TALLEST SG50 BABY SPOTTED IN SINGAPORE ZOO : First giraffe calf in 28 years officially debuts at Wild Africa zone

Tweet

SINGAPORE, November 2015 — Singapore Zoo proudly welcomed its first giraffe calf in 28 years on 31 August this year. At a statuesque 1.9 metres, he is the tallest SG50 baby, and is a symbol of Singapore soaring to new heights in the years following its Jubilee celebration. 

The calf is the first offspring of both mom Roni and dad Growie, which arrived in Singapore Zoo in 2005, from Israel and the Netherlands respectively. The unnamed calf has since grown 40cm, and now stands at 2.3 metres.

During the calf’s first month, he was separated from the rest of the giraffe herd to allow mother and baby to bond, and to ensure the calf was nursing properly. The exhibit was also baby-proofed as a safety precaution before allowing the calf to explore its new surroundings. Existing barriers had to be modified to ensure the baby can explore the exhibit safely.

Gradually, mother and baby were reintroduced to the other two giraffes in the herd—Growie, the father, and Lucy, an unrelated female, which arrived in Singapore together with Roni. The conditioning process took close to three weeks, to ensure the herd would accept the calf. All four are now comfortably sharing the exhibit and can regularly be seen grooming each other to strengthen their bonds.

Aside from the mother’s milk, the calf can now be seen nibbling on leaves and chopped vegetables such as carrots. He now spends his days exploring and running around in the exhibit at the Zoo’s Wild Africa zone. While he’s starting to get used to passing trams and visitors, he will still race back to the safety of mom’s towering presence when faced with something unfamiliar.

“Animal babies are always a cause for celebration as they are a good indication that the animals under our care feel comfortable and secure enough to breed in the environment that we’ve created for them. We hope the calf will tug at visitors’ heartstrings and inspire them to find out more about giraffes, and other animals that thrive in the same environment as these majestic creatures,” said Dr Cheng Wen-Haur, Chief Life Sciences Officer, Wildlife Reserves Singapore.

Although listed as least concern on the IUCN* Red List of Threatened Species, habitat destruction and fragmentation are threats to giraffe populations. To a lesser degree, they are hunted for their meat, coat and tails. The tail is prized for good luck bracelets, fly whisks and string for sewing beads, while the coat is used for shield coverings.

There are plans to conduct a naming contest to find a suitable name for the little one in coming months.

Those visiting Singapore Zoo are encouraged to take photos of the new addition and upload them with the hashtag#sg50babygiraffe. 

Visitors can follow updates on the baby giraffe’s development at www.zoo.com.sg/sg50babygiraffe.

*IUCN: International Union for the Conservation of Nature

LG V10—Versatile and Visionary: LG Electronics unravels the wraps on the new LG V10, pioneering multimedia features never before seen on a smartphone

Tweet

LG Mobile wows with its new powerful phablet featuring Dual Front Cameras, Multi-View Window, and Video Manual Mode all encased in a durable silicon back cover with stainless steel sides.
A few months after LG Electronics unveiled their flagship for 2015, there had been news spreading around of a powerful iteration of the LG G4—the LG G4 Pro. However, LG slams the rumours shut when they introduced the first of its V-Series phones—the LG V10.

“The LG V10 is LG’s newest phablet that is designed to provide the user with a rich multimedia experience,” says LG Philippines Vice President for Mobile, Jay Won. “The V10 surpasses most multimedia features that today’s smartphones possess and are enhanced for optimal performance, maximizing the creativity of today’s social media and tech-savvy consumers.”

Consumers can look forward to V10’s distinctive new features such its Second Screen, Dual Front Cameras, and its Manual Video mode—another first for the mobile tech giant.

The V10 will be the first LG smartphone to feature a Second Screen, an inset display set above the V10’s main 5.7 QHD IPS Quantum Display. The Second Screen works independently from the main screen and has the “always on” option. Apart from displaying weather, time, date, and battery icon, the Second Screen can also function as a dedicated display for shortcuts of your favourite apps for easy access.

This year LG surprised the world with the impressive camera feature of their 2015 flagship LG G4 by unveiling its 16-megapixel rear shooter with F1.8 aperture lens and OIS 2.0 paired with Manual Photo Mode where users can manually adjust the settings much like with a professional SLR camera. This remains the same with the V10 but it will also adapt the ingenuity of Manual Mode to video where user can adjust white balance, ISO levels, as well as audio reception.

