Due to insistent public demand, Rockford Productions has decided to move the concert Full Blast PinoySuper Bands from Octrober 19 to October 20. It's actually a better date for all the rock enthusiasts out there since it falls on a Friday weekend.

The recently concluded Philippine Junior Finance and Investment Summit at the SMX Convention Center-Manila was a treasure trove of valuable insights into current trends and future direction of the finance industry as a whole.

One of the more noteworthy insights came from speaker Andrew Stotz, President of CFA Society Thailand. His topic, “Ten Ways Ethics Adds Value to You” gave delegates tips into building one’s competitive edge by engaging in ethical practices.



In the CFA Program, there are financial areas covered where one can build competitive advantage like: Financial Accounting, Alternative Investment, Derivatives, Portfolio Management, Corporate Finance, Equity Evaluation, Fixed Income, Asset Allocation and Behavioral Finance. But above all these, according to Stotz, a financial professional must build a high level of competitive advantage in the area of ‘Ethics’. This is a major factor that distinguishes a financial professional from others. “Build this competitive advantage in Ethics, and you’ll be rare,” Stotz said.

Stotz, an award-winning stock market analyst, has twenty years of experience working for various investment banks. He is also the CEO of A. Stotz Investment Research, which helps individuals and institutions build wealth through stock selection and portfolio management.


“I was treated ethically and my family was treated ethically, and I have benefited from it for years; that’s why I wanted to communicate ethics in a simple and positive way,” Stotz said.
As financial professionals, according to Stotz, one must be diligent, loyal, independent, trustworthy, always striving for continuous improvement, must be fair, objective, has a high sense of confidentiality, thorough, and must be able to face and address conflicts head on.

“We are meant to be independent on our work. We serve our clients. As financial professionals, we should fill the gap of our clients’ financial interest. And you should care for your clients as you would your mother,” he said.
“Build your value through ethics. Spend more time building your ethical advantage than building your technical advantage,” Stotz added.


Ms. Rosalia de Leon, Treasurer of the Philippines (Bureau of Treasury Department of Finance) and also the summit’s keynote speaker shared, “Live a balanced-life. Try new things and develop hobbies. Make smart investments today apart from savings.”

She also stressed the importance of PJFIS and its advocacy. “This [PJFIS] is a very useful platform for the students and professionals who really want to pursue a career in finance. I would like to congratulate CFA for hosting this kind of conference that really educates students and young professionals about the finance and investment career and even the problems that may come up,” de Leon said.

PJFIS’ other speakers were Mr. Neil Govier, CFA–Head, Education Asia Pacific (CFA Institute); Ms. April Tan, CFA-Vice President and Head of Research (COL Financial Group, Inc.); Mr. Robert Stammers, CFA-Director of Investor Engagement on the Future of Finance (CFA Institute); Mr. Mark Yu, CFA-President (Retail) and CIO (SEAOIL Philippines Inc.); Mr. Mark Ilao, CFA-Business Development Officer (COL Financial Group Inc.); Mr. Ronilo Balbleran-Vice President for Operation (Research Education and Institutional Development (REID) Foundation); and Mr. Edmund Lee, CFA-President and CEO (Caylum Tracing Institute).


“Being part of the 3rd PJFIS is such a wonderful experience for me as a finance student, because it opened a door for me to know what my craft is all about and broad knowledge that will help me a lot in pursuing my dreams,” Jobelle Balasbas, Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Banking and Finance student said. “Upon hearing the speakers, I was left with a question, rather a motivation of, ‘Instead of wasting my time on non-profitable things, why don’t I make my everyday life productive?”

PJFIS is a conference and exhibition catered for students and young professionals who want to advance their personal career and financial wellness. A brainchild of CFA Society Philippines, this project aims to deliver value to the Philippine investment community by providing future investment professionals a clear view of how to properly build a career in finance, an overview of various investment products and tools, and a venue to understand the significance of ethics and professional standards.

