Celia Rodriguez: #PowerLook personified

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Whenever she plays a contravida such as the evil “Valentina” in the “Darna” movie franchise, or as a richy-bitchy matron in her slew of telenovelas, it’s hard not to notice the uncanny knack for fashion of premier actress Celia Rodriguez. Known for setting fashion trends before they are even born, she is definitely the epitome of a woman who radiates with talent and looks, especially during awards nights where the media would anticipate her next fashion statement.

There is no doubt that her innate artistry, coupled with extraordinary hard work and dedication in perfecting her craft made her one of the most iconic actresses of her generation. Name any role and she’ll play it with much aplomb and gusto, whether as the villain or heroine, which she also portrays impeccably. This explains why Celia Rodriguez—“Manay Celia” to many—remains to be one of the most illustrious thespians around who can give much younger actresses a run for their money. She is like vintage wine—the more aged, the better tasting, and the more sought-after. 

Recently, Acer Philippines has chosen Manay Celia as one of the ambassadors for the global tech titans’ recently launched Acer Premium line. Acer Premium is a collection of mid to high-range devices that hallmark superior engineering, chic design, and manufacturing prowess. These tools are renowned for effectively combining both “Power” and “Looks,” which make them prime choices among discerning and astute individuals who wouldn’t settle for anything less.

This is why Manay Celia is truly a perfect fit for Acer Premium. With her trademark #PowerLook, which comes as naturally as her lifting an eyebrow, Manay Celia evokes emotion without uttering a single dialogue – similar to the products on the Acer Premium array - you know you’re getting powerful and great-looking devices at a glance.

For the Acer Premium line, Manay Celia took an exceptional liking to the Acer Liquid X1, Acer’s flagship smartphone model. Grand and powerful, the Liquid X1 is a smartphone built to astound. Boasting a cutting-edge octa-core processor and an ultra-fast LTE connectivity, this beast of a device is sure to blaze up your mobile experience. Its glorious 5.7-inch HD screen and incredible 13MP F1.8 camera make viewing and capturing moments always picture perfect and majestic.

“I’m not much of a techie, but I quickly fell in love with the Liquid X1, especially with the AcerRapid button where I can shoot photos or open the apps I love in a snap. It’s very useful especially for fans who love to take their photos with me on set or when I’m in the mall. That’s why I use my Liquid X1 instead of their phone, and of course I tell them to change their phones and buy the Liquid X1 so they can enjoy the same power features and excellent looks that I love,” Manay Celia says with a chuckle.

So what else has Celia Rodriguez not done? Well, she is still—and will always be—the best “Valentina” ever. But with Acer’s Liquid X1 in her hand, she is the perfect ambassador for Acer Premium. This legendary actress shows why today’s Twitter, Tumblr, and Instagram generation should get their hands on Acer Premium products because like Manay Celia, everybody deserves only the best.

To know more about the Liquid X1 and other Acer Premium products, visit the Acer Philippines Facebook page (www.facebook.com/AcerPH), follow Acer via Twitter (twitter.com/acerphils), or go to www.acer.com.ph.

EPSON LAUNCHES “FREE APPLE iMAC” PROMO

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Digital imaging leader Epson Philippines is offering a free 21.5-inch Apple iMac for every purchase of an Epson SureColor F7170 textile printer from May 15 to June 30, 2015.

Epson’s F7170 is designed for the roll-to-roll digital textile market and integrates true roll-to-roll support for unprecedented levels of performance, reliability, and image quality for printing on fabrics and soft signage.

The printer leverages Epson’s PrecisionCore thin film piezo (TFP) print head, and uses Epson’s UltraChrome DS ink system to provide high-quality printing, superior dot control, precise and reliable performance, and excellent longevity for a range of dye-sublimation applications.

In addition, the Epson F7170 has a highly accurate take-up reel and substrate system to deliver winding accuracy between 0 and 0.19″ on transfer paper rolls for digital textile applications, including soft-signage products such as decorative table tops and runners, as well as point-of-purchase (POP) banners and exhibit displays. Other roll-to-roll fabric applications that customers can create include home furnishings, fabric patterns, apparel manufacturing, and more. Built for increased productivity, Epson’s textile printer also features a high-capacity ink tank system with refillable tanks to allow continuous printing through a full roll of media, as well as a new post-platen heater for faster drying times.

The printer also comes with a Wasatch SoftRIP TX that enables users to start printing output immediately out of the box with specialty features for textile printing. The Epson F7170 is fully compatible with Epson’s line of dye-sublimation transfer papers, including DS Transfer Production paper, DS Transfer Adhesive Textile, and DS Transfer Multipurpose. The printer is designed to work exclusively with Epson UltraChrome DS Ink and not with other brands of inks or cartridges.

The promo is valid nationwide. The participating dealers for this promo include: Globis Inc., Computer Graphics Inc., Bridge Distribution Inc., Gakken Philippines, Imageworld Signs, Cebu Juntrade, St. Jude Consulting, and Tekpone Enterprise.

For more information about Epson textile printers, please visit www.epson.com.ph/textileprinters.

How to Protect Your Skin This Summer

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Summertime is here and people are sure to celebrate through beach trips, swimming parties, extreme sports, and many more. But did you know that just like this variety in summer activities, we all have different skin types, and that they can also change with the weather?

This is why you need to take extra care to make sure you’ll maintain a radiant, healthy, and glowing skin all year round!

Oily skin tends to have large pores, and blemishes such as pimples or blackheads. Oiliness can be caused by puberty, other hormonal imbalances, or stress. It becomes worse during summertime due to exposure to heat and humidity. To take care of oily skin, avoid over-washing you face. Cleansing twice a day is advisable. Use a gentle cleanser to prevent irritating your skin as abrasive scrubs can open the pores and further expose them to more pollutants in the environment.

