Love never tasted this sweet!

With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, one cant help but notice that love is in the air – and it smells oh-so sweet. This special day is a time to spread love, kindness, and sweetness all around; a chance to let the special people in your life know how you feel about them through gifts, cards, flowers, and sweet treats. In fact, they say that the fastest way to someone’s heart is through their stomachs. If that’s true, then Goldilocks, the country’s number one bakeshop, has something special and exciting in store for all the lovers out there.

In addition to its already-impressive treasury of delicious treats, Goldilocks is introducing three brand new limited edition cakes for Valentine festivities that will surely be loved by everyone.

The Strawberry Delight Cake (P540), which— believe it or not — tastes even better than it sounds, is a rich vanilla chiffon cake topped with scrumptious strawberry cream cheese frosting. This cake is perfect for celebrating with your loved ones and families. 

My Cupcake Heart (P450), on the other hand, is an adorable heart-shaped cake adorned with cupcake roses and garnished with fluffy marshmallow icing. 

Rounding out the special Valentine’s cakes is the beautiful Bunch of Blooms (P750), a mouth watering vanilla cake topped with 13 elegant cupcake flowers. 

In addition to these sure-to-be best sellers, Goldilocks is bringing back its seasonal favorite, Choco Lollipops (P25). These chocolate lollipops come in vibrant reds and pinks with sweet messages and sayings. 

Any of these sweet treats will be the perfect centrepiece for any Valentine’s celebration, and will surely make the Valentine’s season even sweeter. 

Follow your heart and head over to your nearest Goldilocks Bakeshop now, or join the conversation through GoldilocksPH at Facebook and Twitter

Tips to conquer your fortune this 2017

The year of the boisterous monkey is about to end, and people are only too happy to bid it farewell. In its place, the Fire Rooster comes speeding in, setting its track ablaze with fortunes waiting to be claimed.

Chicken? Rooster? Not again.

You’re probably thinking that you’re in for a bad year. After all, in Filipino culture, the Rooster or the Chicken is considered a symbol of tight times. “Isang kahig, isang tuka” is only too familiar to kids who grew up with their grandparents.

So before you write down 2017 on your forget list, know that the Rooster favors the hardworking and goal-oriented. It brings great success to those who can aim sharply as this zodiac animal. The rooster has no qualms about sharing a fortune. You only have to earn it with a rooster’s sure-footed steps.

Think and crow like a rooster

Make 2017 your banner year by having a clear goal in mind. Open the year of the Fire Rooster with your eyes set on a successful outcome, and you will find that great financial habits can yield results.

The trick is to take charge of your destiny. Is it wealth that you want? Is it better work-life balance? Is it a comfortable and secure future? Reflect on your goals and extract every bit of detail you can draw from them

Be specific. Exactly where do you want to be? You need to be specific about your wishes. Simply saying you want something may not be compelling enough for you to act. You want to be rich? Well, how rich is rich to you? It’s more proactive to say, “I want to have a net worth of P5 million by the time I’m 40 years old.” See, it’s easier to track your progress if you have actual numbers, or metrics, to measure yourself by.

Know when to hold off spending. Tell yourself, “My budget is my friend.” Roosters are long-sighted, because their eyes are transfixed on their goal. Pick up this trait and you can look forward to greater rewards and yields, if you stick to your budget.

Remember, today is the best day to build your net worth. Your net worth is a good place to start and expand your horizon. The way towards wealth starts with building your net worth. Net worth, in simple terms, is your assets less your liabilities. Take heart: having a low net worth isn’t the end of the world! All you need to do is begin. So take one step forward!

Trace that red thread that connects you to your dream future. Asian folklore says there are strings that bring two fates together. Visualize that thread running through time, connecting you to your ideal self. Maximize the time in between by investing and growing your money, from its present to future value.

That is why you should plan for your investment basket. Today, there is a wide variety of investment vehicles that you can choose from. These vehicles come with different risks and expected returns. So,hit the books, and know the pros and cons of wealth-building tools. Better yet, consult with experienced professionals. Let them guide you on the best way to grow your fortune this New Year.

Create and insist on having a good mix for yourself. Your portfolio should be as hard-working as your dreams. Diversify to mitigate the challenges of this exciting year of the Rooster. Be as bull-headed as this zodiac animal and you will take home your desired earning.

