Pages

March 11, 2017

Be your own ‘iconic’: five ways to re-master your Levi’s


We all have at least one old pair of Levi’s jeans that will always be our favorite. For this reason, the timeless brand suggests a clever way to reuse these well-loved pairs and make them even better: re-mastering. This technique inspires us to experiment with Levi’s jeans and personalize these to suit our individual styles. After all, the Levi’s brand has always been about authenticity and originality—and Levi’s pieces are perfect canvasses for self-expression. 

Here, Levi’s very own master tailors share tips and tricks on how to make your Levi’s as original as you are, so you can be your own ‘iconic’. 

• Taper your jeans. If you want a skinnier look for your Levi’s jeans or need to keep your cuffs out for a reason, you can taper its legs. 

Here’s how to do it: first, pin your leg taper and rip out the ankle hems. Trace a line along your pins, and sew this line—this will be the new inseam. Rip out the old inseam; iron your new inseam flat; and sew the ankle hems.


• Get the destructed look. Distressed jeans are all the rage right now—a trend almost as ageless as the Levi’s brand. If you’re thinking of giving your Levi’s jeans an update, distressing is one way to go. 

Try this: With a pen, mark the spot in your jeans where you’d like to distress. Line your denim with a cardboard and cut through the jeans using a dull knife. Do this repeatedly until you achieve the desired effect. Finally, use a razor for a more frayed look. 


• Make cut-offs. Tired of your old pair of Levi’s but have trouble letting it go? Shorten it!

First, choose your desired length. Next, mark this line before making the chop. Then, distress your piece and wash to wrap up the look. Ta-dah, you now have a pair of Levi’s cropped jeans or distressed denim shorts! 



• Add panels to your Levi’s. Give your old Levi’s a touch of rock-and-roll by adding black leather panels. Levi’s master tailors share how-to’s:

First, mark where you want to place your panels, then trace lines on these. Proceed with measuring and marking your black leather fabric, then cut panels to the right size. 

Next, rip out the outside seams within the marks you made. Pin and sew the panels in place. Finally, flip your Levi’s jeans inside out and sew the outside seam closed. 



• Patch it up. Have your favorite Levi’s jeans acquired holes from wear and tear? Patch up holes—and other tears and tatters—with these easy steps:

Get your desired fabric for patching up, and cut this to the right size—just slightly larger than the hole. Pin the fabric in place, and hand-stitch around the hole. Again, use a sharp razor for additional fraying. 


If you’re doubtful about your tailoring skills, Levi’s still got your back. From time to time, Levi’s sets up tailor shops in various Levi’s outlets and stores and brings master tailors who personalize Levi’s pieces for customers and celebrities. 

Watch for the next Levi’s Tailor Shop and have your Levi’s jeans customized, too. 




ABOUT THE LEVI’S®BRAND
The Levi’s® brand epitomizes classic American style and effortless cool. Since their invention by Levi Strauss & Co. in 1873, Levi’s® jeans has become the most recognizable and imitated clothing in the world—capturing the imagination and loyalty of people for generations. Today, the Levi’s® brand portfolio continues to evolve through a relentless pioneering and innovative spirit that is unparalleled in the apparel industry. Our range of leading jeanswear and accessories are available in more than 110 countries, allowing individuals around the world to express their personal styles. For more information about the Levi’s® brand, its products and stores, please visit levi.com. 




The Predator on High Grounds : Global gaming PC brand takes centerstage at the country’s first fully branded gaming facility

Global gaming PC brand Predator continues to overpower the competition in the local gaming PC market with the opening today of High Grounds Café, the country’s first and only fully branded gaming café.

Operated by the country’s top gaming café brand TheNet.com (TNC), High Grounds Café will definitely capture the attention of both gaming enthusiasts and professionals alike. It is fully armed to the teeth with top-of-the-line and powerful Predator gaming PCs in a gaming environment that’s unlike any other in the country today.


Located amid this city’s entertainment capital, High Grounds Café featured only the best gaming desktops courtesy of Predator, with 110 units of the Predator G1 (GTX 1080) and Predator G3 (GTX 1060) on hand for hours and hours of playing. 

The Predator G1 squeals with beastly bravado that suits today’s brawny gamers with its ultra-powerful Intel Core™ i7 6700 processor (8M Cache, up to 4.00GHz) inside and 32GB DDR4 2133MHz memory for enough show and swagger and truly rock the house with its fiery performance regardless of gaming title while the 3TB 3.5-inch 7200 RPM and 256 GB M.2 2280 Solid State Drive combination is a force to reckon with in terms of storage capability. For visual clarity that lets you get your head—and eyes—into the game, trust the NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 with 8GB of GDDR5 graphics card to deliver the goods when it comes to an awesome and immersive game experience.

