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Posts tagged as “Philippines”

Dwight Howard Signs with Philippines’ Strong Group for the Dubai International Basketball Championship

January 3, 2024

Eight-time NBA All-Star Dwight Howard plans to sign with Strong Group Philippines for the duration of the Dubai International Basketball Championship, which is schedule from 19th January through 28th January in the United Arab Emirates. This is according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium.

The news was confirmed in a tweet by Strong Group’s official social media account;

Together with Dwight Howard, he will join other former-NBA player Andre Roberson, Andray Blatche and PBA Import of TNT Tropang Giga McKenzie Moore.

Last year, his failed attempt for an NBA come back even after working out with the Golden State Warriors, Howard signed with the Taoyuan Leopards in Taiwan’s T1 League, he finished the season with 23.2 PPG, 16.2 REB and 1.2 BLK.

Sony PlayStation 5 and Games on Sales in the Philippines starting this 18th until 31st December 2023

December 18, 2023

Sony Playstation are currently on Sales in the Philippines for a limited time, they offer discounted price for PS5 Console, Peripherals and Game Titles. The offer will be available at participating retailers, which you can find by going to https://www.playstation.com/en-ph/local/retailers/.

PS5 Consoles Original SRP  Promotion SRP 
PlayStation®5 Console PHP 30,790 PHP 23,990
PlayStation®5 Console – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Bundle PHP 33,890 PHP 27,090
PlayStation®5 Console – Two DualSense™ Wireless Controllers Bundle PHP 33,990 PHP 27,190
PlayStation®5 Console – Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 Limited Edition Bundle PHP 36,290 PHP 29,490
Peripherals Original SRP (Local Currency) Promotion SRP (Local Currency)
PULSE 3D™ Wireless Headset PHP 5,590 PHP 4,990
PULSE 3D™ Midnight Black Wireless Headset PHP 5,590 PHP 4,990
PULSE 3D™ Gray Camouflage Wireless Headset PHP 5,590 PHP 4,990
DualSense® wireless controller PHP 3,990 PHP 3,190
DualSense® wireless controller – Midnight Black PHP 3,990 PHP 3,190
DualSense® wireless controller – Cosmic Red PHP 4,290 PHP 3,190
DualSense® wireless controller – Nova Pink PHP 4,290 PHP 3,190
DualSense® wireless controller – Galactic Purple PHP 4,290 PHP 3,190
DualSense® wireless controller – Starlight Blue PHP 4,290 PHP 3,190
DualSense® wireless controller – Gray Camouflage PHP 4,290 PHP 3,190
DualSense® wireless controller – Metallic Red PHP 4,290 PHP 3,190
DualSense® wireless controller – Metallic Blue PHP 4,290 PHP 3,190
Game Title Original SRP (Local Currency) Promotion SRP (Local Currency)
PS5 PlayStation®5 Ghost of Tsushima Director’s Cut PHP 3,490 PHP 1,990
PS5 PlayStation®5 God of War™ Ragnarök PHP 3,490 PHP 1,990
PS5 PlayStation®5 The Last of Us Part I PHP 3,490 PHP 2,490
PS5 PlayStation®5 Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales PHP 2,490 PHP 1,490
PS5 PlayStation®5 Horizon Forbidden West™ Complete Edition PHP 2,990 PHP 1,990
PS4 PlayStation®4 Horizon Zero Dawn PlayStation Hits PHP 1,099 PHP 550

Sony PlayStation also have deals available in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. If you’re from these country, check out the source link to know the

Source: playstation.com

SC announces 2023 Bar Exam Passer

December 6, 2023

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 Niño 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 – 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 Bañares 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!

‘A Very Good Girl’ will on Netflix this 27th of December

December 2, 2023

If you were not able to catch Kathryn Bernardo and Dolly de Leon’s ‘A Very Good Girl’ in cinema, you will be able to stream it on Netflix starting this 27th of December, the film’s theatrical release was on September 27, 2023. The announcement was made on Netflix Philippines Social media account.