Don’t gawk too long over your wins. A strategic financial plan will bring robust yields, but make sure to keep engaged in your goal. Along with your advisor, review your investments’ performance and plan how to proceed. So, during your annual financial review, ask yourself: are your investments delivering the returns you expect? Are there over-performers? Are there under-performers? How are their results affecting your financial goals?

Review your investments, and re-calibrate if needed. Like a fire rooster that has a strong sense of time keeping and responsibility, review and re-calibrate your portfolio to get back on track. That is, you may have to take profits on over-performing portions of your investment and re-allocate these to the under-performing ones, to “average down”. This is the concept called "regression to the mean". This tells us that over time, the returns we get from each investment would approximate its average historical return.

Keep your eye on the prize. Like the hard working rooster, keep your eye on achieving your goals. The conditions surrounding may become challenging, but just persist and find ways to mitigate those challenges.

Rein in the Fire Rooster with a good team. Connect with a team that gets you started on the life that you want today. Pursue your financial goals with Insular Life and have fortune on your side with the right mindset and the burning determination that are perfect for the Year of the Fire Rooster.

To get more advice on personal finance right from the experts, visit Insular Life’s blog, http://www.savingstips.com.ph/.

Send your ultimate Valentine’s SURPRISE through M&M’s® Fun First Move Project!

Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate romance, love and surprises to our love ones and special people around us. Sometimes you're so excited and thinking of how to express your feelings and send your message across to someone special to you. 

Are you adventurous enough to make the first move to surprise your loved one and show how truly special he or she is? Or are you finally ready to reveal yourself to your secret crush? Or how about making your partner fall in love with you again?

If you’re wanting to share your feelings but clueless on how to do it, then worry no more as you will now have a chance to be that romantic guy or fun girl you always want to be through M&M’S® Fun First Move Project! 

M&M’S® is bringing in its spontaneous fun to the most romantic time of the year. Through M&M’S® Fun First Move project, get a chance to win a special delivery service through M&M’S® Characters Red, Yellow and Green that will make your Valentine’s celebration fun and truly unforgettable. 

A surprise through the M&M’s Fun First Move Red package

M&M’S® Red, the leader of the gang, will tag along a boyband to have an exclusive live serenade for your special someone which will surely make her fall head over heels for you. Red adds, “If you can’t say it, you sing it!” 

M&M’s Fun First Move Yellow package delivered by Azkals player Misagh Bahadoran to his girlfriend, Sam Pinto.

M&M’S® Yellow, the friendliest of them all, will send lots of warmth and love together with his life-size Teddy Bear mate. Yellow says, “Who will not have a soft spot for an adorable Teddy especially when I’m bringing it along with M&M’S® chocolates?” 

Social media’s it couple Mark Agas and Kara Gozali enjoying the fun moment with the M&M’s Fun First Move Green package

And of course, M&M’S® Green, the confident and smart diva, never fails with her surprises. True to her personality of owning all things good-looking, she brings along a hot real-life cupid to deliver you and your gifts to your partner. Ms. Green affirms, “We are sure to make heads turn and have others literally turn green with envy!”

The biggest surprise is for the lucky grand winner! The ultimate Valentine’s date -– a helicopter ride going to the scenic south of Manila for a dinner at an exclusive place where more romantic surprises await your special someone! “How could someone forget an epic date like this, right?” says Red.

So, are you game with the idea and curious on how to join?

All you need to do :

* Buy any two (2) packs of M&M’S® products from leading supermarkets.

* Post a photo of the M&M’S® products you bought on your Facebook or Instagram accounts with the hashtag #mmsfunfirstmove. 

* Make sure your Facebook and Instagram accounts are on public setting.  

* Alternatively, you can present your proof of purchase to the M&M’S® sales promoters in store so they can process your registration. 

If you win, M&M’S® will get in touch with you to plan your ultimate Fun First Move! Promo runs from January 9 to February 5 2017 in time for the Valentine’s Day. 

It’s easy to make your loved one’s Valentine’s Day truly memorable, right? So what are you waiting for? Join the M&M’S® Fun First Move project and give your special someone the fun surprise this Valentine’s Day!

For full contest details, please follow www.facebook.com/MMsPhilippines. Watch M&Ms Fun First Move video  HERE.

Singapore events and attractions to kick start 2017 with a bang!

Singapore welcomes the Year of the Fire Rooster with a bang with an exhilarating line-up of exciting experiences at its world-class attractions, mouthwatering dining choices, adrenaline-pumping events, and retail treats perfect for both first time and repeat holiday seekers.