“We believe that financial education should be introduced to learners early on, especially key concepts including budgeting, investing, and setting financial goals. Innovative approach such as blending education and art are most welcome and can help the existing programs of the government. This is a tangible support from the private sector of the objectives of the NSFI, particularly the pillars on financial education and consumer protection,” says Pia.

People silently suffer from allergies and many have learned to accept that it has become a part of their daily lives and have somehow learned to live with it.

What many don't know is that allergies can be avoided by properly identifying them before they can wreak havoc on you and your family's health.

First, define the type of allergy you have. Many don't really know the types of allergies that afflict them and what really causes it.  Some common symptoms include sneezing in the morning or nighttime, runny nose, itchy and red eyes and itchy throat, incessant coughing, breathing difficulty, "wheezing" or that high-pitched whistling sound, irritated skin or tickly rashes after eating a certain kind of food or taking a form of medication.

Some allergies also come from airborne elements like dust, dust mites and even dust mite feces, pet dander, and even skin composition. Other sources include pollen from various weeds, grass, and trees, animal hair from dogs, cats, horses, rats and even non-vulcanized rubber used in making latex products like gloves. There are also the so-called 'seasonal" allergies like allergic rhinitis where sufferers undergo difficulty in cold weather.

Some allergies also come tend to be unpredictable, too, and different people regardless of age and sex have contrasting experiences ranging from mild to severe, even fatal to some. Aside from the usual inconvenient rashes and sneezes, allergies sometimes manifest in the form of bad or swollen lips, shortness of breath, vomiting or worst, a medical emergency like anaphylactic shock.

The symptoms really depend on what form you're allergic to and how you came in contact with it. Most of the time, people discover they're allergic to something when it has already caused a reaction in the body and not before.

But don't fret about allergies because there is hope. Prevention of troublesome physiological reactions caused by allergies can be achieved through Faber, the screening test for allergies.

Faber allows you to identify your allergens before they can cause an allergic reaction. It is the most up-to-date and complete tool today to diagnose an allergy. Made with the most advanced knowledge in the field of nanotechnology, Faber measures specific antibodies against bacteria, viruses and allergens. It uses molecular allergens and allergen extracts using only minimal blood samples from the patient.

The Faber test is recommended for those who have allergy with rhinitis, conjunctivitis, asthma, urticaria, eczema, food reactions including abdominal pain and diarrhea, or insect or latex-induced reactions. Faber is also used if there are other members of the family who suffer from these allergies, or when more than one symptom appears at the same time and have several triggers.

Puzzled and distressed about your allergic reactions? Going to your doctor and taking a more proactive and specific approach to your allergies can do the trick. Take the Faber test also if you have done the restriction diets but without success, and avoiding the things you are allergic to but failed. The test is also a good preparation when traveling to an unknown destination, when moving to a new home, or even when starting a new job. It is also used to perform a periodical screening to test for early diagnosis or simply for the prescription of an allergy vaccine.

Anybody is eligible to take the Faber test - from infants to the elderly. There is no need to fast or to stop therapies even for allergies.  It only takes a small amount of blood for the test and unlike skin tests, even patients with severe dermatitis such as urticaria or eczema can have it done.

You may request for the Faber test from your medical practitioner or molecular allergist, who can customize the individual test interpretation based on the role of individual molecules seen as "risk markers."

For more information on the FABER test or to book an appointment for a consult visit lifescience.ph or call 848-LIF (5433).

