EDITORIAL - Digital gender gap
Women empowerment has come a long way since the days when women had no right to vote and had extremely limited career options......»»
Gender gap in digital finance
Around the world, we’ve all heard of the unequal “pay gap” between males and females in the workforce. However, is anyone familiar with the “credit gap” and the “capital gap”?.....»»
Ifugao weaves as NFTs? Digital fashion is the future, says designer
It comes as not a surprise to hear of Filipino social enterprise Kandama planning to launch the NFTs of its Ifugao weaves, including the ones worn by Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach for the Vogue Italia editorial back in August 2021. .....»»
EDITORIAL - Accuracy in SIM card registration
People sick of digital scammers and pesky ads on their cell phones will be happy to see an end to these messages, and the perpetrators brought to justice. A new law requiring the registration of all SIM or subscriber identity module cards is meant to deter phishing, smishing, troll attacks and other forms of cyber crimes using cell phones......»»
Love Beneath the Stars actors share views on gender identity issue
Last year’s award-winning boys’ love film The Boy Foretold by the Stars is set to continue the story of Dominic and Luke via the Kapamilya digital series titled Love Beneath the Stars. The six-episode drama will begin streaming tonight at 8 on iWantTFC......»»
EDITORIAL - Weapons of mass distraction
In the digital age, politicians have learned to harness social media to advance their causes and project themselves, but also to subject opponents to dirty tricks and harass critics......»»
EDITORIAL - Digital vote fraud
Even with the country still battling the COVID-19 pandemic, national attention is now being diverted to politics......»»
More job opportunities for women in digital economy
The digital economy is expected to produce more job opportunities for women if gender gaps are addressed......»»
EDITORIAL - Reopening schools
Digital technology allowed students to continue formal education this year, even with the school opening delayed for a few months by COVID-19 restrictions......»»
SEA GAMES: The silver that glittered like gold
When the editorial staff of ABS-CBN Sports was tasked to come up with our most memorable coverage, it didn’t take long for this writer to respond. The Philippine men’s volleyball team’s Southeast Asian Games semifinal match was the first thing that came to mind. Pesonally, that game against the highly-fancied Thailand squad topped all the countless volleyball matches that I’ve covered in my career. I’m at a loss for words on how to describe the emotions I felt that chilly night of December 8, 2019. Around 6,700 fans filled the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City not knowing that what they were about to witness was something historic. A magical night that would take away the frustrations they felt the day before when the more popular women’s team finished the preliminary round winless. For us sportswriters covering that assignment, we knew the Filipinos were up for a tough ride. Thailand ruled the last four editions of the event. On the other hand, the Philippines’ last significant outing in the biennial meet was a bronze medal finish back in 1991 – or when the current national team’s oldest member, setter Jessie Lopez was just five-years old. Did we doubt our own team? Let’s just say we prayed to the high heavens to give us something positive to write about. But don’t get us wrong. Those who followed the formation and preparation of the squad knew it would yield results come the SEA Games. After all, in all three batches of the Nationals that participated in the regional sports meet since 2015, this particular team had the longest time to prepare – around eight months to be exact. The team’s composition itself looked really promising. For the first time, two of country’s best hitters in Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas, who both have experience playing in the Japan V. League, donned the tricolors together. Espejo returned after skipping the 2017 edition so did his teammates in the 2015 squad Rex Intal and setter Ish Polvorosa. Bagunas was on his second tour of duty along with team captain John Vic De Guzman, Mark Alfafara, RanRan Abdilla and libero Jack Kalingking. Head coach Dante Alinsunurin, who was appointed to handle the team after Oliver Almadro and Sammy Acaylar in 2015 and 2017, respectively, tapped an old hand in Lopez and injected young bloods in playmaker Owa Retamar, Jau Umandal, Kim Malabunga, Ricky Marcos and Francis Saura. As part of their buildup the Nationals joined the Thailand Open Sealect Tuna Championship July last year. The Filipinos achieved a great feat when they won bronze. Fans were able to witness the Nationals’ campaign via YouTube