Pinoy Tambayan | A Filipino News and Entertainment

1. On track Picture a bobsled course as three sections: a 49-foot segment where athletes get their sleigh moving ahead of the starting line; a 65-to 100-foot portion they use to build up speed after the clock starts; and the remaining 4,000 or so feet down which they ride, twisting and turning, to the finish line. The first few runs of the day are always faster: Each one creates more friction-increasing ruts, upping times. 2. Muscleman A two-person bobsled team includes a pilot, who steers the sleigh, and a brakeman (foreground), who does most of the pushing. This athlete must generate enough force to break the inertia of a 375-pound sled. He needs preconditioned fast-twitch muscles : larger tissue fibers capable of short, sudden exertions. That’s why bobsled scouts often recruit sprinters from track and field or wide receivers from football. 3. The big push When the buzzer rings, the brakeman steps onto the ice, gripping two handles on the sled’s rear. He bends his knees, leans...

© Provided by Engadget OnePlus really didn't waste any time fulfilling its promise of bringing the 5T's Face Unlock feature to the original 5 . The smartphone maker has rolled out an OxygenOS beta that lets OnePlus 5 owners sign in with a quick glimpse at their phone, just like those with newer handsets. This isn't a stable release, so you probably don't want to install this if you can't afford to deal with glitches, but it beats waiting weeks into 2018 to give the feature a try. As before, Face Unlock isn't strictly secure -- it's not using depth sensors , iris scanning or other methods that reduce the chances of someone fooling the system. This is about convenience more than anything else. OnePlus doesn't pretend otherwise, though, and it's good to see a tentpole feature coming to a not-so-current device. OnePlus

© Provided by Engadget Using "acoustic shock waves" to promote healing isn't just for Overwatch , as Sanuwave has obtained FDA approval for its Dermapace System (Pulsed Acoustic Cellular Expression = PACE). Its approval is specifically to help heal foot ulcers in diabetic patients, where damage to blood vessels and nerves can lead to reduced circulation, infection and sometimes amputation. The Dermapace mechanically stimulates the wound, which Sanuwave says promotes healing. Like several other "first" FDA approvals we've seen recently, this device went through the de novo review process designed specifically to get new technology on the market. © Sanuwave After two double-blind studies , the results showed an increase in wound healing at 24 weeks with a 44 percent wound closure rate with the real Dermapace device, vs. a 30 percent closure rate for patients treated with a fake system. Now that this device has been approved, it also opens the door for s...

Share this: Sa harap ng mall sa Barangay San Roque, Tarlac City. Sinulat at mga larawang kuha ni LEANDRO ALBOROTE NITONG nakaraang Kapaskuhan ay muling nasaksihan sa buong bansa ang iba’t ibang estilo ng Belenismo na umaagaw ng atensiyon ng mga turista at mga residente na dumadayo sa iba’t ibang lugar.  Sa lalawigan ng Tarlac ay kakaiba ang Belenismo, dahil nagtatayo sila ng mga disenyo na bihirang makita subalit higit na sumisimbolo sa Kapaskuhan. Kabilang na rito ang nilikha ng Capas. Makikita sa harap ng munisipyo ng bayan ang isang uri ng windwheel na nagpapahiwatig na patuloy umiikot ang progreso sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Capas Mayor Reynaldo ‘Reycat’ Catacutan.  Maging sa lungsod ng Tarlac ay bumabandera rin ang Belenismno na umuugnay sa pagsulong ng kabuhayan na ipinatupad ni City Mayor Cristy Angeles sa 76 barangays ng Tarlac.  Dahil din sa diwa ng Kapaskuhan ay nagkaloob ang pamahalaang lokal ng P500.00 sa bawat senior citizen na naninirahan sa...

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MANIILA, Philippines – The Francis Vicente era at Generika-Ayala has finally come to an end. The Lifesavers formally issued the pink slip to the national team head coach after failing to advance to the semifinals of the Chooks to Go-Philippine Superliga Grand Prix last month. According to multiple sources, Vicente sat down with Generika Drugstore COO Jay Ferrer Sunday afternoon and was told that the Lifesavers will be taking a different direction in the Grand Prix this February. The insiders claimed that the Lifesavers had already started interviewing potential candidates for the head coaching position and are expected to come up with a decision in the next few days. No names had been mentioned, but a young mentor from a rival league and an incumbent PSL coach are said to be on top of the list. Vicente confirmed the veracity of the claim, saying that it could be a blessing in disguise as he gets to focus on his task as head coach of University of the East in the UAAP that starts o...