The Predator G3, meanwhile, boasts of the same over clocked Intel i7 processor for that ferocious roar in every game, powerful 16GB DDR4 2133MHz memory and 2TB 3.5-inch and 128GB Solid State Drive combination for the utmost in storage capacity and NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1060 with 3GB GDDR5 graphics card that lets you stun your enemies with out-of-this-world graphics and dominate the esports scene.

Pair these two gaming monsters with the 24-inch full HD Predator XB241H monitors that support NVIDIA G sync technology to boost your game day with its no-tear and less-stutter performance for fast-paced games and ferocious visuals that will certainly stun any onlooker.


Thus, expect screams, shrieks of delight in conquest and supremacy to rock the High Grounds Cafe as hundreds of players can be accommodated there at any given time. Gamers can also enjoy glorious snacks and other meal-time favorites during breaks from their game triumphs so they can recharge their batteries and be ready to dominate the competition again.


The opening of High Grounds Café is also the perfect battleground for the launch of the Predator 21 X which gives gaming pros and tech enthusiasts the best and most fearsome gaming laptop ever. Targeting the well-heeled and loaded tech lovers out there who will spare no peso in getting the most advanced and powerful gaming rig around, the Predator 21 X is a perfect fit for gamers who seek a whole new level of immersion in terms of sound and visuals, interaction, cooling and power efficiency never seen before in any gaming laptop. 

The Predator 21 X is a humongous beast of a laptop that comes with a robust 21-inch-wide FHD (2560 x 1080) IPS screen with 2000R curvature for unbelievable visuals, 7th Generation Intel Core™ i7 processor, NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 SLI with 16GB GDDR5X graphics card coupled with 64GB of DDR4 system memory, plus Acer ColorBlast™ technology for the clearest and most abundant colors ever to reach a laptop.

TNC.com owner Eric Redulfin said High Grounds Café breaks the barriers in what used to be Internet-surfing-only cyber cafes. “The environment now is totally different in terms of cyber cafés. What used to be just for Internet surfing and browsing metamorphosed into complete full-fledged gaming centers. Of course the Internet is still there but gaming now takes the spotlight and the attention of game-loving and esports aficionados in the country.”


Redulfin bared that High Grounds Café will also be the perfect breeding ground of future Filipino esports stars who can give esports players from other countries a run for their money. “The Philippines is a young entrant in the global esports arena. Compared to other gaming countries, I could say we’re behind but that was 2-5 years ago. Now, even if we started competing only last year in tournaments abroad, we gained much attention already with the recent triumph of the TNC Pro Team during WESG,” he said.

The TNC Pro Team, bannered by members Marco Polo “Raven” Fausto, Carlo “Kuku” Palad, Samson Solomon “Sam_H” Hidalgo, Timothy “Tims” Randrup, and Ryo “ryOyr” Hasegawa, made history by becoming the first Filipino grand champions at the World Electronic Sports Games (WESG) 2016 Defense of the Ancients (DotA) 2 competition. The team took home a rich total prize pot of US$800,000 (roughly Php40 million) after defeating the Cloud9 team from Denmark in a heart-pounding finals match.


Redulfin and team manager Paulo Sy both admitted it’s tough to maintain a competitive team that should be well trained and funded. But with the arrival of the Predator desktops at High Grounds, they know that more and more esports “athletes” or gamers will have full access to powerful PCs that can deliver the best—and only the best—experience in leisure and competitive gaming.



“The players train for 8-10 hours every day and they need the best PCs to help them visualize and conceptualize strategies for every game. With their power and brawn, the Predator desktops are a big help in our aim to promote esports and hopefully, we can find the next best players that will bring pride to our country in future esports competitions abroad and help promote TNC as well,” declares both Redulfin and Sy.

“We are glad that TNC decided to use Predator desktops as their only gaming rigs at High Grounds Café. It just goes to show that Predator remains to be the only preferred gaming PCs by serious esports competitors who only want the best with the most premium components found inside, those that won’t conk out in the heat of the game any time of the day. Esports is serious stuff and is ultra-competitive that needs only the best PC for gameplay, and Predator is definitely it, without question,” explains Clark Gurden, Predator Brand Ambassador, Predator Headquarters. 

