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Atlanta continues playoff push versus surging Minnesota

AS the regular season winds down, Tuesday’s meeting between the visiting Minnesota Lynx and Atlanta Dream in College Park, Ga., features teams in vastly different situations.

Minnesota (26-9) has already clinched a playoff berth, the club’s second straight and 13th in the last 14 seasons. The only gray area for the Lynx is what seed they will hold.

Currently in the No. 2 spot in the eight-team playoff with five games remaining, Minnesota sits three games behind the New York Liberty and one game ahead of the third-place Connecticut Sun entering play Tuesday.

The Lynx have won three in a row and 10 of 11, a spurt that began with a July 17 win over Atlanta.

Minnesota earned a 78-71 road victory over the Washington Mystics on Sunday. Napheesa Collier’s 19-point, 12-rebound effort propelled the Lynx to a four-game season sweep against Washington.

“You can’t take any game off. The competition is too stiff,” Collier said. “We have to come in with our A-game every day.”

Minnesota shot just 40.9 percent from the field but held Washington to 32 second-half points and forced 16 turnovers.

“We know that our defense is going to help us win games when we don’t have it offensively,” said Natisha Hiedeman, who scored 10 points off the bench. “Really cranking up the defense in the second half is what allowed us to win this game.”

Collier leads the team with 20.6 points per game and 9.8 rebounds, while Kayla McBride adds 15.3 points per game.

For Atlanta (12-23), every game is vital, as just one playoff spot remains. The Dream enter Tuesday one game behind the Chicago Sky for the final spot.

Following Friday’s 16-point comeback win against the Dallas Wings in overtime, Atlanta followed with another overtime game, falling to the Indiana Fever 104-100 on Sunday. — Reuters

Djokovic shut out as young guns usher in new Grand Slam era

BENGALURU — An epoch-shifting Grand Slam season dominated by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz has provided the clearest sign yet that the “Big Three” era of men’s tennis is finally over, with Novak Djokovic destined to be its last year-end number one.

The golden rule that you should never write off Djokovic still holds true, but after he, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer had won at least one Grand Slam title between them every season since 2003, this year there were none.

Sinner lifted the US Open title on Sunday following his breakthrough Australian Open triumph in January, while Alcaraz won the French Open and Wimbledon to mark the first time since 1993 that men aged 23 or under had swept the Grand Slams.

“It’s a bit different, for sure. It’s something new, but also nice to see,” said Sinner, who overcame the distraction of a doping controversy to help usher in a new age.

“It’s nice to see new champions. Nice to see new rivalries. I feel it’s good for the sport to have some new champions.”

The extraordinary dominance of the “Big Three” saw them win 66 of 81 Grand Slam tournaments from Federer’s first Wimbledon title in 2003 to Djokovic’s 24th major title at Flushing Meadows last year.

With Federer retired and Nadal hampered by injury, Djokovic single-handedly held back the younger generation in 2023 by winning three of the four majors and finishing as the year-end number one for a record-extending eighth time.

This year, Djokovic endured a lackluster Grand Slam campaign by his lofty standards, starting with a semifinal loss to Sinner at Melbourne Park and continuing with an injury enforced withdrawal from the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.

Mauled by Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final, he suffered a chastening defeat by Alexei Popyrin in the third round of the US Open and was shut out of the majors for the first time since his injury-plagued 2017 season.

He did, however, produce a miraculous effort to stave off much younger rivals at the Paris Olympics, including Alcaraz in the final, and claim the gold medal he had long coveted.

“From a larger perspective, of course I have to be content,” Djokovic said in the aftermath of his US Open exit.

“It’s hard to see the big perspective right now. You’re just angry and upset that you lost and the way you played. But tomorrow is a new day. I’ll obviously think about what to do next.”

IMPOSSIBLE TASK
Having turned 37 in May, Djokovic is already past the age at which any man has won a Grand Slam title and finishing the season at the top of the rankings looks an impossible task in the twilight of his career.

Djokovic is ninth in the race to the season finale in Turin — the separate year-to-date standings that serve as a measuring stick for the battle for number one — and is unlikely to gain much ground in the Asian swing starting this month.

A more important target for a man who has always had a huge regard for the history of the game might be winning a 25th Grand Slam to surpass Margaret Court’s record.