© Philstar.com Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic | AP MELBOURNE, Australia — Top-ranked Rafael Nadal will make his return from injury in the Tie Break Tens event in Melbourne on January 10. Nadal previously withdrew from the Brisbane International and Fast4 event in Sydney while recovering from a knee injury. Organizers said Nadal will join Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka among a field of eight players in the Melbourne knockout tournament which has a winner-take-all purse of $250,000. In Tie Break 10s, the winner is the first player to reach 10 points with a two-point margin in a super tiebreaker. Nadal said "Tie Break Tens is a great concept and we will see and play some exciting matches. The field is fantastic and I expect some tough competition which will be great for the Aussie fans."

Arsene Wenger's record-breaking day as Arsenal manager ended in frustration as his disjointed side were held to a controversial 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday. The Frenchman took charge of his 811th Gunners league game, taking him past Alex Ferguson's Premier League record of 810. BOX SCORE:  ARSENAL 1, WEST BROM 1 But his side were denied victory by Jay Rodriguez's 89th-minute penalty, awarded for handball against Calum Chambers to the fury of Wenger and his players. Arsenal had taken the lead six minutes earlier after a deflected Alexis Sanchez free-kick found its way into the West Brom net via a deflection off James McClean. The Gunners had been frustrated for much of the game by a resolute Albion. Arsenal made the brighter start but might have found themselves trailing to the first chance of the game on six minutes. A weaving run down the right flank by Matt Phillips ended with a cross for Rodriguez, who leapt highest but headed too close to Petr Cech...

© Provided by AFP Diego Costa rejoined Atletico Madrid after a 60 million euros transfer from Chelsea Atletico Madrid unveiled new signings Diego Costa and Vitolo on Sunday as the Spanish club's transfer ban finally comes to an end.Atletico had been unable to register new signings in last summer's transfer window after being handed a ban by FIFA for irregularities in relation to the transfers of minors.But they had already agreed deals to bring Spain striker Costa back to the club from Chelsea and sign winger Vitolo from Sevilla. Both will be able to make their debuts with the winter window opening on Monday."I know there is a lot of competition, that they have a lot of goals in them," said Costa, 29, of the prospect of competing with the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres for a starting berth in Diego Simeone's side.It was in September that Atletico announced the signing of Costa, with Spanish media saying they had agreed to pay Chelsea around 60 m...

© Provided by AFP The World Anti-Doping Agency accused Russia of a state-sponsored doping programme during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi FIFA tried to contact Russian whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov over accusations of doping in Russian football and will do so again after samples have been re-tested by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), world football's governing body told AFP.In an interview to the Associated Press, Rodchenkov's lawyer said his client had information that could be of interest but claimed FIFA had not made any attempt to contact the man who was the source of revelations about state-sponsored doping in the host nation of the 2018 World Cup.Contacted by AFP, FIFA said they had tried to get hold of Rodchenkov via WADA before November 22 this year, only to be told he was not available.Now FIFA are waiting for WADA's reanalysis of doping tests, which they expect to begin in mid-January."The process is ongoing and FIFA will contact Dr Rodchenkov vi...

Share this: Ni NORA CALDERON Edgar Allan BAGO dumalo si Edgar Allan (EA) Guzman sa Gabi ng Parangal ng 43rd Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), dumaan siya sa simbahan na lagi niyang pinupuntahan para dumalo ni Misa at ipinagdasal niyang sana ay may magandang regalo ang Diyos sa kanya. Alam na nating tinanghal na Best Supporting Actor si EA sa pagganap niya bilang beki sa Deadma Walking sa katatapos na gabi ng parangal, kaya ngayon ay patuloy pa rin siyang nagpapasasalamat sa Diyos sa pagdinig ng kanyang dasal Labis din ang pasasalamat niya sa kanyang producer na T-Rex Entertainment, kay Direk Julius Alfonso na gumabay sa kanya sa pagganap niya role bilang si Mark, and he shared the award to Joross Gamboa dahil natulungan din siya nito sa kanyang pagganap, kahit pareho naman silang beki sa story. Nagpasalamat din si EA sa lahat ng mga moviegoers at fans niya na todo-suporta sa pelikula na isa sa top entries ngayon sa MMFF. As of now, may mga naka-schedule pa rin silang blo...