For his part, Jerome Matti, NVIDIA Consumer Sales Lead, Philippines, said: 
We build the ultimate platform for gamers. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 and 1060 GPUs are based on our most advanced Pascal architecture that delivers amazing speed and power efficiency, plus innovative new gaming technologies. And our advanced G-SYNC monitors are designed to give gamers incredibly smooth, tear-free gameplay. Together, they redefine what makes a perfect platform for the new generation of content. And with Acer’s exquisite craftsmanship, we are able to bring the world’s most advanced platform to the Philippines’ biggest iCafe, High Grounds powered by TNC. We are thrilled to see more and more GeForce PC gamers in the Philippines!”

For more about the Predator gaming system, go to the Predator Philippines Facebook page - @PredatorPhilippines.

March 10, 2017

New Brother JA-1450NT boosts global brand’s line of sewing machines for homes, small businesses

Brother International Philippines Corporation (Brother Phils.) has launched in the Philippine market its latest entry-level home sewing machine model, the Brother JA-1450NT, to further boost its line of entry-level machines for use in homes and small businesses.


The JA-1450NT features include 14 built-in decorative and quilting stitches, automatic (4-step) buttonhole, top load bobbin, LED sewing light, auto threading system and twin needle sewing, with free arm conversion.
This compact and easy-to-use mechanical sewing machine model has all the basic features homemakers and sewing hobbyists need for their sewing projects and mending needs. Reasonably priced at PHP 9,995, Brother JA-1450NT is also perfect for young designers who want to start their own clothing line and enterprising individuals who want to manufacture customizable merchandise or enter any business for that matter, where they will need a reliable set of sewing machines.

Brother JA-1450NT features include 14 built-in decorative and quilting stitches, automatic (4-step) buttonhole, top load bobbin, LED sewing light, auto threading system and twin needle sewing, with free arm conversion. It also comes with an instructional DVD with bonus sewing projects.

What’s more, Brother Phils. President and chief executive officer Hocson said they also making sure that they are at their customers’ side by offering at no cost a training package with the purchase of the machine, and even train offsite, if needed.

“Offering free training is especially important for small and medium enterprises that always look for value to enable them to thrive in today’s competitive business landscape. We are committed to give our customers the training that will help them appreciate all the features of our sewing machines, and make them capable of maximizing these to help them become more creative and innovative in their products,” said Hocson.

The choice of the brand conscious market, Brother sewing machines’ superb value is largely attributable as well to its excellent and accessible after-sales service.

With Brother’s 13 Sewing and Embroidery Machine Authorized Service Centers with 53 branches nationwide, Hocson said that customers can rest assured that there is a Brother Authorized Service Center nearby to help them maximize the use, as well as maintain their Brother sewing machines.

Brother’s other sewing machines model available in the market include the GS-2700 mechanical sewing machine (SRP P10,995) with built-in needle threader, one-step buttonhole, and 27 built-in stitches.

The Brother JA-1450NT is also perfect for young designers who want to start their own clothing line and enterprising individuals who want to manufacture customizable merchandise





The GS-2700 mechanical sewing comes with a built-in needle threader, one-step buttonhole, and 27 built-in stitches


A trusted Japanese global brand with commitment to quality, Brother has the most extensive sewing machine ranges in the market consisting of innovative, easy-to-use, high-quality, feature-rich products designed to meet the needs of every home maker, sewing enthusiast or entrepreneur. 

Brother’s reliable and award-winning products also include printing and imaging solutions, label-makers and their respective consumables.



Visit brother.com.ph or call (02) 581-9888 for more product information.





Crank up the cooling and bring down the cost with LG Dual Cool Smart Inverter RAC

The 30-plus degree temperature that sweeps the country on an annual basis is right around the corner, and with the ubiquity of technology nowadays, this scorching season can sometimes be synonymous to a spike in air conditioner usage. 

This summer, global technology innovator LG Electronics introduces the latest from its energy solutions line—its Dual Cool Smart Inverter residential air conditioners (RACs). With a variety of models from its Dual Cool Standard, Dual Cool Standard (Mosquito) and Dual Cool Deluxe segments, the extensive line-up ticks off every consumer’s boxes in energy saving, powerful cooling, comfort, health care and convenience.


Energy efficiency coupled with powerful cooling

The Dual Cool RAC comes equipped with a Smart Inverter Compressor and Dual Inverter Compressor which reduces energy consumption by up to 70 percent. The Dual Inverter Compressor motor has a wide rotational frequency and a higher speed cooling range than a conventional compressor, allowing the RAC to cool more quickly, last longer and run more quietly. So no matter how hot it is outside, the RAC distributes cool air immediately to every corner in the room. The unit has a 25 percent larger skew fan which expels powerful blasts of air through its large outlet, optimally designed to fill spaces with cool air faster and farther.