Nowhere is that more likely to happen than at January’s Australian Open, where Djokovic has lifted the trophy a record 10 times in 19 appearances. — Reuters

Warriors eyeing trade

First off, let’s get one thing clear: The Warriors are not bona fide contenders for the National Basketball Association championship, and not just because they’re plying their trade in the highly competitive Western Conference. For the first time since their dynastic run in the previous decade, they’re entering a season with myriad questions borne of an unplanned roster upheaval. Which, in many ways, seems ironic given their humongous payroll and immediate past play-in performance. With unprecedented cost comes heightened — even unrealistic — expectations, and the onus is on the front office to make sense of the spending.

That said, the Warriors were absolutely right to have inked foundational piece Stephen Curry to a whopping $62.6 million contract extension that guarantees his stay through the 2026-27 season. It doesn’t matter that he will be pushing 40 by the time the additional money — which makes him the biggest earner in the 2020s by far — kicks in. He’s still the engine that runs the offense for the blue and yellow, and considering how he saved Team USA’s reputation in the Paris Games with a showing for the ages, he most definitely deserves to do so until he exits stage left.

To be sure, the Warriors have no choice but to ride shotgun until Curry’s wheels fall off. Their transition plan fell through when Draymond Green sucker-punched Jordan Poole prior to the start of the 2022-23 season. And forced to choose as a consequence, they went for retaining the core that gave them four titles in the last nine years. To argue that the results since then have been mixed would be to understate the obvious. If nothing else, their absence in the 2023-24 playoffs is indicative of their standing — or lack thereof — moving forward.

It bears noting that the Warriors, under general manager Mike Dunleavy, Jr., continue to look for ways to tweak the lineup. And they’re not afraid to keep going all in despite their repeated tax obligations; at the trade deadline last February, for instance, they actually asked the Lakers if all-time-great LeBron James was available. Their motivation, of course, is to take full advantage of Curry while he’s still plying the trade, and, more importantly, while he’s still transcendent. The window is very, very small, and they’re smartly trying to make the most of it. Unfortunately, their salary cap situation severely limits their options.

If preseason prognoses are to be believed, the Warriors are middling at best. Nonetheless, Curry’s gravitational pull makes them dangerous. Armed with resolve and no small measure of good fortune, they may yet make a run for the ages. And should they get to catch lightning in a bottle, their campaign looks to trump any before it. Meanwhile, they continue to scour for means to get luck to tilt in their favor.

 

Anthony L. Cuaycong has been writing Courtside since BusinessWorld introduced a Sports section in 1994. He is a consultant on strategic planning, operations and human resources management, corporate communications, and business development.

Tariffs tend to hit the poor harder, WTO says

TIMO STRUKER-UNSPLASH

BRUSSELS — Import tariffs tend to disproportionately hit low-income households, the World Trade Organization (WTO) said in a report on Monday, countering what it sees as backlash against open markets and rising protectionism.

WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said the 2024 World Trade Report reaffirmed trade’s role in reducing poverty and sharing prosperity “contrary to the currently fashionable notion” that trade was creating a more unequal world.

Globally, restrictive trade policies often have a disproportionate impact on low-income households, women and on smaller companies that may struggle with increased fixed costs of trade, the WTO report said.

The United States is poised to hike tariffs on a range of Chinese imports, including a quadrupling of the rate for electric vehicles (EV), while Canada has matched the US EV rate and the European Union had introduced its own EV duties.

China has responded with investigations into EU dairy, pork and brandy imports and canola from Canada.

US presidential candidate Donald Trump has proposed a 10% tariff on all imports and a higher rate for those from China.

The WTO report said that on the whole, low-income households typically faced a greater burden from higher tariffs.

In the United States, consumer goods from China that are now exempt from import tariffs are predominantly shipped to low-income regions, benefiting poorer households.

Richer households consume a greater share of imports from high-income economies, the WTO report said.

Protectionist policies may fail, the report said, because they often lead to higher domestic prices that reduce consumption. They may also lead to damaging retaliation by trading partners.

Tariffs then prove politically hard to remove even when no protection for a sector is needed, locking in higher prices.

