MANILA-- Consortium members from China Mobile
International Limited (CMI), China Unicom Global (CUG), Converge Information
and Communications Technology Solutions, Inc. (Converge), PPTEL SEA H2X Sdn.
Bhd (PPTEL SEA-H2X) with the infrastructure builder HMN Technologies Co.,
Limited (HMN Tech) convened in Manila to continue discussing the technical
implementation of the South East Asia Hainan - Hong Kong Express Cable System
(SEA-H2X).
The SEA-H2X consortium is optimistic that the
5,000-kilometer submarine cable system will be online by 2024. SEA-H2X will connect Hong Kong SAR China,
Hainan China, Philippines, Thailand, East Malaysia, and Singapore.
Converge hosted the meeting held recently in
Taguig City, Metro Manila. The upcoming international cable system will land in
La Union province in the Philippines, Tseung Kwan O in Hong Kong SAR China,
Hainan China, Songkhla Thailand, Kuching Malaysia and Tuas in Singapore.
The SEA-H2X submarine cable system will consist
of 8-fiber pairs between Hong Kong SAR and Singapore, with a design capacity of
160 terabits per second to meet the growing bandwidth requirement in the
region.
Converge will have 2-fiber pairs on the Hong
Kong SAR – Singapore segment of SEA-H2X. The System is targeted to be
ready-for-service in 2024 which will help businesses and consumers benefit from
increasing digital ties.
Converge Chief Operations Officer, Jesus Romero,
highlighted the significance of this intra-Asian submarine cable, particularly
in positioning the Philippines as a digital gateway in the region.
“In Converge, we have a dream and that is to
make the Philippines a digital transit hub in Asia. The SEA-H2X project is one
step towards that dream where we hope to create a more vibrant industry that
can position businesses for success, provide employment, and continually
improve the lives of Filipinos over time,” Romero said.
PPTEL SEA-H2X is delighted with the progress of
SEA-H2X. The company embarked on a massive telecommunications infrastructure
project in Sarawak to build a strong internet backbone that connects Sarawak to
the wider world, Dr Jonathan Smith, CEO of PPTEL bared.
“We have laid our first subsea cable BaSICS
(Batam – Sarawak Internet Cable System) and our very own Tier IV Data Centre is
ready and connected. With the addition of SEA-H2X, we are endeavoring to place
Sarawak firmly on the map as the alternative regional hub in Southeast Asia,”
Smith added. (Photos: Converge FB/Google Images)
LAPULAPU CITY --Philippine Airlines (PAL)
began serving Borongan City, the capital of Eastern Samar with the launch of
the first Cebu-Borongan flight on December 19 that is expected to boost business and tourist travel to the popular surfing spot that is winning the attention of adventurous travelers and also opens up direct access for more travelers to discover the beauty and special attractions that Eastern Samar has to offer.
The inaugural PR 2651 service departed from Mactan-Cebu
at 11:05 AM on December 19, operated with 73 passengers on board a De Havilland
Dash 8 Series 400 Next Generation aircraft (RP-C5907). The flight landed at
Borongan Airport at 11:55 AM.
“We are delighted to link Borongan City with
Cebu for the first time, opening direct access for more travelers to discover
the beauty and special attractions that Eastern Samar has to offer. As we continue to expand our network hub in
Cebu, we view our new Cebu-Borongan routes as a huge opportunity for Eastern
Samar to generate more good business and tourism revenues to uplift the local
economy,” PAL Vice President for Sales Bud Britanico said.
Philippine Airlines will do its part to promote
travel to Borongan, not just from Cebu but also from Manila and other cities in
PAL’s domestic and regional network, Britanico added.
Starting December 19, PAL’s twice weekly
Cebu-Borongan-Cebu flights have the following schedules: PR 2651 Cebu-Borongan
- every Monday and Friday departing Mactan-Cebu at 11:05 AM, arriving Borongan
at 12:00 PM while PR 2652 Borongan-Cebu - every Monday and Friday departing
Borongan at 12:30 PM, arriving in Cebu at 01:30 PM
PAL also offers a convenient one-stop
connection to Borongan from Manila, as PAL flights from Manila to Cebu enable
travelers to hop on to the new Cebu-Borongan service for their onward journey.
