NEWS
Gilas Pilipinas finds Italy’s outside shooting too hot to handle
August 29, 2023 11:30 p.m.
Gilas Pilipinas battled world No. 10 Italy on even terms early on in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Tuesday night until the Azzuri’s sporadic three-point shots turned into an avalanche.
The Philippines’ final shot at making the second round was essentially put down from there although the Nationals did make a last-ditch attempt to turn things around only to fall short.
Italy found the perfect time to find the mark from deep, torching the Filipinos with 17 triples on the way to a 90-83 victory on the final day of Group A action at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Ranked last in three-point shooting in the tournament with a 12-of-60 clip through the first two games, the Italians were dared to shoot treys and made Gilas Pilipinas pay in punching their ticket to the next round of FIBA’s global showpiece.
Italy finished with a 2-1 record just behind Dominican Republic which earlier swept its group assignments, 3-0, after a 75-67 victory over Angola.
That win opened a window for the Philippines to slip in after it lost its first two games – against Dominican Republic and Angola. But Italy quickly shut it closed in the third quarter.
Simone Fontecchio, Jordan Clarkson’s Utah Jazz teammate, bucked a busted lip early in the first half in leading the three-point barrage with three triples to finish with 18 points while Marco Spissu and Giampaolo Ricci had four treys each to finish with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
It was also a balanced attack for the Azzurri with Stefano Tonut, Alessandro Pajola, and Nicolo Melli chipping in 13, 11, and 10 as they surged to a sizeable margin that went to as high as 18 points, 80-62, in the second half.
The win, however, didn’t come without a scare as the Filipinos, behind the 11,821 rallying them on, tried to mount another comeback with an inspired 10-0 run that cut the lead down to just seven, 88-81 with still 1:43 left.
Italy, however, showed great poise in front of the roaring crowd, completing two huge defensive stops against the comebacking host team before Pajola sealed the deal for the Azzurri with two late free throws.
Gilas Pilipinas coach Chot Reyes complimented his players for not giving up on their hopes.
“[I’m] very proud of the effort of our players. What a way to fight, coming off those two painful losses and to still show up tonight, give it their all against [the] top ten team in the world,” said Reyes.
“Couldn’t ask for more, but we just came up short. But we continued to fight, that’s all we can do.”
Clarkson led Gilas with 23 points, but was 8-of-20 from the field, including 1-of-7 from three point range, with four turnovers.
The Philippines shot slightly better from the field overall, but was 10-of-29 from beyond the arc, a 21- point difference that proved too much to overcome.
Dwight Reyes was the only other Filipino in double-figures with 14, but even he fell victim to a shooting funk in going 2-of-8 from deep.
Up next for Gilas Pilipinas is the classification stage where it will face the No. 3 team from Group B – either South Sudan, China, or Puerto Rico – on Thursday, Aug. 31.
NEWS
TikTok enhances safety, transparency for Filipino community with new initiatives
7:01 p.m. July 16, 2023
TikTok, the world’s leading short-form video platform, is taking further steps to ensure a safer and more transparent platform for its Filipino community. In response to the evolving digital landscape and the rise of AI-generated content (AIGC), these initiatives are designed to maintain a secure environment, uphold community guidelines, and ensure users can trust the content they encounter on the platform.
Strengthening Community Guidelines Enforcement
As part of its ongoing efforts to safeguard its community, TikTok recently published its Q1 2024 Community Guidelines Enforcement Report. During this period from January 1 to March 31, 2024, TikTok removed 4.26 million videos in the Philippines for violations of its Community Guidelines. Of these, 99.7% were removed proactively, and 95% were taken down within 24 hours.
To further enhance transparency, TikTok updated its Community Guidelines in April to provide clearer rules and introduce new features that help creators understand and comply with policies. Available in English and Filipino, these guidelines include detailed definitions and outline moderation practices for features like Search, LIVE, and the For You feed, ensuring policies are clear and accessible to all users.
Advancing AI-Generated Content Transparency
In response to the increasing prevalence of AI-generated content, TikTok has implemented new measures for transparency. Since May, TikTok has automatically labeled AI-generated content uploaded from specific platforms. This initiative is part of a collaboration with MediaWise, a program of the Poynter Institute, and the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA), making TikTok the first video-sharing platform to adopt C2PA’s Content Credentials technology. These labels aim to provide users with clear context about the nature of the content they consume.
