One of the keys to unlocking the economic potential of Quezon Province is the expansion of the Port of Lucena

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One of the keys to unlocking the economic potential of Quezon Province is the expansion of the Port of Lucena with its additional pier to accommodate heavier Ro-Ro traffic, Transportation Secretary Art Tugade stressed today, 25 September 2021.
“Ito 'ho ay isang malaking susi sa kaunlaran sa probinsya ng Quezon, at kaunlaran dito sa Lucena,” Sec. Tugade said during the inauguration of Port of Lucena’s newly completed Port Operations Building (POB) and additional Pier 3.

With a high concentration of passengers and rolling cargoes bound for the provinces of Marinduque and Romblon, the new pier facility will decongest the port as it will open up additional space for vessels and ensure the efficient and faster turnaround of commercial vessels.

The port’s twin developments will also yield lower logistics costs and shipping fees.

The Port of Lucena handles about 6,000 ship calls annually or at least 50% of the consolidated ship calls handled by the port at 12,500 ship-calls.

In terms of Ro-Ro traffic, the annual average is pegged at 131,000 rolling cargoes, representing 50% of the overall annual Ro-Ro traffic for the entire PMO.

Sec. Tugade announced bigger developments for the port with the Southern Nautical Highway to soon become a reality with the project’s construction works starting in the next two weeks.

“That Southern Nautical Highway will soon be a reality. Pinondohan na ni PPA General Manager Jay Santiago ‘yan. ‘Yang Southern Nautical Highway na ‘yan ay magiging isang realidad. In fact, kung meron nang pondo, meron nang plano, mag-uumpisa na ‘ho ‘yung trabaho sa mga darating na linggo. Magkakatotoo, at ipapatotoo natin ‘yang Southern Nautical Highway,” said Tugade, adding that the funds for the port’s expansion have been allocated already, while the Notice to Proceed has also been released.

“Mag-uumpisa na ‘ho ‘yung konstruksyon sa expansion sa pier, sa darating na dalawang linggo,” he added.

Sec. Tugade also congratulated Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Santiago for yet another successful feat by completing the Port of Lucena’s development projects.

“Taos-puso ang pasasalamat ko kay GM Jay Santiago at sa buong lupon ng PPA. Sinasambit ko ang aking matinding pasasalamat. Ang nakita ko ‘ho ngayon ay ibang-iba sa nakita ko noon. Ngayon ‘ho, meron na pong pasilidad, merong opisina ang PMO, at maayos ang pagkagawa. To you, Jay Santiago, congratulations for a good performance in constructing the PMO,” Secretary Tugade said.

Quezon Province Governor Danilo Suarez, meanwhile, explained that Quezon’s neighboring provinces of Marinduque, Romblon and Masbate will also benefit from the improvement and expansion of the Lucena Port as it will trigger the development and economic progress of each provinces, while ensuring food security for CALABARZON and Metro Manila.

“Hindi lamang po kami ang makikinabang kundi ang Marinduque, Romblon, Masbate, at iba pa pong mga karatig lalawigan namin will be benefitting dito po sa port na ito. As I’ve said, this will be a catalyst for employment, better trade and commerce between our co-provinces, and at the same time, the most important is that it will reduce handling and transportation costs for vital food and security, lalo na ngayong may pandemic,” Governor Suarez said.

PLDT lauds ‘unbreakable spirit’ of PH enterprises amid challenging times

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The COVID-19 pandemic has presented immense challenges to industries around the world. With mobility restrictions in place, business owners had to rethink their operations and adjust to navigate the uncertainties in the new normal.

Although some companies were able to adapt and seamlessly shift to the new norm, the process was not easy with many struggling with financial losses and temporary business closures.

A survey from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) released September last year reported that the Philippine economy experienced the worst impacts of the pandemic. The Philippines logged the highest number of business closures and layoffs among its peers in Southeast Asia.

Despite that, Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP and Head of PLDT & Smart Enterprise and International Business Groups, said that resilience is one of the core values that helped businesses conquer the challenges of the pandemic. This ‘unbreakable spirit’ of enterprises allowed them to embrace uncertainties, accept adversities, and implement necessary measures to continue their operations.

“Enterprises have successfully adapted and were able to minimize their losses through digitalization. This shows that enterprises – whether small or large – have the unbreakable spirit to overcome challenges, and we honor them for that,” he said.

During the onset of the lockdowns and community quarantine in place, PLDT Enterprise has continued to collaborate with businesses across the region to address their specific pain points and challenges through tailor-fit solutions. Such partnerships have allowed organizations in different industries to sustain their operations and in turn, continue serving their own end customers aligned to their individual visions.

Hernandez added that PLDT Enterprise is committed to strengthening its connectivity and technology services to support businesses in accelerating their recovery and building their resiliency.

