Three-day Cyber Expo, a success; to link world cyber events

The conduct of the three-day Davao Cyber Expo turned out successful with five events held simultaneously in one exposition held from July 23 to 25 at the Event Center of SM City Davao.

Kitsi Avila, of E-Squared Events and organizer of the exposition, said it was not just a mere show of gadgets and push their advocacy to make Davao City as the leading Cyber City in the Philippines but keep the youth be responsible while in the cyber space.

Avila said they are strongly advocating on anti-pornography and piracy saying that these two concerns need to be controlled and avoided.

"Our campaign is continuing and we make sure that our members follow and observe our policy and position," he said.

Avila said the Cyber Expo featured five events namely, the Cyber Games where a sports Olympics was held on DOTA (Defense of the Ancients) with top eight teams competing during the expo after they went through a pre-elimination among 45 competing teams.

The players were mostly college students and out-of-school youths; the E Games where this group also held their own tournament. The exhibitors where from Manila; the LPX or LAN Party Extreme where 80 members displayed their customize PCs costing over P100,000.

In this PC show the units were given awards as to performance levels and speed in terms of high-end games; and the Costume Players who were inspired by Anime; and Forum on Responsible Gaming.

He also said part of the expo was the Tech Extreme Exhibits where 15 companies joined.

Meanwhile, Avila said Cyber Games like DOTA is not just about playing the game. It's about sports where players develop quick decisions, reflexes and competitiveness.

"One could be able to develop the mind and reflexes and those over 22 years old are too old for the game," he said.

On the other hand, Avila said DOTA is a customer scenario for the real-time strategy video game Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne based on the "Aeon of Strife" map for StarCraft.

He said the objective of the scenario is for each team to destroy the opponents' Ancients, heavily guarded structures at opposing corners of the map.

Players use powerful units known as heroes, and are assisted by allied heroes and AI-controlled fighters called "creeps".

As in role-playing games, players level up their hero and use gold to buy equipment during the mission.

He said playing DOTA will also develop their relation as a team.

The Davao Cyber Expo was able to also change the perception of adults and their hosting an exposition gave them mileage where people would understand and know better the cyber space.

He said their next move is to link with World Cyber Events and they will continue to hold more events on cyber games. (PNA) LOR DDB/lvp

Dabawenyos bring recyclables @ SM

With SM City Davao initiating the waste market or the "Trash to Cash" project, the people of Davao City have a place to bring unused but recyclable materials and earn some cash from it each month. SM City Davao's bid of increasing environmental awareness and Earth campaigns has inspired a lot of individuals and supported the campaign. SM City Davao responded to the planet’s cry for help and made conscious efforts of reducing the company’s carbon footprint and also encourage employees and costumers alike to be more discerning in their actions and choices with partiality to the planet’s welfare. The Trash to Cash promotes recycling as a way of fighting global warming. It corrects the common misconception that recycling is expensive as mall goers are able to sell their recycleables (paper, cartons, plastics, metals, batteries, etc.) to DENR-accredited scrap buyers during the fair ensuring them of proper disposal and earning them cash at the same time! In less than 2 years, the SM City Davao has organized 22 waste market fairs. The paper collection alone, reaching to almost 63,000 kilograms is estimated to have saved 1,258 trees, 188.75 cubic yards of landfill space, 125.83 barrels of oil- enough to fuel an average car for 79,274.88 miles, 257,957.93 kilowatts of energy- enough to power an average household for 31 years, and 3,774.99 lbs less air pollution! The next Trash to Cash is scheduled on February 6 and 7 at SM City Davao’s Parking C. So start collecting your trash and turn them into cash only at SM!