Smart PowerApp gives free access to seven social apps this holiday season

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Wireless leader Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) is giving its more than 56 million subscribers nationwide free mobile access to the latest social networking apps and sites through its revolutionary new service called PowerApp, a mobile application that brings the most affordable unlimited Internet bundles to users today.

By installing PowerApp on their phones, users can get free access to the app and mobile sites of Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Path and Waze until January 15, 2014. The service is initially available to prepaid and postpaid Smart and Talk 'N Text users in the Philippines.

PowerApp is the world's first mobile Internet storefront which gives users the ability to access their favorite mobile apps and sites without the need for a WiFi connection, making the experience truly mobile. 

Users no longer have to stay for several hours locked down to a table in a coffee shop or stay a little bit longer in the office to take advantage of the free WiFi connection. 

“A number of smartphone users today only use their smartphones for calling or texting, or wait till they reach their homes or offices to connect to the Internet. Through PowerApp and its affordable Internet bundles, subscribers can confidently keep posting, liking, or tweeting everywhere they go without the need for a WiFi connection,” said Michele Curran, Data and International Services Head at Smart.

Subscribers can now post their photos on Facebook anytime, anywhere; tweet their thoughts on Twitter real-time; check in on any location via Foursquare; share common interests in Google Plus; avoid the chaotic holiday traffic mayhem using Waze; get their dream job with the help LinkedIn; and stay connected with their closest friends via Path with the help of PowerApp.

To activate the free unlimited access to social apps and websites, subscribers simply have to download Smart’s PowerApp via Google Play or and register for the Free Social Package, originally priced at P20 for one day (Social20) or P10 for 3 hours (Social10). 

iOS and feature phone users can also text FREE SOCIAL to 5555 (for Smart Prepaid, Postpaid, Infinity and Talk ‘N Text) 9990 (for Smart Freedom Plan subscribers) or 7577 (for Smart Postpaid All-In users) to avail of the promotion.

“With PowerApp, users can continuously enjoy these 7 social networking apps and services absolutely free. PowerApp provides free and unlimited notifications so users can continue to receive updates from background apps without having to incur additional data charges,” Curran explained.

By installing PowerApp on their phones, subscribers can use these mobile apps with absolutely no hidden charges as they are notified every time they access a site or app that is outside their current package subscription. And with free unlimited notifications from running background apps, they are assured that they will not incur unexpected data charges while using the service.

Aside from the Social package, users can regularly subscribe to other bundles that include the Email, Chat, and Photo packages which are similarly available through the PowerApp mobile application.

For workaholics who cannot miss a single email, PowerApp’s Email package is available for P10 per day (Email10) or P5 for 3 hours (Email5). Available apps and mobile sites under this e-mail bundle are Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Outlook.com and Exchange. 

Students who love to chat with their friends can now enjoy a wide-range of chat applications from PowerApp’s Chat package. For only P10 a day (Chat10) or P5 for three hours (Chat5), subscribers can have unlimited access to multiple chat applications such as Line, WeChat, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Oist!, Google Hangouts, Chikka Messenger, Viber, and KakaoTalk. 

Unlimited #Selfies, #ThrowbackThursdays and #OOTDs are also now possible through PowerApp’s Photo package for P20 for all-day access (Photo20) or P10 for three hours (Photo10). Included apps in the photo bundle are Instagram, Tumblr, Regram, Pinterest, Flickr and Imgur. 

For the multi-hyphenated all-around man, PowerApp also has an Unli package which gives them access to all mobile sites and mobile applications. For only P30 for 24 hours (Unli30) or P15 for three hours (Unli15), Powerapp users can enjoy unlimited browsing of all available apps and mobile sites.

While the app is initially available only on Android, iOS and feature phone users can send the corresponding keyword of their desired package to either 5555 (for Smart Prepaid, Postpaid, Infinity and Talk ‘N Text users), 9990 (For Smart Freedom Plan subscribers) or 7577 (For Smart Pospaid All-In users) to avail of the different packages.

“Subscribers can count on Smart to continue to bring these revolutionary mobile innovations to the public as the Internet becomes a vital resource of content and information that enrich their lives and allow them to live more,” Curran added.

