Huawei just announced its first gold edition smartwatch, the Huawei Watch Ultimate Design. The Huawei Watch Ultimate Design is a premium smartwatch with a sleek design and long battery life. It is powered by the latest Wear OS operating system and features a number of powerful features, including a built-in GPS, heart rate monitor, and sleep tracker.
Experience the Huawei's first gold smartwatch, allure of the #HUAWEIWATCHULTIMATEDESIGN. With rudder-like black nanocrystal ceramic bezel and six 18K gold inlay — radiating timeless and classic elegance for your sophisticated persona.#FashionForwardpic.twitter.com/wSwFkTo0uA
The Huawei Watch Ultimate Design has a 46mm stainless steel case with a 18K gold and nanocrystal ceramic bezel and sapphire crystal lens. The watch is available in two colors: Gold and black.
The Huawei Watch Ultimate Design has a 1.5 inches LTPO AMOLED color screen with a resolution of 466 × 466 pixels, PPI 311. The display is bright and clear, and it is easy to see in all lighting conditions.
Overall, the Huawei Watch Ultimate Design is a premium smartwatch with a sleek design and long battery life.
14-day maximum battery life
8-day typical battery life
4-day battery life with Always On Display enabled
You can checkout the full specs of the full specs here.
Huawei Watch Ultimate Design is now available for preorder with an SRP of AED 10,999.00 or around SAR 11,232.30. In the Philippines, the Huawei Watch Ultimate Design will retail for ₱159,999.00.
In a very short message, NBA and NBPA issued a statement in support of Israel regarding its conflict with Palestine.
The NBA and NBPA mourn the horrific loss of life in Israel and condemn these acts of terrorism. We stand with the people of Israel and pray for peace for the entire region.
X, formerly known as twitter, just announced that it now has roll-out a feature that allows you to control you can reply to your posts. This feature will be available to your new and even old posts.
There are two ways to control who can reply/comment on your posts;
1. When composing your post, go to the EVERYONE CAN REPLY and the screen to set “WHO CAN REPLY?” will appear.
For published posts, just click/tap on the (…) that’s on the right corner of the post and go to CHANGE WHO CAN REPLY.
The new feature is a good way to filter our users who does nothing but spam in the service and also limit those who can interact with you in X/twitter. For now, the features appears to be available to everyone using the service and won’t surprise me if in this will only be available to verified accounts.
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.
I’m really proud and excited about this decision. It was not easy. I am blessed to call Cameroon, France, and the USA home. After talking to my family, I knew it had to be Team USA. I want to play with my brothers in the league. I want to play for my fans because they’ve… pic.twitter.com/6VHSQTKVl3
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 year’s Olympics.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv, Israel just issue an advisory regarding the “State of War alert” issued by Israel.
𝐔𝐑𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐫𝐞: “𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐭” 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐬𝐫𝐚𝐞𝐥
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW, the Philippine Embassy in Tel-Aviv, Israel (PE-Tel-Aviv) and the Migrant Workers Office – Israel (MWO) are closely monitoring the situation of Filipinos in affected areas in the wake of the “State of War alert” issued by Israel’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.
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Google has recently announced its latest flagship smartphones, the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro. These devices are engineered by Google and built with AI at the center for a more helpful and personal experience.
Design and Display
The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro are elegantly designed with softer silhouettes, beautiful metal finishes, and recycled materials. The Pixel 8 features a 6.2-inch Actua display with 1080 x 2400 resolution, Smooth Display (60–120 Hz), Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus® cover glass and Always-on display with At a Glance and Now Playing features. Google claim that it is brighter than the Pixel 7’s display. It comes in Rose, Hazel, and Obsidian colors.
The Pixel 8 Pro, on the other hand, boasts a 6.7-inch Super Actua display with 1344 x 2992 resolution, Smooth Display (1–120 Hz) and just liek with the Pixel 8, it features “Always-on display with At a Glance and Now Playing”, this is Google’s brightest display yet with up to 1600 nits (HDR) and up to 2400 nits (peak brightness). It comes in Porcelain, Bay, and Obsidian colors.