A Very Good Girl is a dark comedy film directed by Petersen Vargas, and written by Marionne Dominique Mancol, Daniel Saniana, and Jumbo Albano, based on a story by Mancol. It stars Kathryn Bernardo and Dolly de Leon, with the supporting cast includes Kaori Oinuma, Jake Ejercito, and Angel Aquino.

Produced and released by Star Cinema, the film was theatrically released nationwide in the Philippines on September 27, 2023.

The film is based on a story by Mancol, which follows Philomena Angeles on how she exact revenge against retail mogul, Mother Molly and destroys her empire.

Here’s the official trailer of the film;

Gilas Pilipinas to join Georgia and Latvia for the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments

November 28, 2023

Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas (SBP) just release the final Draw results for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024, it shows that Philippines will be in Group A for the Riga (Latvia) leg. Philippines will join Georgia and Latvia in the group.

Aside from Latvia, Piraeus (Greece), San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Valencia (Spain) are the other host countries for the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments 2024. There will be a total of 24 teams vying for the four available slots for the 2024 Olympic Games, one for each tournaments.

Seven countries have already qualified directly for the 2024 Olympic Games at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023; for Europe, we have Germany and Serbia, then for the Americas, we have Canada and United States, Australia for Oceania, Japan for Asia and South Sudan for Africa. France also qualified since they’re the hosts for this coming Olympic.

It’s still unclear who will play for Gilas and it good that we’ll more than enough time to prepare for the tournament. Games for the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournaments will be played from July 2 to 7.

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

October 16, 2023

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 – 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 “You’ve been hacked. Have a nice Day! Happy April Fullz Kahit October Palang! Fix your website.” and changed its content with the same messaging.

Website of House of Representative hacked by 3MUSKETEERZ

October 15, 2023

Website of House of Representative (Congress) have been hacked and defaced by 3MUSKETEERZ.

The group used troll face meme captioned it “You’ve been hacked. Have a nice Day! Happy April Fullz Kahit October Palang! Fix your website.” The group even changed its content with the same messaging.

The official X (twitter) account (@HouseofRepsPH) already release a statement and that they are currently working with Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and law enforcement agencies concerned to investigate the matter.

PRESS STATEMENT
Secretary General Reginald Velasco

We wish to inform the public that the official website of the House of Representatives experienced unauthorized access earlier today. Immediate steps have been taken to address the issue, and we are working closely with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) and law enforcement agencies concerned to investigate the matter.

While we work to restore the website fully, we ask for patience and understanding. We are committed to ensure the security and integrity of our digital platforms, and we will implement additional measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

For the moment, we advise the public to be cautious of any suspicious emails or communications that claim to be from the House of Representatives.

We will keep the public updated as more information becomes available.

As of this posting, the website is currently offline and accessing the website http://www.congress.gov.ph/ will just give you the standard “This site can’t be reached” message.

Gilas Pilipinas Stuns China to Advance to 19th Asian Games Finals (77 – 76)

October 5, 2023

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.

Gilas Pilipinas advances to semifinals of the 19th Asian Games by beating Iran (84 – 83)

October 3, 2023

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.

The Scores;

  • Philippines 84 – Brownlee 36, Fajardo 18, Thompson 11, Oftana 7, Perez 6, Kouame 4, Newsome 2, Alas 0, Tolentino 0, Aguilar 0.
  • Iran 83 – Vahedi 24, Rezaeifar 14, Mirzaeitalarposhti 12, Aghajanpour 11, Girgoorian 8, Mashayekhi 6, Kazemi 6, Pazirofteh 2, Shahrian Nasl 0, Gholizadeh Tousarani 0, Torabi 0.

Quarters: 28-22, 48-36, 71-54, 84-83.

Gilas Pilipinas cruises to 19th Asian Games Quarterfinals with its 39-points win over Qatar (80-41)

October 2, 2023

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.

The Scores;

  • Philippines 80 – Fajardo 12, Perez 12, Oftana 11, Brownlee 9, Aguilar 9, Kouame 8, Alas 8, Tolentino 6, Thompson 3, Newsome 2, Ross 0, Lassiter 0.
  • Qatar 41 – Muslic 12, Ndoye 7, Ndao 5, Mousa 5, Lashin 4, Haracic 3, Advic 2, Dieng 2, Darwish 1, Talla 0, Hajar 0, Abdelbaset 0.

