realme PH elevates style with Donnalyn Bartolome

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October 29, 2020

realme Philippines joins every passionate young Filipino as they start their quest for success with powerful and reliable technology. The latest realme device — realme 7i — is now available in the Philippines, with the launched headlined by Donnalyn Bartolome, the official face of realme 7i.

A stylish and dependable lower midrange smartphone that gets the job done for the country’s next top students, artists, vloggers and photographers. Donalyn revealed that the realme 7i sports a stylish and cheeky design, a 64MP quad-camera setup to capture your every style, a large display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a large-capacity 5,000mAh battery with 18W Fast Charge technology.

All these features and power come packaged in a trendy design inspired by the whimsical scenes of the Arctic and the Northern Lights. The realme 7i comes in two colorways: Polar Blue and Aurora Green. The back of the phone has a mirror finish at the top and a matte finish at the bottom channeling your inner fashionista.

“We want to make adjusting to the new normal easier through the realme 7i, our midrange offering that can help young Filipinos start pursuing their passions and succeed in their daily adventures. Whether it be doing work or school requirements during the day or gaming and binge-watching at night, the realme 7i delivers an elevated and uninterrupted smartphone experience, a fitting cap to the launch of our 7 series,” shares realme Philippines VP for Marketing Austine Huang.

The launch coincided with the announcement of realme 7i’s ambassador, Philippine Social Media Sweetheart Donnalyn Bartolome. The social media star walked the audience through the best features of the realme 7i and showcased how the new device can be the youth’s stylish partner in pursuing their passions, skills and interests.

Developing creative skills, especially if you’re a beginner, gets easy with the new UIS Max Video Stabilization feature of the realme 7i. Besides a wider field of vision, it ensures an anti-shake effect for that smooth shot even while running or jumping.

Young Filipino users eager to take their mobile photography a notch higher can rely on realme 7i’s quad-camera module with four different lenses — 64MP primary camera, EIS 119-degree ultra-wide lens, macro lens and B&W portrait lens — ready to capture even the minutest detail of that new artwork, and a perfect buddy to unleash the fashionista in you. For even better selfies, the realme 7i’s 16MP front camera is developed for different skin types, face shapes and features, allowing users to take more accurate and natural-looking shots.

Donalyn showed during the livestream launch that the realme 7i’s 6.5 inches large display is perfect for binge-watching your favorite series on TV or Netflix with family or hours of video games with friends. With the realme 7i’s 90Hz refresh rate, videos play smoother and snappier and video game details look sharper.

The realme 7i available in the Philippine comes in the 8GB RAM+128GB storage configuration and retails for Php11,990. This latest 7 series device will initially be available exclusively on the official stores of realme Philippines on LazMall and Shopee. Purchasers of the latest realme 7 series device on October 24 and 25 will get a free realme Band worth Php1,390.

P4B loans eyed to cover 13th month pay

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October 21, 2020

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The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has agreed to set aside P4 billion for lending to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to cover for the 13th month pay of their workers.

DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez has offered to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) the option of funding the 13th month pay of workers of cash-strapped MSEs by sharing P4 billion out of the P10 billion fund of the SB Corp. under the COVID Assistance to Restart Enterprises (CARES).

DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III estimates MSEs in need of help would require at least P3.5 billion to comply with the mandatory 13th month pay benefit or a much bigger amount of P13 billion for the 5.7 million workers estimated by the Philippine Statistics Authority.

Lopez in a text message said the procedures and qualifications for the loan will follow that of the CARES where MSEs should have been in operation for more than a year. Loans under CARES are for the use of companies to fund their working capital and operations.

The loans will be collateral-free and will carry no interest.

They are, however, subject to a one-time processing fee.

Meanwhile, DOLE Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the Rural Bankers Association of the Philippines has also expressed willingness to open a lending window for MSEs for soft loans that will finance their employees’ 13th month pay. – I. Isip

Oil declines on disappointing China data

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October 20, 2020

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SINGAPORE- Oil prices fell on Monday after reports that China’s third-quarter economic growth did not rise as much as expected, underscoring concerns that surging coronavirus cases globally are impacting demand in the world’s largest oil importer.

