Check Out These 5 Most Popular Budol-Worthy Items Among Filipino Shoppers at Shopee’s Nov 30 Payday Sale

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Get free shipping with no minimum spend, 30% bills cashback, and 10% off vouchers on your payday haul

Has a celebrity or friend ever influenced you to buy certain items online? The budol is real, as one might say! As shoppers, we’re constantly on the lookout for the best product recommendations so we can maximize our money’s worth.

Now that the end of the month is just around the corner, is your shopping cart ready for the upcoming payday sale? If you’re looking for some inspiration on what to add to cart at Shopee’s Nov 30 Payday Sale, take notes from other shoppers.

According to Shopee’s data on consumer behavior and trends during payday sales, Pinoys consistently spend on essentials and other items for work and play. They tend to use their sweldo to prioritize essentials and splurge on little luxuries from categories such as home essentials, women’s fashion & accessories, health & beauty, gadgets, and mobile accessories. They love shopping for KF94 masks, window curtains, crop tops, headsets, and hair accessories—the most popular items in Pinoys’ online shopping carts every payday.

Below, check out Shopee’s top recommendations for each of these items:

To keep your family safe and healthy for the holidays, stock up on several Health Guard KF94 Masks. Its 3D foldable design makes it easier to breathe and minimizes contact with the lips, while its four-layered structure blocks harmful microparticles.

Sleeping in this weekend? Enjoy a lazy, relaxing day off in bed by hanging up some light-blocking curtains. Siedodo Window Curtains are made of premium cotton and come in a variety of rich, gorgeous colors to give your bedroom an inviting ambiance.

Whether you’re going out or just snapping some selfies at home, look cute and chic with a trendy puffed sleeve top. The Buymore_ph Crop Top features an elegant backless silhouette and ruffled garterized sleeves, perfect for pairing with high-waisted denim jeans.

If you still hold meetings with your colleagues via video calls, it’s important to invest in a pair of quality earphones. SoundPEATS Wireless Earbuds will block off any distractions with its noise-cancellation feature, fit perfectly with its ergonomic design, and last for up to seven hours.

Having trouble focusing while working from home? We’ve got one easy hack that might help: tie your hair! With your hair out of the way, you can concentrate better on your tasks. This silky Scrunchie and Headband Set can help prevent tangles and frizz.

Give in to the holiday budol and check out these items and more at Shopee’s Nov 30 Payday Sale: https://shopee.ph/m/payday-sale.

Looking for even more ways to maximize your sweldo this payday? Start using ShopeePay, Shopee’s all-in-one e-wallet, to avail of exclusive deals! At Shopee’s Nov 30 Payday Sale, enjoy free shipping with no minimum spend and 10% off discounts on your Shopee finds. You can also get 20% cashback on your COD orders when you use ShopeePay on Delivery.

Use ShopeePay beyond your shopping needs! This payday sale, you can buy load at up to 50% off from all networks or get 30% cashback on your monthly bills. Even better, you can also claim discount vouchers to get ₱100 off from participating billers such as Meralco, Maynilad, PLDT, Globe, Smart, and more.

If you need to stock up on groceries or have a much needed food-trip, get big savings when you avail ShopeePay ₱1 Deals via ‘Deals Near Me’ on the Shopee app. Redeem your discounts by paying with ShopeePay at partner merchants such as Puregold, Potato Corner, Bonchon, National Bookstore, FamilyMart, and more. New brands such as Papa John's, Goldilocks, Chooks-to-Go, Zagu, Wendy's, and Candy Corner have also joined the growing network of merchants accepting ShopeePay QR payments.

And if you’re looking for the ultimate get-away experience this holiday season, how about a staycation? Now, you can also book hotels with ShopeePay! Get 30% cashback on all your hotel bookings, including Grand Sierra Pines Hotel in Baguio, White House Beach Resort in Boracay, Mithi Resort and Spa in Bohol, Waterfront Cebu, White Breeze Palawan, and more. To add to that, you can score up to 50% off on selected hotels.

Enjoy these exclusive deals and more when you activate and cash in your ShopeePay. Now, you can also enjoy free and instant cash-ins and bank transfers with ShopeePay via InstaPay. Get up to ₱25 cashback on your InstaPay fee when you cash in. Buy Load, Pay Bills and Scan to Pay with ShopeePay this payday for a rewarding cashless experience!

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

Lite Up and Discover Your True Self with Xiaomi

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Xiaomi Philippines is releasing the "Lite Me Up” online series, a four-part online series that showcases the journey of the Lite Crew, four stylish and creative individuals discovering and expressing their true selves, as well as owning their style, with the help of the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE.

