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CCN Philippines to shut-down this 31st of January 2024

January 29, 2024
CCN Philippines to shut-down this 31st of January 2024

After all the reports, CNN Philippines has confirmed that the network will shutdown its operations on all media platforms this January 31, 2024. The company released their official statement on all their social media accounts as well an official statement published on cnnphilippines.com.

Here’s the full text of CNN Philippines’ official statement;

It is with deep regret that the management of Nine Media Corporation (NMC) announces the discontinuation of its news and production operations on all media platforms, branded as CNN Philippines (CNNPH), effective 31 January 2024. The decision follows significant financial losses sustained over the past years, despite rigorous efforts to adapt and innovate in a rapidly evolving and challenging media landscape.

We are aware of the impact of this closure on our valued employees and talents, we assure all affected staff will be provided with severance packages.

We express our deepest appreciation to our dedicated team for their unwavering commitment over the years that has elevated CNNPH as a trusted source of news and information in the Philippines.

With the conclusion of CNNPH’s operations, we would like to extend our profound gratitude to our partner, CNN Worldwide/Turner Broadcasting Corporation for their support and understanding.

To our loyal viewers, thank you for giving us purpose. We are honored to have served you.

Again, we would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to our employees, partners, and stakeholders. Thank you for the trust.

It’s unclear what will happen to its employees and talents, but it will be a big blow to the country’s “the future of journalism in the Philippines”, as well as the news media landscape.

Warriors fell to the Raptors, powered by RJ Barrett’s 37 points game (133-118)

January 8, 2024
Warriors fell to the Raptors, powered by RJ Barrett’s 37 points game (133-118)
Image: @Raptors

The Raptors gave the Warriors one of their worst loss of the season, behind RJ Barrett’s 37 points game. This is the 4th game of Barrett as a Raptor, who are 3 – 4, since trading OG Anunoby to the Knicks to get RJ Barrett, last Dec. 31st.

This is basically how the game was; the Raptors made 15 of their 33 three-points shot, lead by RJ Barrett, who made 5 of his 8 threes, despite having a great game from Klay Thompson with his 25 points, the Warriors are 14 for 46 from behind the arc with Steph is 0 of 9 from the three-point line, scoring only for 9 points. All Warriors starters are negative in the +/- column.

Aside from Barrett, Chris Boucher scored 17 points and 9 rebounds from the bench, with Pascal Siakam adding 16 points with 6 rebounds and 6 assists. The Raptors were never threaten in the game and at one point, their lead ballooned to 27 points.

Here are highlights of RJ Barrett;

Raptors will be visiting the Lakers on Tuesday night, while the Warriors will be hosting the NO Pelicans on Wednesday night.

Malacaรฑang declared January 9th as a Special Non-Working Holiday in the City of Manila in observance to the Feast of the Black Nazarene

January 4, 2024
Malacaรฑang declared January 9th as a Special Non-Working Holiday in the City of Manila in observance to the Feast of the Black Nazarene
Image: Wikimedia

Malacaรฑang just declared that Tuesday, 9th of January will be a Special Non-working day for the City of Manila to give way to the thousands, if not millions of devotees, who will celebrate the Feast of the Black Nazarene also known as the Traslaciรณn.

A little background from Wikipedia;

The Feast of the Black Nazarene commemorates the anniversary of the translation or the transfer of the image from its original location at a church in modern-day Luneta Park to Quiapo. The image was brought to the Church of San Juan Bautista in Bagumbayan (now Luneta) until May 31, 1606, by Augustinian Recollect priests. In 1608, the icon was enshrined at the Recollect church of San Nicolรกs de Tolentino in Intramuros. It was moved to the Saint John the Baptist Church, which is now commonly referred to as the Quiapo Church, on January 9, 1787. The “solemn transfer” eventually became the date of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

Reaction – 2 drinks, 3 tables: Bacolod cafe sends away non-paying customers, gets mixed

December 12, 2023
Reaction – 2 drinks, 3 tables: Bacolod cafe sends away non-paying customers, gets mixed
Image: @slobar.cafe

via Philippine Star Life;

A coffee shop in Bacolod received an outpour of support after a group of 10 customers review-bombed it when they were asked to leave as its non-paying members filled other tables. Owners of other cafes, however, have a different take on the issue.

SLO_BAR Cafe took to Instagram to lament how 10 people bought only two drinks but occupied three tables. They were asked to leave to give way to other paying customers.

The staff of the coffee shop is in the right when they asked the people to give way to paying customer, especially if the those group of people are occupying 3 tables and just bought 2 drinks.

For Nikaela Cortez of Sibs Cafe, which has a seating capacity of six, non-paying customers who decide to stay lead to an โ€œopportunityโ€ to market the business and spread awareness.

โ€œThough they may only buy two drinks, and even if ten of them choose to stay, that specific moment can be a chance to attract more customers in the future,โ€ Cortez told L!fe. โ€œThey are still customers at the end of the day.โ€

She, however, said that once a paying customer arrives, thatโ€™s the time her cafe would politely ask the non-paying ones to share the table.

โ€œWe encourage an environment where our customers get to experience a sense of sharing while enjoying their stay in our cafe,โ€ she added.

This comment is holds a lot of weight, of course if you are a non-paying customer in a cafe, then we have to give way to customer who are actually paying to enjoy their drinks. And yes… customers are not always right… for this case, we need to educate the customers, so next time they will know what is right.