Travelers may book their PAL flights via
www.philippineairlines.com, the PAL mobile app, the PAL hotline at (02) 8855
8888, or via accredited travel agents.
In a Facebook post from the Borongan City
Information Office, Borongan City mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda kissed the tarmac
of Borongan City Airport upon disembarking from PR 2651, the inaugural flight
from Cebu to Borongan City.
Borongan opened its doors to further travel,
tourism, and the local economy via Manila-Cebu-Borongan commercial flights.Aboard the craft on its inaugural flight were
Borongan City Mayor Jose Ivan Dayan Agda, City and Provincial Officials,
Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone, 4Ps Representative and House Minority
Leader Nonoy Libanan, and some airline executives.
The maiden flight received a ceremonial water
cannon salute before taking off for Borongan Airport. (Photos: PAL-FB/MCIA)
CEBU CITY -- The sequel to the world’s biggest
movie of all time is finally here in Philippine theaters.Experience the amazing world of Pandora like
never before as “Avatar: The Way of Water” arrives in cinemas nationwide today.
The film makes stunning use of cutting-edge
technology that allows viewers to feel as if they are in the blue world itself,
showing why it is best seen in 3D, 4D, or IMAX formats!
“Avatar: The Way of Water” is the long-awaited
second installment to James Cameron's Academy Award-winning 2009 epic adventure
‘Avatar,’ the highest grossing film of all time.
Set more than a decade after the first film,
“Avatar: The Way of Water” follows the story of the Sully family as they
continue to live – Jake (Sam Worthington), Neytiri (Zoe Saldaña), and their
children–within the blue world of Pandora.
After an old enemy return and threatens the
existence of their world, the Sullies must not only fight to protect their home
but also each other. With the Na’vi army on their side, can the Sully family
survive not only the battles but also the tragedies that come their way?
Directed by James Cameron, “Avatar: The Way of
Water” features a stellar ensemble of new and returning cast members including
Sigourney Weaver (“Kiri”), Stephen Lang (“Miles Quaritch”), Cliff Curtis
(“Tonowari”), Joel David Moore (“Norm Spellman”), CCH Pounder (“Mo’at”), Edie
Falco (“General Frances Ardmore”), Jemaine Clement (“Dr. Ian Garvin”), Giovanni
Ribisi (“Parker Selfridge”), and Kate Winslet (“Ronal”).
The screenplay and story are written by James
Cameron, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver, with co-writers Josh Friedman and Shane
Salerno. The film is produced by James Cameron and Jon Landau, with David
Valdes and Richard Baneham serving as the executive producers.
“Avatar: The Way of Water” is a must-watch
spectacle and is definitely the perfect movie for the holidays. Grab your
tickets now and get ready for an action-packed adventure in the world of
Pandora!
Join the conversations online using
#AvatarTheWayOfWaterPH. You can also follow 20th Century Studios Philippines on
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube for more updates. (Photos: Avatar-FB/Jocelyn Jimenez)
CEBU CITY – Zonta Club of Cebu
II organized forum on “Engaging Men and Boys as Allies in Ending Gender-based
Violence” and a webinaron “Revenge Porn and Deeper Harms” as among the
Club’s activities in this year’s celebration of the 18 Days of Activism
to Stop Gender-based Violence.
Two resource speakers Executive Judge Marlon
Jay Moneva of the Regional Trial Court in Cebu City and Atty. Bobby Quitain
were invited to speak during the forum.Judge
Moneva discussed the various laws that cover gender-based violence to create or
enhance awareness of the issue while Atty. Quitain expounded on the need for
men to be open to a change in their perspective on gender issues.
Members
of the Philippine National Police, representatives from 13 barangays in Mandaue
City and male college students from different universities in Cebu such as Cebu
Institute of Technology University, University of Southern Philippines
Foundation, Cebu Aeronautical Technical School, University of the Visayas and
University of Cebu attended the forum.
