The new 2023 ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED (UX5304) got a major upgrade from last year’s model, including a design aspect you most likely didn’t expect. This year’s release, as ASUS claims, is their most eco-friendly model to date.

ASUS has always taken design inspiration from nature, and so they’re taking a more active role in protecting the environment. They did this by replacing whichever parts they could with recycled materials (post-industrial, post-consumer, and ocean-bound materials). For their Basalt Gray model, they used eco-friendly plasma ceramic aluminum on the laptop’s lid that not only feels premium but is more durable as well.

And to test its durability, the laptop has gone through rigid military-grade testing (MIL-STD-810) to see how the device will hold up in various harsh environments, which it passed with flying colors.

They also avoided using single-use plastics for any of their packaging, making each component recyclable and compostable.

In this TechRap unRap video, we take the new ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED (UX5304) out of its compostable packaging and put it to the test. This ultrabook has a 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 Processor housed in a body that is a centimeter thick and weighs only a kilogram. It also has the brand-new ASUS Lumina OLED that makes it sharper, brighter, and more color accurate. With an even thinner and lighter build, we’re setting out to see if it can keep up with our needs and busy schedules, or if ASUS has made any compromises to introduce new design elements.

Spoiler alert: There were no compromises found, your honor.

Watch our video to see how the ASUS Zenbook S 13 OLED (UX5304) did.

Want to know more about this ultrabook? Visit its official product page. You can also order a device through authorized resellers found on the ASUS website. – Rappler.com

If I’m being perfectly honest, the only reason why I was able to enjoy CONQuest 2023 was because I had a media pass. And even then, I was eventually guilt-stricken by the fact that my colleagues and I could go in and out while everyone else had to line up for hours only to be met with more lines inside the halls of the SMX Convention Center.

CONQuest Festival is an annual pop culture and gaming convention. The festival originated in Iloilo and was brought to Manila for the first time last year by AcadArena. Last year’s event was regarded as a huge success. Attendees finally had the chance to physically be with the bigger gaming and anime community as COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were loosened. Plus, CONQuest did what many local cons had not done as much – bring in some of the largest international talents into Manila.

This year, event organizers tried to go bigger by bringing in more talents, more brands, more partners, adding more venues, more events, and more displays. But in the end, things didn’t really work out as planned.

Yes, there were more things to do at CONQuest this year, but everyone was stuck in queues under sweltering heat for too long that in the end, not everyone got to enjoy the three-day affair.

The Bad

Let’s start with the obvious: there were too many tickets sold, and the main venue wasn’t big enough for what they intended.

Ticket claiming started ahead of the festival so that con-goers wouldn’t need to collect their passes on the same day which would’ve meant more lines. But even then, the queues were still too long. And despite long lines and the already packed convention center (it was honestly suffocating), there were still passes being sold onsite.

Hundreds of attendees had to line up for four hours (some even more) outside the SMX Convention Center, many of them in full cosplay.

Imagine wearing layers of fabric and other materials, plus wigs and accessories, while standing under the summer sun and over concrete radiating with heat. There were reports of people fainting while in the queue, and since there wasn’t much room to walk through, medics took too much time to get to them.

There are many entrances you can take to get into the SMX Convention Center, but many of them were closed during day three, which funneled people into one main entry point at the front of the venue. Queues were so bad, memes about them cropped up on the internet. At one point, even the designated entrance for persons with disabilities was closed.

What organizers tried to do to mitigate this was to add more venues where further activities could be enjoyed. Some of the panel discussions, gaming tournaments, meet and greets, and exhibits were held in adjacent locations like Conrad Manila, the National University MOA campus, Microtel by Wyndham, SM Mall of Asia’s Atrium, and even a portion of Seashell Lane right outside SMX.

Unfortunately, the main events were still found within SMX, so even though there were additional venues that con-goers could explore, the majority still flocked to the convention center. And who can blame them? All the exhibits and main events were found there.

Part of CONQuest’s appeal was also the fact that attendees can win passes for meet and greets with famous content creators, gamers, and artists. Some of these passes were raffled online ahead of the event, while others were supposed to be distributed onsite. To get a pass, people would have to queue at designated schedules and venues, but unfortunately passes were given away randomly and arbitrarily hours ahead of their supposed time slots. Many attendees expressed their frustration online, wondering how they were given away and to whom, and why schedules weren’t being followed.

Tickets started at P800 for a one-day pass, but premium passes with all the perks were priced at P20,000. This didn’t include the flights and accommodations some con-goers booked just to make it to CONQuest 2023.

There were also last-minute changes to plans and schedules that left vendors, exhibitors, and some of the talents confused.

Compared to the previous CONQuest festival, this year’s event was chaotic. Last year, I remember walking around freely and with less sweat. Sure, my colleagues and I chose to wear Squirtle onesies this year, but I also had on thick clothing the year before and I was totally fine. In fact, it was really cold last year because the crowd wasn’t as thick.

