Make your child’s home learning more fun with these exciting snack recipes

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To make snack time even more delightful, parents can get creative in preparing goodies for their kids who do home learning. Whether their little ones need a quick pick-me-up in between online classes, or something to much-on to energize them as they do homework, here are yummy and easy-to-make snacks that are sure to fit the bill.

Make your kids’ snack-time more exciting by preparing these yummy treats using Jack ‘n Jill biscuits and cakes

Delightful Fried Cream-Os 

With its crunchy, bitter-sweet chocolate cookies and rich creamy vanilla or chocolate filling, Jack ‘n Jill Cream-O is yummy on its own. With this new twist, parents can make this even more delightful for their kids.

Start by mixing pancake batter with water according to package directions, or creating his or her own batter by combining flour, water, milk, and eggs. Dip the Cream-O into the batter then fry in hot oil for about two (2) minutes or until they are golden-brown. Place the Cream-Os on a paper towel to drain excess oil. Serve and enjoy!

No-bake Quake Overload Chocolate Cake

Moms and dads can try this no-bake chocolate cake for their kids’ dessert during lunch break.

First, prepare the frosting by whisking an all-purpose cream until it thickens. Once it doubles its size, pour half (1/2) a can of condensed milk and mix it well together. Place it inside the refrigerator to chill for an hour.

When the frosting is ready, start assembling the cake by slicing the Jack ‘n Jill Quake Overload cake bars in half horizontally to create two even layers. Spread some of the frosting onto the bottom cake layer. Place the second layer and put the remaining frosting on the top and sides of the cake. Add some crushed Cream-O bits as the finishing touch. Put the cake in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Magic Flakes Tuna Nuggets

Here’s an interesting twist on the classic tuna sandwich that both adults and their kids will surely enjoy.

To make this recipe, combine one (1) can of tuna, two (2) packs of crushed Jack ‘n Jill Magic Flakes Plain, two (2) tablespoons of flour, one (1) minced onion, salt, and pepper. Mix all ingredients thoroughly and form into nuggets—get creative as you mold them into different shapes and sizes. Fry the Magic Flakes Tuna Nuggets until they are golden brown and serve it with your kid’s favorite dipping sauce!

Presto Peanut Butter Cups

This snack is a must-try for parents whose kids are peanut butter lovers.

To start, one will need one (1) cup of melted chocolate bar and one (1) cup of melted Presto Peanut Butter cream filling. In a cupcake tin, pour one (1) to two (2) tablespoons of the melted chocolate and place in the refrigerator to set. Top the chocolate with the same amount of the melted Presto Peanut Butter cream filling. Sprinkle some crushed Presto cookie bits on top and refrigerate for an hour before serving.

Choco Knots Cereal Mix

Parents can prepare this easy-to-follow recipe for their kids who love breakfast cereals and Jack ‘n Jill Choco Knots

In a nonstick pan, melt marshmallows over medium heat. To avoid burning, mix it every 30 seconds. Once it’s melted, pour in the rice cereal, chocolates, and Choco Knots bits. Stir the ingredients until fully combined then cut into smaller squares. Let cool and set before serving.

Parents can even try making strawberry or milk-flavored version of this by simply substituting Choco Knots with Berry or Milky Knots variant.

Wafrets Chocolate Milkshake

Moms and dads can serve this yummy wafer milkshake for their kids as a refreshing companion of during recess.

Simply cut Jack ‘n Jill Wafrets into smaller pieces and combine it with milk, ice cream, and sugar. Place the mixture in a blender and blend until it’s smooth and creamy. Garnish the milkshake with a stick of Wafrets and enjoy!

Dewberry Ice Cream Cake

After a productive session at school, adults can reward their little ones with this yummy dessert using Dewberry.

To make this, put crushed Dewberry into a bowl. Add a quarter (1/4) cup of melted butter and mix well. Once done, press the mixture into a greased pan -- this will be the crust of the ice cream cake.