Share this: Ni JIMI ESCALA Heart Evangelista NAGING trending ang pagkikitang muli ng dating magkasintahang Jericho Rosales at Heart Evangelista sa isang event. Agad namang ipinaliwanag ng bidang actor ng Siargao na hindi naman ‘yun ang unang pagkakataon na muli silang nagkita ng ex-girlfriend niya. “It’s not the first time. Mas maraming beses na kaming nagkita sa mga events at magkasama kami lagi ng asawa ko. So nagkakabungguan kami parati,” sabi ni Echo. Hindi kaila kay Jericho na muling nanumbalik ang sigla ng mga tagahanga ng love team nila. “Sa totoo lang, kami ni Kim (Jones, wife niya), nagbabasa kami ng mga comments sa Instagram, tawa kami nang tawi kasi merong mga kung anu-ano na silang istorya na nabuo, di ba? So it was really fun for Kim and I to look at that and watch.” Nagulat nga raw ang asawa niya sa nababasang reaksiyon ng mga tagahanga nila ni Heart. Kaya ipinaliwanag agad ng actor ang mga nangyari noong sila pa ni Heart ang magka-love team. “Alam naman ...

© YouScoop SUV in Mandaluyong shooting Police investigators said that four suspects in the December 28 Mandaluyong shooting incident, including watchmen Wilmer Doron and Ernesto Fajardo, had tested positive for gunpowder residue,  GMA 7 news program "24 Oras Weekend" reported on Sunday. Furthermore, Jonalyn Ambaan, who was shot to death when Mandaluyong police officers and watchmen mistakenly opened fire on the vehicle that was taking her to hospital, had also tested positive. Ambaan was being taken to hospital because of a gunshot wound she received when she intervened in an argument. "Dalawa doon sa side ni Alfie na nag-positive din, at dalawa doon sa side nila Jonalyn nag-positive din. Even si Jonalyn na nasawi, lumalabas na nag-positive din sa paraffin test," said National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Director Oscar Albayalde. Doron had earlier denied having a gun, and thus he could not have shot at the vehicle taking Ambaan to hospital. Me...

© Provided by GMA News Online Facade of NCCC Mall The Inter-Agency Anti-Arson Task Force, assigned to investigate into the tragic New City Commercial Center Mall fire in Davao City, on Sunday recommended that five five Bureau of Fire Protection officials be relieved from their posts.  A "Balitanghali" report by Bam Alegre identified the five BFP personnel as: Senior Police Officer 1 Leo Lauzon (Fire Safety Inspector of SSI Office) Senior Police Officer 2 Joel Quizmundo (Fire Safety Inspector of NCCC Mall) Senior Police Officer 1 Roger Dumag (Chief of the Fire Safety Section of Davao City) Inspector Renero Jimenez (Station Commander of SIR Fire Station) Superintendent Honee Fritz Alagano (District Fire Marshal of Davao City) "Si SFOI Leo Lauzon was the one responsible in inspecting the SSI office, and when he accomplished the after inspection report, he noted that SSI has no violation except the conduct of fire exit drill... when in fact, there are so many vio...

© Provided by GMA News Online CBCP logo The Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) on Sunday offered prayers to those who "suffered" especially the victims of the recent cyclones that hit the country. "Lord almighty and loving God we pray for our people especially to those who are suffering and those who died in the recent storms and even as one is set to be coming to the Philippines. We pray for the homeless, the elderly and children," said CBCP president Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles. "Let us pray that they would never lose hope, the goodness of the Lord and faith and love and care for the Lord," Valles added. Valles also hoped that others would continue "to bring aid, help and comfort to those who are suffering." The CBCP head also called on Filipinos to welcome the New Year with mercy and compassion amid the darkness and suffering felt by the people. "We'll keep our hope that through our kindness and care...

