Innovation That Aids locked-in Syndrome Patients Nabs Top Prize in 30th BPI-DOST Science Awards

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Jay Patrick Nieles, a BS Electronics Engineering student from the University of Santo Tomas (UST), won the coveted Project of the Year award at the 30th BPI-DOST Science Awards held last August 2, 2019, at the Alphaland City Club in Makati City.

His research on helping locked-in syndrome (LIS) patients communicate through a brain-computer typing interface that uses visual imagination of shapes and sizes was among the thirty promising entries shortlisted for this year’s competition. Nieles also received the Best in Innovation Award for the same study with Christian Badua from the University of the Philippines (UP) Manila for his study on how probiotics can be used to treat colon cancer.

The project, organized by the Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DoST), convened outstanding students from all over the country to contribute researches in line with the theme, “Moving the Nation toward Sustainable Development through Science and Innovation.”

“Through these awards, we hope to inspire more Filipino students to pursue scientific researches and innovations that contribute to building a stronger and more sustainable future for all of us,” BPI Foundation Executive Director Maricris San Diego said.

San Diego led the awarding ceremony with DOST-Science Education Institute Deputy Director Albert Mariño.

Students who participated came from eleven universities, namely the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU), Ateneo de Davao (AdDU), De La Salle University-Manila, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, St. Louis University-Baguio, UP Diliman, UP Manila, UP Los Baños, University of San Carlos, University of Santo Tomas (UST) and Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan. Each participant received P10,000 and a medal.

The two entries chosen as Best in Innovation received an additional P20,000 and a trophy each, while the Project of Year Award came with an additional P25,000 and a trophy.

Aside from Nieles and Badua, Alex Retona (AdMU), Chester Tantoco (UP Los Baños), Dewey Sia (AdDU), Ryan Suplito, (UP Los Baños), Jeremie Pearl Cruz, (UP Diliman), Jody Adriene Dong-E (St. Louis University-Baguio), Marc Anthony Reyes (Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan) and Marvin Serge (Xavier University-Ateneo de Cagayan) made it to the Top Ten and were awarded an additional P15,000 and certificate each.

The annual research competition also featured a workshop from Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Professor Matthew Escobido and inspiring talks from Outstanding Science Alumni Awardees Dr. Leopold Ilag from Stockholm University, Dr. Luis Sison from DOST-UP Enterprise Center for Technopreneurship, and Engr. Maria Leah Flor De Castro from Ateneo de Davao University. The Outstanding Science Alumni Awards is a special category introduced this year as part of the 30th anniversary of the Science Awards.

DOST-SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo congratulated the students and the BPI Foundation for another successful year of the Science Awards.

“The works of our young scientists and engineers are truly worthy of recognition and we’re grateful that BPI is with us in urging and inspiring students to excel in science and technology. Three decades of Science Awards is a feat and a testament to BPI’s commitment to strengthen the role of scientific research in national development. Rest assured, DOST will always be supportive of this endeavor,” Dr. Biyo said.

Photo caption:

DOUBLE VICTORY. Jay Patrick Nieles of the University of Santo Tomas (3^rd from left) bagged the Project of the Year award and one of two Best in Innovation awards in the 30^th BPI-DoST Science Awards. (From left) Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation Executive Director Maricris San Diego, Best in Innovation awardees Christian Badua of the University of the Philippines Manila and Jay Patrick Nieles, and DoST-Science Education Institute Deputy Director Albert Mariño. 

The Huawei Ban, and What This Means for Global Tech

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There is something that is called the global supply chain. and it has gained no more importance than in the tech sphere, where companies strongly rely on resources brought in from abroad and products distributed worldwide. It is simply the nature of the business - businesses’ web presence is global and most technologies serve the global customer. Therefore, the recent Huawei ban enacted by the U.S. Department of Commerce, which put the Chinese tech giant among the blacklisted trade companies due to security concerns for the country, has far more serious implications than just being a bidirectional trade face-off with political undertones.


The Interdependence of Huawei and U.S. Companies

In the simplest possible terms, the Huawei ban prevents U.S. companies from dealing with Huawei, and vice versa. This means that manufacturers and exporters that have relied on business deals with the Chinese producer of affordable smartphones will just have to find ways to pivot to new suppliers or face the consequences of not being able to serve their customers.