“Singapore always offers its visitors something new and unique to discover. From world-class attractions and entertainment events to delightful dining and retail offerings, a visit to Singapore brings fresh experiences that will surely make travelers ask for more,” said Lael Loh, Singapore Tourism Board Area Director for Philippines.

Eye candy attractions

A national garden and premier horticultural attraction, Gardens by the Bay celebrates the Year of the Rooster with a brand-new floral display called “Dahlia Dreams”. From 20 January to 19 February 2017, Dahlia Dreams features auspicious Dahlias in various hues and colors in a Chinese garden inspired landscape with a three-tier pagoda, a pavilion, moon gates and even intricate sculptures of adorable chickens to welcome the Year of the Rooster. In February, love is in the air at the Gardens as it celebrates the love month with an assortment of activities such as evening picnics and movie under the stars, perfect to share with family and loved-ones.

Resorts World™ Sentosa will dazzle Lunar New Year celebrants as it features a fantastic line-up of festive programmes with its ‘Gong Sea Fa Cai”, from 21 January to 11 February. Visitors can go on interactive trails and get up close to threatened sea creatures such as the manta ray and this year’s star animal – the Rooster Hogfish, and witness one of a kind Underwater Dragon Dance show with special lighting effects and a Chinese drummer to heighten the excitement. Also at Sentosa Island, visitors can rub elbows and take selfies with famous celebrities and personalities at Madame Tussauds™ Singapore, currently headlined by an exhibition of world-famous KPOP icons such as Lee Min Ho, Choi Si-Won and Nichkhun.

Eat to your heart’s content

As a melting pot of culture and influence, Singapore has made its mark in combining simple, distinct flavors to create unique dishes that provide a gastronomic experience for foodies, whether at Singapore’s well-loved hawker centers or at celebrity chef dining spots. The Singapore Michelin Guide, launched in July 2016, was the first in the world to recognize hawker food, and is a testament to the city’s varied dining offerings. Singapore is now home to the world’s cheapest Michelin-starred eateries, with the Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle (S$4 or PHP140) and Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice and Noodles (S$2 or PHP70), each being awarded 1 Michelin star.

Other must-try hawker favorites include Wah Kee’s best-selling big prawn noodle at the Esplanade, and the country’s beloved chicken rice at ROOST, located at the Centrepoint on Orchard Road.

For trendy foodies, Singapore’s Open Farm Community has produced food innovations sourced from local farms in and around the country—a sure hit for travelers seeking to consume fresh and organic farm-to-table ingredients. Janice Wong Singapore at Stamford Road, the only sweets boutique in Singapore that creates interactive and edible art, will be a delightful dining experience for all imaginative souls.

The night is always young

Making loud noises this 2017 is Singapore’s line-up of world-class performances. Headlined by Grammy® Award winning Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Metallica with their Metallica Worldwired Tour 2017, happening on January 22 at the Singapore Sports Hub, and the legendary Guns N’ Roses with their Not in This Lifetime Tour, which will see the founder Axl Rose and former members sharing the stage for the first time in over 20 years on February 25 at the Changi Exhibition Centre, the Lion City is set to roar with excitement! British rock sensation Coldplay is also slated to return for a two-day performance on March 31 and April 1 at the Singapore Sports Hub for it’s a Head Full of Dreams Tour, while Grammy® Award winning English singer-songwriter Sting makes a return for his 57th and 9th Tour at the Singapore Sports Hub. Other artists to watch out for in Singapore are British rock band Bring Me the Horizon (February 2, D’Marquee), American rock bands Journey (February 10, The Star Theatre) and Yellowcard (February 12, The Coliseum).

The Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix, which will be celebrating a decade of night racing, is also something to look forward to this year. With engines revving and the crowd on their feet, the city streets will play host to another night of high-octane celebration on and off the tracks.

Retail heaven

A haven for shopaholics, Singapore is home the latest and unique finds whether at the malls along the world famous shopping strip at Orchard Road, the glitzy Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, the cozy vintage shops in the Bras Basah and Bugis area, or the relaxing lifestyle enclave at Dempsey Hill. Shoppers can uncover local treasures from local indie retailers in Haji Lane, or go old school in Scotts Square’s vintage design shops and boutiques. Bargain hunters should definitely not miss out the buzzing enclave of Bugis Village for affordable clothing, souvenirs and street food. From March 17 to April 16, the Orchard Road Style Festival will celebrate different passions and lifestyles, as it plays host to the works of local and international designers, stage art workshops, and live performances for everyone to enjoy. The all-new Dover Street Market outlet, the trendy fashion retail and concept store created by Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo, is also set to open in Dempsey in the spring of 2017.