Guided by a group of Lite Style Experts - It girl and trendsetter Gabbi Garcia, fashion stylist Maita Baello, celebrity makeup artist Mark Qua, and photographer Rxandy Capinpin, the aspirants will discover how to unleash their most creative and stylish selves.

“When it comes to fashion, I love experimenting and mixing up my wardrobe. But my most important style advice is to always make sure to express your truest self whether in real life or online. I’m excited to work with Xiaomi to help the Lite Crew in finding and expressing their own style with the help of the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE,” shared Gabbi.

The Lite Crew includes the pretty and dainty wallflower, Sofia Jahrling, sporty and cool-girl, Bela Braza, who kicks ass in any sport, but will charm you with her fun-loving personality. When it comes to fun, suave player Vince Marcelo is your guy who is game for anything. Completing the Lite Crew is Brad Go, the artist with a bit of mystery.

It girl Gabbi Garcia (third from left) is ready to take on the challenge with the Xiaomi Lite Style Crew (L-R) Brad Go, Bella Braza, Sofia Jahrling, and Vince Marcelo.

Combining their knowledge and experience, these (stet) influencers will help the Lite Crew to brighten up their own style. Throughout the four-week run, the experts will present the participants specific tasks with a new challenge every week inspired by the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, which has a sleek design and trendy colors perfect for anyone who wants to express their own unique style and strives to pursue it. To give a sneak peak, the first challenge will test their creativity and self-expression by asking them to share a look that best represents their personal style – complementing the Xiaomi 11 Lite’s sleek colors, of course!

The episodes will be released weekly from November 27, December 2, December 9, and December 16 and will be posted on Xiaomi Philippines’ Facebook and YouTube pages so stay tuned!

Xiaomi Philippines Marketing Head, Tomi Adrias, shared, “In line with the goal of the Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, the Lite Me Up Series was created with the goal of inspiring people to celebrate their own unique selves through style.”

The Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE delivers a clean and refreshing look that’s just as eye-catching as it is comfortable to grip. This smartphone provides an astonishing 1.07 billion onscreen colors for a high degree of color accuracy. The screen also features a high refresh rate of 90Hz and a touch sampling rate of 240Hz, which keeps you entertained with significantly reduced lag and stuttering. It is equipped with a 64MP triple camera array including a 64MP main, an 8MP ultra-wide angle, as well as a 5MP telemacro that enhances your purview and can capture the world without limits. Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is also battery efficient with a large 4,250mAh battery that supports 33W fast charging.

All this is made possible through the Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G 5G Mobile Platform packed into Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE. In addition, Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE arrives in four color variants suited to match your style. Truffle black, Bubblegum Blue, Peach Pink and Snowflake White.

Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE comes in three variants, 6GB+128GB, 8GB+128GB, and 8GB+256GB at a recommended retail price of PHP 16,990, PHP 18,990, and PHP 20,990 respectively and is available for purchase from official Xiaomi Authorized Stores. 

You may also visit the Xiaomi Shopee Global stores as well as the Xiaomi Philippines store on Shopee. You can also follow the official Xiaomi Facebook Page for other updates.

Goldwins Comida Corporation upholds unbreakable commitment to serve customers, community amid crises

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The restaurant industry was among the sectors that suffered the worst from the crises brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the limitations on dine-in services and branches operating at reduced capacity, it easily became one of the hardest-hit sectors, incurring millions of deficits, massive layoffs, and even permanent business closures.

Pauline Bondad, Vice President of Silver Peak Group of Companies (SPGC)

“The previous year, 2020, has been the most challenging year for all of us. Being in a restaurant business where casual dine-in has been the norm, placing the entire country under ECQ was a big blow,” said Pauline Bondad, Vice President of Silver Peak Group of Companies (SPGC).

Over a year and a half passed into the pandemic, SPGC’s restaurants and fast food brands found ways to reinvent their businesses to keep up with the shift due to the series of lockdowns enforced all over the country.

Goldwins Comida Corporation is one of the SPGC companies that challenged themselves to quickly shift gears and confront these difficulties positively.

With all the changes presented to the company, they realized the need to re-center the business and uphold its unbreakable commitment to maintain its core of keeping the best interest of its stakeholders in their operations.

“Amid the test of our times, we gave more importance to living out with our core values. Our core values of selflessness, integrity, loyalty, versatility, excellence, and respect,” Bondad noted.

Having the renewed thrust to serve their community amid the crises, they launched campaigns within the company to provide financial stability and regard the welfare of its employees, while still providing a memorable dining experience to their customers.

“I always believe that the true growth of a company is not only measured by profit but also by the number of employees whose lives it has improved. When times get rough, it is an opportunity to give more significance to our local community,” the SPGC executive said.