© Provided by GMA News Online Philippine National Police logo Nine people have been arrested so far for illegal discharge of firearms in the days leading up to New Year's Day, the Philippine National Police said Sunday. In a statement, the PNP said that the nine arrested included five civilians, two police personnel, one security guard, and a government official. Meanwhile, 14 have have been arrested for selling illegal firecrackers and a total of  P14,230 worth if illegal fireworks have been confiscated. Moreover, the PNP said that from December 21 to 29, a total of 72 firecrackers-related injuries were recorded—or 40 percent lower than the number of cases in the same  period last year; and 59 percent lower than the figures in same time reference in the years 2012 through 2016. No cases of firecracker ingestion and stray bullet injuries have so far been recorded, it added. The PNP attributed the decrease in the number of firecracker-related incidents to the PNP's earl...

MAGUINDANAO, Philippines —  Members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters burned on Sunday morning 12 houses in Datu Hoffer, Maguindanao that had been left behind by fleeing villagers. The owners of the houses in Sitio Macon in Barangay Limpongo had evacuated to safer areas three days before due to attacks by BIFF bandits. BIFF gunmen first burned three houses near Mt. Firis, a sacred site for Tedurays in the border of Datu Hofer and Datu Unsay towns, on December 25. More than 200 Teduray families have fled to safer areas following a series of harassments by BIFF members trying to force them out of their tribal communities in hinterlands surrounded by Maguindanao's Datu Hoffer, Shariff Aguak, Datu Unsay and Datu Saudi towns. Lt. Col. Gerry Besana, spokesman of the Army-led Joint Task Force Central, on Sunday sa...

MANILA, Philippines — Police, on early Sunday morning, seized an estimated P1 million worth of illegal drugs in a buy-bust operation in Quezon City. The Quezon City District Drug Enforcement Unit led the buy-bust operation at a restaurant on Timog Avenue at around 7:45 a.m., according to Superintendent Guillermo Eleazar, Quezon City Police District chief. Citing a report from the chief of the DDEU, Eleazar said that a big plastic sachet and 19 small plastic sachets of cocaine weighing more or less 30 grams with street value of P300,000 were seized in the operation. Also nabbed in the buy-bust were more than 200 pieces of ecstasy valued at P500,000 and four bottles of liquid ecstasy valued at P200,000. © Philstar.com Police on Sunday morning seized an estimated P1 million worth of cocaine and ectasy from four suspects. File photo The police arrested Michael Franz Karag, Nina Recio, Sarah Sibayan and and Dianne Strella in the early morning operation. The su...

MANILA, Philippines — At least 31 Nazareno devotees were reported hurt in the annual thanksgiving procession of the faithful at Quiapo Church, Manila early Sunday morning. According to a radio report by DzBB, the 31 were given first aid. The report said that some of the faithful experienced dizziness and fainted. They were immediately brought to the medical teams on stand by. © Philstar.com In this photo taken Jan. 9, 2016, Catholic devotees mount the image of the Black Nazarene on a carriage as other devotees jostle to get closer to kiss and rub with towels its cross during a raucous procession to celebrate its feast day in Manila. AP/Bullit Marquez Medical tents were stationed around Quiapo Church in anticipation of the flocking of Nazarene devotees. As early as 1:00 a.m., the Manila Police District closed off roads along the procession route. Thousands also flock for the "translacion" in celebration of the Black Nazarene's feast day every January 9.  Every Goo...

Share this: BAGONG kuwelang segments at isang dance challenge na patok din sa online world ang dumadagdag ng aliw sa pananghalian ng madlang pipol at sa It’s Showtime. Una sa pagpapasaya ang “Funny One” season two grand champion na si Donna Cariaga, na patuloy ang pakikipagsapalaran sa pag-ibig sa kanyang sariling stand-up segment na “Donna What to Do, Donna What to Say.” Lalo pang dumadami ang kumakapit sa kuwento at hugot jokes ni Donna dahil sa tiyak na pagkukrus nila ng landas ni Gemma, ang kasalukuyang girlfriend ng ex-boyfriend niyang si James. Maaari namang ipakita ng madlang pipol ang kanilang ibubuga sa “W.E.R.P.A.H. (Woah! Extraordinary Real Pinoy Action Hero),” na magbibihis at mag-aastang superhero ang contestants upang ipamalas ang kanilang “power” o “werpah.” Sa naturang segment, magagamit ng mga ordinaryong Pinoy ang kanilang imahinasyon sa pag-iimbento ng kanilang ‘superpower’ at pagpapamalas nito sa nakakaaliw na paraan. Araw-araw ding nagpapasaya ang segme...