Normal skin has a good balance of moisture, small pores, and an even tone. This is the goal of most skin care regimens, and most people have this skin type. But in order to maintain it in good condition, you need to minimize its exposure to the sun and follow a proper skin care regimen.

Combination skin can have dry or normal areas along with oily parts such as the T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin). This skin type can produce overly dilated pores, blackheads, and a shiny surface. Resolve these issues by using a gentle cleanser, applying a toner to repair skin, protecting it from sun damage, exfoliating to remove built-up skin cells, spot-treating, and using products loaded with antioxidants which help keep your skin clear and healthy.

The key to having clear and healthy skin is to have a reliable skincare system. White Result White & Clear, the newest skincare treatment for normal to oily skin types, fights acne and excess oil production, corrects skin blemishes, inhibits melanin production, and keeps your skin fair and young looking! The White & Clear System includes the Facial Foam, Facial Toner, Moisturizer with Sunscreen, and Spot Corrector.

Dermatologically tested, safe, and proven to clear acne and blemishes, each product is specifically formulated with Acne Buster, a multi-complex agent with 10 active ingredients that effectively fight acne and excess oil production; Papaya and Pea extract, which are effective whitening ingredients that inhibit melanin production; and Niacimide, a multifunctional B3 complex vitamin that helps reduce skin pigmentation and age spots as well as reviving and hydrating skin, leaving it supple and young-looking.

Whether your skin type is oily, normal, or a combination of both, White Result White & Clear from Tupperware Brands will give you clear and blemish-free skin. Just remember to cleanse, tone, moisturize, and treat your body’s greatest feature, and we guarantee that you’ll look your best for a great summer!

About Tupperware® Brands 

Tupperware Brands Philippines distributes well-loved brands including Tupperware, Baby Care Plus+, Kids Plus+, Colour Collection, Ivana and White Result. For your questions and inquiries on how to be a dealer, log on to www.tupperwarebrands.ph, email us at questions@Tupperware.ph or call the hotline number 867-2222. Like us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/tupperwarebrandsph.

WD drives solutions and rewards with enhanced myWD Channel Partner Program

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WD, a Western Digital company, and a world leader in storage solutions, today revealed its enhanced myWD Partner Program, an award-winning loyalty channel program for MSPs, VARs, and system integrators with new features such as product solution centers, industry-focused marketing assets and on-demand product training. 

As a result of more than a year of survey and ongoing feedback from WD’s valued myWD partners, the new and improved site offers new features that lead to a seamless user experience for myWD partners providing relevant and easy-to-access information at their fingertips. The new features include. 

· Solution selling centers on growing markets such as Surveillance, NAS, and Datacenter; 

· industry focused marketing assets;

· on-demand online product training through WD University, and

· a points system, where members earn rewards based on purchases of WD products from authorized distributors.

“Since the launch of myWD in 2012, the program has grown to over 25,000 partners worldwide spanning across 190 countries and 17 languages,” said Jamie Vo, vice president of WD’s worldwide marketing. “With the re-launch of myWD, WD is proving its commitment to invest in the channel by presenting our valued partners opportunities to build their business in the growing storage applications of NAS, surveillance and datacenters.” 

The myWD Partner Program provides channel partners with the resources and benefits they need to drive their business. PSSC Labs has used WD® drives in its solutions for many years, and two years ago, it joined the myWD Partner Program. “WD stands behind us just the way we stand behind our customers,” explains Alex Lesser, co-owner and vice president of PSSC Labs. “Not only do they offer very good, high-quality, high-performance drives for our solutions, but if there is a problem, they tackle it head-on just like we do.”

Resellers and solution providers worldwide can join the myWD partner program by visiting the website at http://www.mywd.com. 

Lenovo teams up with Lazada to exclusively launch the A7000 Smartphone in Southeast Asia

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Lenovo  today announced that users in the Philippines and five other ASEAN countries will be able to buy the much awaited Lenovo A7000 Smartphone via Lazada, Southeast Asia’s number one online shopping and selling destination.

Philippine customers may also purchase the A7000 on Lazada Philippines’ online store during a flash sale to celebrate the launch. This is the first time Lenovo is doing a concurrent launch across six ASEAN countries. 

As the world’s first smartphone featuring all-new Dolby Atmos technology, the Lenovo A7000 smartphone is built for entertainment on a budget. Perfect for smartphone users who consume large amounts of movies and videos, the A7000 has a 5.5” HD screen and MediaTek 4G LTE True8Core™ processor. Rounded out with dual 8MP and 5MP cameras and adaptive VIBE UI 2.0, the A7000 is a responsive multimedia performer which promises a fulfilling user experience.

“Due to the rapid growth of mobile internet, e-commerce and interactive marketing, we see a significant change in the traditional business model. Lenovo as a market leader needs to adapt fast to remain innovative and to seize opportunities to be ahead of the game. The partnership with Lazada has allowed us to take that step forward to meet our common goal,” said Dino Romano, Country Lead, Lenovo Smartphone, Philippines. 

According to the January 2015 "Digital in the Philippines" snapshot of We Are Social, Internet access in the Philippines has grown by 500% in the last four years – fastest rate in Southeast Asia. The said report also cited Philippines’ lead in average "Time Spent on the Internet" through laptop and desktop, and is one of the highest via mobile worldwide. 

From a global average of 4.4 hours/day, the Filipino spends an average of 6.3 hours/day online via laptop and 3.3 hours/day via mobile.

