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June 23, 2018

PDRF, PCPPI to provide 20, 000-liter Water tanks for Marawi rehabilitation

Marawi is on its way to recovery. As the efforts continue to revive Lanao Del Sur’s capital after being ravaged by war, private institutions and government organizations are partnering to address the need for water of Maranaos and others in the area.

(L-R) Holding the scale model of the 20,000-liter water tank to be deployed in Marawi is Lanao Del Sur Provincial Information Officer, Salma Jayne Alonto Tamano; Task Force Bangon Marawi Undersecretary, and Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Secretary General, Falconi Ace Millar; Pepsi-Co Products Philippines Inc. President Samudra Bhattacharya, and Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation President Butch Meily


As the country's major private sector driver and coordinator for disaster resilience, the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) linked with Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI) to provide the internally displaced people of Marawi with clean and safe water. PDRF tapped PCPPI to provide 12 cylindrical, 20,000-liter water tanks to various gravely affected barangays across the province. PCPPI will also partner with PDRF to conduct community training on water management and hygiene, as well as initiate various programs for the holistic, socio-psychological recovery of the Maranaos.

In full support of this partnership is Atty. Falconi Millar, Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council Secretary General, who was present during the signing ceremony.

Millar also serves as Undersecretary of Task Force Bangon Marawi—the inter-agency task force group of the government dedicated to the recovery, reconstruction, and rehabilitation of Marawi and other affected localities.

“Much has been done by Task Force Bangon Marawi, yet much is still left to be done,” said Millar. “In the evacuation centers, we have 1,248 families as of last week while in ground zero about 10, 000 families are living there. There are about 12, 000 households who are currently home-based living with relatives, however they still want to return to their households. We are targeting the groundbreaking for the most affected area of Marawi for the last week of June. We are working double time.”

The Undersecretary underlined that PDRF was one of the first to send recovery teams to Marawi, and that with their partnership with PCPPI he sees an evolution of responsible corporate citizenship in the private sector.

“Everyone is being called to be a responsible corporate citizen. In trying times like these it now becomes a duty of every corporation to lend a helping hand,” Undersecretary Millar said.

The collaboration between PDRF, PCPPI, Task Force Bangon Marawi and the Lanao del Sur government helps mobilize the next phase of rehabilitation efforts in the war-stricken area, beginning with the need for water.

"Water is a critical need and a fundamental right," said Butch Meily, President of the PDRF. "It's been a year since the siege of Marawi, and until now more than 70, 000 families still have to live with the hardship brought about by the war. Today we are even more determined to turn the tide by providing them with the water they direly need." 

The PDRF implements an eight-cluster system model for private sector coordination aimed to provide a more robust platform for collaboration and interoperability with key partners in disaster preparation, response, and rehabilitation. PCPPI’s efforts fall under the Water and Sanitation cluster.

"This project will benefit the 12 most affected areas in Marawi, the biggest of which is Saguiaran," said Meily. "Community consultations will continue to ensure the project's viability, accessibility, and efficacy."

"Marawi has always been one of the key communities that patronize and support our products and we have great stories of partnerships with PCPPI built throughout the years. This is why when PDRF approached us and asked for help to rehabilitate the city, we did not hesitate," said PCPPI President, Samudra Bhattacharya. " By providing access to clean water to the 12 evacuation sites, especially in this time of Ramadan, we hope for a renewed determination for the residents to pursue the rebuilding of the city."

Also at the event was Lanao Del Sur’s Provincial Information Officer, Salma Jayne Alonto-Tamano. Millar reiterated the government's relentless pursuit of rebuilding Marawi, returning it to its vibrancy.

"With Pepsi and PDRF's partnership, it's evident that a scarcity of care does not exist--they have answered the call to be responsible corporate social citizens, with PDRF running toward the fire to lend a hand. Today, we find Task Force Bangon Marawi isn't an organization; it's all of us pitching in to help," said Meily. 

"PCPPI's help will not only quench the thirst, wash the hands and bodies of the affected community, but will also help them feel human again," said Meily.

PDRF first worked with the bottling company last year for the donation and installation of 1,000 gasera lights and 500 solar street lamps in Marawi.

Panasonic now accepting applicants for 2018 scholarship

Panasonic, which is celebrating its 100th anniversary is now accepting applicants for its annual scholarship program in the Philippines.