Next, spread vanilla ice cream over the crust and let it freeze for two (2) hours. Before serving, drizzle some chocolate syrup and add some Dewberry crumbs. This fruity cake would surely be a hit for kids at home.

Do you have creative recipes in mind featuring Jack ‘n Jill Biscuits and Cakes? Post them on Facebook and use the hashtag #JacknJillSnacktimeFavorites.

Jack ‘n Jill Cream-O, Quake Overload, Magic Flakes, Presto Creams, Choco Knots, Dewberry, and Wafrets are proudly-made Filipino products of Universal Robina Corporation (URC).

Learn more about URC by visiting its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/urcphilippines.

 

How Smart Cities, E-Governance help Urban Resilience

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Smart Cities are fast becoming one of the world’s most critical industries as more countries invest in technologies to improve the delivery of government service.

In its simplest essence, a smart city is all about providing people a better quality of life by using different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect data. The insights gained from that data are utilized to manage assets, resources, and even services efficiently, helping governments to improve their operations across the city. It also enables e-governance or the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in all the processes to enhance the government's ability to address the needs of the public.

By 2025, smart city development worldwide is estimated to create business opportunities worth $2.46 trillion, as revealed by a report released by tech research firm Frost and Sullivan. This trend is driven by the uncertainties of the post-pandemic work, which will compel cities to focus more on developing collaborative, data-driven infrastructure to provide healthcare and public security, as well as resilience to natural disasters. 

Laying the Groundwork

In the Philippines, the national government has been pushing the adoption of smart city technologies. For instance, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), being the country’s primary agency promoting the adoption of eGovernment Services (ICT-ES), has developed the E-Government Masterplan (EGMP) 2022. 

This plan outlines DICT’s intent of developing the country’s e-government systems through the digital transformation of services, such as public health, education, and other programs that cut across the whole of government. By doing so, DICT aims to create a networked and collaborative environment for improved public service delivery.

Additionally, as the ongoing pandemic accelerates innovation, some local governments have laid their plans for their smart city initiatives, especially on e-governance. Baguio City, for instance, has recently announced its investments to transform into e-government using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and other web-based telecommunication technologies, such as crowd density monitoring and real-time weather prediction, to improve the delivery of public service.

Aside from Baguio, the New Clark City in Pampanga, Davao, Cebu, and Manila have also previously laid the groundwork to make their areas smarter through the adoption of e-governance technologies. 

The need for the adoption

For Vertiv, a global provider of critical digital infrastructure and continuity solutions, the digital transformation and e-governance initiatives of all the cities in the country, just like the other smart cities across the globe, provide an opportunity to make the entire Philippines more resilient challenges like the current public health crisis or natural calamities. 

Last year, the country was identified as one of the most vulnerable to climate change by the Global Peace Index of the Institute of Economics and Peace (IEP) due to its high exposure to natural hazards, such as typhoons, landslides, floods, and droughts, as well as its heavy reliance to its climate-sensitive natural resources.

The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) also noted that more tropical cyclones are entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) than anywhere else in the world. Recently, the Philippines experienced five typhoons in a row—Quinta, Rolly, Siony, Tonyo, and Ulysses—which all made landfall in the country within at least a month. All these typhoons left trails of devastation, which include physical injuries, casualties, and damages to agriculture and other properties. 

“Following this devastation, preparedness for typhoons and other calamities has never been more important, for instance, in getting necessary data where they can draw insights to efficiently conduct pre-evacuation of residents in flood-prone and vulnerable areas. And as IT becomes integral, government agencies must have a ready infrastructure in place to ensure that services go on unhampered and citizens have access to services they need,” said Jason Lim, country manager of Vertiv Philippines.

Tackling Infra Challenges 

As technology adoption of big data, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) matures, Lim said that governments are now turning to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and analytics in their technology initiatives. These trends will enable the no-collar workforce or the increased use of cognitive assets, bots, and other technologies to support the existing workforce. Instead of replacing people, technology will augment the existing labor force in the drive to become a sustainable, hyperconnected society. 