Likewise, the company explored more creative and innovative ways to generate income to keep the business afloat and extend service to their customers more efficiently. They strengthened their delivery services to allow patrons to enjoy their favorite dishes even in the comforts of their homes.

The company tapped PLDT Enterprise for connectivity solutions that empower the business with strong and reliable internet to support its store operations.

“PLDT Enterprise has been filling the gap in providing solutions that our company alone cannot provide. Our restaurants need help in reaching out to people and at the same time people reaching to us whenever they order,” Bondad said.

“We at PLDT Enterprise have been assisting companies as they navigate the challenges of the new normal. Through our reliable enterprise solutions, we aim to enable businesses to overcome the difficulties they face with the help of technology. We thank Goldwins Comida Corporation for their continued trust in our capability and we assure them of our commitment to being their reliable partner in solving their modern-day business challenges,” said Jojo Gendrano, FVP and Head for PLDT and Smart Enterprise.

PLDT Enterprise recently introduced its Unbreakable Commitment campaign to highlight its partnerships with different organizations in the country to exhibit how collaborations helped companies to thrive amid difficult circumstances and in turn, contribute to the lives of Filipinos.

The campaign also reinforces PLDT Enterprise’s unbreakable commitment to boost the efficiency and productivity of organizations with the use of technology.

The country’s largest fully integrated telecommunications provider has been a constant support to companies such as Goldwins Comida Corporation as it embraces digital transformation to adapt to the evolving business environment.

“PLDT Enterprise’s vision is aligned with our vision. Always prioritizing the guest and employees. Our restaurant needs to be present and preferred by the market to generate sales. We need to market our brand through the help of your technology,” said Bondad.

The restaurant company believes that a successful business needs not only to be efficient and resilient but also responsive to the needs of its employees, customers, and the community it serves. With the help of the right partner, the company is bound to take off to reach new heights and emerge victorious despite the hindrances it may encounter.

“I encourage all of those who are just starting to have their business just to keep on going and pursue; always to make your business sustainable, and for my fellow entrepreneurs, remember to always live your lives with purpose. From the darkness of the pandemic comes the realization that we need to strive harder and move forward to our road of excellence,” Bondad added.

Watch Goldwins Comida Corporation’s interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RrxNcDy7IPs .

To learn more, visit pldtenterprise.com.

#TooGoodToBeNo2: PayMaya offers surprisingly better e-wallet features

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Digital transactions are here to stay and fintechs like PayMaya are making it easier to go cashless. The country's leading digital financial services platform is the only fintech in the Philippines that runs a consumer e-wallet app, an enterprise payment processing business, and a remittance agent network with Smart Padala.

While its consumer app may not be the no. 1 e-wallet right now, its superior features make it #TooGoodToBeNo.2. If you haven’t tried out using the PayMaya app yet, you're definitely missing out on some of its surprisingly better features that could make your everyday transactions a whole lot easier.

From its free cash in channels to 99.9% uptime, you'll be surprised at how these nifty features can bring ease, convenience, and even savings whenever you go cashless.

Most number of FREE cash in channels

To start, PayMaya offers FREE cash in at 90,000, out of its over 110,000 cash in touchpoints nationwide. Going cashless is supposed to make your essential transactions more convenient and this is exactly why PayMaya is aiming to remove this barrier. Compared to other e-wallet apps, you don’t have to worry about having to pay up to P200 in cash in fees just to put funds in your e-wallet account.

Cashing in for free is easy too! However you want to cash in to your PayMaya account, there will always be a FREE way to do it – whether it’s at the sari-sari store with Smart Padala in your street, at your go-to convenience stores like MiniStop, or Supermarket like Robinsons Supermarket, or through online transfers from your bank account via Instapay or via a linked BPI, RCBC, or Unionbank account.

Apart from cashing in for free, sending money to other PayMaya account users is also free - and when you transfer funds from PayMaya to a bank account via Instapay, you can earn a cashback of P15 to cover your fee until the end of the year! To get a full list of PayMaya’s free cash in channels, simply tap the ‘cash in’ button on your app’s homepage, and check out the icons with the ‘no fees’ sticker.

Widest billers and load items

Once your account is funded, you can now use it to pay for your everyday needs – from online and in your favorite stores, to in-app - where you can access the widest selection of over 1,500 billers and load items.

PayMaya offers easy access to everything you need to pay – utility bills, condo association dues, credit card payments, government dues, and more – all with a few taps on your PayMaya app. It also gives you access to hundreds of digital goods – from prepaid load, gaming pins, digital subscription packages, and even digital vouchers for yourself or as gifts to your loved ones. Whatever you need to pay or purchase, you can easily find it within a few taps on your PayMaya app.