The scholarship provides promising senior students (graduating in 2 years’ time) in a bachelor’s degree program and newly-enrolled/accepted students in a vocational course program for the school year 2018~2019. 

In the Philippines, Panasonic Scholarship is administered by Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines Corporation (PMPC) along with the support of Panasonic Precision Devices Philippines Corporation (PPRDPH), and offers financial assistance to promising students, who can contribute to the country’s progress and development.

Applicants must be: a Filipino citizen, and a bona fide full time senior college student in a state university enrolled in the fields of engineering, industrial design, accountancy, and economics; and those currently enrolled/accepted in a TESDA-accredited institution, specializing in the fields of electro-mechanics, consumer electronics, or refrigeration & air conditioning;academically deserving and financially needy, who is of good character; determined to excel and make a difference…

Panasonic is founded on the basic objective to be a corporation devoted to the progress and development of society and the well-being of people, thereby contributing to the growth of human civilization.

Interested parties may send e-mail to: jafanika.sibal@ph.panasonic.com or lorenzo.magsingit@ph.panasonic.com to request Official Application Form. Applications will be accepted until June 29, 2018 (for vocational) and July 20, 2018 (for undergraduate). Documents submitted shall not be returned under any circumstances.








Sachi, the best Japanese restaurant in town

Craving for authentic Japanese cuisine? You don’t have to go far - you can find it in SACHI, the best Japanese restaurant in town!


Located at the Araneta Coliseum Circle, Sachi (which means happiness and good luck) serves the best-tasting Japanese dishes made with the freshest ingredients. True to its name, Sachi makes every guest jump with joy with every bite of their mouth-watering cuisine, served in big portions and available at reasonable prices.



Sachi will surely satisfy your cravings and match the festive mood with their authentic Japanese food. For as low as P600, couples can enjoy a sushi-filled date! Sachi also accepts reservation for functions and events.


Aside from their signature Japanese dishes, Sachi also serves Singaporean food from its sister restaurant Rasa.


Here are the dishes you must not miss on your visit to Sachi:

1. Sushi and sashimi platter. Indulge in tamago, kani, ebi, ika, maguro, shiake uni – name it, they have it fresh and raw! To guarantee that Sachi serves quality food every single day, they get their seafood straight from Farmers Market, the undisputed benchmark and source for fresh seafood in the metro.




2. Maki. It’s satisfaction guaranteed once you try their best-selling Volcano Roll and California Maki 



3. Tempura. Fresh and crispy, Sachi has the best tempura in town. Their secret sauce also brings out the flavor with every bite.



4. Ramen. Warm up with Sachi’s flavorful seafood and pork ramen.



5. Kobe beef. It’s the best beef you can ever eat! You surely wouldn’t mind splurging on this!


6. Toro. Highly sought after in the world of sashimi, this fatty tuna melts in your mouth!



And if you want a taste of Rasa’s favorite dishes, try the following:


1. Crispy Squid. Sweet and spicy crispy squid that serves as an excellent appetizer.


2. Singapore Chili Crab. Giant crabs stir fried and braised with chili crab sauce.



3. Hainanese chicken. World famous authentic poached white chicken best paired with Rasa’s home-made sauce.





4. Beef kwey teow. This best-selling flat noodle with egg and barbecue slices goes well with other classic Singaporean cuisine in their menu.






5. Laksa. Want some spice? Then go for this rice noodle spicy coconut gravy with prawns and fish balls.

*Sachi has been serving the best Japanese cuisine in town since September 2003. You may visit them at the Araneta Coliseum Cirle. For reservation or inquiries, please call 911-1806. They also offer free delivery within the Araneta Center.



June 22, 2018

Megan Young and KC Concepcion at the #ShopeeBeautyFair ! Shopee Partners with Leading Beauty Brands, Maybelline and Palmolive Celebrates Women Empowerment

In celebration of women empowerment, Shopee with partners leading beauty brands Maybelline and Palmolive,  bring together five Women’s Rights advocates and announce the Beauty Week happening on June 21-27 where Shopee shoppers can enjoy upto 95% off the health and beauty category on top of the sitewide sale, exclusive deals and bundles, Php199 below collections and many more!



