Heat, Spoelstra keep competitive edge ahead of do-or-die game vs Lakers
Still missing the services of top scorer Goran Dragic, Jimmy Butler and the Heat will need to work extra hard to stay alive against the equally determined Lakers......»»
2024 all stars: A stalemate
They promised a high-intensity, competitive PBA All Star Game......»»
Tenorio makes PBA comeback after beating Big C
Barangay Ginebra's LA Tenorio will be making his long-awaited comeback to the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) after successfully beating colon cancer. Tenorio, who underwent a six-month treatment in Singapore, is now in remission and ready to step back onto the court. The 39-year-old point guard expressed his excitement and high spirits ahead of his first game in 10 months. Despite acknowledging the challenge of readjusting to competitive basketball, Tenorio is determined to fit in seamlessly with his teammates. He also expressed his gratitude to his family, friends, management, coaches, and the entire sports community for their support during his recovery. Tenorio, known as the Iron Man for his impressive streak of 744 consecutive games in the PBA, had his streak interrupted due to a groin injury and subsequent cancer diagnosis. During his time away from the game, he served as an assistant coach for Gilas Pilipinas in the 19th China Asian Games, where the Philippines emerged victorious......»»
SUCs told: Adapt with changing times
Commission on Higher Education chairperson Prospero de Vera III is calling on higher education institutions — including private colleges and universities — to adjust to how fast things change in the national and global landscape. De Vera said that universities should keep up with the changing technology and educational advancement to become globally competitive. “To our universities, we should not rest on our laurels because things change so rapidly in this world,” De Vera said in his speech during the 2023 Gawad Karangalan in Dasmariñas City, Cavite over the weekend. “The ability of our universities to continue excellence will be determined by how they can predict changes and adapt to it ahead of time,” he added. He also urged students to adapt to new things and use the newest technological tools that can help on their studies. “The world changes very quickly, so I want to say to our students the jobs that we are having now may not be the jobs in next two to three years,” De Vera said. The post SUCs told: Adapt with changing times appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
AI ‘no substitute’ for fashion designers’ creativity
AI is transforming the fashion world but the fast-growing technology will never be a replacement for designers' "original creativity", according to the head of a pioneering project. Fashion innovator Calvin Wong has developed the Interactive Design Assistant for Fashion (AiDA) -- the world's first designer-led AI system. It uses image-recognition technology to speed up the time it takes for a design to go from the first sketch to the catwalk. "Designers have their fabric prints, patterns, color tones, initial sketches and they upload the images," Wong told AFP. "Then our AI system can recognize those design elements and come up with more proposals for designers to refine and modify their original design." Wong said AiDA's particular strength was its ability to present "all the possible combinations" for a designer to consider, something he said was impossible in the current design process. An exhibition at Hong Kong's M+ Museum in December featured collections by 14 designers developed using the tool. But Wong stressed it was about "facilitating designers' inspiration" not "using AI to take over a designer's job, to take over their creativity". "We must treasure the designer's original creativity," he added. Wong heads up the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence in Design (AidLab), a collaboration between Britain's Royal College of Art (RCA) and Hong Kong Polytechnic University where he is a professor in fashion. 'Transformational' RCA vice chancellor Naren Barfield predicted the impact of AI on the fashion industry would be "transformational". "The impact is going to be huge from the ideation and conception stage through to prototyping, right the way through to manufacture, distribution, and then ultimately recycling," he said. So-called personalization is already being used to improve customer experience with better product recommendations and more effective searches, helping shoppers find what they want quickly and easily. But as the technology evolves so too is the range of highly specialized tools being developed. AiDA was just one of the AidLab projects being showcased in the British capital ahead of London Fashion Week, which started on Friday. Others included the Neo Couture project which aims to use advanced technologies to digitally preserve the specialized skills and techniques used by couturiers. With the UK fashion industry facing a skills shortage, it is creating an AI-assisted training system to help teach couture skills. Another project aims to increase sustainability to reduce the estimated 92 million tonnes of clothing that end up in landfills each year. One potential use of the AI Loupe project is to help designers overcome the problems of using so-called deadstock fabric. Designers can photograph leftover fabric and then use the tool to get the missing details to assess its suitability for their designs. "It uses the camera as your index, the material is the QR code that brings the information," said project researcher Chipp Jansen. Retain control The future of AI in fashion design, however, is not clear-cut. New York brand Collina Strada's founder Hillary Taymour this week admitted that she and her team used the AI image generator Midjourney to create the collection they showed at New York Fashion Week. Although Taymour only used images of the brand's own past looks to help generate its Spring/Summer 2024 collection, looming legal issues could keep AI-generated clothes off the catwalks for now. "In terms of fashion designed by AI, I would expect to hear from designers that there are questions of intellectual property rights," said Rebecca Lewin, a senior curator at