The world’s second-largest economy in the third quarter expanded by 4.9 percent from a year earlier, missing analyst expectations, government data showed. Refiners in China, the world’s second-largest oil user, slowed their processing rates in September and industrial metal imports, underpinned by government stimulus, were lower.

Brent crude for December slipped 15 cents, or 0.4 percent, to $42.78 a barrel. US West Texas Intermediate crude for November CLc1 was at $40.70 a barrel, down 18 cents. The contract will expire on Tuesday.

NPA rebels burn bus, dump trucks

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October 7, 2020

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COMMUNIST rebels burned three dump trucks and a bus owned by the Del Monte Philippines Inc. in Claveria town in Misamis Oriental yesterday morning.

Extortion is among angles being eyed as motive for the attack of the New People’s Army which is known to burn equipment of firms that do not heed its extortion demands.

The Army’s 58th Infantry Battalion said the NPA rebels swooped down on Del Monte’s plantation in Sitio Talambao, Barangay Bulahan at around 9:45 a.m. and set the vehicles on fire.

They later withdrew southward, heading for Barangay Juan in the nearby town of Balingasag, said 1Lt. Jefferson Mariano, 58th IB civil military operations officer.

The three dump trucks were used by the company to haul seedlings while the bus was used for transporting workers, he said.

Mariano said investigators are looking at other angles aside from extortion.

Claveria Mayor Meraluna Abrogar also denounced the atrocity, saying, “The burning of properties is a gesture of desperate move to discredit the government.”

“We are saddened by the act of terrorism, but we still continue to fight and protect the peace and public welfare,” Abrogar added.

Foodpanda welcomes new brand ambassador

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August 26, 2020

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Balancing work and play is particularly essential now that we spend more time at home.

Thanks to online games, anyone can have a serious good game with family and friends without leaving the couch. Between deadlines at work, mapping out a daily schedule, and the need to beat a game record, this routine got us no time to cook.

To keep the game going, you can count on foodpanda, the country’s on-demand delivery service, to be such a lifesaver when you are hungry or you need something in the grocery as all the food that you love and daily essentials are just a tap away. Take inspiration from cosplay royalty and gamer Alodia Gosiengfiao, the brand’s newest ambassador, to help you make the best choice today.

As a prominent female influencer is known for her gaming skills in Dota 2 and League of Legends, Alodia shares a few gamer tips and advice, “Have everything automated already– have your payment terms done all online so that in just a few clicks, you can get the food to you without bringing out your wallet. It’s very convenient if you are in the middle of a game or stream. I really love how convenient foodpanda is because my orders arrive after a game or two during my stream.”

Whichever kind of gamer you are, whether you’re an almost pro or a casual spectator, foodpanda’s selection of food under Gamer Chow features Alodia’s favorite restaurants that you can order from with just one tap away. Equal parts tasty and easy to binge on while playing, enjoy her picks from chicken, pizza, burger, and fries, to every possible feel-good food that deserves a spot in your own restaurant rotation.

First Gen, SG firm near deal

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June 18, 2020

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First Gen Corp. said Singaporean company, Valorous Asia Holdings Pte. Ltd. will not extend and modify its tender offer to purchase shares of the listed power generation firm.
Valorous offered to buy up to 9 percent for a total of P7.29 billion.

A tender offer was made for the sale of a minimum for 324 million issued and outstanding common shares of the company at a price of P22.50 per share which is equivalent to a 26.83 percent premium compared to the P17.74 closing price of First Gen’s common shares before the tender offer was publicized.

Valorous’ offer that is scheduled to close at noon of June 24, 2020 is a 35.05 percent premium over the three-month volume weighted average price of First Gen’s common shares and 19.23 percent premium for a six-month average.

Czech population’s coronavirus immunity low, antibody study shows

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May 7, 2020

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PRAGUE — Immunity to the novel coronavirus is building up very slowly in the Czech Republic, with likely no more than 4-5% of the population covered, the health ministry said on Wednesday, after mass testing for antibodies that started last month.

The preliminary results from the study found immunity levels were likely lower in the two biggest cities of Prague and Brno.