2013 Miss World, Megan YoungJane Lim, Director of Shopee Philippines and actress KC Concepcion

Recently, Shopee PH Beauty Fair event held at Okada Manila, aside from the announcement 2013 Miss World, Megan Young, actress KC Concepcion and blogger-influencers Martha Jante, Kristine Roces and Helen Payawal talked about what they think of Women Empowerment and Breaking Beauty Standards.






The five women shared their personal stories on how they overcame society’s beauty standards, and to encourage Filipina women to do the same.


“Shopee’s Beauty Fair is a celebration of women and their success, and we are proud to partner Maybelline and Palmolive for this event - both leading beauty brands who share the same belief that women should be celebrated as they are. Beauty Fair was conceptualised as part of Shopee’s continued commitment to empowering Filipina across the country. We hope that this serves as an inspirational platform for more women to take a step forward towards achieving their goals,” said Jane Lim, Director of Shopee Philippines.
The event featured three different talk show sessions where the five women shared personal stories on various topics, including how the media has influenced the standards of beauty, their struggles with overcoming society’s expectations of women, and how they managed to achieve success in both their careers and personal lives. Attendees enjoyed a complimentary ride to the event from Grab, the official ride sponsor, as well as a free blow-dry and hair styling session by Creations - a salon by Asia’s Top Model Judge, Lourd Ramos’ salon.


2013 Miss World Megan Young on empowerment and standing up for yourself


As a speaker at the event, Young shared about her journey to being crowned 2013 Miss World, and how the title has since placed her in a position to inspire young women around her.

“Joining Miss World 5 years ago really took me out of my comfort zone and challenged me to be more confident. After being crowned, I realised I was in a position where I had the power to influence young women, and I wanted to do my part to encourage them to stand up for themselves. I used to just shrug off people who say insensitive or hurtful comments, but now call them out and tell them they’re wrong, and I encourage all women to not be afraid to do the same,” shared Young.

Young’s success in her acting career is also a reflection of her commitment to empowering women, choosing only to act in powerful female roles. She currently stars in the drama, The Step Daughters, where she plays a young, fearless woman named Mayumi who changes her destiny by being tenacious and true to herself.

Maybelline’s top beauty influencers shared their stories on being confident

One of Maybelline’s top priorities is to empower women to #MakeItHappen. The brand presented top beauty influencers Martha Jante, Real Asian Beauty (Kristine Roces), and Helen on Fleek (Helen Payawal) talked about their work as influencers and bloggers in the beauty industry. The famous influencers also shared their everyday struggles as women in their field and how they were able to overcome it with the confidence that makeup has been able to give them.

Palmolive brand ambassador, KC Concepcion, on how health can empower women to be their best self



Brand ambassador for Palmolive, KC Concepcion, also shared her own story on how being healthy is as important as being true to oneself. The singer turned actress talked about numerous topics from haircare to fitness, and how her journey with maintaining her health has helped her confidence and enabled her to achieve success in both her career and personal life.


In line with the Beauty Fair event, Shopee will also be celebrating Beauty Week from June 21 to 27. Users can expect up to 95% off the health and beauty category on top of a storewide sale, exclusive deals and bundles, P199 below collections and many more. Users can look forward to massive savings on a wide variety of items including makeup, skincare, haircare and other health and personal care items.

For more information about the Beauty Fair Sale, you may Visit https://shopee.ph/BestofBeauty to enjoy the #ShopeeBeautyFair sale  and www.shopee.ph.

Download the Shopee app for free on Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 




Shopee is the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. It is a platform tailored for the region, providing customers with an easy, secure and fast online shopping experience through strong payment and logistical support. Shopee aims to continually enhance its platform and become the region’s e-commerce destination of choice.

Shopee has a wide selection of product categories ranging from consumer electronics to home & living, health & beauty, baby & toys, fashion and fitness equipment.

Shopee, a Sea company, was first launched in Singapore in 2015, and has since expanded its reach to Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Sea is a leader in digital entertainment, e-commerce and digital financial services across Greater Southeast Asia. Sea's mission is to better the lives of consumers and small businesses with technology, and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol SE.