streaming while we volleyball writers, got to file our full stories through the help of De Guzman and Bagunas (God bless their beautiful hearts) who supplied us with game stats and granted postgame interviews. It’s just a shame I never got to cover the team’s training in Japan when the Nationals’ preparation went on full throttle. (Note: A little confusion in the training camp coverage assignments had me flying to Japan with the women’s squad and Lance Agcaoili of Spin.ph joining the men’s team. But it was a great experience, nonetheless, and I’m grateful for Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. for the opportunity.) I was as confused as the other sportswriters present during the draw for the group stage a couple of months before the SEA Games when Alinsunurin chose to join the four-team bracket with Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Those three teams are considered contenders every SEA Games edition. And earning a semifinal spot would be harder compared to the other group composed of Thailand, Myanmar and Singapore. Fortunately, the gamble was worth it. Espejo and Bagunas were superb offensively, Malabunga and Retamar made their presence felt and the Nationals’ blocking shocked Cambodia and Vietnam as the Filipinos swept them both to secure a semis seat. Then came the steamrolling Indonesians. Honestly, I thought the Nationals would sweep their way to the group’s top seeding. That way the PHI’s would've avoided a semis clash with Thailand. Forced to take on the defending champions, the Filipinos found themselves down in the first set. They got back in the second frame before yielding the third. And when the Thais came to match point, 24-21, in the fourth we all thought it was over. Fans were slowly emptying the bleachers not wanting to see the impending defeat. I was already waiting for the final score. Ready break the result. Then a miracle happened. The Nationals nibbled on the Thais' lead to force a deuce. After another deadlock, the Filipinos stole the set. The fifth frame was classic story of ‘who wants it more will win.’ An extended set made it even more dramatic. I vividly remember that sequence when Bagunas hammered the game-clinching kill off a lob from Lopez. After that all that I can recall was me pumping my fist up in the air and slapping the hardest high-fives I ever did with those inside the press room while howling like a madman. The national team assured itself of a silver after 42 years. A silver after four freaking decades. They did it. Of course, the Indonesians bullied their way to winning the gold medal in a sweep of the inexperienced Filipinos. But who cares, the host team exceeded its podium expectations. That silver that glittered like gold made that coverage truly memorable. But it never crossed my mind that it would be the last important volleyball event that I will get to report. (Note: It would’ve been the UAAP if not for the health crisis that put all sporting events to a halt. Sad.) And that’s why I ended up writing these last few paragraphs. A farewell from this section. From my first article for this website back on December 1, 2014 – a post-mortem of Petron’s breakthrough title in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix – to my last published story, these were all written with only one thing in mind: in the service of the Filipino sports fan worldwide. Our run may have not been perfect, of course, we had our flaws. We had our fair share of criticisms from fans, athletes, sports personalities and sometimes even from our partner leagues and properties. We accepted our shortcomings. We tried to be better. But we are proud of what we did. We take pride with how we delivered sports stories through various digital executions that showcased sports beyond the confines of competition. On midnight of September 1 while most of you lay sound asleep, deep in slumber, hopefully, having a good dream and hours away from waking up looking forward to a better day, this website will be snapped out of existence. More than half a decade of sharing stories to the Filipino sports fan will be seeing its last presence online on Monday – a holiday to celebrate the nation’s heroes. This website will then hear its final buzzer, its final whistle. Thousands of articles – written with passion, dedication and love – will be taken down as this website goes offline together with majority of ABS-CBN Sports’ social media accounts. But soon, hopefully, it will once again see the light of day. We do hope that you will remember us, for we will remember all of you who made us your Kapamilya. -- 30 -- --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles Mark Escarlote has served as a sub-section editor for ABS-CBN Sports' website since 2014. He is among thousands of ABS-CBN employees who will be retrenched on August 31, 2020. .....»»