“We express our sincerest gratitude to all of our partners for their continued trust in us. And we at PLDT Enterprise underscore our unbreakable commitment in providing more innovative digital solutions suitable to the changing times that will further support the recovery and growth of businesses—so together, we can continue making a positive impact on the lives of more Filipinos,” he concluded.

PLDT Enterprise recently unveiled its Unbreakable Commitment campaign which highlights how its collaboration with different brands and organizations in the country has helped them thrive despite today’s circumstances—and in turn, contribute to the lives of Filipinos. This campaign also reinforces PLDT Enterprise’s unbreakable commitment in empowering the endeavors of organizations through technology. Watch the video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uofuMK7E8NU



For more information, visit pldtenterprise.com. 

Advance Happy Birthday to the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas

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It's the birthday of Ross Del Rosario, the Pambansang Blogger, on October 6.

We would like to send our advance greetings before we all forget because we're too stressed with this seemingly unending pandemic especially here in the Philippines where our current government is doing a very bad response.

Indeed, in the middle of this pandemic, we learn about depressing news adding to the problems brought about by this  Corona virus aka Covid-19.

This issue regarding a dubious transaction involving government agencies led by Lloyd Christopher Lao of the Procurement Services of  Department of Budget and Management (PS-DBM) and Francisco Duque of the Department of Health (DOH), together with Michael Yang, a Chinese personality based in Davao with alleged previous involvement in drug trafficking and smuggling, and known as a friend and former economic adviser of outgoing president Duterte, and also executives of a company called Pharmally Pharmaceuticals Corporation led by Lincoln Ong.

A lot of developments led to many revealing discoveries leading to probable swindling activities. Something tells us there's going to be a lot more to be exposed, and a lot more still unearthed. What is very evident: Pharmally got favored by this government.

But enough of this issue for now since this post is dedicated to our Wazzup Pilipinas founder.

We are honored to be a part of this online publication as our founder is standing by with truth and integrity inspite of many attractive and generous offers to do otherwise.

He deserves the happiest birthday!

PH Post Office released stamps to mark 2021 National Teachers’ Month and World Teachers’ Day

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The Philippine Post Office released new stamps to celebrate the National Teachers’ Month from September 05 to October 05, 2021.

Postmaster General Norman Fulgencio said that the special teachers stamp depict the slogan “iTeach for a Better Future “My Teacher, My Frontline Hero”, illustrating two students described as using the online classroom activities ensuring that learning continues despite the challenges brought about by the pandemic.

Since 2011, the National Teacher’s Month Movement has gained momentum beginning with the Presidential Proclamation No. 242 which formally declared the period from September 5th to October 5th of every year as National Teachers’ Month.

With the theme “Gurong Pilipino: Katuwang sa Hamon, Kasama sa Pagbangon”, the Teachers’ Stamp recognizes the invaluable dedication of our teachers to their profession making the students safe during this health crisis.

In partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd), Metrobank Foundation, Inc. and other organizations, the Postal Service uphold the initiative of giving back due recognition for teachers as humble heroes shaping the minds of the nation.

“Students are also encouraged to recognize their teachers and other role models by thanking them through the art of letter-writing using the Teacher’s Month stamps”, Fulgencio said.

The campaign fosters a culture of appreciation on the country’s educational frontline heroes and heroines in the classrooms by engaging the public to recognize the Filipino teachers’ service and contribution to national development.

The stamps and official first Day covers of “2021 National Teachers’ Month” are now available at the Manila Central Post Office “Stamp shop” in Liwasang Bonifacio. The layout of the stamps was done by in-house graphic artist Eunice Beatrix Uy Dabu.

For inquiries, please call 8527-01-08 or 8527-01-32 or follow/like the facebook page https://www.facebook.com/PilipinasPhilately/ for updates.

5 Xiaomi Gadgets You’ll Probably Want to Own in 20

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As you may or may not know, Xiaomi has recently taken over the world. From humble beginnings as a phone manufacturer, this Chinese electronic corporation has grown to compete against tech and e-commerce giants such as Apple, Samsung, and more. Xiaomi has evolved into a global marketplace where customers can purchase excellent electrical, non-electronic, and lifestyle things. Most of their goods make your life easier, allowing you to spend more time on more essential things. If you want to test Xiaomi products, especially its gadgets, read on because we've curated a list of the best Xiaomi gadgets you should own.