OPPO A83 now more competitive at PHP 6,990 with Face Unlock and Full Screen Technology

The OPPO A83 2018 smartphone slashed off PHP 2,000 from its original price and now retails for only PHP 6,990. Available in red, gold, and black colors, the A83 combines OPPO’s signature A.I. Beauty Recognition Technology with a 5.7-inch HD+ screen, 13MP rear camera, 8MP front camera, 3180mAh battery, and a personalized speedy facial unlock function which users can now enjoy at an even more affordable price point. In addition, buyers may opt to purchase the A83 through Home Credit where they can pay as low as PHP 699 per month for 10 months. For more details on OPPO’s products, price drops, and promos, like OPPO Philippines’ official Facebook page and follow @OPPOPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

SM Supermalls wins “Shopping Centre of the Year” award in Ph Best Brand Awards

SM Supermalls was presented with the prestigious ‘Shopping Centre of the Year’ award in the first edition of the Philippines Best Brand Awards, at the recently concluded awarding ceremonies last June 8, held at Dusit Thani Hotel.

Philippines Best Brand Awards 2018. SM Supermalls bagged the prestigious ‘Shopping Centre of the Year’ award in the Philippines Best Brand Awards, at the recently concluded awarding ceremonies last June 8, held at Dusit Thani Hotel. In photo: SM Supermalls Chief Operating Officer Steven Tan (3rd from left) delivering his acceptance speech.


Accepting the award on behalf of SM Supermalls was its Chief Operating Officer Steven Tan. “We owe our success to our customers and partners who continue to support and trust the SM brand. This achievement motivates us to further innovate and to strive harder in bringing bigger and better activities and brands to the SM malls,” Tan said.

From its first shoe store in Carriedo, Manila, opened by Henry Sy, Sr. in 1958 – the SM brand has come a long way as it celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. From a one-store operation, the brand grew to provide people with a range of shoes and clothes among others at The SM Store, their daily needs at SM Markets; affordable homes through residential condominiums of SMDC; and family fun experiences at SM Supermalls.

The Philippines Best Brand Awards recognize and celebrate outstanding brands and marketers who have achieved extraordinary success from effective and innovative marketing practices in the country. Held to promote marketing excellence and foster marketing awareness in the professional community, the Awards aim to disseminate and educate the industry on the importance of branding in the Philippines.



For exclusive news about SM Supermalls, visit www.smsupermalls.com or follow SM’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; and get an insider access to all the fun happenings at SM Supermalls nationwide through SM’s Viber Public Chat. Tweet your thoughts, upload and share your photos about your memorable moments at SM, then use its official hashtag #EverythingsHereAtSM.

June 21, 2018

Vivo introduces ready-to-produce display fingerprint scanning technology

Young global smartphone Vivo is all set to introduce in the Philippines its upcoming flagship smartphone, X21, that features the pioneering In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology.

The X21 is the first Vivo X-series smartphone launched in the Philippines.

Vivo Philippines will reveal all the details about the future of express unlocking technology on June 21 on their official website and social media pages with the #VivoX21LaunchPH.



Vivo is the world’s leading smartphone brand on In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology. At Mobile World Congress in Shanghai in 2017, the smartphone brand unveiled the industry’s first Vivo Under-Display Fingerprint Scanning Solution. Then at CES in 2018, Vivo revealed a ready-to-produce smartphone with the world’s first In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology, which preceded the release of the X21.

The upcoming X21 also boasts of an extraordinary FullView™ Display, an extreme dual camera setup, an exceptional AI camera, expansive storage capacity, and exhilarating Hi-Fi music. Not to mention, it also has an exquisite design.

OPPO Find X – Exploring the Infinite Potential of Technology and Art

The Find series smartphone represents OPPO’s continuous exploration of technology and artistry with profound ideas on the future development of mobile phone. Find 5 started the era of full HD displays; Find 7 introduced leading VOOC flash charge technology and the elegant skyline breathing light. Each generation of Find products is a step closer to the perfect fusion of technology and art; making breathtaking smartphones for consumers around the world.

OPPO Find X introduces a gorgeous brand-new design. Find X features an abundance of new innovations including the amazing panoramic design with holeless front and rear panels, O-Face 3D Structured Light. Together, these technologies bring smartphone user experience to a new level. OPPO’s belief is that a smartphone is not just a communication device, but a piece of art and Find X is proof of this philosophy.