London's Design Museum. "Because whatever comes back will have been scraped from published images and to get that regulated will need a lot of work." The RCA's Barfield said the area would be tricky but he expected it to be resolved through test cases and legislation. "I don't know how fast (AI) will be transformational but if it gives companies a competitive advantage I think they'll invest and take it up quickly," he said. The only thing currently holding companies back was the "massive investment" in infrastructure required, he said. "But once they've done that they can take the plunge then they will be making savings on material waste and productivity," he added. As for designers' fears that it might become a substitute for the human creative process, he said the key was who controlled the decision-making. Using a "genetic algorithm" where you started with one design and used the software to generate successive ones the computer could produce 1,000 varying looks, something that might take weeks to draw, he said. On the other hand, if the designer retained control AI could offer huge benefits by hugely speeding up the process "without necessarily making the decisions for them", he added. The post AI ‘no substitute’ for fashion designers’ creativity appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
The Advantage of Adopting the Right Digital Tools for your Business
Amid the uncertainty in customer behaviors and trends from the crisis, this much is clear: updating the business for a digital-first world, led by purpose, is now a must for almost every company. To do so, they must determine where new business value exists in the new normal, what digital business models will capture it, and which tools and behaviors will support the adaptability and resilience that these models require. On this section, we talked to the creators behind the award-winning platform made for businesses like yours. The Digital Advantage Companies need an understanding of 3rd Platform technologies to capitalize on improved decision-making and to deliver enhanced, customized experiences to stakeholders. The rapid acceleration of 3rd Platform technology adoption means that corporates need to actively be looking for ways to improve their operational efficiency and customer service, otherwise, they will be in danger of falling too far behind digitally-native competitors to ever catch up. Efficiency Past recessions show that controlling costs by improving operational efficiency—a task for which digital solutions are perfectly suited for—is more effective in sustaining businesses through financial turbulence than traditional cost-cutting measures alone. The biggest efficiency play is automation. Streamlining operations and automating manual processes result in greater speed, less waste and more focus on revenue-generating activities. The economics of automation is simple: the same work is performed faster and with fewer mistakes, while human capital resources can be redeployed to higher-value tasks or to fill critical gaps. Convenience Company bank accounts are available in any device, the only things you need are internet connection and a few taps on the screen. This brings about an increase in customer satisfaction as they are able to constantly keep track of their account balances and manage the information on their personal profile (i.e. add new mailing address, e-mails, telephone numbers, etc.). In addition to this, there is no need to go to the bank to get checks as they can be instantly sent via email. 24/7 Reliability Online banking services are available 24/7 all year round, even on weekends. There is no need to line up and wait for the bank to open in order to conduct certain operations. This is a huge advantage that comes with digital solutions Security With all the recent news about data breaches, you might be wondering about the security of mobile and online banking. Security is top priority for banks when choosing whether or not to offer online banking. All banks use “Pentagon-grade” encryption technology and sophisticated firewalls. Mandatory security upgrades are required by bank regulators, so you can be confident that keeping your information secure is one of your bank’s utmost priorities. As digital transactions increase and productivity grow, companies must take proactive steps to protect their data privacy and security and adopt models that give them governance over their data. Today’s Platform Driven Solutions Self-service account management, bills payment and electronic fund transfers are considered the basic banking functions that each business should have. Account management allows viewing of account balances and transaction history without going to the bank. All these were made easy and accessible, by just logging into UnionBank’s The Portal app. Bills Payment, on the other hand, gives businesses access to a large list of billers. They can pay their water, electricity, telco, and other utilities online. BIR ePayment is also available, allowing users to pay taxes online. If the company is an accounting firm, they can also pay for their client’s taxes on The Portal app. Electronic fund transfers save companies time and reduce their risk exposure. Just upload the batch crediting file on the platform and it automatically disburses it to their recipients. Clients can also set up their recipients in UnionBank Business Banking so they receive email and SMS notifications every time they are credited. All these are made possible without stepping inside a branch. Batch Electronic Funds Transfer is also now made available for UnionBank Transfers and PESONet. This enables the streamlining of bulk account to account transfers to another UnionBank account or to other bank accounts. This has highlighted the ease and convenience of going digital to corporate clients versus processing transactions through the traditional way of banking over-the-counter or paying via cheques. Going beyond the basic functions of a normal digital banking tool, The Portal’s self-enrollment feature allows businesses to conveniently self-enroll their nominated accounts and users through the simple enrollment steps. Once completed, access to The Portal is granted and clients may enjoy the convenience of processing