Web Rangers launched to help Pinoy teens promote Internet safety

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Google searches for online heroes who can help keep a safe web

The Internet is an excellent medium to connect with people, but it also comes with risks for abuse. A lot of teens spend hours online, which exposes them to threats, mean messages, nasty rumors, and other forms of cyberbullying.

To foster a safer way to use the Internet, Google partnered with the National Youth Commission to launch Web Rangers, a program designed to engage the help of teenagers, ages 14 to 18, to sustain a safer online environment for their peers. 

Interested youth can sign up at the Web Rangers website (http://webrangers.ph), from which 50 will be selected to become Web Rangers, a group of teens who will take action in the fight against the misuse and abuse of the Internet by creating their own meaningful campaigns to promote responsible Internet use.

Google and the National Youth Commission will hold a Web Rangers workshop in April to train them to make the most out of their creativity and social influence to encourage their peers to have better online behavior and keep each other safe online. 

The Web Rangers will be given enough time to produce their own campaigns, which can come in the form of educational videos, lesson plans, songs and apps, but the sky's the limit as long as the message is effectively delivered. The most creative and impactful teen campaign will have a chance to visit a Google office in Asia to present their campaign to Google executives. The winners will be announced in May.

“Cyberbullying is a serious issue that we shouldn't gloss over. A lot of teens are affected by it, or know someone who is bullied online. More often than not, they're not sure how to protect themselves,” said Gail Tan, Google Philippines Head of Communications and Public Affairs. “We're hoping that the Web Rangers will be a way by which we can teach our kids to help themselves and their peers address cyber threats in a positive and inspiring way.”

The website presents five Web Ranger roles that teens can identify with: The Creator, who creates inspiring online content; the Frontliner, who takes a stand to protect the bullied; the Guardian, who is vigilant against those who bring threats online; the Transmitter, who shares and passes on positive content to others; and the Uplifter, who readily “likes” and “+1s” positive posts. Any teen who signs up will have a corresponding Web Ranger profile.

Before its launch here in the Philippines, the Web Rangers program has been successfully executed in other countries including New Zealand, Israel and India.

Register to become a Web Ranger on http://webrangers.ph

Four Iloilo boys, two girls off to Manila in April for Jr. NBA/Jr WNBA National Training Camp; 293 boys, 6 girls join Iloilo Regional Selection Camp

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Iloilo City – Six Iloilo students, four boys and two girls, topped the Regional Selection Camp of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Philippines 2015 presented by Alaska at the Ateneo de Iloilo on March 8.

Vince Andrew Jayme, 14, of Huasiong College of Iloilo; Jann Paolo Villariza and Lucky Charm Ramos, both 13, of Sun Yat Sen High School and Ian Dominic Espinosa, 12, of Ateneo de Iloilo are the Jr. NBA representatives of Western Visayas, while Jenedith Ruth Valle, 13, of Barrio Obrero National High School and Shan Sumagaysay, 13, of the Colegio Sagrado Corazon de Jesus of Iloilo are the region’s Jr. WNBA hopefuls in the National Training Camp in Manila this April.

The six young players were among 293 participants who trooped to the Ateneo de Iloilo on Saturday for the two-day camp. The Top 40 Performers of the first day which consisted of vitals tests, skills challenges and basketball drills were asked to return Sunday for more intense drills, team exercises and scrimmages which would help the coaching staff select the most skilled basketball players who also exemplified the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA core values of Sportsmanship, Teamwork, a positive Attitude and Respect.

At the end of Day 2, the six young players emerged as the top picks of the region. The Jr. NBA evaluation committee was composed of Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA head coach Chris Sumner and Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA coaches composed of PBA Legends Topex Robinson and Rodney Santos, Alaska Power Camp coaches John Ramirez and Junjun Alas, and Perlas Pilipinas national players Ish Tiu and Melissa Jacob.