I also remember being amazed by everyone’s cheerfulness and amazing costumes. People were hyped about finally getting to attend a convention again, and I think I speak for everyone when I say that we really tried to bask in the moments of CONQuest 2022. This year, however, felt like we were all exhausted and frustrated. Some have even started Twitter threads about plans to file a lawsuit against the organizers.

The disaster also prompted Justin Banusing, one of the founders of CONQuest, to create an apology post. Organizers are also now accepting refund requests.

That being said though, there are certain things about this convention that left me wanting more.

The Good

If we ignore the chaos and the logistical mayhem, CONQuest 2023 would’ve been an experience to remember. The fact that this year’s headliners were some of the biggest names in online streaming internationally was quite the feat to pull off.

Streamers like Sykkuno, Pokimane, Valkyrae, Lilypichu, Michael Reeves, and iGumDrop all have thousands of fans across the world. CONQuest 2023 also brought in other well-known individuals in the scene like Anne Yatco and Laura Stahl who are best known for their roles in the hit game Genshin Impact; music performers like James Reid and the K-pop group The Rose; VTubers Demenishki, Bao, and Shoto; and local creators like MaggieKarp, Een Mercado, and KrisRey.

See the full guest list here.

Each of these individuals was given multiple opportunities to participate in shows, meet their fans, and have a good time.

And their respective fandoms and communities already intersect in one way or another, so to see everyone merge into one giant convention was inspiring.

CONQuest 2023 also had some upgrades that they tried coming off from their 2022 experience. For one thing, they added more food concessionaires and placed them in two main locations – outside at Seashell Lane in partnership with Mercato Centrale, and right at the doors of the convention center’s second floor. They also added more activities in the evening like music nights that featured a number of bands and performers. And, as mentioned earlier, they booked adjacent venues so crowds could spill over to other areas.

CONQuest was also an opportunity for creators to get their work seen directly by the people who would appreciate them. Questmarket, for example, was a zone for indie creators and vendors to sell their crafts. There was booth after booth after booth of artists selling prints, stickers, bags, and more.

There was also a section for people developing indie games and looking for players or investors. Amazingly too is that they added an advocacy section for social enterprises and groups working in the development sector to gain some support from the community.

And there were also places where people can play free games like a section dedicated to board games, and an improved retro games zone where con-goers can play classic titles from their childhood.

Several national gaming tournaments hosted by Alliance Games were concluded in CONQuest, giving students from different colleges and universities opportunities to impress gaming communities and win coveted trophies. Scholarships were given out too.

Plus A LOT of freebies and discounts for merch and products.

All in all, CONQuest would have been a mecca for gaming and pop culture fans to feel welcomed and uninhibited. It was a place where everyone can get their geek on and no one would be judgy. It’s a place where community inside jokes can make sense, and terms like MonkaS and KEKW mean anything.

And with gaming and anime becoming more mainstream, the community is also evolving into one that no longer gatekeeps but rather welcomes newcomers. And an inclusive community like this would’ve had a better experience as a collective if everyone had a fair chance at attending and enjoying the con.

Hopefully, next year would be better. – Rappler.com

Technological innovation is alive and thriving among the youth, as proven by the candidates in GCash’s annual ImaGnation competition which concluded last June 2.

In alignment with GCash’s brand vision, the affair is all about incubating ideas to create inclusivity in financial technology. This year, third to fifth year undergraduate students competed in a battle of pitches on how to make GCash Jr. resonate better with the youth and their financial needs.

Innovation at full throttle

Many young innovators across the country were eager to answer the call, as over 400 students from 50 schools registered for a chance to pitch to the fintech titan’s leaders. In the end, the top 15 teams were chosen to advance. Each of these qualifying teams were then assigned a GCash mentor, who provided them with invaluable guidance on refining their ideas.

The top 15 teams were then brought on to a two-day in-person bootcamp, where they were given case development and business storytelling sessions in preparation for their final pitches. They were also able to rehearse through a mock presentation with their GCash mentors.

By the end of the bootcamp, each team had only 10 slides and eight minutes each to impress the GCash judges and secure one of the five slots for the grand finals. After a week, the final five entered the finals with eight minutes to present and two minutes to entertain questions from the panel, which was composed of GCash’s leadership team. 

A new breed of young innovators

On June 2, the top competitors presented the best form of their cases to the final panel. Their innovation strategies were designed to address challenges they themselves pinpointed for GCash Jr.’s demographics. The inventive pitches ran the gamut of ideas – one team went the route of school engagements, another wanted to cater to families, while one attempted custom features for more targeted age groupings.

The team that came out on top was team G-Katip, who won P60,000 worth of GCash credits and a 9th gen iPad for each member. Team FinItToWinIt finished in second place, with P40,000 in GCash credits and a Garmin Smartwatch for each member. In third place was team SynerG, who went home with P20,000 in GCash credits and each with a set of 3rd Gen Airpods. 