Safer online shopping

With PayMaya, you also get to ensure that you're only purchasing from legit sellers - whether you're shopping at the in-app Maya Mall where you can access over 360 of your favorite brands or dealing with a PayMaya verified casual seller!

With Maya Mall, you get to access a wide selection of brands in-app - from your favorite fastfood chain to your go-to grocery sites, and shop worry-free because these merchant partners are guaranteed legit!

PayMaya has also made sure that buying from casual sellers who are also PayMaya users is easy and safe - with the introduction of PayMaya Verified Sellers. Now, you can easily check if the seller you're paying is legit - all you have to do is check for the Verified Seller badge on the app's confirmation screen right before you pay. You can also see the list of PayMaya Verified Sellers on the Maya Mall.

Real-time transaction history and notifications

With all these everyday transactions done in your app, PayMaya understands how important it is to be able to keep track of your transactions in real-time. Need to check if your payment pushed through so you can confirm with the seller? Unlike other apps, you don’t have to wait 24 hours for it! PayMaya allows you to track your transactions in real-time right on the app.

Not only does this feature give an additional layer of security – allowing you to ensure that your transactions have pushed through as they should, it also gives you peace of mind – knowing that you’re able to easily monitor your transactions as it happens.

Most reliable with 99.9% uptime

Various finance and e-wallets apps offer trendy features but what good would all these do if your app is on downtime? Lucky for you, you don't have to worry about that because PayMaya won't let you down - 99.9% of the time.

With PayMaya's 99.9% uptime rate, you can ensure that your transactions will go through whenever you need them. No more waiting for hours for your e-wallet's system maintenance to be over, no more wondering whether or not your much-needed transaction went through. If you’re looking for a trustworthy and reliable e-wallet, PayMaya’s here for you.

No PayMaya app yet? Registering a PayMaya account is easy. All you need is your phone and mobile number to sign up. Once you’re ready to upgrade your account to unlock more features like sending money to other users and withdrawing your funds from an ATM, all you need is a primary ID such as your license, passport, or other official government cards, and a quick video selfie.

Sign up today and get 100% cashback on your load or gaming pin purchase when you cash in a min. P100. You can even get up to P200 if you upgrade your account.

These nifty features are bound to make your cashless experience a whole lot better. But don’t just take our word for it. Register to PayMaya now and experience its surprisingly better features for yourself. For more details, visit www.paymaya.com.

Chit chat and Sweet Treats! Sanofi's Sweet Talk Your Way Out of Diabetes

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The Sweet Talk Your Way Out of Diabetes media get-together was a sweet end to the month-long World Diabetes Day Celebration of Sanofi Philippines. In the words of Sanofi’s Country Lead Dr. Amal Makhloufi, “we put the spotlight on what is being done to create awareness and provide solutions for those affected by this lifestyle disease.”

For the organization, the event was created to amplify their Panata in cultivating a healthier Philippines for all. It was a friendly and casual approach on how they can bring important topics such as diabetes care into the spotlight without instilling fear among the audience.

“Our goal is to make it easier for every Filipino to seek access to quality innovative care. It is our mission to just go beyond medicines, but to look and explore holistic care and management especially for our patients with chronic conditions like diabetes,” Dr. Makhloufi shared during her opening remarks.

The said event was well attended by press and bloggers, alongside the general public who were able to join the live via Step Up for Diabetes, Philippine Diabetes Support, and Sabrina’s Kitchen Facebook Pages. Both audiences were able to get a handful of information about how to do grocery shopping for diabetics and how to mindfully create a healthy routine for everyone in the household. Several industry icons and experts were also present to add value to the event.

Bianca Dualan of Sakro and Tonyo Silva of Gising Gising PH were generous enough to answer curious questions from the attendees and share their knowledge on how to create a healthy grocery shopping habit. They also talked about the role of their Panata Box and how it provides attainable access to lifestyle diseases care and management.

The Panata Box is Gising Gising’s newest addition, hinging from Sanofi’s Panata, which contains high fiber, low glycemic index/glycemic load fruits and vegetables that help in diabetes management.

For every Panata Box sold, Gising Gising PH shall also share a box to patients from the Philippine Diabetes Support. The Philippine Diabetes Support is an organization that helps spread awareness on this lifestyle disease.

For diabetic patients, community support is as crucial as the treatment itself. Cynthia Yu Duntz of Philippine Diabetes Support remarked how important it is to create a spirit of companionship and empathy among patients dealing with the same situation.

The event wouldn’t be complete without a special recipe demonstration. Former Bb. Pilipinas-International and now a chef, Sabrina Artadi shared a mouthwatering recipe for her Mango Pineapple Yogurt treat that can definitely be enjoyed even by diabetic patients.