With Singapore’s 2017 exciting line-up of experiences, what better way to kick start the year by booking your next holiday vacation in Singapore with your family and friends? For more details on upcoming events and activities, please visit http://www.yoursingapore.com.

About the Singapore Tourism Board

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is a leading economic development agency in tourism, one of Singapore’s key service sectors. Working in close partnership with industry and community, STB aims to shape a dynamic tourism landscape and differentiate Singapore as a vibrant and inspiring destination through the “YourSingapore” brand. 

For more information, please visit http://www.stb.gov.sg or http://www.yoursingapore.com or follow us on Twitter @STB_sg (https://twitter.com/stb_sg).

Meditate Your Way to Health, Success and Happiness

What do Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney, Michael Jordan and Lebron James have in common? They’re all incredibly successful, hard-working and geniuses in their field, but many people don’t know that they all practice meditation. Oprah said that meditation has made her“1,000 times better”. Michael Jordan and Lebron James, both famous athletes, practiced meditation to sharpen focus and improve concentration. Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, was a well-known meditation practitioner.

As stated by his biographer Walter Isaacson, “Your intuition starts to blossom and you start to see things more clearly and be in the present more. Your mind just slows down, and you see a tremendous expanse in the moment. You see so much more than you could see before. It’s a discipline; you have to practice it.”

Meditation is the process of reflecting on your mind. When you start looking inside yourself, you will be able to change and improve yourself and thus, tap into so much unrealized potential. At Ortigas/Makati Meditation, you can look back on your mind and improve your life and career. Through the “subtraction” method you can discover the original nature of the mind.

The human mind is like a stack of pictures that you have stored in your mind and body. These “pictures” are the accumulation of your past experiences which have formed your pattern of thinking and habits. The pictures stored in your mind contain emotions, thoughts, and attachments to people, places, and material things. They have created their own world in your mind. Because the world in the human mind is not “real”, you can throw them away. This method is systematic and scientific. It is not about suppressing your mind and experiencing temporary comfort. It helps you to eliminate the roots of your human mind, completely. When you empty your mind through the subtraction method, your mind and body will become lighter and more free. You will find the true happiness within you.

At the Ortigas/Makati Meditation Center, professional instructors guide practitioners with the subtraction method and always check their meditation progress in order to help them throw away their thoughts. Most of the practitioners feel the changes in their minds in 2~3 weeks after they practice the subtraction meditation.

Once the noisy and complicated state of mind is subtracted, then you can feel calm, light and comfortable. You will be able to control the negative emotions that engulf you. You can discover yourself sincerely smiling at the colleagues you used to feel uncomfortable around.

You will even feel happy in the morning when you wake up. Your work performance improves along with your concentration as the useless thoughts disappear from your head. You will find yourself free from stress. You can recover your confidence and get to know yourself much better. You will be able to understand people much better, therefore, the relationships with people naturally improve and conflicts will be solved. 

With the awareness of how to empty your mind, your inner power grows, which allows you to control your mind in any situation you can possibly face. You will always be positive and the quality of your life will dramatically improve.

The effects of this meditation have been scientifically verified. An extract from the academic paper “The Effects of the Meditation Program on the Brain Function of University Students” published in the Journal of the Completion Education Society stated this: “After the mind subtraction meditation, the university students’ brainwaves became stable and their brain quotient enhanced. Therefore, their concentration and thinking ability have improved. Their resistance to stress from internal and external environmental factors has enhanced.” Likewise, meditation has positive effects on the brainwaves. Therefore, it gives people who practice the method mental stability.

This meditation was established in South Korea, in November 1996. Currently, there are more than 340 meditation centers all over the world and more than 500,000 people have practiced the method of subtraction to cleanse the mind and body to become the truth.

In the Philippines, there are centers in Ortigas and Makati. The centers open from 9:30 am to 11:30 pm, 7 days a week. 

If you would like to get more information about meditation, you can register for the free seminar conducted at any of the centers.