their funds transfer instructions online. In addition, there is an option to initiate the enrollment of the beneficiary accounts individually or in bulk. This can be essential for clients that need a payee maintenance feature to ensure that the initiated transactions are only credited to enrolled account. With the convenient, hassle-free and straight-through processing in The Portal, businesses can easily push fund transfers in the comfort of their own homes or offices. This pandemic serves as a widespread test case for the effectiveness of these digital solutions, many of which will be permanent fixtures and lead to long-term changes for many businesses. Organizations that embrace digital solutions have greater resiliency in the face of adversity and are way ahead of the competition, which will enable them to recover faster and pivot from playing defense to chasing growth. While many believe it is too idealistic to have a good workplace culture and excellent compensation, many jobseekers significantly consider these two factors when applying for a job, according to two studies. The 2021 Employee Experience Survey by Willis Towers Watson reported that 89 percent of respondents believe a positive employee experience is a crucial driver of engagement, while a 2023 survey from the online recruitment platform JobStreet found that 53 percent of Filipino job seekers would like to know the salary range offered while still in the recruitment process. Aside from great benefits and compensation, employees in the IT industry pointed out that a good work culture and environment, as well as training programs, are the top priorities of job seekers. Vanessa Liwanag, business development director at Yondu, acknowledged the company’s role in her growth, “Yondu has helped me develop my leadership, decision-making, and communication skills through its effective leadership training programs. The company also helped me grow personally because of its hybrid setup. This allows me to have a work-life balance. I can still care for my family and health while contributing to the organization.” Leather, who specializes in securing networks from vulnerabilities, noted that training programs are essential as trends continuously evolve. IT professionals need to keep up in order to be efficient. Steph, a software solutions engineer, echoed this, adding that since the industry is highly competitive and fast-paced, getting equipped with the right skills and knowledge is essential. Grace, a malware researcher, said that one advantage in the IT field is that since it’s a broad industry, there is always much to learn and room for improvement. Yondu, an IT solutions company wholly owned by Globe, offers all these benefits and compensation, a good working environment, and training programs to Yondudes, a nickname for its employees. Competitive pay and benefits are OK for Yondu as the company ensures this through regularly benchmarking market data and best practices. There are also tailor-fitted rewards programs according to talent segments. Yondu also ensures its employees remain competitive and well-equipped by industry standards through various training, reskilling, and upskilling programs to hone their skills in the constantly changing tech industry. Despite the fast-paced sector continuously evolving, Yondu still values work-life balance and provides programs to support Yondudes’ well-being further. “What sets Yondu apart from other organizations is its genuine focus on understanding and supporting its employees,” said Javen Babac, lead application support specialist at Yondu. “The company recognizes that employees perform their best when they feel valued and supported, and this philosophy sets Yondu apart by fostering a positive and inclusive work environment. The organization’s commitment to understanding its employees and providing the necessary resources demonstrates its dedication to employee well-being and sets a strong foundation for professional growth and job satisfaction.” The post The Advantage of Adopting the Right Digital Tools for your Business appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Alibaba announces surprise departure of ex-CEO
Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has announced the surprise departure of former CEO Daniel Zhang, who had been set Monday to take charge of a key subsidiary as the firm undergoes a major restructuring. Hangzhou-based Alibaba is one of China's most prominent technology firms, with business operations spanning cloud computing, e-commerce, logistics, media and entertainment, and artificial intelligence. After years of turbulence in the Chinese tech sector, Alibaba in March announced the biggest restructuring in its history, dividing itself into six entities, with the goal of listing them on the stock exchange separately. CEO Daniel Zhang was due to take charge of the firm's new cloud computing branch, now a separate entity, on Monday. But two months after announcing his appointment, Alibaba said its ex-boss was no longer with the company. "The board of our Company expresses its deepest appreciation to Mr. Zhang for his contributions to Alibaba Group over the past 16 years," the company said in a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, where it is listed, late on Sunday. It gave no reason for his departure. Plans for a spin-off cloud computing firm would go ahead, Alibaba said, "under a separate management team to be appointed". The company announced in June that Zhang would be replaced by Joseph Tsai as chairman and Eddie Wu as CEO. The executive played a vital role in the company's success in the past decade, spearheading the now hugely popular Singles' Day shopping festival since its first edition in 2009. Shares in the firm sank nearly 3.5 percent Monday -- the first working day of its new reorganization into six distinct branches. In addition to e-commerce and cloud computing, Alibaba's reach stretches into everything from logistics to media, entertainment and artificial intelligence. But its vast size brought it into the crosshairs of Chinese regulators as Beijing sought to crack down on the tech sector. In 2020, Alibaba became the country's first tech giant to bear the brunt of increased oversight, when authorities called off what would have become one of the most valuable public listings in history -- valued at $34 billion -- for its former subsidiary Ant Group. Ant Group is the owner of Alipay, a mobile payment application widely used in China. One month after officials hit the brakes on its IPO, Alibaba was investigated for alleged anti-competitive practices, then issued a $2.8 billion fine. And in July authorities fined Ant Group nearly $1 billion for breaching banking regulations. The post Alibaba announces surprise departure of ex-CEO appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Prime Global Finance offers competitive advantage