A longer Instagram Live on Sanofi PH’s official Instagram page will happen on December 1, Wednesday, featuring more of Chef Sabrina’s recipes and techniques on how to enjoy a gastronomic experience without the guilt.

“It is our Panata here in the PH to improve the management of this disease because [once again, remember] it's not the end of life, it's the beginning of change to empower people to [a] better life, live their life.” Dr. Amal Makhloufi shared during her Q&A portion.

For more information on Sanofi PH’s programs and campaigns on lifestyle diseases management, visit the official website and verified Instagram and LinkedIn pages.

 

The TECNO Way of Winning AI Camera Technology Race for Future

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Step into the TAIVOS Imaging Lab to learn about the cool technology behind CAMON 18’s clear and steady, advanced AI Camera!

Cameras and mobile technology have always been symbiotic, and have heavily influenced the development of modern smartphones. This effectively means that any manufacturer who is able to provide leading, cutting-edge mobile imaging solutions for smartphones will be able to determine what the future of smartphones will look like. This is why TECNO started TAIVOS Labs, focusing on innovative and cutting-edge technological breakthroughs for mobile imaging technology. TECNO’s labs have been involved in numerous in-depth research and analysis that contributed to many of the new camera innovations that we see today.

We talked to Jiangtao Li, Senior Director of TECNO Imaging Product and Head of TECNO TAIVOS™ Labs, to learn more about the lab, and also to learn about how he reimagines the future of mobile camera technology.

Jiangtao Li, Head of TECNO TAIVOS Lab

TAIVOS™ Lab, short for TECNO AI Vision Optimization Solution Lab, was set up to enhance photography and videography through the latest technology. When asked about how the lab came about, Li said, “Based on these grand objectives, our TAIVOS laboratory studies our devices extensively to make some deeper innovations that our users will enjoy and benefit from. We want to redefine how the mobile camera is perceived and what it can do for our users.”

With this goal in mind, one of TECNO’s grand challenges it had to overcome was to cater to the many varying views of beauty over different regions and cultures, combining the best of the past and the present. With this awareness that beauty can be subjective and individualized, TECNO added more than 200 professionals to its research team, successfully producing more than 6,120 Evaluation Scenarios spanning 115 countries. According to Li, TECNO is putting in so much effort because it is not enough to advance technology. Still, it is essential to build it with diversity in mind so that everyone can enjoy and utilize mobile imaging technology together.

TAIVOS™ Lab’s final products have continually exceeded the expectations of consumers, producing many successful commercialized features. Specifically, TECNO TAIVOS™ certified cameras could reach a remarkable 4,500 fine-tuning settings thanks to the 3A Algorithm and ISP (Image Signal Processor) module. Pictures that are inclusive of all demographics and all three primary skin types, particularly those with darker skin tones, are sharpened. A comprehensive Material Library covers nine skin types and 76 categories so that everyone, regardless of demographic, gets to enjoy these improved features. On TECNO’s CAMON 18 Premier, these optimizations enable excellent visuals even in low-light situations.

Another breakthrough of TECNO TAIVOS™ Lab is in the advancement of the Screen Inspection Process. TECNO screens and cameras are fine-tuned for up to a half-year apiece throughout this procedure to provide users with the most bright and compelling colors. This has brought about many learnings for TECNO, as lighting is one major issue for mobile camera users that inhibits them from creating professional-level photos and videos. Li wants to democratize the pleasures of taking a good picture, and technology can be a significant aid to people looking to gain confidence in their photography skills.

TAIVOS™ Lab’s innovative deep technologies are also evident in its Image Algorithm Technology. Using AI algorithms for Image Super-Resolution, low-resolution images caused by digital zoom can be recovered. As a result, even for those with close to no photography skills, images on TECNO’s upcoming flagship will turn out to be more explicit, richer in detail, and more true-to-life than ever before.

TAIVOS™ Lab has also patented various technologies to support the innovative ideas churned out by the lab. For example, featured inside the upcoming CAMON 18 Premier is a self-developed Galileo Algorithm Engine. Thanks to this new engine, TECNO says that users can enjoy ultra-long-distance shooting effects comparable to astronomical telescopes and pixel-level image segmentation accuracy, all from the comfort of the smartphone in their pocket.

Li shares: “TAIVOS started five years ago when we established a project department at that time, and then we began to accumulate our data from that time. We have a huge database, and compared to the entire industry, the quality of this database is high because, firstly, it is very focused. Secondly, we are spending a lot of energy to label the data. After we accumulate and label the data, we can do so much more to improve on what we have so that our users will always have the best.”

That data becomes helpful in applications such as a cutting-edge gender recognition feature that comes packed in the CAMON 18 Premier. For example, with a complete understanding that males and females have unique facial traits and different desires when taking selfies, the gender recognition AI protects the details of your natural features – men with beards can enhance them. At the same time, women can enable the technology to deliver beautiful lashes.