The fourth and fifth placers were also awarded with P15,000 GCash credits per team, and all finalists earned a secured slot in GCash’s 2023 Jumpstart internship program.

Learning beyond the competition

To maximize the potential of the ImaGnation finalists, they were awarded the opportunity to join GCash’s Jumpstart internship program – an 11-week training experience where they get to work on high-impact projects, be trained by GCash leaders, learn about the latest industry trends, and further pursue their passion for fintech. For standout interns, a full-time job opportunity with GCash may await them after graduation. 

“This is just the beginning. We will continue to invest in our youth’s development, through initiatives such as this innovation challenge. Thank you for helping us to make GCash even better. I hope that you will help us pursue our vision of Finance for All in your own ways,” said GCash president & CEO, Martha Sazon.

For GCash, the youth are a critical demographic to develop and invest in as they grow into the country’s next movers and shakers. With their fresh perspectives and ability to fearlessly reimagine what “normal” can be, GCash wants to equip them with the tools – as well as a seat at the table – to make these ideas the future’s realities.

Want to learn more about GCash Jr. and see finance from the eyes of the youth? Visit GCash’s website for more information. – Rappler.com

 It was a night full of shining moments as industry icons banded together for the launch of TECNO’s award-winning, groundbreaking CAMON 20 Pro Series in the Philippine market.

At the glittering launch aptly themed “Be Iconic,” TECNO revealed celebrity sensation and TikTok king Joshua Garcia as CAMON 20 Pro Series’ brand ambassador. Joshua set things in motion with his iconic, explosive dance moves, vividly captured on his new steady vlog master companion, the CAMON 20 Pro 5G. 

“Joshua embodies TECNO’s spirit – Stop at Nothing. Just like TECNO, he stops at nothing when it comes to pursuing excellence in his craft. He captures our emotions with his acting skills and inspires us to express ourselves and be our best selves. TECNO will stop at nothing to empower the passions of our Filipino consumers. We are committed to enhancing the digital experience of Filipinos. TECNO is dedicated to bringing state-of-the-art innovations with stylish designs such as our latest and most iconic CAMON 20 Pro Series. Like our CAMON 20 Pro Series, Joshua is iconic. His dance moves are equally iconic,” said TECNO Philippines chief executive officer (CEO) Jason Wang. 

“I am so excited to be part of TECNO as the brand ambassador of the CAMON 20 Pro Series. I love dancing, with the CAMON 20 Pro 5G, I can clearly record my dance moves at any moment – even where the lighting is not too bright – and share these right away on TikTok. With the CAMON 20 Pro 5G’s huge memory and powerful features, this will be my constant and steady vlogging companion. I am glad TECNO chose me as the smartphone’s brand ambassador,” said Joshua.

Joshua is set to do a livestream for the first time on TECNO Philippines’ TikTok page on July 8 at 6 pm. Mark your calendars and watch out for it!

Steady vlog master with iconic Mediatek Dimensity 8050

The CAMON 20 Pro 5G features the all powerful Mediatek Dimensity 8050, the most advanced processor in the PhP9,000 to PhP11,000 smartphone price range. Combining 5G network connectivity, a fully upgraded computational portrait photography engine and camera speed, industry flagship OIS anti-shake technology, and award-winning CAMON PUZZLE design, the CAMON 20 Pro Series is unbeatable.

Vlog masters will love CAMON 20 Pro Series’ steadiness and superior performance. Gamers will love its smooth performance, and all users will find watching videos and browsing applications an exceptional, lag-free experience on this iconic smartphone. MediaTek Dimensity 8050 operates on TSMC’s N6 (6nm) processor and a more reliable 5G network. It features an advanced 6nm octa-core architecture for maximum performance. It has a maximum display resolution of 2520x1080px, a maximum refresh rate of 168 hz, and up to 3GHz CPU frequency. 

It has amazing Cortex-A78 cores, Arm’s Mali-G77 GPU and UFS 3.1 storage support. It has the capacity to power up to 200MP cameras, supports 4K video recording, and provides a fully upgraded photography and videography performance. The chip also includes MediaTek MiraVision, which provides a cinema-grade experience with its HDR video playback and display technologies. Viewing experience is likewise enhanced with the smartphone’s 6.67” AMOLED display.

TECNO CAMON 20 Pro Series offers 8GB+8GB extended RAM and up to 256GB ROM. TECNO CAMON 20 Pro 5G’s 5,000mAh battery power will go a long way all throughout the day, the fast charging feature will quickly let users get back to their activities in no time. 

The CAMON 20 Pro Series is one of the smartphones that will run on Android 14 Beta later. 

Every emotion, in motion

For Joshua, CAMON 20 Pro is a perfect smartphone because it can vividly capture his dance moves wherever he is. CAMON 20 Pro Series’ 2K and 4K OIS portrait video on 64 MP night portrait can record best moments with clarity even in dim lighting. Thanks to the industry flagship OIS anti-shake technology, there will be no blurry recordings. Every emotion in motion will be captured in vivid detail. 

