PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco (4^th from left) leads the formal turnover of brand-new Patient Transport Vehicles to five new beneficiaries represented by Benito Soliven (Isabela) Mayor John Paul Azur (2^nd from left); former Parañaque City Rep. Gus Tambunting (3^rd from left); San Pedro City Mayor Art Mercado (5^th from right); Dr. Anna Ruby Gapasin of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (3rd from right) and PUP Medical Director Dr. Liza Yanes (2^nd from right); and 2^nd Lt. Cassay Marie Chua of Joint Task Unit Ilocos Headquarters (extreme right).

In support of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s program to provide all local government units with patient transport vehicles or PTVs, the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation on Wednesday turned over such vehicles to five more LGUs and institutions.

The latest recipients include the municipality of Benito Soliven in Isabela; San Pedro City in Laguna; the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP); Ospital ng Parañaque; and the Joint Task Force Unit Ilocos (JTUI) Headquarters.

PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco said the donation aims to strengthen the medical and disaster-response capabilities of local government units, public institutions, and security forces as advocated by President Marcos.

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“Each PTV we turn over is a step closer to making vital medical services more accessible to every Filipino,” Mr. Tengco said.

Mayor Art Mercado of San Pablo City, one of the LGU recipients, said the vehicle will significantly enhance the city’s emergency response, particularly for low-income communities.

“It’s a lifeline that will help us save more lives,” he said.

Former Congressman Gus Tambunting also welcomed the donation to the Ospital ng Parañaque, saying: “With this PTV, our hospital can immediately respond to urgent cases, particularly those in need of immediate referral to larger medical facilities.”

At PUP, where thousands of students attend daily classes, the donated PTV is seen as an essential addition.

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“In emergency medical situations on campus, this vehicle could spell the difference between life and death,” said university official Dr. Anna Ruby Gapasin.

2nd Lt. Cassay Marie Chua of the Joint Task Force Unit Ilocos, meanwhile, emphasized the importance of medical mobility in their operations.

“This transport vehicle will greatly support our troop welfare and humanitarian missions, especially during calamities,” he said.

Since the program’s launch last February, PAGCOR has already donated 35 PTVs to LGUs, hospitals, and frontline agencies to help ensure timely and safe medical transport across the country.

Aside from PAGCOR, the Office of the President and the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office are also distributing PTVs to local government units nationwide.

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The Plaza Hotel & Casino will honor two popular Las Vegas sports teams with its weekly Welcome to the Weekend Friday Fireworks Show this week and next.

Tomorrow night, Friday, July 11, members of the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) dance team, the Scarlet Dance Line will be the guests of honor to ignite the fireworks from the TNT box at 9:15 p.m. at Carousel Bar. UNLV alumni and fans are encouraged to wear university gear to Carousel Bar, which will have a DJ starting at 7 p.m. and offer a special cocktail, the Rebel Rita, a frozen strawberry margarita made with Mi Campo Blanco, for the night.

Next Friday, July 18, the mascot for the Vegas Knight Hawks, Risk will be on hand as the TNT ignitor at Carousel Bar honoring the professional indoor football team that plays at Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson. A DJ will again be entertaining guests at Carousel Bar starting at 7 p.m.

Staged from the top of the Plaza’s South Tower every Friday at 9:15 p.m. from May through September, the public can watch the Welcome to the Weekend Friday Fireworks Show for free from in front of the Plaza on Main Street, which will be closed to vehicular traffic during the show for viewing the fireworks from Carson Avenue to Ogden Avenue.

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The Plaza’s fireworks will be dependent on weather conditions and are subject to change or cancellation. Updates will be available on the Plaza’s social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Stand-first: The sell-out of the Web3 poker brands first digital asset collection underscores significant market demand for a community-led, free-to-play poker experience poised to disrupt the traditional player acquisition funnel.

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Devilfish.com, the Web3-powered social poker brand, today announced the complete sell-out of its Genesis Avatar NFT collection. This milestone validates the company’s strategic approach to creating a player centric brand, which applies a sweepstakes-membership style, free-to-play (F2P) model to poker, creating a powerful new top-of-funnel acquisition and retention engine for the industry.

The success of the Genesis Mint signals a clear market appetite for players to be part of a brand and a new social movement, as against the high-friction, real-money-first poker model, which has long struggled with high customer acquisition costs (CPAs) and a significant player churn rate. By removing the initial financial barrier commitment from the player, Devilfish.com is building a vibrant and engaged community, attracting a diverse demographic of traditional poker players, gamers, and crypto natives.

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This F2P, community-centric model is designed to address the industry’s long-standing retention problem, where an estimated 85% of recreational players are long-term net losers, resulting in a poor player experience.

JJ Williams, CEO of Devilfish.com, commented: “We are thrilled by the overwhelming response to our Genesis collection, but we are not surprised. This is a powerful signal of how creating a brand centric story to the industry that poker has a sustainability problem and that the solution lies within the community, not just in cash.

For too long, the industry has focused on a small segment of winning players while inadvertently punishing the vast majority who play for the love of the game. Our community platform model offers a welcoming, safe haven and a gamified environment that enables you to master the game without incurring a financial burden, promoting a healthier ecosystem in the era of responsible gambling requirements. This sell-out isn’t just a win for Devilfish; it’s the blueprint for the future of brand-led community poker engagement.”

Inspired by the explosive growth of social and sweepstakes casinos, Devilfish.com is positioning itself as a vital partner for the broader gaming industry. For online operators, land-based casinos, and poker publishers, the platform offers a low-friction pathway to attract new demographics, build massive prospect databases, and re-engage lapsed players in a brand-safe environment.

The Genesis Avatars represent a player’s unique digital identity, which is a significant component of the Devilfish brand ecosystem, including membership. It grants holders access to exclusive benefits and a stake in the community’s future. The company will now focus on executing its roadmap, which includes expanding the platform’s features and delivering the promised utility to its founding members.

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