SC announces 2023 Bar Exam Passer

December 6, 2023
SC announces 2023 Bar Exam Passer
Image - FB @SupremeCourtPhilippines

Supreme Court of the Philippines yesterday announced that a total of 3,812 out of the 10,387 who completed all the tests during the three days of the exams passed the 2023 Bar Examinations. For this year’s bar exam have a 36.77%. passing rate, which went down from last year’s 43.47% passing rate.

Below are the Top Bar passers;

Rank Name School Rating
1 BIE, Ephraim Porciuncula University of Santo Tomas 89.2625%
2 VIVIT, Mark Josel Padua Ateneo de Manila University 89.1250%
3 FRANCISCO, Frances Camille Altonage San Beda University 88.9125%
4 TANG, Nathaniel Niรฑo Alipio Aquinas-UST-LEGAZPI 88.6500%
5 FLORES, David Joseph Austria De La Salle University 88.5500%
6 SAMANIEGO, Ralph Vincent Salvador University of the Philippines 88.4750%
7 ANTONIO, Bryan Gerard Tapnio Ateneo de Manila University 88.3125%
8 BATULAN, Paulo University of San Jose โ€“ Recoletos 88.2500%
BUENCAMINO, Pio Vincent Roura University of Santo Tomas 88.2500%
9 BAUTISTA, Grace Abigail Morales Angeles University Foundation School of Law 88.0625%
10 CHAN, Jayson Ong Saint Paul School of Professional Studies 88.0125%
NON, Zes Trina Baรฑares Aquinas-UST-LEGAZPI 88.0125%
11 CALDERON, Maria Sofia Esguerra San Beda University 88.0000%
12 CRUZ, Cedric Jerome Moya Bulacan State University 87.9250%
13 OCAMPO, Marvin Joseph Manarang University of the Philippines 87.9125%
14 RUEDA, Yvette Veronique De Guzman University of Makati 87.8750%
15 POBAR, Dionisio III Tenorio University of the Philippines 87.8375%
16 BARRION, Vince Benedict Abu University of the Philippines 87.8000%
17 GUZMAN, Paolo Luna University of the Philippines 87.7875%
18 BALISONG, Rockylle Dominique Laureta San Beda University 87.7375%
19 PANOTES, Claudine De Luna Arellano University 87.6875%
20 CO, Janel Nathalie Ang Ateneo de Manila University 87.6625%

SC also published the list of successful examinees on their official social media accounts;

To all the new Attorneys.. CONGRATULATIONS!

Twitch to shut down business in Korea

December 6, 2023
Twitch to shut down business in Korea

In a surprising announcement, Amazon-owned streaming platform Twitch has announced that it will shut down operations in South Korea effective February 27, 2024. The company cited a “prohibitively expensive” operating costs and network fees as the primary reasons for this decision.

Twitch has been operating in Korea for several years, but it has faced ongoing challenges due to the country’s high network usage fees. These fees, which are significantly higher than in other countries, have made it difficult for Twitch to operate profitably in the country.

In an effort to reduce costs, the company experimented with peer-to-peer streaming and also limiting stream quality to 720p, but Twitch’s financial burden of operating in Korea is still 10 times more expensive than in most other countries.

This decision is a significant blow to the Korean gaming community, which has relied on Twitch as a platform for streaming and watching esports competitions. Twitch has also been a valuable source of income for many Korean streamers, who will now need to find alternative platforms to broadcast their content.

The shutdown of Twitch in Korea is a reminder of the challenges faced by global technology companies operating in countries with high network usage fees. It also highlights the importance of Korea’s internet service providers in ensuring that the country remains an attractive destination for technology companies.

The closure of Twitch in Korea is expected to have a significant impact on the country’s gaming community. Twitch has been a popular platform for Korean gamers to stream their gameplay and watch esports competitions. With Twitch gone, Korean gamers will need to find alternative platforms to watch and participate in the gaming community.

There are several alternative streaming platforms exist for Korean gamers, including YouTube Gaming, AfreecaTV, and Kakao TV. However, these platforms do not have the same global reach as Twitch, and they may not be as popular among Korean gamers.

It is unclear what will be the future of Twitch in Korea. The company has not ruled out the possibility of returning to Korea in the future, but it is unclear when or if this will happen.

In the meantime, Korean gamers will need to adapt to a new streaming landscape without Twitch. It is possible that the closure of Twitch could lead to increased popularity for other streaming platforms in Korea. However, it is also possible that Korean gamers will simply watch and participate in the gaming community less often.

MLDBeast’s Riyadh Soundstorm 2023 to be headlined by Metallica and Black Eyed Peas

November 28, 2023
MLDBeast’s Riyadh Soundstorm 2023 to be headlined by Metallica and Black Eyed Peas

MLDBeast’s annual music event Riyadh Soundstorm will be a 3-day music festival that features the best and greatest music has to offer. This year’s Soundstorm (2023) will be in Riyadh, Banban, from 14th thru 16th of December 2023.

Here’s a snippet of their lineup, in no particular order;

DECEMBER 14, THURSDAY

  • Black Eyed Peas
  • Calvin Harris
  • H.E.R.
  • Metallica
  • Wizkid

DECEMBER 15, FRIDAY

  • Chris Brown
  • Martin Garrix

DECEMBER 16, SATURDAY

  • David Guetta
  • J. Balvin
  • Swedish House Mafia

You can find the complete lineup here.