Optimal comfort and health care

Powerful cooling does not come at the expense of the user’s comfort. With just a click of the “Comfort Air” remote button, the Dual Cool RAC adjusts the vane angle to ensure that the out-flowing air does not blow directly to the user and cause sudden drops in body temperature. Disturbance is also not an issue as the RAC operates at the world’s lowest noise level thanks to LG’s unique BLDC motor, skew fan technology and Active Low Vibration Control (ALVC) feature. It also maintains an incredible capacity for dehumidification to provide the most comfortable environment.

Health is one of LG’s core considerations when creating new products. The Dual Cool RAC offers top-quality features in favor of the user’s health and sanitation:

·                 Plasmaster Ionizer Plus, which disseminates over three million ions to sterilize and deodorize not only the air going through the RAC, but all surrounding harmful substances;

·                        LG’s trademark Mosquito Away, which repels up on 82.7 percent of mosquitoes through an ultrasonic sound which can be activated even when the RAC is not running;

·         Micro Dust Filter, a high-airflow, low-noise filter which employs a strong electrostatic charge on its surface to attract, trap and eliminate harmful microscopic substances and deliver fresh, clean air; and

·                  Auto Cleaning, a comprehensive cleaning function which prevents the formation of bacteria and mold on the heat exchanger. By eliminating the humidity and germs left in the RAC, the auto cleaning function removes all substances that might be harmful to human body, keeps the indoor environment odor-less and maintains the cooling performance and longevity of the RAC even after 10 years of usage.



Next-level convenience

Installation has never been easier with the delicately designed installation elements of LG’s Dual Cool RAC: simple packaging, installation plate improvement, installation support clip, wider tubing space, detachable bottom cover and a quick button for running tests.

“With the launch of our highly developed Dual Cool RAC in the country, which caters to our consumers’ energy saving, cooling, comfort, health and convenience needs, we want to not only help ease the upcoming summer heat for Filipinos, but also keep their homes cool and comfortable all year around,” LG Philippines Air Conditioning and Energy Solutions VP Steve Kim said.

The LG Dual Cool Smart Inverter RACs are currently in the market and are backed by a 10-year LG warranty. 

For more details, visit www.lg.com/ph, like LG Philippines’ official Facebook page or follow @LGPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

UNIQLO LifeWear : Spring/Summer Collection 2017 / #LifeWearSS2017PH


UNIQLO officially launched LifeWear Spring/Summer 2017 collection held at WhiteSpace in Chino Roces, Makati City, last February 23 with some of Manila’s finest fashion and lifestyle bloggers and online media.

UNIQLO - simplicity, quality, and longevity. Designed to be of the time and for the time. Made with such modern elegance that it becomes the building blocks of your style.


This is LifeWear. 

UNIQLO LifeWear. Simple made better. A perfect shirt that is always being made more perfect. The simplest design hiding the most thoughtful and modern details. The best in fit and fabric made to be affordable and accessible to all.

Clothing that we are constantly innovating, bringing more warmth, more lightness, better design, and better comfort to your life. It never stops evolving because your life never stops changing.

Simple apparel with a not-so-simple purpose: to make your life better.


UNIQLO’s 2017 Spring/Summer collection is composed of timeless LifeWear pieces that will cover every aspect of life. Designed with such modern elegance, every piece becomes the building blocks for any style.



DENIM

UNIQLO denim combines tradition and innovation for a new generation of stylish and comfortable everyday jeans.

Jeans are synonymous with LifeWear. They are an integral part of the lifestyles of people of all ages, gender, nations, and backgrounds. We combine those traditions and innovative technology to craft even more stylish and comfortable jeans as everyday essentials. 

UNIQLO offers a wide variety of denim designs made with high quality materials and it continues to pioneer the evolution of denim with the newly established Denim Innovation Center.




WORK SMART

UNIQLO’s Work Smart collection comprises of comfortable, accessible, and polished pieces that are versatile and low-maintenance to ensure that we look both professional and stylish at the same time.

Helping you live a comfortable and better life even in the work place, UNIQLO’s Work Smart collection is highlighted by pieces that are effortless and easy to care for. Made with fabrics such as drape and rayon that are both wrinkle-resistant and machine washable, the collection lets you enjoy style with less worry. 

Made to be mixed and matched, the entire line offers versatile pieces that can be pared down for the work place and dressed up for a night out.

The UNIQLO Work Smart collection offers not just the right kind of clothing to wear to work but clothes that offer a good balance of comfort, style, easy-care, and versatility. 




UNIQLO SPORT


UNIQLO SPORT incorporates sportswear features into everyday apparel to make clothing functional and fashionable.  