Lenovo has adopted the use of the online-to-offline (O2O) business model to emphasize customer engagement, quicker response and effective social media communication. This model was successful in India and Indonesia and will be adopted for Lenovo’s tie-in with Lazada to penetrate key markets in the region such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

“We are excited to exclusively retail the Lenovo A7000 Smartphone across the six Southeast Asian countries that Lazada operates in, having already experienced our successful partnership in Indonesia. I am confident that our market leadership and reach to approximately 550 million consumers in the region, along with Lenovo’s business strategy and brand presence, will pave the way to a win-win partnership,” said Mr. Inanc Balci, CEO and Co-founder, Lazada Philippines. 

Online buyers of the Lenovo A7000 are assured of worry-free ownership as the handset will be covered by Lenovo’s official one-year warranty and supported by the thirty (30) Lenovo Mobile service centers and collections points nationwide.

Lenovo A7000: Dolby Atmos Sound Technology and More for the True Audiophile

The patented Dolby Atmos makes sound flow above and around the user for a dramatically different listening experience. Users can simply plug in their headphones into the A7000 and enjoy being true surround sound.

The MediaTek 4G LTE True8Core processor and 2GB RAM delivers quick and smooth responses with the Android 5.0 Lollipop VIBE UI. The Lenovo A7000 delivers high quality sounds and graphics with hardware optimization that boosts battery life.

The Lenovo A7000 is preloaded with apps that include Guvera Music, a streaming music service with a wide selection of over a million songs. Finally, this smartphone also offers lightning-fast LTE speeds for streaming audio and video whenever and wherever users want mobile entertainment.

Pricing and Availability

The Lenovo A7000 will be available exclusively on Lazada.com.ph starting 12noon on May 21 and is priced at Php7, 390.

For the latest Lenovo smartphones and tablets news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo Mobile on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/LenovoMobilePH) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/lenovomobileph).

El Gamma Penumbra Is the First Asia’s Got Talent Champion

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El Gamma Penumbra emerged as the champion of the talent search "Asia's Got Talent", besting other candidates from 14 different countries. 

The team won US$100,000 and an opportunity to perform at the Marina Bay Sands.

El Gamma is the first champion of the Asia-wide version of the popular reality show. El Gamma Penumbra was the fourth winner in the contest competed in Pilipinas Got Talent in 2012.

El Gamma Penumbra was part of the top 3, which included Filipina classical opera singer Gerphil Flores, and the Mongolian group Khusugtun.  Gerphil placed second in the competition.

Here's the  El Gamma Penumbra’s  performance during the first part of the grand finals below!

Hosted by Marc Nelson and Rovilson Fernandez, Asia's Got Talent with David Foster, former Spice Girl Melanie C., Indonesian rock star Anggun, and Taiwanese pop star Vanness Wu served as judges.

Congratulations El Gamma Penumbra! You're the Filipino Pride!

Join "Share that MOMent" Contest

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In celebration of Mother's Day, let us remember all the wonderful things that our mothers did for us.

Share your memories by joining our Mother's Day

"Share that MOMent" Contest

Here's how to join:

Step 1: Like the Healthway Medical Facebook page.

Step 2: Complete this sentence: "I remember how my mom ________________".

Step 3: After completing the sentence, post a picture of you and your mom with the hashtags:

‪#‎HealthwayMOMents or

‪#‎HwayMOMents

Contest starts May 9 until May 29, 2015.

The most interesting answer and photo with the most number of likes and shares will win an overnight stay for 2 at the Acacia Hotel.

Winners will be announced on Healthway’s Facebook page on May 31, 2015.

Note: Make your post visible to public so your entry can be tallied.

Join the contest and check this out. 

https://www.facebook.com/healthwaymedical/photos/a.151603195549.144932.13328005549/10153900218895550/?type=1&theater 

https://www.facebook.com/healthwaymedical/videos/vb.13328005549/10153898069410550/?type=2&theater 

https://www.facebook.com/healthwaymedical/photos/a.151603195549.144932.13328005549/10153900218895550/?type=1&theater 

*Healthway Medical, is the country's largest network of mall clinics have an ongoing post Mother’s Day Contest. 

Summer with Timex

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Time is of the essence, even during summer, when all you want to do is while away your days looking out to the sea with the sand on your feet and the sun on your skin. 

Global iconic brand Timex keeps things cool this summer, despite everyone’s busy schedule, by keeping fashionable track of time.

Travel the globe with Timex Expedition Shock, calibrated for 62 world cities

Always have a stopwatch handy with Timex Weekender Chron

From a park hangout to a beach getaway, you could never go wrong with Timex Weekender Chrono

Dare to go the extra mile with Timex Ironman 

Both shock proof and waterproof, Timex Expedition Shock joins you in every adventure

Crizal launches first preventive lenses for selective protection against blue light and UV rays

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Essilor, the world leader in corrective lenses, is launching the first lens to offer selective protection against harmful blue light and UV rays. Crizal Prevencia lens lets in essential light, which your body needs to function properly, while filtering out harmful light. It thus helps to protect your eyes against the risk of retina damage, caused by Blue-Violet light, and to reduce the risk of cataracts, which can result from overexposure to UV.

Prevention is essential, especially for children & adults over 45

Prevention with Crizal Prevencia is currently the first line of defence against the worldwide problems of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and cataracts. These conditions affect more than 350 million people around the world, a figure that may double in the next 30 years as the worldwide population ages. 

Dr Emelita Roleda, General Manager of Essilor Philippines, sums up the importance of this new lens: “It is a landmark discovery in the field of optical science and we are very proud to have contributed, to this major step forward in the battle against one of the most devastating eye conditions. With Crizal Prevencia, we are pioneers in addressing the challenge of preventative innovation today. This perfectly fits in with Essilor’s strategy of playing a predominant role in the implementation of solutions for better visual health for everyone, all over the world.”