“One good thing about this batch from Iloilo is that the players have the skill and talent, and yet they have a yearning to learn more and to excel even further. That spirit of competitiveness is what they will bring to Manila and put them on good footing with the other National Training Camp finalists who are also top players from other regions,” said Coach Ish Tiu.

The next Regional Selection Camp will be held in Baguio City at St. Louis University on March 14 and 15. Three more regional selection camps follow in Bacolod City at St. John Institute on March 21 and 22, Davao City at the University of the Immaculate Conception on March 28 and 29 and Manila at the PICC Forum on April 11 and 12. 

Qualified boys and girls who wish to join the selection camps may still register at www.jrnba.asia/philippines. The program is completely free at all stages.

Ten Jr. NBA and five Jr. WNBA All-Stars will be selected at the National Training Camp and will embark on a unique, overseas NBA experience together with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia. The Coach of the Year presented by Alaska will also be announced at the National Training Camp that will be attended by NBA talents.

Full program terms and conditions can be found in the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA event website.Fans can also follow Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jrnbaphilippines.

For all things NBA, fans may visit www.nba.com, and follow the NBA on Facebook (www.facebook.com/philsnba) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/nba_philippines).

TPB booth wins Best Booth at Travel Tour Expo 2015

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The Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) won the Overall Best Booth Award in the Domestic Pavilion at the recent Travel Tour Expo 2015. 

Based on the brand campaign “It’s More Fun in the Philippines”, the booth design highlights “Visit the Philippines Year 2015,” the year-long invitation of TPB for everyone to discover and experience the country’s must-see destinations and happenings. It also features images of the country’s colorful festivals and must-see events including tasty regional treats.

Several exhibitors also signed up to support the campaign through the Visit the Philippines Year 2015 microsite: www.visitph2015.com.

End of An Era: Techbox Philippines Presents 'The Last of the Nokias'

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Techbox Philippines will offer a last-chance, limited-time only, knock-your-socks-off clearance sale of Nokia handsets. This will be on March 13-15.

“This is it - the last chance for Nokia enthusiasts to get the last line of smartphones with the Nokia brand on them,” said Angela Gutierrez, Business Unit Head for Techbox Philippines.

In the fourth quarter of 2014, Microsoft announced that it will discontinue the use of the ‘Nokia’ brand in its smartphones – a move that aims to simplify its marketing messages and bring all its smartphone offerings under one brand.

This marks an end of an era – Nokia, a brand synonymous with cellphones for more than two decades and one that pushed the advancement of mobile phones will no longer be present in the handset race. 

“Nokia is one of the most popular mobile phone brands across the globe – especially for us who grew up with the brand. This is a momentous conclusion of a remarkable tech and lifestyle story. Our event will not just be a sale – it’s a tribute to the phone we’ve known and loved since we were kids,” said Angela. 

“This is the best – and last – time to own a Nokia,” she added. 

The clearance sale will not only feature notable discounts on Nokia handsets (up to 80% off); customers can also avail great savings on bundle promos. Select models will also feature a ‘Buy 1, Take 1’ promo. The sale will take place at 2299 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati city.

Techbox Philippines is the fastest growing gadget retail chain in the country. They offer trusted handset brands and cellphone accessories at an affordable price.

To get the latest Techbox deals, visit www.techboxhub.com.

It's Apple Watch's time to shine this April

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Apple Watch, the most advance timepiece ever created arrives this April.

Apple has finally revealed all regarding the Apple Watch, the wrist-based wearable it first introduced last September. Many of the Apple Watch’s particulars were already known, but here, for the first time, is a comprehensive look at what will no doubt become the world’s most popular smartwatch.

Apple is capitalizing on this idea by coming up with their own brand called Apple Watch.

"Apple Watch is the most personal device we have ever created," Apple CEO Tim Cook said onstage, repeating themes from the company's September event. "It's just not with you -- it's on you. And since what you wear is an expression of who you are, we've designed Apple Watch to appeal to a whole variety of people with different tastes and different preferences."

Cook called Apple Watch "the most advanced timepiece ever created." Pre-orders for the device start on April 10.