For more information on PowerApp and other mobile Internet services and promos

users can go to http://go.smart.com.ph/internet

follow @SmartPromos on Twitter

or like Smart Communications, Inc. on Facebook

The Philippine Friendship Balloon Festival 2014

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The 19th Philippine Hot Air Balloon Festival will be on April 10 - 13, as Department of Tourism supported the colorful festival dubbed as "The Philippine Friendship Balloon Festival 2014.”

Department of Tourism Region III Director Ronnie Tiotuico revealed that DOT is spearheading the new hot air balloon festival and is set to feature more activities not only limited to aviation. In a planning session attended by tourism stakeholders, Tiotuico launched the hot air balloon festival as an answer to the public’s clamor for one of biggest aviation sports event in the Philippines.

This 2014 festival theme, “It’s more than just hot air. It’s a celebration of life in times of adversity”, and more colorful and inspirational, the proceeds will go to the rehabilitation of the Eastern Visayas region affected by the Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and various charity missions.

The event is supported by Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr., and will be organized by Philippine Exhibits and Themeparks Corporation (PETCO). Tourism stakeholders and organizations expressed their support for the project.

Every year, Hot Air Ballon Festival is being held at the month of February, but as we recalled, the Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Festival (PIHBF) did not push through and decided to cancel the PIHBF that was set supposedly on February 2014.

DOT, the pioneer organizer of the ballooning event 18 years ago (1994) before it was transferred to another group, did not tethered flying and still pushed for a smaller scale event in Bayanihan Park to continue the legacy.

With the theme “It’s more than just hot air. It’s a celebration of life in times of adversity”, proceeds will go to the rehabilitation of the Eastern Visayas region affected by the Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) and various charity missions.

This three to four day hot air balloon event is considered as the biggest aviation sports event in the Philippines.

A very remarkable yearly event in Clark Airbase, Angeles, Pampanga. The PIHABF is the longest running balloon event in Asia. An estimated 60,000 visitors from the country and from around the world come annually to see the event.

The festival features hot air balloons from Philippines and other countries, aerial shows, and other exhibitions.  Ths is really another colorful and exciting festival. It's More Fun in The Philippines! Enthusiasts expect a more grandiose and bigger hot air balloon festival in 2014.

Photos : Exciting and Colorful 18th Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta

New Sets of Cyberpress Officers for 2014

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DOST-ICTO – The Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology inducts new officers of ICT Journalists Association of the Philippines (Cyberpress) for 2014.

Usec. Louis Casambre (on extreme right) and the new officers are, from left to right - Paolo Montecillo, VP-Internal, Tomas Noda - Secretary, Raffy Pedrajita, MemComm, Marlon Magtira-Public Affaris, TJ Dimacali, VP-External, Verns Joven, Treasurer, and Alora Guerro, President  -  Photo by: Rafa Pedrajita of www.digitalspidey.com.

The CyberPress raised around 100,000 pesos for Yolanda victims during a benefit dinner held on the same night. All funds were turned over to Red Cross immediately after the event.

About DOST-ICTO  : 

The Information and Communications Technology Office of the Department of Science and Technology is the Philippine Government’s lead agency on ICT related matters. Its primary thrusts are in the ICT Industry Development, eGovernment, ICT policy development, Internet for all and Cybersecurity.

Mga Anino ng Kahapon (Shadows of the Past)

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Mga Anino ng Kahapon is the first full-length independent feature that aims to challenge common stereotypes associated with mental conditions particularly schizophrenia.

  

Written and directed by Alvin Yapan and starring Agot Isidro and TJ Trinidad, this film where they show life is not easy for patients with schizophrenia and the people around especially the family’s struggle hard to cope up with schizophrenia.

Mga Anino ng Kahapon (Shadows of the Past) is an awareness film to educated people about schizophrenia.  “This is a small film with a big message.  It’s a film that educates the viewer about one of the misunderstood mental problems,  schizophrenia,” Agot Isidro said.

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that generally appears in late adolescence or early adulthood - however, it can emerge at any time in life. It is one of many brain diseases that may include delusions, loss of personality (flat affect), confusion, agitation, social withdrawal, psychosis, and bizarre behavior.