Atty. Quitain, on the other hand noted that
history showed that most societies have sanctioned the use of violence against
women. “The patriarch of a family was
accorded the right to use force on members of the family under his control.” He
stressed the need to change the perspective of men as far as women are
concerned. “Men and women are equal but different.”
Quitain said, men should have the values
represented by the acronym ‘WOMAN.’ W for a wise estimate of oneself; O for
openness to a change in perspective; M for maturity; A for appreciative spirit
and N for nurturing spirit.
Webinar on
image-based abuse and its harmful effects
Atty. Mark Lawrence Badayos presented the lecture
on the online webinar on “Revenge Porn and Deeper Harms” that marked the last
day of the 18 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence observed by Zonta
Club of Cebu II.
Badayos said, those who upload or post photos
and videos with sexual content on social media without the consent of the
concerned person/s are punishable under the Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act
and other legal frameworks.
He explained that photo or Video Voyeurism
refers to the act of taking a photo or video coverage, of a person or group of
persons in intimate privacy or any similar activity or of capturing an image of
the private area of a person or persons without the latter’s consent, under
circumstances in which such person/s has/have a reasonable expectation of
privacy and the broadcasting, selling, exhibiting of these.
To combat this grave misuse of modern
technology the Philippine Congress has legislated Republic Act No. 9995,
otherwise known as the Anti-voyeurism Act, one of the progressive laws that
have been enacted to protect the intimate privacy of an individual against
unscrupulous individuals who use the modern technology abuse and debase their
intended victims.
Badayos discussed the mental and physical
impact of this abuse on the victim such as post-traumatic stress disorder,
anxiety and depression; loss of bodily control/autonomy; fear of physical
attack and further abuse; loss of self-dignity and respect.
It also results to inhibition of sexual
expression and the consequences like the loss of livelihood and employment;
being ostracized by families, friends and other circles and the normalization
and tolerance of sexual abuse.
Dr. Elsa Basubas, chairperson of Abay sa
Kahayag committee said in her closing remarks, that as the Club closed its advocacy
of the 18 Days of Activism through this last webinar on ‘Image-based Sexual
Abuse, the insights showed that there is a need for the creation and the
passing of new statutes that would protect the people’s rights in a different
circumstance now involving technology.
“Zonta
Club of Cebu II believes in and supports survivors of gender-based violence in
all its forms including image-based sexual abuse. We hope we can empower our young men and women
through human rights education and experience-sharing so that we will become
advocates for a violent-free world,” Basubas said. (Photos: Zonta Club of Cebu 2-FB/Robby Alugar)
CEBU CITY -- Metro Pacific Investments
Corporation (MPIC)-mWell expands app features and services through
partnerships with top names in technology, wellness, and healthcare experts such
as HealthLink, Lifeline 16-911 and MedExpress.
“Our mission is to bring healthcare closer to
more Filipinos and make health and wellness available and accessible to anyone,
anytime, anywhere. We aim to mWellize
the Philippines with good health and wellness. With help from our valued partners, we can
truly democratize healthcare,” MPIC Chief Finance, Risk and Sustainability
Officer Chaye Cabal-Revilla said.
MPIC President, Chairman and CEO, Manny
Pangilinan further said that Metro Pacific Group’s mWell shall continue to set
the standards in digital healthcare by bringing together experts in technology,
medicine, wellness, and healthcare in one sustainable living ecosystem.
With these powerhouse partnerships, mWell users
can now avail of expert care for loved ones at home through HealthLink. This includes basic care support, cardiac
care, elderly care, and post stroke care.
Through the partnership with MedExpress, users
may have their medicines delivered immediately after their online consultation.
Access to emergency service is also made easier through ties with Lifeline
16-911. Emergency quick response is now just a tap away on the mWell app,
Pangilinan added.
mWell is the Philippines first fully integrated
health app backed by the leading names in insurance, PhilCare and Generali.
Technology partners include global leaders in wellness, Active8me and Aktivo.
The robust platform is built on Microsoft
Azure. To ensure protection against cyber threats, mWell is supported by
sophisticated technologies and highly skilled cybersecurity professionals.