The V10 takes selfies to another level by installing 5-megapixel Dual Front Cameras with separate lenses for 80-degree close range selfies or 120-degree wide angle selfies to accommodate larger groups of people in the frame. The wide angle lens on the V10 makes use of intricate software algorithm that combines images from the two separate lenses, eliminating the need for monopods and selfie sticks altogether and achieving the perfect groufie in gatherings.

Another first for LG which can be found in the V10 is the Multi-view Mode which can simultaneously utilize all three of V10s cameras—dual front and rear cameras—to capture up to four different frames.

All this comes wrapped in a design that utilizes high-grade stainless steel and a durable silicone skin to make the V10 one of the rare smart phones to pass drop tests for shock conducted by an independent third party.

The LG V10 will be available in the local market very soon and will come at a retail price of Php 37,990.

To learn more about LG V10, visit www.lg.com/ph; like LG Philippines’ Facebook page; or follow @LGPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

Amplifying your Life, JBL Opens its Newest Concept Store and Celebrates the Christmas Season with Exclusive Deals

Tweet

What better way to celebrate holidays than to give your loved ones the latest gadget available. Making your yuletide shopping easier is JBL, as it opens its newest concept store – JBL Digital Dreams, last November 13, 2015 at the Annex of SM North EDSA in Quezon City.

With JBL products, amplifying your life has never been this easy. Enjoy sound and music the way it should be listened to with JBL’s revolutionary audio products that continue to push sound boundaries.

In an event attended by JBL Harman executives, distributors, and select media representatives, JBL Digital Dreams opened its doors to showcase ways by which consumers can amplify their life through its high quality audio products. 

From headphones to portable speakers and home entertainment systems, the new concept store is sure to make you rediscover, first hand, true sound appreciation through its high definition and crisp audio output. 

Highlighted by the latest speakers and headphones, shoppers were also treated to an exclusive deal wherein select JBL and Harman Kardon products were offered at lower prices – as part of the store’s opening weekend.

Apart from these activities, JBL is also amplifying one’s holiday with their special deals for the Christmas season – featuring its newest line of splash proof portable speakers, coupled with discounts on a second purchase. 

Take the music wherever you go and spice up your adventures with JBL’s eye-catching mini portable speaker, the Clip +. Give justice to normal gatherings and turn them into memorable parties with JBL’s Pulse 2, Charge 2 +, and Extreme speakers. Homebodies, on the other hand, can also sit back, relax, and enjoy the company of great sounds with the JBL SB400 home entertainment unit.

For more information, visit http://ph.jbl.com and http://ph.harmankardon.com.

Visit and like Facebook: www.facebook.com/JBL-Philippines-1562785297296687

Follow  Twitter: @JBLPH

Follow Instagram: @jblph

As the leader in revolutionary sound, JBL continues to push audio boundaries through innovation and personalized sound technology. The JBL brand offers unprecedented wireless speaker performance for authentic audio experience.

About HARMAN

HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for consumers, automakers, and enterprises worldwide, including audio, visual and infotainment systems; enterprise automation solutions; and software services. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon® , Mark Levinson ® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. HARMAN also is a technology and integration services leader for the Automotive, Mobile, Telecommunications and Enterprise markets. More than 25 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and infotainment systems. The Company’s software solutions power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated, personalized, adaptive and secure across all platforms, from the work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 25,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia and reported sales of $5.9 billion during the last 12 months ended March 31, 2015. The Company’s shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol NYSE:HAR.

Kahaya Place celebrates Pinoy fiesta during open house

Tweet

It was a day to remember for all the guests who took part in the successful Kahaya Place Grand Open House in Dasmariñas City recently. 

NLI staff and guests pose for a photo at the entrance of Kahaya Place after the successful and fun fiesta-themed Grand Open House event.

Aside from hundreds of guests, sellers and staff of NorthPine Land Inc. (NLI) enjoyed playing traditional Pinoy favorite past times such as palo sebo, pukpok palayok, and pabitin.

The theme of the Pinoy fiesta-inspired event was “A Celebration in October,” which showcased the lively Filipino spirit evident especially during triumphant times like fulfilling life-long dreams of starting a family and acquiring a new home. The event coincided with the launching and blessing of Kahaya Place’s newly built guardhouse with signage and announcement of some exciting promotions.

Guests eagerly played Filipino-parlor games, like pukpok palayok, at the broad front lawn of the model units in Kahaya. One guest tries her luck in smashing the suspended clay pot while others happily coach her to win the game.

At Kahaya Place, one can enjoy priceless moments with family and loved ones. A calm haven, it is a stunning modern Asian space located at the booming city of Dasmariñas, Cavite. It is NLI’s latest townhouse project with hassle-free access to daily destinations such as schools, government offices, business districts and malls. 