Children and adults over 45 are the most vulnerable to the dangers of light. Children’s developing eyes are very transparent, letting visible light and UV pass through the retina. This is a pressing matter, as they tend to spend their days outdoors, accumulating high exposure of UV. As for adults over 45, their eyes’ natural defence system is weakened and more susceptible to the effects of Blue-Violet light and UV.

Prevention is critical in current digital times

LED-based equipment such as the environmentally safer LED lights and LED screens of smartphones, tablets and laptops, have been shown to emit larger proportion of blue light as compared to the old incandescent lamps and fluorescent tubes. Out of the blue light emitted by these devices, it is the Blue-Violet light that is raising concerns. 

With more people embracing digital lifestyles, exposure to Blue-Violet light increases. Over long hours, it can lead to eyestrain and fatigue, thus overexposure to Blue-Violet light may increase the likelihood of AMD.

Good and bad blue light

Emitted by the sun, as well as by artificial light sources, such as LEDs, blue light is part of visible light and is close to UV on the light spectrum. 

A certain part of blue light, known as Blue-Turquoise light, is a natural form of light therapy. It acts as a “natural regulator” for our bodies, helping balance our sleep cycle and keep us energised and alert.

However, recent research by Essilor and the Paris Vision Institute, one of Europe’s largest eye health research centres, confirms that a specific band of blue light is more harmful for our eyes. The joint team developed a completely new protocol in this scientific domain: an in vitro test on retinal cells to determine the harmfulness of different light rays. This enabled them to identify Blue-Violet light as the portion of the visible light spectrum that presents the biggest risk of causing gradual degeneration of retinal cells, potentially leading to serious eye conditions.

A lens that selectively filters light to reduce the risks of AMD and cataracts

In response to this finding, Essilor has developed the Crizal Prevencia lens, which protects your eyes from the Blue-Violet light that contributes to retinal cell degeneration while allowing beneficial Blue-Turquoise light to pass through. 

This is new category of preventive lenses developed thanks to Light Scan™, an exclusive technology that filters light selectively by letting beneficial Blue-Turquoise light pass through, filtering out harmful Blue-Violet rays that can contribute to AMD and UV rays that are a major cause of cataracts, while maintaining the transparency of the lens, ensuring an optimal visual experience for prescription glasses wearers.

Techbox Philippines is moving!

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Merely two years after its establishment, Techbox Philippines has tallied impressive wins -- the launch of 32 branches nationwide, six overwhelmingly-successful warehouse sales, and the creation of its own online retail store. Now, Techbox Philippines is about to ‘move’ to something bigger – a new head office in Pasig City!

“The growth of Techbox surpassed our wildest expectations. We’re blessed beyond belief by a great set of customers,” said Angela Gutierrez, Business Unit Head for Techbox Philippines. 

“That is why we want to show our appreciation of their loyalty and support by holding a marvelous moving-out sale. Our customers’ favorite gadgets will be made available at incredibly low prices,” added Gutierrez. The sale will take place on May 15-17, 2015 at Techbox’s old office at 2299 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City.

As this is most likely Techbox’s last warehouse sale in its old office, the company promises that they’re going all-out. “Aside from our regular customers, we expect that those whom we failed to serve in our past warehouse sales will get their chance this time,” said Angela. “This will be an unforgettable send-off,” added Angela. The sale will feature products from Lenovo, Nokia, LG, Nikon, Sony, Belkin, and Philips. 

Techbox Philippines is the fastest growing gadget retail chain in the country. They offer trusted handset brands and cellphone accessories at affordable prices.

To get the latest Techbox deals, visit www.techboxhub.com. 

5 items you can sell right now and be a wealthier you!

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One of the New Year’s resolution and future plans -  cleaning your room and to have more space you can enjoy. How to do it?  You will free up space in your closet and take out clothes you’re no longer using. If you haven’t cleaned or decluttered your home yet, there is no better occasion than now. And while you’re at it, you can also sell the unused stuff to make extra cash.

Open your closet and table drawers, look under your bed and move your furniture aside. To give you a head start, here are 5 items that you can consider selling:

Summer clothing and accessories

Hoarding a closetful of extra clothes? Sell them as preloved to fashionistas online. You can sell the old tees and jeans you haven’t used in ages and the dresses that no longer fit you. The rule is, if you haven’t seen or worn them in 3 months, let it go. 

Cameras

If you have an old camera that has long been forgotten, it can be sold for a good price online. Tip: sell your old gadgets as soon you have bought a new one. Cameras are also one of the most sought-after gadgets during the summer, especially since most families and friends are going on vacations and outdoor trips. Smartphones may be ideal for selfies, but hi-res cameras are still the preferred lens for shooting landscapes and group shots. 

Books and other publications

Got a bookcase full of old books you’ve grown tired of reading all over again? Why don’t you sell them and use the money to buy the latest books you want? Used books, regardless if they are classic or contemporary, are the choice companions of people who are either on vacation or staycation.

Electronic gadgets and appliances

Want to upgrade to the latest high-end smartphone or LED TV without breaking the bank? Sell your old gadgets and appliances and then use the extra cash to supplement the money you need to buy brand-new gizmos. Lots of trendy online buyers are looking for good quality but discounted smartphones, TVs and other electronic appliances. 

Fitness and sporting equipment

If you have an unused yoga mat or an exercise bike that’s been left to gather dust in the corner of your room, sell it to other fitness enthusiasts. Lots of folks will be pursuing a new sports or fitness routine during the summer season. Most of them will also be looking for quality and affordable sports equipment and gears, from fitness trackers to treadmills. Take advantage of this trend by selling the ones you’re no longer using.

