Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Smart Warns vs Fake Cell Towers, Urges Customers to Report Text Scams to HULISCAM Portal
“We urge all our customers to #BeCyberSmart and continue to be vigilant against SMS scams. They can report these incidents to this address: https://smart.com.ph/huliscam, they simply need to take note of the sender’s mobile number or any alphanumeric characters if it is shown, the date when the message was received, the actual message, and the location where the message was received. We actively investigate these messages and permanently block those we find to be fraudulent,” according to Attorney Roy Ibay, Vice President and Head of Regulatory Affairs at Smart.
Using ‘fake cell towers’, scammers can bypass telco networks to send SMS directly to mobile users, and can even use legitimate company names as the sender name.
“When a person’s mobile phone unwittingly comes close to or within a certain radius of these machines that masquerade as cell towers, these machines can record or capture the mobile phone's unique ID called IMSI, or international mobile subscriber identity. Once the machine has caught your mobile phone’s IMSI, scammers become able to push messages directly to your mobile phone without having to go through your cellular network,” said Atty. Ibay.
Additionally, these fake cell towers can also create and use fake or masked message sender names or numbers, further deceiving subscribers into thinking that the SMS is coming from legitimate companies.
“We are actively collaborating with the National Telecommunications Commission and the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center to ramp up efforts to clamp down on the illegal use and importation of these fake cell towers. These scammers had to circumvent the network safeguards that we have in place, so they have resorted to these illegal machines to continue victimizing people through phishing and other similar fraudulent activities," added Atty. Ibay.
Smart has been preventing fraudulent messages from reaching customers and blocking from its network mobile numbers found to be scammers. In September alone, Smart prevented more than 200 million SMShing messages from reaching its customers. Over 37,000 mobile numbers found to be involved in illicit activities have also been permanently blocked from the Smart network for the same period.
Here are more ways to #BeCyberSmart and to protect yourself from S.C.A.M.:
S is for ‘Suspicious’. Never answer calls or respond to messages from unverified or unknown numbers. When in doubt, call the person. You may also visit the official online pages of your bank or telco provider to verify the latest advisories.
C is for ‘Clickbait’. Text scams often bait victims with too-good-to-be-true offers or prize winnings, urging them to click the link to avail of the limited-time offer.
A is for ‘Alarming’. Scammers create a sense of fear or dread to prod potential victims into visiting phishing domains and sharing sensitive information.
M stands for ‘Malicious’. Text scams or emails are often accompanied by a link that leads to a phishing website. Smart does not send messages with links.
Other than Smart’s HULISCAM portal, customers may also report cyber threats and fraudulent activities to Smart’s verified and official social media pages – Smart Communications on Facebook and @SmartCares on X — or call hotline *888.
Black Shrew Esports Crowned Winners of the 2024 Honor of Kings Championship, Jakarta
JAKARTA, INDONESIA, October 2024 –- Black Shrew Esports (BSE) are the winners of the 2024 Honor of Kings Championship, Jakarta, after defeating Dominator Esports (DMT) in the grand finals at Lippo Mall Kemang. As champions, BSE claimed USD 300,000 of the USD 1M prize pool and earned the right to be called the best Honor of Kings team in the world. The grand final between BSE and DMT was the culmination of an intense series of matches over the past month that saw the world’s 16 best Honor of Kings teams go head-to-head for a chance to be crowned the world champion of the 2024 Honor of Kings Invitational Series.
The 2024 Honor of Kings Championship has given Honor of Kings fans high-stakes action and world-class tactical battles. The Group Stage saw Dominator Esports, Nova Esports, Team Secret and Fearless Esports top the upper bracket. However, nothing is certain in Honor of Kings and the knockout stage saw BSE defeated DMT with 3:1 in the upper bracket, and DMT came back and defeated Team Secret with 3:2 in the lower bracket. The final was again between BSE and DMT, which respectively represent the best teams from Malaysia and Indonesia. In the end, BSE came out on top, and Musanking from BSE was named MVP following his outstanding performance.
The 2024 Honor of Kings Championship is the final event this year in what has been a truly remarkable year for Honor of Kings esports. This season has been packed with thrilling tournaments, and unforgettable moments and showed that Honor of Kings is committed to growing Honor of Kings esports around the globe following its announcement of the Honor of Kings Invitational Series earlier this year.