Google Pixel 8
Performance
The Pixel 8 comes with a basic 8GB RAM package, and up to 256GB of storage. The Pixel 8 Pro gets a more muscular 12GB of RAM, with 128GB, 256GB or 512GB storage by default — while a 1TB option will be offered in certain markets.
Both phones are powered by the Google Tensor G3, which is based on a nine-core CPU configuration (1×3.0 GHz Cortex-X3 & 4×2.45 GHz Cortex-A715 & 4×2.15 GHz Cortex-A510) and an Immortalis-G715s MC10 GPU, and Titan M2 security coprocessor.
Camera
Every camera on the Pixel 8 Pro has been upgraded. The main 50 MP Octa PD wide camera captures better photos and videos in low-light settings. The bigger 48 MP Quad PD ultrawide camera with autofocus delivers even better Macro Focus, the 48 MP Quad PD telephoto camera captures 56% more light and takes 10x photos at optical quality, and the front-facing 10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera now has autofocus for the best selfies on a Pixel phone.
The Pixel 8 has the same updated 50 MP Octa PD wide camera, plus a new 12 MP ultrawide camera with autofocus that enables Macro Focus. It uses the same 10.5 MP Dual PD selfie camera, as the Pixel 8 Pro.
Google Pixel 8 Pro
Battery
The Pixel 8 Pro is equipped with a Li-Ion 5050 mAh battery, while the Pixel 8 uses 4575 mAh, both provides long-lasting performance.
Software
One of the key selling points of Google’s Pixel phones is their software support. The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro will get seven years of software updates, including Android OS upgrades, security updates, and regular Feature Drops.
Additional Features
Both phones come with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance (up to 1.5m for 30 min). They also support Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 2.4GHz+5GHz+6GHz,2×2+2×2 MIMO, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, NFC and USB Type-C® 3.2.
For the full specs of Google Pixel 8, you can go here and for Google Pixel 8 Pro, you can check it out here.
The Google Pixel 8 and 8 Pro are now available for preorder; the Pixel 8 will start at $699 for the 128 GB variant and $759 for the 256 model. The Pixel Pro 8 will retail for $999.00 for the 128 GB, $1,059.00 for the 256 GB and $1,179.00 for the 512 GB model.
Gilas Pilipinas stunned host China with a thrilling 77-76 come-from-behind victory in the semifinals of the 19th Asian Games men’s basketball tournament on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.
Gilas Pilipinas trailed by as many as 20 points in the third quarter, but they rallied back in spectacular fashion to steal the game. Justin Brownlee scored 17 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter to lead Gilas Pilipinas to victory.
China got off to a hot start, leading by as many as 12 points in the first quarter. Gilas Pilipinas kept pace in the second quarter, but China was able to build an 18 point lead at halftime.
China extended their lead to 20 points, 52-32, in the third quarter with 08:24 remaining, but Gilas Pilipinas refused to give up. They cut the lead to just 12 points entering the 4th. China responded by exchanging basket with Gilas but Justin Brownlee was just starting to heat up.
Gilas Pilipinas tighten their defense and limited China to just 14 pts in the qtr, while Gilas made 27 points, with Brownlee scoring 17 pts of those 27. China had a chance to win the game in the final seconds, but ZHANG Zhenlin missed his jumper before the time expires.
Brownlee was the hero for Gilas Pilipinas in this game, scoring 33 points, grabbed 5 rebounds, and dished out 4 assists. He was also perfect from beyond the arc, making all 5 of this three-pointers.
Scottie Thompson also had a big game for Gilas Pilipinas. He finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Junmar Fajardo and Jaymar Perez both added 8 points with 4 and 5 rebounds, respectively.
Rui Zhao led the scoring for China with 18 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
With the win, Gilas Pilipinas advances to the final of the Asian Games for the first time since 1990. They will face Jordan in the final on Friday, October 6, 2023.
The Scores
Philippines 77 – J. Brownlee 33, S. Thompson 13, J. Fajardo 8, J. Perez 8, L. Alas 5, C. Newsome 4, C. Oftana 4, A. Kouame 2, C. Ross 0, M. Lassiter 0, J. Aguilar 0.