Li concludes: “TAIVOS™ Lab has allowed us to enable our users to analyze and recombine photos on a pixel level, bringing out the best photos for our users. Now with the CAMON 18 Premier, we are extending this technology to video. Hardware is only half the battle. We work incessantly to improve our software to bring the best user experience to our customers. TAIVOS™ Lab is at the forefront of mobile imaging technology today, and we will keep you excited for years and decades to come.”

The highly-anticipated TECNO CAMON 18 Series launched in the Philippines this November, bringing an array of exciting innovations developed by the TAIVOS lab to consumers around the country.

CAMON 18: TECNO Mobile’s most advanced pro-camera phone to date

As the most advanced pro-camera phone to come out of TECNO Mobile’s CAMON line, the CAMON 18 Series is perfect for filmmakers, and anyone who loves taking videos using their smartphones.

Video enthusiasts will certainly enjoy the experience of shooting with CAMON 18P’s 48MP clear and steady video camera, and its 13MP 50mm pro portrait camera. The CAMON 18 variant is another great choice for mobile videography and photography, with its 48MP multi-function triple camera. CAMON 18 also comes in an exciting new Iris Purple colorway that women are sure to love.

CAMON 18P and CAMON 18 are available at the TECNO Mobile PH Official Store in Shopee Mall, the TECNO Mobile Flagship Store in Lazada, and select TECNO stores. CAMON 18P is priced at Php 10,990, while the CAMON 18 variant retails for Php 9,499.

Also check out the ‘Movie Master’ CAMON 18 Premier with Stabilized Gimbal Camera, which retails for Php 15,990.

Shop at the Black Friday Sale, until November 26, and get the CAMON 18 Premier for only Php 14,990, CAMON 18P for just Php 10,490, and CAMON 18 for Php 8,999.

Stay updated on all the latest promos when you like and follow TECNO Mobile Philippines on Facebook. Visit www.tecno-mobile.com/ph to learn more about your favorite TECNO Mobile smartphones and gadgets.

Your future and your next binge-watch is written in the stars, according to one Madame N

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Looking for some answers? In need of guidance? Asking yourself “Ano ang kapalaran ko today?” Netflix hears you. Madame N sees you. Starting today, NetflixPH’s YouTube channel launches Madame N, a reco show where a fortune teller shares what’s next for her viewers with quickfire, tongue-in-cheek horoscopes—and the titles they should watch. Comedienne and radio jock Nicki Morena as Madame N will give answers, provide guidance, and show what the stars possibly have planned for the important aspects in your life: love and relationships, family, health, career and finance, education, and travel. 

EPISODE LIST

Each episode will start off with a typical horoscope theme that guides each zodiac prediction and Netflix title discussion.

Nov 29 - Ep 1 Theme: Love & Relationships

Title recos: Romance/Drama, Romance/Comedy, Buddy Movies

Dec 6 - Ep 2 Theme: Family 

Title recos: Family Content

Dec 13 - Ep 3 Theme: Health

Title recos: Medical Drama/Comedy, Psychological Thriller, Horror, Feel-good/Good for the heart Titles

Dec 20 - Ep 4 Theme: Career / Finance

Title recos: Career and Money Motivation Titles 

Jan 3 - Ep 5 Theme: Education

Title recos: Educational shows in and out of school

Jan 10 - Ep 6 Theme: Travel

Title recos: Destination movies/series, Sci-Fi

Because this fortune teller is never wrong—and if she is, she's not above saying sorry. Madame N will see you now. ✨🔮✨

 

YouTube: @Netflix Philippines

Facebook: @netflixph

Twitter: @Netflix_PH

Cast of movie NELIA, wows Korean community in PH

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The cast of the upcoming film Nelia impressed the Korean community with their performance last night, November 19, at a gathering in Manila-Korea Town, at Remedios Circle, Malate, Manila. It was attended by various leaders of the Korean community in Manila, including Consul General Kyu Hu Lee of the Korean Embassy, Chairman Jae Jung Jang of the Manila-Korea Town Association, Chairman Jae Heung Byun of the United Korean Community in the Philippines, and several member of the Korean Culture Center, Korean Sports Association in the Philippines, and Peaceful Unification Advisory Council - South East Asia to inaugurate the opening of the Manila K -Town Cha Cha Cha Fest.

The three of the main cast of Nelia-- Ali Forbes, Shido Roxas, and Juan Carlos Galano -- impressed the crowd with their song numbers and entertained guests. The Korean community also welcomed the presence of veteran actor Raymond Bagatsing, who once wowed the Korean audience with his performance in a Filipino film that participated in the prestigious Busan International Film Festival in Korea in 2012.