Free Introductory Seminar: Every Saturday at 3:30 pm

Ortigas Meditation Center: 687.1294/0915.254.8986 AIC Gold Tower, F. Ortigas Jr., Pasig

Makati Meditation Center: 856.6943/0915.345.2296 Classica Tower 2, 114 H.V. Dela Costa St.

For more information you can check out the following sites. 

OrtgiasMeditation.org

MakatiMeditation.org

Facebook.com/ortigasmeditation

Facebook.com/makatimeditation

MeditationUSA.org

guidedmeditationtips.com

meditationlife.org (Korean)

Make everyday meals a feast to remember with Hunt’s spaghetti sauces

Even if the holidays are over, every day can still be a feast worth celebrating with dishes and masterpieces that not only delight families, but also help bring out and year-round cheer around the dinner table.

Give your loved ones a hearty and tummy-filling experience with Crispy Menudo Lumpia and Seafood Lasagna Roll-ups, all whipped up using Hunt’s Spaghetti Sauces.

Crispy Menudo Lumpia

Make the crunchy fried lumpia dish even more delightful with this hearty filling.

Ingredients:

2 tbsps. cooking oil 

5 cloves garlic, minced 

1 red onion, minced 

1/4 kg ground pork 

250 g Hunt’s Spaghetti Sauce Pinoy Party Style 

½ cup water 

2 pcs. bay leaves 

1 tbsp. soy sauce

1 carrot, diced

1 potato, diced

1 can liver spread 

3 pcs hotdogs, diced

½ cup frozen green peas 

Salt & pepper to taste 

10-15 pcs. square lumpia wrappers 

2 pcs. egg whites 

Procedure:

Start off by sautéing garlic and onions. Add pork and cook until lightly browned. Add Hunt’s Spaghetti Sauce Pinoy Party Style, water, bay leaves and soy sauce, bringing it to a boil. Simmer, then add carrots and potatoes. Cook until liquid is mostly reduced. Mix in liver spread, hotdog and green peas, and cover for 2-3 minutes. Next, season with salt and pepper to taste, then set aside and let cool. Spoon 2 tbsps of menudo over one lumpia wrapper, roll, and secure the edges by brushing with egg whites. Finally, deep-fry until golden brown.

To see how easy it is to make this this exciting dish, check out its BiteSized.PH video at www.facebook.com/BiteSized.ph/videos/707293472756843/.

Seafood Lasagna Roll-ups

Make mealtimes truly memorable with this shrimp-layered and crab sauce-filled lasagna dish.

Ingredients:

Shrimp

- ¼ kg shrimp, peeled and deveined 

- Salt and pepper to taste

- 1 tsp. paprika

- 1 tbsp. calamansi juice

- 2 tbsps. olive oil 

White crab sauce

- 2 tbsps. butter 

- 5 cloves garlic 

- 1 white onion

- 2 cups cream 

- 1 cup crab meat 

- 2 tbsps. parsley, chopped

- 8-10 pcs lasagna noodles 

Red sauce

- 2 tbsps. olive oil 

- 1 red onion, chopped

- 5 cloves garlic, chopped

- 250 g Hunt’s Spaghetti Sauce Parmesan Cheese

- 2 tbsps. basil, chopped 

Assembly

- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, grated

- 1 cup parmesan cheese, grated

- Basil leaves for garnish 

Procedure: 

Start by seasoning shrimp with salt, pepper, paprika and calamansi juice. Cook shrimps in olive oil for 1-2 minutes on each side, butterfly-cut each shrimp and set aside. Meanwhile, add butter to the same pan where shrimp was cooked. Sauté onion and garlic, add the cream and simmer until thick. Mix in the crab meat, cook for about 5 minutes and season with salt and pepper. Turn off heat and mix in parsley. Set aside.

Next, sauté onion and garlic over medium heat. Add Hunt’s Spaghetti Sauce Parmesan Cheese, simmer until thick and season with salt and pepper. Turn off heat and mix in basil. Set aside. Finally, cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Set aside. 

To assemble, lay lasagna noodles flat on a large surface. Spread about 3 tbsps. of the white crab sauce on each and top with pieces of shrimp, while leaving an inch at the top of each lasagna noodle empty. Sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan cheese on top (about 1 tbsp. each). Roll each lasagna noodle while securing the filling inside. Spread half of red sauce at the bottom of baking dish. Place all the lasagna roll-ups on top of the sauce, seam-side down. Keep the lasagna roll-ups close to each other to prevent unraveling. Spoon-in the remaining red sauce. Top with more mozzarella and parmesan cheese and bake at 190C for 30 minutes. Garnish with basil leaves.