Prime Global Finance or PG Finance offers small and medium-sized enterprises a competitive advantage through its comprehensive range of services and products. Whether you are scaling up your business or expanding your reach, product lines, and/or services, PG Finance serves as one of the most reliable fintech platforms and financial lending companies in the country today. PG Finance takes pride in transparency and integrity, making it a trusted partner for business owners, startups, and entrepreneurs. With its diminishing-rate loans, PG Finance provides businesses with the opportunity and leverage for growth and expansion. It is also known for quick approval feedback granted within 24 - 48 hours. Revolutionizing the Lending Experience with Seamless Digital Applications Powered by cutting-edge technology, PG Finance offers an end-to-end digital application process that streamlines the lending experience like never before. Say goodbye to inconvenient paperwork and time-consuming processes. With PGFinance.com.ph, SMEs can effortlessly apply for loans, submit required documents, and track their application status online. The entire process is designed to be efficient and user-friendly, empowering businesses to focus on what matters most -- their growth and success. Reducing Physical Interactions, Enhancing Convenience At Prime Global Finance, we understand the value of your time and the need for convenience. We have implemented an innovative approach that minimizes physical interactions. Through our digital platform, the majority of one's lending journey can be completed online, right from the comfort of their place. The only physical interaction required is signing documentation and accepting checks -- ensuring a secure and efficient process. Unleashing the Potential of Digital Transformation By embracing digital transformation, Prime Global Finance enables businesses to thrive in the digital economy. Our end-to-end digital application process eliminates the need for lengthy visits to physical branches, reducing hassle and saving one’s valuable time. With just a few clicks, SMEs can access a wide range of financial services, track their loan details, and manage their financial obligations—all at their fingertips. This seamless integration of technology empowers businesses to stay ahead of the competition and make informed financial decisions with ease. Empowering Your Business for Success PG Finance also empowers its clients with the right digital tools and information to efficiently manage their loans, ensuring transparency, convenience, and a hassle-free experience. PG Finance understands the unique challenges faced by SMEs, and our digital solutions are specifically tailored to meet their needs. With Prime Global Finance as your trusted partner, you can unlock the full potential of your business and navigate the digital landscape with confidence. "With our groundbreaking advancements, we have gained the trust and loyalty of countless SMEs, solidifying our position as a leader in the digital landscape. If you are a startup, entrepreneur, or a growing enterprise, Prime Global Finance is here to assist you in navigating the digital economy, empowering your business, and ensuring a high ratio of success," said PGFC president Rico de la Cruz. The post Prime Global Finance offers competitive advantage appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Empowering businesses with innovative
In today’s digital age, businesses across industries constantly seek innovative solutions to enhance operations and stay ahead of the competition. As the B2B arm of the Philippines’ largest fully integrated telecommunications and digital services provider, PLDT Enterprise has empowered businesses with cutting-edge technology and customized solutions. PLDT Enterprise understands the unique needs and requirements of businesses in the industry and delivers tailored solutions to future-proof companies. As part of its commitment to empowering businesses from different industries, PLDT Enterprise teams up with OfficePartners360 (OP360), a leading US-headquartered BPO company with offices in Cebu and Davao. At the core of this collaboration is PLDT Enterprise’s iGate solution, a high-performance Internet service designed to meet the demands of the fast-paced IT-BPO sector. iGate provides dedicated and reliable connectivity, assuring fast and reliable Internet connections. Through its dedicated bandwidth, businesses can run intensive applications seamlessly, host rich media content, and ensure the smooth flow of communications. PLDT Enterprise’s Metro Ethernet Solutions (Metro E-Wan) offers secure and reliable connectivity beyond traditional Wi-Fi services. Using a highly redundant fiber optic network, Metro E-Wan provides unparalleled business connectivity. This eliminates the limitations and uncertainties of leased line services, allowing businesses to enjoy Ethernet technology’s simplicity, transparency, and scalability. Reliable connectivity and robust security measures protect sensitive information, allowing companies to focus on delivering exceptional services. Further improving the operations and collaborations in OP360, the IT-BPO company also relies on Smart Bizload to support its work-from-home employees. This innovative platform streamlines and optimizes communication processes by automating the distribution of prepaid loads. This allows businesses to allocate and distribute prepaid loads to their workforce conveniently. Smart Bizload’s secure nature safeguards sensitive information, providing peace of mind for businesses. The user-friendly and intuitive