 
1. Redmi Note 10

The Redmi Note 10 may not have the 108MP camera or the 120Hz refresh rate, but it does have solid features that will appeal to buyers in the cheap market. The AI quad camera on the Redmi Note 10 allows you to explore and capture all the finer details. You can also use AI portrait mode to capture selfies with the front camera or focus the main camera on you. With 6GB RAM and 128GB storage, there's no need to worry about performance because it'll stay smooth even when you're on social media. The phone is also lighter and easier to use compared to other larger phones that have grown popular. Other than that, the Redmi Note 10 also includes a 5000mAh battery and a 33W fast charger which means that the phone can quickly charge to 100% in just over an hour.

2. Xiaomi Mijia Roborock S6

Xiaomi’s robot vacuum is getting popular these days. The Roborock S6, Xiaomi's most recent model, is one of them. The vacuum cleaner has two functions allowing you to vacuum and clean your floors at the same time. Another bonus is that the suction force has been boosted to 2000 Pa, which means you'll have a higher chance of eliminating tough impurities from a variety of surfaces. The latest vacuum also has thicker bristles which make cleaning more effective and softer on the floor. Furthermore, the manufacturer has placed a considerable emphasis on ‘'soundproofing" the vacuum, which was one of its previous model's drawbacks. The vacuum can work for up to 2.5 hours due to its powerful lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 5200mAh.

3. Mi Box 4K

Mi Box 4K is an Android TV set-top box manufactured by Xiaomi. It can connect via HDMI to any TV or desktop monitor and turn it into an Android TV screen. The Mi Box 4K is notable for its capability for video playback at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second. It's also worth noting that the Mi Box 4K comes with an impressive app selection. All major content platforms are supported, including Netflix, Disney Plus Hotstar, as well as regional sources. Bear in mind that you still need to pay for the subscription. On the other hand, the 3.5mm headphone jack on the Mi Box 4K allows you to listen to the audio in privacy. Like other gadgets, Mi Box 4K includes Google Assistant, that includes speech commands, voice searching, and voice-activated device control.

 
4. Xiaomi Air 2S

Xiaomi's earbuds are still one of the company's best-selling items, and they've improved over time. Xiaomi has unveiled the Xiaomi Air 2s, which is inspired by the Apple Airpods 2. For the consumers' convenience, these earbuds have a white body and a semi-in-ear design. While the AirDots Pro 2 had a short battery life, the Air 2s had almost 24-hour battery life. The Air 2s earbuds come in a casing with an LED indicator that indicates the battery's status. Although there are no noise-canceling options on this gadget, the audio quality is excellent, and it has little impact on the call quality. It also has Bluetooth 5.0, which ensures that it can connect to smartphones quickly and reliably.

5. Mi Smart Band 5

The Mi Smart Band 5 is one of the most recent Mi Bands on the market. The Xiaomi all-in-one smartwatch has a smart band that is jam-packed with features, making it a fantastic gadget. To begin with, it includes a larger display, around 20% larger than the previous model, as well as personalized dials that allow you to display your favorite or most frequently used features. Unlike its predecessor, the Mi Band 5 includes 11 sports modes, each of which tracks and analyses your every action to assist you to achieve your health goals. If that isn't enough, you'll love the 24-hour sleep monitoring, which provides scientific guidance to help you swiftly overcome sleep difficulties. Lastly, it includes a 125 mAh battery (claimed to last 14 days) with a magnetic charger that doesn't need to be removed for charging. Very convenient.

ePLDT bags regional partner award from Cisco anew

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Leading global information technology and networking company Cisco has recognized ePLDT, the ICT arm of PLDT Enterprise, as its Small Business Partner for Best Cisco Designed Portfolio for program adoption after attaining the highest revenues among its peers in the Asia Pacific, Japan, and China (APJC) region.

Jovy Hernandez, ePLDT President & CEO and SVP & Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise Business Groups, said the recognition is proof of ePLDT’s endeavor of supporting businesses through Cisco Design, Cisco’s new technology portfolio for small and medium-scale businesses (SMBs).

“As a premier integrator partner of Cisco, ePLDT has been actively empowering businesses as they embrace digital transformation to pivot and thrive amid these uncertain times. We thank Cisco for this recognition, and we are more driven to steering our clients and this partnership forward,” said Hernandez.

Last year, ePLDT was recognized as the global tech giant's Software Partner of 2020 and Small Business Partner of 2020. Similarly, Cisco hailed PLDT Inc. as its Tier 2 Partner of the year during its annual Partner Summit Conference.

ePLDT offers Cisco Enterprise Networking, Security, and Collaboration from the Cisco Designed Portfolio.

Robin Llamas, Cisco Philippines Head of Public Sector, Small Business and Mid-Market teams and interim Managing Director, said that Cisco Designed paves the way for cost-effective technologies that allow SMBs to adapt to the new ways of conducting businesses.

“Cisco Designed was built to serve SMBs, especially now in this pandemic situation. We continue to uphold our relationship building and customer care principles that enable us to know who our customers are and how best we can serve them,” said Llamas.

