Novel:Theater presents "The Gracious Ones"

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Novel:Theater, a student-led production company of the Benilde Theater Arts program, is proud to present “The Gracious Ones” - a one-act retelling of the Ancient Greek play ‘The Eumenides’ of Aeschylus’ Oresteia Trilogy which tells a story about justice and revenge, and follows Orestes as he is hunted by The Furies, primordial creatures of the underworld who seek to punish him for the murder of his mother. 

Directed by John Angelo “Janji” Gamboa, an alumnus of the Benilde Theater Arts program, the play aims to be a thought-provoking piece that portrays how justice is defined and redefined by each party involved in Orestes’ trial. A conflict emerges between the “old” and “new” systems of justice upheld by The Furies and the Greek gods and goddesses respectively. The play then raises an argument about whether the systems in place actually uplift the pursuit of justice, or merely silence this for the sake of peace and order. 

The Gracious Ones will be staged at the 6/F Black Box Theater of D+A Campus (DAC), De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, Manila on November 15 to 18, 2023 with shows at 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

Regular ticket prices will be sold at 350 Php, but are sold at a discounted price (300 Php) for current Benilde students. Tickets are also available for our Gala Show (17 November, 4PM) at 500 Php, and come with inclusions such as one (1) tote bag and one (1) complimentary coffee from Tago Coffee Roasters Co. per ticket.

You may avail tickets through the online order form which can be found on Novel:Theater’s social media pages (see below), or through visiting the physical ticket booth at the 12/F Cafeteria in the D + A Campus.

For more information about Novel:Theater, check out their following social media pages:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/novel.theater

Instagram: @novel.theater

Tiktok: @novel.theater

UP scientist’s novel tech empowers rural fisherfolk

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Innovative data-driven technologies are empowering Filipino coastal communities by enabling them to make better informed decisions on when and how to utilize marine resources. 

An advocate of sustainable fishing practices, Dr. Aletta Concepcion T. Yñiguez of the UP Diliman College of Science’s Marine Science Institute (UPD-CS MSI) has been working closely with small-scale fishers and government agencies to help rural fisherfolk with technologies developed by UP scientists.

Dr. Yñiguez holds a SensPak tube, developed by UP scientists, off the coast of Bolinao in June 2021. Once lowered in the water, such devices can help scientists and fisherfolk monitor the health of the marine environment almost in real time. (Photo credit: UPD-CS MSI DOST HABHazard Program)Yñiguez and her fellow MSI researchers created ARAICoBeH (A Rapid Assessment Instrument for Coastal Benthic Habitats), an inexpensive tool for taking underwater photos of endangered areas such as coral reefs without needing to dive. She also spearheaded HABhub (Harmful Algal Bloom Hub), an online platform that facilitates the detection and reporting of algal blooms, which could threaten both the lives and livelihoods of affected fisherfolk. HABhub also provides robust early-warning systems that would allow for more proactive mitigation and enhanced understanding of these phenomena.

These and other innovations and insights from Dr. Yñiguez were the focus of a recent iStories webinar, hosted by the UPD-CS.

“To ensure the sustainable utilization and management of ocean resources, it is critical that observational, monitoring and decision-support tools are in place to provide concrete, science-based information and management. But the technologies, tools and capacity for these are sorely lacking,” Dr. Yñiguez said at the event.

“Our present efforts help bridge this gap through interdisciplinary collaborations to develop cost-effective sensors that automate ocean observation, building ocean data repositories and models for understanding, forecasting and decision-support,” she added.

For her work, Dr. Yñiguez was bestowed The Outstanding Women in Nation’s Service (TOWNS) award in 2022. Given by the TOWNS Foundation, Inc., the prestigious award honors Filipinas 21 to 45 years old who have contributed greatly to Philippine society in their chosen fields.

iStories is a series of monthly innovation-themed talks, storytelling, and activities featuring local and international scientists. The initiative aims to ignite the creativity and inventiveness of young scientists not just from UPD-CS but from other institutes inside and outside UP.

Snow and Reindeer arrive for the Frost Festival in PUBG MOBILE's version 2.9 update

Wazzup Pilipinas!?




On November 7th, PUBG MOBILE, one of the world’s most popular mobile games, gets ready to celebrate the holiday season in its festive Version 2.9 Update. From November 7, 2023 to January 7, 2024, players will be able to battle in Snowy Village - a themed area featuring frosty new ways to traverse and take down enemy players, as well as more treats to get into the holiday spirit. Metro Royale Chapter 17 is also on the way, and the World of Wonder is getting new objects and improvements, including a Snowy new template.

In the Version 2.9 Update, Snowy Village invites PUBG MOBILE fans to the ultimate festive showdown! Players can fight in a two-story Ice Sculpture Plaza, and traverse the map in thrilling new ways - from Snow Rails to Snowboards. If the battleground still doesn’t seem cold enough, Snowball Blasters with exciting effects will also be available. When shooting these at enemies, they’ll turn them into snowmen! They can also be shot at the ground to create snowy cover, or at water to freeze it solid.

Other snowmen can also be found in Snowy Village. Players can come across a Lucky Snowman with three Snow Toddlers hidden nearby. After finding a Snow Toddler, it will follow the player like a pet, allowing them to bring it back to the Lucky Snowman. Finding and returning all of them will reward players with a crate! Even more rewards are available in the Version 2.9 update inside Lucky Ice. Players will need to find the most effective way to break through their icy exterior to get to the prize inside.

The Version 2.9 Update also brings a variety of gameplay improvements, including new 

additions to the World of Wonder creative mode with expanded PvE options, new Editor enhancements, and a new Snowy Map Template, as well as Frost Festival objects. 

Additionally, new ‘Catch Me’ Gameplay Template updates are being added, along with Skill Management Device improvements which introduce skills related to transformation gameplay.

The new Royale Pass Ace will be available from November 14, 2023 to January 13, 2024. Players can complete RP missions to increase their rank, and receive rewards such as new 

custom colour outfits, snowbike and reindeer finishes, and more.

Players can also look forward to a thrilling collaboration with a legendary sports car brand that will be revealed very soon. Stay tuned for more details! 

Complete details about what’s included in PUBG MOBILE’s Version 2.9 Update can be 

found in the official patch notes avaiable. PUBG MOBILE’s Version 2.9 Update will be available on November 7th! Download the 

game for free on the App Store and Google Play Store. 

About PUBG MOBILE

PUBG MOBILE is based on PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, the phenomenon that took the world of interactive entertainment by storm in 2017. Up to 100 players parachute onto a remote island to battle in a winner-takes-all showdown. Players must locate and scavenge their own weapons, vehicles, and supplies, and defeat every player in a visually and tactically rich battleground that forces players into a shrinking play zone.

For more information, please visit the official PUBG MOBILE social channels on Facebook,Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

As the Frost Festival draws near, Reindeer will begin to spawn on the map! These merry vehicles allow two players to ride together to spread cheer across the battleground. The maps will also be decorated for the season with trees full of presents and stockings filled with supplies.