104 Youths with Disabilities from 16 Countries to Compete in IT Skills in the Philippines

 

Monday, November 4, 2024

The 13th Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (hereinafter referred to as the "Global IT Challenge"), hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Kyuhong Cho), LG Corporation (CEO Kwang-mo Koo), and the Philippine government, and organized by the Global IT Challenge Organizing Committee (Chairman In-kyu Kim), LG Electronics (CEO Joo-wan Cho), and NCDA (Secretary General Glenda Relova), will be held from Sunday, November 3rd to Saturday, November 8th, at "The Manila Hotel" in Manila, Philippines.

The Global IT Challenge was launched in 2011 with the aim of improving the information utilization skills of youth with disabilities worldwide and providing a foundation for their social advancement, including higher education and employment.

104 youths with disabilities from 16 countries will participate in the final round after having competed in the online preliminary rounds held in July

This year marks the 13th Global IT Challenge, which is being held in the Philippines, the fourth ASEAN member country to host the event, following Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. The Global IT Challenge has primarily been held in countries in Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia, in alignment with the implementation of the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities initiative. 

Kenya and Egypt, which participated for the first time last year from the African region, are continuing their participation this year, further solidifying the Global IT Challenge as an international competition.

In the final round of this year's competition, held from November 3 to 8, a total of 104 youths with various disabilities, including visual, hearing, physical, and developmental disabilities, will participate.

The participating countries by region are as follows: 2 countries from Northeast Asia (Korea, Mongolia), 7 countries from Southeast Asia(Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Philippines), 4 countries from South Asia (Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan), 3 countries from Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya, Egypt). In total, 16 countries are participating in the competition.

 To ensure the credibility of the competition, all participants will be required to attend the event in person

 To ensure a fair environment where participants can demonstrate their true abilities, the competition will be held on-site.

 In the endemic era, this on-site competition will provide an opportunity for all participating youth with disabilities to meet and interact in person. They will also have the chance to showcase their true skills under real-time supervision and evaluation during the competition.

Challenging Six Competitions, Providing Opportunities for Academic Application and Career Choices

 Basic Competitions (3 Categories)

Participating youth with disabilities will compete in three main competitions ’eTool_Presentation’ which evaluates their ability to create slides using PowerPoint. ’eTool_Spreadsheet’ which assesses their ability to utilize Excel functions and extract data that meets specific conditions within a spreadsheet. ’eLifeMap’ which measures their ability to use various information-gathering skills through internet searches. Each competition will be allocated 50 minutes.

 For visually impaired participants using screen readers, an additional 20 minutes will be provided.

Applied Competitions (3 Cateogories)

Additionally, participants will take part in ‘eContent’, and ‘eCreative_SmartCar’, which evaluates coding skills for autonomous vehicle races, and ‘eCreative_IoT’, which assesses appropriate technology ideas and IT skills aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities.

‘eContent’ is a category that evaluates creativity and the ability to utilize various video production programs and technologies, with this year’s competition theme being ‘Dream as an IT leader’. In the ‘eCreative_IoT’ category, which involves developing products using appropriate technology, youth with disabilities will prepare development reports and demonstration videos as prior-tasks, to be submitted between September 16 and October 23. They will also present their ideas on stage at the Final Round.

 The world's only IT festival that transcends disability, religion, culture, and borders

The Global IT Challenge has provided participating youth with a platform to communicate with the world and engage in society through IT, overcoming the barriers of disability, religion, culture, and nationality.

In addition to friendly competition, the competition allows youth from different backgrounds to share their cultures and build friendships through IT. This includes November 6th gala dinner where participants will wear traditional costumes from their respective countries. On Novemeber 7th, after the competition, participants will visit and tour the National Museum of Natural History and Manila Ocean Park.

The competition organizing committee prepares youth for the future by holding year-round e-learning sessions, preliminary rounds, and introducing new regulations, making it more than just a one-time event.

 IT leaders who passed preliminary rounds and completed pre-competition IT education

Youth participating in the Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities have strengthened their foundational skills by utilizing eLearning, available year-round on the ePlatform (https://www.globalitchallenge.com), and by participating in the National Team Selection (April to June) and the Global IT Challenge International Online Preliminary Round (July 16-17).

