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Alibaba unveils ‘Virtual Influencer’ for 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games

February 10, 2022 8:48 p.m.

 ALIBABA Group, a Worldwide TOP Partner of the International Olympic Committee, has unveiled its brand-new virtual influencer for the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 (“Games”). Based on cloud technology, Dong Dong, the advanced digital persona created by Alibaba to engage with fans, brings the possibilities of cloud-based innovation closer to consumers. 

Developed by Alibaba DAMO Academy, Alibaba Group’s global research initiative, Dong Dong was created to be a passionate, outspoken Beijing-born 22-year-old woman, who loves winter sports.

To better connect with Olympic fans, especially the younger, tech-savvy generation, Dong Dong is known for her authentic human-like features, sparkling personality, as well as her specialty to interact with audiences in an engaging manner.

Among her many talents, Dong Dong is not only going to promote Olympic merchandise which can be bought in the official Olympic shop in China on Tmall during her dedicated livestreaming shows, but she can also respond to questions in a lively, natural human voice with different emotions, along with various body gestures from giving a thumbs-up to posting heart-shape gesture and wiping away tears of disappointment.

In addition, she can perform live talk shows to introduce Olympic fun facts to the audience, and show-off her enthusiastic, upbeat dance moves to accompany the Olympic theme songs to cheer for the Olympians. All these engaging interactions are powered by cloud-based digital technologies.

“Our ambition is to use cloud technology to give the Olympic Winter Games a digital uplift and to deliver Olympic Winter Games experiences relating to cloud and e-commerce platform services to fans in a creative way. That’s why we developed Dong Dong, with the hope that the cloud-based virtual influencer can create better engagement with the younger, digital natives in an exciting and natural way,” said Xiaolong Li, Leader of Alibaba Virtual Human & Intelligent Customer Service.

To realize Dong Dong’s dynamic personality, human-like glamour and natural voice, Alibaba built a special cloud-based AI model, which uses Text to Speech to synthesize human voices and leverages 3D-driven technology to create various realistic facial expressions and natural body movements.

Powered by cloud computing and AI technologies, Dong Dong can look, speak and act like a young woman with lively personality.

Meanwhile, Alibaba’s multimodal algorithms, which leverage Natural Language Processing (NLP), Emotional Speech Synthesis and computer vision on the cloud, have been used to make Dong Dong ‘smart’ enough to take part in human-like dialogues naturally, with her scripts entirely generated by cloud technologies.   

“In the future, we will push technology boundaries even further to create an enthralling mixed reality. Digital personas or virtual influencers will find new ways to engage with their audience through immersive experiences or a metaverse-style setting, whether during large-scale, global sports events like the Olympic Games, virtual conferences or 3D exhibition tours. In addition, they can also be very helpful with their practical capability as diligent, smart and efficient assistants to the reporters,” Li added. 

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Rep. Atayde draws Iglesia Ni Cristo endorsement

2:33 p.m. May 9, 2025

Quezon City First District Rep. Juan Carlos “Arjo” Atayde has received the endorsement of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) for a second consecutive term, joining the ranks of several local candidates who have secured the influential church’s support ahead of the 2025 elections. 

Atayde also expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Iglesia Ni Cristo.

“Lubos po ang aking pasasalamat muli sa tiwalang ipinagkaloob ng mga Kapatid sa Iglesia Ni Cristo, lalo na kay Ka Eduardo V. Manalo,” said Atayde.
“Ang inyong suporta ay inspirasyon namin upang ipagpatuloy ang tapat at maagap na serbisyo para sa bayan. Sama-sama tayong kikilos, aksyon agad!”

Atayde, who won his first term in 2022, is seeking a second term on the back of both his legislative record and the successful implementation of district-level programs that have focused on employment, health care, education, and food security.

The legislator reiterated his commitment to “sustain his ongoing projects, fulfill his legislative duties, and continue delivering honest public service” in Quezon City’s first district.

Among his major legislative accomplishments are authorship or co-authorship of key national laws such as the Eddie Garcia Law, the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act, the Internet Transactions Act, the Regional Specialty Centers Act, the SIM Registration Act, the Ease of Paying Taxes Act, and the New Government Procurement Act.

In his first term, Atayde also spearheaded local initiatives that provided direct aid to thousands of residents. These included emergency employment for 11,498 workers under TUPAD, job opportunities abroad for 1,500 applicants through the Taiwan Job Fair, livelihood training for 1,100 residents via TESDA, and capital support for 245 small entrepreneurs through the Sustainable Livelihood Program.