He also lauded ePLDT for a fruitful partnership for the past year, empowering connection, networking, security, and other services and support to more businesses.

“We congratulate ePLDT for being our APJC Small Business Partner for Best Cisco Designed Portfolio Adoption. This is a well-deserved accolade in recognition of your relentless efforts in serving our clientele, and we hope that you reap more successes as we continue to nurture this partnership,” he added.

Meanwhile, PLDT First Vice-President and Head of PLDT Enterprise Core Business Solutions Group Jojo Gendrano said that ePLDT and Cisco have been working on providing innovative business technologies suited to accommodate the changing needs of its customers.

“As the needs of the enterprises continue to evolve, we are striving to provide solutions that will make them more resilient despite the most difficult economic conditions. Together with Cisco, we will continue to work at great lengths to reciprocate the trust and confidence of our customers,” said Gendrano.

ePLDT and Cisco have been partners since 2002, initially focusing on delivering enterprise networking architecture solutions. Through the years, the partnership expanded to cater SMBs and other advanced services along with its initial market of large enterprise customers.

For more information, visit epldt.com

Public interest law group ImagineLaw bats for raising the minimum age of access to cigarettes to 21 years old

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“It is like 16 jeepneys full of people without social distancing.”


This was how public interest law group ImagineLaw and other groups on Friday described the 321 Filipinos who die every day due to tobacco-related diseases, during a street installation featuring 321 pairs of shoes and slippers at Boy Scout Circle, Tomas Morato in Quezon City.


“This installation has a clear message: tobacco companies and their products are deadly. They are not partners in public health and are instead the cause of death of hundreds of Filipinos every day,” said the law group’s executive director Atty. Sophia San Luis, citing data from the Department of Health (DOH). “Stronger tobacco control policies are needed to protect Filipino lives,” she also said.


Meanwhile, the Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) expressed support for the proposal to raise the minimum age of access to tobacco products to 21 years old. Earlier this week, Senator Pia Cayetano filed Senate Bill No. 2410 that sought to raise the minimum age of access to tobacco products to 21.



“We need to protect young people's health and development from the bad effects of cigarettes and addiction to nicotine,” PCS Executive Director Dr. Rachel Rosario said.


The groups also said that the government should uphold policies against tobacco industry interference in policymaking.


"Today is a stark reminder of the lives we can save if government and local government units (LGUs) uphold and fully implement tobacco control laws and policies,” said Menchie Auste, chief executive officer (CEO) of Cancer Warriors Foundation and Vice President of Cancer Coalition Philippines.


“We already know the how’s of preventing this needless loss of lives and suffering. What we need to do is act now and work together to prevent these avoidable deaths,” she said.


The groups called for the passage into law of House Bill No. 8763 or the Smoke-free Environment Bill that will expand the coverage of the smoking ban in Republic Act No. 9211 or the Tobacco Regulations Act of 2003 and strengthen the power of local government units to enact stricter smoke-free ordinances.


They also urged Senators to junk Senate Bill No. 2239 or the Non-Combustible Nicotine Delivery Systems Act, more commonly known as the Vape Bill, that seeks to roll back regulations on the sale, manufacture, and marketing of vapes and e-cigarettes in the country.


The group also called on the government to uphold the DOH - Civil Service Commission (CSC) Joint Memorandum Circular 2010-001 (JMC 2010-001) that protects policymaking and government processes from the influence of tobacco companies.


“The JMC is our vaccine against the tobacco epidemic,” San Luis said. “Without it, tobacco companies will continue to spread the deadly diseases caused by their products,” she concluded.


Photo caption: “It is like 16 jeepneys full of people without social distancing.” Law group ImagineLaw lays down 321 pairs of shoes at Boy Scout Circle, Tomas Morato to remember the 321 Filipino lives lost due to tobacco. The group is calling for stronger tobacco control policies to save lives.

4 things to know before getting psychic readings

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To get clarity on your future, a psychic reading session can help answer in detail some of the questions you have you have concerning the same. Psychic reading services are popular today across different parts of the world and you can find the one you need either in your region or online. Phone psychic readings are becoming the obvious option for many people due to time and budget limitations that they have to deal with every day. Aside from choosing worthwhile psychic readers, you need to know how to best prepare yourself for the best session.

Have an open mind

The reading you get from a psychic highly depends on how well prepared you are for the same.You should not come with high expectations or worse yet lack faith in the system. You will establish the legitimacy of the expert during the sessions, for instance in the details they reveal. A good psychic reading session will entail a mixture of reading some which you will like while others may not be what you anticipated when searching for the services. Nevertheless, you must keep an open mind during the session and only leave if you detect elements of fraud in the sessions paid for.

