16-year-old student from Abra invents a robot that use AI to pick and sort garbage

Photo Courtesy || Liza Agoot /PNA 

Cordillera - A 10th grader student from Abra has developed a robot called 'enviro' robot that can pick and sort out garbage from canals and waterways.

Meljon Reyes Viste, a 16-year-old student wanted to make something that is useful to the environment. Because of his interest in robotics and Lego toys, he wanted to build a robot that performs useful works. 

"I want to do something that is useful. I am worried with the state of our environment that is why I improved what had been developed in the past," Viste said via PNA news website.

Viste said he came up with the idea of building a robot that can pick up and sort out trash after they were required by their school to do a research and and propose possible solutions to problems in the province.

Viste approached that challenge just like any other good inventor. He built his robot using parts of an old electric wheelchair which he retrieved from scrap in a waste facility. 

His robot uses a conveyor that will pick up trash and a sensor that determines which type of trash whether metal or plastic. Then it  segregates the metal from plastic in  separate containers.

Viste said that he will improve the version of his enviro robot and plan to bring it on the upcoming robot competition in Australia in the third week of October. 

Last August, Viste brought home a medal after winning 3rd place in the 5th World Robot Games held in Thailand. 

source || Liza Agoot / PNA

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ONE Championsip CEO Chatri Sityodtong admits Danny Kingad is still one of the best in the world

Photo Courtesy || One Championship & Team Lakay

Cordillera - ONE Championship founder, chairman, and CEO Chatri Sityodtong said Danny "The King" Kingad is still one of the best in the world. 

"As for Danny, he is still one of the best in the world and he is just getting started as a young athlete," Sidyodthong wrote on his official FB page. 

"Danny will be king of the division in the future. There is no doubt in my mind that he will be a world champion one day" he added. 

Philippines National Wushu Champion Danny Kingad lost to former UFC Champion Demitrious Johnson via unanimous decision during ONE: Century held in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday.

READ ALSO: The igorot warriors that bring Philippine MMA to the world's spotlight

Veteran Johnson admits Kingad was his toughest opponent since joining ONE Championship. 

"Danny Kingad was tough, I knew his grappling was strong, I had to try to finish him," Johnson said after the fight. 

Johnson nearly finished the Filipino in the first round via Kimura but Kingad eventually managed to break free. 

"I tried the kimura but he was tough, "Johnson said. The biggest thing is he throws everything he's got, you have to keep the distance," he added. 

ONE Championship founder Sidyothong thanked all the athletes who participated in the biggest event in the history of martial arts. 

"I always say that fighters truly live honorable and courageous live because it is the truth. In chasing your dreams and following your hearts, you bare your souls to the world with every triumph and every failure. And you do so with honor, grace, and love," Sidyothong said.

"Thank you for inspiring the world with your greatness, passion, heart and humility. Bar none, you rank among the world's greatest martial artists," he added. 

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Team Lakay's Lito Adiwang defeats Japanese Senzo Ikeda via first round TKO

Photo Courtesy || One Championship

Cordillera - ONE Warrior Series contract winner Lito Adiwang of Team Lakay wins his first victory in One Championship in the Prelims of ONE: Century Part 1 in Tokyo.

The 26-year old Adiwang defeated Pancrase Flyweight World Champion Senzo Ikeda early in the first round in a strawweight mixed martial arts contest Sunday morning. 

Adiwang surprised the Japanese Champion who is known for his excellent boxing and ground game but struggled under the tight grip of the young Pinoy fighter.

READ ALSO: ONE Championsip CEO Chatri Sityodtong admits Danny Kingad is still one of the best in the world

Adiwang caught and managed to neutralized Ikeda in an arm lock in the first round. 

The referee put a stop to the match after Ikeda suffered a left arm injury and was not able to continue the fight. 

Adiwang gave Team Lakay their first win in the start of ONE: Century Part I.

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LOOK: Kalinga just built a state of the art Public Library

Photo Courtesy || Kalinga Province

Cordillera - Book lovers and students in Kalinga have something to be proud off, their state of the art library that was recently launched today at the Eco-Tourism Center of Rizal. 

New and modern library furniture such as shelves, podium, tables and chairs had been set up and are ready to be used. 

There are also 18 units of computer with high speed internet that are available for those who would want to search the internet. 

Photo Courtesy || Kalinga Province

A kid zone was also built for children to encourage them read and use the library for their research.

According to the Province of Kalinga FB page, the Rizal, Kalinga Public Library was funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation and turned over it to the Rizal Local Government Unit. 

Gerda Henkel Foundation turned over the contents of the Public Library worth 100,000 EU and was used in the procurement of new books from the National Bookstore.

Photo Courtesy || Kalinga Province

Ms. Mylene Lising, an acheologist from the National Museum and one of the founders of the Library said, it was the people of Kalinga who inspired them to put up the Public Library through the help of the foundations's country coordinator Dr. Alfred Pawlik. 

