we had when we launched Better Today in 2020, and that is to create and cultivate a culture of safe spaces, highlighting digital wellness and mental health. We hope this series has served as a reminder to the PNPh students that there are people and spaces that can bring them a sense of comfort,” said Stephanie Orlino, assistant vice president and head of stakeholder management at PLDT and Smart. “This event is a platform for us to explore more insights and learnings about mental health, and later on, about technology which we will use in doing community service for our senior citizens. These conversations will drive us into a brighter future and we thank PLDT and Smart for doing this wonderful series,” said Marilou “Luchi” Flores, country representative of Passerelles numériques Philippines. Promoting digital wellness is a key part of PLDT and Smart’s continuing commitment to help the Philippines contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goal #3: good health and well-being. The post Mental health awareness conversations for student-scholars appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Humanizing AI for truthful information
Artificial intelligence or AI will require more humans to verify the information churned out by the technology’s language tools such as ChatGPT, which has shown increased hallucinations or baseless statements. Thus said Stephanie Sy, founder and CEO of Thinking Machines. Sy said companies must train more of their staff to detect misleading information generated by AI-powered language models such as ChatGPT, which is being used to answer customer queries on products and to compose research papers. “I’m reading up on some research and Chat GPT Version 4 has felt like it’s gotten less accurate recently. You cannot use ChatGPT for research. You must be the human in the loop and use your brain to validate and evaluate information,” she said at “The iPhone Moment for AI: 2023 Gamechanger” forum organized by the Rotary Club of Makati on Tuesday. AI in computers produces text, images, audio, and videos by detecting patterns and categories from information fed into it by humans and the internet. Thinking Machines helps governments, global institutions, and companies build AI systems, upgrade them and identify opportunities where AI can be best used. Sy said AI language models process 80 percent of data available online and still cannot share specific knowledge and attribute data to specific persons or other sources the way a library catalog does. Sy said humans can facilitate augmented retrieval generation where they categorize customer queries, feed them into the AI language model, scan the AI-generated answers, and create sets of more accurate answers before sending them through the companies’ chatbots. “Instead of letting ChatGPT talk to customers live, you gather the top 5,000 questions customers ask and train ChatGPT to come up with multiple answers based on those categories. I’ll build a verification layer on top of the foundational layer,” she said. While hallucinations are generally seen as negative, Sy said they are critical opportunities for both AI and humans to be smarter. “A part of me doesn’t even want to fix the problem of hallucinations because then humans will just get lazy,” she said. The post Humanizing AI for truthful information appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Coard Collection Exhibit
You know what they say… Paris is always a good idea, from fashion, food and even art! And the most recent exhibit by talented Parisian, Patrick Coard, got me saying “Ooh la la” and totally curious about his collection of bronze-patina brass sculptures. [caption id="attachment_160112" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Techie Hagedorn, Antonio and Rocio Ressano.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160119" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Jackie Antonio, Rosanna Ocampo-Rodriguez and Wendy Puyat.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160118" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Beng Dee, Carol Sy, Small Laude, and Melba Solidum.photographs courtesy of Agile Zamora[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160117" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] the author (left) and Kaye Tinga with Patrick Coard's sculpture.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160111" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Patti Chili and Anton San Diego.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160113" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Tricia Centenera, Mia Borromeo, and Yiouri Augousti.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160121" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Kevin Tan and wife Michelle.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160115" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Ambassadorof Korea Inchul Kim and wife Jae Kim.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160114" align="aligncenter" width="1199"] Xandra Araneta and Stephanie Zubiri.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160116" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Audrey Zubiri, Dette Aquino Tan, Nicole Ortega and Fe Rodriguez.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_160122" align="aligncenter" width="1919"] Patrick Coard with wife Kifu Augousti and daughter River Luna.[/caption] But even if his roots are in France, living in Manila with his beautiful little family — and especially his little one, River Luna — is what really inspired this collection. Our children really are our greatest gift and inspiration. Excited to experience his sculptures and lighting creations, I headed for W/17 in Makati. And who else to welcome me but some of my fave people? Glad to go around the exhibit with them and, of course, drinks were on the house. Huge cheers to dear Kaye Tinga for having us enjoy this experience. We want to see more collections from Coard, oui oui! Cheers! The post Coard Collection Exhibit appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Japan power into women’s Asia Cup basketball final