Exploring the ultra-beauty: Panoramic and unified design

With panoramic design, Find X forges a new path. The elegant look and feel expresses the “beauty of nature” combining serenity and vitality. Find X achieves a refined silhouette thanks to the holeless front and rear design as well as smoothly inlaid 3D glass on the edge. Find X is graceful to look at while being comfortable in your hand.

Find X introduces the unique and beautiful Panoramic Arc Screen, an all-screen display with no compromises. OPPO used COP flexible screen packing technology in the Find X bringing the visual screen ratio to 93.8%. With the front almost all-screen, Find X and its panoramic screen brings the user an unprecedented visual experience.

Find X has two gradient color combinations—Bordeaux Red and Glacier Blue. The Multifaceted Color Process used by OPPO realizes a perfect blend of gradient design with a 3D arc on the rear. In the light, Find X shines like crystal and flowing water, presenting a colorful effect that changes with your surroundings.


Exploring delicacy: Stealth 3D Cameras

The Find X uses an innovative sliding structure that completely disguises the cameras within the body of the phone. When not in use, the cameras are hidden, providing a sleek and uniform exterior. When activated, the camera opens automatically for unlocking and photographing. This up-and-down gives the product movement, a natural and highly functional design. In addition, OPPO’s product team has carried out strict testing on the sliding structure, while it can sense the falling distance and get hidden within the phone, which balance the art design and using durability.

The stealth 3D cameras not only includes the 25-megapixel front camera and 16MP+20MP dual rear cameras, but also a 3D Structured light module with many high-tech components. Flood illuminator, Infrared camera, proximity sensor, Dot projector, Receiver and RGB camera are integrated into this unit. The 3D structured light module in Find X can project 15,000 dots, building a precise and complete 3D module of a user’s face, and then compares with the registered face of the owner to unlock.

The 3D Face recognition of O-Face has a higher level of security than fingerprint identification. The false acceptance rate of fingerprint recognition is 1/50,000, while the false acceptance rate of 3D Face Recognition is 1/1,000,000. O-Face Recognition, developed by OPPO, not only makes unlocking safer but also more convenient while offering support for mobile payment. OPPO has already made it possible to pay with O-Face Recognition by integrating Alibaba’s Alipay, making Find X the first Android phone to support payment through face recognition.



Exploring the real-beauty: Breakthrough from 2D to 3D

Powered by 3D structured light, OPPO Find X makes further progress in photography. With high-precision facial data captured and complemented by the 25MP front-facing camera, Find X introduces 3D Smart Selfie Capture. Find X creates a 3D model of the user’s face using O-Face Recognition with millimeter-level accuracy. Based on the resulting 3D model, AI technology intelligently analyzes facial characteristics such as face shapes and features, providing suggestions to make faces look more natural and realistic.

In addition, precise face recognition enables Find X to simulate various lighting effects on a human face, so portraiture lighting is enabled even for a selfie. Various lighting effects are supported including; feature light highlighting the contour of human face, bi-color light that simulates the classic red-blue color of neon, and rim light that brightens the skin color and makes the contour more vivid. Portraiture lighting makes your selfies more beautiful and artistic.

Aside from 3D Smart Selfie Capture, O-Face also has another interesting function--3D Omoji. You can choose any interesting images to make Omojis or generate your cartoon avatar, and then create video or GIF Emojis. Now, you can use them in any chat app and chat with friends using your own Omojis. Have fun!

OPPO Find X also provides the solution for backlight photography. The real-time pixel-level graded exposure technology, Sensor HDR 2.0, makes the subject and background more distinct when taking a selfie. This technology maintains the preview effect simultaneously with the final image meaning what you see is what you get.

Moreover, OPPO Find X makes it easier to take high quality photos. With the assistance of AI Scene Recognition, it intelligently identifies scenes and objects while optimizing the image. It supports over 20 scenarios of photography and over 800 scenario combinations including snow, food, pets, and so on.

OPPO is always exploring how to use AI to improve user experience. Based on Android 8.1, OPPO ColorOS 5.1 is deeply integrated with the AIE engine of the Snapdragon 845 mobile platform. The AI capability of this arrangement helps ColorOS 5.1 understand user needs better than ever before.