A Year in Review: The Honor of Kings Invitational Series
The Honor of Kings Invitational Series kicked off this year with the Invitational Season 1 in Istanbul, Türkiye, where Vivo Keyd Stars claimed victory. The excitement continued in June with Invitational Season 2 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where LGD Malaysia triumphed. Then, in August, the inaugural Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, set a new standard for global competition, with the KPL Dream Team taking first place. These events culminated with the Honor of Kings Championship, Jakarta where Black Shrew Esports took home the grand prize and title of the annual Champion of Honor of Kings global esports in 2024.
With such a successful year behind us, the anticipation for what's next in Honor of Kings Esports is higher than ever. Fans can expect even more thrilling action in 2025, as the competition continues to evolve and grow on a global scale.
Looking Ahead: Honor of Kings Esports in 2025
Following the 2024 Honor of Kings Championship final, James Yang, Senior Director of Global Esports Center at Level Infinite, Tencent Games, and John Zhang, Director of Honor of Kings Southeast Asia Publishing and Esports at Level Infinite, Tencent Games, provided a peek into what’s next for Honor of Kings esports, including the reveal of the journey of 2025 Honor of Kings Invitational Series and the new Honor of Kings Major East and West. Those details include:
Invitational Season 3: Kicking off in spring 2025, this tournament will feature top teams from around the world competing for ultimate glory.
Invitational Midseason: Returning to Riyadh in the summer of 2025, this global event will bring star players together for thrilling matchups and unforgettable action.
2025 Honor of Kings Championship: More details on dates and location to come, but expect another high-stakes championship later in the year.
HOK Major EAST and HOK Major WEST: A brand-new pro-league system will debut, expanding competitive opportunities for teams and players worldwide.
2025 promises to be a groundbreaking year for Honor of Kings Esports, with plenty of action and innovation ahead!
Honor of Kings Tournament Licence
In 2025, Honor of Kings will also introduce an all-new Honor of Kings Tournament License application website, which will empower organizers to bring the community together and host their own tournaments. Depending on the scale and nature of the event, different levels of official support will be provided to help these competitions thrive globally.
To apply for an Honor of Kings Tournament License, simply submit the required information on the official esports website for approval: https://hokesports.com/license.
Honor of Kings featuring in Prime Video’s Secret Level
On October 19, Prime Video revealed the cast and key art for its highly anticipated adult-animated anthology series Secret Level during New York Comic-Con. Produced by Amazon MGM Studios and Blur Studio, Secret Level features original stories set in some of the world’s most beloved video game universes and boasts a legendary cast.
Honor of Kings is thrilled to announce that it will be featured as one of the 15 stories in the series. The Honor of Kings episode will center around Yixing, a genius Weiqi master, and will premiere on Prime Video.
Watch the trailer for the Secret Level episode featuring Honor of Kings here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
In conjunction with the series release, Yixing, the main character of the episode, will join Honor of Kings as a new hero this December. A variety of special events and rewards will also be available, so be sure to stay tuned!
Official Gaming Phone: realme 13+5G
The Official Gaming Phone for the 2024 Honor of Kings Championship, realme 13+ 5G, offers 120 FPS performance at max, ensuring smooth gameplay. Teams will experience extraordinary gaming performance, featuring advanced VC Cooling Technology for greater heat dissipation and 80W SuperVOOC fast charging.
New Hero: Garuda Khageswara
Since its global launch, Honor of Kings has remained committed to providing localized content that resonates with players worldwide, ensuring the best MOBA experience for all. Recently, the Indonesian community expressed a strong desire to see the legendary Garuda introduced into the game. In response, Honor of Kings launched a co-creation event, inviting players to share their vision for Garuda’s design. The event received an overwhelming number of submissions, and thanks to the dedication of the community, Garuda Khageswara will be introduced as a new hero in early 2025. More co-creation events are coming soon around Garuda, so stay tuned.