SEA GAMES: The silver that glittered like gold
When the editorial staff of ABS-CBN Sports was tasked to come up with our most memorable coverage, it didn’t take long for this writer to respond. The Philippine men’s volleyball team’s Southeast Asian Games semifinal match was the first thing that came to mind. Pesonally, that game against the highly-fancied Thailand squad topped all the countless volleyball matches that I’ve covered in my career. I’m at a loss for words on how to describe the emotions I felt that chilly night of December 8, 2019. Around 6,700 fans filled the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City not knowing that what they were about to witness was something historic. A magical night that would take away the frustrations they felt the day before when the more popular women’s team finished the preliminary round winless. For us sportswriters covering that assignment, we knew the Filipinos were up for a tough ride. Thailand ruled the last four editions of the event. On the other hand, the Philippines’ last significant outing in the biennial meet was a bronze medal finish back in 1991 – or when the current national team’s oldest member, setter Jessie Lopez was just five-years old. Did we doubt our own team? Let’s just say we prayed to the high heavens to give us something positive to write about. But don’t get us wrong. Those who followed the formation and preparation of the squad knew it would yield results come the SEA Games. After all, in all three batches of the Nationals that participated in the regional sports meet since 2015, this particular team had the longest time to prepare – around eight months to be exact. The team’s composition itself looked really promising. For the first time, two of country’s best hitters in Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas, who both have experience playing in the Japan V. League, donned the tricolors together. Espejo returned after skipping the 2017 edition so did his teammates in the 2015 squad Rex Intal and setter Ish Polvorosa. Bagunas was on his second tour of duty along with team captain John Vic De Guzman, Mark Alfafara, RanRan Abdilla and libero Jack Kalingking. Head coach Dante Alinsunurin, who was appointed to handle the team after Oliver Almadro and Sammy Acaylar in 2015 and 2017, respectively, tapped an old hand in Lopez and injected young bloods in playmaker Owa Retamar, Jau Umandal, Kim Malabunga, Ricky Marcos and Francis Saura. As part of their buildup the Nationals joined the Thailand Open Sealect Tuna Championship July last year. The Filipinos achieved a great feat when they won bronze. Fans were able to witness the Nationals’ campaign via YouTube streaming while we volleyball writers, got to file our full stories through the help of De Guzman and Bagunas (God bless their beautiful hearts) who supplied us with game stats and granted postgame interviews. It’s just a shame I never got to cover the team’s training in Japan when the Nationals’ preparation went on full throttle. (Note: A little confusion in the training camp coverage assignments had me flying to Japan with the women’s squad and Lance Agcaoili of Spin.ph joining the men’s team. But it was a great experience, nonetheless, and I’m grateful for Larong Volleyball sa Pilipinas, Inc. for the opportunity.) I was as confused as the other sportswriters present during the draw for the group stage a couple of months before the SEA Games when Alinsunurin chose to join the four-team bracket with Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Those three teams are considered contenders every SEA Games edition. And earning a semifinal spot would be harder compared to the other group composed of Thailand, Myanmar and Singapore. Fortunately, the gamble was worth it. Espejo and Bagunas were superb offensively, Malabunga and Retamar made their presence felt and the Nationals’ blocking shocked Cambodia and Vietnam as the Filipinos swept them both to secure a semis seat. Then came the steamrolling Indonesians. Honestly, I thought the Nationals would sweep their way to the group’s top seeding. That