The lawmaker also launched and maintained key welfare programs: free dialysis treatment for 60 patients daily at the district’s new facility, medical assistance for 75,466 individuals, CHED aid for 4,598 students, scholarship support for 1,410 others under Tulong Dunong and SMART, rice aid for 132,567 families, over 65,000 meals served through Kusina on Wheels, and seasonal gift-giving that reached 64,000 families.

In times of crisis, Atayde’s office also responded to the needs of 7,789 families affected by fire, extended burial assistance to 3,501 families, and provided financial help to 40,684 individuals for various needs.

Atayde is running under Team Aksyon Agad alongside Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte and six councilors in the district—all of whom also received the coveted INC endorsement.

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Converge continues to draw young talents, seeks out electronics engineers 

11:20 p.m. May 7, 2025

Coming off a student-led hackathon in Ateneo de Manila University wherein it shared its expertise as a tech company to young software developers, Converge once again collaborated with bright young minds as it engaged with the University of the Philippines student chapter of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of the Philippines (IECEP). 

Invited by the student body of the UP-IECEP, Converge was among the leading sponsors of the ‘Get Licensed: Geared Up for the Future’ event held at the UP School of Statistics. ‘Get Licensed’ is a preparatory event / seminar for Electronics Engineering students from across the metro, including Technological University of the Philippines, De La Salle University-Manila, Mapua University, and other top engineering schools.  It is aimed at preparing ECE students for their licensure exam. 

“Filipinos have the right talent, and they’re capable of innovating world-class solutions. At Converge, we see the potential of every Filipino – including yours, the youth – and it is our prime directive to give them the digital launchpad, and become the catalyst for intellectual property creation,” said Converge Chief Network Transformation Officer, Paulo Martin ‘Santi’ Santos, himself a graduate of Materials Engineering at the University of the Philippines. 

Apart from the opportunities available at Converge, students were given a glimpse of how Converge grew exponentially especially during the pandemic. While many industries and sectors were rendered inefficient by the global health crisis, fixed broadband, particularly in driving digital transformation, grew by leaps and bounds. It proved to be an ‘industry of the future’, and is poised to see further expansion in the years to come. 

Converge set up a booth in the lobby of the UP School of Statistics, giving away company merchandise and briefing the students of openings in the company. This is part of the company’s ongoing campaign to recruit from among the best schools in the country to beef up its workforce. 

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Infinix Campus Cup 2025 to unleash next generation of esports legends across southeast Asia

12: 44 p.m. May 3, 2025

Infinix, in collaboration with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB), proudly kicks off the Infinix Campus Cup (XCC) 2025—a bigger, bolder evolution of the former Infinix University League (XUL), built to level up the student gaming experience across Southeast Asia.

Running from May to July 2025, XCC 2025 will set the stage for passionate student gamers across Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and the Philippines to rise to esports stardom. Fueled by the high-performance Infinix GT series, this tournament is dedicated to empowering the next generation of players. Gather your squad, register, and take your shot at becoming the next campus esports legends.

“XCC was born from our belief that the future of esports starts on campus,” said Tony Zhao, Infinix General Manager.“From the beginning, it has been about empowering the next generation of esports legends and bridging the gap between young gamers and the professional scene. As we expand across Southeast Asia, we at Infinix remain committed to growing this platform, inspiring the youth to step into the spotlight, chase their dreams, and build their future in gaming.”

After igniting the Philippine gaming scene in its previous editions, XCC 2025 expands its reach across Southeast Asia, charging into new territories, with the Philippines as this year’s host nation. The goal is to bring together the region’s most passionate student gamers and turn their dreams of esports stardom into reality.

At the heart of the competition lies Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB)—the region’s most beloved mobile MOBA title—providing the perfect arena for student teams to showcase their skills, strategy, and teamwork. More than just a tournament, XCC 2025 serves as a launchpad for aspiring esports professionals, designed to spotlight rising stars and elevate the campus esports scene across Southeast Asia. Participants will compete using the upcoming high-performance Infinix GT Series, a cutting-edge gaming device that reflects the brand’s commitment to empowering gamers with tools built for victory.

XCC 2025 sets the tone for a season filled with intense rivalries, unforgettable plays, and life-changing opportunities—this is #WhereLegendsRise. Infinix envisions the tournament as more than just a competition—it’s a movement to empower youth, fuel their passion for gaming, and unlock future career paths in esports.

Three Stages, One Path to Glory

Local Open Qualifiers & Group Stage (May–June 2025)

Student teams from across the five participating countries will enter the tournament through open qualifiers, battling their way through national-level group stages in pursuit of a coveted spot in the finals.

National Finals (May–June 2025)

Top contenders from each country will clash in their respective National Finals, where pride, passion, and the title of National Champion are on the line.

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