According to the Korean community, Nelia has a huge potential to have a Korean adaptation because of its unique theme. Nelia is said to be a "daring suspense thriller," which can be compared to Korean movies such as "The Housemaid" and "Parasite," which is the first Korean film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. In fact, several Korean film production companies are currently talking to Nelia producer Atty. Aldwin Alegre of A and Q Production Films Inc. to make a Korean adaptation or remake of the film.

“We're really very happy because even though our film hasn't been released yet, the reception that people have been giving to our film is very good, especially in the Korean community. We look up to a lot of Korean films, and for them to acknowledge Nelia to be at par with them is a great honor for us. This is the only suspense thriller genre that entered the MMFF this year, so we are also excited to offer the Filipino viewers something different from the usual fare this coming Christmas," said Atty. Alegre.

He also confirmed that they are already in talks with some film production companies in Korea for a possible Korean remake or adaptation of Nelia. “Yes, two production companies from Korea have already approached our team to remake Nelia. A production company from Los Angeles, California also contacted us just the other day, and they are interested in Nelia for possible distribution in the US," he said.

Nelia stars Winwyn Marquez as the titular Nurse Nelia. The film is one of the eight official entries of the Metro Manila Film Festival that will be screened in select theaters throughout the Philippines this coming December 25.

Packaging Company Betafoam Rebuilt Itself From The Ashes with The Help of This Energy Expert

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How does one rebuild from literal ashes? You do it with strength, character, a lot of optimism, and the right partners. For Betafoam Corporation, an insulation and packaging company located in Dasmariñas, Cavite, this holds true.

During the pandemic, Betafoam increased its operations for products that saw higher demand, including packaging for essential goods and logistics companies, bubble wrap, and plastic sheets.

Betafoam Corporation has been manufacturing insulation and specialized packaging since 2003.

In 2014, Betafoam was on its eleventh year in manufacturing polyethylene (PE) foam when its two-building facility in Dasmariñas Technopark, Cavite was decimated by a fire. “Our entire factory got burned. We had to start from zero. The product we make is injected with LPG so it’s flammable at a certain point of manufacturing. Unfortunately, that sparked the fire and it burned the building down,” says President Greg Marañon.

While planning their new facility, Betafoam knew that they were going to need the help of Meralco. Good thing the energy distributor has a dedicated segment handling small and medium enterprises -- the Meralco Biz Partners group. A dedicated Biz Partner Manager was assigned to Betafoam to help them power through.

The Restart

Marañon (right) with Meralco Biz Partner Manager Kim Gabilo.

In 2017, Betafoam rebuilt and moved back to Dasmariñas Technopark, the same site their original facility was in. They expanded from a modest 2,000 square meter factory to an ample 10,000 square meters of manufacturing, warehousing, packaging, and administration space. The facility was intended to be low-risk and high in safety, with each standalone building designed with its own function and energy needs in mind.

The new compound was energized by Meralco right on time to keep up with its production and delivery schedules. But more significantly, this energization allowed them to experience the reliability of being connected to the power grid. The company previously had to rely on the use of generators while operating from their temporary facility, which was located in an area that didn’t have a three-phase power line—which they needed for their machines to operate optimally.

Since the company has already been operating 24/7, Meralco also recommended to have their manufacturing operations subscribed to their Peak / Off-Peak (POP) rates program to further cut costs. They can operate their power-intensive machinery at night when power rates are lower, while the low-power-consuming machines run during the day. Through this scheme, Betafoam has been enjoying significant savings of up to P50,000 a month.

Partners Through the Pandemic

POP continues to be effective for the company with Betafoam seeing their current operations at nearly pre-pandemic levels. “Our subscription to the Peak / Off-Peak program is still beneficial to us as our production is almost normal.”

But regaining this almost-normal production seemed unimaginable in March 2020 when ECQ was implemented. Work halted due to checkpoints that kept their employees from going to work and their trucks off the road. “We had to close our operations for 1.5 months. We had skeletal force operations starting May, as we had customers asking us to serve their orders.”

Marañon, just as he did with the 2014 fire that engulfed his facility, rose to the challenge. He and his firm forged on and adapted to the situation, producing products that their customers needed.

Further building on their partnership with Meralco, Betafoam installed solar panels in their production facilities early in 2021 with the help of Spectrum.

Spectrum is a solar power company built with Meralco's energy expertise and service standards. They provide safe and high-quality solar power that seamlessly integrates with Meralco’s grid. With solar power, Betafoam generated additional monthly savings of almost P60,000.