After you’re done identifying all the household items you want to sell, take photos and post your ads online. 

Use leading buy and sell sites, like OLX, to reach millions of Pinoy buyers and sell your preloved items fast. You can even download their free Android and iOS app to make your selling experience a lot faster and easier. 

Extend the value of your stuff by earning extra cash from it while also helping others get a good deal. This year, aim for an improved living space and a wealthier you! 

Asia Tour of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER Aims to Bring Audience To Their Feet—And Dance in the Aisles

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Remembering "Saturday Night Fever"? A huge commercial success, "Saturday Night Fever" significantly popularized disco music around the world and made celebrities like John Travolta famous. The Saturday Night Fever soundtrack featuring disco songs by the Bee Gees became one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time.

The younger generation has not had a chance to witness the impact of the movie 'Saturday Night Fever' made in the '70s. I'd be great to see a new generation of theatergoers dancing in the aisles to the timeless tunes of The Bee Gees,” says Patrick Bywalski, deputy chairman of Robert Stigwood Organisation Ltd. , which co-produces the upcoming Asian Tour of the hit West End and Broadway dance musical SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER alongside Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG) and Ten Bridges Media Corp. 

The dancing crowd doing the hustle is expected to spill out of The Theatre at Solaire Resort and Casino, where a '70s disco-themed party will take place at a nearby venue to aptly kick off the tour running in Manila (July 3-26), Kuala Lumpur (Septmber 1-15), and Singapore (September 25 to October 11). 

“Since SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER opened in the West End in 1997, we've nurtured the musical around the globe with each production contextualized [and recontextualized] to please the local customs,” adds Bywalski. Apparently, the recent UK productions and the upcoming Asian Tour of the musical have been more fearless—definitely more provocative—than their sanitized predecessors in the West End and on Broadway by staying true to the authentic, gritty realism depicted in the landmark film. 

“The film was, finally, so authentic...it was more of a documentary,” Karen Lynn Gorney, the actress who played Stephanie Mangano, the love interest of John Travolta's Tony Manero in the film, told Vanity Fair in December 2007. “We improvised for two weeks, so that by the time it came to filming, [film director] John Badham just shot what was happening. It wasn't acting.”

With the stamp of approval to reimagine SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER onstage for Asian audiences, multi-awarded stage director Bobby Garcia has set his eyes on reliving the authentic coming-of-age in a tough world story of the film—amid the backdrop of the pulsating strobe lights of the infamous retro '70s disco era.

For Garcia, nothing would be more authentic than asking Broadway choreographer and child of the '70s Vince Pesce to join his creative team. Pesce, who's a longtime associate choreographer of Tony winner Kathleen Marshall, grew up in the same neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, where the movie was filmed. “I've a clear memory of the movement/dance and how it made us feel,” says Pesce.

Based upon music critic Nik Cohn's magazine article “Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night,” which was published in the June 7, 1976 issue of New York, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER tells the story of Italian-American Vincent (later renamed to Tony Manero) and his gang in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn who are stuck in dead-end jobs but rule the dance floor at the discotheque 2001 Odyssey. Vincent or Tony is a tough cookie; an outstanding dancer, his ultimate dream was to escape the mean streets of Brooklyn.

“I did go back and look at the movie again just to make sure I capture the gritty, dynamic, and social movement that shifted popular dance as we know it,” Pesce continues. “With that in mind, Bobby Garcia, our director, and I felt we needed to expand the dancing in the show and make it more relatable to modern audiences yet remain true to the original choreography. You'll get to see the hustle, Travolta's finger point, and lots of exciting disco dancing but much more is needed to be done.

“Today's sophisticated audiences are accustomed to intricate, dynamic dance styles on TV, e.g. 'Dancing with the Stars.' We have to deliver expanded dance sequences that will thrill. On the other hand, we also have to create a world of movement that doesn't only take place in the disco. Essentially, we need to capture the pulse, frustration, and energy of the streets of Brooklyn and the '70s social movements.”

A show that's heavy on the dance side yet demands authentic emotions onstage, a triple threat casting is equally crucial. “We auditioned for the roles of Tony, Stephanie, Tony's friend Double J, and a [Latin] dancer in N.Y.,” says West End and Broadway casting director Tara Rubin. “We were looking for great actors, singers, and dancers who seemed authentic to the show's time and place. We needed actors experienced enough to star in the show and play these iconic roles.”

Pesce adds, “The culture in Brooklyn is all about bigger than life and fun loving personalities. We didn't stop looking until we found them.”

At the end of the auditions, Brandon Rubendall (“Spider-man” on Broadway), Jenna Rubaii (“American Idiot”), and Nick Varricchio (“A Chorus Line”) were cast as Tony, Stephanie, and Double J, respectively.

Thespians Marie Rose, Rafa Giguion-Reyna, Yanah Laurel, Jamie Wilson, and Carla Guevara-Laforteza are also joining its 20-strong cast.

Besides Garcia, Pesce, and Rubin, Tony Award-winning scenic designer David Gallo, original lighting designer of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER on Broadway Paul Miller, costume designer Eric Pineda, and musical director Ceejay Javier are also part of the show's first-rate creative team.

For tickets and more information, call ATEG at (632)650 5144 or (63917) 8381534; visit TicketWorld at ticketworld.com.ph.

Like ATEG on facebook.com/ATEGasia.