Ask open-ended inquiries

At times, you might just give the psychic reader everything they need to use for their reading. This is not always ideal especially if you count on getting accurate predictions and readings that you can work with. Open ended queries will seek to establish general information rather than a specific detail. Closed ended questions for instance if your girlfriend Grace loves you can give away not just the gender but the name of the person too. A good inquiry will be to ask for a reading on the kind of relationships you will have in the future and if Grace is not in the reading then you have the answer that you seek.

Abstain from drugs

The accuracy for most psychic readings is never 100% but there are bits of clues that you can use to ascertain the truth from the readings. When you visit any psychic when under the influence, it becomes easy to be manipulated and that is never right. In your sober state, you can tell whether the expert you pay is worth their salt or will you be wasting your money. Drugs also make you hallucinate and you might miss some of the things the psychic is trying to make you understand defying the essence of the process.

Limit yourself to your budget

Affordability is instrumental for whatever services you are paying for. Based on the legitimacy of the psychic readings made, you should care about how much you are charged for accurate psychic or psychic medium reading. A research on the price charged by diverse psychics on your list can be revealing of the ones that fit your budget plans. Amid the process, you also learn how to choose authentic psychics whose services you can count on.

Digital-First Experiences to Pave the Way to the Future of Connected Healthcare in Southeast Asia

 

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·        Patient-centric digital experiences will enable growth with 66% of Southeast Asians preferring remote, video-call consultations with medical professionals

·        Region’s healthcare ecosystem needs to build a more robust digital foundation to accelerate innovations as Southeast Asians embrace technologies that detect anomalies better than human doctors (55%), conduct invasive surgeries via remote robotics (54%) and provide more freedom to patients with chronic and long-term illnesses (61%)

·        Security is still key in building and sustaining digital trust in future of healthcare as only 31% of respondents say they think their data is safe with healthcare providers 

 

Digital-first patient services and experiences are paving the way to Southeast Asia’s future healthcare landscape, according to VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW). In VMware’s Digital Frontiers 3.0 Study, VMware uncovered Southeast Asian consumers’ excitement for digital-enabled healthcare services with 66% of them saying they prefer remote, video-call in lieu of face-to-face consultations with medical professionals. With more patients increasingly expecting improved healthcare accessibility, timeliness and accuracies regardless of wherever and whenever they are, emerging digital healthcare innovations such as robotics and telehealth will be pivotal in shaping the future of digital healthcare in Southeast Asia.

 

·        More than half (54%) say they are comfortable and excited to have a more qualified doctor conducting invasive surgery via remote robotics than a less qualified doctor conducting it in-person.

o       This is higher than other surveyed counterparts: US (42%), France (43%), Germany (35%) and UK (46%).

·        More than half (55%) are also comfortable and excited with receiving a diagnosis from a powerful computer that can learn to detect anomalies such as cancerous cells, rather than seeing a human doctor.

·        61% also believe that digital healthcare services can provide more freedom to patients with chronic or long-term illnesses as they can live further away from a medical facility by depending on sensors and real-time data monitoring to predict when they will require medical assistance.

 

Yet the same study also revealed that only 36% of Southeast Asian respondents are happy to interact with healthcare services providers digitally. To close the gap and drive greater digital healthcare adoption, healthcare industry incumbents and new entrants can tap on a more robust digital infrastructure and harness emerging technologies like Cloud, modern apps and big data to enable and provide better and more accurate healthcare services, charting a new future of connected healthcare for the region.

“New, immersive healthcare services such as remote medical consultations, wearable devices and supercomputers have redefined the way healthcare organizations and doctors interact with the patients and respond quickly to their needs – regardless of when and where they are. In the race for vaccines and other medical solutions, technology has also played an incredibly important role in tracking the spread, managing tests and improving the overall distribution flow,” said Walter So, Country Manager, Philippines, VMware. “To build a resilient digital health ecosystem in Southeast Asia, VMware is committed to providing leading healthcare services providers in the region with a robust digital foundation to accelerate innovations, scalability and agility in patient care and clinical research.”


Future-forward technologies are transforming healthcare

Optimism for technology to provide solutions for health-related issues in Southeast Asia remains high as consumers believe that frontier technologies will be the key to offering a solution in the next decade:

 

·        82% believe that we could arrive at a solution to reduce the spread of Covid-19 – this is higher than other surveyed countries: US (59%), France (60%), Germany (58%) and UK (58%). 80% believe that technology can improve the quality of lives for the elderly and disabled.

·        76% believe that technology can help improve mental healthcare – for instance, enabling virtual therapy sessions.

·        74% believe that we can significantly lower the risk of invasive surgeries.