China 76 – Zhao R. 18, Hu M. 10, Zhu 10, Wang 10, Zhao J. 9, Hu J. 8, Du 6, Zhang 4, Cui 1, Cheng 0.
Quarters: 17-19, 30-48, 50-62, 77-76.
After a monumental semis win against China, Gilas Pilipinas head coach Tim Cone was in awe of Justin Brownlee’s herculean effort in willing our men’s basketball team into the Asiad finals and lauded our Gilas Men’s overall performance. #HangzhouAsianGames#AsianGamespic.twitter.com/BGfC96TpJ6
Already assured of a silver medal, Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial advanced to the finals of the 19th Asian Games men’s middleweight (80kg) division with a dominant second-round knockout win over Syrian boxer Ahmad Ghousoon on October 4, 2023 at the Hangzhou Gymnasium in Hangzhou, China.
Marcial delivered the knockout blow in the second round, when he landed a powerful left hook that sent Ghousoon to the canvas. As much as Ghousoon tried to stand-up the blow was too strong for the Syrian boxer to recover, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
With the win, Marcial is guaranteed at least a silver medal in the Asian Games. He will face China’s Tuohetaer Erbieke in the final on October 6, 2023, for a chance to bring home the Philippines’ first gold in Asian Games boxing in over a ten years.
Marcial’s victory also qualified him for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. He has already secured a berth in the Olympic qualifying tournament, but a gold medal at the Asian Games would give him an automatic spot in the Olympics.
Marcial will join pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnasts Carlos Yulo and Aleah Finnegan in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
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:
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. 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;
We are deeply saddened by the deaths of the three fishermen, including the captain of the fishing vessel. The incident is still under investigation to ascertain the details and circumstances surrounding the collision between the fishing boat and a still unidentified commercial… pic.twitter.com/VKe1eUkiIy
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 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:
#MyPhilHealth reiterates that its membership database is intact and unharmed by the cyberattack last Sept 22.
The Corporation urges the public to be cautious in opening malicious contents online and on social media. It is working with the authorities to catch the perpetrators. pic.twitter.com/bvxgBsJ7Q9
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.”
BREAKING: 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.
Gilas Pilipinas advance to semifinals of the 19th Asian Games after a thrilling game against Iran (84-83) in the quarterfinals of the 19th Asian Games men’s basketball tournament on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at the Zhegiang University Zijingang Stadium in Hangzhou, China.
The last time that Philippines qualified for the semifinals of the Asian Games was in 2002, that’s 21 years ago. This was during the 2002 Busan Asian Games, the Men’s Philippine team are just a few seconds away from clinching the game and for a Finals berth at the Asian Games,, Olsen Racela missed two freethrows, that could have sealed the game but South Korea’s Lee Sang-min won the game for S.Korean with his buzzer-beating three (69-68).
Justin Brownlee led the scoring for Gilas Pilipinas with 36 points, 8 rebs and 4 assists. Brownless also got a much needed rest in their game against Qatar. Junmar Fajardo is the second leading scorer for Gilas making 18 pts, 8 rebs and 4 assists. Scottie Thompson added 11 points and 6 rebounds.
Iran on the other hand was lead by Mohammadsina Vahedi with his 24 pts, then followed by Navid Rezaeifar who chipped in 14 pts, 2 rebs and 7 assists.
Gilas Pilipinas got off to a strong start, leading as many as 9 points in the opener and ending the quarter with a 6 pts lead (28-22). Gilas ended the first half on a strong note by limiting the Iranians to just 14 2nd-qtr points and ending the first half with a 12 point cushion. In the second half, Gilas lead by as many as 21 points in the third quarter, 62-41, with 5:39 remaining the 3rd, and by 17 at the start of the fourth qtr, 71-54.