Meanwhile, the increasing reliance on IT will turn the spotlight on ensuring the integrity and security of personal data being collected by different government agencies. Investments in hardware and software protection against cybercrimes will become a priority. That is why it is integral for governments to rethink their strategy to include data sovereignty and protection as part of their e-governance initiatives. 

“The IT infrastructure should be designed not only to support critical operations, but it must also have robust monitoring and management framework for secure operations, intelligent notifications, and alerts to enable immediate action in case of emergencies,” added Lim.

Governments also need a strong IT backbone that provides agility, productivity, and efficiency to government operations. This consolidation simplifies government operations through cross-agency platforms, eliminating operational redundancies. A robust data center is also needed to support the increasing use of online applications to connect citizens and businesses.

To help local governments in tackling these IT infrastructure challenges, Vertiv brings together cutting-edge E-Governance Solutions to ensure uninterrupted operations, optimal performance, and scalability of data centers, communication networks, and other critical IT facilities needed in creating smarter and more resilient cities. 

To learn more about how Vertiv supports the continuity of today’s vital business and government applications, visit Vertiv.com.  

About Vertiv

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics, and ongoing services to ensure its customers’ vital applications run continuously, perform optimally, and grow with their business needs. As Architects of Continuity™, Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today’s data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extends from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, USA, Vertiv employs approximately 20,000 people and does business in more than 130 countries. For more information, and for the latest news and content from Vertiv, visit Vertiv.com.

Experience another level of convenience with OPPO door-to-door service

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Manila, Philippines - These days, a reliable smartphone is essential to easily connect with loved ones, binge-watch your favorite series or play mobile games.  A simple tiny crack on your screen or even a battery life slowly declining can affect your smartphone experience and cause inconvenience. 

When things go wrong with your OPPO phone, you want a repair service that’s hassle free and safe especially in the time of pandemic. 

OPPO recognizes this emerging need, and thus, launched its Door-to-Door Service. All OPPO smartphone users in National Capital Region (NCR) can avail the free door-to-door delivery repair service to/from SM Manila, SM North, Novaliches, Alabang, Ayala Manila Bay and Marikina Service Centers.

“OPPO is always finding ways to cater to the needs of our smartphone users. Our latest Door-to-Door service is part of our commitment to give OPPO users the best after-sales service that we can offer especially during this trying time by bringing safety and convenience to their doorstep, ” says Mr. Aaron Guevarra, Assistant AfterSales Director of OPPO Philippines. 

For more details, check out OPPO’s official website or  https://support.oppo.com/ph/service-center/ to check for the Metro Manila Service Center nearest you and make sure to call or message the Facebook messenger of the nearest service center to you. Once confirmed, an OPPO representative will then proceed to collect, repair and return your gadget, assisting you throughout the whole process.

To know more about the latest updates of OPPO, visit the official website or the official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines.

 

BLINKS rave on social media as Globe gives away 1000 concert tickets

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On Friday night,  Globe gave away 1000 The Show tickets to BLACKPINK fans as a gesture of appreciation to those who waited at least two hours during the kick-off event of Korea's most sought-after girl group concert at the end of this month.

Globe aimed to "reinvent the world" of millions of Filipino BLINKS fans by staging "The Opening Act", an event set to feature a series of skylight displays on January 22 using drones at the Bonifacio Global City.  The event pays homage to the highly popular K-pop group.

 

Set for live streaming at 7:30 PM, Globe's show contractor started its set up as early as 1:00 PM and GPS signals were strong and optimal  30-minutes before the 7:00 PM countdown.  When the show was about to commence, signals started to suddenly fluctuate. It started with five drones and escalated to 20 drones in just an interval of six minutes. 

 

The drones did not normalize and finally lost GPS and satellite signals one by one. The show team was forced to break the program into sequences and attempted to troubleshoot and regain access to the signals.