Provincial Governor Engr. Ferdinand B. Tubban congratulated the Municipality of Rizal for being the luckiest municipality in the country to receive the grant from the foundation. 

source || Province of Kalinga

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Baguio's first state-of-the-art command center launched; to operate by 2021

Photo Courtesy || PIO - Baguio City

Update (October 28, 2020): Baguio City may soon operate its first state-of-the-art command center by June next year, this has been announced by Mayor Magalong on Saturday during the launching of the Smart City Command Center at the Baguio Convention Center.

The Command Center will be constructed in the summer capital of the Philippines to address peacekeeping, disaster response and traffic management in the city, Baguio official website says. 

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that a total budget of P200 Million has been approved by President Rodrigo Duterte to start the construction of the said command center.

Update: The said budget had been released by the office of the President, through the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the city government to start the construction of the first integrated command system in the city. 

The construction will take a maximum of four months to build and expected to start by the end of this year. 

"Hopefully, we get our funds and by the end of the year maumpisahan na ang construction" Magalong said. 

Technical staffs from concerned agencies had identified the City Engineering office compound in Lower Rock Quary to be the suitable location for the command center.

The integrated command center is a place that unites all departments and minds of the city using advance technologies to gather all the important and relevant activities related to the city. 

It will cover smart managing of traffic, disaster response, surveillance system, smart parking management system, automatic traffic control system, smart lighting system, environmental management system and more.

Magalong said that this integrated command center is the first in the country and it will be equipped with a closed-circuit television (CCTV) and Artificial Intelligent (AI) system. 

The fund to be used in the establishment of the command center will come directly from the Office of the President.

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Baguio's Proposed New Public Market to accommodate 4,000 vendors and 2 parking spaces

Update: The Technical Working Group (TWG) assigned for the development of the Baguio public market has said that the proposed modernized market will be a 5-storey building with 2 parking spaces in the basement.

The new market will also be able to house 4,000 vendors that are equitably distributed in four sections; the wet section, the fruit and vegetables section, the dry section and other merchandized section, according to Baguio Public Information website.

The TWD has estimated that the project would cost 6 billion pesos and the development will be undertaken in four phases in a 3-year period.

Funding for the project would come either through a bank loan, a joint venture, turnkey or a partnership with local cooperatives, the website added.

Cordillera - Baguio city residents and market vendors will have a reason to be proud off if the city government will pursue a massive development plan of the public market to become one of the most modernized markets in Southeast Asia. 

According to the official website of Baguio City, a total of P6 Billion is now needed to fund the said development plan. 

The development plan includes modernizing the Magsaysay complex by building a 5 storey main market building with a basement parking area that can accommodate 635 slots. 

READ ALSO: Baguio City to house the Philippines' first STATE OF THE ART Integrated Command Center

Even the crowded Hilltop and Kayang offices will also be improved. There will be road links that connect the opposite sides of the market and elevated pathways so that people can walk comfortably.

Photo Courtesy || Public Information Office - Baguio City

Photo Courtesy || Public Information Office - Baguio City

A conceptual development plan has already been created and will be used  by the members of the technical working group (TWG) as a basis for a feasibility study but will first undertake further consultations, public hearings with concerned stakeholders and scoping sessions.

Magalong praised the group of young architects who came up with the beautiful design that will now serve as the basis for feasibility study for the project.

READ ALSO: Baguio City as wedding capital of the Philippines 

Lawmakers are encouraging the city to fast track the development of the public market to keep up with other first class cities in the country. 

Watch the new planned Baguio City public market below:

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Ifugao runner Maria Cecilia Kiswa - The first female to finish grueling 160-Kilometer race in Quezon

Photo Courtesy || Sandugo FB

Cordillera - Maria Cecilia Kiswa was among the top finishers in the recently concluded local running competition Sandugo Pacific Coast Ultra 100 held at General Nakar in Quezon last October 4 - 6.

Kiswa from Ifugao province was the first female champion to finish the 160K distance for the Sandugo Pacific Coast Ultra 100, 3rd Edition. 

Prior to participating in the Sandugo PCU this year, Kiswa maintained her winning streak in every racing competition making her one of the best female runners in the country. 

The 3rd Edition of the Sandugo Pacific Coast Ultra 100 took runners in a 100 mile footrace at the coastal town of General Nakar in the Province of Quezon. 

READ ALSO: Cordilleran Marathon Queen Christabel Martes among Filipinos who dominated the Laguna Phuket run

The Ultra trail running event's course passes through rolling hills, lush green forests, placid rivers and the town's pristine shoreline facing the Pacific Ocean. 

There are other Cordillerans who joined the race and emerged as top finishers.

READ ALSO: Cordilleran marathoner James Tellias successfully finishes most difficult trail run in France

Mankayan native Jovencio Luspian finished second in the male category of the 160-kilometer race.