Quarters: 33-14, 57-23, 73-30, 80-41.

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

October 2, 2023

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.

Jordan hands Gilas Pilipinas first loss in the 19th Asian Games Men’s Basketball (62 – 87)

October 1, 2023

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.

The Scores:

  • Gilas Pilipinas (62) – Brownlee 24, Thompson 11, Aguilar 8, Fajardo 8, Perez 5, Kouame 4, Lassiter 2, Newsome 0, Oftana 0, Ross 0, Tolentino 0.
  • 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.

Quarter scores: 16-13, 42-29, 59-52, 87-62

Gilas Pilipinas Overpowers Thailand in 19th Asian Games Men’s Basketball, Now up 2-0 in the Standings (87 – 72)

September 28, 2023

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 Scores:

  • Philippines 87 – Brownlee 22, Perez 16, Fajardo 9, Oftana 8, Thompson 7, Aguilar 6, Kouame 5, Newsome 5, Alas 3, Tolentino 3, Lassiter 3, Ross 0.
  • Thailand 72 – Lamb 29, Lish 22, Muangboon 6, Morgan 5, Jakrawan 4, Klahan 4, Klaewnarong 2, Towaroj 0, Boonserm 0, Jaisanuk 0.

Quarters: 20-22, 41-35, 68-50, 87-72.

vivo V29 and V29e Launched in the Philippines with Improved Cameras and Performance

September 26, 2023

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.

Gilas Pilipinas routs Defeats Bahrain to Start Asian Games Campaign (89 – 61)

September 26, 2023

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.

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.

The Scores:

  • Philippines (89) – Brownlee 20, Perez 15, Kouame 15, Oftana 10, Fajardo 8, Lassiter 8, Thompson 5, Newsome 3, Alas 2, Aguilar 2, Ross 1, Tolentino 0.
  • Bahrain (61) – Almoathin14, Rashed M. 13, Rashed A. 12, Buallay 8, Melad 6, Chism 5, Hamoda 3, Alhaddad 0, Alhassan 0, Kadhem 0, Hasan 0.

Quarter scores: 22-18, 51-33, 72-47, 89-61.

Delivery Hero to sell FoodPanda Business in South East Asia

September 25, 2023

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.

Netflix Philippines release their first Christmas Station ID – Kumukutikutitap ang Mga Bituin sa Brgy. Netflix

September 22, 2023

Netflix Philippines just release their very first Christmas Station ID. The music is a modified version of Joey Albert’s Kumukutikutitap and the streaming giant wrote in the video description that “Christmas came early.”

The video features “Replacing Chef Chico” stars Piolo Pascual, Alessandra de Rossi, and Sam Milby; “Can’t Buy Me Love” stars Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano; “Keys To The Heart” cast Zanjoe Marudo and Elijah Canlas; “Missed Connections” stars Miles Ocampo, Kelvin Miranda, and Chie Filomeno; “What If” stars Alessandra de Rossi and JM De Guzman; and “Seasons” stars Lovi Poe and Carlo Aquino, which are all available in Netflix.

Releasing of Christmas Station ID is an annual tradition of local networks particularly GMA and ABS-CBN, and it looks like Netflix Philippines is adopting that tradition after being in the Philippines for 7 years now.

Philippine Pricing of the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2

September 17, 2023

Here’s the pricing of the new Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the Philippines;

Apple Watch Series 9

Aluminum
41mm
GPS – ₱26,490.00
GPS + Cellular – ₱32,490.00

45mm
GPS – ₱28,490.00
GPS + Cellular – ₱34,490.00

Stainless Steel
41mm (GPS + Cellular)
Rubber Band – ₱46,990.00
Textile Band – ₱46,990.00
Stainless steeel Band – ₱49,990.00

45mm (GPS + Cellular)
Rubber Band – ₱49,990.00
Textile Band – ₱49,990.00
Stainless steeel Band – ₱52,990.00

Apple Watch Ultra 2 on ALL BANDS – ₱54,990.00

Just like with the new iPhone 15s, availability of the new Apple Watch in the Philippines is yet to be announce.