interface allows for efficient load distribution management and monitoring, ensuring transparency and control over communication expenses. PLDT Enterprise’s partnership with OP360 extends beyond connectivity solutions. It reflects a shared vision of growth for the IT-BPO industry in the Philippines, further strengthening its global ranking in the outsourcing sector. A bolstered IT-BPO workforce with the right tools and training contributes to a more robust and competitive industry. Looking ahead, both PLDT Enterprise and OP360 have exciting expansion plans. OP360 is opening a new site in Cebu and another site in Cagayan de Oro scheduled this year, further expanding its reach in the IT-BPO industry. These new sites will benefit from iGate and Metro Ethernet circuits, enabling seamless connectivity and supporting their growing operations. The post Empowering businesses with innovative appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
PBBM promises improved partnership, coordination with private sector
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday pledged an improved partnership and coordination with the private sector to achieve the objectives of his government in attracting more investments and bringing about a transformative impact on the Philippine economy. The Chief Executive said this during the launch of the Kanegosyo Center at the Palacio de Memoria along Roxas Boulevard in Parañaque City. "We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but you can be assured that we are working together very closely, down the same direction, you in the private sector and us in the government helping one another so that we can transform this economy, to be able to be competitive worldwide and find ourselves as an investment destination, as a thriving economy with a stable situation in our country," Marcos said. "That is the dream. That is the inspiration. I sincerely believe that with programs like this, with all of us working together, we can achieve that," Marcos added. Marcos is hopeful that the Kanegosyo Center, a program created by Cebuana Lhuillier to help Filipino MSMEs, will help these businesses become more competitive in the global market. The Chief Executive expressed his optimism that the initiative would successfully create a supportive environment for start-ups, assist small businesses with promising ideas, and stimulate economic growth. "It is not done just purely out of business instincts. It is not something that is done to make a profit. It is something that is done to help. And that, I think, is the difference in what we see with these programs helping the MSMEs," Marcos said. Marcos thanked the people who helped launch the Kanegosyo Center, a program that will help MSMEs in the Philippines. He noted that MSMEs are essential to the economy, representing over 99 percent of business establishments and employing around 63 percent of the workforce. He expressed hope that the Kanegosyo Center will be successful in helping MSMEs grow and prosper. "That's why we can do nothing but applaud and continue to support all of the efforts such as Kanegosyo, all of our entrepreneurs teaching our upcoming entrepreneurs how to do business," Marcos said. Cebuana Lhuillier introduced the Kanegosyo Center in response to Marcos' call for a comprehensive approach to revitalizing small businesses in the Philippines during the MSME Summit 2022. As an all-in-one digital platform for MSMEs, the Kanegosyo Center offers various services to promote ease of doing business in the country. It provides curated resources and supportive interventions to facilitate business operations. One of its offerings is the "Kanegosyo Coach," which aims to guide current and aspiring MSME owners by equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate various stages of business management. The center also provides "Kanegosyo Assist," which grants entrepreneurs access to government permits and registration processes, enabling them to legitimize their businesses and foster growth. Moreover, the "Kanegosyo Bundle" offers aspiring business owners and experienced entrepreneurs access to loans, investments, banking services, and insurance to help them establish and expand their enterprises. Since its initial launch, the Kanegosyo Center has seen over 10,500 aspiring entrepreneurs benefit from Cebuana Lhuillier's coaching modules. Additionally, micro and small business owners in 79 provinces have received assistance through micro-business loans and micro-insurance solutions. Seventy-four thousand one hundred eleven (74,111) members of Cebuana Lhuillier Kanegosyo have availed of the one-stop online services for MSMEs. The post PBBM promises improved partnership, coordination with private sector appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Dominating 5G speeds
Leading digital solutions platform Globe emerged as the fastest 5G mobile network for the first quarter of 2023 in Makati City, a key business hub in the Philippines. Based on Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® Q1 2023 data, Globe edged out its closest competitor with a median download speed of 171.814 Mbps from January to March this year. Makati City is an important financial center in the Philippines, hosting the headquarters of majority of the Philippines’ top 1,000 companies as well as multinational corporations operating locally. 