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WATCH: Miss Millenial Benguet Roxanne Bastian shows the beauty of Benguet with actor Ryan Agoncillo

Cordillera: Eat Bulaga's Miss Millennial 2019 contestant Roxanne Bastian traveled to the province of Benguet together with Dabarkads Ryan Agoncillo.

Roxanne showed some of the must-see tourist destinations in Benguet in today's episode of the noon time show Eat Bulaga.

Photo Courtesy || Eat Bulaga FB

These the are top Benguet tourist destination featured in the show:

- Winaca Eco Cultural Village, Tublay, Benguet

- Narda's Handwoven, Tublay, Benguet

- Strawberry Farm, La Trinidad Benguet

- Bahong Flower Farm, La Trinidad, Benguet

- Mount Kalugong, La Trinidad, Benguet

- Cowboy Town, La Trinidad, Benguet

- Riverview Waterpark, Tuba, Benguet

- Asisn RD. Woodcraft, Tuba, Benguet

- Colors of Stobosa, La Trinidad, Benguet

Roxanne is an Igorota to represent the province of Benguet in this year Miss Millennial Philippines 2019.

Photo Courtesy || Roxanne Bastian FB

Miss Millennial Philippines is an annual beauty pageant for beautiful, talented and intelligent female beauty queens who will represent their hometown in a competition.

The pageant places great emphasis on the culture of the provinces and cities from which candidates came from.

The candidates are tasked to provide visual tour of must-see tourists destinations, local delicacies, and promote the world-renowned Filipino hospitality.

The pageant's aim is to promote the Philippines as a beautiful country to visit.

Video courtesy: Eat Bulaga YT

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6 individuals awarded for their noble and selfless love rescuing French family trapped in an ambush site in Abra

Photo Courtesy || Pnp Cordillera

Cordillera - The Philippine National Police (PNP) presented awards and decorations to deserving PNP units and personnel for their outstanding achievements and performances in the police service during the 118th Police Service Anniversary with the theme "Pinaghusay na Serbisyo, Alay sa Sambayanang Pilipino" at the PROCOR Headquarters, Camp Major Bado Dangwa, La Trinidad Benguet.

Six police and army personnel were awarded Special Individual Awards for their noble and selfless love shown when they rescued a French family trapped along the road of barangay Gacab, Malibcong, Abra on August 21, 2019. 

READ ALSO: Cordilleran soldiers sought-after in Mindanao because "they are full of courage and they don't complain"

The awardees are PEMS Edwin B. Gubiangan, PCMS Marion A Gacayan, PCpl Larry M Puguon, PCpl Leo F. Marrero, Sgt Charles D del Rosario and PFC Jay-r P. Valaquio.

On August 21, at midnight, cops from Balbalan MPS and two members of the 24IB, 7ID Philippine Army conducted a risky operation to rescue tourists who were trapped along Kalinga-Abra road which is known to be an ambush point of the NPA. 

The family survived the horrendous night with the help of the police and soldiers who sacrificed their lives even though they knew the area was at a focal point of the NPA's ambush.

PNP Chief Police General Oscar David Albayalde congratulated all the awardees for their remarkable performance of duties. 

"Your good work, dedication to duty and your deep commitment to the ideals of service, honor, and justice are the best tributes you can render to our forebears," Albayalde said.

READ ALSO: Cordilleran soldier Pvt. Louis Dulawan promoted PSG Officer donned by President Duterte

The PNP Chief also acknowledged Cordilleran cops for being tagged as the 'Most Disciplined Cops' in the country. 

The National Police Commission (NAPOLCOM) in their recent reports listed Police Cordillera are the country's most disciplined law enforcers.

RELATED STORY: Brave Policemen of Kalinga risk their own lives to save a family lost at NPA ambush point

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First Cable Car System in the country to be built in La-Union, Baguio and Benguet

Cordillera - In an effort to ease the worsening traffic situation in the city of Pines, the Department of Transportation proposed to the city of government of Baguio a cable car system that would run from Pugo, La Union to Baguio. 

Mayor Benjamin Magalong said that DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade offered the city to enter into a memorandum of agreement to pursue the proposed cable car system during an Executive-Legislative meeting on Sept. 23.

The cable car system would the be the first in the country and would greatly ease the traffic congestion in the city of Baguio.

A conceptual design for the proposed project will be first provided to the city for review prior to going into a final agreement, according to Baguio City official website.

WOW NEWS: Baguio City: Ranked 4th Most Improved City in the Philippines in 2019

This week, the city council has approved a resolution that authorize city mayor Benjamin B. Magalong to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the DOTr for the conduct of study on the development of a cable car system.

The said cable car will interconnect ajoining municipalities such as La Union Tublay, Sablan, Itogon and La Trinidad.

In addition to the cable car system, DOTr also offered the city of Baguio the construction its first monorail system which will operate from La Trinidad, Benguet to Baguio.

WATCH: The New Burnham Park propose plan

The monorail project with an estimated cost of over P5 Billion pesos would run from the provincial capital to SM City Baguio passing through the central business district. 

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