Schizophrenia does not only affect the person with the disorder. Families, friends and society are affected too. A sizable proportion of people with schizophrenia have to rely on others, because they are unable to hold a job or care for themselves.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO5YrFxCaPo#t=14

Very emotional as I watched the film last Dec. 19, 2013 during the movie premiere of “Mga Anino Ng Kahapon” / Shadows of the Past held at the Glorietta Cinema, Makati.

This is one of the best film directed, well made movie with commendable actor TJ Trinidad and great actress Agot Isidro. And as I watched Agot Isidro performed so well, I remember one international film titled “A Beautiful Mind.”

Mga Anino ng Kahapon (Shadows of the Past), produced by Vim Yapan/Alem Chua Productions has been selected as a finalist in the New Wave Section Full Feature Category of the MetroManila Film Festival (MMFF).

These films will be screened from Dec. 18 to 24 in Glorietta 4 and SM Megamall cinemas. For groups that are interested to watch the movie, you may contact Alem at 0917 811 0217 / 964-5456, or Gay at 0917 541 3010 0922 331 3010, and you can look for the production team at the movie booth of Glorietta 4 and SM Megamall. High school / College classes, school and medical organizations, NGOs, advocacy groups invited to watch it for free.

ICanServeFoundation with the Lifestyle Network’s Celebrity Chefs

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Lifestyle Network's celebrity Chefs help raise funds for storm releif operations. 

It was a rare night for the local culinary scene when the best Filipino chefs, including celebrity chefs Sandy Daza, Sharwin Tee, and Gene and Gino Gonzalez, united under one roof with the vision of raising funds for Sagip Kapamilya’s relief operations through the ICanServeFoundation in the Lifestyle Network’s Around the Philippines in Small Plates.

As such, it aptly has chosen to unite the various regions of the country in a different way to mirror the oneness among its people following the calamity.

Made up of 7,107 islands, the Philippines is home to a diverse culture. Part of this culture is a variation in practices, rites, and language; but one thing common among all people, regardless of region, is a love for a flavor uniquely Filipino that is expressed in many ways.

The Lifestyle Network thus took that love for Filipino flavor and whipped up a night to bring together many of its different expressions through Around the Philippines in Small Plates, creating a most unforgettable dinner menu that distinctly embodied the diversity of the Philippines.

From fresh produce, culinary delicacies, and export products to local arts and crafts, Around the Philippines in Small Plates put the spotlight on the creativity of the Filipinos.

Celebrity chefs show their support in the TulongPH t-shirt

This creativity shone through in the creations of some of today’s biggest names in the local culinary scene, including Lifestyle Network's FoodPrints’ Chef Sandy Daza, Curiosity Got the Chef’s Chef Sharwin Tee, Chefscapades’ Chef Gene and Gino Gonzalez, Wildflour’s Chef Allen Buhay, Grace Park’s Chef Margarita Fores, Chef Hylton le Roux of Market to Master, Milky Way Café’s Chef J Gamboa, Green Pastures' Chef Robby Goco, Restaurant 9501’s Chef Myrna Segismundo, Chef Glenda Baretto of Cafe Via Mare, Chef Jessie Sincioco of Chef Jessie’s, Chef Ginny de Guzman of Gustare, Chef Juan Carlos de Terry of Terry’s Selection, and Chef Fernando Aracama of Aracama.

Chefs Gene and Gino Gonzales of Chefscapades

Aside from all these culinary masters, sumptuous dishes were also served by some of the country’s best establishments, such as La Cocina de Tita Moning, Alavar Seafood Restaurant, Pepita’s Lechon, General’s Lechon, Discovery Suites, Bizu, Kitchen’s Best, Fog City Creamery and Baby Pat’s breads and pastries; with the official wine partner for the night, Beringer of Happy Living fine Wines, and coffee care of the EDSA Beverage Group.

"Around the Philippines in Small Plates" was also held hand in hand with "Choose Philippines: A Pinoy A-fair," where products and merchandise that further embody the diverse aesthetic of the Filipino culture were shown and made available for purchase.

For updates and more information, visit and like the Lifestyle Network on Facebook (www.facebook.com/LifestyleNetwork).