© Sean M. Haffey/GettyImages Toronto Raptors v Los Angeles Lakers ​The Los Angeles Lakers have shown brief flashes of competitiveness this year, but are still one of the worst overall teams in the NBA. They're expected to be active at the trade deadline as they look to clear as much cap space as possible in order to be major players in free agency this summer. Of the current players on the Lakers roster, two are expected to be shopped actively on the trade market: guard Jordan Clarkson and forward  ​Julius Randle . Lakers reportedly have a strong desire to trade Jordan Clarkson and Julius Randle. https://t.co/M7ShTW9sNe pic.twitter.com/YXWJ5pG1nn — Lakers Nation (@LakersNation) December 29, 2017 Even after this season is done, Clarkson will still be owed $25.9 million over the last two years of his contract, while Randle has a $12.4 million cap hit for next season. It makes all the sense in the world for the Lakers to want and move both...

Share this: MASAYANG nag-announce ang Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) 2017 Executive Committee thtrough their spokesperson Noel Ferrer na bumalik nang muli ang mainit na pagtangkilik ng moviegoers sa mga pelikulang kasali sa taunang filmfest. Nakakatuwa ngang makita na muling bumalik ang mahahabang pila sa mga pelikulang gusto nilang panoorin ng publiko simula noong Pasko. Ayon kay Noel, kahit wala siyang inilabas na official gross receipt ng first at second day ng festival, na-break nito ang box-office ng 2015 MMFF first and second day. Napansin din na humaba na ang mga pila ng mga taong manonood. Saksi kami sa dalawang araw naming pagpunta sa mga cinema complex para manood at tingnan kung tulad ng first day ay marami pa ring nanood sa second day. “The big achievement is bringing back our kababayans to the theaters it took quite some time before we saw this kind of enthusiasm once again from the Filipino viewers,” pahayag ni MMFF Execom Chairman Tim Orbos. “From the Par...

© Getty As with every New Year’s, fitness resolutions are sprouting, which means gym memberships, concocting the latest diets workouts to exact the sculpted body you want—and tracking it all with a fitness tracker. Except this year’s fitness trackers aren’t the typical black band you might have become accustomed to. And why not? It’s a field that is ripe with opportunity for improvement. A wristband fitness tracker can often turn into a sweaty nuisance. It’s not completely accurate. And a belt that counts steps taken is a bulky annoyance. So it makes sense that one of the most promising fitness trackers is a temporary skin tattoo embedded with tracking technology that is being tested by scientists. A tattoo after all solves the cumbersome, uncomfortable issues of having a device on you at all times. Researchers are developing a variety of these tiny but flexible sensors. At the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Materials Research Laboratory, YuHao Liu has tested tiny sensor...

© Boeing photo by Eric Shindelbower/ Boeing’s MQ-25 drone is designed to provide the U.S. Navy with refueling capabilities that would extend the combat range of deployed Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Boeing EA-18G Growler, and Lockheed Martin F-35C fighters. Boeing recently offered a first glimpse of its newest military aircraft, a large, stingray-shaped drone it hopes will win an intense Navy competition to build an uncrewed aircraft capable of landing on an aircraft carrier. Drones have been a vital part of the Pentagon’s arsenal for years, but the competition for a Navy carrier-based version that can refuel jet fighters in the midair would mark a significant advancement in the technology — and become another sign of how the military is increasingly integrating robots into the way it fights. In addition to Boeing, two of the Pentagon’s top suppliers, General Atomics and Lockheed Martin, are also vying for a contract to build as many as 76 of the vehicles that wo...