Check out the BiteSized.PH video of this recipe at www.facebook.com/BiteSized.ph/videos/715664575253066/.

Simply satisfying, definitely delicious, but oh so easy to make—these dishes are a sure-hit for every home. Surprise your family and learn how to prepare these and other mouthwatering Hunt’s recipes by visiting BiteSized.ph on Facebook.

Make every day a feast to remember with Hunt’s Spaghetti Sauces. 

To learn more about the brand, visit its website at www.yummyhunts.com/

Top five premium global brand Vivo to launch Stephen Curry-endorsed 20MP dual front camera V5 Plus

Basketball superstar Stephen Curry is the face of Vivo’s newest flagship model, the Vivo V5 Plus. 

With the ‘selfie’ phenomenon at its peak and its popularity growing unabated, smartphone manufacturers have been producing phones with camera-focused features that can create the selfie worthy of being called ‘perfect’. 

Vivo V5 Plus, called the ‘Perfect Selfie’ phone, will be launched on January 21, Saturday, at the SM Mall of Asia Atrium. 

In fact, Vivo, one of the top five premium global brands according to data from the International Data Corporation1 is set to launch a smartphone equipped with the most advanced selfie technology to date: the Vivo V5 Plus, to be officially unveiled in a consumer and media launch on January 21, Saturday at the SM Mall of Asia Atrium. 

The Vivo V5 Plus is endorsed by basketball superstar Stephen Curry, who earlier said that he shares the same core values with the brand: energy, professionalism, and pleasure. 

Dubbed the ‘Perfect Selfie’ phone, Vivo V5 Plus features dual front-facing cameras: a 20-megapixel and 8-megapixel combination, a soft-light flash that enables the user to take selfies even in poor lighting conditions, a face beauty mode 6.0 that corrects blemishes, and the “bokeh” effect—the well-loved photography filter that instantly blurs the background of any focused object. Also, the Vivo V5 Plus is equipped with a 16-megapixel rear camera.

Full specifications of the newest Vivo model will be released during the event.

Says Hazel Bascon, Vivo Philippines vice president, “We are excited that the Vivo V5 Plus is finally launching here in the Philippines, as Filipinos are known to be selfie lovers. The phone’s advanced selfie features will surely take the Filipino selfie experience to the next level.”

KZ Tandingan, known for her hits Mahal Ko O Mahal Ako and Scared to Death, will be serenading guests during the Vivo V5 Plus big reveal. 

Tony Labrusca. Guest performers for the Vivo V5 Plus launch include Tony Labrusca of Pinoy Boyband Superstar. 

James Ryan Cesena. James Ryan Cesena, the Fil-French heartthrob from Pinoy Band Superstar, will also be joining the Vivo V5 Plus launch. 

Significant guests from the smartphone market, top technology bloggers, fashion and lifestyle bloggers like Verniece Enciso, singer KZ Tandingan and Pinoy Boyband Superstar’s Tony Labrusca and James Ryan Cesena are expected to join in the big reveal. 

For inquiries about Vivo V5 Plus, visit the 

Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph, 

or check out their 

Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VivoPhil), 

Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivophil/) and 

Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivophil) accounts.

The Zenfone 3 Max Unboxing and Review

(Longevity is the power of the Zenfone 3 Max)

Enjoying life to the fullest. Through our favorite social media channels, everyone uses smartphone cameras - for easier communicating with people, capturing and sharing pictures, making videos and games. We are looking for a phone that is slim, lightweight, and easy to carry around, a best partner in travel, business and photography.

Unboxing ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 

ASUS ZenFone 3 Max is for everyday lifestyle and tasks that are expected to last for more than a full day. It can definitely run social apps smoothly and other similar software. 

ASUS ZenFone 3 Max 5.5‐inch have beautiful and cleanest design compare to many phones. It sports an aluminum body and all buttons are where they should be. 

The basics of modern smartphone connectivity are loaded to the phone. There’s 4G LTE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and GPS. A smartphone with an excellent fingerprint sensor.

Zenfone 3 Max to the max! 

The battery capacity is the main feature of the Zenfone 3 Max. Longer than average battery life. With its high-capacity 4100mAh cell ZenFone 3 Max just keeps on going for a full work day and beyond. The 4100mAh battery capacity is so substantial that it can even to double up as a power bank to charge your digital devices. 