The WTO report concludes that protectionism is not an effective path to inclusiveness, but an expensive way to protect specific jobs that can raise costs for other sectors and risk retaliation from disgruntled partners. — Reuters

Top US, Chinese military officials hold 1st video call

COLLECTIONS - GETARCHIVE

BEIJING/HONG KONG — The United States and China held theater-level commander talks for the first time on Tuesday, Chinese authorities said, as the two nations look to stabilize military ties and prevent military misunderstandings.

Washington seeks to open new channels of regular military communication with Beijing since ties sank to a historic low after the United States downed a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon last year.

Admiral Sam Paparo, head of the US Indo-Pacific Command, held a video telephone call with his counterpart Wu Yanan of the Southern Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).

Both sides had an “in depth exchange of views on issues of common concern,” the Chinese defense ministry said in a readout.

Paparo urged the PLA “to reconsider its use of dangerous, coercive, and potentially escalatory tactics in the South China Sea and beyond,” the Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement that described the exchange as “constructive and respectful.”

He also stressed the importance of continued talks to clarify intent and reduce the risk of misperception or miscalculation.

The call followed a meeting in Beijing last month between US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s leading military adviser, at which the talks were agreed.

The US Indo-Pacific Command’s areas of responsibility include the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait, two hotspots for regional tension that are flashpoints in US-China ties.

Most two-way military engagements were suspended for almost two years after Nancy Pelosi, then the speaker of the US House of Representatives, visited Taiwan in August 2022.

Last week Nicholas Burns, the US ambassador to China, said he was worried by “the aggressive nature” of its military buildup and its navy’s intimidating behavior towards US allies the Philippines and Japan.

“I certainly worry about an unintended conflict between our military forces, an accident, an accidental collision,” he told the magazine Foreign Policy in an online interview.

The United States plans to send a senior Pentagon official to a major security forum in China later this week. — Reuters

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un vows to exponentially boost nuclear arsenal

KIM JONG UN — KREMLIN.RU-WIKIMEDIA

SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the country is now implementing a nuclear force construction policy to increase the number of nuclear weapons “exponentially,” state media KCNA reported on Tuesday.

In a speech on North Korea’s founding anniversary on Monday, Kim said the country must more thoroughly prepare its “nuclear capability and its readiness to use it properly at any given time in ensuring the security rights of the state”, said KCNA.

A strong military presence is needed to face “the various threats posed by the United States and its followers”, he added.

Mr. Kim also said North Korea is facing a “grave threat” from what it sees as a US-led nuclear-based military bloc in the region.

South Korea’s deputy defense minister for policy, Cho Chang-rae, and his US and Japanese counterparts on Tuesday condemned Pyongyang’s recent diversification of nuclear delivery systems, tests and launches of multiple ballistic missiles.

Meeting in Seoul, the three reaffirmed a commitment to strengthen trilateral cooperation to ensure peace in the region, including by deterring North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, according to a joint statement released by the US State department.

They also agreed to hold a second trilateral military exercise known as Freedom Edge in the near term.

South Korea will also hold a defense ministerial meeting with the member states of the United Nations Command (UNC) on Tuesday.

The UNC is led by the commander of the US military stationed in South Korea.

Last month, Germany became the latest to join the UNC in South Korea that helps police the heavily fortified border with North Korea and has committed to defend the South in the event of a war.

North Korea has criticized the UNC as an “illegal war organization” and Germany’s entry into the US-led UN border monitoring force as raising tensions. — Reuters

Floods inundate north Vietnam as Typhoon Yagi death toll climbs

HANOI — Severe floods are expected to inundate parts of Vietnam’s north, including the capital Hanoi, government officials said, as the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi, the most powerful storm to hit Asia so far this year, continues to extract a deadly toll.

Landslides and floods triggered by the typhoon have killed at least 65 people and 39 others are missing in the north, the disaster management agency said on Tuesday in its latest update on the situation.

Most of the victims were killed in landslides and flash floods, the agency said in a report, adding that 752 people have been injured.

Other northern areas, including the industrial hubs of Bac Giang and Thai Nguyen which host factories of several export-oriented multinationals including Samsung Electronics and Apple supplier Foxconn are also facing severe flooding, state media reported. It was not immediately clear if the companies were affected.

The typhoon made landfall on Saturday on Vietnam’s northeastern coast, devastating a large swath of industrial and residential areas and bringing heavy rains that caused floods and landslides. It had previously hit the Philippines and the southern Chinese island of Hainan.