DepEd publishes partial list of schools that will offer SHS nationwide

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As part of the continuous preparations for the full implementation of the K to 12 program, the Department of Education (DepEd) released the initial list of Senior High Schools (SHS) online, comprised of DepEd and non-DepEd schools, higher education institutions (HEIs), technical vocational institutions (TVIs), state universities and colleges (SUCs).

DepEd Secretary Br. Armin Luistro FSC said that “the 2014 and 2015 budgets already have allocations for 30,000 classrooms for SHS.” He also mentioned that the initial target for the proposed 2016 budget, which is subject for approval, is over 20,000 classrooms for SHS. The government shall further allocate investments for SHS.

The partial list shows 3,839 public schools that were submitted to the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for funding and to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for bidding and construction. Also included is the initial list of the 1,866 non-DepEd schools, which include private schools, HEIS, TVIs, LUCs, and SUCs that have been cleared to offer SHS come June 2016. There are still applications being processed.

The list may be viewed at www.deped.gov.ph/datasets.

WATTPAD PRESENTS"Sky, 'My Robot Prince'" on TV5

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Artista Academy alumna Chanel Morales and Ken Anderson team up for the first time as they give life to the well-loved characters of Lowlah and Sky in WATTPAD PRESENTS “Sky, ‘My Robot Prince’”. 

Based on the Wattpad novel written by ZAI RED, WATTPAD PRESENTS “Sky,‘My Robot Prince’” tells the tale of true love in this modern age of technology. This TV adaptation features Chanel Morales and Ken Anderson as childhood friends who both try to hide their feelings from each other. Also, for the first time, Kiray Celis ventures into her first-ever TV5 project as she portrays the girl who will try to keep the characters of Chanel Morales and Ken Anderson apart. 

Ken Anderson

Sky (Ken Anderson), a member of famous boy band named “The Flower Prince 3”, is best known for his talent in playing the guitar. Though girls continue to chase him, he remains uninterested since he already has his eyes on his best friend Lowlah (Chanel Morales).

Chanel Morales

Lowlah is s a struggling robotics engineering student who wishes to excel in her field like her parents. Unlike Sky who has time for his passion in music, Lowlah chooses to concentrate on her inventions. Sneaking his way into Lowlah’s life, Sky inadvertently destroys her most-prized and latest invention: an android robot which perfectly resembles Sky. Afraid of Lowlah’s expected wrath, Sky decides to pretend to be the android robot in Lowlah’s room while he waits for his friend to fix the actual android robot that he destroyed. Awkward and difficult as it may seem, Sky takes this chance to spend more time with Lowlah.

In the middle of this, Lowlah discovers herself falling in love with what she thinks is her robot invention. Making this love story more complicated is the participation of Kiray Celis who plays the role of the obsessed fan of Sky who is willing to do anything and anything to have him for herself. Will Sky still be able to correct all the complications he himself created before he finally drives Lowlah away?

Don’t miss this “kilig” story brought to life by Channel Morales and Ken Anderson on WATTPAD PRESENTS “Sky ‘My Robot Prince’”, airing Monday to Friday at 9pm on TV5.

The Mothers’ Day campaign with Regine Velasquez introduces the new landline Telsets - PLDT HOME Regine Series

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PLDT HOME with the singer celebrity Regine Velasquez features new landline telsets - Regine series. 

The Songbird, Regine Velasquez, may have titles in the field of music, movies and television appended to her name, but talking to her, it is being Mommy to three-year-old Nate that gives her life the utmost inspiration.

It is along this line that PLDT HOME Telsets find a most opportune time to give tribute not only to the artistry of but also to the real values in life she holds dear.

For the voice that never fails to bring us back HOME belongs to a devoted and loving mother to her only son Nate.

The Mothers’ Day campaign introduces the new landline Telsets featuring the Regine Series paired with PLDT’s best calling rates ever. Subscribers with landline get a wonderful treat with the following offers: Add as low as P75/mo: New telsets with corresponding price points and features depending on the unit; Add P75/mo: FREE NDD Calls (PLDT to PLDT Nationwide) + P10 per call to SMART/TNT; and Add P50/mo: Free 15 minute call to US, Canada, China, HongKong, Singapore, Guam and Hawaii, with lowest IDD rate of P2/succeeding minute.

Regine is thankful and happy with her connection with the PLDT HOME team. 

“They have been very supportive of everything I do. They allow me to stay connected to my own home and for a working mother like me, you know that keeping in close contact with our family is everything. Especially that I have a growing little boy who never fails to surprise me with his discoveries every single day,” she enthuses.

“When I became pregnant, my sisters and my friends told me my life was going to be different. I realized I had no idea what they were talking about. Not until I had Nate,” she says with a satisfied smile on her face. “Everything about my life changed completely. I have a totally different perspective now, a different outlook in life,” she declares with contagious enthusiasm.

Mrs. Ogie Alcasid considers every single day blessed. Her marriage was immediately gifted by this bundle of joy she and her husband christened Nathaniel James. 

“He will turn four in November. How time flies! So far, so good. We are very, very happy with how things are with Nate. A lot of people tell us how behaved and good a kid Nate is. Hindi siya yung katulad ng ibang bata na sobrang malikot kahit nasa labas. He behaves well. He is not a spoiled brat because we are very conscious of that being an only son so far. He listens to us when we caution him. He remembers what we teach him. We couldn’t be prouder,” she shares.

Regine says the one thing that she and her husband Ogie are conscious about when it comes to instilling discipline in their son is that they should always be on the same side. 

“We don’t employ the good cop-bad cop scheme in our parenting style. The only rule is that the “aggrieved” parent should be the one to discipline the boy. So kung ako ang nagalit sa kanya over something he did, I will be the one to discipline him.”

Regine confesses that she didn’t think at first that it was in her to be the one to give Nate some spanking. 

