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 Xiaomi today announced Redmi 12, its latest entry-level smartphone packed with top-quality features designed for everyone seeking maximum value, excellent entertainment experience, and a buttery smooth operating system for a starting price of PHP 6,999. 

Redmi 12 brings to the market a new seamless experience. Measuring only 8.17mm¹ thick, featuring a premium glass back and an all-new infinite camera design, this smartphone has a sleek look yet also provides users with a comfortable handgrip. With its IP53 rating,² Redmi 12 is built to handle everyday dust and splashes. To further enhance convenient usage, it's equipped with an 18W Type-C fast charging port³ and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Available in three different colors - Midnight Black, Sky Blue, and Polar Silver - the Redmi 12 is both functional and appealing.

Redmi 12 boasts an incredible 6.79” FHD+ DotDisplay screen with 90Hz Adaptive Sync. This display, with a resolution of 2460x1080, is also the largest so far in this Redmi series, delivering an upgraded viewing experience for reading, watching videos, gaming, and more. The phone is SGS Low Blue Light certified, and its Reading mode 3.0 enables users to enjoy content for longer without putting extra strain on the eye. ⁴

Redmi 12’s triple camera system features a 50MP main camera that captures details with clarity and precision. Completing this powerful trio is an 8MP ultra-wide camera and a 2MP macro camera. Moreover, Redmi 12 offers seven popular filmCamera filters to elevate your photography experience with pixel-level calculations and real-time previews.

Backed by the powerful MediaTek Helio G88 processor, Redmi 12 has a CPU that clocks up to 2.0GHz with memory extension, providing more opportunities for users to explore. An impressive 1TB expandable storage is also included in the package to support you through your busiest day, from photo taking to ensuring all your favorite tunes are always at your fingertips. The 5,000mAh⁵ battery removes all worries about power fading away, offering 23 days of standby time, 133 hours of music playback, 26 hours of online reading, or 16 hours of watching videos.⁶ Redmi 12 comes with a user-friendly side-mounted fingerprint sensor for fast and easy access. The smartphone can also be used as an IR remote to control devices at home. Further elevating the entertainment experience, Redmi 12 is equipped with a powerful loudspeaker for a captivating and dynamic auditory journey. 

Level Up Your Style with Redmi 12

Ready to experience the future of smartphone innovation? The Redmi 12 is your ultimate mobile companion, offering extraordinary features to redefine your style. With expanded storage, a superior camera system, and unbeatable value, the Redmi 12 is set to transform your mobile experience – all without breaking the bank.

There will be two variants of the Redmi 12: an online-exclusive model that sports 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, and a higher-end model that packs 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Both have expandable RAM up to 16GB for more power and speed.

Here's the best part – for a limited time, you can snag the Redmi 12 8+128GB model for a low early bird price of only Php 6,999, down from its original price of Php 7,999. This amazing deal is exclusively available online via Xiaomi's official global store on Lazada from September 20th to 29th. The sale begins at 7:00 p.m. (Manila time) on September 20, immediately after the launch livestream. 

Looking for more storage and power? Get the Redmi 12 8+256GB for Php 8,999 online at Shopee and  Lazada starting September 20 at 7:00 p.m. You can also opt for a convenient installment plan at 0% interest rate for a 6-month term via Home Credit, available from September 29 onwards.

The same bigger storage variant version will be available at authorized Xiaomi stores nationwide and at Xiaomi Philippines’ TikTok Shop starting September 30. Level Up Your Style with the Redmi 12 today!

For more details, you may refer to the one pager here. Product images available here. 

 Growing wealth through investment has recently been made easier and simpler with the emergence of online trading platforms. Unfortunately, this has also resulted in the rise of unscrupulous individuals exploiting online investors. 

To safeguard Filipinos from falling into the hands of these fraudsters, the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP-ACG) and the Philippines' leading mobile wallet GCash share a few guidelines on how to know if an online investment offer is a scam.

“As a financially inclusive investment platform, GCash continues to give Filipinos access to online investment opportunities, but at the same time, we are also working hard to educate and give our users knowledge on how to avoid scams,” said AJ Sibal, GCash Fraud Management Head.

The most basic description of such a scam is a high return on investment in just a short span of time.