 

The innovation opportunity is ripe for Southeast Asia’s healthcare sector to leap forward, with consumers embracing technologies of the future including artificial intelligence (70%), 5G (78%) and facial recognition (75%). In fact, more than one-third of respondents (37%) have said that 5G will be key in enabling wearable devices to monitor their health in real-time, allowing medical professionals to be alerted and respond to any emergency.

In the Philippines, technology has presented itself as a vehicle of change in unlocking new possibilities in tackling geographical challenges to healthcare. With 71% of its population connected to the internet[1] and the Department of Health (DOH)’s recent development of a framework for telemedicine services[2], this provides a strong trajectory for the archipelago to embrace future-looking healthcare services.

 

·        46% of Filipinos are comfortable and excited with receiving a diagnosis from a powerful computer that can learn to detect anomalies such as cancerous cells, rather than seeing a human doctor.

·        46% say they are comfortable and excited to have a more qualified doctor conducting invasive surgery via remote robotics than a less qualified doctor conducting it in-person.

·        54% also believe that digital healthcare services can provide more freedom to patients with chronic or long-term illnesses as they can live further away from a medical facility by depending on sensors and real-time data monitoring to predict when they will require medical assistance.

 

Build and sustain digital trust in the next generation of healthcare

To unleash the possibilities that technology creates in changing the world of healthcare, healthcare organizations should address not only build trust in the next generation of healthcare innovations, but also consumers’ concerns of security and privacy.



With only 31% saying that the healthcare industry gives them the assurance their information is secure, the implication is clear for Southeast Asia’s healthcare organizations to secure digital health experiences and build up trust amongst consumers to accelerate their adoption and confidence in these new innovations.



Technology underpins next phase of growth for the industry

To accelerate the transformation of digital healthcare services in Southeast Asia, VMware outlines key priorities to note:

·        Empowering healthcare organizations to build a multi-cloud and app future: Unlocking a multi-cloud future with app-driven innovations in a consistent and more secure environment that enables continuous innovation in the next generation of healthcare

·        Enabling innovation and productivity for a distributed workforce: Future ready workforce solutions will enable a seamless and more secure digital employee experience, driving greater outcomes in the new world of work

·        Intrinsic security for uninterrupted innovation: An intrinsic approach to enterprise security will provide an additional layer of robust protection for mission-critical infrastructures and patients’ personal data to build trust, fast-track healthcare innovation and resilience

·        Software-defined, high-performing network for real-time analytics and monitoring: Move high-fidelity, latency-sensitive data to the cloud and between edge locations to offer rapid, more securely deployed, and easily accessed virtual care solutions

 

[2] DOH boost telemedicine services for NCR, Philippines Department of Health, April 2020

Brighten Your Mornings with Joselle Feliciano’s Latest Single, Love and Light!

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What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you wake up in the morning?

Is it checking your phone to see any news you might have missed? Wondering what today’s work or class would bring? Or perhaps, you don’t want to roll out of bed because your mind is filled with worries?

Joselle Feliciano’s latest song, Love and Light, is here to brighten your days!

Due to hit the airwaves this September 24, Love and Light will inspire listeners to pause, reflect, and rediscover God’s love and light in these bleak times.

“Love and Light is an invitation to re-focus our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, the restorer of our hope and joy. If we let Him, He can breathe new life into our circumstances and work through us so that we can reflect His love and light to others,” said Joselle.

She sings about utterly relatable struggles many people experience during the pandemic. Like most of us, she has been cooped up in her home by herself. But despite that, she could still sing songs declaring how joy, positivity, and prayer help in overcoming life’s daily hurdles.

Songwriter Adrian Crisanto shares the same sentiment, “When I was writing this song, I was tapping into a lot of personal experiences, such as being disheartened with what I see and read on social media or the news. It’s so easy to lose hope in these situations. Love and Light is a song about finding hope amid hopelessness. And that hope is Christ in us.”

The song is produced by Reverb Worship PH, CBN Asia’s music arm.

CBN Asia’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer John Valdes Tan hopes that Love and Light brings the ultimate feel-good vibes and a ray of sunshine to your mornings.

“Love and Light is a very apt song for what we are all going though right now. There is so much fear, weariness, and darkness around us. However, if we look to the world through the lens of faith and with the understanding of what Jesus has done for us, our world can be bright with His Love and His Light,” Tan said.

He continued, “I hope that when listeners hear this song, their spirits will be lifted, and smiles will be on their lips.”

Get ready for some Love and Light on September 24! Stream the song on Spotify, Apple Music, and all digital streaming platforms. Pre-save here: https://bit.ly/3krUqXF

To catch the latest updates, follow Reverb Worship PH on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

PELÍCULA Spanish Film Festival celebrates its 20th edition online and extends from the Philippines to Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia

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From October 1 to 10, 2021, the 20th edition of PELÍCULA-Spanish Film Festival will treat movie buffs from the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia to a selection of contemporary Spanish and Latin American cinema. Presented by the Instituto Cervantes in Manila and Sydney and the Spanish Embassies in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, and Australia, the PELÍCULA Spanish Film Festival will stream sixteen feature films and four short films for free.