But despite repeated and diligent attempts to reboot the drone systems and stabilize drone signal strength, it did not succeed. The team was forced to end the stream at 8:25 PM, leading to the show's cancellation. 

 

The technical report indicated signal jamming as the most likely cause of the drones' inability to take flight.  The jamming targeted the GPS signal of the drones.

 

BLACKPINK is the official brand ambassador of Globe. 

 

In a statement, Globe said,  "Due to circumstances that are beyond our control, we will need to shift our gears and reschedule The Opening Act to a later date.  To express our appreciation for all of you who stayed with us tonight, we will be giving away 1000 The Show tickets so you can catch the girls live on January 31.”

 

On social,  Blackpink fans went wild over the free tickets.  One fan said, “I love this partnership between Globe and Blackpink because it clearly shows how Globe loves and adores the pinks and blinks!  We really are the most spoiled fandom here!”

Another fan also expressed "this collaboration of Globe and BLACKPINK makes us feel closer to them! I love seeing them onstage and make us Blinks happy." 

BLACKPINK's The Show first ever livestream concert is slated to go on air on January 31, 2021. Please follow Globe’s official page and the Kmmunity PH page on Facebook for more information about the concert and how to get tickets. 

UnionBank continues as Asia’s digital trailblazer beyond the tipping point of digital adoption

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From its entrepreneur-focused solutions to its heavy investments in AI and blockchain, IDC Asia/Pacific Digital Trailblazer awardee Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank)’s SEVP, Chief Technology and Operations Officer and Chief Transformation Officer Henry Aguda talked about the Bank’s digital plans for this year in the eighth installment of its E-TalkTales series.

One of the main points of Aguda's discussion was UnionBank's commitment to supporting the country's micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) through various digital solutions designed to address the different pain points of their businesses. “These are all geared towards a focus of helping the MSMEs not just survive, but thrive during this pandemic,” Aguda said.

UnionBank’s current solutions offered to entrepreneurs include the newly launched SME Business Banking app, which is equipped with features for improved security and convenience such as biometrics, as well as platforms such as Bux, SeekCap, and Sentro, which are offered by the Bank’s fintech spinoff UBX, that enable customers to build secure foundations for their e-commerce ventures.

In addition to these topics, Aguda talked about the Bank’s plans for two of the biggest focus areas in the next phase of its digital transformation roadmap, which are AI and distributed ledger technology (DLT), particularly blockchain and cryptocurrency, two technologies enabled by DLT.

For AI, Aguda said the Bank plans to utilize the said technology so that its services can become even more personalized for customers. Aside from this, the Bank is also creating solutions that help address cybercrimes committed against customers, including a concept the Bank calls “integrated financial crimes framework” where all types of cybercrime are analyzed by the Bank’s AI engine to anticipate fraud patterns.

Aguda underscored the importance of being a vigilant and responsible digital banking account owner given the ever-growing threat of cybercrime, saying that malicious entities are becoming even more creative in finding new ways of exploiting vulnerabilities in digital ecosystems through user endpoints, especially those of banks and other financial institutions. He added that the best way to keep them at bay is for stakeholders to work together in creating a safe digital ecosystem for everyone.

“Threat actors will only prey on the weak, but if it’s a community that’s protecting everybody, they will move to a different jurisdiction altogether.”

In terms of DLT, the Bank is now working on expanding its blockchain-based digital financial network i2i in scope and scale, as well as expanding its proprietary stablecoin PHX. UnionBank is also testing various other blockchain use cases and proofs of concept that the Bank plans to share with partner government agencies and corporate clients in the coming months.

When asked if UnionBank is planning to apply to become a digital banking entity under the recently approved regulatory framework of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) that classifies digital banks separately from commercial banks, rural banks, thrifts, and cooperatives, Aguda said that the Bank is now reviewing all possible options.

“UnionBank is excited because it’s a validation and affirmation of the things that we’ve been doing. And if we do get a digitalized license, we’ll welcome it and we will continue to advocate the adoption of digital banking services,” Aguda said.