“Beware of these types of promises as they are too good to be true. For example, they will promise 50% profit in just two weeks. Worse, they seem to be in a hurry for you to send the seed investment money immediately,” warned PNP-ACG spokesperson P/Capt. Michelle Sabino.

Another red flag is when the offer is very secretive of their company information. As one of the key players in the investment landscape via in-app features such as GFunds and GStocks PH, GCash strongly advises investors to check the List of Public Companies by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) first to make sure investment offers are legitimate. GCash reiterates its warning to users to never disclose their MPIN or OTP and to avoid clicking on unknown links from websites, emails, or messaging apps. For assistance, users can contact the PNP-ACG through their hotlines at (02) 8414-1560 or 0998-598-8116, or via email at acg@pnp.gov.ph. To report scams and fraudulent activities, users can also visit the official GCash Help Center at help.gcash.com or message Gigi on the website and type “I want to report a scam.”

Customers can also reach out to the official GCash hotline at 2882 for inquiries and other concerns.

For more information, visit www.gcash.com.ph.

 Acer unveiled today the Acer Nitro V 15 gaming laptop, combining 13th Gen Intel ® Core ™ processors [ 1 ] , NVIDIA ® GeForce RTX ™ 40 Series GPUs [1] , up to 32 GB of DDR5 RAM, and support for up to 2 TB PCIe M.2 SSDs [2] for smooth, worry-free gaming. Digital worlds seamlessly unfold when playing on the Acer Nitro V 15’s vibrant Full HD display with a lightning-fast refresh rate of up to 165 Hz and paired with DTS ® X: Ultra’s pinpoint sound accuracy. Thanks to the 15-inch gaming laptop’s dual fan and exhaust system, the battle-ready internals are kept cool and let players dive deep into any gaming dimension without breaking a sweat. 

Optimal Performance for Adrenaline-charged Gaming

The Acer Nitro V 15 is shipped with up to 13th Gen Intel ® Core ™ i7 processors [1] , designed with the latest hybrid architecture to deliver premium gaming, creating, video editing, and multi- tasking, even when on the go. Equipped with up to NVIDIA ® GeForce RTX ™ 4050 Laptop GPUs [1] , gamers are treated to lifelike virtual scenes as the device’s GPU delivers power-efficient and AI-powered rendering capabilities with DLSS 3 and ray tracing.

The new Windows 11-based Acer Nitro V laptop gets a boost with the availability of up to 32 GB of DRR5 memory and support for up to 2 TB of M.2 PCIe solid-state storage [2] , providing fast boot time and plenty of space for apps, files, and games. To ensure the Acer Nitro V 15 is optimized throughout long gaming sessions, the device houses a tandem of fans rotating in sync and a dual- intake cooling system that draws in air from the keyboard and bottom cover, then expels heat through various vents strategically located on its sides and rear.

Game More, Do More with No Limits

Gamers’ viewing senses are indulged on its 15.6-inch (16:9) FHD IPS screen with up to 165 Hz refresh rate, 3 ms overdrive response time, and 82% screen-to-body ratio. Users can also make the most of their gaming experiences with DTS:X Ultra’s immersive audio technology that features enhanced sound placement, acoustics, and fine-tuned sound modes to suit various game genres. To maximize the features when communicating outside the gaming realm, the Nitro V 15 is embedded with Acer’s AI-backed solutions including Acer Purified View and Acer

Purified Voice ™ technology for optimized video calls.

Users stay in control with the NitroSense ™ utility app, allowing customization of game settings, and hardware performance conveniently at their fingertips. Connectivity-wise, players are given the edge with Wi-Fi 6 support and a full range of peripherals including an all-around Thunderbolt ™ 4 port for charging, data transfer, and video display. The Acer Nitro V 15 also comes with one month of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, providing access to hundreds of popular game titles to choose from.

Pricing and Availability

Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To learn more about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office via www.acer.com.

 “Na-’hack’ ako!” – This has become a common catchphrase for the increasing number of people finding unauthorized transactions on their e-wallets and bank accounts. This comes as no surprise because according to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center, cybercrimes increased by 152% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year, and the popularity of e-wallets have made it an easy target for criminals. However, the term ‘hacking’ is often confused with “phishing”, another notoriously common type of cybercrime activity. While both end in malicious individuals gaining control over a user’s account, it’s critical for users to know the difference to better protect themselves. 