Whoever said pabitin is just for kids? NLI staff and guests certainly thought otherwise as they enthusiastically seize the dangled prizes from the air.

NLI Executive Vice President Ferdinand Macabanti proudly presented to the guests the high-quality yet reasonable residential property. He enthused, “Kahaya Place is an undertaking we should all be very proud of. It is NorthPine’s first venture into townhouse development and already, its early introduction to the public is very promising. The impressive results fuel us to do more and persevere in making more dreams come to life!”

Through the years, NLI has built a solid reputation for distinction, quality, and value for money. It is now considered as one of the leading and most trusted real estate companies in the Philippines. 

“I believe these gradual, but rewarding wins, would not have been possible had we not stayed positive and loyal to our mission of innovating not just homes but communities of superior value for the kind of lifestyle every family deserves,” Macabanti added.

Developing self-contained lifestyle communities is NLI’s way of staying true to its pledge of making people’s dreams of owning a house a reality.

A Peek into the Secret Garden

Tweet

Repertory Philippines opens the gates to “The Secret Garden” as its Christmas season treat for theater goers. It tells the story of a young girl, born and raised in India, who finds herself suddenly orphaned, and goes to live with her uncle in England. She discovers a garden, neglected for years and almost dead, and a young cousin bedridden and miserable. With the help of a housemaid and a friendly young gardener, she brings both the garden and her cousin to life.

Director, Anton Juan’s vision was to focus on the message of the story. 

“I wanted to articulate that finding the secret garden was to liberate oneself from the feeling of domination,” he shares. He wanted to make clear that Secret Garden “...is not just a musical about how love forgives, how healing is attained by finding and liberating the truth in us; but also an allegory of liberation of our free spirits.”

Stage productions take months to prepare with numerous songs to rehearse, choreography to be learned, scenes to perfect, a slew of costumes to be made, and elaborate sets to be built. For a period piece like The Secret Garden, the artistic staff had to do a lot of research on the context of the story and the details that would be needed to translate that era for a modern audience.

“Since the story is set in 1906 in Yorkshire, England, designing the costumes for The Secret Garden required period research,” shares costume designer Bonsai Cielo. But despite having an overview of historical information to create costumes from that time period, Bonsai said “An understanding of each of the characters and our director’s vision for the play was also required. Not to mention, we had to ensure they all blended well together and still look striking individually.”

Set designer Ohm David said this about his stage design. “As a designer, I had to read the play over and over while listening to the music. I read the play aloud and tried to involve myself as much as possible in the situations of the play.” While doing this, the designer imagined the elaborate environment of each scene. From there, he started to draw. But with the limitations of a modest stage, he had to veer away from the obvious interpretations of the story’s surroundings and instead used elements that would encourage the audience’s imaginations to visualize the entire scenarios. “For me, it is more important to highlight what the play is trying to say beneath” —a takeaway he derived from Director Juan, who is at the head of the entire production.

Daniel Drilon, one of the young actors playing Colin Craven, the bedridden boy, says “For the all Filipino cast, the added challenge was learning the diction of The Secret Garden’s period and location. We all had to learn a British accent which is kind of difficult. But we all got a hang of it after two months of practice.” The young leading cast had the support of the entire production team led by Director Juan who helped them absorb their roles. Besides Daniel, the other children who play the lead roles of Mary, the orphan girl, and Collin her cousin, are played by Ashlee Factor, Ginger Karganilla, Albert Silos and Noel Comia.

Becca Coates playing the role of Martha, the housekeeper; and Ashlee Factor and Albert Silos portraying the young Mary Lennox and Colin Craven, respectively. 

Archibald Craven played by Robbie Guevara reaches out to his son Colin; acted out by Daniel Drilon.

Mary Lennox (Ashlee Factor,) stands in the background, as Archibald Craven (Lorenz Martinez,) is recalling memories of his late wife, Lily (Myramae Meneses.)

“The music is invigorating, the sets are a departure from the traditional, and it is a moving story of love,” shares Anton. Above all, the play’s message is one that will move the hearts of those who witness it. “I hope this musical will remind us to hold what’s most essential and important; and that’s what is inside of us. Lest we forget, come to my garden.”

The Secret Garden will be staged from November 20 to December 20, 2015 at Onstage Theater in Greenbelt 1, Paseo de Roxas. For more details on performance dates and times and ticket prices, call Repertory Philippines at 843-­3570. For more information about the play, log on to repertoryphilippines.phor the Repertory Philippines Facebook page. 

Tickets may also be purchased through TicketWorld at 891­9999 or visit their website at w ww.ticketworld.com.ph.