Tickets for the music festival can be as low as SAR 169, which is around Php 2,500.00, for the general admission or just one day pass or as high as SAR 80,000.00, which approximately Php 1.18 million for a VIB BOX, that will include Dedicated Concierge, an exclusive entry with valet, premium food and beverage and your very own dedicated private suite.

As for me, I’ll go with the GENERAL ADMISSION, since you get an all stage access, daily SAR 25 wallet credit, and complimentary parking, which is not bad if you’re just there to head band and slam with Metallica.

You can go to Riyadh SoundStorm 2023 for more info

OFW in Saudi can now request ‘Employment / Experience Certificate’ through Qiwa portal.

November 19, 2023
OFW in Saudi can now request ‘Employment / Experience Certificate’ through Qiwa portal.

Saudi’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced that workers in the private sector can now request their Employment/Experience Certificate online using Qiwa. The announcement (written in Arabic) was posted on the Ministry’s official X (twitter) account.

Here are the steps on how to request for your Employment/Experience Certificate;
1. Login to your Qiwa account
2. Under SERVICES, go to EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATES
3. Click the “APPLY FOR CERTIFICATE” button on the top right section of the page.
4. From there, choose your work experience, from which youwant to receive the certificate then go to “NEXT STEP.”
5. Select the experience certificate type, then click “NEXT STEP.”
6. From there you can review the summary finalizing the request by clicking on “SUBMIT REQUEST”.

Amazon partners with Hyundai to Sell Cars Online with Alexa built-in and AWS

November 19, 2023
Amazon partners with Hyundai to Sell Cars Online with Alexa built-in and AWS

Amazon just announced that it has entered a broad strategic partnership with Hyundai Motor Company. The partnership will allow Hyundai auto dealers to sell the automakerโ€™s vehicles online in Amazonโ€™s U.S. store in 2024. Then there’s the AWS part, since Hyundai has selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred cloud provider to accelerate its digital transformation. In connection to the selling cars on Amazon, starting 2025, Alexa will be built-in to Hyundaiโ€™s next-generation vehicles.

You can read the full text of Amazon and Hyundai’s announcement below;

As shared by Amazon CEO Andy Jassy, Amazon and Hyundai Motor Company have announced a broad strategic partnership.

“Hyundai is a very innovative company that shares Amazonโ€™s passion for trying to make customersโ€™ lives better and easier every day,โ€ said Amazon CEO Andy Jassy. โ€œOur broad, strategic partnership should do just that, from changing the ease with which customers can buy vehicles online to making it simple to use Alexa in Hyundai vehicles for entertainment, shopping, smart home adjustments, and calendar checks to enabling Hyundai to transform their customer experiences and business operations by moving to AWS. We look forward to inventing together for many years.โ€

Josรฉ Muรฑoz, global chief operating officer for Hyundai and president and CEO of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America, and Marty Mallick, Amazonโ€™s vice president for Worldwide Business and Corporate Development, revealed three key pieces of the announcement at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Here are three key pieces to know about this announcement.

1. In 2024, auto dealers for the first time will be able to sell vehicles in Amazonโ€™s U.S. store, and Hyundai will be the first brand available for customers to purchase.
This new digital shopping experience will make it easy for customers to purchase a new car online, and then pick it up or have it delivered by their local dealership at a time that works best for them. Customers will be able to search on Amazon for available vehicles in their area based on a range of preferences, including model, trim, color, and features; choose their preferred car; and then check out online with their chosen payment and financing optionsโ€”all within the Amazon experience they already know and trust. This new shopping experience will create another way for dealers to build awareness of their selection and offer convenience to their customers.

2. Hyundai has selected Amazon Web Services (AWS) as its preferred cloud provider to accelerate its digital transformation using broad and industry-leading AWS capabilitiesโ€”from compute, storage, database, and analytics to artificial intelligence (generative AI) and Internet of Things (IoT).
As part of a new multiyear agreement, Hyundai will become a more data-driven organization with a cloud-first technology strategy, migrating its current on-premises applicationsโ€”which support everything across research, product engineering, and customer engagementโ€”to AWS. Hyundai will prioritize business cases like manufacturing and supply chain to help optimize production and minimize costs, security, and disaster recovery for resiliency, and connected vehicle development to bring new features to drivers around the globe. In addition, AWS and Hyundai designed and implemented a Master Builder training and certification program to train Hyundai engineers in critical cloud skills.

3. Next-generation Hyundai vehicles will be even more responsive and interactive with Alexa Built-in.
Starting in 2025, customers who purchase Hyundaiโ€™s next-generation vehicles will be able to access the hands-free Alexa experience they have at home, while in their car. Hyundai drivers will be able to ask Alexa to play music, podcasts, or audiobooks; set reminders; update to-do lists; and check calendars. Customers will also be able to control their smart home from the road, such as asking to warm up the house on their way home, double-checking doors are locked, and managing smart lighting and Alexa routines. Drivers will also be able to ask Alexa for up-to-date traffic updates or weather reports, and use voice-control with the in-vehicle media player or navigation systemโ€”with certain Alexa features accessible even when internet connectivity is intermittent or unavailable.