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a kind of cyber attack wherein cybercriminals pretend to be a legitimate source to trick users into giving personal information to gain access to accounts and steal the funds. For e-wallets, fraudsters may call or send a message via email, SMS or social media platforms pretending to be an employee or a company representative to get the victim’s Mobile Personal Identification Number (MPIN) and One-Time Password (OTP) or authentication code.

What is Hacking?

Hacking refers to an unauthorized attempt by a criminal to access sensitive information on a device or network. This is done by taking over a system through force or sophisticated methods.

What’s the difference?

Both phishing and hacking involve unauthorized ways of gaining sensitive information, but they are being done differently. In hacking, cybercriminals take advantage of vulnerabilities of devices and networks to gain access to sensitive information. It is therefore important for users to only use apps that are credible, reliable, and have strong security measures in place to prevent criminals from hacking the system.

On the other hand, phishing scams, derived from the word fishing, are designed to ‘bait’ victims so they will be tricked into giving sensitive information. This becomes highly dependent on the users because fraudsters rely on them to unknowingly give the information needed to access their accounts through fake websites, fake sign-up forms, or fake portals.

As cybercriminals become more creative, some phishing attempts are now designed to appear as a hacking attack. Cybercriminals ‘phish’ information from thousands of users over a certain period, but don’t immediately use these data to steal funds. All this phished information is then used to steal funds at the same time. With the large number of victims noticing that their funds have been stolen simultaneously, it would look like a massive hacking attack, especially if the victims no longer recall sharing their personal information.

The good news is that phishing scams can be prevented if you know how to spot them. Here are safety practices you can observe to protect your e-wallet account from the phishing attacks:

1. Double up on security measures

Make use of additional safety measures found in your e-wallet app. Aside from requiring you to enter your MPIN, e-wallet apps also send the OTP as an additional security measure to verify your identity. GCash also has a DoubleSafe Face ID, which prompts users for a selfie scan every time they login using a new device, to make sure that it is the Verified Account Owner who has access to the account.

2. Think and rethink before you act

Review the sender and the content of a suspicious message even before responding or clicking on the link. If you are being offered rewards or prizes, backtrack if you have indeed joined a program or raffle and verify with the company through another channel.

Remember that GCash will never send links via SMS, email and messaging apps and all legitimate rewards and promos will only be communicated through the official GCash app, so never click on links claiming to be from GCash.

3. Double-check the message that comes with the OTP

Legitimate e-wallet transactions may ask you to enter your OTP as an added security feature. If you receive an OTP through text message, make it a habit to read the entire message and make sure that it matches the request you made. If you did not make the request or if it is different from what you want to do, do not enter your OTP on any site or send it to anyone, to make sure you are not unknowingly linking your account to another device.

4. Be wary of limited time offers and urgent requests

Advisories or offers that instill a sense of urgency is almost always a sign of phishing scams. Legitimate companies will give you enough time to make a decision and will not ask you to provide your MPIN or OTP to resolve a concern, verify your identity or claim a reward. If you are being told that your GCash account is on hold, confirm this through the official GCash app. GCash will never ask you to verify your account through a phone call or through messaging applications.

5. Never share your OTP and MPIN

Never provide your personal information if you did not initiate a request. As a rule, don’t provide sensitive information, such as your OTP and MPIN, even to your family, friends and other people claiming to be representatives of banks, companies, service providers and government agencies. Remember that GCash will never ask these details from you.

If you encounter phishing scams and fraudulent activities targeting your GCash account, you may report by visiting the official GCash Help Center at help.gcash.com/hc/en-us or messaging Gigi on the website and typing, “I want to report a scam.”

 The Philippines is one of the world’s largest exporters of coconut productsm. This industry, however, faces multiple challenges such as low productivity due to a host of social, financial and logistical factors. To further support and promote the country’s coconut industry, leading fintech superapp GCash, through its in-app sustainability feature GForest, in partnership with HOPE and Century Pacific Food, Inc. (CPFI), has planted one million coconut trees in Mindanao alone, co uplifting the lives of over 7,600 smallholder farmers, of whom 32% are women.