The same goes for Huawei, that was heavily dependent on U.S. manufacturers of semiconductors and software.

Immediately after the U.S. administration announced the ban, major companies such as Microsoft and Google reacted: -Microsoft stopped selling Huawei laptops, Qualcomm and Intel ceased operations, and Google has stopped Huawei from getting Android updates. Due to industrial espionage allegations for Huawei, even Chinese scientists have temporarily lost access to research materials from IEEE, which means that the ban started off surpassing trade war boundaries and stepping into questionable freedom of information policies.

Apple has also restricted membership for Huawei. It seemed no single important tech player was immune from shutting down before the Chinese behemoth, fearing penalties imposed by the U.S administration. However, after the initial standoff, the initial severe restrictions have eased off.

Specific companies have been allowed to do business with Huawei, including Google, that provided access to certain Play Store features to Huawei users.


European Market Handles Huawei Differently

However, trade relations are rarely that simple, and certainly not only bilateral. Major European companies depend on doing business with Huawei. Germany, for instance, has agreements with Huawei to collaborate in its 5G rollout, which is imminent, and Germany has no intention to stop this collaboration, provided the Chinese Company signs and adheres to a security clause. Also, not all UK companies are not on the same page, and many cheer for preserving the national interests, despite the ban order, and continuing the cooperation with Huawei if that brings good for the country.

What the Huawei Ban Means for Users, Android & iOS App Developers?

If the ban tightens further, mobile app development companies, including Android and iOS app developers will now have to adapt to either ruling out Huawei smartphones completely or expanding their skills to the new Harmony OS or Hongmeng, as it was initially named.

Harmony was recently announced as an independent move by the company to survive in an Android-less or iOS-less world.

Of course, it is almost out of the question for all mobile app developers to lose a major share of the market by not making apps for Huawei phone users, especially outside of the U.S. market.

The majority of Android and iOS app developers work in an interconnected market anyway. Most apps and other software products are borderless, and the reliance of staff overseas and a complicated global supply network of tech solutions play a major role in which projects will go forward for them.

Following Apple’s self-reliance example based on a vertically-integrated supply chain management and manufacturing system, Huawei looks it is coming as a fresh addition to a tech world dominated by U.S. companies. In a way, the ban could nudge Huawei to grow even stronger - after all, it is the among the world’s top three smartphone manufacturers in the world, as well as the owner of an advanced 5G technology, making it number one in sophisticated tech.

Despite the fact that few people own Huawei phones in the U.S, it has a huge supporting army of users which amasses to a third of the world’s population. If it is such a 5G leader as the reputation it follows it, Huawei will be a promising well of potential for everyone in the near future, including technology companies, and Android and iPhone app developers, turning over a new leaf in the distribution of power in global tech.

Announcing the Rebirth of Underground Battle MMA

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Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) is the fastest growing sport worldwide, and it has grown tremendously over the years.

In the Philippines, a fight organization dubbed “Underground Battle MMA” (UGB MMA Corporation) was created to educate the public on the growing interest in the fight industry as well as establishing a new platform that will serve as an avenue for fighters to compete in amateur and professional-level fight leagues. It was founded by The Goat Locker Boxing Gym Founder and CEO Ferdinand A. Munsayac - a retired US Navy chief. His primary goal is to help the young, poverty-stricken but skilled boxers/Muay Thai/ Jiu Jitsu and MMA fighters develop their craft so they would be able to provide a brighter future anchored on the advocacy – “Beating Up Poverty” which is a commendable goal.

The Founder’s Filipino heritage is shown alongside his fundamental mission not just to grow the UGB MMA brand, but to reinforce his commitment to the Filipino fighters most of whom, like Pacquiao in boxing, comes from the fringes of poverty-stricken family backgrounds.

UGB MMA Corporation also offers events that have further established the company as a substantial mover in the fighting industry. The past events around the Philippines were held in Sta Lucia Mall in Cainta, to Puerto Galera, The World Trade Center, to Resorts World Manila for BLAZE FC2 and Blaze FC3, to small bars, fun fights and even to the cemetery. The last one was held in Cauayan Isabela, and it was successful.

From 2013 to 2018, UGBMMA has had 68 events in over 6 years which started in The Goat Locker Gym. .