Angel Redoble, PLDT Group and Smart
Communications FVP and Group CISO bared that mWell's cybersecurity practice is
based on Predictive, Preventive, Detective and Responsive cybersecurity
operations framework of the PLDT Group, designed to identify and respond to
threats efficiently and effectively.
The mWell systems go through rigorous testing
to ensure a sustainable approach in maintaining the highest level of security
to protect our systems, network and customers data.mWell’s ecosystem offers a holistic approach
to digital healthcare-- from doctor consultation, e-pharmacy, emergency
services and home care-- to fitness and nutrition programs created by experts,
Redoble said. (Photos: mWell FB)
CEBU CITY—Home Development Mutual Fund (HDMF/
Pag-IBIG Fund) and the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development
(DHSUD) named Johndorf Venture Corporation (JVC) among the Top Ten Developers
in the territorial categories of Visayas and Mindanao in terms of number of
projects completed and was recognized for its leadership in the industry.
JVC placed 7th in Cebu and 2nd
in Mindanao and the award was given to JVC Managing Director Abigail Lim in
ceremonies honoring top-performing partners in Pag-IBIG’s Stakeholders’
Accomplishment Report (StAR) for the 1st to the 3rd quarters
of 2022.
“These awards clearly affirm the
mission that JVC has taken on – that of creating, sustaining and nurturing
livable communities for the contemporary Filipino.The recognition from the top agencies
regulating and monitoring the property development sector gives us the
inspiration to forge forward. These is definitely giving us more clarity as we
work even harder at becoming better at this business, setting the standards for
quality homes and quality lifestyles,” Lim said.
DHSUD-10, represented by Regional Director
Ariel Abragan handed over to the company on December 5 the Outstanding Real
Estate Developer Award for a well-maintained and regulated subdivision project
in the Socialized Housing Category under Batas Pambansa (B.P.) No. 220.
According to DHSUD, BP-220 promotes and
encourages the development of economic and socialized housing projects to make
shelter available for average- and low-income earners in the urban and rural
areas.
JVC has built almost 40 communities in Iligan,
Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Butuan, Lapulapu and Cebu Cities and in the surrounding
areas over its 36-year history. It
launched in November Tierra Nava Opol within the Cagayan de Oro-Iligan Corridor
Special Development Project Area.
It is also currently building Tierra Nava
Lumbia in Cagayan de Oro and at least four other major developments are
introduced in 2023.JVC’s portfolio
includes projects in the socialized, affordable and luxury residential
categories. It has, as well, grown into commercial and mixed-use development in
recent years.
The company continues to expand its footprint
with contemporary livable communities catering to the fast-changing needs of
Filipino homebuyers and commercial mix-use leasers and investors.
CEBU CITY — A Cebu-based GTCosmetics Manufacturing Inc. gains another international recognition when it was chosen as one of the awardees in the International Innovation Awards (IIA) 2022 for its Brightening C with Glutathione skin care product line under the Product Category of the awards.
The IIA 2022 was held on December 16 at the Renaissance Bangkok Ratchaprasong Hotel in Thailand with 160 entries from 30 countries and 24 industries. According to the recognition, the products were assessed based on the innovation distinction, practicality and performance, commercial viability, Social and Economic Impact.
GT’s Brightening C product line has five products – the Night Care Cream, Daily Sun Care, Toning Water Essence, Intensive Hydra Burst Moisturizer, and Beauty Bar Soap.
Jellie Marie Villamor RPh, GT Chief Operating Officer and Vice President said, the Brightening C full product line features the application of innovative active ingredients that are award-winning and promotes healthy skin that include Vitamin C, Tangerine Peel Extract and Glutathione.
Villamor described vitamin C as an ingredient that reduces the level of damaging free radicals, increases skin firmness, brightens skin complexion through inhibition of melanin formation, protects skin from photo damage, decrease appearance of age spots and evens skin tone.