As the third generation of Qualcomm Mobile AI Platform, Snapdragon 845 mobile platform is engineered with every forward-looking feature, including camera and gaming, an intelligent personal assistant and advanced vault-like security. With the brand new Qualcomm® Hexagon™ 685 DSP, enhanced CPU and GPU, Snapdragon 845 mobile platform is stronger, faster and smarter than ever before.

OPPO Find X features the built-in Google Assistant and the smart low-power-consumption MIC with DSP module. This means OPPO Find X can not only identify the magnitude of ambient noise intelligently but can also adjust the performance automatically to ensure high activation success rate. Now, Google Assistant can stand by all day long while being activated at any time.

June 20, 2018

Vivo X21 unlocks The New PH with Mega’s Independence Day campaign

Young global smartphone brand Vivo, in partnership with Mega Magazine, celebrated the Philippines' 120th Independence Day by encouraging Filipinos to support each other.

For the campaign’s fourth iteration, Mega teamed up with Vivo X21 to unlock The New PH.

The coming Vivo X21 has an exceptional AI camera for clearer shots.


Launched in 2015, The New PH is a social media campaign that gathers Manila’s celebrities, influencers, socialites, and other newsmakers to celebrate their Filipino heritage.


Mega Magazine, together with Vivo X21, on June 12, saw how The New PH campaign launched a positive message through a thousand personalities, who uploaded their #UnlockTheNewPH headshots.

The campaign stressed the importance of supporting Filipino goods and talents as one of the many ways to show patriotism.

“I encourage everyone to support Filipino-made products, experience the beautiful destinations of our country and be a part of its unique culture,” the caption that accompanied the headshots read as posted on Instagram with the #MEGAVivoX21Moments.

The New PH celebrates young Filipinos who did the country proud in their own little ways.​


During the shoot, those who participated in The New PH campaign also got a chance to experience the coming Vivo X21, which is slated to be released before June ends. Those who joined the campaign were also encouraged to post.


The Vivo X21 is the first X-series model that will be launched in the Philippines.

A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. It now has over 200 million users and is one of the preferred brands of young people around the world.
The coming Vivo X21 has an exceptional AI camera for clearer shots.​

As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle.

In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide. 

For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out its Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines /), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts.

June 19, 2018

Vivo X21 with an express unlocking technology is coming your way

Vivo is set to launch its first X series smartphone in the Philippines, the X21. 

At the CES held early January this year, Vivo, which is popular for pushing the boundaries in terms of innovation, wowed the technology arena with an impressive breakthrough that will propel the smartphone industry in a futuristic, sci-fi reality.




The Vivo X21will feature an eXpress unlocking innovation complemented by other state-of-the-art offerings such as an eXtraordinary FullView™ Display which produces a more immersive mobile video-watching and gaming experience.


It will also have an eXceptional AI camera which creates vivid pictures whether in low-light or backlight situations. It will be paired with an eXtreme dual rear camera.


The new Vivo smartphone is also expected to come equipped with an eXhilarating Hi-Fi music feature and an eXpansive storage capacity, perfect for enjoying more photos, videos, and music.

Committed to bringing its loyal users an excellent experience, Vivo constantly strives to be a pioneer in industry-leading smartphone innovations. The X21 is expected to be launched in the Philippines by June. 



About Vivo
A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle.  In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide.   


For inquiries about Vivo, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/vivophil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivo_philippines /), and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivo_phil) accounts

3 common causes of WiFi dead zones in your home – and what you can do about them

It's probably happened to you many times: one minute you're enjoying fast WiFi while streaming in the living room, only to lose your signal the moment you step into your bedroom. Or when you're video calling seamlessly from your bedroom, but get disconnected the minute you go inside the bathroom? How about having the urge to Google something, but for some reason just can’t connect from your dining room?