But in the final period, the Iranian almost made the comeback of the tournament by cutting the lead to just 3 pts, 72-75, with 5:18 left in the game and took the lead, 81-80, with 1:33 remaining in the game. But Junmar Fajardo grabbed a offensive rebound after Calvin Oftana missed a three-point shot, then making a 2 pts put back, to give the Philippine team a 1 point lead, 82-81. Navid Rezaeifar quickly regain the lead back with his 2 pts drive to the basket (82-83), with 01:02 remaining in the game. This is when Brownlee made his clutch jumper with 44 secs remaining that eventually sealed the game for the Philippine team (84-83).
The win will land Gilas in the final 4 of the 19th Asian Games and they will face China in the semifinals for a shot at a medal at 8 pm on Wednesday, October 4th.
Gilas Pilipinas Men survive a late rally from Iran to reach the semifinals of the 19th Asian Games 5-on-5 basketball tournament! pic.twitter.com/iw5yYHtedR
In just one tweet, Netflix greeted Umbrella Academy’s lead characters a HAPPY BIRTHDAY and at the same time announced that 4th and Final Season of Umbrella Academy to premiere on Netflix in 2024. The tween is accompanied by a 43 secs video of the lead casts.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRELLIES ☂️🖤🎉 the final season of The Umbrella Academy is coming in 2024 👀 pic.twitter.com/odEcag0DE5
Gilas Pilipinas defeated Qatar 85-70 in the qualification round of the 19th Asian Games men’s basketball tournament on October 2, 2023 at the Zhegiang University Zijingang Stadium in Hangzhou, China.
With the win, Gilas Pilipinas advances to the quarterfinals of the 19th Asian Games, where they will face Iran this Tuesday, 3rd of October at the Zhejiang University Zijingang Gymnasium.
Junemar fajardo and Jaymar Perez lead the balance attack of Gilas with 12 points apiece with 3 rebs and 4 rebs, respectively. Perez also dished out 3 assists and 3 steals. Calvin Oftana also helped with his 11 points and 2 steals, while Justin Brownless and Japeth Aguilar both contributed 9 points and a total of 8 rebs.
Nedim Muslic was the lone brightspot for Qatar making 12 points, 7 rebs and 2 assists. No other Qatar players scored more 7 points the whole game.
Gilas Pilipinas got off to a hot start, leading by as many as 19 points in the first qtr and then limiting the opposing team to just 9 points in the 2nd qtr to build a 34 point lead by the end of 1st half. Qatar tried to make a run but scoring only 7 points in the 3rd qtr did helped and Gilas lead ballooned to 43 points, that technically ended the game.
Counter-Strike 2, the sequel to the popular first-person shooter game Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, was released on September 27, 2023. The game was developed by Valve and is available for free on Steam.
Counter-Strike 2 features a number of new features and improvements over its predecessor, including:
Built on the Source 2 engine, which provides sharper graphics, more realistic physics, and better performance.
Includes a number of new maps and weapons, as well as updated versions of classic maps and weapons from the 10 year old Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
Together with the updated classic game mode, there will be new modes available in the CS 2.
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.
All-Star guard and NBA Champion Jrue Holiday has been traded to the Boston Celtics. The trade took place just less than a week after the Bucks sent Holiday to Portland that got them Daim Lillard.
In the trade, Portland TrailBlazers will receive Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, 2024 1st-round pick (via Warriors) and an 2029 unprotected 1st-round pick (via Celtics), while the Celtics will get Jrue Holiday.
The trade signals that the Blazers are indeed in rebuilding phase with a mix of youth and veteran, which will accelerate the development of the Blazer’s young core headed by Scoot Henderson, the third overall pick in this year’s draft.
Jrue Holiday on the Celtics will make the team a contender in the East, together with teh Bucks, he’e perfect with Brown and Tatum, since he is a two-way guard that can facilitate, create his own shot and can play off ball, and also his championship experience which will surely be a big help for the Boston Celtics in the Playoffs.
✅ NBA champion ✅ 2-time All-Star ✅ 5-time All-Defense selectee ✅ 3-time Teammate of the Year
Jrue Holiday’s addition should impact us on the court, off the court, and every which way.https://t.co/NBOEBvqSxK
Gilas Pilipinas suffered a disappointing 87-62 loss to Jordan in their final group stage match of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on September 30, 2023.
