Thursday, March 10, 2022

Environment Hero of Banwa Private Island March 10, 2022 at 05:04PM

Out of Town Blog
Environment Hero of Banwa Private Island

Meet Bernard, the guardian of Aquos Foundation

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (Outoftownblog.com) – At Banwa Private Island, team members are everyday heroes who passionately work together in the noble pursuit of protecting Mother Nature. Surrounded by the untouched beauty of the island sanctuary in North-eastern Palawan, the team’s collective love of nature has inspired each one to be custodians of the environment.

Meet Bernard, one of the invaluable team heads who leads the Aquos Foundation in its various local conservation endeavors and research initiatives. The Aquos Foundation, with the mission to conserve, protect and nurture the rich biodiversity in and around the marine protected reserve, is the environmental arm of Banwa Private Island.

Banwa Private Island - Baby Hawksbill Turtle — Banwa Private Island – Baby Hawksbill Turtle

Palawan being his childhood playground, Bernard has developed his strong affinity to flora and fauna at a very young age. As a registered nurse by profession, his intrinsic gift of care and empathy has transcended to both people and nature. Bernard, a pioneer of Aquos Foundation, has played a vital role in protecting and restoring the habitats of the critically endangered Mantanani Scops Owl, Hawksbill Turtle, and the Tabon Bird (Megapode).

Banwa Private Island - Tabon Birds — Banwa Private Island – Tabon Birds

Bernard works with scientists and researchers of note recording the growth of birdlife from 15 species in 2014 to 60 species in 2021 through area search methods and photo documentation. Tabon Bird nests grew from only 3 nests in 2012 to 200 nests in 2021. The thriving island landscape provides the perfect habitat for various migratory and native birds.

Banwa Private Island - Reef Balls and Corals — Banwa Private Island – Reef Balls and Corals

In 2018, there were 180 reef balls laid out on the seafloor as part of the Reef Rehabilitation Programme providing shelter to Hawksbill Turtles. From learning how to swim with a life jacket, Bernard is currently in the process of furthering his dive education to Dive Master. He proudly inspects these reef balls with flourishing marine life and growing coral colonies.

Banwa Private Island - Meet George, Our Resident Mantanani Scops Owl — Banwa Private Island – Meet George, Our Resident Mantanani Scops Owl

Every morning, you will find Bernard checking on the Megapode nesting sites at the Tabon Bird Sanctuary and inspecting the Hawksbill Turtle laying grounds in the Coconut Grove and the villa gardens. Since 2016, over 5,800 Hawksbill Turtle eggs were laid, of which 60% hatchlings emerged.

Banwa Private Island - Diver Amongst Reef Balls — Banwa Private Island – Diver Amongst Reef Balls

Guests can have an active part in these eco-initiatives by joining Bernard on nature walks around the island, snorkeling the house reef and exploring the radiant corals, keeping count of how many local bird species one can spot in the lush vegetation, or witnessing the magic of baby turtles being released to the turquoise waters.

For more information and inquiries on exclusive island escape at Banwa Private Island, please contact the Reservations team through mobile/WhatsApp: +639178882864, send an email to reservations@banwaprivateisland.com, or visit www.banwaprivateisland.com

Read: Banwa Private Island Is Proud To Announce Preferred Aviation Partnership With Ascent

Original article: Environment Hero of Banwa Private Island

Environment Hero of Banwa Private Island
Melo Villareal
Out of Town Blog

Put your Internet speeds to the test using Ookla® Speedtest® March 10, 2022 at 12:53AM

Out of Town Blog
Put your Internet speeds to the test using Ookla® Speedtest®

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (Outoftownblog.com) – The need for faster internet connection at home continues to grow even as the country slowly eases out of the pandemic. This makes it more important for consumers to ensure that their internet service providers (ISPs) are delivering as promised by using an unbiased third-party service, like Speedtest® by Ookla®.

The Ookla Speedtest Awards, which recently named PLDT Home the fastest ISP among key cities in the country, is the most respected online service of its kind. Popular among ordinary consumers and IT professionals alike, it is free and easy to use and has become an unbiased means to compare ISP speeds worldwide.

Fast and easy to use

Regular internet testing assures a user of having optimal internet speeds for productive online work. Some people, however, use the service to detect home connectivity issues or even to decide whether they need a speed upgrade to keep up with their family’s growing connectivity needs.

To use Speedtest, just open your browser and visit www.speedtest.net. (there’s also an app version for download on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Google Chrome, and Apple TV). Click the “Go” button for the service to connect to a server. Within a few seconds, it will show the connection’s download speed, upload speed, and ping rate (which shows the “lag” or reaction time of the connection). You can then immediately compare the result with the ISPs advertised speeds.

It is also advisable to do the test a number of times using different devices and at different times of the day. Doing this allows the subscriber to see if there’s a difference in speeds between two devices or if one of them has a connectivity issue. Network-related activities such as routine service maintenance could also affect results. However, if the download/upload speed seems accurate when using a single device but drastically drags as soon as more devices are connected to the internet, then there’s a need to reduce the number of connected gadgets or bandwidth-hungry apps –- or this could also be a perfect time to consider an ISP upgrade.