Apple Watch will have a 18-hour battery life. The device charges with a magnetic cable that snaps onto the watch's back. The gadget is also water-resistant, but not waterproof, so no swimming with the Apple Watch after all.

The aluminum and glass Apple Watch Sport with a plastic band starts at $349 or $400 for a model with a larger casing, while the stainless steel mid-tier model will start at $550 and go as high as $1,100 depending on what band it's paired with. The highest-end model, the 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition, will start at $10,000 and goes as high as $17,000 when paired with Apple's gold-laden buckle.

The Apple Watch comes in two sizes -- 42mm or 38mm -- and three designs -- the aluminum-cased Apple Watch Sport, stainless-steel-cased Apple Watch and the 18-karat-gold-cased Apple Watch Edition. The aluminum comes with silver or space gray options, while the stainless steel comes in its namesake color or a space black version. The gold watch is available in 18-karat yellow gold or 18-karat rose gold.

There also are a variety of bands that can be easily swapped, including a Milanese loop of metal mesh with magnets, a leather band that auto-attaches, a segmented metal link band, a classic leather watch band, a leather loop band and a more plasticized sport band in bright colors. Individual prices for the bands span from $50 to $450.

Making sure the watch is fashionable and something people actually want to wear, the company also placed a big emphasis on designWhile at first glance it resembles Samsung's Gear smartwatches and other wearables already on the market, it provides more ways the wearer can customize it. Apple will provide a range of bands in various materials -- including leather and metal -- so users can tailor the product to their style.

Pre-orders will begin on April 10th. The device will start shipping on April 24th, and cost anywhere from $349 to $10,000 depending on style.

Collections

The Apple Watch is unique among Apple’s product offerings in terms of just how much variety it offers in terms of buyer options. To help clarify and define the available choices, the company has separated Apple Watch models into three distinct collections: The Apple Watch Sport, the Apple Watch, and the Apple Watch Edition. All three offer both 38mm and 42mm rectangular case sizing options, but materials and finishes vary by collection, as do the band options offered by default.

Apple Watch Sport

Apple Watch Sport has an anodized aluminum finish, which comes in both space gray and silver. These finishes will actually match most closely with the existing case materials of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, because of their matte look. The display of the Watch Sport editions are protected by a special ion-treated durable glass, similar to what is used on the iPhone, too. The Watch Sport will ship with a rubberized plastic sport band, which is available in a range of colors.

The Sport version of the Apple Watch is the most affordable in the range, but it also is the one that aesthetically most resembles the current iPhone models. Rubberized straps might not suit all tastes, but the interchangeable custom strap system Apple designed for all the watches mean users can easily change those out.

The Apple Watch Sport is $349 for the 38MM and $399 for the 42MM model.

Apple Watch

The Apple Watch is the middle-ground collection of the wearable, with stainless steel casing available in either a shiny polished silver or a glossy ‘space’ black. The stainless steel is paired with a sapphire crystal protective layer covering the display, which should provide additional scratch resistance vs. the basic Watch Sport model. Strap options on the Watch Collection include sport band, leather bands with multiple buckles and a leather loop, as well as a stainless steel link or Milanese loop bracelet. The choice of strap affects the price of the Watch collection.

The Apple Watch is $549- $1049 depending on band for the 38MM. The Apple Watch steel 42MM runs $599-$1099 for the same.

Apple Watch Edition

The Watch Edition uses the same sapphire crystal to protect its screen, but it comes in either rose or yellow 18-karat gold, which partially accounts for its much higher cost. The Watch Edition also offers exclusive strap options, including leather bands and sport bands with special 18-karat gold hardware in finishes matching the case of each particular model.

Apple Watch Edition will cost over $10,000.

Native Apps

Apple’s Watch has a lot to offer in terms of its watch functions, with various faces with customizable colors and detail views, and software-based “complications” that mimic their namesake on analog automatic and manual watches. Some complications include alarms, weather, sunset/sunrise, chronograph, upcoming appointments, interactive animations and more.