© Provided by IBT US Apple is developing its AR glasses. After the successful launch of its first OLED smartphone — the iPhone X — this year, Apple is now looking to introduce its AR/VR glasses to the public. A new patent application from the Cupertino giant is teasing what kind of technology the company is preparing for its technologically advanced spectacles. Just recently the European Patent Office published a new patent application from Tim Cook’s company, and it is one that details Apple’s plans for its augmented reality glasses. Based on the published document, Apple’s AR glasses could include near-eye displays that are designed to project images close to the user’s eyes.  Patently Apple reports that the patented technology could mean that Apple is developing devices like virtual reality and augmented reality headsets that come with near-eye displays. The devices are said to come with optical elements that would make it possible for wearers to easily and comfortably view...

MANILA, Philippines — Former Customs chief Nicanor Faeldon's appointment to the Office of Civil Defense is an opportunity for him to prove his critics wrong, Malacañang said yesterday. Faeldon, who was tagged in a corruption scandal in the customs bureau earlier this year, was named civil defense deputy administrator last week.  Officials have justified the appointment, saying allegations against the former Customs chief have not been proven. They said Faeldon still enjoys the trust and confidence of President Rodrigo Duterte, who promised not to tolerate even a whiff of corruption in government.  Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar stressed that Duterte has the prerogative to appoint people he thinks are effective in performing tasks.  "The most important...is the trust and confidence of our president," Andanar told radio station dzBB Sunday.  "If you have the trust and confidence of the President and then you can serve the country. So this is ...

MANILA, Philippines — Around 17,000 families may welcome 2018 in evacuation centers due to Typhoon Vinta, which caused widespread damage across the country earlier this month. There were 17,302 families in 90 evacuation centers as of Sunday morning, the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council said. A total of 168,081 families, or around 794,613 people, were effected in the 1,151 barangays in the Mimaropa, Central Visayas,Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, and Caraga regions and in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.  The tropical storm destroyed 3,584 houses and damaged 3,129. Vinta left the Philippine Area of Responsibility on the morning of December 24, after battering Mindanao and triggering landslides in Cagayan de Oro City, and in several towns in Lanao del Norte, Lanao del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay provinces. Initial reports from different local governm...

© Provided by GMA News Online Low-pressure area as of December 31, 2017 Some regional offices of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) have been placed on high alert status in anticipation of  tropical cyclone Agaton. In a report on Sunday morning, the NDRRMC said its regional offices in Central Luzon, Western Visyas, Central Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsulaz have sent advisories to their local counterparts to warn landslide and flood-prone areas. It said Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Zamboanga Peninsula are already on red alert status while Centra Luzon is on blue alert. Other regions including Eastern Visayas and Northern Mindanao are also bracing for Agaton, the first cyclone expected to enter the country in 2018. In its 11 a.m. bulletin, weather bureau PAGASA said the low pressure area expected to intensify into a tropical depression by January 1 or January 2 was estimated at 910 kilometers east of Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur. PAGASA s...

© Provided by GMA News Online Western Mindanao Command The military's Western Mindanao Command (WestMinCom) killed a total of 310 members of ISIS-affiliated groups Abu Sayyaf and the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF) since January 1 this year. The WestMinCom said in a statement that a total of 128 Abu Sayyaf members were killed in 53 encounters in Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Zamboanga and 182 BIFF members in Central Mindanao from January 1 to December 30. It said a total of 352 Abu Sayyaf members were neutralized, including 80 arrested and 144 bandits who surrendered. The WestMinCom also recovered a total of 223 firearms from the Abu Sayyaf members. Meanwhile, a total of 243 BIFF members have been neutralized including 24 arrested and three who surrendered. A total of 38 firearms were recovered from the Moro group, the WestMinCom added. The command said the joint security operation between its troops and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front contributed to the signific...

© Victor D. Sollorano, GMA News Passengers wait for the train to arrive at the Quezon Avenue Station of the MRT3 at 6:05 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Photo by Victor D. Sollorano, GMA News Communications Secretary Martin Andanar on Sunday said the Philippines will establish a railway institute as part of the government's agreement with Japan to improve the country's train system. In a Super Radyo dzBB interview, Andanar confirmed that the first phase of construction of the Metro Manila subway project will commence next year. Part of the first phase is the establishment of the railway institute, he said. The subway project will be under the supervision of the Department of Transportation in cooperation with the government of Japan. "Kailangan meron kang training institute para sa mga gagawa, magku-construct or magme-maintain ng ating mga railway sa Pilipinas," Andanar said. Andanar said that other countries have their own railway institute or center which serv...