Philippines now in the 38th place in latest FIBA World Ranking Men

September 17, 2023

The Philippines (Gilas Pilipinas) moved up two places to number 38 in the latest FIBA World Ranking Men, which was released on September 10th, 2023. This despite a disappointing campaign in the recently concluded 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Gilas Pilipinas finished the World Cup with a 1-4 record, defeating only China in their final game. However, their win was enough to push them up two spots in the rankings and earn a spot in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT) or the FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

The Philippines is now the eighth-best ranked team in the Asia-Pacific region, behind Australia (4th), New Zealand (21th), Japan (26th), Iran (27th), Lebanon (28th), and China (29th).

You can checkout the full rankings here. To know how the ranking is determine, you can checkout the HOW IT WORKS.

The improvement in the rankings is a sign that Gilas Pilipinas is on the right track. The team has a young and talented core, and they are gaining experience in major international competitions. With the 2024 Paris Olympics just around the corner, Gilas Pilipinas will be looking to continue their improvement and qualify for the Games for the first time since 1972.

Final Standings of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

September 11, 2023

After 16 days and 92 games, below are the final standings of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023;

  1. Germany (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Europe, FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Champions)
  2. Serbia (qualified for Paris 2024 as one of the top two ranked teams from Europe)
  3. Canada (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Americas)
  4. USA (qualified for Paris 2024 as one of the top two ranked teams from Americas)
  5. Latvia (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  6. Lithuania (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  7. Slovenia(qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  8. Italy (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  9. Spain (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  10. Australia (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Oceania)
  11. Montenegro (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  12. Puerto Rico (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  13. Brazil (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  14. Dominican Republic (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  15. Greece (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  16. Georgia (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  17. South Sudan (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Africa)
  18. France (qualified for Paris 2024 as hosts)
  19. Japan (qualified for Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Asia)
  20. Egypt (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  21. Finland (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  22. New Zealand (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  23. Lebanon (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  24. Philippines (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  25. Mexico (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  26. Angola (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  27. Cote d’Ivoire (qualified for Olympic Qualifying Tournaments)
  28. Cape Verde
  29. China
  30. Venezuela
  31. Iran
  32. Jordan

Gilas will still have a chance to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics but it will a much harder path than winning in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. Germany defeated Serbia 83-77 in the final to win their first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup title. Canada defeated the United States 127-118 in overtime to win the bronze medal.

With democratization of Basketball, it appears that United States is no longer the basketball powerhouse it used to be, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 tournament proved that and Noah Lyles’s statement regarding being the “World Champion” may have been justified.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 was a thrilling tournament, with many memorable moments. Germany’s victory was a major upset, but they played a near-perfect game and deserved to win. Congratulations to Germany on their first-ever FIBA Basketball World Cup title!

Full schedule of the Quarter, Semis, Finals and Classification Games of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

September 4, 2023

Now that the 1st and second round is done, here the remaining games for the of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Qualified teams who played in Japan and Indonesia will be travelling to the Philippines, since all QF, SF and Finals games will be played at the MOA Arena.

QUARTER FINALS

September 5 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Lithuania vs Serbia – 16:45 local time (Game #82)
Italy vs USA – 20:40 local time (Game #81)

September 6 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Germany vs Latvia – 16:45 local time (Game #83)
Canada vs Slovenia – 20:30 local time (Game #84)

September 7 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Loser QF 81 (ITA v USA) vs Loser QF 83 (GER v LAT) – Time TBC (Game #85)
Loser QF 82 (LTU v SRB) vs Loser QF 84 (CAN v SLO) – Time TBC (Game #86)

September 8 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Winner QF 81 (ITA v USA) vs Winner QF 83 (GER v LAT) – Time TBC (Game #87)
Winner QF 82 (LTU v SRB) vs Winner QF 84 (CAN v SLO) – Time TBC (Game #88)