Several rivers in northern Vietnam have risen to alarming levels, leaving villages and residential areas inundated, according to the disaster agency and state media.

A 30-year-old bridge over the Red River in the northern province of Phu Tho collapsed on Monday, leaving eight missing, according to a statement from the provincial People’s Committee.

Authorities have subsequently banned or limited traffic on other bridges across the river, including Chuong Duong Bridge, one of the largest in Hanoi, according to state media reports.

“Water levels on the Red River are rising rapidly,” the government said on Tuesday in a post on its Facebook account.

Using public loudspeakers commonly used to broadcast Communist propaganda in the past, officials warned residents of the capital’s riverside Long Bien district to be on alert for possible flooding, and to be ready to evacuate the area.

Flood waters have already inundated villages on the outskirts of Hanoi, state broadcaster VTV reported, and authorities were already evacuating residents from there.

Evacuations were also taking place from flood-prone areas in Bac Giang province, the government said, where the typhoon and floods have caused damage estimated for now to be worth 300 billion dong ($12.1 million).

More than 4,600 soldiers have been deployed in the province to support the evacuation and support flood victims.

Lao Cai province has reported the highest casualties with 19 people killed and 11 missing, mostly in landslides, according to the disaster management agency.

Floods have also inundated 148,600 hectares or almost 7% of rice fields in northern Vietnam and 26,100 hectares of cash crops and damaged nearly 50,000 houses in northern Vietnam, according to the agency. — Reuters

Bali to ban building of some hotels to tackle overdevelopment

FLORIAN GIORGIO-UNSPLASH

JAKARTA — Indonesia has agreed to set a moratorium on the construction of hotels, villas and nightclubs in some areas on the tourist resort island of Bali, as it grapples with the over-development of land, a senior ministry official said on Monday.

The moratorium is part of the government’s bid to reform tourism on Bali, one of Indonesia’s main attractions, to try to boost quality and jobs while preserving the island’s indigenous culture.

Hermin Esti, a senior official at the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime and Investment Affairs, told Reuters the government had agreed to set the moratorium, although the exact timeline was still being discussed.

On Saturday, Bali’s interim governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya said he suggested the moratorium in four of Bali’s busy areas to the central government, taking aim at over-development for commercial purposes, such as hotels, villas, and beach clubs.

The governor’s office and Indonesia’s tourism ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.

The moratorium could stretch up to 10 years, senior minister Luhut Pandjaitan was quoted by news website Detik as saying on Sunday.

Luhut has previously said about 200,000 foreigners now live in Bali, contributing to problems such as crime, over-development and competition for jobs.

Foreign arrivals in Bali have surged since it re-opened for tourism after the coronavirus pandemic. Videos of misbehaving tourists often go viral, angering residents and sparking harsh responses from social media users in Indonesia.

Government figures show 2.9 million foreign visitors arrived through Bali airport in the first half of the year, making up 65% of total foreign arrivals in Indonesia by air.

There were 541 hotels in Bali last year, the figures show, up from 507 in 2019. — Reuters

Multisector collaboration needed to mitigate animal-to-human disease transmission, experts say

FREEPIK

By Patricia B. Mirasol, Producer

Health experts convened in a September 9 event, co-organized by the French Embassy in the Philippines and CFI Media Development, to launch the Media for One Health project. 

One Health is an approach that recognizes the connection between the health of people and the health of animals and our shared environment.  

At least 61% of human pathogens are from zoonotic diseases (or diseases transmitted between vertebrate animals and humans), according to Dr. Vicente Y. Belizario, Jr., president of the Philippine Academic Consortium for Public Health. 

“Increasing international travel and trade, [as well as] the expansion of human populations into new geographic areas,” have contributed to the quicker and wider spread of diseases, he said. 

One health as an approach requires the mobilization of multiple sectors and disciplines, given that it also encompasses issues such as antibiotic resistance and food safety and security. 

One such city that already applies the concept is Parañaque, according to Dr. Amado A. Antonio III, veterinarian IV of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Animal Industry’s Animal Health and Welfare Division. 

“In Parañaque, the city veterinarian’s office directly collaborates with the city health office, so when there’s a rabies case in the city, it’s immediately reported to the city vet, who reports it to the city health office,” he said. 

“We still need to strengthen this approach for national interests,” Mr. Antonio added, “especially for emerging and re-emerging diseases.” 