Overall, it found 107 positive cases after testing 26,549, making it one of the largest studies in Europe.

he Czech Republic, a country of 10.7 million, was one of the swiftest in Europe to impose curbs on travel and border crossings and shut most shops and restaurants in March.

The country is only now reopening in phases and Health Minister Adam Vojtech said the study would not change plans.

The study estimated the number of people infected by the virus but not showing symptoms could range from 27-38%.

The country has recorded 7,899 cases of the virus, much lower than in western European neighbors. More than half have recovered and 258 have died.

The number of active cases has steadily declined, to 3,624 reported on Wednesday morning. New infections have been below 100 all but one day since April 22.

In Germany, more than 10 times as many people have likely been infected than the confirmed number of cases, researchers from the University of Bonn concluded this week from a field trial in one of the worst hit towns.

Keeping home clean and disinfected

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April 1, 2020

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The enhanced community quarantine is one of the means directed towards controlling the spread of the dreaded COVID-19 in the country, However, just because you are at home and isolated doesn’t mean you have to let your guard down and stay complacent. On the contrary, those at home can do their share by doing small things with significant impact.

For one, keeping your home clean and disinfected can help prevent the spread of infection at home. Frequently-touched surfaces and objects, once contaminated, play some important role in the transmission of disease, especially as COVD-19 is spread from person to person either when we cough or sneeze or through droplets.

Therefore, keeping these surfaces in our home properly disinfected and not just clean is an important step and one of the most essential things we should be doing right now.

Cleaning has the ability to physically remove organic matter such as dirt and germs. This is then best followed up by using a potent household disinfectant because while a surface may appear clean, it can still very much be host to illness-causing germs. This becomes ever more apparent as studies from the New England Journal of Medicine have shown that the COVID-19 virus can live for several hours to days in aerosols and on surfaces.

Disinfect areas and items that are commonly touched my family members like doorknobs, light switches, countertops, faucets, and the like. Kitchen surfaces for example can harbor foodborne bacteria as well as bacteria transferred from humans and other items. Likewise, phones, remotes, and laptop keyboards are also potential bacteria carriers.

Not to be missed out as well is the bathroom, where showers, toilets, and counters together with bathroom mats have to be disinfected too. In the bedroom, a disinfecting spray is well-suited for mattresses and pillows.

Above all these, do not forget of course to wash one’s hands with soap for minimum 20 seconds thoroughly.

Some workers self-quarantine as Korea prepares for virus impact

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February 25, 2020

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SEOUL – Some South Korean workers at Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor are staying home as a precautionary measure as corporate Korea scrambles to prevent the coronavirus outbreak from causing widespread disruption in its home market.

About 1,500 workers of Samsung Electronics’ phone complex in the southeastern city of Gumi have self-quarantined after one of its workers was infected with the disease, a person familiar with the matter said. They include 900 workers who commute to Gumi from neighboring Daegu city, the person said.

The southeastern city of Daegu – the epicenter of the virus outbreak in South Korea- and nearby cities are an industrial hub in South Korea, Asia’s fourth-biggest economy, and home to factories of Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor and a number of others.

South Korea on Monday reported 161 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of infected patients in the country to 763, a day after the government raised its infectious disease alert to its highest level.

Samsung Electronics shares fell 4.1 percent and Hyundai Motor ended down 4.3 percent, tracking the wider market’s 3.9 percent fall, as the spike in new coronavirus cases intensified fears about the epidemic’s fallout on the economy and businesses.

Samsung said it has restarted production at its phone factory complex in Gumi on Monday, after closing it over the weekend, adding that the floor where the infected employee worked will resume production on Tuesday.

“As of Feb. 24, the Gumi Complex has started normal operations and we expect no impact on production,” Samsung said in a statement, without elaborating further.

Samsung’s Gumi factory accounts for a small portion of its total phone production, but it produces premium phones and foldable phones, research firm Counterpoint said.

Six employees at Hyundai Motor’s factories in the southeastern city of Ulsan are also at home, with four of them linked to a church at the centre of the virus outbreak, a union spokesman said in a statement.