Defending champions Japan kept their bid for a sixth straight women's Asia Cup basketball title on track Saturday with an 88-52 semi-final thumping of New Zealand. Stephanie Mawuli poured in a game-high 17 points with six rebounds and three assists while Monica Okoye added 16 points as the world number nine overpowered a Tall Ferns side ranked 20 places below them. The Tokyo Olympic silver medallists will meet either world number two China -- runner-up to Japan at the last two Asia Cups -- or third-ranked hosts Australia on Sunday's final. Japan closed out the first quarter with a 24-11 advantage and went on a 14-0 run in the second to surge into a 47-25 half-time lead at Sydney Olympic Park. They shifted up a gear in the third frame with aggressive offense and built a 66-38 buffer going into the home stretch when New Zealand had nothing left in the tank. New Zealand was led by Charlisse Leger-Walker with 14 points. All four semi-finalists in the eight-team competition clinched a place at the 2024 Paris Olympic qualifying tournament. The post Japan power into women’s Asia Cup basketball final appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
BuCor deploys 454 new jail officers
Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said over the weekend that 454 new corrections officers, fresh graduates from the Corrections Basic Recruit Course, will be deployed to the agency’s seven penal facilities nationwide. A total of 379 males and 75 females completed the rigorous course on Friday, qualifying them as corrections officers in the overcrowded prison facilities managed by BuCor. They will be deployed at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City, the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City, Iwahig Penal Farm, Sablayan Prison, Davao Prison, San Ramon Penal Farm and the Leyte Regional Prison. The graduation ceremony for Class 20-2022, dubbed “Mandatos” (Mananatiling may Dangal at Tapat sa Organisasyon at Serbisyo), took place at the parade grounds of New Bilibid Prison. Catapang congratulated the graduates and urged them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and integrity in their work. The top performers of the class, all with the rank of CO1, were David Caimoy, Princess Mae Etulle, Robin Gacias, Demie Anne Zedice Yamon, Joyce Marie BGonzaga, Doris Stephanie Abella, Jay Quisay, Rasheena Jane Encarnacion, Jep Omehang and Rachael Reponte. Likewise, Steven Zenrick Gaspar was honored with the Leadership Award, while Robin Gacias received recognition for Tactical Leadership. Romello Belloca and Demie Ann Zedice Yamon were lauded for their exceptional marksmanship skills. On the other hand, Jayson Lampago and Sheryl Villasi secured the prestigious Bernardo Carpio Award. Catapang said the agency is committed to enhancing the capabilities of its personnel, as mandated by the Bureau of Corrections Act of 2013, or Republic Act 10575. The addition of the new corrections officers will contribute to BuCor’s ongoing mission to ensure effective corrections services in the country’s prison facilities, according to Catapang. Foremost among the challenges the new correctional officers will face is the overcrowding in Philippine prison facilities, especially at the New Bilibid Prison, which, as of 2022, had a detainee population of 28,896. Overseen by the Department of Justice, the BuCor is responsible for the administration and management of the country’s prison facilities for those already convicted of crimes. It is tasked with the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners into society. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, on the other hand, supervises detainees with criminal cases pending and is in charge of safely transporting them in and out of jails to attend hearings. The post BuCor deploys 454 new jail officers appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Belmonte taps youngest kagawad as Brgy. Pasong Tamo acting chairman
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte over the weekend, tapped the highest voting kagawad (village councilor) Stephanie Tricia C. Pilar as the Acting Punong Barangay (Barangay Chairman) of Barangay Pasong Tamo. Pilar replaced suspended Barangay Chairman Mae Tagle after the 38-member City Council concurred with the resolution issued by the Special Investigation Committee ordering the suspension of Tagle over grave misconduct and abuse of authority charges slapped against her on three occasions. Pilar, the youngest voted 'barangay 'kagawad' (village councilor) was sworn in by Belmonte in a simple rite at her office for the services in Barangay Pasong Tamo in District 6 to continue, and the residents there, to have the lowest form of government to aid them. Tagle was first meted with a 30-day suspension ordered by the SIC over the complaint of the entire fire brigade which she fired after assuming the post when the former chieftain run for councilor and won in 2022. Two other charges of abuse of authority were also filed against Tagle which also landed in SIC who meted her another 30-day suspension order for each case, paving the vacancy to the position which required to be filled according to the rules of succession under Barangay Elections rules. The two cases stemmed from Tagle's approval of a 'perya' or street carnival which she allowed to occupy part of a road thereby causing traffic. While the other case was filed by the Sangguniang Kabataan chairman who told the SIC that Tagle hold on to their funds, stalling their programs and projects as well as their allowances. Pilar meanwhile, assured Belmonte that she will give her best in running the barangay affairs according to what the law mandated. The post Belmonte taps youngest kagawad as Brgy. Pasong Tamo acting chairman appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»