Former health secretary Dr. Manuel M. Dayrit remarked that describing the implementation of One Health as complex would be an understatement. 

“In a world where there’s a crisis in every silo, how do we focus people’s attention on one health?” he asked at the event. 

“Who among the line agencies is going to take the lead?” he added. “How will they unify their approach [and broadcast this] all the way to community channels?” 

Communication is key to its success, Mr. Belizario said. 

“In the public sector, we want disease control…When we protect one, we help protect all,” he said. 

 

Schistosomiasis 

One such disease that has low awareness – leading to rampant misdiagnosis – is the parasitic disease schistosomiasis.

According to the World Health Organization, schistosomiasis is especially prevalent in poor communities without access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. 

Transmission can occur when people bathe or swim in freshwater sources with feces or urine that contain parasite eggs.  

Chronic liver damage and seizures are among the complications one can get from the disease. 

Agriculture is not largely modernized in the Philippines, Mr. Belizario pointed out.  

“There’s still the use of the farmer’s best friend – the carabao [water buffalo],” he said. 

“Carabaos are a major supplier of schistosomiasis japonicum [an infectious agent of schistosomiasis],” he said. “For as long as the carabaos are being used…schistosomiasis is never ever going to be eliminated.” 

Kanlaon alert level may be raised due to rising seismic activity

INTERAKSYON/PNA FILE PHOTO

The Alert Level 2 (increasing unrest) currently in effect for Kanlaon Volcano may be raised due to heightened seismic activity recorded since Monday, according to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). 

In a volcano advisory issued by PHIVOLCS on Tuesday, a total of 25 volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes have been recorded since 8:32 am on Monday morning, with the most recent 22 occurring after 10:35 p.m. 

Residents of Canlaon City, Negros Oriental felt at least five of the VT earthquakes.  

“VT earthquakes are generated by rock fracturing processes and the increase in VT activity may possibly precede eruptive activity,” PHIVOLCS said in a written statement.  

The public is advised to remain vigilant and avoid entering the four-kilometer-radius Permanent Danger Zone (PDZ) “to minimize risks from volcanic hazards such as pyroclastic density currents, ballistic projectiles, rockfall and others,” PHIVOLCS said. 

Civil aviation authorities are also advised to prohibit pilots from flying close to the volcano’s summit, as ash and ballistic fragments from sudden eruptions can pose hazards to aircraft.   

During ashfall events, PHIVOLCS recommends covering the nose and mouth with a damp, clean cloth or a dust mask. 

Precautionary measures are also advised for communities living near river systems on both the southern and western slopes, as the risk of lahars and muddy streamflow is expected when heavy rainfall begins over the volcano. – Edg Adrian A. Eva

RCBC elevates digital transformation with Versa Secure SD-WAN

Contract Signing Ceremony and Presentation of Plaque of Appreciation. Executives from Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. (RCBC), Versa Networks, Trends and Technologies, and VSTECS Phils., Inc. came together for the ceremonial contract signing and presentation of a plaque of appreciation to RCBC. This contract marks the largest deployment of Versa Secure SD-WAN in the country, aimed at upgrading the network infrastructure of RCBC’s branches and ATMs. This strategic partnership will significantly enhance RCBC’s digital transformation, providing seamless, secure, and high-performance connectivity across its entire network. In the photo (L-R): Leo Vallente, 3rd AVP and GM, Network Technology Group 2, VSTECS; Cherry Centeno, 3rd VP and Group GM, Value Business Group, VSTECS; Rachel Ler, Vice-President, APAC, Versa Networks; Jimmy Go, President and CEO, VSTECS; Nilo Zantua, Senior VP, CIO and Group Head, RCBC; Racel Samson, IT Head and First VP for Shared Technology Services Division, RCBC; Hasan Fard, Chairman and CEO, Trends and Technologies; Anthony Berjamin, IT Director and VP, Network and Communications Department, RCBC; Rodgerson Dy, Business Unit Head, Service Provider Group, Trends and Technologies; Nestor de Vera, Network Infrastructure and Security Technology Group Head, Trends and Technologies; and Joshua Mallabo, Account Manager, Trends and Technologies.