Selfies will likewise not be a problem with the CAMON 20 Pro Series with the 32 MP selfie camera. It is high definition, and high brightness, and is great even for night portraits. The micro-slit dual flash naturally brightens the face, softens edge sharpness, and enhances skin texture.

“I always take photos and selfies with my fans and even with my family and friends. With my CAMON 20 Pro 5G, I can take perfect selfies and ultra-clear photos anytime, anywhere, and there will be more memories to look back to,” said Joshua. 

Price and availability

TECNO provides two color options namely Dark Welkin and Serenity Blue for its CAMON 20 Pro 5G and CAMON 20 Pro models. The CAMON 20 Pro will have an early bird discounted price of P8,999 from P9,999 and the CAMON 20 Pro 5G will be offered for P11,999, discounted from P12,999. 

The CAMON 20 Pro Series will first be available in the Philippines via a live selling on the TECNO Mobile Philippines TikTok page on June 6 to 8, from 8 pm to 11 pm. Early bird buyers on TikTok may avail of up to PhP1,000 additional discount upon purchase, plus gifts or free headphones worth up to PhP999. Customers will also get the chance to win a TECNO PHANTOM X2 Pro, Electric Scooter, and many more prizes for every purchase of a CAMON 20 Pro Series.

TECNO CAMON 20 Pro Series promotion will be available soon at TECNO’s flagship store in Lazada, and TECNO official Store in Shopee. The series will also be available offline at TECNO Concept Stores and Experience kiosks, as well as TECNO partner retail stores.

Be the first to have TECNO CAMON 20 Pro Series. Tune in at TECNO Mobile Philippines TikTok page.

For more information, please visit TECNO at tecno-mobile.com/ph/home/. – Rappler.com

Committed to support sustainable development and address climate change, the Philippines’ leading mobile wallet GCash, together with the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), are continuing their initiatives to increase forest coverage and enhance existing mangrove areas in Cebu.

Through GCash’s GForest and RAFI’s One to Tree Program, a total of 1,075,000 mangroves and upland trees have been planted since 2021. For the remainder of 2023, 75,000 more mangroves will be planted, completing the target of 1,150,000 trees spread across three projects in the province.

The two GForests cover the Luyang Watershed in the northern town of Carmen. One project has 375 hectares of farmland in the barangays of Caurasan, Upper Natimao-an, Liboron, Ipil, Cantumog, and Lower Natimao-an. Meanwhile, the other consists of 355 hectares of farmland with planting sites in the barangays of Upper Natimao-an, Corte, Ipil, Caurasan, Hagnaya, Lanipga, and Cantumog.

Among the 600,000 native trees planted in the two GForests are avocado, bangkal, cacao, cashew, coffee, guyabano, jackfruit, mamalis, mangosteen, molave, nangka, narra and rambutan with a high survivability rate between 92 to 94% as of March 2023.

The Luyang Watershed is a significant ecological area in Cebu as it supplies at least 24,000 cubic meters of surface fresh water. The enhancement of tree cover in the two GForests will improve rainwater percolation.

As a result, this increases the water table under the horizon that supplies springs that support surface water along rivers. The neighboring urban cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Lapu-Lapu will benefit from this in terms of water supply.

The third project is GForest Mangroves which aims to plant 550,000 seedlings in Daanbantayan, San Remigio, and Medellin. The three municipalities are facing the Tañon Strait, the biggest marine protected area in the Philippines under the National Integrated Protected Areas System. 

As of May 2023, about 47.5 hectares have been covered for enrichment planting with 475,000 seedlings of the Bakhaw Lalaki (Rhizopora apiculata), Bakhaw Babae (Rhizopora mucronata), Bakhaw Bato (Rhizopora stylosa), Bungalon (Aviccenia alba), Miapi (Aviccenia marina), Aviccenia officinallis, Aviccenia rumphiana, Pagatpat (Sonneratia alba), Pedada (Sonneratia caseolaris), and Sonneratia ovata species.

Aside from mitigating the risks of natural disasters and augmenting water supply, the partnership has also helped in the livelihood of local communities. GCash and RAFI have engaged 200 landowners, 687 individuals, and ten people’s organizations in the site preparation, tree-planting, and maintenance activities of the projects.

“GCash is steadfast in playing an active role in minimizing the effects of climate change. Through GForest, we encourage Filipinos to take part in our eco-friendly initiatives and be Green Heroes. With partner organizations like RAFI, we continue to plant the seeds for a better tomorrow,” said CJ Alegre, GCash head for sustainability.

“This partnership with GCash allows us to reach more people and enable them to take part in caring for our environment even in simple ways. Through this partnership, people can build GForests one tree at a time, and also help in community-building and income augmentation of locals. This is a win for the environment and a win for Cebuanos,” said Amaya Aboitiz-Fansler, RAFI president and chief executive officer.