way the PHI’s would've avoided a semis clash with Thailand. Forced to take on the defending champions, the Filipinos found themselves down in the first set. They got back in the second frame before yielding the third. And when the Thais came to match point, 24-21, in the fourth we all thought it was over. Fans were slowly emptying the bleachers not wanting to see the impending defeat. I was already waiting for the final score. Ready break the result. Then a miracle happened. The Nationals nibbled on the Thais' lead to force a deuce. After another deadlock, the Filipinos stole the set. The fifth frame was classic story of ‘who wants it more will win.’ An extended set made it even more dramatic. I vividly remember that sequence when Bagunas hammered the game-clinching kill off a lob from Lopez. After that all that I can recall was me pumping my fist up in the air and slapping the hardest high-fives I ever did with those inside the press room while howling like a madman. The national team assured itself of a silver after 42 years. A silver after four freaking decades. They did it. Of course, the Indonesians bullied their way to winning the gold medal in a sweep of the inexperienced Filipinos. But who cares, the host team exceeded its podium expectations. That silver that glittered like gold made that coverage truly memorable. But it never crossed my mind that it would be the last important volleyball event that I will get to report. (Note: It would’ve been the UAAP if not for the health crisis that put all sporting events to a halt. Sad.) And that’s why I ended up writing these last few paragraphs. A farewell from this section. From my first article for this website back on December 1, 2014 – a post-mortem of Petron’s breakthrough title in the Philippine Superliga Grand Prix – to my last published story, these were all written with only one thing in mind: in the service of the Filipino sports fan worldwide. Our run may have not been perfect, of course, we had our flaws. We had our fair share of criticisms from fans, athletes, sports personalities and sometimes even from our partner leagues and properties. We accepted our shortcomings. We tried to be better. But we are proud of what we did. We take pride with how we delivered sports stories through various digital executions that showcased sports beyond the confines of competition. On midnight of September 1 while most of you lay sound asleep, deep in slumber, hopefully, having a good dream and hours away from waking up looking forward to a better day, this website will be snapped out of existence. More than half a decade of sharing stories to the Filipino sports fan will be seeing its last presence online on Monday – a holiday to celebrate the nation’s heroes. This website will then hear its final buzzer, its final whistle. Thousands of articles – written with passion, dedication and love – will be taken down as this website goes offline together with majority of ABS-CBN Sports’ social media accounts. But soon, hopefully, it will once again see the light of day. We do hope that you will remember us, for we will remember all of you who made us your Kapamilya. -- 30 -- --- Follow this writer on Twitter, @fromtheriles Mark Escarlote has served as a sub-section editor for ABS-CBN Sports' website since 2014. He is among thousands of ABS-CBN employees who will be retrenched on August 31, 2020. .....»»
EDITORIAL - Impersonators
As the coronavirus pandemic forces the country to shift to digital transactions, more effort is needed to secure cyberspace against troublemakers......»»
Cebu City sends heavy equipment to landslide-prone areas for super typhoon Betty
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CCDRRMO) has prepositioned heavy equipment for landslide-prone areas in the city as part of its preparations for the effects of Super Typhoon Betty. CCDRRMO head Harold Alcontin told CDN Digital that they have raised Blue Alert since Wednesday, May 24, 2023, which […] The post Cebu City sends heavy equipment to landslide-prone areas for super typhoon Betty appeared first on Cebu Daily News......»»