VSTECS Phils., Inc., the leading ICT distributor in the Philippines, is proud to announce the successful deployment of Versa Secure SD-WAN for RCBC, one of the country’s largest commercial banks. Through a strategic partnership with Trends and Technologies, Inc. (Trends), this collaboration represents a pivotal milestone in RCBC’s digital transformation journey. Leveraging Trends’ cutting-edge expertise, RCBC is set to revolutionize its network management, fortify security measures, and significantly boost operational efficiency across its expansive branch and ATM network.

A Future-Ready Network

RCBC’s primary goal was to improve user experience, enhance network resiliency, security and control across its wide area network (WAN), and support business growth. With over 505 branches and 890 off-site ATMs, RCBC required a solution that could meet its current needs while also preparing for future demands. Versa Secure SD-WAN, with its centralized orchestration and automation capabilities, was the answer. This solution not only streamlined network operations but also significantly reduced the need for on-site IT support, boosting overall efficiency.

Meeting the Challenges of a Complex Network

Managing a network of this scale is a complex task, with challenges ranging from maintaining consistent performance and security to ensuring operational efficiency. Versa Secure SD-WAN addresses these challenges head-on. By centralizing control, the solution simplifies the management of RCBC’s vast network, allowing the bank to oversee all branches and ATMs from a single platform. This reduces the complexity of managing multiple locations and ensures that security policies are consistently applied across all sites.

Security was another critical concern, particularly for a distributed network spread across 505 branches and 890 ATMs. Versa Secure SD-WAN integrates advanced security features directly into the network, ensuring that every location is protected without the need for standalone security devices at each site.

Network performance is essential for delivering a seamless customer experience. Versa Secure SD-WAN optimizes bandwidth usage through intelligent traffic management, ensuring that critical applications are prioritized and performance is maintained across the network. The deployment included equipping branch Data Centers with 20G NGFW and SD-WAN capacity, and equipping ATM Data Centers with 5G SD-WAN capacity. Branch equipment supported 200Mbps NGFW and SD-WAN, while ATM equipment supported 100Mbps SD-WAN. Prior to this deployment, standard branch and ATM network bandwidth was set at 20Mbps, with current branch link utilization now peaking at 85% per location.

“We are dedicated to providing our customers with seamless and secure banking experiences, and the deployment of Versa Secure SD-WAN represents a critical milestone in our digital transformation journey,” said Nilo Zantua, Senior Vice-President, Chief Information Officer and Group Head of RCBC. “Versa Secure SD-WAN has not only simplified network management and strengthened security across our extensive branch and ATM network, but it has also empowered us to greatly enhance the customer experience by ensuring reliable, high-performance connectivity. With this solution, we are positioning RCBC to be future-ready, capable of scaling our network to meet growing demands while upholding our commitment to exceptional service. The partnership with VSTECS and Trends and Technologies has been instrumental in achieving our goals, and we look forward to continuing this collaboration as we advance our digital capabilities.”

“We are thrilled to have partnered with RCBC on this transformative project,” said Rachel Ler, Versa Vice-President, Asia-Pacific Region. “Versa Secure SD-WAN has proven to be a powerful solution for organizations seeking to modernize their networks and deliver exceptional digital experiences. As RCBC continues to evolve, Versa is committed to working hand in hand with them to ensure our solution seamlessly adapts to their growing demands for the very best customer experience.”

As RCBC continues to expand, the ability to scale its network without significant investments in new infrastructure is crucial. Versa Secure SD-WAN provides the scalability and flexibility needed to support this growth, allowing new branches and ATMs to be added seamlessly with minimal reconfiguration.

VSTECS Phils., Inc., as the leading ICT distributor in the Philippines, played a pivotal role in making this global technology locally available and accessible. Through its extensive network and strong relationships with top ICT brands, VSTECS ensures that cutting-edge technologies like Versa Secure SD-WAN are within reach for Philippine enterprises. The successful deployment at RCBC was notably supported by Trends whose role included critical evaluation and consolidation of RCBC’s existing network architecture. Trends helped to centralize network monitoring and management on Versa’s unified platform, ensuring a seamless integration that minimized disruption to bank operations.

“We are honored to be part of RCBC’s digital transformation journey,” said Jimmy Go, president and CEO of VSTECS Phils., Inc. “Our role as the leading ICT distributor is to bridge the gap between global technology innovations and local businesses, ensuring that Philippine enterprises have access to the best solutions available.”