September 9 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Loser CL 5-8 85: L QF 81 v L QF 83 vs Loser CL 5-8 86: L QF 82 v L QF 84 – Time TBC (Game #89 – Class. Games 7-8)
Winner CL 5-8 85: L QF 81 v L QF 83 vs Winner CL 5-8 86: L QF 82 v L QF 84 – Time TBC (Game #90 – Class. Games 5-6)

September 10 – 2 Games
MOA Arena (Philippines)
Loser SF 87: W QF 81 v W QF 83 vs Loser SF 88: W QF 82 v W QF 84 – (Game #91 – 3rd Place Game)
Winner SF 87: W QF 81 v W QF 83 vs Winner SF 88: W QF 82 v W QF 84 – (Game #92 – Championship)

Source: FIBA, FIBA Games

Gilas Pilipinas defeated China for their first win in the Classification round of the FIBA World Cup 2023

September 3, 2023

The Philippine national basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, secured a rousing and convincing win against China in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The game was held at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on September 2, 2023. The Philippines capped off its World Cup campaign with a 1-4 win-loss slate.

The game was close in teh first half of the game, with neither team able to pull away. But in the 3rd quarter, led by Jordan Clarkson, Rhenz Abando and Dwight Ramos, Gilas was able to build a 23 point cushion by the end of 3rd qtr and led by as many as 25 points at 5:19 mark of the 4th quarter, China tried to catch up but the game was already decided at that point. The trio scored a total 59 points.

Jordan Clarkson had 34 points, two boards, and three dimes while Rhenz Abando contributed 14 markers and 5 rebs. Dwight Ramos chipped in 11 pts, 5 rebs and 4 assists. On the otherhand, Kyle Anderson (Kaier Li) led the Chinese team with 17 points, 9 reds and 5 assists while Zhenlin Zhang added 13 pts, 3 rebs.

The victory against China has lifted the Philippines to 24th place in the 2023 FIBA World Cup rankings and secure a slot for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT). which is the “16 following next best-ranked teams” category or the next best 16 placers in the World Cup that have not secured a place in the Olympics.

Highlights

The FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament, abbreviated as FIBA World OQT, and formerly known as the FIBA Pre-Olympic Basketball Tournament, is the last qualifying tournament for the Olympic Basketball Tournament. The best non-champions from the different FIBA World zones qualify for the tournament and compete for the last remaining berths in the Summer Olympic Games.

Compared to the World Cup Tournament, the Olympic Qualifying Tournament will be a more difficult competition, since Philippines will face other teams from different continents including Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Gilas Pilipinas Falls to Dominican Republic in FIBA World Cup 2023 Opener (87-81)

August 26, 2023

Gilas Pilipinas fell to the Dominican Republic, 87-81, in their opening game of the FIBA World Cup 2023 at the Philippines Arena in Bulacan on Friday, August 25, 2023.

It was a close game in first three quarters of the game, the Philippines got off to a hot start, falling behind Dominican Republic by 4 pts at the end of first quarter. Gilas made a run in the 2nd qtr that ended in a deadlock at 42 – 42.

The Dominican Republic ended the 3rd qtr leading by 2 behind the dominant game of Jean Montero and Karl-Anthony Towns, who scored a team high 26 points and 10 rebs.

The Philippines tried to rally in the last qtr but a late run by the Dominican Republic and Jordan Clarkson fouling out in the final quarter denied the Philippines an upset in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Clarkson finished with 28 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists before fouling out. The final score was 87-81 in favor of the Dominican Republic.

Junmar Fajardo led the Pinoys with 16 pts and 7 rebs, followed by Dwight Ramos with 13 pts, 6 rebs and two assists.

The loss was a tough one for Gilas Pilipinas, since Gilas was right there to take win, but they will have a chance to bounce back when they face Angola on Sunday, Aug 27, 2023 at the Arena Coliseum.

The Scores
Dominican Republic 87 – Towns 26, Liz 18. Feliz 12, Delgado 6, Montero 6, Figueroa 5, Peña 5, Vargas 5, Mendoza 2, Quiñones 2, Solano 0.

Philippines 81 – Clarkson 28, Fajardo 16, Ramos 13, Edu 7, Pogoy 6, Thompson 5, Abando 2, Aguilar 2, Ravena 2, Malonzo 0, Sotto 0.