5G’s faster speeds, higher bandwidth, and more stable internet connection offer big corporations numerous benefits, including enhanced mobility, new business opportunities, and improved customer experience. These can give enterprises a competitive edge and help them stay ahead of the curve in today’s fast-paced market. As of the first quarter of 2023, Globe deployed 66 new 5G sites in 74 cities and towns across the Philippines. This expanded its 5G outdoor coverage to 97.21% of the National Capital Region and 90.28% of key cities in Visayas and Mindanao. Globe also logged 4.3 million devices in its 5G network as of March 2023. “With 5G, we are opening doors to endless possibilities and opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and development. We believe that everyone deserves to experience the benefits of 5G, and we are committed to making this a reality for all our customers,” said Globe Chief Transformation and Customer Experience Officer Rebecca Eclipse. As a leading provider of 5G connectivity, Globe has always been committed to providing a #1stWorldNetwork to Filipinos, in line with its commitment to economic growth and development under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Its efforts were rewarded with the Ookla® recognition as the Most Reliable Mobile Network for four straight quarters — from the second quarter of 2022 to the first quarter of 2023. Based on Ookla® Speedtest Intelligence® Q1 2023 data, Globe dominated the industry anew after obtaining the highest All Technology Consistency Score of 83.39 percent in the first quarter of 2023, an improvement from 83.13 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. It also topped All Technology Availability with a higher score of 93.18 percent in the first quarter from 92.38 percent in the previous quarter. The post Dominating 5G speeds appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Metaverse shapes recruitment future
Sun Life Asia Service Center Philippines is tapping into the power of Metaverse for its talent acquisition and recruitment activities as it rolls out its campus hiring among technology university students across the region. The campus hiring in Metaverse aligns with the company's overall recruitment efforts to equip university students in their career journey right from graduation to internship and formal employment. Furthermore, Sun Life ASCP envisions achieving a more streamlined and efficient hiring operation, identifying the right talents for each available role, and ultimately providing a positive candidate experience throughout the hiring process. The Metaverse will mirror the existing facilities of the Sun Life ASCP office through 3D technology — allowing candidates to create their fun avatars and easily roam around, engage, and interact with Sun Life ASCP's HR recruiters and hiring managers — just like how it was in real life. Apart from launching Metaverse, Sun Life ASCP will also roll out its own Sinag Chatbot, which will be the candidate's companion — guiding them in their queries, concerns, and other application requirements when they engage with it on ASCP's Facebook page. Utilizing this automated tool will enable faster turn-around time in processing applications while saving resources and expenses for both the candidate and the company. With the launch of these new digital innovations, Sun Life ASCP is eyeing to target 300 potential candidates — contributing 10-20 percent of new hires for the company. Through this, it expects to generate a minimum of P100,000 in savings per hire. "Sun Life ASCP has constantly been innovating and leveraging new technologies to enhance its operations, improve customer experiences and overall deliver best-in-class services," shared Chandan Barve, VP and chief administrative officer of Sun Life ASC. The launch of campus hiring in Metaverse and Sinag Chatbot at ASCP aligns with our digital-first approach. It will help improve the company's overall recruitment effort as we establish a more efficient and effective hiring process. As a result, candidates can enjoy a positive and seamless experience throughout the hiring journey." Some of the past innovations implemented by Sun Life ASCP were the gamification of its performance management, where it leveraged game-like elements such as scoring, rewards, and competitions to create a more engaging workplace experience, and hosting of virtual job fairs and webinars for job seekers to apply easily and follow-up their applications in the comforts of their home. Since then, the company has achieved scale, growth, and operational maturity by providing Business Processing, IT, investment research, and enterprise infrastructure to Sun Life's global businesses. Moreover, it continues to enhance its business model by building a digital culture and mindset — all enabled by the latest technologies, data-driven insights, skill sets, talent and agile and innovative frameworks. Metaverse campus hiring a critical digital intervention In this age of rapid digitalization, companies leverage more technologies and tools to engage with their audiences effectively. Gartner, a leading technology research and consulting firm, defines digitalization as using digital technologies to transform and enhance business models — creating new revenue and value-creation opportunities. By embracing digitalization, companies can stay ahead of the curve and remain competitive in an ever-evolving marketplace. The post Metaverse shapes recruitment future appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Making the most of Philippine Summer
Despite perennially reeling from the scorching heat, Filipinos nevertheless look forward to summer to take a break from the rigors of daily life and enjoy the sun, sand and sea. The months of March to May is always a time to enjoy the outdoors, as the Philippines, being a tropical country, is replete with summer destinations that local and foreign tourists go gaga about. Topping these getaway spots, hands down is the beach. With over 7,000 islands, the country boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Among the most popular are Boracay, Palawan and Siargao — all known for their crystal-clear waters, powdery white sands and stunning sunsets. [caption id="attachment_129829" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A boy ignoring warnings not to swim in polluted Manila Bay dives in to beat the summer heat as boats prepare for the fist annual regatta, 26 May 2002, aimed at increasing public awareness on the environment. The Philippine government has been taking steps to clean-up the historic bay, famed for its breath-taking sunsets, which has become a depository for trash and industrial waste in recent years. AFP PHOTO/Joel NITO (Photo by JOEL NITO / AFP)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_129827" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Tourists relax along a beach in Boracay island in Malay town, Aklan province, central Philippines on April 7, 2018. - The Philippine tourism industry scrambled on April 6 to manage the fallout from the temporary shutdown of its world-famous Boracay island, which threw into chaos trips planned by hundreds of thousands of tourists. (Photo by AFP)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_129828" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A surfer takes advantage of the conditions at Big Wave Bay on the southern side of Hong Kong island 05 July 2001 as tyhoon 'Utor' heads nearer to the territory after lashing southern Taiwan and the Philippines. 