“We are grateful to RCBC for trusting us with their network transformation,” said Hasan Fard, Chairman & CEO of Trends. “Based on our understanding of their infrastructure challenges and long-term goals, we consolidated their existing SDWAN into a single, robust platform and ensured a smooth transition without disrupting their operations. This project underscores our commitment to delivering innovative, reliable solutions that drive operational efficiency and security.” 

RCBC’s successful deployment of Versa Secure SD-WAN highlights the power of advanced networking solutions to drive business growth and innovation. For organizations seeking to modernize their networks and enhance their digital capabilities, Versa, in partnership with VSTECS and Trends and Technologies, offers a comprehensive and scalable solution.

About VSTECS Phils., Inc.  

VSTECS Philippines is the leading and largest ICT distributor in the country, recognized for its extensive portfolio of products, solutions, and services across diverse market segments. Our portfolio is unparalleled, representing over 100 renowned brands and encompassing a wide range of technology solutions, Since 1998, we have established as the go-to partner for businesses in need of reliable, state-of-the-art solutions to address their evolving ICT needs. Our meticulously tailored solutions serve the retail, mobility, commercial, and enterprise markets, precisely meeting industry-specific requirements and driving innovation across sectors.  As a proud member of VSTECS Holdings, a leading regional IT distribution firm, we benefit from a vast network of operations spanning Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, China, and the Philippines. This regional distribution network grants us the leverage to access global technologies and partnerships, allowing us to bring the latest and most advanced solutions to our customers. For more information, visit https://vstecs.com.ph.

About Versa  

Versa, a global leader in SASE, enables organizations to create self-protecting networks that radically simplify and automate their network and security infrastructure. Powered by AI, the VersaONE Universal SASE platform delivers converged SSE, SD-WAN, and SD-LAN solutions that protect data and defend against cyberthreats while delivering a superior digital experience. Thousands of customers globally, with hundreds of thousands of sites and millions of users trust Versa with their mission critical networks and security. Versa is privately held and funded by investors such as Sequoia Capital, Mayfield, and BlackRock. For more information, visit https://www.versa-networks.com and follow Versa on LinkedIn and X (Twitter) @versanetworks.

About Trends

Trends & Technologies, Inc. is a leading technology-enabled business services provider with over 30 years of ICT experience, with local offices in Manila, Cebu, and Davao and regional offices in Vietnam and Cambodia. Trends specializes in helping industries and organizations of all sizes navigate digital transformation and business adaptation, providing long-term and sustainable value. Our team of experts offers comprehensive services, from strategic consulting and planning to seamless deployment, effective maintenance, and dedicated after-sales support. For more information, visit www.trends.com.ph and follow Trends on LinkedIn.

 

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Salmon Pera Serye: Pioneering financial literacy series by Salmon surpasses 1 million views

Salmon, the leading fintech company committed to expanding financial inclusion and innovation in Southeast Asia, is celebrating its groundbreaking financial literacy series, Salmon Pera Serye, which surpassed 1 million views on TikTok. The viral series, which aims to make financial education more accessible for Filipinos to build prosperity in their lives through engaging, bite-sized videos, continues to grow rapidly in popularity.

“Our mission has always been to empower customers with the knowledge and tools they need to make informed financial decisions,” said Raffy Montemayor, Co-Founder of Salmon and Chairman of its bank subsidiary, the Rural Bank of Sta. Rosa (Laguna). “We still feel that educating the customer and caring about their long-term needs is still a gap in the market.  Through Salmon Pera Serye, we’re able to reach and educate Filipinos in a relatable, accessible way, breaking down the barriers to financial literacy.”

Since its launch earlier this year, the Salmon Pera Serye has resonated strongly with Filipinos, offering essential financial advice in a fun and easy-to-understand format. The series features episodes that cover key topics such as debt management, fraud prevention, savings and debt repayment strategies.

“We’re thrilled that Salmon Pera Serye has so shortly hit this milestone. The feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Pavel Federov, Co-founder and Executive Director at Salmon.  “It’s an exciting step in our broader mission to provide not just financial services but also enabling people to access these tools with knowledge necessary for our customers to thrive. Salmon’s top priority is to make its customers better off.” 

For more information and to watch the latest episodes of Salmon Pera Serye, visit Salmon’s TikTok page or scan the QR code below.

 

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