With 4-way graphics and 18-core processors, the Acer Predator Orion 9000 is an extreme platform for gaming and content creation; the curved Acer Predator X35 monitor supporting NVIDIA ® G-SYNC ™ and Acer HDR Ultra™ delivers spectacular visuals; new Predator accessories complete the
premium gaming experience




Editor’s Summary:

 A global innovator in gaming hardware, Acer rounds out its award-winning Predator line-up with new gear for battle
 Powering virtual reality apps with ease and supporting over 8K UHD, the Acer Predator Orion 9000 series gaming desktops feature up to an Intel ® Core™ i9 Extreme Edition processor with18 cores and 36 threads, up to 4-way AMD Radeon™ RX Vega graphics or two NVIDIA ® GeForce ® GTX 1080Ti graphics in SLI
 The Acer Predator X35 curved monitor features NVIDIA ® G-SYNC ™ , Acer HDR Ultra ™ , and a fast 200 Hz refresh rate, delivers amazingly smooth and vibrant images
 The Predator Galea 500 gaming headset puts you right inside the game with Acer
TrueHarmony ™ 3D Soundscape technology, while the new Predator Cestus 500 gaming mouse features a unique dual switch design which allows gamers to adjust the click resistance according to the game type they are playing

Acer announced new additions to its premium Predator gaming line, which include the Predator Orion 9000 series gaming desktops with Windows 10, its most powerful to date; and the Predator X35 monitor leveraging NVIDIA ® G-SYNC ™ and Acer HDR Ultra ™ technologies for ultra-smooth performance and stunning visuals. Acer is also offering a new Predator headset and mouse to enhance gaming enjoyment and control.

Acer Predator Orion 9000 Series: Power You Can See

Designed to intimidate enemies and inspire game play, the commanding aesthetics of the Predator Orion 9000 series feature a black-and- silver spacecraft-like exterior with customizable RGB lighting along the sides of the front bezel. A massive side window panel showcases the striking and powerful interior with a design that keeps electromagnetic interference (EMI) levels in check despite the size of the opening.

Optional fans with customizable RGB lighting create a virtual light show for an even more arresting appearance. Outfitted with two handles and wheels covered with a carbon fiber pattern, the new rigs can be easily moved from one location to another. Tool-less side panels make component upgrades easy and the push-open top gives users a quick way to switch fans. A front-access headset cradle and cable management help keep the game area tidy.

“The Predator Orion 9000 is the most powerful PC we’ve ever made,” said Jeff Lee, General Manager, Stationary Computing, IT Products Business, Acer. “With 4-way graphics and 18-core processors, it is a platform that takes gamers and intense graphic users beyond their dreams.”

Liquid Cooling and IceTunnel 2.0 Keeps it Cool Inside

The Predator Orion 9000 series feature liquid cooling 1 and Acer’s IceTunnel 2.0 to keep the temperature down while the game heats up. IceTunnel 2.0 is an advanced airflow management solution that cleverly separates the system into several thermal zones, each with an individual airflow tunnel to expel heat. Huge metal mesh panels on the front and top allow more cold air in and the rising hot air of the liquid-cooled CPU out, while up to five 120 mm fans in the front, top, and back channel cool air through the chassis. Part of the airflow is redirected towards the back of the motherboard tray to cool the storage devices. The graphic cards feature blower-style fans to drive the heat out from the back, while the PSU is self-contained to avoid thermal interference.

An Extreme Platform for Gaming and Content Creation

As one of the initial major OEMs to bring AMD’s latest Radeon ™ RX Vega graphics to a gaming desktop, Acer raises the bar with the capability to support up to 4 Radeon RX Vega cards to deliver near-photorealistic imagery – in real-time at high resolutions in stereo and at high refresh rates. Gamers also have the option of two NVIDIA ® GeForce ® GTX 1080Ti cards in SLI, which support virtual reality with ease.

“We are thrilled that Acer has chosen the AMD Radeon™ RX Vega graphics card for their highest performing PC ever made. RX Vega is a perfect complement to the Predator Orion in terms of both beauty and power. A single RX Vega enables ultra high resolutions and a tear-free, buttery smooth 60 frames per second. And with groundbreaking new features such as the High Bandwidth Cache Controller and Rapid Packed Math, gamers can only expect their system to perform better and better as new titles continue to emerge to take full advantage of them," said Scott Herkelman, VP and General Manager, Gaming, Radeon Technologies Group, AMD.

