Author: Dawn Solano

The Senate’s investigation into the deadly school shooting in Tacloban City has begun to paint a troubling picture of how online spaces and access to firearms may have intersected in the tragedy. During a hearing led by Sen. Risa Hontiveros this week, lawmakers, investigators and cybersecurity experts presented initial findings while emphasizing that the probe remains ongoing and that many details are still being verified.Here are four key takeaways from the investigation so far: 1. Authorities are investigating a possible link to the extremist network ‘764’ One of the most alarming revelations from the hearing was the possible connection between…

Museum and history content is gaining traction on TikTok, pointing to the growing role of short-form video platforms in introducing younger audiences to arts, culture and heritage. Bea Bautista, TikTok’s communications lead for the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, said posts tagged #Museum grew 67% year on year to more than one million globally, while #MuseumTok content rose 48%.Posts under #HistoryTok, meanwhile, jumped 108% from a year earlier to more than 900,000, while two in five TikTok users worldwide said they are interested in history.The figures were presented during the TikTok Content Camp: Arts and Culture Advocacy Edition, organized in partnership…

Mature-rated sandbox game GoreBox is no longer accessible through the Google Play Store and Steam in the Philippines after both platforms complied with the government’s request to block nationwide access to the title, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) said in a media advisory. The CICC said it had verified that the game can no longer be downloaded in the country and that some players who had previously installed the game reported that it had become unplayable, getting stuck on the loading screen after the restrictions took effect. “We welcome Google’s decision to work with the Philippine government in…

DJI has launched the Osmo Pocket 4P in the Philippines, bringing a dual-camera system and enhanced video capabilities to its pocket-sized gimbal camera lineup. The Osmo Pocket 4P combines a 1-inch wide-angle camera with a new 60mm medium telephoto lens, allowing users to capture both expansive scenes and tighter shots without switching devices. The telephoto camera supports 3x optical zoom and up to 12x digital zoom, while also enabling natural-looking background blur for portrait shots. DJI said the wide-angle camera delivers up to 17 stops of dynamic range and supports the D-Log 2 color profile, features designed for users who…

OPPO has named K-pop girl group BABYMONSTER as the new global ambassadors for its Reno smartphone lineup, coinciding with the upcoming international launch of the Reno16 Series. The Chinese smartphone maker announced that the Reno16 Series will roll out in selected global markets beginning June 25, with Thailand and Spain among the first countries to receive the new smartphones.Alongside the launch, OPPO introduced BABYMONSTER as the face of the Reno brand in selected markets as it looks to strengthen its appeal among younger consumers. BABYMONSTER, the seven-member girl group under YG Entertainment, debuted in 2024 and has quickly built an…

Meta has unveiled a new lineup of AI-powered smart glasses, including a special edition that allows users to interact with an AI assistant voiced by reality television personality and entrepreneur Kylie Jenner. Called the Starfire Kylie Edition, the glasses are part of Meta’s latest wearable devices designed to bring artificial intelligence into everyday interactions. The limited-edition model was co-designed with Jenner and features an exclusive version of Meta AI that responds using her voice. The new collection includes three frame styles: Adventurer, Fury and Starfire. Like other models in the lineup, the Starfire Kylie Edition includes built-in cameras, microphones and…

The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) has ordered the temporary blocking of the video game GoreBox following the fatal school shooting in Tacloban City that left three students dead and several others injured. In a statement, the CICC said the move is a precautionary measure while authorities investigate whether the game may have influenced the suspects involved in the incident. According to the investigation of the Philippine National Police, one of the students linked to the shooting was an active player of GoreBox. The shooting occurred at San Jose National High School on June 22, prompting a nationwide discussion…

I arrived in Taipei to cover Computex 2026 with a challenge I hadn’t anticipated. Before the trip, Fujifilm Philippines lent me a Fujifilm X-T30 III to use during my stay in Taipei while covering Computex 2026. While I had previously used Fujifilm’s Instax cameras, this was my first experience with one of the company’s mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras. I knew I was stepping into a different world.Fujifilm had a devoted following, particularly among photographers who swore by its film simulations and customizable film recipes. What I didn’t know was just how steep the learning curve would be for a complete beginner.…

Something is undeniably compelling about a story in which a billionaire CEO falls in love with an ordinary woman, only to discover she is the long-lost heir of a rival company, determined to reclaim her family’s fortune. Throw in a fake marriage that unexpectedly turns into real romance, and the formula becomes even harder to resist.The plot is dramatic, often illogical and rarely resembles real life. Yet, millions of people will surely be watching.Known as short dramas, these bite-sized, mobile-first series have become one of the fastest-growing categories in digital entertainment, hooking viewers with cliffhangers and emotional twists that unfold…

SINGAPORE — Southeast Asia is emerging as a key growth market for short dramas, accounting for nearly a third of global downloads as audiences increasingly turn to bite-sized, mobile-first entertainment. Data from app intelligence firm Sensor Tower, presented during the TikTok Apps Summit 2026, showed that short dramas recorded 2.26 billion downloads worldwide in 2025. The category continued its rapid rise in the first quarter of 2026, with downloads growing 140% year-on-year. The region accounted for 32% of global short-drama downloads and posted 220% year-on-year growth, making Southeast Asia one of the fastest-growing markets for the format. Users are also…