GForest is an in-app feature rolled out in 2019 in line with GCash’s sustainability agenda. Users earn green energy for cashless transactions done in the app such as paying bills, buying load, and sending money. Green energy is collected and used to plant virtual trees.

GCash partners with international and local organizations in planting actual trees around the country. At present, they have planted 2.2 million trees and aim to plant a total of 5 million trees by 2025.

For more information about GForest and other sustainability initiatives, visit www.gcash.com.ph. – Rappler.com

CONQuest Festival 2023, AcadArena’s award-winning gaming and pop culture convention slated for June 2 to 4, is gearing up to be bigger and bolder than its previous iterations in all ways possible.

CONQuest 2023 presented by Globe expands on last year’s SMX Convention Center venue to include the adjacent Seashell Lane, Conrad Manila, Mall of Asia (MoA), and National University MoA (NU MoA). The multi-venue setup will host a variety of events such as the Alliance Games in partnership with NU Laguna and NU MoA. This weekend event will feature over 70 local and international guests celebrating gaming, tech, music, pop culture, and everything in between.

Headlining the CONQuest 2023 guest roster are Valkyrae, Pokimane, Sykkuno, South Korean rock indie band The Rose, and Filipino singer-actor James Reid. Other notable internet personalities include Fuslie, Michael Reeves and LilyPichu, and anime content creators JoeyTheAnimeMan and AkiDearest.

“We always joked about eventually growing CONQuest in Iloilo to the point we’d get to Manila and have international guests,” said CONQuest founder and AcadArena chief growth officer Justin Banusing. “We even had OfflineTV as an April Fools’ joke. But thanks to the community’s undying passion, our dreams are coming true.”

CONQuest 2023 also brings musical acts into the fray for the first time with the introduction of Music Night. Joining The Rose and James Reid are local stars Carousel Casualties, Oh Flamingo!, and Autotelic, as well as international DJs James Landino and Hyper Potions.

A number of warmly-received guests from last year’s CONQuest are also set for a return. This includes Genshin Impact voice actresses Anne Yatco and Ratana, Vtuber Bao, and content creators Atsu and BTMC.

The allure of worldwide attention has also enticed some of the biggest brands to support CONQuest, who extends its gratitude to Presenting Partner Globe, as well as Platinum Partners Riot Games, Predator Gaming, and Blockchain Space. Joining the roster are Gold Sponsors composed of Lazada, Grab Philippines, Jollibee, Kumu, Coin98, coins.ph, SVGA, NU Laguna, UniPin, and Tier One Entertainment.

Check out CONQuest 2023’s full schedule here, or you can book your tickets here. – Rappler.com

Metro Manila’s forecast of becoming a global power city is challenged by the consequences of rapid urbanization. The UN-Habitat lists the effects of climate change, natural disasters that hamper urban infrastructures and city competitiveness, unequal livability, job creation, and poverty reduction. 

Is there a way out of Metro Manila’s challenges? Architect and urban designer Chintan Raveshia, and urban planner and sustainability consultant Tony Chan of Singapore-based Arup emphasize urban development should also consider people’s aspirations, its changing needs and expectations, and the national identity of the residents.

Finding the identity of the city

Raveshia inspires responsible stakeholders to ask themselves first the most fundamental question: “What’s the identity of the city and how do we make its residents proud?”

He quips, “Singapore, a city that is high on everyone’s liveability list, is also working with citizens and grass roots organizations to inculcate a sense of ‘lovability’ for the city. This helps to strengthen the societal bond, increase equity, improve community safety, and exude pride and a feeling of ownership of the city amongst the residents. The balance of liveability, efficiency, and lovability paves the way for a true success of our cities in this climate emergency era.”

For his part, Chan believes that a successful sustainable urban development goes hand in hand with the capability to enhance people’s quality of life. “We must develop and harness models of development that have low-carbon targets, which are also of a human scale, thriving and inclusive; models that are also just, secured and enhances the quality of life for all its residents. In addition, we should look at creative ways to increase local citizen participation as well as new technologies or products that can support the overarching vision and development objective,” says Chan. 

If Singapore reclaims lands for more affordable housing and increased integrated city developments and Melbourne builds accessible green spaces to promote social interaction, what plans would best fit Metro Manila’s sustainable and livable future while maintaining its identity? Here are five urban development aspirations Filipinos hope for the country’s main political and economic hub. 

1. Accessibility across all social classes

While Metro Manila is the Philippines’ major economic driver – accounting for 32% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) – it’s often challenged in sustaining accessible living conditions for residents across all social classes. UK-based The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) ranked Metro Manila 105th out of 139 cities in the Global Liveability Index 2022. The increasing population density in Metro Manila has resulted in some inconveniences in daily conditions like vehicular traffic situations, least green open spaces, high carbon footprint, inaccessibility to affordable housing, and unequal income opportunities.

Urban planners and developers suggest mixed-use planning in the metropolis and coastal developments because they are crucial to achieving the 15-minute concept. Here, residents across all walks of life are encouraged to live a healthy, affordable, and sustainable lifestyle because residential, commercial, and office spaces are integrated within a single development. 

 2. Open green spaces for a healthy and sustainable living environment

Studies shows that Metro Manila has only 5 square meters of green space available per person, this number is well below the 9 square meters set by the World Health Organization. COVID-19 had the entire world reassess their health conditions, lifestyle practices, and environmental situations. The impact was even more drastic in Metro Manila due to population density, crowded space, and insufficient parks and open areas. 

Aside from improving air quality and enhancing biodiversity, green spaces also moderate temperatures during the warm season. 

3. Enhancing human health and wellbeing 

Cities with sufficient healthcare facilities, access to health coverage, and infrastructures that enhance well-being and promote a healthy lifestyle, produce prosperous societies. 

The way cities are planned, designed, and executed has a crucial impact on how people live as it presents opportunities and effects on their lifestyles and overall well-being. While there is evident progress in Metro Manila’s health sector, rapid urbanization continues to pose risks in communities due to challenges in overcrowded neighborhoods, vehicular emissions, heavy traffic, pollution, and flood-prone areas.

4. Resilient community

Resilience is the capacity of individuals, communities, and systems to adapt, survive, and grow in the face of stress and shocks, and even transform when conditions require it. Relevant dimensions under the City Resilience Index (www.cityresilienceindex.org) by the Rockefeller Foundation & Arup, other dimensions include Health & Well Being, Economy & Society, Infrastructure & Environment as well as Leadership & Strategy

As Philippines and Manila grows, we face a dual challenge of adapting to climate change and the need to alter development strategies that are increasingly contributing to global warming. The Philippines is among the top 10 countries in the world most affected by climate change in the past 20 years, according to the Global Climate Risk Index As an archipelago, impacts resulting from climate change are immense. In addition, metro Manila’s safety and resilience are endangered by various natural disasters. 

Natural disasters persist every season due to our geographical location. 

Well-planned and executed urban designs have the power to build safe and resilient communities in Metro Manila.  Infrastructures like proper bike lanes and walkable streets ensure residents’ safety, accessibility, and comfort, whereas science and technology-based solutions that can build flexible structures, multi-use systems, and technologies can help residents adapt and prepare for changing conditions. 

5. Global and competitive city 

Metro Manila is one of Asia’s premier regions. As the country’s engine growth driver, it has growing investments in infrastructures and multitudes of business investments and developments.

The metropolis’ rising potential can further step up by following global models like Singapore, Melbourne, and Hong Kong which created several integrated cities and coastal developments that ushered in a vibrant economy and paved for a better urban lifestyle. These visions create an avenue to further increase opportunities for jobs, better education, better lifestyle, and bustling economic activities.

These can contribute to the Philippines’ national and local economies by driving tourism and infrastructure development while also creating equitable and inclusive communities. These, in turn, create a wider room of opportunities and, therefore, attracts more talent. 

Building inclusive and sustainable growth centers

When all stakeholders are listened to and addressed, communities will be energized when introduced to well-designed, master-planned and implemented developments. This will result in a lasting impact on Metro Manila’s future and its residents because it fosters more inclusive growth and makes the urban landscape an extension of their home.

When a city embraces its history, celebrates its milestones, innovates and adopts for the future, and most importantly, nurtures its residents and responds to their aspirations – it is a city working toward competitiveness and unlocking future potential. 

How about you? What would you aspire your city to be? – Rappler.com

Want world-class reliability for your business’ networks? Radius Telecoms, Inc. has you covered as it includes award-winning American network and security solutions company, Cisco, into its service bundles.

Cisco, a worldwide leader in technology that powers the internet, is now one of Radius’ preferred partners for its core equipment. Clients can now avail of Cisco-powered bundles that are tailored to address industry-specific needs, as Radius pivots to more targeted solutions for sectors like BPOs, banking, manufacturing, and SMEs.

According to Radius’ VP and head of enterprise & carrier sales, Beng Manahan, “Radius has been a Cisco-powered partner since its founding in 2001. The primary reason for this is the global brand reputation of Cisco, and we see them as the best partner to help the company deliver the highest service level uptime for our connectivity services offered to the enterprise market in the Philippines,” said Manahan.

Radius can re-fleet its enterprise clients’ critical networking equipment at zero cash-out for a one-stop tech refresh with Cisco gear. Radius also offers Managed Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) services which come with complimentary IT consulting sessions. “This service allows enterprise customers to focus on revenue-generating activities while Radius looks after the technical specifications, sizing and operations,” Manahan added.

For enterprise customers who avail of data or internet subscriptions, they can also refresh their networking routers, switches, and access points with Cisco Meraki equipment through competitively priced add-ons.

To learn more about Radius’ upgraded service bundles, visit their official website today. – Rappler.com

TECNO Mobile, an innovative technology brand with operations in over 70 global markets, today launched the brand-new SPARK 10 series in the Philippines, marking a new era in selfie phones in its segment by combining superior performance with sleek and trendy design. 

This series features adjustable dual soft lights on the 32MP ultra-clear front camera available for the SPARK 10 Pro, allowing the young generation to showcase the best in them and glow as they are. Powered by the MediaTek Helio G88 gaming processor, the SPARK 10 Pro comes with a massive 16 GB (8 GB + 8 GB extended RAM) and 256 GB ROM, geared up to elevate the performance in all aspects. It also features a hard-wearing starry glass back panel, resulting in a premium look and a comfortable feel. All these new additions make the SPARK 10 series the ultimate high-performance selfie phone in its P7,000 price range.

32MP glowing selfie, capturing your best self regardless of where you are

Engineered for selfie fanatics, the SPARK 10 Pro has a 32MP Ultra-Clear Front Camera with 4-in-1 HW Remosaic technology. By synthesizing the small pixel size of 0.8 um into a bigger pixel size of 1.6 um, the sensitivity of the pixel’s area is increased by 400%, which allows the camera to capture great details with even greater clarity.

In addition, the entire SPARK 10 series is equipped with dual soft lights on both the front and rear cameras. The built-in 10 Lux soft light provides just the right amount of flash that does not glare, and the intensity of the soft light is adjustable in three levels for different lighting conditions. To ensure users will always get the perfect selfie, any overexposure is immediately corrected by the Super Flashlight Algorithm to achieve a balance of brightness between the background and the subject, while concealing user’s blemishes and accentuating their beauty. All of this makes the SPARK 10 Series the lighting pro in your pocket.

G88 gaming processor, ultra upgrading for performance freaks

For creators and gamers, the desire to push boundaries requires top-notch technology that surpasses expectations. SPARK 10 Pro optimized the performance with MediaTek Helio G88, which is an octa-core processor that features two Arm Cortex-A75 CPUs operating up to 2 GHz, enabling quick responsive reactions. Equipped with MediaTek HyperEngine 2.0 and supercharged by the GameTurbo Algorithm from TECNO, the SPARK 10 Pro estimates lags and intelligently improves operational smoothness, providing an unmatched gaming and entertainment experience.

With the Memory Fusion technology, the RAM capacity of the whole SPARK 10 series is increased up to 16 GB, and the SPARK 10 Pro even boasts up to 256 GB ROM and 16 GB RAM (8 GB extended RAM). Such huge memory ensures more apps run at a much faster rate, bringing the smoothest user experience in the history of SPARK.

50 MP high-resolution photography system, delivering more detailed shots

The SPARK 10 series offers an advanced 50 MP AI camera supported by ASD mode and 3D LUT technology, bringing natural shots that are fully adapted to skin tones. Together with the Intelligent Beauty Mode, SPARK 10 Series delivers flawless and simply stunning portrait photos. Furthermore, with smart Super Night Filters and the Super Night Algorithm, as well as the dual flashlight, SPARK 10 Pro improves the performance of night photography, making every frame and picture clearer.

Vlogging is made even more fun with the SPARK 10 series. The Beauty Mode, AR stickers, HDR, and Bokeh effect as well as the unique cinematography mode, all apply to videos, which empowers users when filming their daily life in all kinds of scenarios. The SPARK 10 Pro and the SPARK 10 5G are also supported by smart focus, so users will never miss a wonderful moment, even if it comes unexpectedly. 

Hard-wearing starry glass panel, sleek and youthful design for trendsetters

These standard setting innovations are housed within a striking, unprecedented design featuring a starry glass back panel that is glossy, smooth, comfortable to hold, and natural to the skin. Dual cameras and a smart flashlight form a flagship triple ring, while the edges of the phone are flat, showing a premium and minimalist look. Users will be proud to show off their devices that come in an array of colors: Starry Black and Pearl White for the SPARK 10 Pro; and Meta Black, Meta Blue, Meta White, and Meta Green for the other models.

Ultra-high resolution display, elevating your visual experience to new heights

Additionally, the 6.8″ FHD optimally-sized large screen expands the user experience, and combined with the ultra-high resolution display and DCI-P3 color, these gamuts together build an immersive theatrical visual experience on the phone. Most of the models in the SPARK 10 series are supported by a 5000 mAh battery and 18 W fast-charging capability, promising a long-lasting battery life that keeps the device powered up even under heavy use. Last but not least, TECNO SPARK 10 Series (except for SPARK 10C) uplifts user experience in software with the impeccable Android 13 HiOS 12.6. 

Availability

The SPARK 10 series is comprised of four models – SPARK 10 Pro, SPARK 10, SPARK 10 C and SPARK 10 5G supported 5G network.

Get your TECNO Spark 10 Pro 256 GB +16 GB for P7,499 at the TECNO Mobile PH Official Store in Shopee, TECNO Mobile PH Flagship Store in Lazada, TECNO Concept Experience Kiosks and TECNO Partner Retail Stores nationwide. Also available is  Spark 10 Pro with 128 GB ROM for a discounted price of P6,899 until first sale period only. 