'Utor' one of the biggest typhoons to hit the South China Sea in thirty years is expected to hit landfall in southern China tommorrow morning coming close to Hong Kong at the same time.AFP PHOTO/Peter PARKS (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_129830" align="aligncenter" width="525"] A tourist goes airborne while kite boarding in the waters of Boracay island on November 9, 2008. The white sand beach resort island is in center of controversy as investors and property owners accused the government of land grabbing following the 2006 proclamation by the Philippine government that the entire island belongs to the state. Boracay island located in central Philippines draws half a million tourists each year to its spectacular beaches, more than one sixth of tourist visitors to the country. AFP PHOTO/JAY DIRECTO (Photo by JAY DIRECTO / AFP)[/caption] Aside from the beach, summertime is a chance to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and island hopping. Tourists take advantage of the summer months to explore the natural beauty of the country. [caption id="attachment_129826" align="aligncenter" width="525"] This picture taken on October 12, 2019 shows members of Myanmar's national surfing team resting during a competition on Ngwe Saung beach in Irrawaddy division, ahead of the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines. - Competitive surfing was barely known in Myanmar a few years ago but a group of super-stoked dudes and dudettes from a local beach town are riding a wave of enthusiasm to the Southeast Asian Games for the first time ever. (Photo by Ye Aung THU / AFP)[/caption] Among the more popular hiking spots are Mt. Pulag, Mt. Batulao and Mt Pinatubo which all offer breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences. Of course, we should not forget that summer in the Philippines is also a time for festivities. One of the most celebrated festivals during this season is the Pahiyas Festival in Lucban, Quezon. The festival is held every May in honor of San Isidro Labrador, the patron saint of farmers. During the event, the town is decorated with colorful kiping (rice wafers) and other agricultural products. [caption id="attachment_129831" align="aligncenter" width="525"] Children on a float made of native materials and decorated with vegetables and rice stalks parade on the streets for a contest ahead of the annual "Pahiyas" harvest festival in the town of Lucban, in Quezon province, south of Manila, 14 May 2005. During the festival, residents use native plants, vegetable products and rice paper to decorate their floats, homes and vehicles in imaginative ways. AFP PHOTO/JAY DIRECTO (Photo by JAY DIRECTO / AFP)[/caption] Another popular festival during this time is the Kadayawan Festival in Davao City. The festival is held every August and is a celebration of the city’s bountiful harvest. It is a colorful event that features street dancing, music and a parade of flowers. Whatever one fancies to beat the summer heat, there is always something to look forward to hereabouts. Whether one wants to relax, go on an adventure or celebrate, one can find it here in a paradise even tourists call paradise. The post Making the most of Philippine Summer appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Phl volleybelles sharpen reception
The Philippine national women’s team got a first look at what it needs to address heading into the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia next month. Pitted against Japan V. League club Himeji Victorina in their first competitive scrimmage since the their formation last month, the Filipinas suffered a 21-25, 25-19, 13-25, 22-25, loss on Saturday at the Daicel Gymnasium in Himeji City in the first of their series of tune-up matches scheduled in their 15-day training camp in Japan. The national coaching staff headed by Brazilian mentor Jorge Souza de Brito took the opportunity to assess the condition, chemistry and cohesion of the squad to plot a perfect training plan needed for its mission to end an 18-year podium drought in the biennial meet set from 5 to 17 May. Philippine National Volleyball Federation national teams commission head Tonyboy Liao pointed out that the squad still needs to polish an important facet of the game. “We have to improve our reception. We saw that during the game against Himeji,” Liao, who was joined in the training camp by ranking federation officials, said. Reception has always been the weakness of the national squad despite having excellent liberos and hitters with decent floor defense. The 14-man team led by skipper Alyssa Valdez, which is looking to score a medal for the first time since winning bronze in the 2005 Manila edition, still has time to polish its game before closing camp on 28 April. Meanwhile, the PNVF led by its officials and Himeji Victorina club formally signed a friendship agreement to further strengthen their volleyball ties. “The Philippine Volleyball Federation and Victorina Himeji will continue to cooperate to share each other’s volleyball promotion and player skills enhancement programs and this is a sign of friendship,” the agreement signed by the PNVF and Himeji Victorina executives. The Nationals were warmly welcomed by host Himeji Victorina when they arrived at the Asian volleyball powerhouse nation early Friday. This is the first time that the Filipinas made their return to Japan to train since their Tokyo camp for the 30th SEA Games in Manila in 2019. They trained in Brazil last year for the pandemic-delayed Hanoi SEA Games last year. The Filipinas will face Vietnam, Cambodia and Singapore in Group B of the elimination round of the competition set to begin two days ahead of the opening ceremony on 3 May at the Morodok Techo Elephant Hall. The post Phl volleybelles sharpen reception appeared first on Daily Tribune......»»