Since its creation in 2002 by Instituto Cervantes de Manila, PELíCULA has been an annual attraction in Philippine theatres. The Covid-19 crisis, which has closed cinemas in the Philippines, presented the greatest challenge in the history of the Festival, and PELíCULA responded by going online, and even went further by expanding to three other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, making the festival available to Thailand, Australia, and Malaysia, aside from the Philippines.

The Festival will open on October 1 with El Cover (2021), a musical comedy and debut film of actor Secun de la Rosa. Other films in the line-up are Invisibles (Gracia Querejeta, 2020), Una vez más (Guillermo Rojas, 2020), Tristesse (Ruiz Barrachina, 2020), and the documentaries Oscuro y Lucientes (Samuel Alarcón, 2018), and Antonio Machado. Los días azules (Laura Hojman, 2020). The official entries also include dramas such as 15 horas (Judith Colell, 2020), Ane (David Pérez Sañudo, 2020) and the latest film of David Trueba A este lado del mundo (2020), a bitter and intelligent depiction of immigration.

PELÍCULA will also feature Latin American films such as the Mexican documentary Observar las aves (Andrea Martínez Crowther, 2019) and Lina de Lima (2019), a feature film directed by María Paz González and co-produced by Chile, Argentina y Perú. All films will be available with English subtitles and for free on the website www.pelikula.es for 48 hours.

Just like in the previous editions, spectators may vote for their favorite films in the Audience Choice Awards. Established in 2004, the Award is given to the film that the viewers have voted as the best of the Festival. Since its establishment in 2004, it has been a very popular tradition in the Festival and is kept alive even through its transition online. In its 20th edition, spectators can rate the films right after having viewed them. The film with the highest ratings will receive this year’s Audience Choice Award and will be screened again on October 10 at 6:00 PM, in the Festival’s platform www.pelikula.es.

To celebrate the 20th edition of the cinematographic showcase, there will be a special selection of films that have won the PELíCULA Audience Choice Award. These films are Fuera de carta (Nacho G. Velilla, 2008), El secreto de sus ojos (Juan José Campanella, 2009), También la lluvia (Icíar Bollaín, 2010), Un cuento chino (Sebastián Borensztein, 2011) and Campeones (Javier Fesser, 2018).

Webinars

Aside from the film screenings, PELíCULA will be offering through its site www.pelikula.es free webinars and online talks with the directors of the films presented in the Festival or professionals in the audiovisual industry.

On October 4 there will be a round-table discussion on the possibilities of coproduction of Asian films in Europe and Spanish films in Asia, in which various Spanish, Thai, and Filipino producers and experts on the topic will be participating.

Philippine cinema was born in the Spanish language and almost all film-related terms in Filipino are in Spanish (such as pelikula, sine, direktor, aktor, contrabida, etc.), proof of the strong cultural relations shared between Spain and the Philippines. With this in mind, since its first editions PELíCULA has had activities that served as a space for meeting and interacting with Spanish and Filipino filmmakers. In line with this, on October 7, PELíCULA will be holding the webinar “En corto: Short films in the Philippines, Thailand, Australia and Spain”, an activity which will feature four recent short films, one from each country, and an online talk between the directors of these short films.

On the occasion of the 20th edition of PELICULA, the Department of European Languages ​​of the University of the Philippines Diliman is holding a contest of film reviews in Spanish, open to students of Spanish in the Philippines. Further info on this page:

  https://upddel.wordpress.com/2021/09/13/review-contest-in-spanish-pelikula/

PELíCULA 2021 is an initiative of Instituto Cervantes in Manila and Sydney, the Embassies of Spain in the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia, and the AECID, in collaboration with ICAA, the Embassy of Mexico in the Philippines, the National Film Archive of Thailand, the Sydney Film Festival, the Travelling Film Fest (Australia), the Film Development Council of the Philippines, the UPFilm Institute, the University of the Philippines, Intramuros Administration, and La Pícara.

All the movies are in Spanish (or their original language) with English subtitles. For the schedule, film details and further information on the Festival, please visit www.pelikula.es, or the Facebook page of Instituto Cervantes: www.facebook.com/InstitutoCervantesManila

Are Used Tires Worth It? Things To Think About When Buying Used Tir

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

So the time has come to replace your tires. Other than the size, type, and brand, you’re also considering the price when picking options for new tires. When considering all those factors, especially pricing, your choices are narrowed between used and new tires.