GCash and its partners recently attended the World Coconut Congress, which was held at the World Trade Center in Pasay City, where GForest sustainability head CJ Alegrem, along with Nanette Medved-Po, founder and chairwoman of HOPE, and Noel Tempongko, Vice President and General Manager of Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures, Inc. (CPAVI), CPFI's OEM-Coconut business, proudly shared the positive impact of their partnership.

“The success of the GForest program in Mindanao is a testament to our ‘Tech for Good’ vision. With the help of our green heroes, the one million coconut trees planted in the region brings us closer to our goal of contributing to carbon sequestration, while at the same time, providing sustainable livelihoods for local farmers,” shared Alegre. 

This initiative not only aims to address the challenges surrounding the direct supply chains for coconut oil, but also the cultivation areas as a whole as the project supports local communities, helping them achieve financial growth and empowerment.

“We’re incredibly proud of what GCash, HOPE, and Century Pacific Food, Inc. have achieved together. The work doesn’t stop there. We are committed to continuing our work towards a healthier planet while providing livelihood to smallholder farmers who need it the most,” said Medved-Po.

The partnership was initially launched in August 2021 through GForest, an environmental protection feature on the GCash app that allows users to take an active role in the country’s reforestation efforts. Through the platform, GCash users earn green energy points, which can be used to plant virtual trees. In turn, GCash, together with its partners across the Philippines, plant an actual tree for every virtual tree in the app.

Take part in celebrating the impactful potential of the coconut tree by joining GForest. To activate, tap GForest in the GCash app, read the user agreement, and click ‘I want to help! Then allow access to your contacts and health app. Once accomplished, you can now start collecting energy points.

Don’t have GCash yet? Download the app for free on Google Play for Android, Apple Store for iPhone and iPad users, or Huawei Gallery. To know more, visit GCash at https://www.gcash.com.

 Long before smart cities were envisioned to be a possibility in the country, one of the Philippines’ leading real estate developers has started laying down the foundation of a smart and sustainable city in the early 1990s, designing a groundbreaking sustainable township in a sprawling 244-hectare prime property in Alabang, Muntinlupa City.

This pioneering development is Filinvest City – a vision that was brought to life, thanks to the forward-looking ethos of Filinvest Alabang Inc. (FAI).

As the first and only green-certified central business district in the country, Filinvest City is awarded with a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold in Neighborhood Development Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, as well as a BERDE-Certification with a 3-star rating under the Philippine Green Building Council,

Filinvest City is truly ahead of its time, seamlessly integrating life’s conveniences around nature.

Fully integrated and self-contained, the development is divided into districts with a balanced mix of developments such as residences, leisure hubs, top educational institutions, and medical and wellness facilities, all within close proximity for easy walkability and safety.

“We believe that these features of Filinvest City are the main reasons its land value continues to appreciate over time. The city continues to evolve and modernize to meet the ever-changing needs of people,” stated Don Ubaldo, FAI First Vice President for Townships.

Yet despite all the developments that have been achieved over the past 30 years, the improvements and innovations are not about to slow down as the township looks forward to the next three decades with even better innovations that will further enhance the quality of life of its people and the environment.

They’re already taking significant steps, beginning with the city’s security, connectivity and accessibility. For motorists, the city offers its ecological parking facility, featuring two slots of e-vehicle charging stations for public use. To involve and inspire the community to recycle, the parking area of this charging station features sustainable pavers which use far less equipment in production, Filinvest City has partnered with Green Antz to upcycle residents' plastics into building materials that would be used for purposeful display at Filinvest City’s Central Park.

Further strengthening its commitment to sustainability, Filinvest City has installed the District Cooling System in 2017, the largest cooling facility in the Philippines that enables 16 of the city’s buildings to outsource chilled water needed to cool their interiors at Northgate Cyberzone. Filinvest City has also upgraded its existing sewage treatment plant and introduced a new water treatment plant, enabling it to safely recycle and reuse water for landscaping. While in the city’s commercial developments like Festival Mall, solar panels have been operating since January 2022, a 2.8 MWp solar rooftop solutionat Filinvest Land Inc.’s Festival Mall in Alabang. The intelligent system will supply about 28 percent of the mall’s peak demand and save close to 41,000 tons of CO2, an equivalent to removing approximately 9,000 cars off the roads of Metro Manila. 