“But I did it. I think I have spanked him three times already for throwing away things, like my Ipad. We have learned a lot from our Pastor in church how to discipline a child. From ages 0-12, our Pastor told us that we can instill discipline in them and break their developing pride by spanking. Past that age, it will be very hard already. If you spank them when they are older, you won’t be breaking their pride anymore, but their spirit,” Regine said. 

“I think our parenting style is working because Nate is a well-behaved boy and is truly a joy to be with even when we travel long distance,” she added.

When asked what she considers the highlights of being a mother so far are, Regine was quick to say, “Everyday is a highlight!” And we believe her.

“Every day there is something new with him. Either he says a new word or discovers something new that he shows us. That is why I am very conscious to be present in his life. I never want to miss out on anything. When I am working, we are in constant communication with his yaya. She sends me pictures of him when I am not with him.”

For this particular interview (behind the scenes of her pictorial for PLDT HOME Telset campaign), Regine said Nate was with his Yaya nearby waiting for him to finish. “He is very patient because we explain to him that we need to work. Sometimes we think our children don’t understand this kind of things. But in my experience, I know that children are smart and they have the capability to understand and comprehend, more than what we want to give them credit for. It shouldn’t stop us adults, from involving them,” she said.

The doting mother says they are training him to speak in fluent Tagalog right now saying that Nate is learning English easily from school and the television shows that he watches everyday. Unlike most Filipino parents who give more weight on teaching their children to speak in English, the Alcasids differ in perspective.

“Mas weird kasi kung hirap siya sa Tagalog bilang nandito naman tayo sa Pilipinas,” Regine said with so much logic.

“The beauty of this stage in my son’s life is that he really converses with us now. Before kasi, nagsasalita siya pero wala pang sense. Now, it’s so nice to talk to him. Nagkukwento na, nakakatuwa!”

Regine is very grateful for the kind of workload that she is allowed to have at this point in her life.

“I had a major shift in my priorities and I am so thankful that the people I work for understand this. I still get to work to help my husband but the load is just perfect for me to still be very much present in my son’s life. I am truly blessed,” she says.

So what is her dream for her Nate? Regine answers from the heart. 

“I have none. I feel that it is his job to dream for himself, whatever and whoever he wants to be. I feel that I have to allow him the same liberty that my parents gave me when I was growing up. Binigyan ako ng kalayaan ng mga magulang ko na mangarap, kaya ako nandito ngayon. Yun din ang gusto kong ibigay kay Nate,” she says.

Regine believes that the role of the parent is to make sure that their children grow up instilled with discipline and values. 

“We are here to provide support and the necessary ammunition for them to work on and realize their dreams someday. If anything, I just want my Nate to grow up to be a follower of Jesus Christ. When he fears God, I know that his future is set,” the example of a mother who knows best, ends.

(Photos and Story: Janet Marie Caducio, Arts Travel Magazine)

WD adds the Four New My Cloud NAS Solutions for expert and business users with the My Cloud line

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Designed for Creative Professionals, Prosumers and Small Businesses, the Four New My Cloud NAS Solutions Round Out a Full Portfolio of Powerful NAS Products Built With the My Cloud OS and WD Red Drives

WD, a Western Digital company and a world leader in connected storage solutions, today expanded its suite of network attached storage (NAS) solutions with four new products that address the increasing demands for content storage, management, protection and streaming among prosumers, creative professionals and small businesses. 

The My Cloud Expert Series includes My Cloud EX2100 (two-bay) and My Cloud EX4100 (four-bay) high-performance NAS systems designed from the ground up for creative professionals and prosumers that need to reliably save, share, back up, stream and manage large amounts of digital data. Powered by the latest version of the dual-core Marvell ARMADA processor, these two new additions to the Expert Series offer top of their class read/write speeds for simultaneous, high-performance HD media streaming with up to 24 TB of storage capacity.

The new My Cloud Business Series includes My Cloud DL2100 (two-bay) and My Cloud DL4100 (four-bay) high-performance NAS systems built to provide the reliability, security and scalability small business customers need. Powered by Intel Atom dual-core processors with up to 24 TB of storage capacity, the My Cloud Business Series runs on the acclaimed Linux-based WD My Cloud operating software (OS).

“As the market leader in the single-bay personal cloud category with our award winning My Cloud platform, as well as in the NAS hard disk drive (HDD) category with our WD Red line, WD understands that customers need more power and more choice in NAS systems,” said Jim Welsh, executive vice president, WD Content Solutions Business and Worldwide Sales. 

“We are very excited about our new My Cloud Expert Series and My Cloud Business Series NAS products that offer the performance, ease of use, reliability and My Cloud OS that customers want from WD.”

My Cloud Expert Series

For photographers, videographers, graphic designers and other creative professionals adapting to ever increasing file sizes, from RAW images and 4K video footage, the new My Cloud Expert Series products include the latest and fastest dual-core Marvell ARMADA 385 and 388 processors for high-performance media streaming, provide up to 24 TB of storage and the ability to keep files safe, secure and accessible from anywhere. The robust data management and security features let customers select their preferred methods for managing, sharing and protecting their most important movies, photos, music and digital files.

The included WD Red drives can be configured using multiple RAID options (model dependent) including RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 JBOD and spanning modes. Customers can use their My Cloud Expert Series products to centralize and back up all of their computers and notebooks with WD SmartWare Pro software for PC users, and with the Apple Time Machine backup software for Mac users. 

My Cloud Expert Series products can also serve as a digital entertainment hub, seamlessly streaming movies and music to any DLNA/UPnP certified multimedia device such as gaming consoles, smart TVs and WD TV Live media players. The Twonky, DLNA-certified media server and iTunes®server make for simple streaming of large movie and music libraries. 