You’re probably in a WiFi dead zone. As the name implies, it’s that part of your house where your WiFi connection just doesn’t seem to work. Don’t worry—it’s not as supernatural as it sounds. In fact, WiFi dead zones are common, and you can do something about them if you just know where to look and what to check. If you’re dealing with WiFi dead zones at home, here are factors that may be affecting how fast you can stream, surf, or download:
Distance from the modem. When it comes to your home WiFi, you always have to consider the distance of your main internet modem to the gadget you’re using. If you’re in one room and the modem is in another, the furniture, doors, walls and even floors can interfere with your connection. A typical 2.4GHz Wi-Fi router can efficiently cover an indoor space of up to 46 meters, and when you move further away from the router, the signal gets weaker. If you live in pretty big house, you’ll definitely need to expand your router’s signal.
Signal-blocking devices. Metal objects, such as furniture, decoration, and household appliances can block signal from your router. Concrete walls and dividers, microwave ovens, and LED lights can also cause interference. Even water and moisture—which can come from unexpected places like plant pots, flower vases, air-conditioners, or an open bathroom door— can weaken wireless signals.
Bandwidth hoggers. When you have too many people connecting to your WiFi, of course, your connection will bog down. Downloading heavy torrent files, playing online games or video streaming can use up most of the bandwidth allocation.


So what can you do?
Depending on the service provider and router you have, you can always go online and look for DIY solutions to determine and remove signal barriers in your home. You may also contact your broadband provider for solutions and tips on how to have optimal Wi-Fi performance.
 If you are a PLDT Home subscriber, you have the exclusive privilege of enjoying the Whole Home WiFi service, which uses signal-enhancing devices that connect the entire home to a strong all-in-one broadband and smart WiFi network. This simply means that you won’t have to worry about common WiFi woes because PLDT will customize a tailor-fit a WiFi solution for your home. This means you can enjoy your Netflix shows in the bedroom, watch cooking tutorials in your kitchen, and even stream your favorite songs while in the shower!
Moreover, with Whole Home WiFi service, you have the convenience of consulting your dedicated Home Geek Squad — an expert team whose sole aim is to help you enjoy the best connection in the comfort of your home. You can sit back and relax as they will do a thorough assessment of your place, provide actionable recommendations and implement installations to enhance WiFi performance. You can also call them anytime for after-sales support.
If you have a PLDT Home Fibr or DSL Plan 1899 or below, you can simply upgrade to Plan 3499 to get internet speeds of up to 50 Mbps bundled with the Whole Home WiFi service. If you have a Fibr Plan 2899 subscription, you can simply add P600 to your monthly plan to enjoy the service. Meanwhile, if you are a Fibr Plan 8000 user, all you need to do is extend your subscription from 24 months to 36 months to automatically get Whole Home WiFi on top of your internet speeds of up to 1Gbps.        
With PLDT Whole Home Wifi System, get strong connections everywhere at home. Visit www.pldthome.com/wholehomesystem to find out how you can enjoy the Whole Home WiFi service and make the most of high-speed internet at home.

June 18, 2018

Home Credit and Samsung roll out exciting promos for Father's Day

Thinking of the perfect present? This gift guide might help.

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate the heroes of our lives by giving them a special treat to remind them of how much we adore them? For those of you who are drawing a blank on what to give these special men, Home Credit is giving you a treat with its latest rollout of promos for Samsung’s line of phones. After all, is there a better gift than a mobile phone that can help them stay constantly connected with their family?




A is for Awesome

The Galaxy A6 is Samsung’s answer to the mid-range phone market who are looking for a feature-packed smartphone with an affordable price tag. Slim and compact, the Galaxy A6 is designed for the busybodies who want something that’s robust in functions but still slim and compact. Armed with a 3GB RAM and 1.6GHz Exynos 7870 OctaCore processor, the model is ideal for those who need to constantly multi-task with their apps.

In terms of display, the Galaxy A6 is still a performer with its 5.6-inch HD+ Super AMOLED Infinity Display and good color rendition. The man of the house may even take a liking to taking photos and selfies (if he doesn’t fancy it yet!) with the phone’s 16 megapixel rear and front camera. The Galaxy A6 also looks sophisticated with its slender full metal unibody and a fingerprint scanner module.
You can get the Samsung Galaxy A6 through Home Credit’s 9-month, 0% deal from June 7 until September 30. The promo can cover a financed amount ranging from Php 3,000 to Php 12,800.

J6 for the Modern Dad

The Samsung Galaxy J6 model boasts of the features that the brand’s J-series is known for, though it does give a refreshing take when it comes to design. With its 5.6-inch Super AMOLED panels that offer 720 x 1480 pixels, it offers the user crisp colors and contrast that other Samsung models offer. It comes with a sleek body that doesn’t pick up unnecessary smudges from fingerprints while its 8.2mm thickness makes it comfortable to the grip.