Quarters: 22-18, 42-42, 66-64, 87-81.

Google Play Pass Launches in the Philippines, Offering Access to Hundreds of Games and Apps

August 24, 2023

Google Play Pass, a subscription service that gives users access to hundreds of games and apps without ads or in-app purchases, has launched in the Philippines.

The service is available for a monthly price of PHP 109 or receive savings if you pay for the annual pricing of PHP 999. It includes a curated selection of games and apps from different genres, including action, adventure, puzzle, simulation, and more.

Some of the popular games included in Google Play Pass are Stardew Valley, Monument Valley, Terraria, and Sonic the Hedgehog Classic. There are also a number of productivity apps available, such as Evernote, Trello, and Pocket Casts.

To sign up for Google Play Pass, simply open the Google Play Store app on your Android device and search for “Play Pass.” You can then sign up for a monthly or annual subscription. This subscription service is compatible with any Android device running Android 4.4 and above; and Google Play Store version 16.6.25 and above.

Google Play Pass is the equivalent of Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass.

Source: Yugatech

Full schedule of the First Round (Group Phase) of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

August 23, 2023

If you want to know when and where the games of your favorite team, then you can checkeout the full schedule of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. The tournament will be from August 25th to September 10th, games will be held simultaneous in all 4 locations; Smart Araneta and MOA Arena for the Philippine leg, then in Okinawa Arena in Japan and Indonesia Arena in Jakarta Indonesia. There will be 8 games a day until the Final phase of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, were there will only be two games per day and every games will be held at the MOA Arena.

GROUP PHASE – 1ST ROUND

August 25 – 8 Games (Opening Day)

Philippine Arena (Philippines)
– Angola vs Italy – 16:00 local time
– Dominican Republic vs Philippines – 20:00 local time

MOA Arena (Philippines)
– Mexico vs Montenegro – 16:45 local time
– Egypt – Lithuania – 20:30 local time

Okinawa Arena (Japan)
– Finland vs Australia – 17:00 local time
– Germany vs Japan – 21:10 local time

Indonesia Arena (Indonesia)
– Latvia vs Lebanon – 16:15 local time
– Canada vs France – 20:30 local time

August 26 – 8 Games

Araneta Coliseum (Philippines)
– South Sudan vs Puerto Rico – 16:00 local time
– Serbia vs China – 20:00 local time

MOA Arena (Philippines)
– Jordan vs Greece – 16:45 local time
– United States – New Zealand – 20:40 local time

Okinawa Arena (Japan)
– Cape Verde vs Georgia – 17:00 local time
– Slovenia vs Venezuela – 20:30 local time

Indonesia Arena (Indonesia)
– Iran vs Brazil – 16:45 local time
Spain vs Cote d’Ivoire – 20:30 local time

August 27 – 8 Games

Araneta Coliseum (Philippines)
– Italy vs Dominican Republic – 16:00 local time
– Philippines vs Angola – 20:00 local time

MOA Arena (Philippines)
– Montenegro vs Egypt – 16:45 local time
– Lithuania vs Mexico – 20:40 local time

Okinawa Arena (Japan)
– Australia vs Germany – 17:00 local time
– Japan vs Finland – 21:10 local time

Indonesia Arena (Indonesia)
– Lebanon vs Canada – 16:45 local time
– France vs Latvia – 20:30 local time

August 28 – 8 Games

Araneta Coliseum (Philippines)
– China vs South Sudan – 16:00 local time
– Puerto Rico vs Serbia – 20:00 local time

MOA Arena (Philippines)
– New Zealand vs Jordan – 16:45 local time
– Greece vs United States – 20:40 local time

Okinawa Arena (Japan)
– Venezuela vs Cape Verde – 17:00 local time
– Georgia vs Slovenia – 21:10 local time

Indonesia Arena (Indonesia)
– Cote d’Ivoire vs Iran – 16:45 local time
– Brazil vs Spain – 20:30 local time

August 29 – 8 Games

Araneta Coliseum (Philippines)
– Angola vs Dominican Republic – 16:00 local time
– Philippines vs Italy – 20:00 local time