The competition organizing committee has improved the system to help youth with disabilities prepare for the competition, taking into account the different IT education environments in each country. They provide an ePlatform and eLearning materials that anyone can access anytime, anywhere.

 Providing new opportunities to strengthen the capabilities of becoming producers rather than just consumers, with competition modifications and mentoring aligned with current trends

The competition organizing committee has included generative AI-related challenges in the ‘eLifeMap’ category, which assesses information retrieval skills, reflecting the expansion of media markets due to the popularization of the internet and digital devices.

Additionally, through the ‘eContent’ category, the committee encourages youth with disabilities to acquire video shooting and editing skills. Special efforts have been made to develop media production guidelines, in collaboration with experts, to ensure that visually impaired youth can also smoothly participate as media producers. 

Due to the difficulty of the ‘eCreative_IoT’ category, which challenges participants to develop appropriate technology ideas, this year, for the first time, the committee provided remote mentoring in collaboration with LG Electronics employees, the competition's sponsors, to assist struggling participants.

Through these initiatives, the plan is to emphasize the importance of creative IT skills and interest in AI, a symbol of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, to youth with disabilities from various countries. Furthermore, it aims to instill a sense of pride in them as IT producers rather than just consumers.

The IT challenge for youth with disabilities that started in Korea... Gaining the attention of the international community

The Global IT Challenge, which began in Korea in 1992, has seen growing national interest and participation.

The Korea Society for Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities has been hosting domestic IT competitions since 1992 to bridge the digital divide for Korean youth with disabilities.

Since 2011, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Welfare and LG, the organization has been holding international competitions, traveling across countries to help bridge the digital divide for youth with disabilities in developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The goal is to support their employment, higher education, and social integration. Starting with the 2018 competition, countries from Europe (the UK) and the Middle East (the UAE) began participating, and since 2023, additional African countries such as Kenya and Egypt have joined, alongside Ethiopia.

Over the past 12 years, 5,000 youth with disabilities and government officials have participated in the Global IT Challenge, and currently, 16 countries are fiercely competing to participate in and host the competition.

Sweden and the Philippines Forge a Pioneering Partnership for Sustainable Mining

18 October 2024 – The Embassy of Sweden in Manila and Business Sweden announced the launch of a transformative collaboration aimed at advancing sustainable mining practices in the Philippines - a partnership between Business Sweden and the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA), formalised through the ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The event commenced with a welcoming address from His Excellency Harald Fries, Chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Sweden in Manila, who underscored the significance of sustainable mining in both nations. “We believe that together, we can redefine mining practices to ensure they are sustainable, safe, and economically viable, reinforcing our commitment to sustainable development” said H.E. Fries.

His Excellency Håkan Jevrell, who serves as the State Secretary to the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, was present during the signing ceremony emphasized Sweden's commitment to sustainable mining, highlighting its role in addressing climate change and fostering economic growth. “Mining has been a pivotal industry for both Sweden and the Philippines, supporting a range of sectors globally and identified as one of the keys to sustaining global action in reducing greenhouse gas emissions” said H.E. Jevrell.

Mr. Ramon T. Santiago, PMSEA Board Member and Treasurer, also delivered a message on behalf of the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association, mentioning the association's dedication to enhancing mining safety and environmental standards. He shared insights on the importance of collaboration in achieving responsible mining practices that benefit both the industry and the communities it impacts.

In addition to the important MoU signing, Sweden is proud to be announced as the Partner Country for the upcoming 70th Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference, taking place from 19 to 22 November 2024 in Baguio. This conference will serve as a vital platform for showcasing sustainable mining solutions and facilitating dialogue among industry leaders, while facilitating meaningful dialogue among industry leaders.

Participation in the conference as the Partner Country underscores Sweden’s commitment to become a key partner to the Philippines in advancing responsible mining practices and addressing environmental and social challenges. A key highlight will be the Team Sweden Pavilion “Pioneer the Possible”, where Swedish innovative and sustainable mining solutions will be showcased by some of Sweden’s most prominent companies. Swedish Academia will also be represented by Luleå University of Technology (LTU), one of Sweden’s top mining universities. Through LTU, Sweden will also share best practices and pioneering research during conference sessions with the Philippine mining sector.