This season, we have expanded our lineup to encompass a wider range of sports that help enhance athletic performance. We created our distinctly styled lineup to enhance functionality for top athletes and regular individuals alike. 

With clothes that work for sport and casual wear, UNIQLO SPORT transforms everyday fashion.

UNIQLO SPORT incorporates sportswear features into everyday apparel to make clothing functional and fashionable.  

This season, we have expanded our lineup to encompass a wider range of sports that help enhance athletic performance. We created our distinctly styled lineup to enhance functionality for top athletes and regular individuals alike. 

With clothes that work for sport and casual wear, UNIQLO SPORT transforms everyday fashion.




AIRISM

AIRism is a line of innovative functional innerwear that solves a variety of discomfort by controlling sweat.  More than just cooling, its quick-drying technology keeps skin smooth and dry even when perspiring. 

Light, thin, and smooth, AIRism is designed to feel as if nothing is there. Layered below your clothes, it can keep you cool from underneath. Like a second skin, keeping you comfortable despite the season’s changing weather. Offered in multiple variations, each designed for different needs and lifestyles. No matter who you are or how you live, there’s an AIRism piece that can work for you. 


UT

More than just expression, UT or Uniqlo T-shirts is a celebration of culture, designed from carefully selected pop art from around the world.

UT has become central to UNIQLO’s LifeWear approach by emotionally engaging with people through designs that convey the individuality and moods of their wearers. With a variety of designs to choose from, UTs can easily be paired and styled with other UNIQLO items. 

This year, UT celebrates its 10th season. For 2017 Spring/Summer, they return to their roots by featuring graphics from leading talents like abstract expressionist FUTURA.



MAGIC FOR ALL

A special collaborative project with Disney on its second year, MAGIC FOR ALL, a part of the UT collection, is a global collaboration with that combines the fantasy, magic, and adventure of Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar with LifeWear, immersing people in excitement all year round through an array of unique variations.

The collection features MICKEY STANDS, with designs showing Mickey Mouse striking iconic poses, and the MICKEY BLUE (Indigo collection), inspired by West Coast culture and Japanese indigo dyeing.  The lineup also features content from the past 40 years of Star Wars, and will expand with new offerings, including characters from the new Cars 3 movie and Spider-Man motifs. 



UNIQLO KIDS and UNIQLO BABY

The UNIQLO Kids and Baby collection was born out of the need to create comfortable and durable clothing that will help children interact with and learn about their surroundings.

For kids, learning happens everywhere, which is why UNIQLO designed functional, high-quality clothes that keep their bodies able and minds at ease. Children want to know how things work, so we make long-lasting, comfortable clothes for every experiment. This Spring/Summer season, the items are made for easier removal and include reassuring safety features. 


UNIQLO U

At our Paris R&D Center, our global design team – led by Christophe Lemaire – is reinventing basics to anything but basic. Clothing that transcends trends and becomes an ideal expression of who we are.  Every form made for function. Every element endlessly considered.  Every design thoughtfully deconstructed, tested and distilled to its most essential and sophisticated.  This is simple made better, at its best.  This is Uniqlo U. 



INES DE LA FRESSANGE

The seventh collaboration with French fashion icon Ines de La Fressange, takes its inspiration from French port city of Marseilles. The new lineup showcases a remixing of styles that is quintessentially Ines, combining gradations of her signature indigo with on-trend berry accents for styling that is at once nostalgic of sunshine and sea breezes. 









UNIQLO LifeWear -  Apparel that comes from the Japanese values of simplicity, quality and longevity. Designed to be of the time and for the time, LifeWear is made with such modern elegance that it becomes the building blocks of each individual’s style. A perfect shirt that is always being made more perfect. The simplest design hiding the most thoughtful and modern details. The best in fit and fabric made to be affordable and accessible to all. LifeWear is clothing that is constantly being innovated, bringing more warmth, more lightness, better design, and better comfort to people’s lives.

UNIQLO believes that truly great clothes should be supremely comfortable, feature universal designs, are of high quality and offer a superb fit to everyone who wears them.

With a corporate statement committed to changing clothes, changing conventional wisdom and change the world, Fast Retailing is dedicated to creating great clothing with new and unique value to enrich the lives of people everywhere. For more information about UNIQLO and Fast Retailing, please visit www.uniqlo.com and www.fastretailing.com.



For more updates, visit UNIQLO Philippines’ website at www.uniqlo.com/ph and social media accounts, Facebook (facebook.com/uniqlo.ph), Twitter (twitter.com/uniqloph), and Instagram (Instagram.com/uniqlophofficial).