โ€œWeโ€™re excited to be working with Hyundaiโ€”the third-largest carmaker in the world and a leading innovator in the industry,โ€ said Mallick during the onstage press conference in LA. โ€œTogether, we will provide customers with more of the buying experiences they wantโ€”and support dealers with an efficient and effective selling platform.โ€

โ€œThis is a transformational journey we are on together, and we look forward to a very productive long-term relationship with Amazon,โ€ said Muรฑoz.

HONOR opens its first authorized store in Saudi Arabia

November 5, 2023
HONOR opens its first authorized store in Saudi Arabia

HONOR Saudi just open its first authorized store in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East earlier this month. The store is located in Al Hayat Plaza in Dammam, Eastern Region of the Kingdom. Those who visit the store’s opening day received special offers.

Here are some photos as posted by @HonorKSA;

Arm to acquire minority stake in Raspberry Pi

November 5, 2023
Arm to acquire minority stake in Raspberry Pi

Arm announced that it had acquired a minority stake in Raspberry Pi. This investment is a significant development in the partnership between the two companies, which has been ongoing since 2008. Raspberry Pi has used Arm-based CPUs in all of its single-board computers (SBCs), and the two companies have collaborated on a number of initiatives, including the development of the Raspberry Pi Pico microcontroller.

The acquisition of a minority stake in Raspberry Pi is seen as a strategic move by Arm. Raspberry Pi has sold over 40 million SBCs to date, making it one of the most popular platforms for IoT development.

The partnership will benefit to both companies; Arm gains access to Raspberry Pi’s large and active community of developers, which can help to accelerate the adoption of Arm-based chips in IoT devices, Raspberry Pi, in turn, benefits from Arm’s expertise in chip design and its global reach.

โ€œArm and Raspberry Pi share a vision to make computing accessible for all, by lowering barriers to innovation so that anyone, anywhere can learn, experience and create new IoT solutions,โ€ said Paul Williamson, SVP and GM, Internet of Things Line of Business, Arm. โ€œWith the rapid growth of edge and endpoint AI applications, platforms like those from Raspberry Pi, built on Arm, are critical to driving the adoption of high-performance IoT devices globally by enabling developers to innovate faster and more easily. This strategic investment is further proof of our continued commitment to the developer community, and to our partnership with Raspberry Pi.โ€

โ€œArm technology has always been central to the platforms we create, and this investment is an important milestone in our longstanding partnership,โ€ said Eben Upton, CEO, Raspberry Pi. โ€œUsing Arm technology as the foundation of our current and future products offers us access to the compute performance, energy efficiency and extensive software ecosystem we need, as we continue to remove barriers to entry for everyone, from students and enthusiasts, to professional developers deploying commercial IoT systems at scale.โ€

The acquisition of a minority stake in Raspberry Pi is also seen as a sign of Arm’s commitment to the open-source community. Raspberry Pi is a popular platform for open-source software development, and Arm has stated that it will continue to support the Raspberry Pi Foundation’s commitment to open source. Financial details of the deals was not disclose.

Xeleqt AI wins the Grand Prize at the Start-up Innovation Challenge at the PH Digicon 2023

October 19, 2023
Xeleqt AI wins the Grand Prize at the Start-up Innovation Challenge at the PH Digicon 2023

Xeleqt AI, a startup that develops artificial intelligence-powered solutions for the financial industry, has won the Grand Prize at the Start-up Innovation Challenge at the PH Digicon 2023.

Xeleqt AI is an IoT-enabled business-to-employee platform that helps businesses automate their operations, improve productivity and services. The company’s platform is already being used by a number of leading companies in the Philippines and around the world.

Together with Xeleqt AI, Mylo Speech Buddy and Vison Technologies won the contest, placing 1st and 2nd runner-ups, respectively.

The winners of the Start-up Innovation Challenge receive a number of prizes like; cash prizes of Php250,000 (1st), Php200,000 (2nd) and Php150,000 (3rd); mentorship, and access to resources and support from PLDT Enterprise and Smart Communications.

The PH Digicon is the largest digital technology conference in the Philippines. The conference brings together leaders from the government, industry, and academia to discuss the latest trends and developments in digital technology.

DICT’s statement on the hacking and defacing of the House of Representative website

October 16, 2023
DICT’s statement on the hacking and defacing of the House of Representative website

Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) just release an official statement regarding the defacing of the House of Representative (HoR) website.

This is the full text of DICT’s statement;

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) confirms that a cybersecurity incident involving the House of Representatives (HOR) website occurred on Sunday, 15 October 2023.

The HOR immediately put the website offline to prevent further unauthorized access and reported the incident to the DICT โ€“ Philippine National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-PH).

CERT-PH is conducting an investigation to determine if sensitive data has been exfiltrated by the threat actor.

Recommendations were likewise provided to the HOR IT Team to prevent future security breaches on their website.

The DICT informs the public that the HOR website shall be online soon with its security vulnerabilities already addressed.

The next stages of the investigation on the incident, which include threat actor attribution and case build-up, shall be pursued by the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, in coordination with our law enforcement agencies.

The DICT reaffirms its commitment to be an active partner of government agencies as they fulfill the primary responsibility of safeguarding their own ICT systems and infrastructure against cyber threats.

By:

Renato A. Paraiso
Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs
DICT Spokesperson
pio@dict.gov.ph

At the sametime, DICT also release a Tagalog version of their statement.

Yesterday, the website of the House of Representative (HoR) was hacked by the hacker group 3MUSKETEERZ, defacing it with the troll face meme captioned it โ€œYouโ€™ve been hacked. Have a nice Day! Happy April Fullz Kahit October Palang! Fix your website.โ€ and changed its content with the same messaging.

Microsoft acquires Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion

October 15, 2023
Microsoft acquires Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion

Microsoft has officially acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, the deal has now been finalized after a lengthy regulatory review. The announcement was made by both company and published official statement on their respective website. Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as CEO of Activision Blizzard, and he and his team will maintain their focus on driving efforts to further strengthen the companyโ€™s culture and accelerate business growth. Once the deal closes, the Activision Blizzard business will report to Phil Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming and will be part of Microsoft’s Xbox Team.

Activision Blizzard is one of the largest and most successful video game companies in the world. It is the publisher of popular franchises such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Candy Crush, and Diablo. Microsoft is already a major player in the gaming industry with its Xbox console and Xbox Game Pass subscription service. However, the acquisition of Activision Blizzard gives Microsoft a significant boost in market share and makes it the third-largest gaming company in the world, behind Tencent and Sony.

When the deal was first announced, it faced regulatory pushback and was delayed due to concerns about competition in the cloud gaming market. To address these concerns, Microsoft made several concessions, including giving consumers in the European Economic Area free licenses to stream their Activision Blizzard games. Microsoft also signed agreements with console rivals Nintendo and Sony, promising them access to Call of Duty games for 10 years.

The UKโ€™s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) was the last regulator to approve the deal. The CMA stated that the concessions made by Microsoft were a โ€œgame-changerโ€ that would allow for competitive prices and better services.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, write a letter/email to announced the acquisition.

NPC launches โ€œNa-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko?” Portal

October 14, 2023
NPC launches โ€œNa-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko?” Portal

In the wake of the PhilHealth Hacking, Philippines’ National Privacy Commission (NPC) launches the โ€œNa-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? Portal. The โ€œNa-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? Portal is a tool to check if your personal data is included in the PhilHealth cyberattack last Sept 22.

NPC explained that โ€œNa-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? Portal is a “simplified database search portal designed to help individuals verify the status of their personal information in light of the recent incident involving the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) database, purportedly exfiltrated by the Medusa Ransomware Group, and posted online on October 5, 2023. As of October 13, 2023, the initial batch of data available on the portal pertains to individuals aged 60 years and above, containing an estimated 1 million records out of 8.5 million senior citizens.”

To access the “Na-leak ba ang PhilHealth Data ko? database search tool, visit: https://philhealthleak.privacy.gov.ph, then just provide your PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN) to know if you are part of the leaked database.

Malacaรฑang release official Philippine Holiday for 2024, sans EDSA People Power Revolution

October 14, 2023
Malacaรฑang release official Philippine Holiday for 2024, sans EDSA People Power Revolution
Malacaรฑang just release the official Philippine Holiday for next year, 2024. It’s the usual list of Holidays except that EDSA Revolution Anniversary was removed from the list of Special Non-working holiday which is celebrated every February. Malacaรฑang explained that the EDSA People Power Revolution commemoration was removed, since the event has “minimum socioeconomic impact” as it falls on a Sunday. Malacaรฑang moved the commemoration of the EDSA People Power Revolution Anniversary to Feb. 24 this year in lieu of Feb. 25, via Proclamation No. 167, as a special non-working day, to be consistent with holiday economics.
20231011-PROC-368-FRM
The People Power Revolution, also known as the EDSA Revolution or the February Revolution, was a series of popular demonstrations in the Philippines, mostly in Metro Manila, from February 22 to 25, 1986. There was a sustained campaign of civil resistance against regime violence and electoral fraud. The nonviolent revolution led to the ousting of Ferdinand Marcos and his family, including the current President of the Philippines, Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr., who was already in his late 20s at that time, ending of his 20-year dictatorship and corruption, and the restoration of democracy in the Philippines.

Joel Embiid to play for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics

October 8, 2023
Joel Embiid to play for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics
Image: NBA

Philadelphia 76ers and the NBA’s reigning MVP, Joel Embiid announced that he will play for Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The announcement comes after talking to both Team USA executive director Grant Hill and the representatives from the French national team.

Joel Embiid who was born in Cameroon and holds both French and American citizenship, to which team he will be playing have been the talk/debate, since Team USA failed to bring home a medal in the last FIBA World Cup and the coming 2024 Paris Olympics. Embiid joins other NBA superstars like LeBron James, Steph Curry and Kevin Durant who have expressed interest in playing for Team USA at the next yearโ€™s Olympics.

Department of Migrant Workers issues Advisory regarding the โ€œState of War alertโ€ issued by Israelโ€™s Home Front Command

October 7, 2023
Department of Migrant Workers issues Advisory regarding the โ€œState of War alertโ€ issued by Israelโ€™s Home Front Command

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv, Israel just issue an advisory regarding the โ€œState of War alertโ€ issued by Israel.

๐”๐‘๐†๐„๐๐“ ๐€๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ซ๐ž: โ€œ๐’๐ญ๐š๐ญ๐ž ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐–๐š๐ซ ๐š๐ฅ๐ž๐ซ๐ญโ€ ๐ข๐ง ๐ˆ๐ฌ๐ซ๐š๐ž๐ฅ
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW, the Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv, Israel (PE-Tel-Aviv) and the Migrant Workers Office โ€“ Israel (MWO) are closely monitoring the situation of Filipinos in affected areas in the wake of the โ€œState of War alertโ€ issued by Israelโ€™s Home Front Command.