The key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Business Sweden and the Philippine Mine Safety and Environment Association, which aims to promote sustainable, safe, and efficient mining operations in the Philippines. “Sweden is committed to become a pivotal partner to the Philippines in its pursuit to advance sustainability and accelerate the green transition of the mining industry. Through this collaboration, Sweden seeks to support the Philippines with a wide range of initiatives paving the way for significantly safer, productive and sustainable mining operations”, said Vice President and Head of Region South and Southeast Asia at Business Sweden, as he provided an overview of the Sustainable Mining Collaboration in the Philippines, highlighting the mutual benefits and shared goals of the partnership.

“This collaboration is just the beginning," asserted Mr. Fries. “Together, Sweden and the Philippines can lead the way in demonstrating that sustainable mining is not only possible but essential for our shared future.”

Business Sweden and PMSEA are committed to working together to drive sustainability, safety, and efficiency in the mining industry, ensuring that the collaboration will lead to significant advancements in environmental protection and safety standards.

About the Embassy of Sweden:

Sweden has had diplomatic relations with the Philippines since 1947. The Embassy’s main task is to represent Sweden in the Philippines and to strengthen the relations between the two countries. Its focus is on promoting trade and investment and building partnerships including security policy.

For more information, contact:

Athena Cartagena, Communication and Political Affairs Officer

athena.cartagena@gov.se | +63917 316 5706

Website: swedenabroad.se/manila

Facebook: facebook.com/SwedeninManila

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/swedeninmnl

About Business Sweden:

Business Sweden is the trade and invest council of the government of Sweden, with operations in more than 40 markets globally. Jointly owned by the Swedish government and the private sector, it has a unique mandate to help Swedish companies grow global sales and international companies invest and expand in Sweden.

Visit and Do your Shopping at the 26th LIKHA NG CENTRAL LUZON

 

The LIKHA ng Central Luzon Trade Fair is a major regional trade promotion activity jointly organized by DTI-R3 and Philexport-R3, with the full support of the Regional Development Council-R3 and the Central Luzon Growth Corridor Foundation Inc.,bwhich is composed of the 7 Governors of the region and DTI as member.

Likha is one of the longest running trade fair in the country. It features the best local products produced or sold by micro, small and medium enterprises from the seven provinces of Central Luzon. Likha exhibitor's are MSME's assisted by the regíonal and provincial ofices of DTI region 3.

The fair is held annually and serves as the culminating activity of industry and trade related programs given to entrepreneurs in Region 3. Capability building seminars are conducted before the fair to develop the technical capabilities of the micro and small enterprises and eventually become exporters. Product development activities are also undertaken to develop new products and designs.

Now on its 26th year, the Likha ng Central Luzon Trade Fair has proven to be an effective venue to promote the products of the region to institutional buyers and exporters based in Metro Manila . It has become one of the much awaited trade events in Manika because of the distinctive and quality products the region offers.

Let's Support "Tatak Pinoy! Innovative and Sustainable Products"

Come and visit at Mega Trade Hall 2, 5th Floor Bldg B SM Mega Mall, Mandaluyong City

From October 16 to 20, 2024

Comelec- Chair George Erwin Garcia as one of the speakers for Rising Tigers Magazine “Global Excellence Awards”

 

For this August, Rising Tigers Magazine will launch for the 3rd time the Global Excellence Awards to highlight the leaders of this generation and this time are those who adapted the global best practices and making an impact in the country today. Those leaders will be featured in the upcoming issue of the magazine. 

Headed by His Excellency Malaysia Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino, the nation will be inspired by the speeches of the following; Consul Enunina  Mangio is the president of Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) which is the biggest business organization in the Philippines with more than 40,000 members nationwide, Dr. Brian Poe Llamanzares is the Chief of Staff of Senator Grace Poe and co owner of Rising Tigers Magazine and Chairman George Erwin Mojica Garcia of Commission on Elections.  

Honourees includes Senator Loren Legarda, Giift Country President DM Varun, Securities and Exchange Commission Atty. Emilio Benito Aquino, Phoenix Publishing’ Bing Limjoco  and Maharlika Investment Corporation CEO Rafael Cosing Jr among others.  

For more information. 09778978877 or president@rising-tigers.asia

Rising Tigers Magazine at the United Nations Philippines Conference: Ang Kabataan ang Sinag ng Bagong Bukas, ang Rising Tigers Ng Pilipinas.