“We are walking on ice,” one Hyundai factory worker told Reuters.

A factory run by Hyundai supplier Seojin Industrial was closed over the weekend after the death of a virus-infected worker, an official at the supplier said. He said that authorities disinfected the factory, located in the city of Gyeongju, and it is unclear when production will resume.

Seojin declined to comment when contacted by Reuters.

Any disruption would be a fresh blow to Hyundai, which has restarted most of its domestic factories’ production after being hit by suspensions due to parts shortages from China.

Ulsan is home to Hyundai’s biggest car factories, and there are a number of suppliers in the city and surrounding areas, which cater not only to the automaker, but export to the United States, Japan and other markets.

A Hyundai Motor spokesman said there has been no production disruption so far as the automaker has inventory.

With virus fears spreading nationwide, Hyundai set up thermal cameras at all of its operations across the nation, including its headquarters in Seoul, to check temperatures. — Reuters

Ex-senators back Senate move to bring VFA to SC

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February 18, 2020

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SENATE President Vicente Sotto III yesterday said two former senators will join them as petitioners in seeking a clarification from the Supreme Court (SC) on the role of the Senate in the termination of international treaties.

Sotto said former Senators Francisco Tatad and Rodolfo Biazon have decided to join them as petitioners, noting that the two former senators were the sponsors of the RP-US Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) during the 11th Congress.

Sotto, Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon, and Senators Richard Gordon and Panfilo Lacson have announced plans to go to the SC to question whether or not the Senate should play a role in the abrogation of international treaties, just as it plays a vital role in the ratification of such agreements.

Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Aquilino Pimentel III said they will not join their colleagues in going to the high court.

Dela Rosa, an ally of President Duterte, expressed the opinion that the power to terminate international treaties rests on the Chief Executive alone.

“I believe that the power to abrogate a treaty rests on the president and it doesn’t need the concurrence of the Senate, otherwise it should have been clearly stated in the Constitution,” Dela Rosa said.

President Duterte’s decision to scrap the VFA came following the decision of the United States government to void the visa it has issued to Dela Rosa.

Pimentel, Senate foreign relations committee chair, said he has yet to read the petition to be filed with the SC “and I still do not know what their legal theory is.”

“There must be a legal basis, should be based on the Constitution, laws, and treaties,” Pimentel said.

Sen. Christopher Go, another ally of the President, said he respects the views of his fellow senators but reiterates his support for the termination of the VFA.

“I, however, believe that the termination of the VFA is a chance for us to write a new and better chapter in Philippine-United States relations. We should now be able to renew our friendship, reaffirm our ties and resume cooperation as true co-equals,” Go said.

Go despite a difference in opinion, he and those who oppose the filing of the petition still support the leadership of Sotto.

“The Senate is a collegial body. It is not composed of only one person. As far as I know, majority of the sitting senators still trust the leadership of Senate President Tito Sotto III.

And, so far, to my knowledge, no one has explicitly signified any intention to replace SP Sotto,” Go said.

Sotto said that there is no specific date yet for the filing of the petition.

“Inaayos lang ang (We are still fixing the) wordings [of the petition] because I merely want a simple petition asking the Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution whether it should pass through the Senate or not when the treaty is abrogated,” Sotto said.

Sotto said he does not see the Senate clashing with the executive department in going to the SC.

“Kapag ang fi-nile namin ay petition for certiorari, ‘yun ang head to head. Hindi naman ‘yun ang ifa-file namin. I-file namin is for the Senate to assert its right (If we file a petition for certiorari, that will be the time we will go head to head with the executive department.

What we will file is for the Senate to assert its right [in the termination of international treaties]),” he said.

Drilon said: “It is our firm belief that if treaties and international agreements the President entered into cannot be valid without the approval of the Senate, the termination of, or withdrawal from, the same should only be effective with the concurrence of the Senate.”

Drilon said while the Constitution is silent on the termination of treaties, it is best if the SC can rule with finality on the issue.

Lacson, in a radio interview Sunday, said only a favorable SC ruling can save the VFA from being officially terminated.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin last week sent the official notice of termination of the VFA to the US Embassy in Manila. The notice has already reached Washington.

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