He added that Meralco became a formidable partner during the pandemic. To ease the payment burden of business customers, Meralco suspended the Guaranteed Minimum Billing Demand (GMBD). This was initially implemented for bills from March 16 to June 30, 2020 but was eventually extended until end of 2020 for businesses that were not allowed to operate based on IATF guidelines. This resulted to significant savings for Betafoam.

Viewing and paying bills were also made convenient and easy despite the quarantine restrictions. “For our safety, we limited our transactions to online channels. Good thing we signed up to Meralco Online which allowed us to view and pay our bills online”,

What Lies Ahead

All things considered, Betafoam Corporation has now become an embodiment of what it means to get back on one’s feet and what it takes to move forward—a reflection of Marañon’s indomitable spirit. Rising from the ashes and surviving one of the most challenging years in 2020, Betafoam has rebuilt itself to a sustainable, well-designed, and efficient company.

Ben&Ben push the mental health discussion forward with “Lunod” music video

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The MV is accompanied by an EP release featuring multiple versions of the track, and an exclusive launch of Lunod-themed café

It doesn’t always have to be sink or swim when it comes to mental health.

Ben&Ben chronicle the experience of drowning in torrential distress and anxiety on the music video of their new single “Lunod.” Directed by award-winning filmmaker Jerrold Tarog (Heneral Luna, Sana Dati), the visual narrative pushes the discussion forward with its metaphorical depiction of individuals trying to keep their head above water and find their way out of a dark, harrowing tunnel.

“The music video is a deeply introspective and symbolic interpretation of the song, which is all tied in together from the concept and writing, down to the location,” lead vocalist, guitarist and Lunod chief songwriter Paolo Benjamin explains. “In the video, the song is narrated as the band, with Zild and juan karlos, move deeper and deeper into the tunnel slowly—losing breath, then in the latter half taking powerful strides to move out of it. This signals a ‘rebirth’ into a new, more mature version of the self.”

The cinematic visuals were shot at the El Deposito water reservoir, an underground location known for its historical significance to the events that lead to the Philippine Revolution, Philippine-American War, and World War II.

“Lunod” serves as the band’s reunion project with Jerrold Tarog, who helmed the music video for their 2018 track “Susi,” off the historical epic drama, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral. “We love collaborating with visionaries in their fields, and so it was a dream working with him,” the acclaimed folk-pop group reveals.

Ahead of the music video release, the nine-piece collective dropped a live acoustic performance of “Lunod” last month. The version, which features collaborators Zild and juan karlos, strips down the bluesy, classic rock arrangements of the original for a more subdued take. The intimate interpretation of the song is part of an exclusive EP release featuring multiple iterations of “Lunod” in various formats, including an extended version of the track.

“The multiple versions for ‘Lunod’ were intended to bring a full listening experience to our listeners; for them to hear what more could be brought out of the song,” Ben&Ben shares in a statement. “We decided to release for streaming the acoustic jam of ‘Lunod,’ the extended version in the music video.”

Aside from the EP, ‘Lunod’ received a remix treatment from hip-hop artist Zelijah, who channeled his struggles with mental health on the production level, and even added a rap verse to convey the mental strains that he went through during the pandemic, and after being diagnosed as bipolar. The “Bipolar remix” of the track gives Zelijah the opportunity to put his own character into the song, and reinterpret it with ethereal sonic elements that blend trap, hip-hop, modern electronica, and rock music genres.

Apart from the ‘Lunod’ EP, Ben&Ben and its label, Sony Music Philippines, recently opened a Lunod-themed café at Latitude Bean+Bar in Malate, Manila as part of Ben&Ben’s Kuwaderno Pop-Up Café activities, which run from November 25-27. The pop-up café includes a Lunod art installation inspired by Zelijah’s Bipolar Remix, as well as other art activities related to mental health.

The Kuwaderno Pop-Up Café features several exclusive activities for Liwanag and ordinary folks to immerse themselves into Ben&Ben’s critically acclaimed album and upcoming digital concert. The two other exclusive pop-ups are located at Jess + Pat’s in Maginhawa, QC, and Kale Café in Fairview, QC.

Music fans can also purchase tickets to Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert directly at the three pop-up locations in Metro Manila. Set to redefine the concert-going experience with the biggest headline concert of their career, Ben&Ben’s upcoming digital concert will be integrating live music performance with multiple creative disciplines such as theatre, dance, orchestra, and technology to create an audio-visual spectacle like no other.

Ben&Ben’s “Lunod,” featuring Zild and juan karlos, is out now on all streaming platforms worldwide via Sony Music Philippines. Watch the music video here.

“Lunod” collaborators Zild and juan karlos are also set to join Ben&Ben on Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert, happening on December 05, 2021 (Sun) from 8pm to 11pm. Get your tickets here.