#Malasimbo2017 puts spotlight on nature and culture in one festive, family-friendly gathering of the best in music and the arts

MANILA, Philippines – Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival, the annual contemporary international music festival, the longest standing and most sustainable of its kind in the Philippines, welcomes 2017 with a strengthened and more solidified purpose. Malasimbo is produced by Volume Unit Entertainment (VUE) and hosted by D’Aboville Foundation.





Coming off with a 5,000-audience turnout last year, Malasimbo stages its seventh edition back at the picturesque Malasimbo Amphitheatre in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro. The festival will run from March 10 to 12, 2017, featuring a packed lineup of events and artists.


The best in local and international music

Offering an authentic experience with Mother Nature as the backdrop since 2011, Malasimbo has witnessed some of the biggest gatherings of the world’s musical greats. It has assembled artists from different genres—from jazz, soul, roots, and reggae, to dance music contemporaries, such as Roy Ayers, Jimmy Cliff, Joss Stone, José González, Ky-mani Marley, Fred Wesley, Omar, Osunlade, Mad Professor, Goldie, DJ Krush, Quincy Jones presents Jacob Collier, and many more. The festival has also been a record label platform aimed at discovering and developing local soul jazz and electronic music.

Malasimbo’s live performances will feature Afro-Cuban jazz pianist and Quincy Jones’ protégé Alfredo Rodriguez, Australian soul jazz performer Jordan Rakei, and the outstanding Canadian electronic music artist Tennyson as the biggest acts. Some of the local artists and ensembles set to perform include Apartel, Jeck Pilpil & Peacepipe, Brass Pas Pas Pas Pas, Similar Objects, crwn, Curtismith, RH Xanders, sKarm, Moophs, and Microphone Mechanics.

The event will feature silent disco, where music is transmitted via headphones. Participants can choose among three competing DJs and dance to their music of their choice.  International and local DJs include Lefto, Kristian Hernandez, Br3aking Silence, The Diegos, Mark Zero, Manolet Dario, and many more.

Malasimbo will hold a preview of the Silent Disco at the 10 Days of Art Celebration of Art Fair Philippines” on February 18, at the Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City. Four DJs will compete at the event, with the winner set to perform at Malasimbo. 




A big part of the Malasimbo Magic is brought by the art installations around the venue, and the colorful lighting at night that will transform the venue into a tropical wonderland. Malasimbo has staged the artworks of 60 contemporary Filipino and international artists in the past six years, adorning the foothills with a trademark look. Every year, new artists join the Malasimbo resident artists by bringing in fresh works. The works vary in materials, shapes and sizes but all resonate with the festival's creative energy and love for nature.

Malasimbo 2017 will proudly continue to host the iconic works of Agnes Arellano, Wawi Navarroza, Ling Quisumbing Ramilo, and Olivia d’Aboville, which have been part of the Malasimbo landscape for several years. Resident artists Alwin Reamillo, Denis Lagdameo, Leeroy New, Russ Ligtas, Agus Loedin, Troy Silvestre, Hiyas Bagabaldo, Dondi and Grace Katigbak, Henri Lamy, Jinggoy Buensuceso, Raphael David and Hohana will be back with new installations. Watch out for new additions to the sculpture garden by Lena Cobangbang, Cristina Escario, Keith Ann Garcia, and group Venus Mar, Expi Perez, and Raha Rodriguez.


Heightened efforts to promote tourism and culture

Malasimbo continues to highlight its cause of boosting tourism in the Mindoro area. Philippine tourism has witnessed tremendous growth since 2012 and is the new sunshine industry. It is a key priority to the national government, which has since developed effective tourism marketing and branding, namely through the “More Fun in the Philippines” campaign. Malasimbo has partnered with the Department of Tourism since its debut in 2011. It is endorsed by the DOT as a catalyst for the advancement of the country’s culture and arts, and was chosen to be one of the 15 key events that are featured in the DOT’s “Visit the Philippines Year 2015” national campaign.

Every ticket sold Malasimbo and d’aboville Foundation will plant a mangrove seedling. Apart from promoting and caring for Mindoro’s natural sights, Malasimbo holds a conscientious regard for eco-cultural tourism promotion and development in Mindoro. The d’Aboville Foundation will continue its community program in honor of the island’s indigenous Mangyans, such as workshops on Mangyan language and their handcrafted beaded jewelry, fabrics, and baskets. Workshops will be led by prominent leaders in environmental protection and sustainability including past Presidential Adviser on Environmental Protection, Neric Acosta and Founder and Executive Director of Liter of Light, Illac Diaz.