The Predator Orion 9000 will offer up to a cutting-edge Intel ® Core ™ i9 Extreme Edition 18-core processor and up to 128 GB quad-channel DDR4 memory, allowing it to handle compute-intensive tasks with ease while providing exceptional performance.

“The new Intel Core X-series processor family raises the bar for what’s possible with desktop computing, delivering up to 18 cores and 36 threads for incredible performance and extreme megatasking raw power,” said Anand Srivatsa, General Manager of the Desktop Platform Group, Intel. “This unprecedented level of power is on full display thanks to our strong partnership with Acer on the Predator Orion 9000 featuring the Intel Core i9 Extreme Edition processor.”

One-punch overclocking enables battlers to select turbo performance with a single press of a button. Excellent connectivity includes two USB 3.1 Gen 2 ports (one Type-C and one Type-A), eight USB 3.1 Gen 1 ports (one Type-C and seven Type-A) and two USB 2.0 ports (Type-A). The Predator Orion 9000 supports a total of three M.2 slots to extend the ability to increase the speed, power and capabilities of the PC, and four PCIe x16 slots provide ample expansion for video cards 2 .

Acer Predator X35: Awe-Inspiring Visuals

This large 35-inch, 21:9 monitor sports an immersive 1800R curve and a brilliant (3440 x 1440) WQHD resolution. Featuring NVIDIA G-SYNC, Acer HDR Ultra and quantum dot technologies, it also provides the best possible contrast quality with high dynamic range. Advanced LED local dimming in 512 individually-controlled zones shines light only when and where it is required.

The Predator X35 delivers a broader, more deeply saturated color gamut covering 90 percent of the DCI-P3 color standard, and a luminance range several times greater than that of traditional dynamic range monitors. The fast 4 ms response time and high 200 Hz refresh rate combined with NVIDIA G-SYNC makes gameplay smooth and life-like with no tearing or visual artifacts.

Outfitted with Predator GameView, there are eight pre-set display modes to optimize visuals for different types of action. In addition to Standard, ECO, Graphic and Movie, there are three special game modes, including Action, Racing and Sports, which can be easily accessed through a hotkey or the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu. Gamers can also define their own custom profile and program each mode according to their preferences.
Acer BlueLightShield ™ technology lets customers reduce blue light emissions by selecting from four different filter settings via the OSD menu. The premium VA panel enables wide viewing angles up to 178-degrees horizontally and vertically. In addition, Dark Boost technology allows fine details to be seen in dimly lit environments.

Predator Gadgets Enhance Gameplay

The Predator Galea 500 gaming headset puts you right inside the game, giving you the ability to hear and not just see the exact location of elements within the game. Acer TrueHarmony™ 3D Soundscape technology recreates the acoustic space based on the orientation of the player’s head, convincing the brain that sound is coming from a fixed direction. Featuring a driver diaphragm made from bio-cellulose with rubber surround, the Predator Galea 500 headset delivers clear highs with resounding lows, and responds quickly to precisely reproduce vocals and mid-high range notes, while a unique acoustic cavity helps deliver punchy rhythmic bass.

The Predator Galea 500 is also customizable, letting users select from three modes including EQ Music, Movie and Sport.

The new Predator Cestus 500 gaming mouse features a unique dual switch design, which allows gamers to adjust the click resistance according to the game type they are playing, such as a lighter resistance for FPS games that demand a more nimble reaction, or a heavier resistance for fine maneuvers in RTS games. It features 16.8 million RGB color lights, 8 lighting patterns, 5 on-board profile settings, 8 programmable buttons, and a gold-plated USB connector.

Pricing and Availability

Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To find out about availability,
product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office or retailer via www.acer.com.ph.

The new Predator desktops, monitor and accessories were unveiled at the next@acer press
event held at IFA in Germany, where the company announced a range of new devices and
solutions. For more information, visit acer.com/nextatacer.