“Citrus reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Extract provides luminous and brightening glow to the skin by improving the cell’s structure. Glutathione on the other hand, is a tripeptide consisting of cysteine, glycine and glutamate that functions as a major antioxidant and is involved in the cellular detoxification for the maintenance of skin cell environment and also provides skin whitening effect through its tyrosinase inhibitory activity,” Villamor added.
Villamor said, the company took more than a year to conceptualize the full product line, conducting internal and external testing and then coming up with the final packaging. Because the product line formulation has the same active ingredients and is mild so it was able to capture the younger market.
Formulated for Southeast Asian skin type, the active raw materials used in the formulations are multi-tasking and provides multiple benefits for the skin. The Night Care Cream, which is rich in Vitamin C and Glutathione with Tangerine Peel Extract, is a non-peeling whitening cream specially formulated for sensitive skin since it does not contain hydroquinone and paraben. It helps with age spots, freckles, uneven skin tone and acne prone skin, she bared.
The Toning Water Essence is infused with brightening, toning and hydrating ingredients that balances the PH mantle of the skin following cleansing. This zero-alcohol, multi-functional toner improves skin elasticity to soften and smoothen skin, prepares skin to receive more skin nutrition while gently removing surface debris and dirt.
The Intensive Hydra Burst is a hydrating facial gel that results in brighter skin with luminous effect. It calms and relieves dry, inflamed and sunburnt skin, deeply moisturizes and rejuvenates skin to keep it supple and younger looking. It also facilitates the production of collagen, a vital part of skin elasticity, in making skin young and firm.
On the other hand, the Beauty Bar contains potent anti-oxidant ingredients that fights free radicals that cause skin aging and darkening. It acts as a mild exfoliant, getting rid of dead skin cells, as well as help reduce melanin production, resulting in smoother and lighter skin.
The Daily Sun Care, a skin lightening facial sunscreen with SPF 70, protects and shield skin from UVA and UVB through its high performing broad-spectrum UV Filter Mix. It is specially formulated to help skin feel less powdery and less oily. It also has a tinted formula that covers skin blemishes, minimizes pore visibility, is paraben free and protects skin from harmful sun damage.
Using GT’s Brightening C full skin care product line will also decrease the skin care routine to four-steps, instead of five steps. The Beauty Bar, Toning Water Essence, Hydra Burst, and Daily Sun Care SPF are used for day application. The same products will be used for night time application except for the Daily Sun Care SPF 70, which will be replaced by the Night Care Cream.
The International Innovation Awards recognizes outstanding innovations to encourage organizations to invest in innovations. It is spearheaded by Enterprise Asia, a regional non-government organization that champions entrepreneurship, sustainability, innovation and growth across Asia.
In 2015, Engr. Leonora Salvane, GTCosmetics Manufacturing Inc Founder and Vice-Chairman was also awarded by Enterprise Asia during the Asia Pacific Entrepreneurship Awards under the Most Promising Category.
GT Cosmetics has been in the business for more than 25 years and is 100% Filipino owned. With its unrelenting success, it continues to improve and raise the bar to be one of the leading skincare manufacturers in the country.
It operates strict global quality control systems and procedures across all steps of the manufacturing process including the check and inspection of incoming raw materials, the analysis of work in progress and the final inspection of finished product.
The company has laboratory facilities with testing equipment and has an accredited third-party laboratory that is able to meet the quality requirements of all customers. The quality testing is executed to the highest standards which includes chemical and microbiological testing and is in full compliance with ISO/IEC 17025.
The IIA 2022 panel of jurors are Martin Daffner, Founder, Innovation Architect & Corporate Innovation Coach of Innobrix; Associate Professor Natcha Thawesaengskulthai, Vice President for Strategic Planning, Innovation and Global Engagement of the Chulalongkorn University; Makoto Shibata, Head of Finolab, Chief Community Officer of Finolab Inc.; Nadia Magnenat Thalmann, Professor & Director of the Institute for Media Innovation, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore; William Bao Bean, General Partner & Managing Director of Sosv/Chinaccelerator/Mox; and, Philippe De Ridder, Chief Executive Officer & Founder of the Board of Innovation/ Matterhood. (Photos: GT Cosmetics/Robby Alugar)