Malasimbo and the d’Aboville Foundation are currently raising funds for the Liter of Light workshop, which will be a solar lamp build-and-donate activity geared to help light a Mangyan home. For P1,000, you can purchase a lamp kit online and through bank deposit. For more information, please log on to dabovillefoundation.org/2017/02/02/build-and-donate-with-liter-of-light-at-the-malasimbo-festival/.



The next hotspot for families and friends

Malasimbo 2017 is poised to be the next biggest venue for recreation among families and friends. Spanning over three days, Malasimbo has set not just activities to appeal the eyes and the ears but also to the heart and mind.
   
A six-day yoga retreat at the Malasimbo grounds will be happening from March 8 to 13 coinciding with the festival with Australia Yogi, Cameron Brown a.k.a. MC Shureshock, who will part take in hosting the event.

Malasimbo Music & Arts Festival 2017 is co-presented by FOX International Channels, Star World, and Channel [V], and supported by its Official Media Partners: ANC, CNN Philippines, Explore Philippines Magazine, MYX, Our Awesome Planet, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Scout Magazine, Primer Media, Radio Republic, Rappler, Choose PH, One Music PH, and WhenInManila.com.

For more information about Malasimbo 2017, follow us on Facebook/Instagram (@malasimbofestival) and on Twitter (@malasimbofest).


March 9, 2017

Enjoy exclusive printer discounts with the Brother’s Trade-In Madness Promo

Up to 50% off on brand-new Brother printers and multifunction centres

Old, malfunctioning, or broken printers, copiers, fax machines, and scanners taking up space in your house or office can serve purpose again with the Brother Trade-In Madness Promo.

From March 9 to 31, 2017, you can use your old machines to upgrade your current printing and digital imaging solutions with Brother’s Trade-In Madness Promo. Simply bring in an old working or non-working printers, scanners, copiers, or fax machines of any brand at select venues to snag up to 50 percent off on brand-new Brother printers and multifunction centres.


Efficient, reliable color printing

Printing in color does not have to be a strain in the budget or time-consuming with Brother’s HL-3170CDW Color LED Printer and MFC-9330CDW Color LED Multifunction Centre. These printers deliver up to 600x2400 dpi resolution outputs for impressively detailed text and images. Both these LED innovations are compatible with Google Cloud Print for improved convenience.

Trade in your old machines and get 50 percent off on the HL-3170CDW (now P7,995.00 from P15,990.00 SRP) and MFC-9330DW (P14,795.00 from P29,950.00 SRP).


Quick printing precision

Print, copy, scan, fax, and PC-fax in one reliable machine: the Brother MFC-L2740DW Monochrome Laser Multifunction Centre. This trusty office companion churns out up to 30 pages of crisp, high-quality text and pictures within a minute, and also comes with automatic two-sided printing capability and an array of useful Brother printing apps.

Get the MFC-L2740DW at 50 percent off—P9,475.00 from P18,950.00 SRP—with the Brother Trade-In Madness.


Next-level home printing

Reliable, cost-efficient printers are essential for any modern home. Brother offers the quick, cost-efficient precision in black-and-white printing with the HL-L2365DW Monochrome Laser Printer , and well-rounded function with the MFC-J2720 InkBenefit Color Inkjet Multifunction Centre that can print up to A3-sized materials.

Take 20 percent off the HL-L2365DW (P5,592.00 from P6,990.00 SRP) and the MFC-J2720 (P12,760.00 from P15,950.00 SRP).

Discounts are only available at the following venues:

March 9 to 15, 2017           SM Fairview
                                            Supermarket Atrium



March 25 to 31, 2017         VMall Greenhills
                                            GF Activity Center


Customers can trade in up to three machines. The Trade-In Madness promo is only valid during the road show and cannot be availed in conjunction with other promos and discounts per DT-FTEB Permit No. 1630, series of 2017.

For more information on Brother printers and digital imaging solutions, visit brother.com.ph or call (02) 581-9888.

GE and Cardinal Santos Memorial Center Presents Future of Cancer Care

This Wednesday ( March 8 ) GE Philippines together with Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) held a media discussions where key Healthcare Stakeholders share their views on the following topics:
  • The current state of cancer care in the Philippines
  • The need for more education around cancer prevention and seeking treatment early
  • The technologies and treatments available to help detect and treat cancer in the Philippines 



Health experts share view on current state of cancer care in the Philippines. 
  • Cancer is one of the Philippines’ top causes of death, claiming 56,000 lives per year.
  • Increasing number of new cancer cases worldwide is alarming and becoming more pressing for institutions like Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMS) to pursue strategic interventions.
  • CSMC’s latest effort to meet the Philippines’ needs on cancer care is the installation of the GE Discovery™ PET/CT 710, which features high sensitivity, advanced protocol flexibility, and high-definition image reconstruction to help doctors recommend the best possible tailor regimen for patients, while minimizing radiation.