As it the word max, longevity is the power of the Zenfone 3 Max. Power to last for days, eliminates battery life worries.

Built for Photography and Great camera performance. 

As everybody enjoy having cellphones use for picture taking always, Zenfone 3 max is great! 

There’s the main 13-megapixel camera with an LED flash and the 5-megapixel front-facing camera

Testing it out in outdoor and lowlight situation produced great results. With laser focus, contrast detection, and phase detection, the camera is extremely capable.

Here are some of my  photos captured by Zenfone 3 Max:

And of course, doing video, you get a full HD recording that is usable for sharing. The framerate is also steady at 30fps.

It also has 32GB of internal storage which can be expanded by up to 256GB.

Great performance and at P10,995, the ZenFone 3 Max ( 5.5‐inch) is one of the most affordable members of the ASUS ZenFone 3 family.

The Zenfone 3 Max Unboxing 

ZenFone 3 Max Specifications 

Display: 5.5‐inch IPS FHD (1920x1080) capacitive touchscreen display, 2.5D contoured glass

GSM:850/900/1800/1900MHz 

3G: B1/2/5/6/8/19 

LTE: 1/2/3/5/7/8/18/19/26/28/38/41 

SIM : Dual (nano+micro) SIM, dual standby

Operating System: Android 6.0 Marshmallow with ZenUI 3.0

Processor: 1.4GHz 64‐bit octa core Cortex‐A53 CPU, Adreno 505 GPU, Qualcomm MSM8937 Snapdragon 430 chipset 

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot, Bluetooth 4.1, A2DP, LE, GPS, A-GPS, GLONASS, BDS, FM radio, microUSB 2.0, USB OTG

Dimensions: 151.4 x 76.2 x 8.3mm

Weight: 175 grams

Memory: 3GB RAM

Storage: 32GB internal storage, expandable up to 128GB via a micro SD card, uses SIM 2 slot

Sensors: fingerprint, accelerometer, e‐compass, proximity, light, gyroscope, hall 

Battery: 4100mAh Li‐Ion, non‐removable, supports fast and reverse charging 

Color: Glacier Silver, Sand Gold, Rose Pink, Titanium Gold 

Price: Php10,995

Center for Possibilities Promotes Inclusion Through The Arts

By Samantha Kaspar 

On January 28, the Center for Possibilities Foundation (CFP) will be staging a back-to-back event at the RCBC Plaza in Makati. At 5:30 in the afternoon, the self-titled exhibit of 19-year-old Samantha Kaspar will open to the public. At 7:00 pm, the Manila Symphony Orchestra will take center stage. 

Samantha Kaspar 

Art Auction

“Samantha” will consist of around 40 artworks, some on fabric to be used as fashion accessories and others on canvas for wall hangings. 

“Samantha uses a wide variety of media for her work and we wanted to show the gamut of her abilities. She works primarily on piña silk using silk paints. She also uses acrylic paint on canvas sometimes,” explains Samantha’s mother, Mitzi. 

By Samantha Kaspar 

By Samantha Kaspar 

By Samantha Kaspar 

“She has a consistent style with a lot of edges and lines, her artworks can be very linear. She also has this certain way of giving shapes to her images which aren’t necessarily realistic but are more cartoonish,” describes Samantha’s father, Martin.

Samantha Kaspar w parents Mitzi and Martin

While half-Swiss, Samantha always tries to tap into her Filipino roots, coming up with Filipino-themed artworks. She will be promoting some of that local culture when she heads to the Philippine Center in New York for the Fashion Arts Autism Benefit (FAAB) on April 7.

Samantha Kaspar with art coach Kenn Sioson

FAAB is meant to showcase the artistic talents of children with special needs. Samantha, diagnosed with Autism when she was one and a half years old, is one of eight artists chosen to present their paintings on piña silk to be translated into clothing by featured designers for the fashion show, Patis Tesoro and Anthony Legarda. Master weaver India Legaspi is credited for teaching the artists the technique of piña silk painting. 

Samantha hopes to fund her trip with the proceeds of her auction. 

Manila Symphony Orchestra

Concert

The Manila Symphony Orchestra’s “Soundtracks and Symphonies” will be conducted by Prof. Arturo Molina and annotated by Jeffrey Solares. Included in their repertoire is a John Williams tribute as well as pieces from greats such as Beethoven, Mozart, and Bach.