© Provided by IBT US Samsung’s Galaxy A8 is launching in early 2018. Samsung and LG introduced formidable top-tier handsets this year, so now the two South Korean tech giants are looking to boost their efforts when it comes to the mid-tier segment. The crosstown rivals are reportedly launching new handsets that would rival the budget smartphones of Chinese manufacturers.  On Friday, South Korean publication Korea Herald revealed that Samsung and LG are looking to appeal to more consumers by releasing affordable handsets that still come with high-end features. The move is seen as the companies’ response to the rapidly increasing offerings of Chinese phone makers that are penetrating many markets including South Korea.  “Samsung and LG used to make sales plans centering on flagship models but they appear to be changing their strategy by introducing more lineups to appeal to a diverse customer base,” Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade researcher Joo Da...

© NASA/GSFC The length of Earth's day is slowing down at a glacial pace of 1.8 milliseconds every 100 years. This image shows the Earth and moon as seen by NASA's Deep Space Climate Observatory satellite 1 million miles away. The presence of life might influence how fast a planet spins, releasing gases such as oxygen that can crank up how quickly a world turns, a new study finds. Earth currently takes about 24 hours to complete its day — that is, a rotation on the planet's axis. However, Earth once spun far more quickly, perhaps taking only 2 to 3 hours to complete a day . The gravitational pulls of the sun and moon helped slow Earth's spinning over billions of years to its current speed, an effect known as tidal braking. Earth's spin continues to slow, with the planet's day increasing by about 1.8 milliseconds per century. Previous research has found that a variety of different factors can also speed up and slow down how fast Earth whirls. For example, pri...

© Provided by IBT US Many people will ring in the new year focusing on goals for themselves, like putting off some pounds. While some might already be at their goal weight, it’s always important to keep healthy by staying active and eating well. The task might not be so easy and may make some people may give up after a few weeks. However, there are different tech tools that can help people stay on track with their health goals. Below are ways to keep healthy this year using technology.  Apple Watch Series 3 Apple released the Apple Watch Series 3 in September. The gadget comes with a heart rate sensor, while remaining the same size as the Series 2. The Watch allows users to transfer gym machine data to the their device. The waterproof gadget includes a dual-core processor and a faster Siri.  The Apple Watch comes with an easy-to-use Workout app, with options like walking, outdoor or indoor running, swimming, dancing and more. The device also encourages users t...

© Provided by GMA News Online Photo: Presidential Photos President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday urged Filipinos to welcome and celebrate the New Year with hope and determination despite the trials that hampered the country's progress. In his New Year's message to the public, Duterte said, "We are at a time when our resolve is being tested by many trials and difficulties. Corruption, criminality, illegal drugs and terrorism have impeded our progress in the past year. However, I remain hopeful that our resilience will enable us to overcome and rise above these challenges as one nation." "Let us embrace this coming year's uncertainty with a glimmer of hope and remain determined in achieving our vision of a better and more prosperous future," Duterte added. Duterte urged Filipinos to "draw strength" from one another and remain united as we pursue for a more comfortable and productive life this coming 2018. "As we spend time with our family...

MANILA, Philippines — Human rights group Karapatan, on Sunday, slammed Malacañang for resorting to personal attacks against United Nations experts who have warned against the impact of militarization on indigenous peoples. In a statement, Karapatan Secretary General Cristina Palabay branded as "infuriating" the Palace's latest tirade against two Filipino UN special rapporteurs, whom presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said were attempting to "embarrass" the Duterte administration .  "It is infuriating that instead of taking note of and acting on the reported violations, the Duterte government resorts to ad hominem attacks to deflect accountability, in addition to its adamant refusal to be subjected to independent investigations," Karapatan said. In a statement dated December 27, UN special rapporteurs Victoria Tauli-Corpuz and Cecilia Jimenez-Damary said the ongoing militarization in Mindanao has "massive and potentially irreversible" ef...