Instagram:@hok_global_esports
Facebook: @hokglobalesports
Twitter: @HoKEsports
YouTube: @hokglobalesports2022
Twitch: @hok_global_esports
TikTok and Honor of Kings in-game TV
TEDx Brings TEDxUPV Women Event at the Theatre at Solaire, Features 26 Global Leaders in Lifestyle, Leadership, and Legacy
The event, with Solaire Resort Entertainment City as the main sponsor and co-presenter, marks the first TEDx conference in the region with a dedicated focus on technology and its impact across various sectors.
The theme "Anchored in Tech" aims to spotlight the importance of forward-thinking leadership and the role of technology in shaping society’s future through thought-provoking talks and discussions.
TEDxUPV Women will bring together 26 prominent speakers from diverse industries, each poised to share insights on resilience, innovation, and growth in an era of rapid technological advancement. The event is structured around three core themes—Lifestyle, Leadership, and Legacy—each led by notable industry leaders, influencers, and innovators.
Headlining speakers include:
- Jade Bonacolta, Head of North America Marketing at Google and LinkedIn influencer with over 370,000 followers, is known for her platform The Quiet Rich
- Nikki Huang, writer, and content creator known for her unique insights into media and society
- Lotis Ramin, Country Manager at AstraZeneca, with extensive experience in healthcare and pharmaceutical leadership
- Belle Rodolfo, beauty editor, and digital content creator in the fashion and lifestyle industries.
- Dr. Fabi Carino, an award-winning HR professional celebrated for her contributions to organizational development
- Anda Nicolas, CMO of Rising Tigers to talk about the rising leaders in the region
In the Lifestyle track, attendees will hear from leaders like Andrea del Rosario, co-founder of Philippines' Top 30 Leaders on LinkedIn, and Sydney Lai, head of developer advocacy at Gaia and CTO at EVM Capital. This segment will explore the intersection of personal growth and technological progress, focusing on how tech influences modern lifestyles.
The Leadership segment will feature Mara Schulze, co-founder and managing director of PINO Studio, Susan Blanchet, CEO and founder of Origen Air, and Chezka Gonzales, founding vice president of the Blockchain Council of the Philippines. These speakers will address the challenges and opportunities of leading in a digital age.
In Legacy, speakers such as Nandini Singh, a political activist, and Rana Gujral, CEO of Behavioral Signals, will discuss the lasting impact of technological and social leadership on future generations.
TEDxUPV Women offers an unparalleled opportunity for attendees to engage with trailblazers from across the globe, gaining actionable insights and bold ideas designed to inspire change. Supporting the TEDxUPV Women are Rising Tigers, VP Events, What Matters Coworking + Playlab, The Astbury, and Ifacilitate Thrive.
Tickets are now available for reservations, with early-bird discounts available at lu.ma/v7pnv8bf.
Learn more about the event at www.manilatedx.com, or contact the organizers for partnership inquiries at hello@manilatedx.com or franchezka.22c@gmail.com.
Alsons Dev Expands with Nurtura, Offering Quality Homes for Young Families
Recognizing the importance of creating homes catering to evolving living standards and value for money, Nurtura Land and Home offers thoughtfully designed and expertly constructed homes that prioritize quality, adaptive design, and cost-effectiveness.
"Drawing from decades of experience in developing thriving communities in Davao City, Alsons Dev takes pride in creating spaces where families with diverse aspirations and lifestyles can thrive. Our Nurtura brand embodies this promise with family-centric designs that ensure safety, comfort, and great value, providing the perfect environment for families to grow and flourish," said Alsons Dev President and CEO Miguel Dominguez.
Narra Park Residences: Where efficient planning meets quality living
Narra Park Residences stands tall as a testament to Alsons Dev's vision of creating harmonious living spaces at an accessible price point.
Its counterpart, Narra Park Residences Avia, which is located within SOCCSKSARGEN's very first mixed-use development, Avia Estate in Alabel, Sarangani, also carries the signature qualities of Alsons Dev's residential communities under its Nurtura brand.
The variety of housing units for both Nurtura projects—from bungalows to two-story homes—cater to diverse preferences and family needs. These homes feature compact yet space-efficient layouts to maximize functionality and ensure every square foot is usable. Also, the generous lot sizes allow for a garage and garden, ideal for growing families.