Jordan had already qualified for the quarterfinals before the game, but they still came out strong and took a 29-42 lead at halftime. Gilas Pilipinas tried to mount a comeback in the third quarter, but Jordan outscored them 28-10 in the final period to seal the victory.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led Jordan with 24 points, 9 assists, 6 rebounds, 2 steals, and 2 blocks. Fadi Mustafa also helped with 17 pts and 5 assists. Justin Brownlee was the leading scorer for Gilas Pilipinas with 24 points, 3 assists and 1 steal. Aside from Scottie Thompson who made 11 pts and 11 rebounds, no other Gilas players scored more than 10 points in the game.
The loss to Jordan means that Gilas Pilipinas will have to go through the qualification round to reach the quarterfinals. They will face Qatar in the qualification match on October 2, 2023.
Jordan deal Gilas Pilipinas Men their first defeat at the end of the 19th Asian Games Group Stage.
Jordan (87) – Hollis-Jefferson 24, Mustafa 17, Bzai 12, Al Dwairi 10, Bohannon 10, Hussein 7, Al Hamarsheh 5, Al Hendi 2, Al Hammouri Abbaas 0, Qarmash 0.
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 Bureau’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 PhilHealth’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 PhilHealth’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.
Meta has just announced the Meta Quest 3, the next generation of its popular virtual reality headset. The Quest 3 is scheduled to be released next month, and it is expected to be a significant upgrade over the current Quest 2 headset.
One of the most notable improvements in the Quest 3 is its display. The Quest 3 has a higher 4K “Infinite Display,” a up to 30% increase compared to Meta Quest 2 along with better spatial audio. The Quest 3 also has 110 degrees horizontal and 96 degrees vertical field of view, which is wider than the Quest 2, which will make VR games and experiences feel more realistic.
Another major improvement in the Quest 3 is its performance. The Quest 3 is powered by a new Snapdragon XR2 Gen 2 processor, which is double the GPU processing power for faster load times and more seamless gameplay compared to Meta Quest 2. This will allow the Quest 3 to run VR games and experiences at higher frame rates and with better graphics.
Meta Quest Touch Plus Controllers
Meta Quest 3 Interior
Meta Quest 3 Front
From L to R: Meta Quest 3 Headset, 2 Touch Plus Controllers with wrist straps and 2 AA Batteries, Charging cable & power adapter
The Meta Quest 3 also has a number of other improvements over the Quest 2, including:
A more comfortable, lightweight and ergonomic design
A longer-lasting battery;
Up to 2.2 hours of usage on average
Gaming: 2.4 hours of usage on average
Social: 2.2 hours of usage on average
Productivity: 1.5 hours of usage on average
Media: 2.9 hours of usage on average
A new hand tracking system that is more accurate and responsive
A new pair of Touch Plus Controllers that are more ergonomic and easier to use
You can check the full specs of the Meta Quest 3 here.
Price for the new Quest 3 is $499.99 for the 128GB model and $649.99 for the 512 GB model. It is available for preorder and will be shipped by mid October, and for those will be preorder, a free copy of Asgard’s Wrath 2 will be included. For those preordering the the 512GB model, and you get the game plus six-month Meta Quest+ subscription.
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.
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.
Exhibition timings: 5:00 pm – 10:00 pm Concert 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. 3 different sessions, 3 different bands per day from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
جمهور الـ K-Pop العزيز📣 14 فرقة كورية تحيي حفلاتها معكم في أكتوبر🥳
After months of waiting, we finally know where “Former Blazer” is headed, since the Portland Trailblazer traded Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks, as part of a 3-team trade also involving Phoenix and Portland. Bucks already release an official statement regarding the trade.
The casuals won’t be addressed but the trailblazers fans and city of Portland that I love truly will be … and they will be addressed truthfully. Stay tuned
The trade will surely make Bucks the favorite to win it all this year and will give Giannis Antetokounmpo that much needed help in the Playoffs, it also give Deandre Ayton a new home after being unhappy with the Suns for the past couple of years. As for the Suns, it will give them the much needed body and supporting cast for Durant and Booker to contend in the West.