Meralco executes emergency power supply deal with San Miguel unit
The Department of Energy gave them the go-ahead, exempting the power utility from a competitive selection process......»»
Federer: Retirement never on cards
DOHA—Roger Federer said retirement was never an option during his battle with injury, insisting Sunday the recovery from knee surgery was “completely under control” ahead of his return to competitive tennis at this week’s Qatar Open......»»
Heat, Spoelstra keep competitive edge ahead of do-or-die game vs Lakers
Still missing the services of top scorer Goran Dragic, Jimmy Butler and the Heat will need to work extra hard to stay alive against the equally determined Lakers......»»
Spurs keep playoff hopes alive with 123-105 win over Rockets
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — The Spurs aren’t out of it yet. Keldon Johnson had 24 points and 11 rebounds, and San Antonio kept alive its chances of becoming the first team in NBA history to make 23 consecutive playoff appearances with a 123-105 victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday (Wednesday in the Philippines). San Antonio has won three straight and five out of seven since arriving in the Florida bubble. DeMar DeRozan added 23 points. Jakob Poeltl finished with 14 points and 12 rebounds. A total of seven Spurs reached double figures. Johnson said his mindset since the season restarted has been to fill in whatever role is asked of him. “Whether it's hustling, running the floor — just doing whatever I need to do to help us win,” he said. “Help from my teammates has definitely helped the game slow down for me." Popovich said Johnson is playing with the confidence they saw when they drafted him 29th overall last year. “That’s what he does," Popovich said. "He’s a high-energy guy. He's very physical. Very competitive. Very coachable. He’s just a winner.” The Western Conference is guaranteed to have a play-in for its final playoff spot, with Memphis beginning the day with just a half-game lead over Portland and one game ahead of Phoenix and San Antonio. The Spurs will need help to be one of the teams playing this weekend for the final spot in the West, but made sure they couldn't be eliminated Tuesday with their win. Russell Westbrook had 20 points and seven turnovers in his first game back in the lineup for Houston after missing two games with a bruised right quadriceps. Jeff Green had 17 points. Ben McLemore added 16. The Rockets played without guards James Harden (rest) and Eric Gordon (ankle). Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said the most important part of their final two games before the playoffs will be getting Westbrook some quality minutes so that he is fresh. “Get some of the rust off, build up his legs a little bit,” D'Antoni said. “We'll try to get through these two games and just try to get guys physically ready to go next week.” Westbrook said he isn't worried about finding his timing before the playoffs begin. “I'll get it back,” he said. The Spurs took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Rockets 35-24. San Antonio led by as many as 29 points. San Antonio built a 19-point lead in the first half. DeRozan set the tone with 15 points in the opening 24 minutes, with Lonnie Waker IV, Poeltl and Johnson each scoring 10. TIP-INS Rockets: Went 14 of 48 from the 3-point line. ... Danuel House Jr. sat out with a toe injury. Spurs: Patty Mills (rest) missed his third straight game. WIN-WIN Regardless of whether the Spurs make the playoffs, Popovich is proud of how his young players have stepped up in during their time in the bubble. “Part of it is you have to be realistic,” Popovich said. “I don’t think our chances of winning the championship were great at the beginning of this, nor are they now. If that’s a fact, then you need to do everything you can to develop and be prepared for next season. “The development has been off the charts. We’re thrilled with it. So it’s a win-win no matter what.” Popovich said it would be “thrilling” to get some help and have a chance to extend their season, but he’s not using it as a measuring stick for the season. “We’ve already accomplished what we thought we were capable of accomplishing, that’s what’s important. If we got in now it would be icing on the cake.” UP NEXT Rockets: Play Pacers on Wednesday (Thursday in the Philippines) Spurs: Conclude their seeding schedule Thursday (Friday in the Philippines) against Utah......»»
Robotic automation pivotal in powering Philippine manufacturers
Universal Robots, Denmark-based collaborative robots (cobots) technology market leader, today urged Philippines manufacturers to accelerate the adoption of robotic automation in order to remain competitive and efficient ahead of tough economic times after the COVID-19 pandemic......»»
Leren proud kay Ricci: From your Nanay, Tita and Ate all in one
SUPER proud ang beauty queen-politician na si Leren Mae Bautista sa panibagong achievement na nakamit ng kanyang dyowang si Ricci Rivero. Nitong Martes, March 26, ibinandera ng Laguna councilor ang kanilang larawan pati na rin ang video ni Ricci habang naglalaro ito sa kanyang kauna-unahang PBA All-Star Game bilang rookie. Sa kabila ng sobrang pagka-proud.....»»
PNVF forms coaching sataff for world meet
Seasoned coach Dante Alinsunurin will make a comeback as one of the deputies for the national men’s team as host Philippines pulls out all the stops to parade a competitive squad against the best of the best in the FIVB Volleyball Men’s World Championships 2025......»»