"It all begins with strategic space planning," says Tricia A. Dizon, a Makati-based interior decorator with whom Alsons Dev frequently collaborates. "Alsons Dev's in-house planners put a lot of thought into the future homeowners' needs and preferences. We work together to conceptualize and determine the purpose of each space and how prospective buyers intend to use it in everyday living. This becomes our guiding star in creating functional and efficient homes tailored for future homeowners."
Alsons Dev's commitment to efficient planning also extends to construction quality. Every project undergoes rigorous inspections, ensuring each home meets the highest safety standards.
"Alsons Dev's commitment to excellence is evident from concept to execution," said Greric Santos, proprietor of Greco Construction who worked on the Narra Park Residence projects in Davao and Sarangani. "I can vouch for their high standards for quality because I see how their Construction Management team enforces them rigorously on contractors like myself.”
Designed for a balanced lifestyle
Beyond developing houses, Narra Park Residences in Davao and Avia Estate also offer a community-centric environment. Both developments feature expansive green spaces and large parks that encourage social interaction. Family-friendly amenities like pools and multi-purpose courts not only promote an active lifestyle within the neighborhood but also foster a sense of belonging and connection.
The resident's safety and peace of mind are given top priority, as seen in the 24/7 guarded entrance, perimeter walls, and dual gates that double as access points to essential establishments. In the case of Narra Park Residences Avia, a public safety and security complex that integrates police, fire, and emergency response stations is being built close to the residential area, ensuring a secure and peaceful living environment.
Arch. Patrick Tan, Principal Architect of PCTAN Architects and Associates and longtime collaborator of Alsons Dev attests, "We are proud to partner with Alsons Dev in creating vibrant communities. Our collaboration has led to the design of amenities that foster social connections, enrich residents' lives, and serve the larger community, like the Alabel Public Safety and Security Complex in Avia Estate. Alsons Dev's commitment to thoughtful development sets a high standard for the industry."
Nurturing generations with lasting homes
Through people-centric developments and thoughtfully designed communities like Narra Park Residences, Alsons Dev cements its leadership in Mindanao real estate, offering exceptional living experiences to the mid-cost market through Nurtura Land & Home.
Know more about Alsons Dev's mid-cost housing projects by visiting the Nurtura Land & Home website at https://nurtura.ph/ and start your journey towards homeownership.
Monday, October 28, 2024
PLDT, Smart Boost Davao Network With New Sites, Additional LTE Capacity
"This reinforces our commitment to deliver the best possible experience to our customers in Davao City and across the country, connecting families, enabling businesses of all sizes, and powering the country's overall digitalization thrust," said Roderick S. Santiago, FVP and Deputy Network Head at PLDT and Smart.
This year, new sites and additional LTE capacity have been rolled out in Davao City and across Mindanao, including in the cities of General Santos, Butuan, Tagum, Koronadal, and Digos, and in Maramag in Bukidnon and Polomolok in South Cotabato.
Among the beneficiaries of Davao City's beefed-up network are micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) and farmers in Davao’s cacao industry.
Mirasol Magalasin, who leads an organization for people with disabilities "Samahan ng may mga iba’t ibang Kakayahan sa Dabaw", shared that they had a challenging time reaching customers, particularly during the pandemic. "As our business recovers, we credit technology for enabling us to market online through social media, especially given our limitations in mobility,” she said.
Meanwhile, for Jhomar Pablo, who works for a Mindanao-based cacao agribusiness company, connectivity and technology are also a boon for cacao farmers like him. “The introduction of technology-aided farming opens up more opportunities for farmers, as well as promotes sustainable agriculture,” he said.
Magalasin and Pablo joined the recent runs of PLDT and Smart’s eBiznovation and Digital Farmers Program (DFP) in Davao City, respectively. The eBiznovation run was a collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), DTI Davao City, and PLDT Enterprise, while DFP was implemented with the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) and Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA).
As e-commerce platforms like TikTok Shop and fintech apps like Maya become essential among Filipino entrepreneurs striving to access wider markets and digitally transform their businesses, eBizNovation, and DFP are helping empower Filipino MSMEs and farmers to increase their earnings and productivity with the help of connectivity and technology.
The PLDT Group’s continued investments in its network are aligned with the Group’s commitment to narrow the digital divide and provide connectivity to all, reinforcing the Group’s support for the Government's digitalization mission, by expanding reliable internet access nationwide, including to Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas.