Sports

After the questionable ejection of Carl Bryan Cruz and Baser Amer in the third, Gilas
went on a tear behind Christian Standhardingers gritty effort in the paint.
The Nationals found themselves trailing in the opening salvo, but thats the only time
their foes clung to a lead.
The Filipino-German big man emptied eight of his total 18 in that third frame flurry.
He led Gilas in scoring and in rebounding with 18 as well.
Crowd favorite Kobe Paras widened the gap in the payoff period, accounting for seven
points. The second-generation cager ended up with a total of 16 points.
Gilas led by as many as 35 points following a 95-point decimation of Myanmar on
Tuesday.
The Gilas Pilipinas cadets punched their semifinal ticket in the 2017 Southeast Asian
Games with a 98-66 win over host Malaysia at the MABA Stadium in Kuala
Lumpur Wednesday night.
Sportshub ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
The Philippines has swept the Group A preliminary round and is set to face the second
seed of Group B on Friday.

The Scores:

GILAS PILIPINAS 98 - Standhardinger 18, Paras 16, Ravena 12, Rosario 12, Amer
10, Ferrer 6, Vosotros 6, Tolomia 5, Jose 4, Pessumal 4, Cruz 3, Parks 2.
MALAYSIA 66 - Kuek 14, Ting 10, Teo 9, Wong 8, Chee 7, Yeo 7, Loh 5, Lim 4, Ma
2, Soo 0, Wong 0.
Quarters: 18-20, 47-35, 73-46, 98-66.
 News

According to Lacson, smugglers paid the BOC Central Office a standard tara of P19,000 to P45,000 for each
container.

Customs officials and employees collected up to P71,700 tara on each shipment smuggled through the Bureau of
Customs (BOC), Sen. Panfilo Lacson bared on Wednesday.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson bares corruption details at the Bureau of Customs in a privilege speech on Wednesday, Aug.
23, 2017.

In his comprehensive privilege speech, Lacson said that BOC officials, including former Commissioner Nicanor
Faeldon, and employees collected payola known as tara amounting to P31,300 to P71,700 on each shipment
smuggled through the agency.

The tara collected at the Port of Manila (POM) is higher than at the MICP. POM officials and employees collected
an additional tara of P15,700 to P26,700 for each 40-foot container and P13,200 to P23,700 for each 20-foot
container.

On top of that, official and employees of the Manila International Container Port (MICP) collected an additional
tara of P14,700 to P23,700 for each 40-foot container and P12,200 to P20,700 for each 20-foot container.

That means BOC officials and employees collected between P34,700 to P71,700 for each 40-foot container, and
P32,300 to P68,700 for each 20-foot container, that passed through the POM.

The total tara collected by BOC officials and employees range from P33,700 to P68,700 for each 40-foot container
van and P31,300 to P23,700 for each 20-foot container that passed through the MICP.

Quoting data from the BOC, Lacson said on average, around 15,000 to 16,000 containers are transacted for release
every week at the MICP and POM. Of this, between 6,000 to 6,400 or approximately 40 percent of the total
weekly containers have tara.

In fact, the bureau can give the mafia a stiff competition, he said.

If the government would want to win the war against drugs, Lacson said, it would need to wage an all-out,
sustained war against corruption, especially at the BOC.

Mr. President, I believe nothing will happen if we do not address the moral bankruptcy that is intrinsic among the
officials and members of the Bureau of Customs, he said.

According to Lacson, five of the six BOC department heads regularly received tara, namely:

Deputy Commissioner Teddy Raval of the Intelligence Group

Deputy Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno of the Enforcement Group

Deputy Commissioner Gerardo Gambala of the Command Center and Management Information System and

Technology Group

Deputy Commissioner Natalio Ecarma III of the Revenue Collection Monitoring Group

Deputy Commissioner Edward James Dy Buco of the Assessment and Operations Coordination Group

Lacson said the tara system showed the systemic corruption at the BOC.
News

I have told him since Day One, Guanzon said of her advice to Bautista.
Guanzon made the statement after the poll chief failed to attend the Commission on Elections budget
briefing before the House of Representatives.

Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon on Wednesday advised poll chief Andres Bautista to go
on leave as he faces corruption allegations and family controversy.

The House Committee on Appropriations deferred the briefing because of Bautistas absence.

The House panel rescheduled it to Thursday morning.

The commissioner explained that the 2018 budget is a preparation for the 2019 national elections.

Earlier, Guanzon took to Twitter to share that she already advised Bautista to take a leave or decide
whether he will resign.

In a recorded interview on Wednesday, Guanzon said she believes Bautista can defend himself as he
is a good lawyer.

Bautista faces corruption allegations after his estranged wife Patricia Tisha Cruz-Bautista accused
him of amassing about P1 billion ill-gotten wealth. The poll chief has categorically denied the
allegations and dismissed them as fabricated lies.

Comelec Executive Director Jose Tolentino said Bautista will be meeting with the guidance counselor
of his children. Guanzon also confirmed the commissioners received a memorandum that he will not
be able to attend the House budget hearing.

Guanzon said she is advising Bautista to take a leave as the controversy he is facing may affect the
poll body and the budget request for 2018.

The Comelec is proposing a P16.151 billion budget for next year.

I understand his personal predicament pero may mga priorities po tayo para sa bayan at sa Comelec
budget po ito e nakakatakot po kasi baka magalit sila sa amim yung mga kongresista at bawasan po
yung budget namin, Guanzon said in a recorded ambush interview.
News

Faeldon, who was replaced on Monday night by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief
Isidro Lapea, is caught in the middle of the P6.4-billion drug smuggling controversy, the
subject of simultaneous investigations of both chambers of Congress.

Lacson said that instead of going against the system, Faeldon was swallowed by the system by
effectively tolerating and even promoting the impunity of corruption.

Holy mackerel! Lacson said. Welcome pa lang may kita na. It is an outright cash incentive,
Mr. President.

At the end of his speech, Lacson vouched for Lapeas integrity and hoped that he would not
be swallowed by the BOC system and end up like Faeldon.

I can only hope and pray na hindi siya kainin ng sistema gaya ng nauna sa kanya, Lacson
said.

Loud whispers in the four corners of the Bureau of Customs compound tell of a P100-million
pasalubong for the newly-installed commissioner, Lacson said in a privilege speech he
delivered on Wednesday.

A quarter of the pasalubong, Lacson said, was retained as a finders fee by a certain Joel
Teves, Faeldons alleged middleman.

Resigned Customs Commissioner Nicanor Faeldon received P100 million as pasalubong, or

welcome gift, right after assuming his position at the Bureau of Customs (BOC), Sen. Panfilo
Lacson bared on Wednesday.
News
"During World War II, scouts undertook many service tasks messengers, firewatchers, stretcher-bearers, salvage
collectors and so on," the Boy Scouts of the Philippines said on its website.

It also said the first Filipino troop of Boy Scouts was formed in Zamboanga on November 15, 1914.

Galvez expressed his deep appreciation and gratitude to the BSP on behalf of Joint Task Force Marawi.

He said the support will continue to motivate the military and police personnel fighting against the Islamic State-inspired
Maute and Abu Sayyaf groups in Marawi.
About 40 scouts, students of Baliwasan Central School and Southcom Elementary School, along with City Councilor
Rommel Agan, as local council executive board, joined Ortega in the courtesy call and turnover rites.

Ortega said the program is meant to not only to show the scouts appreciation for the service of the soldiers and police
officers but also to start a nationwide advocacy for utmost respect to these special breed of men and women whose
patriotism, gallantry, and service to our country are beyond reproach.

We shall build a lasting attitude among Filipinos of extending a high level of courtesy to our men and women in uniform,
Ortega said.

Inspired by the patriotism and bravery, members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines Zamboanga Council turned over
letters and chocolates to boost the morale of soldiers fighting against terrorists in Marawi City.

The scouts, led by BSP Zamboanga Council chairman Jose Rizalino Ortega, turned over the letters and chocolates
collected from among the scouts during a courtesy call Tuesday on Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., chief of the Western
Mindanao Command (Westmincom), at the command's headquarters in Camp Navarro in this city.

Ortega said the letters and chocolates were collected through the Muchisimias Gracias Por Tu Servicio Program
(Chavacano for "Thank very much for your service") of the Boy Scouts, that was launched through its Council
Memorandum No. 7 to support the troops in Marawi.
The scouting movement was founded by Robert Baden-Powell, a lieutenant general of the British Army, who initially
wanted to teach children observation and fieldcraft.

Galvez said he would personally bring the gifts, art and letters to his soldiers on the ground in Marawi.

This will surely bring renewed strength and vigor to them, Galvez said.

"It is very heartwarming that at a young age, these boys already appreciate chivalry and patriotism. From the bottom of
our hearts, thank you so much to the future leaders of our society," Galvez added.
News
The rapidly-deployable 28M Class TARS can rise to an altitude of 5,000 feet while tethered by a single cable. It is a self-
sustained, unmanned lighter-than-air platform, according to the US Embassy.

About 16 personnel of the Philippine Naval Information and Communication Technology Center went through a six-week
training program to learn assembly, handling, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of the radar blimp. They will
instruct the next batch of operators.

"The TARS includes a weather station that provides telemetry data for the monitoring of ambient temperature, pressure,
wind speed and other pertinent parameters to successfully operate the system," the US Embassy said.

The TARS will be stationed at the Naval Education and Training Command in Zambales, the largest Navy base with flat
terrain. It also fits the minimum requirement of 300 square feet for the launching of the radar system.

This donation would enhance the Navy's capability in maritime intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance by detecting
maritime and air traffic within the country's coastal waters.

The TARS will also be used for humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations.

The donation of the radar system is part of the US Maritime Security Initiative, a program for Southeast Asian countries
that seek to improve their abilities to address maritime challenges.

The United States (US) has turned over a new Tethered Aerostat Radar System (TARS) to the Philippine Navy which will
enhance its maritime surveillance capabilities.
News
Qualitative examination conducted on the paraffin cast taken from both hands of the cadaver gave NEGATIVE
results to the tests for gunpowder nitrates, the result read.

Both hands of the cadaver do not contain gunpowder nitrates, it added.

Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the area, however, suggests Delos Santos was manhandled by
police.

The CCTV footage was supported by the accounts of the witnesses who said that Delos Santos was killed by the
police officers.

Some online supporters of the drug war, including social media personality Sass Rogando Sasot, have tried to
explain away how the gun found on Kian was in his left hand when he was right-handed by saying it could have
slipped to the other hand.

More evidence has surfaced to suggest that 17-year-old student Kian Lloyd delos Santos was a victim of a
summary execution after a paraffin test found no traces of gunpowder on his hands.

Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory released Wednesday the result of a paraffin test conducted on August
20.

Based on the after-action report by officers of the Caloocan City police, Delos Santos resisted arrest and fired
shots leaving them with no option but to retaliate.

Examination by the Public Attorney's Office also showed delos Santos sustained three gunshot wounds, one in the
back and two through his head. He was shot to death while on the ground based on the trajectory of the bullet
coming from a 9-mm gun.

A Senate hearing will be held Thursday to look into the incident, while the National Bureau of Investigation, PNP-
Internal Affairs Service and Commission on Human Rights are conducting their separate probes.

PNP Director General Ronal Dela Rosa has also ordered the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to
investigate the case.

Three cops, identified as Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares, Police Officer 1 Jeremias Pereda and Police Officer 1
Jerwin Cruz, are now under restrictive custody while investigations are ongoing.

The PNP Internal Affairs Service has said that two of the police officers have confirmed that they are the men
caugh on the CCTV video dragging Kian away.
News
Pero kung yung mga yung mga jars, ukay- ukay, yung pinapalusot ng in-laws niya (If the jars, used clothing peddled
by his in-laws), if that is smuggling, then give me an accounting and I will resign. Walang problema yan sa akin (I have
no problem with that), the President said.

Duterte also said that he is willing to open his bank accounts to prove that he has no hidden wealth.

There will be no corruption in this government. I will not allow it, he added.

Taguba previously claimed that Paolo was name-dropped by people involved in bribery at the Customs bureau.

He said a certain Tita Nanie, to whom he was giving P10,000 bribe per container, had told him that the payment would
go to a Davao group led by the vice mayor. But he admitted that it is possible that the presidential son was just being
used to fast-track the entry of smuggled goods.

Vice Mayor Duterte has declined to comment on the allegations.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday stressed that he is ready to step down if any of his children are into
irregularities following fresh allegations that his son, Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte, has ties with a group involved
in smuggling.

"Taguba admitted that his testimony against me was based entirely on rumors. Why would we entertain or believe
hearsay? One does not dignify lies with a response," he said.

President Duterte said Paolo has been selling merchandise since eloping with a Muslim lady, whose father is a Tausug
and whose mother is a Maranao.

This is a nationwide broadcast so I might as well tell you. I am not defending my son. Prove it, it is true, and I will
resign, Duterte said during the inauguration of the Solar Philippines factory here.

I said anyone involved in my family, if they are into corruption, I will step down from the presidency. No excuses, no
apologies, he added.

The President made the remark a day after customs broker Mark Taguba claimed that a group with alleged ties to the
younger Duterte had asked him P5 million to facilitate the entry of his shipments without scrutiny.
At the age of 18, he eloped with a Moro lady named Lovelie, the President said.

They are vendor in Davao jars, ukay-ukay (used clothing)He was lost to us He would go to the pier and help his
in-laws And he has to earn his keep and he had to work for the family, he added.

Duterte dared critics to prove that Paolos families are into smuggling.
News

Bagamat may mga batikos pa rin sa atin, alam naman natin na mas marami pa rin sa ating mamamayan ang
sumusuporta sa atin, he added.

I dont care kung maubos ang pulis ko basta ang maiwan lang yung matitino. I am not after the quantity, Im after
quality. Bahala na kung kaunti lang, wag na yung marami pero puro scalawag, he added.

He encouraged his subordinates to continue their jobs despite criticisms hounding the whole police force.

Philippine National Police Director General Ronald Bato dela Rosa does not mind losing cops as long as those that
remain are devoted to their sworn duty.

Dela Rosa said this in response to constant reports of scalawag cops while the police force's so-called internal cleansing
in ongoing.

Some police officers from PO1 to so-called "generals" are among the drug users and protectors in the police's own
drug list, while others are allegedly engaged in extortion and abduction.

Palagi nalang natin isyu yan (scalawag cops) hindi na nawawla. I wonder why araw-araw nalng may nahuhuli ang
Counter-Intelligence Task Force, the nations top cop said in his speech at the 116th Police Service Anniversary in
Cebu.

The PNP's reputation was tainted anew after the death of 17-year-old student Kian delos Santos in the hands of
Caloocan City police.

Marami na tayong pinagdaanang hirap at hamon. We have prevailed and we will continue to prevail, dela Rosa
continued.

Since the war on drugs was launched last year, many cases of abuse of power have been reported against the PNP.

They, however, are enjoying the assurance from President Rodrigo Duterte that they will not be jailed as long as they are
performing their duties.
Sports

Aribado had earned a bronze in the singles event in 2015.

Aribado, 23, and Dalida, 24, settled for bronze after succumbing to their Malaysian foes Chan
Yiwen and Nazihah Haris in the womens doubles semis.

The duo of Jemyca Aribado and Yvone Alyssa Dalida bagged a bronze medal for the
Philippines in the 29th Southeast Asian Games womens squash doubles event on Wednesday,
August 23 at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in KL Sports City, Malaysia.

The two Philippine squash players were not involved in the bus crash on Monday, August 21,
when members of the mens team was bumped from behind, prompting a rescheduling of
games for affected teams.
Feature

The Philippines top 10 Twitter hashtags in the last 10 years

From love teams to current events, these are the hashtags that connected Filipinos online in the past
decade

HASHTAG. Twitter celebrates the 10th birthday of the social media symbol with a special emoji-
activating hashtag. Screengrab from Twitter.com

MANILA, Philippines The hashtag is celebrating its 10th birthday today, August 23, and indeed the
social media staple has come a long way from its humble beginnings, especially in the Philippines
where it has been used for everything from love teams to political events.
From bringing together legions of fans to disseminating crucial information to allowing people to voice
their opinions on current events, these historic hashtags have connected Filipino tweeters over the last
ten years.
10. #Walangpasok
A student favorite, this hashtag often trends during the rainy season as it is used mainly to announce
class suspensions during. Some creative tweeters have also hijacked this hashtag to share what
theyre up to after class suspensions have been announced.
9. #MissUniverse2015
Any pageant hashtag is bound to trend among Filipinos, and this one more than any other resonated
among Filipinos considering how the Miss Universe pageant went down back in 2015. From Steve
Harveys cringe-worthy coronation blunder to those netizens who threw their support behind winner
Pia Wurtzbach, it was definitely a Miss Universe pageant we won't forget soon.
8. #PapalVisitPH
Pope Francis 2015 trip to the Philippines sent legions of faithful Filipinos into a tizzy, with 3.3 million
tweets related to the Papal visit.
7. #Haiyan
When Typhoon Yolanda, whose international name is Haiyan, devastated southern Philippines in late
2013, this hashtag not only helped share storm and disaster relief updates, but also rallied support for
survivors.
6. #LawinPh
In 2016, super typhoon Lawin passed through the Philippines, threatening to cause the same
destruction as Haiyan wought 3 years ago. A more vigilant Philippines followed and used this hashtag
to get and share updates on the typhoon.
5. #EpilogueinManila
KPOP fans are some of the most active online and the popularity of this hashtag proves it. It trended in
July 2016, when it was used by fans of Korean boy band BTS for their Manila concert.
4. #KathNiel
Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla's relationship began five years ago on the set of Growing Up.
The actors said that there was no chemistry at the beginning however their friendship grew and they
became real life partners. Both actors are now working on a teleserye together and had been
inseparable ever since.
3. #OTWOL
The hashtag used for the telenovela On the Wings of Love, the story revolves around the life of Leah
(Nadine Lustre) and Clark (James Reid). The show may have ran for only a couple of months but it
was enough to launch both stars' careers and a love team for the ages.
2. #AlDub
The love team AlDub broke a lot of records, even on Twitter. Reports show that the couples fan base
produces 11 million tweets in a day. The couple is also part of the Guinness Book of World
Records for having more than 40 million tweets. Since their rise to fame, there have been at least 350
hashtags related to the couple.
1. #PHElections
The hashtag #PHElections was launched in 2016 in light of the national elections; it was used as a tool
to encourage people to be more active in the discourse. Do you remember your tweet during this
time?
Feature

'President's fish' facing extinction in Philippines

This photo, released by the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resoruces (BFAR), shows a
lobed river mullet, Cestraeus plicatilis, locally known as "ludong" or "banak." The species, reputed to be
one of the favourite dishes of former president Ferdinand Marcos, is facing extinction in the Philippines
because it is so valuable, a fisheries official said Saturday.

A species of mullet reputed to be one of the favourite dishes of former president Ferdinand
Marcos is facing extinction in the Philippines because it is so valuable, a fisheries official said
Saturday.
The high value of the lobed river mullet, popularly known as "president's fish" has resulted in
overfishing, seriously diminishing their numbers, said Jovita Ayson, a regional director of the
fisheries bureau.
"It is a threatened species and we have to do something about it before it goes extinct. If we
don't stop the indiscriminate catching, in a short while, it could vanish," she told AFP.
The fisheries bureau is calling for a five-year ban on the catching of Cestraeus plicatilis, locally
known as "ludong" or "banak".
It is found in only a few countries, and in the Philippines its habitat is limited to a few rivers in
the north.
It sells for 5,000 pesos (114 dollars) a kilogram, which only the wealthiest can afford, making it
the most expensive fish in the Philippines, Ayson said.
But this also leads fishermen to catch it even during its spawning season, not leaving enough
mature fish to breed, she said.
"You cannot stop fishermen from catching it. It is too valuable. People even pay the fishermen
in advance for their catch," she said.
The mullet grows to 32.5 centimetres (12.8 inches), but those being caught are now much
smaller, weighing only 250 grams (8.9 ounces) from as much as 2.5 kilograms (5.5 pounds) a
few years back, a sign fewer are reaching maturity.
Marcos, a native of the northern Philippines who ruled the country from 1965 to 1986 -- much of
it under martial rule -- reputedly always had a year-long supply of the fish stocked away, Ayson
said.
"A lot of people like the smell. It has a unique aroma and a special taste," she said, explaining
the demand.
The fisheries bureau is experimenting on breeding the fish in captivity and educating the local
populace on the need to keep it from dying out, Ayson said.
Dwindling numbers and sizes

Through the years, however, the population of the ludong, or Cestraeus plicatilis, has declined due to
unprecedented poaching, making the fish more elusive and expensive. According to the Bureau of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), no ludong had been caught in 2002 and 2003.

BFAR also reported that the fishs size has become smaller, from 2.4 kilograms in 1998 to a quarter of
a kilo in 2001.

Ludong fishing is banned in Cagayan. The months of December, January, and February are especially
crucial as ludong are expected to migrate upstream after spawning, bringing with them fry that can still
propagate its entire population if not caught indiscriminately.

This freshwater fish is catadromous, which means that it migrates to the ocean to breed from October
to December and returns to the rivers upstream in the months of December to February.

Endemic to Cagayan Valley

The Cagayan Valley region, the only known habitat of the ludong in the world, nurtures one of the
countrys most diverse collections of flora and fauna like the bleeding-heart pigeon and the Philippine
eagle. The Cagayan River passes through the Sierra Madre and Cordillera mountain ranges, few of
the remaining primary forests of the country.

According to the BFAR, this fish is habituating in the deep pools of Addalem River in Aglipay, Quirino,
and rapids of Didimpit in Lacab, Jones, Isabela.

Ludong spawns in the upper Cagayan River in Jones, Isabela and goes downstream in late October
until mid-November to release eggs at the mouth of the Cagayan River , the nations longest river.
Feature

Myanmar's startups map past, shape future with virtual reality

Tech startups are emerging around Myanmar's commercial capital Yangon, many seeking to improve
the lives of rural people, most of whom still live without paved roads or electricity

YANGON, Myanmar Gasps echo across the hall as the Myanmar school kids trial virtual reality
goggles, marveling at a device that allows some of Asia's poorest people to walk on the moon or dive
beneath the waves.
"In Myanmar we can't afford much to bring students to the real world experience," beamed Hla Hla Win,
a teacher and tech entrepreneur taking virtual reality into the classroom.
"If they're learning about animals we can't take them to the zoo... 99% of parents don't have time, don't
have money, don't have the means," she added.
Few countries in the world have experienced such rapid discovery of technology than Myanmar which
has leapfrogged from the analog to the digital era in just a few years.
During the decades of outright junta rule, which ended in 2011, it was one of the world's most isolated
nations, a place where a mobile phone sim card could cost up to $3,000.
For half a century its paranoid generals cut off the country, restricting sales of computers, heavily
censoring the Internet and blocking access to foreign media reports.
But today phone towers are springing up around the country and almost 80% of the population have
access to the Internet through smartphones, according to telecoms giant Telenor.
Budding startups
Tech startups are emerging around the commercial capital Yangon, many seeking to improve the lives
of rural people, most of whom still live without paved roads or electricity.
"The increase in activity from last year till now new startups, more people determined to become
entrepreneurs and working in the tech sector in general -- is significant," said Jes Kaliebe Peterson,
CEO of community hub Phandeeyar.
Virtual reality is the latest advance to cause a stir, with a handful of entrepreneurs embracing tech for
projects including preserving ancient temple sites to shaping young minds of the future.
The Phandeeyar incubator works with more than 140 startups. Among them Hla Hla Win's virtual reality
social enterprise 360ed which is using affordable cardboard VR goggles attached to smartphones to
break down barriers in Myanmar's classrooms.
She founded the non-profit last year after 17 years working in the woefully underfunded education
system in a bid to bring learning to life.
"I see it as an empathy machine where we can teleport ourselves to another place right away," she told
AFP.
And it's not just school children who benefit from stepping into places they could only ever dream of
visiting.
360ed has used virtual reality to help Myanmar teachers attend training courses in Japan and Finland
and is working on setting up deals with schools in India, Pakistan, China and Bangladesh.
"With VR there's no divider, there's no distance," Hla Hla Win said.
Mapping the past
While 360ed is thinking about the future, Nyi Lin Seck is obsessed with the past.
Some 600 kilometers (372 miles) north of Yangon, the budding tech entrepreneur and founder of 3xvivr
Virtual Reality Production launches a large drone into the skies above Bagan, one of Myanmar's most
famous tourist sites.
The drone, which carries a 360-camera, circles one of the many ninth-to-thirteenth century temples that
dot the landscape of what was once a sprawling ancient city.
The data it records allows those with virtual reality headsets to explore the temples, their crumbling
centuries-old walls so close it feels like you can touch them.
A former head of the local TV station, Nyi Lin Seck says he makes most of his money providing virtual
reality footage for hotels and luxury apartments.
But after an earthquake damaged the Bagan site last year, he vowed to use the tech to preserve a
digital replica of Myanmar's archaeological treasures.
"A lot of artworks on the pagodas collapsed and were lost. Using this technology, we can record up to
99% of the ancient art," he says.
Sports

"Conor McGregor is extremely heavy right now," Mayweather said. "I think he's 164 so he's still
got 10 pounds to go."

Former welterweight champion Mayweather is coming out of retirement to face McGregor in a

one-off meeting between two of the best known fighters in boxing and mixed martial arts.

Saturday's fight at the T-Mobile Arena is a boxing contest, a fact that will see the undefeated
Mayweather start as an overwhelming favorite to claim his 50th straight victory.

Floyd Mayweather believes Conor McGregor is struggling to make the weight for their cross-
combat showdown as the final countdown to the super fight cranked into overdrive on Tuesday,
August 22 (Wednesday Manila time).

In comments to FightHype, Mayweather said he thought Irish mixed martial arts star McGregor
looked "extremely heavy" and doubted he would make the 154-pound limit for Saturday's fight.

UFC champion McGregor, who has never boxed professionally, has vowed to knock out
Mayweather inside two rounds.

"I get that extra money if you can't make the weight," Mayweather said. "Get those extra
millions ready. UFC get those extra millions ready.

"You got to get that weight down like a true champion. A true champion is disciplined and very
responsible but we'll see.

"If he don't make the weight, we still going to fight but there's going to be a heavy fine."

However the Irishman could face a painful financial penalty if he is unable to tip the scales
inside the 154-pound limit. Boxers often have the option of cancelling a fight or collecting a
larger share of the purse if an opponent fails to make weight.

Mayweather, who is expected to earn at least $100 million from Saturday's contest, indicated
he would take the money.

Mayweather has been a champion at 154 pounds before but is more used to fighting at
welterweight (147 pounds). McGregor however has fought at 170 pounds in MMA.

"We are ready for both scenarios. I'm ready to go to war for 12 rounds and I'm ready to put him
away early on."

McGregor, 29, last week insisted he was in peak condition following a grueling training camp
that had taken him to "hell and back" and left him primed to face either a long or short fight.

"There is no way in hell that I'm not ready to fight in the deepest of trenches in this contest,"
McGregor said.
Feature
Samsung Galaxy Note 8 priced at P49,990

Samsung officially unveils their newest Note phablet. The phone will be available in PH stores
on September 29

MANILA, Philippines Samsung's newest flagship, the Galaxy Note 8, now has a Philippine
price: P49,990. The price was announced at a media event in Makati on Wednesday, August
23, Philippine time, the same day as the company's official announcement of the phone at their
New York "Samsung Unpacked" event.

The Note 8 is a slightly bigger Galaxy S8 Plus with a stylus. It has the same quad HD "Infinity
Display" known for its 18.5:9 aspect ratio only a little bigger. The Note 8's screen is 6.3 inches
while the Galaxy S8 Plus is at 6.2 inches while the standard S8 has a 5.8-inch screen.

Like the S8 phones as well, the Note 8 carries a Samsung Exynos 8895 chip, 64GB of storage
(expandable up to 256GB via microSD), an 8MP front camera, virtual assistant Bixby, iris and
fingerprint scanners, and IP68 waterproof and dustproof rating.

Similarities aside, the Note 8 has some distinct features. It's the first Samsung phone to have
dual cameras. On the rear, one will find a standard-angle 12MP f/1.7 lens paired with a 12MP
f/2.4 tele-lens. On the software side, Samsung gave it a "Live Focus" feature which lets users
add some digital bokeh or background blur while taking photos.

The Note 8 also has more RAM than the S8 (6GB as opposed to the S8's 4GB), and as
expected, it comes with its signature S-Pen stylus. In its current iteration, the S-Pen allows
functions such as language translation, animated messages, and note-taking on a locked
screen. It also has an app pairing function that lets users select two apps to be used
simultaneously in a split-screen configuration, say, YouTube and a word processor.

The Note 8 runs on Android 7.1.1, and will come in two colors, "Midnight Black" and "Maple
Gold." As for battery, the Note 8 has a 3,300 mAh battery, lower than the S8 Plus' 3,500 mAh
and higher than the S8's 3,000 mAh unit.

Pre-orders begin on September 8 and end on September 17, with units arriving on September
29. Those who pre-order get a free AKG speaker worth P7,990 according to Samsung. Pre-
orders are available via Globe, Smart, Lazada, Abenson's, Argomall, and Samsung Experience
Stores. Samsung also offers a 6-month screen warranty through the Samsung Concierge
service.
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'Detroit: Become Human' hands-on: Negotiating with rogue androids

We play out a hostage scenario from the upcoming sci-fi title about androids gaining sentience
and seeking freedom from human servitude

NEGOTIATION. An android negotiator tries to calm down a hostage-taker, himself an android-

gone-rogue. Screenshot from PlayStation/YouTube

Ive wanted to get my hands on Detroit: Become Human since I first saw its trailer at E3 2016.
Developer Quantic Dream has never really failed its fans when it comes to games with
compelling narrative and Detroit: Become Humans futuristic setting just makes it all the more
interesting. Suffice to say, I was excited to find out that Sony brought in the game at the first
PSX Southeast Asia in Malaysia where I found time to test out the games features.

The demo starts with a short cutscene. Daniel, an android, is flipping a coin in his hands,
already inferring the games mechanics. The situation is unclear at first. All we know is that a
deviant, or an android turned rogue, shot a girls father and brought the girl to the edge of a
balcony. We are to negotiate with the deviant to save the hostage at any cost.

When the demo finally gives us the freedom to go around the apartment, it turns into a full-on
investigation. We can move towards every portion of the area and keep an eye out for every
significant item. While the game lets you directly move to the negotiation stage, it may be a
better idea for you to search for every piece of relevant information before you do so.

CSI. Investigating the crime scene gives you information that you can use in the ensuing
negotiation. Screenshot from PlayStation/YouTube

As you pick up and analyze every item, the game prompts a success rate bar that increases
with every pertinent information you find. You can choose to move towards the balcony to start
the negotiation if you believe you have everything required to save the girl. I wanted to look for
every nook and cranny in the apartment but unfortunately the demo was timed, not to mention
the controls were a little difficult to work with at first. The camera sensitivity felt off and some of
the gestures felt unnecessary.

But what the game doesnt tell you at the beginning, which only makes the demo even more
suspenseful, is that the possibility of success also depends on how you negotiate with the
deviant. Just because you have all the pieces together, doesnt mean the girls life is saved.
Depending on your choices the success rate can rise or drop. Sometimes it can even fall
heavily if you still cant figure out the best way to approach the deviant in the middle of the
negotiation.

Some players started the negotiation process with 60% chance of success, only to mess up the
negotiation and end with 0% by the time that they have to save the little girl. Obviously, their
outcomes werent pretty and were given heartbreaking cut scenes. I started the negotiation
process with a 40% chance of success, and by the end of the dialogue, ended it with 99%. The
cut scene was dramatic and certainly rewarding.

This is what makes the game promising. As a fan of crime shows and games like L.A.
Noire, Detroit: Become Human has the potential to be one of the best and most thrilling games
within its genre. Its a game that weighs your choices and gives you several possible outcomes,
easily pulling the player to the edge of their seat. Whether or not it translates to the big picture
story of the game remains to be seen. But so far, Detroit: Become Human is shaping up to be
one of the best PlayStation exclusive game in 2018.