Filipino community (FilCom) leaders are in touch with their members. They report that they remain calm and are accounted for. FilCom leaders remain in contact with the Philippine Embassy and MWO.

Filipinos in Israel are advised to take specific precautionary safety measures and follow the instructions provided by the Israeli Homefront Command.
The DMW and OWWA has set up a 24/7 Task Force Israel Desk for OFWs in Israel and their families. Please call Hotline +63 2 1348 or the following WhatsApp and Viber nos: +63 9083268344 | +63 9271478186 | +63 9205171059.

One OFW family has sought assistance from the DMW. We have contacted the concerned OFW. She is safe and sound.

Please standby for further announcements as the situation develops in Israel.
###

Philippine Coast Guard release statement on the Maritime Incident near the Bajo de Masinloc

October 4, 2023
Philippine Coast Guard release statement on the Maritime Incident near the Bajo de Masinloc

PCG Spokesperson Jay Tarriela has released a statement regarding the Maritime Incident near the Bajo de Masinloc, which resulted in the death of 3 Filipino Fishermen. Here’s the full text of PCG Spokesperson Jay Tarriela statement, which is also posted on his X/twitter account.

PCG Investigates Maritime Incident Involving Capsized Fishing Boat and Casualties

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) is currently conducting a thorough investigation into a maritime incident that resulted in the capsizing of a Filipino Fishing Boat (FFB) DEARYN on October 2, 2023. The incident occurred approximately 180 nautical miles from Agno, Pangasinan, after the vessel was hit by an unidentified vessel.

The following individuals have been identified as casualties of the incident:

1. Boat Captain Dexter Laudencia
Address: Calapandayan, Subic, Zambales
Age: 47

2. Boat Crew Romeo Mejeco
Address: Calapandayan, Subic, Zambales
Age: 38

3. Boat Crew Benedicto Olandria
Address: Calapandayan, Subic, Zambales
Age: 62

The eleven (11) fishermen who survived have provided their accounts of the incident. According to their statements, on October 2, 2023, at approximately 4:20 a.m., while FFB DEARYN was moored at their payao, adverse weather conditions and darkness may have contributed to their boat not being detected by the passing unidentified vessel, thus resulting to the incident. They further shared that they used their small service boats to transport the bodies of their fallen companions to Infanta, Pangasinan, as their fishing boat had sustained significant damage.

The PCG is diligently cross-referencing the fishermen’s accounts, along with the date and time, to identify the vessels that passed through the exact location of the incident. Efforts are being made to ascertain the identity of the vessel involved, and once identified, the PCG will reach out to the flag of the vessel and her next port of call for further investigation.

The PCG is committed to ensuring a thorough and impartial investigation into this tragic incident. Updates on the investigation will be provided as new information becomes available. The PCG extends our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of Captain Dexter Laudencia, Boat Crew Romeo Mejeco, and Boat Crew Benedicto Olandria.

President Bongbong Marcos Jr. Release Statement regarding the Death of 3 Fishermen near the Bajo de Masinloc

October 4, 2023
President Bongbong Marcos Jr. Release Statement regarding the Death of 3 Fishermen near the Bajo de Masinloc

President Bongbong Marcos Jr. has released a statement regarding the death of 3 Fishermen near the Bajo de Masinloc. In his statement, the incident is still under investigation and that the commercial vessel that rammed the fishing boat of the 3 fishermen are still unidentified. He is also asking to “allow the PCG to do its job and investigate, and let us refrain from engaging in speculation in the meantime.”.

Here’s the statement that was published on X, formerly twitter;

It can be recalled that last Monday, October 2nd, three Filipino fishermen died because an unidentified commercial vessel rammed their fishing boat near the Bajo de Masinloc (Scarborough Shoal). You can read Rappler’s full report on the incident.

PhilHealth issue another “Urgent Notice to the Public” in connection to the Cyberattack last Sept 22.

October 3, 2023
PhilHealth issue another “Urgent Notice to the Public” in connection to the Cyberattack last Sept 22.

PhilHealth has once again release an announcement that they are calling “Urgent Notice to the Public,” this is in connection to the Cyberattack that was made last Sept 22. The health agency reiterates that no member information have been taken and that membership database is intact and unharmed by the cyberattack last Sept 22.

They later reminded the public to be cautious in opening malicious contents online and on social media, which I suppose, is directed to PhilHealth’s employees. The agency is also working with the authorities to catch the perpetrators.

PhilHealth is currently working with multiple agencies that includes Department of Communication Technology (DICT), National Privacy Commission (NPC), Philippine National Police Cybercrime Division, Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and the National Bureau of Investigation(NBI) to identify the perpetrators of the hacking.

Here’s the announcement by PhilHealth:

PhilHealth previously posted a Urgent Notice to the Public explaining what information have been compromised in the cyberattack that happened last Sept 22. Below are compromised PhilHealth member’s information;

  • Name
  • Address
  • Date of Birth
  • Sex
  • Phone number
  • PhilHealth ID number

The Health agency also recommended a number of steps that affected PhilHealth Members can take as a precaution.

The hackers demanded a ransom of $300,000 or approximately P17 million as payment to decrypt the files but according to a report by CNN Philippines, “The DICT confirms that some PhilHealth data affected in the Medusa ransomware attack have been published in the dark web after the deadline to pay ransom money to hackers lapsed.”

Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) denounces the massive illegal recruitment for jobs in Italy

October 2, 2023
Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) denounces the massive illegal recruitment for jobs in Italy

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has denounced the massive illegal recruitment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) for jobs in Italy.

Here’s the full text of Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) statement;

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) denounces reported acts of massive illegal recruitment schemes preying on overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) being charged with illegal and exorbitant placement and consultancy fees and lured into non-existent jobs in Italy.

The DMW is coordinating with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Manila and the Philippine Consulate General in Milan (PCG-Milan), and our Migrant Workers Office in Milan (MWO-Milan) in the investigation of alleged perpetrator agencies and individuals both in Italy and the Philippines.

The DMW is also working with the Department of Justice (DoJ) through our Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB), in documenting and investigating the complaints of nearly 100 victims last week.

The DMW warns the public on offers of fake overseas job offers and the illegal collection of exorbitant placement fees. Through our AKSYON Fund, the DMW will put the full force of the law to bear on unscrupulous individuals and organizations and seek justice for victimized OFWs.

The DMW urges other victims of illegal recruitment to contact us and report these offenses so we may assist them in the filing of their cases. They may reach us through the Facebook page of our Migrant Workers Protection Bureau (MWPB) at https://www.facebook.com/airbranch or email at mwpb@dmw.gov.ph and also through their hotline number +63 2 8721-0619.

DICT official statement on PhilHealth Ransomware Attack

September 30, 2023
DICT official statement on PhilHealth Ransomware Attack

Following the PhilHealth ransomware attack last September 22, 2023, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has released an official statement.

Here’s the full text of DICT’s statement;

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), through its Cybersecurity Bureau, proactively responded to address a ransomware attack that targeted the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) last September 22, 2023.

Upon learning of the breach, the DICT Cybersecurity Bureauโ€™s National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) went to PhilHealth Head Office and implemented critical security measures which included the disconnection of workstations from the network, prompt coordination with PhilHealth to gauge the extent of the attack, and collection of relevant logs for thorough analysis.

As of September 25, 2023, PhilHealth’s critical web services are only accessible via their IP addresses and currently ongoing comprehensive security scanning. Efforts to restore the functionality of PhilHealthโ€™s DNS server are underway.

The DICT condemns the ransomware attack carried out against PhilHealth in an attempt to illegally access the information of its members. We shall continue to investigate and monitor the acquired logs from PhilHealth’s affected systems. An extensive checklist has been prepared by the DICT to benchmark PhilHealthโ€™s readiness to get their systems online.

The DICT is committed to ensuring the full restoration of security and stability in PhilHealth systems and to safeguarding government systems and infrastructure from malicious cyber threats.

Price for the coming KCON Korean Festival in Saudi

September 28, 2023
Price for the coming KCON Korean Festival in Saudi

We know the when and the who for the upcoming KCON Korean Festival in Saudi, and now we have the answer on the “HOW MUCH” since there have been no official announce on the ticket price for the Korean Festival.

There will be 3 categories of tickets; Entry Ticket will be SR 280.00, Golden Circle is SR 550.00 and VIP will cost SR 1,000.00.

  • VIP : This ticket will include the access to the VIP stand, Free Snacks and Drinks, access to the Gold Circle, and the convention.
  • Gold Circle : This ticket will include the access to the private lounge, the Gold Circle, and the convention.
  • Entry Ticket : This ticket will include the access to the general areas and the convention.

You can get your tickets from TicketMX using this link – https://www.ticketmx.com/en/d/4080/kcon-saudi-arabia-2023

The Music Commission will host the KCON Festival for the second time in the Kingdom on October 6 and 7 at the Mohammed Abdo Theater in Riyadh City Boulevard, with the participation of 14 Korean bands performing an international concert over two days presenting a variety of Korean cultural music as well as allocating an accompanying exhibition concerned with Korean culture.โ€จ
Exhibition timings: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pmโ€จConcert timings: 10:00 pm – 12:30 am

Ticket categories:
VIP : This ticket will include the access to the VIP stand, Free Snacks and Drinks, access to the Gold Circle, and the convention.
Gold Circle : This ticket will include the access to the private lounge, the Gold Circle, and the convention.
Entry Ticket : This ticket will include the access to the general areas and the convention.
Meet & Greet : An additional ticket added to your basic ticket that let you enjoy the experience of meeting your favorite band and artists.โ€จ3 different sessions, 3 different bands per day from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Mobile User’s Name and ID to appear starting Oct 1st

September 27, 2023
Mobile User’s Name and ID to appear starting Oct 1st

The Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST) of Saudi Arabia has announced that the new regulation requiring all mobile phone operators to display the caller’s name and ID will take effect on October 1, 2023.

This new regulation is aimed at reducing the number of spam and scam calls received by mobile phone users in Saudi Arabia. It will also help to improve the safety and security of mobile phone users.

Under the new regulation, all mobile phone operators will be required to display the caller’s name and ID on the recipient’s phone screen before the call is answered. If the caller’s name and ID are not available, the caller’s phone number will be displayed instead.

The caller’s name and ID will be obtained from a central database that is maintained by the CST. The database will contain the names and IDs of all mobile phone subscribers in Saudi Arabia.

Mobile phone users can choose to have their names and IDs displayed to all callers, or they can choose to have their names and IDs displayed only to callers who are in their contact list.

