Good morning. According to a survey from Preply, two of the most confusing emojis are 💅 and 🙃. What do they mean anyway??

Local News

🤪 Filipinos Tune into the Podcast cRaZe

By Tobias Bautista

Manila, Philippines – Move over, radio! Podcasts are the new kings of Filipino media. A study by The Pod Network, Anima Podcast, and PumaPodcast, with research firm The Fourth Wall, reveals that over 17 million Filipinos are now hooked on weekly podcasts.

The report, “Beyond the Headphones: The Portrait of a Podcast Listener as Filipino,” found that 19.8% of internet-connected Filipinos aged 16 to 64 are podcast fans. The survey, conducted with 850 respondents from October 23 to November 22, 2023, shows millennials (25-34) in urban areas leading the pack.

What's the top genre? Comedy podcasts, with 74% of listeners laughing along. Personal development, culture, and political podcasts follow close behind.

Why the podcast love? Accessibility (82%) and convenience (74%) top the list. Podcasts are the perfect companion for post-work commutes, household chores, or just winding down.

On the advertising front, podcasts are proving their worth. Streaming services saw a 25.1% conversion to purchases, with food services at 23.1%. John Brylle Bae of The Fourth Wall says podcasts' global rise mirrors their popularity in the Philippines, blending seamlessly into daily routines.

Alan Fontanilla, CEO of The Pod Network, sees this as a golden opportunity for creators and advertisers to engage with an audience craving both entertainment and information.

For more juicy details, check out the full report, “Philippines Podcast Listeners Research 4Q 2023,” available now!

World News

⚔ Taiwan Battens Down its Hatches

By Titus Bautista

Batten down the hatches.

Taiwan is preparing for Lai Ching-Te’s inauguration as its new president. Sensing the increased presence of Chinese vessels in the area, the Taiwan Coast Guard has ramped up its defenses last Sunday to ensure the security of their sea areas and borders during the inauguration. It’s like the traffic and security control that Malacañang places in Manila when our dear Presidents gives their yearly speeches. But only on the water. And maybe with bigger ships and guns?

Remember, that the China and Taiwan aren’t in best terms right now. (Sometimes we ask ourselves if the rockiness will ever stop). Last January, William Lai Ching-Te won the Presidential elections under the Democratic Progressive Party. China labelled him as a “dangerous separatist”. We really can’t blame China, given he is running under a party that has DEMOCRATIC and PROGRESSIVE in it. To make matters worse, last February, the Taiwanese Coast guard was involved in a very exciting boat chase with a Chinese vessel that resulted in a capsized ship and 2 lives lost.

The whole world knows how much China wants Taiwan. The more you hate, the more you love indeed. 🤷🏻‍♂️

Tech

👨‍💻 Musk’s Mission to Connect Indonesia

By Tobias Bautista

Elon Musk has landed in Bali, but he’s not just there for the beaches. The tech billionaire is launching Starlink to bring internet to Indonesia’s remotest corners.

Indonesia, with over 17,000 islands, has many areas still offline. Musk’s Starlink aims to change that. On his first visit to the country, Musk will join President Joko Widodo in Denpasar to kick off the service.

Maritime Minister Luhut Pandjaitan, who played chauffeur for Musk, shared on Instagram, “Starlink can reach even the most remote areas of Indonesia.”

Musk will also speak at the World Water Forum in Bali. Starlink’s initial trials will start in Nusantara, Indonesia’s new capital on Borneo, set to open in August. This follows the government’s plan to move from Jakarta, which is sinking due to rising sea levels.

Starlink, already in Malaysia and the Philippines, uses low Earth orbit satellites to provide internet in hard-to-reach places. With only about two-thirds of Indonesia’s 270 million people online, this could be a game-changer.

Stay tuned, as Indonesia gears up to surf the web like never before!

News Roundup

• Our beloved Carlos Yulo and EJ Obiena both win gold medals in international events in Men’s Floor Final and Men’s Pole Vault, respectively.

• Just like Tiger, golf’s current hotshot Scottie Scheffler now has his own mugshot after getting arrested from a driving incident before PGA Championship Round 2. He proceeded to shoot 5-under par after having to warm up in a jail cell 😱

• Ayala Conglomerate is unloading its remaining economic interest of Manila Water to Enrique Razon Jr.

• Kylie Verzosa, with her own version of Kim K’s Skims, launched SOLA, a shapewear line that blends confidence and comfort for all body types

Games

🎯 Fun Brain Teasers

• Wordle: guess the random five letter word

• Connections: match four words of the same category

• Strands: word search but it depends on the category

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