Author: Dawn Solano

DJI says the Lito X1 is designed for first-time drone pilots, and packs premium flight features into a compact drone that weighs just 249 grams.To see whether that promise held up, I handed the controller to three people who had never flown a drone before: myself, my brother, and a friend. Our testing conditions weren’t exactly forgiving. It was a windy afternoon in the middle of July, with the southwest monsoon already making its presence felt.We drove to our friend’s house in Lourdes, Antipolo City, perched on one of the area’s higher vantage points, where gusts swept across the open…

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is positioning Western Visayas as a key hub for artificial intelligence (AI) development, citing the region’s early efforts to build an AI ecosystem and governance framework. DOST Undersecretary for Regional Operations Sancho Mabborang said Western Visayas is among the country’s frontrunners in AI adoption, highlighting Region 6’s locally developed AI governance framework and initiatives to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) integrate AI into their operations.“Region 6 has been, I can say, more advanced compared to the other regions,” Mabborang said during the AI Fest 2026 press conference.Western Visayas…

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is aiming to upskill at least one million Filipinos in artificial intelligence (AI) as it seeks to strengthen the country’s AI workforce and accelerate AI adoption across industries. DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said developing the country’s AI workforce is one of the four key pillars of the government’s AI strategy. Solidum likened the country’s AI ecosystem to a factory built on four pillars: computing infrastructure, human resources, partnerships, and beneficiaries, including the public and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). For the human resources component, Solidum said DOST is…

A transportation app that began as a college project in Thailand has officially entered the Philippines, bringing real-time transit tracking to Megaworld townships.ViaBus, developed by Thailand-based Via Group, allows commuters to track shuttle buses in real time, view estimated arrival times, and access route information through a mobile app.The service initially covers seven Citylink shuttle routes serving Newport City in Pasay and McKinley Hill, McKinley West, and Uptown Bonifacio in Taguig, with plans to expand to Eastwood City, Southwoods City, and Boracay Newcoast.“I’m also a traveler for public transportation and transportation around. So, we see a potential in expanding to…

Instagram may remove the evidence of an accidental like within the app, but a notification that has already reached someone’s phone is another story.Adam Mosseri, Instagram’s CEO, recently addressed why quickly unliking a post does not always stop the other person from finding out that you liked it in the first place.Mosseri explained that Instagram already tries to remove notifications when a user quickly unlikes a post. However, once a push notification has been delivered to another person’s device, the platform cannot reliably take it back. This means that while the like itself disappears from the post after a user…

Flying for work has become routine, but recent reports of an airport baggage tag-switching scam have changed how I travel. The case involving a 66-year-old Filipino-Canadian traveler identified only as Grace was enough to make me rethink my habits. In July 2025, Grace arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport expecting to reunite with her family. Instead, she was arrested after authorities discovered more than 24 kilograms of methamphetamine inside luggage bearing her baggage tag. She insisted the suitcase wasn’t hers. Investigators later concluded that she had fallen victim to an international baggage tag-switching scheme. Authorities said baggage handlers at Toronto…

Meta is introducing Facebook Verified, a free verification badge designed to help users determine that there is a real person behind the profile as artificial intelligence (AI) has made it easier to generate content and accounts online. Unlike Meta Verified, the company’s existing verification badge, Facebook Verified is not a paid subscription. Eligible users can get verified through a selfie-based process.Users will be asked to record a short video selfie, which Facebook will compare with your existing profile photos to confirm their identity.To qualify, users must be 18 years old and older and have a “good standing” with Facebook’s Community…

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. backed the Pax Silica industrial hub, saying it would generate jobs and strengthen the Philippines’ position in the global AI industry.During his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), the President said the planned hub would create an ecosystem built around artificial intelligence (AI) and serve as an advanced manufacturing and logistics center. He described the project as a “strategic component” of the Luzon Economic Corridor and said it would help accelerate the country’s industrial competitiveness. Pax Silica is a US-led initiative aimed at securing supply chains for AI and semiconductors. The Philippines joined the initiative…

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced that the Philippines is set to launch its own rocket into space next year as the country moves toward developing its own spaceport.In his fifth State of the Nation Address today, July 27, Marcos said Cagayan is being eyed as the country’s spaceport, with the planned launch in partnership with a South Korean aerospace company.“A sounding rocket launch test is slated for next year. Yes, we are going to launch a rocket into space,” Marcos said.The announcement follows efforts by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) to develop local rocket launch capabilities through a partnership with…

Google has introduced a new way for users to access their accounts by allowing them to sign in with a short selfie video, adding another option for account recovery. The feature lets eligible users record a brief video of themselves following guided head movements. With the user’s consent, the video is securely stored and can later be used to verify their identity during sign-in or account recovery. Google said the feature is intended for users who have forgotten their passwords, lost access to their devices or cannot use their usual authentication methods. To enroll, users record a short video while…