The concert is for the benefit of Special Education (SPED) Centers that have been the focus of the Center for Possibilities’ recent efforts. To act as a venue for learning of indigent persons with special needs, each SPED Center is operated by a teacher trained in the SPED division of Reach International School.

Samantha w art coach Kenn, parents Martin & Mitzi and members of the CFP 

The Sagada SPED Center has been up and running and will be enhanced with a series of livelihood and vocational programs that will be teaching skills for income-generating activities. “Caring for special kids is very taxing because it’s usually just a one-income household so we also need to help the parents improve their finances,” explains CFP founder, Dolores Cheng.

In Norzagaray, what they have right now is just the building itself. A fence, a water tank, and a playground are still needed. “We are also in the process of doing our due diligence by determining the number of special children in all the barangays relevant to Norzagaray. Next will be an orientation for all the parents within the community. We are subsequently planning for the provision of testing, diagnosis, and analysis for the children with special needs,” Cheng adds. 

Enrolment in the SPED Centers is free so it helps alleviate the family’s cost of taking care of special children. If you would like to extend assistance, you may reach CFP at http://centerforpossibilities.asia/ or (02) 723-1242 / (0918) 888-1759.

“Samantha” and “Soundtracks and Symphonies” will be on January 28, 2016, 5:30pm at the Carlos P. Auditorium of the RCBC Plaza, Makati.

Dermclinic marks 45th anniversary

Dermclinic, the pioneer and leading dermatological center in the country, marked its 45th anniversary with a thanksgiving celebration last November 12, 2016 at the Le Pavillon Metropolitan Park in Pasay City.

A night of glitz and glamour, all guests registered online followed by their souvenir pictures taken at the photo booth while enjoying cocktails.

Hosted by DJ Rico Robles of Monster Radio RX 93.1, the party started rolling with an opening dance number showcasing the 80’s music. An audio-visual presentation followed, tracing the humble beginnings of Dermclinic when its first branch was opened by Dr. Vinson B. Pineda, also known as the “The Father of Philippine Dermatology”, in front of the University of Sto. Tomas in 1971. A decade later, the first mall-based Dermclinic branch was launched at the Goldcrest Village Square in Makati, part of where the present Glorietta Commercial Complex now stands. The clinic eventually became the prototype for future modern dermatology centers inside general business establishments. 

Apart from opening several-mall based clinics, Dr. Pineda also founded the Dermatological Institute Foundation of the Philippines (DIFP), which has trained over 300 dermatology practitioners throughout the country. Currently, Dr. Pineda is the president of the Philippine Academy of Clinical and Cosmetic Dermatology (PACCD), marking his 14 years in service as president. PACCD is an affiliate society of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA). 

Now in its 45th year, Dermclinic has 16 strategically-located clinics in key cities, managed by highly-trained dermatologists and licensed medical staff. Likewise, the company is maximizing more effective media platforms in line with its business expansion programs. 

Other event highlights include the launching of Dermclinic’s jingle, and a feature of behind-the-scene pictorial of Dr. Vinson Pineda and Dr. Angela Pineda with top female photographer, Ms. Sara Black, for Dermclinic’s supplement magazine, Legacy. 

More recollections from way back came courtesy of Mr. Jake Maderazo, Station Manager of Radyo Inquirer 990. Mr. Maderazo recalled in his congratulatory message how Dermclinic became a household name when Dr. Vinson Pineda had a regular segment in the pioneer morning TV show Alas Singko Y Medya. 

Dr. Angela Pineda, Executive Vice President of Dermclinic, thanked everyone who have become an integral part of Dermclinic and helped achieve this milestone. She shared her aspiration of a bigger and more advanced Dermclinic in the years to come.

Dr. Vinson B. Pineda, CEO of Dermclinic, likewise expressed his gratitude to those who supported and journeyed with the company. According to him, Dermclinic’s 45th anniversary is a celebration of expertise, and a reaffirmation of the institution’s commitment to provide excellent skin care through professional dermatology. 

The finale which brought the house down came from The Tigers, led by no other than Mr. Jojo Alejar more popularly known as Jojo A., as they wowed the audience with their dance rendition of Treasure and Uptown Funk. 

The party continued as everyone danced the night away. Special gift packages were also given to VIPs, media partners and bloggers.

Moving forward, Dermclinic promises to open more branches, launch new services and quality products to continuously serve more Filipinos nationwide.