UnionBank recognized for IP Awareness and Protection
At the culminating activity of National Intellectual Property Month, the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines recognized the UnionBank of the Philippines for its support for intellectual property awareness and protection. The 2023 Gawad Yamang Isip Awards and Fashion Night, themed “Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity,” was held at The Manila Hotel last 26 April 2023. It highlighted the IP protection of Filipino textiles and fabrics through a fashion showcase. UnionBank was presented with a plaque of recognition for its partnership with (IPOPHL) in championing the protection of digital innovation technology intellectual properties. UnionBank’s senior vice president and head of Blockchain and API Business Group, Metaverse Center of Excellence and Government Projects, Catherine Anne Bautista-Casas, accepted the citation for the bank. “One thing we always talk about at the UnionBank Innovation Camp is that, for us, IP patents aren’t just legalities or papers on the wall… it represents the creative ideas of our employees and the values that we had established as a bank when we decided not just to digitize, but innovate,” Casas said. “When we innovate, we don’t just create something for our customers. We promote our society’s development, give people opportunities to create new things, and inspire other companies to do the same.” “As a digital innovator, IP protection is important to us, naturally, because of the numerous patents we file for our solutions and products. But more than that, IP protection safeguards employees’ ideas, who work hard to develop solutions that greatly benefit our customers,” Casas shared. “Whether in technology, science, engineering, or the arts…IP protection gives creators the credit they deserve for their societal contributions.” The 2023 Gawad Yamang Isip Awards and Fashion Night, attended by other distinguished guests, including Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” Romualdez Marcos and Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual, was meant to underscore the importance of IP protection in the creative industry and emphasize the significance of IP about the country’s social, cultural, economic and technological development. UnionBank is known for its digital banking innovations. It was the first to introduce numerous industry solutions like selfie banking, an open-source application programming interface platform, and the country’s first-ever fully digital and paperless banking branch, The Ark. UnionBank has consistently been introducing innovative solutions that continue redefining how Filipinos view banking. With the bank’s expertise in a wide range of emerging technologies, including data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, blockchain, cloud computing, and extended reality, UnionBank is on the way to building a digital banking dynasty as it has collected numerous awards including a 6-time Best Digital Bank recognition from The Asset among others. The post UnionBank recognized for IP Awareness and Protection appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EDITORIAL - Desaparecidos
As the country faces a super typhoon this weekend, there are families that are counting the days, weeks and years since their loved ones disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again......»»
UnionBank, PDAX tie up for cutting edge solutions
Aboitiz-led Union Bank of the Philippines has partnered with Philippine Digital Asset Exchange Inc. to offer cutting-edge solutions for fintechs, tech companies, digital services companies as well as micro, small and medium enterprises......»»
Sofia Salomon angling to become first trans Miss Venezuela
Sofia Salomon is the picture of concentration as she poses in bathing suits and evening wear for a photo shoot in preparation for what could be a historic campaign. The 25-year-old model is hoping to become the first-ever transgender woman to vie for the Miss Venezuela crown. "All eyes are on Miss Venezuela," she told AFP. "Me being there would be making history." Venezuela is one of the top producers of "Miss" pageant winners: It holds seven Miss Universe titles and six for Miss World. Beauty competitions are a way of life in the crisis-stricken South American country, with a guaranteed TV viewership of millions for the national pageant. "Like football is very important in other countries, here it is very important to be a beauty queen," Salomon said between poses. "When a girl is growing up, if she is tall, skinny, everyone tells her that she should go to Miss Venezuela. So it is something we grow up with, it is a culture, it is a feeling." Online entries for this year's Miss Venezuela pageant close next Wednesday, after which a panel will interview a shortlist and select 24 finalists. Organizers did not respond to AFP's queries about whether or not there would be any limitations on Salomon's participation in a deeply conservative and often homophobic society. Watch the video here: Support and love Salomon's campaign has drawn much attention on social media -- both messages of support and homophobic abuse. But she takes it all in stride. "Ever since I can remember, I have always had the support of my dad, my mom, and all my family," she told AFP. "I had an excellent childhood full of respect, of love, and so everything becomes easier because you can show society who you really are." Salomon took part last year in the Miss International Queen pageant in Thailand, the biggest for trans women, and made it into the top six. "There were many messages on social networks" from people who wanted me to "participate in another contest," she recounted. "Now that Miss Universe and Miss World accept transgender girls, this opportunity has opened for me to participate in Miss Venezuela." Angela Ponce broke barriers when in 2018, as Miss Spain, she became the first transgender contestant in Miss Universe. 