Early diagnosis key to preventing cancer, experts advise

Despite the increasing number of cancer deaths worldwide, the World Health Organization (WHO) reiterates that between 30-50 percent of cancers can be prevented by interventions such as lifestyle changes and early screening. 1

In the Philippines, cancer claims the lives of 56, 000 Filipinos a year, making it one of the country’s top causes of death.2 Top cancer killers in the Philippines include breast, lung, colorectal, liver and cervical cancers. 3

According to the World Health Organization, cancer was responsible for nearly 8.8 million deaths in 2015, a number that could reach 17 million by 2030.4

The increasing number of new cancer cases worldwide is alarming and it becomes more pressing for us to pursue strategic interventions,” said Dr. Christine Gruenberg of the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC).


Diagnosed too late

Cancer symptoms such as unexplained weight loss, fever, fatigue, and skin changes are often mistaken for common illnesses that by the time of diagnosis, the tumors have already spread to other parts of the body.5

Though one third of cancer deaths are due to behavioral and dietary risks namely high body mass index, low fruit and vegetable intake, lack of physical activity, tobacco use, and alcohol use, factors such as family history, physical environment, and infectious agents like HPV also contribute to the rise of cancer incidence worldwide.6

Patients’ survival chances also get slimmer when their cancer is diagnosed at a late stage. Aside from lower likelihood of survival, delayed diagnosis also causes serious treatment-related side effects and higher healthcare costs.7

Better cancer outcomes

The WHO identified three steps that can help improve diagnosis: improving awareness, capacity building, and ensuring treatment access. 8

Treatment methods cannot begin, however, if there is no pathologic confirmation of the disease. This is why the availability of advanced healthcare technology matters in improving diagnosis, said GE Healthcare Philippines Country Manager Ivan Arota.

Just like all other health challenges, addressing the burden of cancer requires a multi-sectoral approach. Our work as a healthcare solutions provider does not stop with the development of innovative medical equipment,” Arota said.

We help build on the diagnostic capacity of healthcare workers pursuant to the recommendations of the WHO,” he added.

CSMC’s latest effort to meet the Philippines’ needs on cancer care is the installation of the Discovery™ PET/CT 710. The Discovery PET/CT 710 features high sensitivity, advanced protocol flexibility, and high-definition image reconstruction to help doctors recommend the best possible tailor regimen for patients, while minimizing radiation.

A PET-CT scan is an invaluable diagnostic tool in cancer care that simultaneously performs two individual tests to detect cancer and determine its stage. The highly sensitive PET scan detects the metabolic signal of actively growing cancer cells - a key element in the diagnostic process; while the CT scan creates a detailed image of abnormal cancerous tissues inside the body, including their location and size.

To identify any abnormalities, a radiopharmaceutical marker called Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is injected into the patient. The PET scanner picks up the signal produced by the marker, creating images of the FDG distribution in the body. Combined, a PET-CT scan provides doctors with comprehensive information on the disease and allows them to plan treatment effectively.

When healthcare providers recommend treatment options to cancer patients, they rely heavily on data generated by equipment and other tools. We can’t compromise quality and efficient monitoring because lives are at stake,” said CSMC Medical Director Dr. Zenaida Javier-Uy.
“The addition of a PET/CT in CSMC’s range of equipment and services will help us in our commitment to provide improved cancer care and better clinical outcomes for our patients,” Dr. Javier-Uy added.











About GE:
GE (NYSE: GE) is the world’s Digital Industrial Company, transforming industry with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected, responsive and predictive. GE is organized around a global exchange of knowledge, the "GE Store," through which each business shares and accesses the same technology, markets, structure and intellect. Each invention further fuels innovation and application across our industrial sectors. With people, services, technology and scale, GE delivers better outcomes for customers by speaking the language of industry. www.ge.com

1 World Health Organization Media centre http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/

2 World Health Organization Cancer Country Profile Philippines http://www.who.int/cancer/country-profiles/phl_en.pdf?ua=1

3 International Agency for Research on Cancer GLOBOCAN 2012 http://globocan.iarc.fr/Pages/fact_sheets_population.aspx

4 The global burden of cancer: priorities for prevention https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2802672/

6 World Health Organization Media centre http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs297/en/ ; American Cancer Society https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-basics/signs-and-symptoms-of-cancer.html