When testing internet speeds, users should keep in mind that since devices have different Wi-Fi capabilities, it’s only normal that different devices will register varying download/upload speeds, even on the same connection. Also, the Wi-Fi router itself affects the test result, so users must ensure it is set properly and supports the full speed of the internet service for a more accurate result.

PH internet speeding up

As average broadband speeds in the Philippines have seen continuous impressive growth in the last few years, PLDT has played a vital role in setting the standards for the country’s internet speeds for the Filipino home.

Ookla figures from June 2020 to June 2021, show that fixed broadband download speeds increased from 23.74 Mbps to 66.55 Mbps. The same improvement is evident for Upload speeds, from 23.46 Mbps to 66.86 Mbps.

PLDT Home currently holds the record of being the fastest broadband network in the Philippines for the 4th consecutive year based on the OoklaSpeedtest Awards Q3-Q4 2021. In the recent Ookla report, PLDT showed top download speeds of 203.97 Mbps and top upload speeds of 217.07 Mbps – or a Speed Score of 77.24. This is a big jump from the telco’s previous Speed Score of 27.28 in the second half of the previous year.

“We have been continuously expanding our network and upgrading our broadband speeds so that Filipinos can have better digital experiences to earn, work, and study from their homes. Because fast internet has become an essential that families depend on to progress and live better,” says Butch G. Jimenez, Jr., Senior Vice President and Head of PLDT Home Business.

PLDT Home’s accelerated speeds have helped make life easier for many Filipinos, especially during the pandemic, when the internet has become their primary means to connect with families, do remote schooling, work from home, and explore new income-earning opportunities online.

Learn about PLDT Home Fiber broadband plans by visiting www.pldthome.com.

Original article: Put your Internet speeds to the test using Ookla® Speedtest®

Put your Internet speeds to the test using Ookla® Speedtest®
Melo Villareal
Out of Town Blog

realme ranks no. 1 in PH smartphone market for 2021 – Canalys March 09, 2022 at 05:35PM

Out of Town Blog
realme ranks no. 1 in PH smartphone market for 2021 – Canalys

Team Out of Town Blog Hub (Outoftownblog.com) – Three-year-old tech brand realme continues to showcase its strength in the local market, having been hailed the no. 1 smartphone brand in the Philippines for 2021 based on global research firms Canalys and IDC.

According to Canalys, realme ranked first for Q4 2021 in terms of sell-in shipments, besting four other smartphone brands as it accounted for 20% of the local market share.

The brand has held this position since Q1 2021 making it the leading vendor for the whole year with 23% unit share. Canalys reported a 19% year-over-year growth for the fast-rising tech and lifestyle brand as compared to its market share for 2020.

Philippines Top Smartphone Vendors Q4 2021

Overall Philippines Top Smartphone Vendors for 2021

International Data Corporation (IDC) further validated the brand’s market leadership for 2021 was further validated by International Data Corporation (IDC) as the research firm also reported the number 1 ranking of realme in its recent Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker report.

According to IDC, realme clinched the top spot for the fourth consecutive quarter as it captured 20.6% of the local smartphone market, growing by 7.9% quarter-on-quarter.

The firm also reported a no. 1 finish for realme for the entire year with an overall market share of 22.2%, generating 7.9% growth year-over-year.

IDC The Philippine Smartphone Market Looks Ahead to a Double-Digit Growth in 2022 After a Drop of 5.6% in 2021, says IDC - 2022 Feb -F-1 — IDC The Philippine Smartphone Market Looks Ahead to a Double-Digit Growth in 2022 After a Drop of 5.6% in 2021, says IDC – 2022 Feb -F-1

These achievements ultimately demonstrate the brand’s steady growth and momentum in the local industry despite being a relatively new contender in the Philippines. realme entered the Philippines in November 2018 and has since gone on to achieve tremendous success by offering quality tech innovations at accessible prices. This month, realme is set to launch its highly anticipated Number Series line-up: the realme 9 Pro Series, offering flagship-level features at the midrange segment. This will be held on March 15, 6PM, on the realme Philippines Facebook page.

“2021 has been an incredible year for realme and we can’t thank our Filipino Squad enough for the love and support it has given the brand since 2018. This year, we dare to leap higher, further, and stronger by focusing on overall product innovation, portfolio expansion, and increased customer availability, providing only the best to our fans, partners, and stakeholders”, shares Austine Huang, VP for Marketing, realme Philippines.

To know more about realme’s latest updates, follow the realme PH Facebook page at http://facebook.com/realmePhilippines or visit the official realme website at https://www.realme.com/ph/.

Original article: realme ranks no. 1 in PH smartphone market for 2021 – Canalys

realme ranks no. 1 in PH smartphone market for 2021 – Canalys
Melo Villareal
Out of Town Blog