The Philippine men’s national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, defeated Thailand 87-72 in their second group stage match of the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China on September 28, 2023.
Thailand had a good start leading as much as 10 pts with just 1:12 remaining in the period but Gilas went on a run to cut the lead to just 2 pts by the end of first quarter. They continued to dominate in the second quarter, specially in the defense, outscoring Thailand 21 to 13 to extend their lead to 41-35 at halftime.
Gilas Pilipinas continued their onslaught to build a 18 points lead in the third quarter, and despite the late run by Thailand, Gilas cruised to an easy victory in the end.
Justin Brownlee once again lead the team with 19 pts, 11 rebs with 3 assists and 4 steals. He was also 4-of-9 shooting from behind the arc. CJ Perez added 16 points, 7 rebs, 4 assist and 3 steals. Junmar Fajardo chipped in 9 pts, 6 rebs, with 2 assists and 1 block.
Thailand was led by Tyler Lamb and Frederick Lee Jones List, scoring 29 pts and 22 pts, respectively. No other Thailand player scored more than 6 pts, and the team only played 7 players.
This was Gilas Pilipinas’ second win in the Asian Games group stage and will look to finish the group stage undefeated when they face Jordan, who is also undefeated for an outright quarterfinal berth. The game against Jordan will on Saturday, Sept. 30th at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium.
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.
vivo Philippines has officially announced the V29 5G and V29e smartphones in the country. The two new devices come with improved cameras and performance over their predecessors, making them attractive options for those looking for a new mid-range smartphone.
The vivo V29 5G features a 6.78-inch mid-hole curved screen with a 2800×1260 pixels resolution it supports refresh rates of up to 120Hz and 2160Hz high-frequency PWM dimming, for a vivid and smooth visual experience. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G processor, paired with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of storage.
The vivo V29 5G has a triple-camera system on the back, consisting of a 50MP main sensor with OIS, an 8MP ultrawide sensor, and a 2MP monochrome sensor. On the front, there is a 50MP AF selfie camera.
Image: vivo V29e
The vivo V29e has a similar design to the vivo V29, but it features a slightly smaller 6.78-inch AMOLED display with 2400 × 1080 (FHD+) resolution. It is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 processor, paired with 8GB of RAM and up to 256GB of storage.
The vivo V29e has a dual-camera system on the back, consisting of a 64MP main sensor with OIS and an 8MP wide-anglesensor. On the front, there is a 50 MP AF selfie camera.
The battery for vivo V29 and V29e will be 4600 mAh (TYP) and 5000 mAh (TYP), respectively. Both vivo V29 and V29e supports 80W fast charging. They also run on Android 13 with Funtouch OS 13 right out of the box.
You can checkout the unboxing video below:
The vivo V29 is priced at ₱24,999 for the 12GB/256GB model and ₱26,999 for the 12GB/512GB model. The vivo V29e is priced at PHP 16,999 for the 8GB/256GB variant.
The Gilas Pilipinas got their Asian Games 2023 campaign off to a winning start, beating Bahrain 89-61 in their first Preliminary Round Group C match. Angelo Kouame and CJ Perez had 15 points each as the Gilas Pilipinas launched their 19th Asian Games tournament with a convincing victory over Round Group C rivals, Bahrain, at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Gymnasium.
The Philippines started the game strong, taking a 10-6 lead in the first few minutes. Bahrain fought back to tie the game at 13-13, but the Philippines responded to take a 22-18 lead at the end of the first quarter.
The Philippines continued to dominate in the second quarter, extending their lead to 32-22 with still 07:19 remaining. The Philippines led by as many as 28 points in the third quarter, and they cruised to an easy victory in the end.
Justin Brownlee lead the Philippines with 20 points, 9 rebs and 3 assists. Brownlee got a lot of help from Kouame and Perez who both contributed 15 points, and Calvin Oftana, also chipped in 10 points, 3 rebs and 3 assists.
Gilas’ dominant lead over Bahrain allowed the late callups to play more minutes in the final frame and get adjusted to the foundation of Coach Tim Cone’s system.