While new tires are the safest and optimal option, you can’t ignore used tires. Buying used tires to replace your old ones also has benefits, including being cheaper than new tires. However, there are also risks linked with them, such as their safety for driving.

If you’re considering putting used tires on your vehicle, you have to think about it thoroughly because your car’s driving performance will depend on it. First, ask yourself: “are used tires worth it?” So here are the things you should consider when thinking about buying used tires.
Compare and contrast

One of the best things to do when thinking of purchasing used tires is to compare them to new ones while also considering your current circumstances. Compare and contrast to weigh in before making your decision. If you haven’t made up your mind yet, this is a nice way of mulling over your options.

Depending on how long the used tires were used before they were put up for sale, they might not have any warranty. Warranties are useful for replacing tires with defects and repairing damages sustained when they fail to perform as intended. They usually cover the first year after the tires are purchased, so unless the used tires you’re looking at weren’t used past that, then they don’t have one.

While buying a new set of tires from a credible brand like Triangle Tires Philippines offers the benefit of warranties, they’re usually more expensive. That’s why others elect to buy used tires over new ones.

Used tires are also great if you’re driving a leased vehicle. If you think you’re going to exceed your lease’s allotted mileage, you can avoid penalties by swapping its tires with used ones.
Safety

Are used tires safe for driving? The answer depends on its condition. If they were well-maintained, then they’re still safe to drive with.

You should look at two things when considering the safety of used tires: tread depth and damage. Should you push through with buying used tires, check to see if they haven’t exceeded or is near to reaching the tread depth limit.

Also, inspect the tires for any damages like deep cuts or bulges. Move on to the next one should you see any.
Tread life

The life of your tires depends on the wear its treads absorb. If you opt to purchase pre-owned tires, expect that they have a depleted tread life. Some brands have tires designed to have a better tread life than others, while in some cases, tread life depends on the type of tire.

Factors outside manufacturing also influence tread life which includes driving behavior. For example, if you usually drive fast or drive off-road, you can’t use pre-owned tires since they don’t have enough tread to provide the traction you need to stay in contact with the surface you’re driving on.
Savings

The amount you can save from purchasing used tires depends on how long you’re looking at timewise. Looking at it short term, it does provide a lot of savings. For instance, buying used tires with the same brand as the ones you’ll replace can exceed 50% of savings, which is a significant amount.

However, if you’re looking at it in the long term, buying used tires will only cost you more. New tires are expected to last for three to four years, and excluding any maintenance expense, it’s a better purchase for the long run.
Wrap up

Are used tires worth it? Yes, if you’re looking for a temporary replacement until you can buy a set with fresh treads. No, if you’re looking for rubber that you can use longer.

Think it over before opting to buy them as a replacement. New tires are still recommended because they have better quality, equating to better performance and optimal safety.



Author’s Bio:

Frank is an energetic salesman. On his free days, he spends his time writing and reading about quality tires and vehicular parts. He says it’s because of his love for cars ever since he was a kid, when his dad started teaching him about automotive parts.

CBN Asia Marks 27 Years of God’s Boundless Faithfulness with Virtual Celebration

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Join us in celebrating 27 years of God’s boundless love and faithfulness to CBN Asia with a virtual event titled Boundless on October 6 and 7, from 1:30 PM to 6:30 PM.

You and your loved ones are invited to the two-day celebration filled with performances from renowned artists Ogie Alcasid and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid, Yeng Constantino, Angela Ken, and praise and worship teams, Gloryfall and Powerhouse Worship.

Hear inspiring messages from Christian Broadcasting Network President and Chief Executive Officer Gordon Robertson and CBN Asia President and CEO Peter Kairuz.

Play and take selfies at the Super booth and get a chance to join meet and greet with hosts from CBN Asia programs.

Apart from special performances and messages, you can join breakout sessions hosted by CBN Asia’s Family of Ministries:

·       Asian Center for Missions – Engage in Missions in the New Normal

·       The 700 Club Asia – Get a Front Seat Behind the Scenes of The 700 Club Asia's Stories

·       Operation Blessing Foundation Philippines – Learn How to be Resilient: A Webinar on Disaster Preparedness and Livelihood

·       Prayer Center – Rise Above Life’s Challenges in Difficult Situations

·       Special Projects – Make Learning from home Super Exciting

·       Digital Media – Grow Your Business through Social Media

CBN Asia’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, John Valdes Tan, hopes that Boundless will help you grow in your faith, and will speak to your hearts about God’s faithfulness.

"I pray that this celebration will reflect God’s boundless grace, and all the attendees will be unleashed to achieve their greatest potential!" Tan said.

Get an exclusive access to this first-ever virtual gathering for your gift of Php 1,000! Visit boundless.cbnasia.org/getticket to know how you can give.