In terms of software, the Galaxy J6 runs on the OctaCore 1.6GHz Exynos 7870. The model is also equipped with 3GB RAM and 32GB storage that can hold its own when it comes to performance. If your dad is a lover of mobile games, he will be pleased with the J6’s capacity to support long-term gaming capacity with its 3000mAh battery power.

Home Credit is now offering a six-month, 0% campaign for the Samsung J6 from June 7 until June 30. Just visit any Home Credit partner store to get a financed amount range of Php 3,000 to Php 10,900 off the model!

Go the extra mile with the A6+

The Samsung Galaxy A6+ gets brownie points for its aesthetics and useful software features. Its sturdy metal build is perfect for the minimalist but classy man of the house who values ease of use when it comes to design. The display of the A6+ is impressive as well thanks to the Full HD+ resolution that makes everything bright, crisp, and immersive.

In terms of function, the model uses a 1.8GHz OctaCore Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 4GB RAM. One particularly nice feature that your father will probably love is Bixby which lets the smartphone remind the user about appointments, find information, and access helpful apps and content. It’s like having a personal file assistant in the palm of your hands!

Camera-wise, the A6+ is set up with a 16 + 5MP Professional Dual Camera and a 24MP front camera. The camera app includes features like AR stickers and selfie focus.

Want to get the Samsung A6+ Home Credit is offering a 12-month, 0% percent promo with a financed amount range of Php 3,000 to Php 17,800 from June 7 to June 30.

Thinking of an ideal gift for the man of the house can be daunting, especially if you also have to consider your budget. Thankfully, Home Credit makes this easier with its friendly in-store financing offerings. To avail them, simply approach a Home Credit sales associate in any of its partner stores, submit two (2) valid IDs, and wait for your application to be processed. Now it’s easier to treat your father with the gift he deserves.

Tens of thousands of Citi volunteers celebrate Global Community Day in the Philippines

Citi recently celebrated its annual Global Community Day, as more than 5,000 Citi volunteers in the Philippines engage in service activities in their local communities. 

In the days leading up to and including Global Community Day, more than 100,000 Citi colleagues, alumni, clients, family and friends in more than 450 cities across 90 countries and territories volunteer on 1,400 service projects that are helping address a range of community needs, from feeding the hungry to revitalizing schools for a better learning environment to preparing young people for jobs.

Annual event contributes nearly four million hours of service since launch

Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed is joined by more than 300 volunteers to paint chairs and cover books for “Brigada Eskwela” at the Upper Bicutan Elementary School in Taguig, as part of Citi’s worldwide Global Community Day celebration


On Global Community Day, Citi volunteers invest their time and efforts alongside community and nonprofit partners on service opportunities that help create thriving neighborhoods. Some of these volunteer efforts complement the year-round philanthropic and business-led initiatives, including the Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress, that help make our communities stronger. 
“Citi is committed to making a positive difference in the Philippines. Participation in our Global Community Day continues to grow every year and I’m proud to volunteer alongside more than 5,000 of my colleagues and their family members,” said Citi Philippines chief executive officer Aftab Ahmed.

Since the inaugural Global Community Day in 2006, Citi volunteers have contributed nearly four million hours of service to Global Community Day projects in hundreds of cities. 

For this year’s GCD, volunteers got to take part in the Brigada Eskwela where they painted classroom desks and chairs, cleaned classrooms, potted plants and refurbished textbooks for the new school year. They also helped build and paint 10 homes and clear and plough nearby plots in Cavite; conducted workshops on career readiness and finance and legal matters; donated and sorted clothing and toys and watched a movie in cinema with street children; and took part in the Freedom Walk to raise awareness and respect for people with disabilities.

This year’s GCD partners were the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Gawad Kalinga, Bayan Academy, ChildHope Philippines, Habitat for Humanity, GMA Kapuso Foundation, World Vision Foundation and the Philippine Foundation for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (PFRD).


To learn more about Citi’s citizenship efforts across the globe and to review the 2017 Global Citizenship Report, visit http://citizenship.citigroup.com.