Additionally, the integrated file server, FTP server, backup server and P2P download server provide advanced data serving options. Customers can also customize their My Cloud Expert series NAS, monitor system health, manage users and energy saving features with the My Cloud dashboard, as well as use a suite of third party apps, including aMule, Icecast, Transmission, DVBlink, SqueezeCenter and more.

My Cloud Business Series

The all new My Cloud Business Series solutions allow small businesses to centralize and protect their data in the workplace and provide employees with secure access to critical data from anywhere. Powered by the latest Intel Atom dual core processor, with RAM up to 2GB, and data storage capacity up to 24 TB, small businesses have the performance and scalability, to meet their business needs. 

Secure access, protection and backup of data for small businesses is critical. Offering AES 256-bit volume encryption and multiple RAID options (RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, JBOD and spanning modes), the My Cloud Business Series offers small businesses multiple options to secure and protect their data. Customers can also use their My Cloud Business Series products to back up all of their computers with WD SmartWare Pro software for PC users and Apple Time Machine support for Mac users. My Cloud Business Series products can also backup themselves, either to another My Cloud in a different location or to cloud services such as Amazon S3 and ElephantDrive. Users can also use the one-touch USB 3.0 copy button to automatically copy data from an external USB storage device onto the NAS.

The My Cloud Business Series products feature many business-ready capabilities including iSCSI target and initiator, replication and file synchronization, integrated FTP, WebDAV server, SSH Shell, and Microsoft Active Directory support. Additionally there are enterprise-class redundancies such as dual power supply ports with fail over, dual Gigabit Ethernet and UPS support. The My Cloud Business Series also provides memory expansion up to 6GB, and scalable storage through dual NICs or USB.

My Cloud Business Series products are available in several capacity options. The My Cloud DL2100 (two-bay) is available diskless or with 4 TB, 8 TB or 12 TB capacities. The My Cloud DL4100 (four-bay) is available diskless or with 8 TB, 16 TB or 24 TB capacities.

With Easy-Slide-Drive technology, My Cloud Business Series customers can easily install or hot-swap drives in seconds, without the need for a screwdriver, toolkit or trays. 

Anywhere Access

The award-winning WD My Cloud mobile app provides anywhere access to the entire My Cloud product family. With the WD My Cloud mobile app users can easily view photos, stream video and share, save and manage files from anywhere on their iOS® and Android™ devices. The mobile app makes file sharing and collaborating simple, allowing customers to easily email files, share files as a link and print and open files with third party apps. The WD My Cloud mobile app also integrates major public cloud services so that customers can easily transfer files from their Dropbox™, OneDrive® and Google Drive™ public cloud accounts.

Pricing and Availability

My Cloud Expert Series and My Cloud Business Series products will be available in June through selected retailers and resellers and are distributed by Iontech, Inc. in the Philippines. 

MSRP for the My Cloud Expert Series EX2100 is Php 13, 999 for diskless unit, Php 24, 099 for 4 TB, Php 32, 399 for 8 TB and Php 41, 699 for 12 TB. MSRP for the My Cloud Expert Series EX4100 is Php 22, 699 for the diskless unit, Php 42, 599 for 8 TB, Php 59, 999 for the 16 TB and Php 81, 999 for the 24 TB.

While the MSRP for the My Cloud Business Series DL2100 is Php 19, 999 for the diskless unit, Php 29, 999 for 4 TB, Php 36, 599 for 8 TB and Php 48, 699 for 12 TB. MSRP for the My Cloud Business Series DL4100 is Php 29, 999 for the diskless unit, Php 47, 999 for the 8 TB, Php 65, 999 for the 16 TB and Php 85, 999 for the 24 TB.

The WD My Cloud mobile app currently is available for download for free from the App StoreSM and Google PlayTM.

Warranty

The My Cloud Expert Series and Business Series products come with a 3-year limited warranty for the populated products and a 2-year limited warranty for the diskless products. Terms and conditions of WD’s limited warranty may be found at support.wdc.com/warranty. 

Compatibility 

My Cloud Expert Series and My Cloud Business Series are compatible with Windows® 8, Windows 8.1, Windows 7, Windows Vista®, Windows XP, Mac OS X Yosemite, Mavericks™, Mountain Lion™, Lion®, as well as DLNA®/UPnP® enabled devices. 

About WD

WD, a Western Digital company, is a long-time innovator and storage industry leader. As a storage technology pacesetter, the company produces reliable, high-performance hard disk drives and solid state drives. These drives are deployed by OEMs and integrators in desktop and mobile computers, enterprise computing systems, embedded systems and consumer electronics applications, as well as by the company in providing its own storage products. WD’s leading storage devices and systems, networking products, media players and software solutions empower people around the world to easily save, store, protect, share and experience their content on multiple devices. WD was established in 1970 and is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.wd.com.

Western Digital Corp., Irvine, Calif., is a global provider of products and services that empower people to create, manage, experience and preserve digital content. Its companies design and manufacture storage devices, networking equipment and home entertainment products under the WD, HGST and G-Technology brands. Visit the Investor section of the company's website (www.westerndigital.com) to access a variety of financial and investor information.

This news release contains forward-looking statements, including statements relating to the estimated availability in March of the My Cloud Expert Series and Business Series products. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including but not limited to, the failure by certain suppliers to develop and manufacture components, technology or production equipment for our products, global economic conditions and or other risks detailed from time-to-time in our Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including, but not limited to, our most recent quarterly report on Form 10-Q to which your attention is directed. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak as of the date hereof, and WD undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.