And since security is a key pillar of communities like Filinvest City, for better monitoring, management and recording of city activities, it has installed CCTVs in strategic locations and common areas of the city.

On top of these, as part of the city’s rapid move as a smart city is the infrastructure for connectivity to grant public access to free WIFI, allowing them to utilize the city’s service and operating systems for free. This includes the FC App, the city’s app that commuters will be able to use to get access to the Get Pass online feature which has a GPS integration to track the PWD-friendly Global Electric Transport (GET) Comet E-Vehicle – a cashless and environment-friendly commuter transport system to help Filinvest

Cityzens to get around the city.

For Filinvest City’s parks, many improvements are also set to happen to provide ease and better wellness for people and nature. Solar powered streetlights will soon cover the walkways of Filinvest City Central Park. Smart benches will also be provided where people can use wireless phone chargers.

And to celebrate Filinvest City’s meaningful first 30 years and to continue its smart, sustainable initiatives where people can get more actively involved, it has organized the “Run for the Future: Building a ECOmmunity Together”, a fun run perfect for family, friends and even pets this August 26. Participants were able to enjoy great food and performances from Spongecola, The Ridleys, and DJ Wicked Adobo. Proceeds of the event were donated to Pedro E. Diaz High School, in partnership with the Environmental Sanitation Center, Muntinlupa. 

“Everything we do is intentional - from the infrastructure to the amenities and creative activations around the city. They are all in place to support our move towards becoming the first smart city in the country where people and the environment can benefit from each other,” concluded Ubaldo.

To know more about Filinvest City, visit its website at https://filinvestcity.com/ and Facebook account at https://www.facebook.com/FilinvestCityOFFICIAL/.

 Washing clothes can seem like a never-ending task, whether you’re doing it for one person or an entire family. It takes up most of your time that you tend to lose some quality time with your loved ones and do your other important tasks. TCL, the leading consumer electronics brand and the world's top two TV brand, changes that notion with their newest TCL P7 Series Direct Drive+

Topload Washing Machine.

Experience advanced washing performance that exceeds your expectations with the newly launched game-changing appliance, the TCL P7 Series DirectDrive+ Topload Washing Machine. This model is equipped with top-performing functions typically found in more expensive models, all at an affordable price

Elevate your laundry routine to a whole new efficiency level. Get to know the top 7 reasons why you should switch to TCL P7 Series Direct Drive+ Topload Washing Machine now.

Stay Still Quietly

This washing machine is made with a direct drive motor that works without a belt and the powerful motor is straightly attached to the drum. This more efficient and stable structure make it vastly to reduce noise and vibration. Meanwhile it is able to increase durability while reducing energy and water consumption. 

Waterfall Wash

If you have more lace and delicate fabrics, the TCL P7 Series Washing Machine helps save the day. Clothes are rinsed less abrasively, detergent dissolved more efficiently to avoid high spin and tangling of clothes.

Softly-close Lid

A fully integrated glass lid allows clear viewing of clothes during a cycle and allows items to be added easily. A slow descending mechanism prevents the lid from slamming or catching fingers.

Less Friction More Care

A hexagonal capillary design has evolved in order to care for clothes during the cycle. The rounded inner convex surface gives the garment better protection by reducing friction damage to them. Besides, the tiny 2.3mm drying holes could protect clothes from being stretched.

Clean drum first before washing

Drum Clean rapidly flushes the inner cylinder with hot water – preserving hygiene and ensuring your machine is pristine the next time you want to wash.

Load and unload easily

Big capacity and wide opening make it available for more and larger loads, it’s also easy to load and unload the drum.

Wash evenly and reduce tangle

The Even Wash turns the flow of water from the center to the sides, dispersing the "tornado" caused by inertia, so as to separate clothes and minimize entangling

The TCL P7 Series DirectDrive+ Topload Washing Machine is available at all authorized TCL dealers nationwide. For more information about the TCL P7 Series, go to  https://www.tcl.com/ph/en.