For more information, please visit TECNO Mobile at www.tecno-mobile.com – Rappler.com

If there is one thing clear from FutureCast event last March 30, it’s that GCash is gearing up to address most of the financial service needs of Filipinos – from their basic everyday transactions to something as unconventional as NFTs.

FutureCast is GCash’s biggest annual affair. It is at this event that the minds behind the Filipino fintech company announce new changes and innovations that they are integrating into the app. At this year’s FutureCast held at a futuristic stage at Whitespace Manila, GCash introduced ten new features and updates that will “empower Filipinos to be future-ready.”

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In recent years, GCash has transformed not just as an e-wallet that allows payments through QR codes, but has also become a platform that allows Filipinos to save money, get insurance, get loans, and more. In the next couple of months, the group is strengthening these existing features further, plus more. They are also beefing up ease of use and of course, security.

Below is a list of things that they announced during the event.

Less friction, more security

GCash is aware that there’s a growing number of scams and fraudulent activities, which is why the app is changing how users interact with each other as well as what security measures a user can take to keep their money safe.

• GChat: A messaging platform within the GCash app itself. GCash intends to use this as a way for users to interact with their contacts as well as seamlessly record receipts and transaction history from user to user, or user to merchant. No more taking screenshots of receipts and sending it to each other! GCash will also be sending advisories through Gigi, their virtual assistant.
• DoubleSafe: GCash now recommends users to verify their accounts so that they can turn the DoubleSafe feature on. This new feature uses facial recognition through selfie scans so that they can ensure each new log-in is done by the registered user themself. This is an added layer on top of required two-factor authentication done via one-time passwords (OTPs) and mobile banking personal identification numbers (MPIN).

Investments and insurance

This isn’t the first time GCash has offered forms of investment and insurance through their app, but they are adding more options for their users to invest or protect their finances. In the past, they had started offering pooled funds like mutual funds and UITFs as well as insurance policies through with third-party partners. At the FutureCast event, they teased how else they will be expanding these.

• GStocks PH: GCash wants to make investing in local stocks easier and with fewer  steps. So to counter the usual multi-step process that a lot of conventional trading platforms require, GCash partnered with AB Capital Securities, Inc. to create a more seamless way for Filipinos, whether they’re newbie or seasoned investors, to buy stocks. They have also connected with the Philippine Stock Exchange to make sure that stock information is  updated in real-time.
• GCrypto: Yes, GCash is also entering the crypto game. They have partnered with Philippine Digital Asset Exchange (PDAX), one of the largest crypto trading platforms in the country. But beyond giving users access to usual cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Etherium, they are also offering non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Through GCash’s GCrypto, users can get access to curated NFT collections. The first they’re launching is a set of works by Reen Barrera called “The House of OhLala.”
• GInsure Online Shopping Protect: “Every budol sparks joy,” shared Winsley Bangit, GCash’s chief customer officer. And this new product, which would only cost P34 a month, will provide all online shopping transactions with a coverage of P20,000 for any damages, if the product was undelivered, or if the product was stolen.

More opportunities to borrow

GCash has its own credit scoring system called GScore. The app uses this to gauge which GCash benefits and lending services it can offer you. At FutureCast, they announced new ways of using your GScore to get credit.

• GGives: GGives is also another service that GCash is giving a boost. Announced during the FutureCast, users will now be able to enjoy payment options like “buy now, pay later,” zero interest fees, and installment plans with select merchants. They can do all these even without a credit card.
• Borrow Load: GCash is also allowing users to borrow load so they can maintain their access to data. Users can borrow load to buy promos that can be used for texting, calling, and browsing the internet.

Global transactions

Perhaps one of the new updates that really got the crowd excited was the announcement that GCash is going global. While countries are limited at this time, they are slowly adding more territories where GCash can be used. Below are some new updates on this front.

• GCash Global Pay: Thanks to their partnership with Alipay+, GCash users won’t need to keep converting currencies anymore or relying on their credit cards. Users can now shop or pay merchants from Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Germany, Italy, France, and the UK. This offers real-time Forex charging and has no service fees.
• GCash Card: No Alipay+? You can use this VISA-powered card from GCash instead. Users also get real-time Forex charging at low exchange rates and zero service fees. This will be available towards the later part of 2023.
• GCash Overseas: This new feature is open to overseas Filipinos in Japan, Australia, Italy, and the US. This allows them to download GCash using international SIM cards and get access to features and services that GCash offers. This means that overseas Filipinos can now pay directly to billers, send money, and more. They can also send money home for free for GCash to GCash transactions.

GCash is the country’s first and only company that has reached a “double unicorn” standard (or duacorn, which means its valuation is over the $2 billion mark.

The app has over 79 million users and has been instrumental in making financial services more inclusive and accessible to Filipinos. The app has evolved from providing e-wallet services to including opportunities to save, get credit, invest, and more. – Rappler.com