August 12, 2024 - A Triangular Conference celebrating World Indigenous Peoples Day, the 25th International Youth Day, and the 60th Anniversary of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development by the United Nations Association of the Philippines, in partnership with Rising Tigers Magazine, and sponsored by Sen. Cynthia Villar, the event was held at the Senate of the Philippines.

Sen. Cynthia Villar shared her appreciation for the Leaders of the Country through her Interview with Rising Tigers.

“We are very appreciative of the leaders of our country, those who help our country develop, and who are helping in solving the problems of our country. Hindi man sila lahat kilala, at minsan hindi silang nabibigyan lahat ng attention, but we’re always very appreciative of all their doing for our country.”

Andria Terese Nicolas, VP of TAG Media Group shared her message to the Youth as part of the Panelist on Trade and Development.

“The people honored Rising Tigers with their trust and now we honor you with our faith. As we enter the global stage as the next trailblazers, always remember no matter what the world tells you, you are a Filipino, everything we ever dreamed about, we’ll make it happen kasi ang kinabukasan ay para sa mga taong naniniwala sa kanilang sarili at sa kanilang mga pangarap.”

“Marami pa tayong madadaanan na pagsubok pero ito tatandaan ninyo, panahon ninyo ang hinihintay ng lahat, kaya pagbutihin ninyo, wag na wag kayong susuko, dahil ang kabataan ang sinag ng bagong bukas, ang Rising Tigers ng Pilipinas. Nananawagan kami sa kabataan ngayon na  kumapit lang kayo, dahil nandito na tayo. Information dissemination is very important and that is why Rising Tigers is here. Maraming maraming salamat po.”

Brian Poe Llamanzares, Chief of Staff of Senator Grace Poe encourages youth leaders to pursue their advocacies.

“ Para sa mga youth leaders natin, ituloy niyo ang mga advocacies niyo. Kahit ano iniharap ninyo, kung mahirap man, kailangan ituloy mo ang mga advocacies niyo, because you are the future of this country. You need to work hard and never give up, so you can achieve your dreams, not just for yourselves, but for your community as well. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng mga initiatives niyo.”

This conference aims to involve and empower the youth in addressing a myriad of issues widespread across the Philippines from the grassroots communities to the national level, through dialogue and discussion with fellow delegates, and policymakers, and other individuals who may have the capacity to implement any force of action. #risingtigers #nationbuilders

Comelec Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia: Press Conference Para sa Bayan

August 8, 2024–Mariing pinabulaan ni Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia ang mga ibinabato sa kanya na tinawag na smear campaign and demoliton job upang magbitiw sa pwesto na kung susuriin ay isa lang ang pinanggagalingan ng mga ito at nasugsog sa Smartmatic dahil sa mga tao at kompanya na nag uugnay sa dating kompanya ng makinarya na ginamit ng Pilipinas sa nagdaang halalan. 

Naglabas ng pruweba sa press conference na sinagawa ngayong araw ang mga kawani ng COMELEC kasama si Chairman Garcia na kung saan binigay ang detalye mula sa mga deposit slips, address, companies at mga tao na involved sa transactions na lahat ay may kaugnayan sa Smartmatic upang masira ang credibilidad ni Chairman Garcia. 

Hindi magbibitiw sa tungkulin si Chairman Garcia na kung saan binanggit n’ya na kung ang lahat ng nakaupo mula presidente hanggang sa mga opisyales ng barangay ay pukulan ng issue, edi lahat ay nawala na sa serbisyo kahit hindi totoo ang paratang. 

Makikita sa presentation sa press conference na may dalawang bangko na sinulatan si Chairman Garcia na kung saan ay sya ay inuugnay. Pinakita dito na sya ay sumulat sa bangko at sumagot naman ang mga bangko na wala silang customer na nasa pangalan ni Chairman Garcia.  

Ang mga issue na pinapakalat ng mga taong nag uugnay kay Comelec chairman ay sa kadahilanang iba ang nanalo sa bidding sa mga makinarya na gagamitin sa 2025 election. Isa pang rason ay sa napakaraming issue na nauugnay sa Smartmatic lalo na sa money laundering na kinasangkutan ng dating Comelec Chief Andres Bautista. Ang mga makinarya na gagamitin sa 2025 halalan ay na approve at naibigay ng Comelec sa Miru Systems.