The new regulation also requires mobile phone operators to provide their subscribers with the ability to block unwanted calls. Subscribers will be able to block calls from specific phone numbers, or they can block all calls from unknown numbers.

The CST has stated that the new regulation is part of its ongoing efforts to improve the quality of mobile phone services in Saudi Arabia. The CST is also working to protect mobile phone users from spam, scams, and other forms of fraud. Mobily, STC, Zain and Virgin Mobile are the top mobile provider in the country and are expected to comply with this new regulation.

The new regulation is expected to have a positive impact on mobile phone users in Saudi Arabia. It will help to reduce the number of unwanted calls, and it will improve the safety and security of mobile phone users.

Source: Saudi Gazette

Delivery Hero to sell FoodPanda Business in South East Asia

September 25, 2023
Delivery Hero to sell FoodPanda Business in South East Asia

On September 20, 2023, Delivery Hero, the parent company of Foodpanda, announced that it was in talks to sell its Foodpanda business in Southeast Asia. The move comes as Delivery Hero is facing increasing competition from other online food delivery platforms in the region, such as Grab and Gojek.

The potential sale of Foodpanda is significant, as the company is one of the leading online food delivery platforms in Southeast Asia. Foodpanda operates in eleven Southeast Asian countries, including Bangladesh, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. The company has over 10 million users and over 60,000 restaurants on its platform.

The potential buyer of Foodpanda is reportedly Grab, the Singapore-based ride-hailing and super-app. Grab is already the leading ride-hailing platform in Southeast Asia, and it is also expanding into other verticals, such as food delivery, payments, and financial services.

The sale of Foodpanda would create a dominant player in the Southeast Asian online food delivery market. Grab would have access to Foodpanda’s large customer base and network of restaurants. This would give Grab a significant advantage over its competitors. The sale of Foodpanda would also have implications for consumers, since this will lessen the competition, which could potentially raise prices or reduce discounts after acquiring the food delivery company.

On the otherhand, the sale of Foodpanda could also lead to improved innovation and efficiency in the Southeast Asian online food delivery market. Grab could use its resources to invest in new technologies and improve its services. This could benefit both consumers and restaurants.

The negotiations are in their preliminary stages and it is uncertain and subject to various open points whether this will lead to a definitive agreement. However, the potential sale of Foodpanda is a significant event that could have a major impact on the online food delivery market in Southeast Asia.

PhilHealth hit by ransomware, Hackers demands $300,000.00

September 25, 2023
PhilHealth hit by ransomware, Hackers demands $300,000.00

On September 22, 2023, the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) was hit by a ransomware attack. The attack was carried out by the Medusa ransomware group, which encrypts files and demands a ransom payment for the decryption key. The hackers responsible for the attack have demanded a ransom of $300,000 or approximately P17 million as payment to decrypt the files.

PhilHealth detected the attack early on Friday and immediately shut down all of its online systems, including its website, portals, and e-claims. The agency is currently working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and other government agencies to investigate the incident and restore its systems.

In a statement, PhilHealth assured the public and its members that their personal and medical information was not compromised or leaked in the attack. However, the attack did disrupt the agency’s operations and caused some inconvenience to its members.

On September 25, PhilHealth announced they are working to restore all of its systems and that its members could now avail of its benefits again. The agency also said that it was implementing additional security measures to prevent future attacks.

Pricing of iPhone 15s and Iphone 15 Pros in Saudi Arabia

September 18, 2023
Pricing of iPhone 15s and Iphone 15 Pros in Saudi Arabia

For those in Saudi Arabia, the iPhone 15s and iPhone 15 Pros are now available for preorder and will be available in retail store on the 22nd of September. While there is no Online Apple store for Saudi Arabia, you can place your preorder to any of the local retailers in the country.

Below are the Saudi Pricing of the iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max;


Iphone 15
128 GB – SR3,799.00
256 GB – SR4,299.00
512 GB – SR5,299.00

Iphone 15 Plus
128 GB – SR4,199.00
256 GB – SR4,699.00
512 GB – SR5,699.00


iPhone 15 Pro
128 GB – SR4,699.00
256 GB – SR5,199.00
512 GB – SR6,199.00
1 TB – SR7,199.00

iPhone 15 Pro Max
256 GB – SR5,699.00
512 GB – SR6,699.00
1 TB – SR7,699.00

Lineup for the KCON Korean Festival in Saudi

September 16, 2023
Lineup for the KCON Korean Festival in Saudi
Image: @KConOfficial

We finally have the official band line up for the coming KCON Korean Festival in Saudi. Of all the 14 bands, I only recognize Super Junior. Looks like the rest of the bands are up and coming bands in the K-POP scene.

For October 6th;

  • Super Junior D&E
  • HighLight
  • Hyolyn
  • Kard
  • Everglow
  • 8turn
  • Riize

For Octoher 7th;

  • Super Junior
  • Oh My Girl
  • Dreamcatcher
  • Tempest
  • The New Six
  • Eleltz U+P
  • Evnne

The KCON Korean Festival will (KCON Riyadh 2023) be on Friday, October 6, and Saturday, October 7, at the Mohammed Abdo Arena in Boulevard Riyadh City. In addition to the musical performances, there will be an exhibition dedicated to Korean culture. This will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of Koreaโ€™s rich history and traditions.

The official Instagram account of KCon also announced the band line for the KCon Riyadh.