'Hell for many' For Salomon, it is not only about personal glory but also giving "visibility" to people like her in a conservative society. She models in Spain and Mexico and has her own clothing brand. But not everyone is so lucky. "Being trans in Venezuela is hell for many people," said Richelle Briceno, a trans woman and activist. "It is to be excluded and it is to be excluded from equal opportunities." Salomon's high profile holds a positive message for Venezuelan society, added Briceno, that "trans people survive here and we impose ourselves in the good sense of the word." Argentina led the pack in Latin America by recognizing official gender changes in 2012, followed by Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru among others. Venezuela has no legislation in this area, allowing people only to change their names and even this is difficult, according to LGBTQ activists. Salomon has both Venezuelan and Colombian nationalities. In Colombia, unlike her country of birth, she is recognized as a woman. Venezuela also does not allow same-sex couples to marry or adopt children. "Whatever happens, I will remain a successful woman," Salomon told AFP. The post Sofia Salomon angling to become first trans Miss Venezuela appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Connectivity in education
Reliable and high-speed connectivity has become an essential component of practical education in the digital age, as students and teachers need access to the internet to engage in various online learning activities and resources. But many schools in underserved areas still struggle with connectivity issues. To address this challenge, Globe is supporting the Department of Education's MATATAG Agenda, which aims to improve the delivery of basic education facilities and services in far-flung places in the country. The company recently donated 100 Home Prepaid WiFi units to DepEd, distributed to various schools in the Cordillera Administrative Region and Region 1. Globe Home Prepaid WIFi offers budget-friendly yet fast and reliable internet access. By bringing technology and the internet closer to teachers and students, Globe is helping facilitate better and more efficient learning. High-speed internet connectivity allows teachers and students to access digital textbooks and multimedia learning resources and engage in collaborative online activities. This provides students with a more comprehensive and meaningful education and supports the development of critical digital literacy skills necessary for success in the 21st century. "Globe hopes to contribute to the achievement of the MATATAG Agenda and positively impact the lives of students and teachers in CAR and Region 1. Globe is committed to improving internet connectivity in schools across the Philippines and providing quality education for all," said Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto. The MATATAG Agenda has four critical components: making the curriculum relevant to produce competent and job-ready citizens, accelerating the delivery of basic education facilities and services, supporting teachers to teach better, and strengthening partnerships and collaborations of the education sector with other sectors. This is aligned with Globe's commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG No. 4, which advocates for equitable access to quality education and tools for digital upskilling. Globe's involvement in the DepEd program shows its dedication to ensuring every student has an equal chance to succeed, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographical location. Through its efforts to enhance internet connectivity in schools, Globe helps create more opportunities for students to access quality education and develop critical digital literacy skills. The post Connectivity in education appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Twitter quits EU disinformation code: commissionner
Twitter has decided to leave the EU's disinformation code, a voluntary pact that groups together the major social platforms, but "its obligations remain," EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton tweeted Saturday. Launched in 2018, the EU's code of practice on disinformation counts nearly three dozen signatories including the giants in the sector such as Meta, Google, Twitter, Microsoft, and TikTok. It also covers smaller platforms, as well as advertisers and fact-checkers, and non-governmental organizations. The code was written by the industry players themselves and contains over three dozen pledges such as better cooperation with fact-checkers and not promoting actors distributing disinformation. "You can run but you can't hide. Beyond voluntary commitments, fighting disinformation will be a legal obligation under DSA (digital services law) as of August 25," he wrote. "Our teams will be ready for enforcement," he warned. Since buying the social network six months ago, billionaire Elon Musk has relaxed the moderation of problematic content, which appears to have amplified the voices of notorious propagators of disinformation on the platform. "If (Elon Musk) doesn't take the code seriously, then it's better that he quits," a European Commission official told AFP on Friday. The post Twitter quits EU disinformation code: commissionner appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
EDITORIAL — Utmost deliberation
With billions in public funds at stake, and the independence of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas at risk of being undermined, the Senate must fulfill its role of providing checks and balances to the executive and consider the plan to set up the Maharlika Investment Fund with utmost deliberation......»»
Connectivity rating system pushed for digital services
The government should work with the private sector in establishing an easy-to-understand connectivity rating system to serve as a benchmark in providing the right level of connectivity to the volume of user traffic, a consumer advocacy group said......»»