Educating the Community with Media Literacy Tools
To support its community in navigating AI-generated content and combating misinformation, TikTok is launching new media literacy resources. Developed in collaboration with experts, these resources are integral to TikTok’s broader strategy to enhance user understanding and foster a more informed community. As part of this initiative, TikTok has partnered with MediaWise to release 12 educational videos throughout the year. These videos aim to teach universal media literacy skills and explain how TikTok’s AI-generated content labels can help contextualize content. This partnership underscores TikTok’s commitment to educating its community and fostering a more informed user base.
Expanding AIGC Labeling Through Partnerships
Building on its efforts to ensure content transparency, TikTok has extended its auto-labeling capabilities for AI-generated content created on other platforms. By integrating the ability to read Content Credentials from C2PA, TikTok automatically recognizes and labels AI-generated content, with plans to expand this to audio-only content soon.
In the coming months, TikTok plans to attach Content Credentials to its content, ensuring transparency even when content is downloaded, allowing users to utilize C2PA’s Verify tool to identify AI-generated content and understand its creation details.
Driving Industry-Wide Adoption
In its mission to promote industry-wide adoption of Content Credentials, TikTok has joined the Adobe-led Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI). As the first video-sharing platform to implement Content Credentials, TikTok is at the forefront of encouraging transparent content practices across the industry. The gradual increase in auto-labeled AI-generated content on TikTok is expected to grow as more platforms adopt this technology, fostering a more transparent digital landscape.
For You Feed and Creator Code of Conduct
To further enhance safety, TikTok has introduced new standards that will temporarily restrict accounts that repeatedly violate content standards. These accounts and their content will be harder to find in search, with creators being notified and given the option to appeal.
Additionally, TikTok published a Creator Code of Conduct outlining the standards expected from creators involved in TikTok programs, features, events, and campaigns. This code reinforces TikTok’s commitment to maintaining a safe and inclusive platform.
Through these measures, TikTok continues to focus on helping its community, especially creators, understand its rules and enforcement methods to ensure a safer experience for its users. By embracing continuous innovation and collaboration, TikTok strives to create a secure and inclusive space for creativity and connection.
NEWS
SM Prime, DTI empower MSMEs with 83 SM mall spaces, training, mentorship
9:15 p.m. July 12, 2024
Good news for Micro-, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs)! SM Prime Holdings (SM Prime) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) solidified a partnership through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony held on July 1 at the SM Prime Headquarters.
This collaboration empowers MSMEs with prime mall space in 83 SM Malls nationwide, aligning with the One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines program. Besides providing space, SM Prime offers MSMEs discounted booth rentals, training programs on product development, marketing, financial management, and mentorship opportunities with experienced business leaders.
NEWS
DTI National Food Fair celebrates local flavors at SM Megamall
8:26 p.m. July 11, 2024
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) successfully concluded the 10th National Food Fair at SM Megamall’s Megatrade Halls 1-3, held from July 3-7, 2024. This premier event showcased the rich flavors of the Philippines and empowered over 200 Micro-, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs).
Food enthusiasts enjoyed a bounty of fresh produce, regional specialties, and delectable treats from all corners of the country. Attendees had the opportunity to stock up on pantry staples, explore health-conscious options, and discover unique ingredients to elevate their cooking skills.
(L-R): Megatrade Hall’s Maite Quiogue, SM Supermalls’ Assistant Vice President for Operations Royston Cabunag, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary for Micro-, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSME) Development Group Cristina Roque, Guest of Honor Winnie Chua-Go, SM Megamall Assistant Vice President for Operations Christian Mathay, SM Supermalls’ Vice President for Corporate Marketing Grace Magno, DTI-Bureau of Market Development, Promotions, and One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Director Marievic Bonoan, and SM Megamall Assistant Mall Manager Isabella Manjon
(L-R): Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Undersecretary for Micro-, Small, and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSME) Development Group Cristina Roque, Guest of Honor Winnie Chua-Go, and DTI-Bureau of Market Development, Promotions, and One Town, One Product (OTOP) Philippines Director Marievic Bonoan
The 2024 Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bagong Pilipinas National Food Fair brings together the best food and flavors from all 16 regions.
Fresh pomelos and other local fruits take center stage at the National Food Fair in Megatrade Hall.
A potential buyer gets ready to take home bottled Bicol Express and Laing at the 10th National Food Fair in SM Megamall.
Crispy, salty, and packed with nutrients —these water spinach chips are the perfect healthy snack.
Bottled honey and baked fruit crisps, all made with local ingredients.
Davao del Sur and Misamis Oriental’s chocolate products are crafted from premium cacao beans.
Quality golden salted eggs from Rizal.
A variety of coconut products from San Pablo, Laguna.
TECHSHAKE announces strategic business alliance with Mirai Works
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TikTok enhances safety, transparency for Filipino community with new initiatives