MOA Arena (Philippines)
– Egypt vs Mexico – 16:45 local time
– Montenegro vs Lithuania – 20:30 local time

Okinawa Arena (Japan)
– Germany vs Finland – 17:00 local time
– Australia vs Japan – 21:10 local time

Indonesia Arena (Indonesia)
– Lebanon vs France – 16:45 local time
– Canada vs Latvia – 20:30 local time

August 30 – 8 Games

Araneta Coliseum (Philippines)
– South Sudan vs Serbia – 16:00 local time
– China vs Puerto Rico – 20:00 local time

MOA Arena (Philippines)
– United States vs Jordan – 16:45 local time
– Greece vs New Zealand – 20:40 local time

Okinawa Arena (Japan)
– Georgia vs Venezuela – 17:00 local time
– Slovenia vs Cape Verde – 21:10 local time

Indonesia Arena (Indonesia)
– Cote d’Ivoire vs Brazil – 16:45 local time
– Iran vs Spain – 20:30 local time

Games for the Second Round (Classification 17-32) will be determine after the last game of the First Round – Group Phase.

Team USA roster for the coming FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023

August 9, 2023

Team USA is included in GROUP C that will play in Manila for the first round of FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 in the Philippines.

Below are the Team USA Roster and their schedules of their exhibition games, and their three first-round games in the Philippines.

Team USA roster

  • Paolo Banchero, Forward, Orlando Magic
  • Mikal Bridges, Forward, Brooklyn Nets
  • Jalen Brunson, Guard, New York Knicks
  • Anthony Edwards, Guard, Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Tyrese Haliburton, Guard, Indiana Pacers
  • Josh Hart, Guard, New York Knicks
  • Brandon Ingram, Forward, New Orleans Pelicans
  • Jaren Jackson Jr., Center, Memphis Grizzlies
  • Cam Johnson, Forward, Brooklyn Nets
  • Walker Kessler, Center, Utah Jazz
  • Bobby Portis, Forward, Milwaukee Bucks
  • Austin Reaves, Guard, Los Angeles Lakers

Coaches: Steve Kerr (Golden State), Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat), Tyronn Lue (LA Clippers), Mark Few (Gonzaga University)

Team USA schedule


Exhibition Games

  • Team USA 117, Puerto Rico 74 – done
  • Aug. 12 vs. Slovenia in Malaga, Spain
  • Aug. 13 vs. Spain in Malaga, Spain
  • Aug. 18 vs. Greece in Abu Dhabi, UAE
  • Aug. 20 vs. Germany in Abu Dhabi, UAE

FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup 2023 First Round

  • Aug. 26 vs. New Zealand, 8:40 a.m. ET
  • Aug. 28 vs. Greece, 8:40 a.m. ET
  • Aug. 30 vs. Jordan, 4:40 a.m. ET

Cignal and Smart own the broadcast rights for FIBA Men’s Basketball World Cup 2023, games for Group C will be held at the MOA Arena.

Philippines Stuns New Zealand in a “herstoric” 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup Win

July 25, 2023

The Philippines made “herstory” on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, when they defeated New Zealand 1-0 in the Group A match of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.

The Philippines’ first-ever World Cup goal came from Sarina Bolden in the 24th minute. Bolden headed in a cross from Tahnai Annis to give the Philippines the lead.

New Zealand had several chances to equalize, but they were unable to break through the Philippines’ defense. The Philippines held on for the win, claiming their first-ever World Cup victory.

The victory was a huge upset, as New Zealand was the higher-ranked team and had already beaten Norway in their opening match. The Philippines’ win showed that they are a force to be reckoned with in this tournament. New Zealand is also the host country of this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Philippines’ performance was inspired by their head coach, Alen Stajcic. Stajcic, who is an Australian national, took over as the coaching job of Philippines’ Women’s team in 2021. He is instrumental in transforming the team and leading them to their first-ever Women’s Asian Cup semifinal in 2022.

The Philippines’ victory over New Zealand is a huge step forward for the team. It shows that they are capable of competing with the best teams in the world. The Philippines will be looking to build on this victory and continue their progress in the tournament.