Bahrain was led by Maitham Jameel A. Mahdi Almoathin, who had 14 points, and Mustafa Husain Ali Ahmed Rashed, who had 13 points.
As a team, Gilas grabbed 52 rebs against Bahrain’s 38 rebounds, and Gilas are 33.33% in the three-point line, while Bahrain are 31.5%. Bahrain was also hurt in field goal column making only 19 of 64, while Gilas is 30 of 65, which 46% FG.
The Philippines’ victory over Bahrain is a good start to their Asian Games campaign. They will now look to build on this momentum when they face Thailand this 28th of Sept. at the Zhejiang University Zijingang Gymnasium.
Toyota Motor Philippines (TMP) has introduced the new Hilux GR-Sport (GR-S), a more performance-oriented version of the country’s best-selling pickup. The Hilux GR-S is inspired by the Dakar-winning Hilux, and it features a number of upgrades that make it more capable on and off the road.
The Hilux GR-S has a wider track and a raised ride height, which gives it a more imposing stance and improved stability. The truck also comes with new 17-inch alloy GR design wheels with All-Terrain Tires, and the GR Aero sports bar.
Under the hood, the Hilux GR-S is powered by a 2.8L diesel engine that produces 224 PS and 550 Nm of torque. Additionally, the New Hilux GR-S includes GR front and rear disc brakes with GR brake calipers, and monotube shock absorbers, enhancing overall driving experience on or off the roads. These upgrades improve the truck’s handling and braking performance.
Inside, the Hilux GR-S features a sporty black interior with GR-S suede and leather seats, a leather steering wheel with a GR-S emblem, and leather door trims with technical mesh and red seatbelts for that sporty feel. 9-inch Display Audio with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a Wireless Charger add spirit to every adventure in the New Hilux GR-S, while functions such as Smart Entry and Push Start System offer convenience in each ride.
The Hilux GR-S will have Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) for additional safety features. It is also equipped with Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) and other safety features such as a Panoramic View Monitor (PVM), Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Hill-Start Assist Control (HAC), and Downhill Assist Control (DAC).
The Toyota Hilux GR-S is now available at all Toyota dealerships nationwide. It is priced at P2,166,000 for the Attitude Black Mica colorway and P2,186,000 for the Emotional Red and Super White II / Attitude Black Mica (2-tone) colorways.
The new Toyota Hilux GR-Sport is a great choice for pickup truck buyers who are looking for a more performance-oriented vehicle. The truck is also a good choice for buyers who want a pickup truck with a more aggressive and sporty appearance.
The Hilux GR-S is also a good choice for buyers who want a pickup truck that is capable of handling both on-road and off-road driving conditions. The truck’s wider track, raised ride height, and all-terrain tires make it well-suited for driving on rough roads and trails.
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.
Foodpanda released an official statement regarding a potential sale of its business in selected Southeast Asia Markets. | via Bernie C. Magkilat pic.twitter.com/QBBU4eGnbW
Here’s something to look forward for Pinoy Otaku this coming October, since Spy x Family Season 2 will be coming to Netflix Philippines on October 7th, the same day it will be released in Japan.
Together with the announcement, Netflix Philippines also release the anime poster, which features the all the major characters of the Anime series.
Spy X family follows the story of Loid Forger codename Twilight, a master spy who has to “build a family” to complete a mission, not realizing that the girl he adopts as his daughter is a telepath, and the woman he agrees to be in a marriage with is a skilled assassin.
TOHO Animation also release the season 2 trailer.
You can streaming season 1 of Spy X Family is available on Netflix Philippines.
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.
Humihiling ng pang-unawa ang #MyPhilHealth sa publiko matapos maapektuhan ang operasyon nito dahil sa information security incident kahapon, Sept 22, 2023.
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.
Sa kabila ng information security incident, sinisiguro ng #MyPhilHealth na hindi nakompromiso ang impormasyon ng mga miyembro at patuloy pa ring makagagamit ng benepisyo sa mga accredited health facilities. pic.twitter.com/J1MjCHkXAp
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.