Comelec Chair, George Erwin M. Garcia as Man of the Year at 6th Asia Leaders Awards

The man of the year for his impact on the elections is truly one of the nation builders of the country today. A soft spoken but the public servant we want. There is no question that this lawyer is a brilliant election law practitioner with big high level clients under his wings. His level of professionalism and dedication to his field of practice is unlike any other. When Atty. Garcia makes legal strategies, he maps out his plan from start to finish even before the beginning of a case. 

George Erwin M. Garcia is a veteran election law practitioner. He is the 23rd Chairman of the Comelec. He had a short yet productive stint as Commissioner before his present appointment.

Prior to joining Comelec, he was the principal and founder of G.E. Garcia Law Office. As a private practitioner, Chairman Garcia was widely known for his superior legal mind that enriched jurisprudence of various landmark cases.

He served as Dean of Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila's College of Law and Law Center.

Chairman Garcia has under his belt an academic experience of three decades; he was also an MCLE lecturer and a resource person in election law.

He rendered pro bono services to UNTV for 10 years as anchor in its segment "Huntahang Ligal" to fulfill his mission of promoting social awareness, legal literacy, and access to justice to all.

In Comelec, he staunchly advocates for transparency, inclusivity, and progression. His decisions have always been geared towards productive engagement with all key stakeholders and innovative policy reforms in the Commission's constant pursuit of fair, honest, orderly, and credible elections.

All his actions are, indeed, Para sa Bayan.

For his unparalleled dedication to public service, he was recognized as the Man of the Year and was awarded as one of the Top 50 emerging leaders in the Philippines.

Here are the categories and honorees at the 6th Asia Leaders Awards. 

Men of the Year

1. BIR Commissioner: Romeo Lumagui Jr

2. Comelec Chair: George Erwin M. Garcia 

3. DFA: Dr. Jesus “Gary” Domingo 

4. LGU: Gov. Hermilando Ingco Mandanas

Company of the Year

5. Franchising: Shawarma Shack 

6. Human Capital: Viventis Asia 

7. Global: 24/7 AI 

8. Tech: realme

9. Global IT: Atos Philippines 

Woman of the Year

10. President Atty. Agnes Devanadera - Clark Development Corporation  

Young Leader of the Year

11. Mary Elaine Timbol of Sakahon

12. Vice Mayor Ronin Leviste of Lian, Batangas 

Influencer of the year

13. Caesar Vallejos - Media 

14. Puey Quiñones- Fashion Design

Woman of Substance 

15. Rayla Allertsen: IamSam 

16. Merle Mendoza Balicao: Mernels 

17. Alodia Gosiengfiao Quimbo

18. Mharicar Castillo-Reyes: Asticom 

19. Chi Atienza Valdepeñas 

Fastest Growing SME of the Year 

20. Asian Consulting Group- Mon Abrea 

The night is a power celebration with the attendance of the families and colleagues of these icons. The program started with the welcome remarks of The Manila Hotel President Atty. Jose David Lina, the former Senator, DILG Secretary and former Governor of Laguna then followed by a keynote of one of the youngest entrepreneur in skin care, Glenda Dela Cruz of Brilliant Skin Essentials. 

Andria Terese Nicolas, The Vice President of Tag Media Group shares the snippets about Asia Leaders Awards and mentioned that these honorees are the nation builders of today and the next generation. The other speaker who inspires everyone was His Excellency Malaysia Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino who is also part of the board of advisers of the organization. 

The event was attended also by US Embassy; Bret and Marisol Campbell, Embassy of Romania William Anton Korbl, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office General Manager Mel Robles, Atty. Carmela Lumagui, Dr. Elton See Tan of The E Hotels and Philippine Korea Economic Council, Makati Tourism Foundation Inc. Tanyu III, Choy Bernardo of Jcuppacakes, Robert Laurel Yupangco of Yupangco Group, Andrew and Grace Nicolas of Tag Media Group, Darius Razon, Philippine Red Cross Governor Baby Ortiz, Manuel Negado, Ethiopia Consul David Ackerman and Atty. Salvador Panelo among others. 

The objective of the event is to highlight and recognize exclusively the nominees who gets in among thousands of nominations to inspire the nation. The award is given to world-class leaders, both in the private and public sectors.