Philippines’ first win in the FIFA Women’s World Cup will have a huge implications.

The Philippines’ victory over New Zealand is a historic moment for the country. It is the first time that the Philippines has ever made a goal and won a match at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. This victory will give the Philippines the confidence in their next game against Switzerland, their final game in the Group A this Friday, July 28, 2023.

The Philippines’ victory also shows that the country is making progress in women’s football and it’s not just the men’s football that we should take notice. The Philippines may not have a long history of playing football and it has only been in recent years that the country has started to invest in women’s football. This investment is paying off, and the Philippines is now one of the top teams in Asia.

The Philippines’ victory over New Zealand is a sign of things to come. The Philippines is a team on the rise, and they will be looking to make their mark on the world stage in the years to come.

The Philippines is hoping to continue their momentum and build on their victory over New Zealand, as they face Switzerland and secure their place in the knockout stages.

Social Media users trolls DOT by posting tourists spots from other countries then swapping its name to that of the Philippines

July 6, 2023

Department of Tourism (DOT) headed by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco have been in the hotseat lately because of the new promotional video that they released contains stock footage from different countries posing as a tourist spot in the Philippines.

Of course, a number of netizen including politician in the Philippines are critical of this blunder, prompting DOT to terminate the contract with the DDM. With all these development, social media users are trolling DOT by posting tourists spots of other countries adding the name to that of the Philippines tourist destinations.

The Pyramid of Egypt as Chocolate Hills of Bohol.

Mount Fuji in Japan as Mount Apo in the Davao Region, and Cotabato in Soccsksargen.

The Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, posing as the Maria Cristina Falls in Iligan City.

Of course they will include the Dolomite Beach, Manila, which uses the photo of Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Then the iconic Binondo–Intramuros Bridge and San Juanico Bridge using the photo of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Califronia.

Facebook user Jenny Ranoco made her bucketlist that includes Aurora Blvd. in Cubao, Enchanted Kingdom, Eastwood, Mall of Asia and the famous Bangui Winmills in Ilocos Norte.

And last but certainly not the least, Atty. Chel Diokno jesting that his photo in the Roman Colosseum is the Intramuros in Manila.

Then this IG post of Tricia Robredo with her sisters and mother Atty. Leni Robredo, the post includes the hashtag #iykyk, which stands for “if you know, you know.” The photo was taken in Budapest, Hungary and we Matthias Church as their backdrop.

These posting may appear to nothing more than jokes for their face value, but I’m hoping that Tourism Dept. (DOT) and the country in general will be able to recover from this fiasco and move on and improve their campaigns in inviting tourists in the country.

I’ll more than happy to see a promotional video similar to this video that Tiktok user Josh Chua created;

@txcjosh Not an ad but this is how I fell in love with the Philippines. #tourismphl #djiglobal #DJIPhilippines #DJIJosh #philippines #fyp #foryou ♬ original sound – Joshua Chua

Here are the results of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw

April 30, 2023

The highly anticipated FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda just concluded and below are the groupings and venues for the 19th edition of the of the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Group A to D will be held in the Philippines; games will be further divided into two; groups A and B will be play in Araneta, while Group C and Group D will be played in MOA Arena. Group E and F will in Japan, and Group G and Group H will be played in Indonesia.

The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 will take place from August 25 to September 10 in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

Here are the complete list of groupings and the location of the games;

Group A (Philippines, Araneta)
Angola
Dominican Republic
Philippines
Italy

Group B (Philippines, Araneta)
South Sudan
Serbia
China
Puerto Rico

Group C (Philippines, MOA Arena)
United States
Jordan
Greece
New Zealand

Group D (Philippines, MOA Arena)
Egypt
Mexico
Montenegro
Lithuania

Group E (Japan, Okinawa Arena)
Germany
Finland
Australia
Japan

Group F (Japan, Okinawa Arena)
Slovenia
Cape Verde
Georgia
Venezuela

Group G (Indonesia, Indonesia Arena)
Iran
Spain
Cote d’Ivoire
Brazil

Group H (Indonesia, Indonesia Arena)
Canada
Latvia
Lebanon
France

Source: FIBA