Filipina Singer Alisah Bonaobra awes the X Factor UK Judges with her performance of "Listen"

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Alisah Bonaobra, singer from Manila, Philippines wowed all four judges of The X Factor UK with her version of Beyonce’s hit Listen on the seventh episode of the show. Her performance left judge Nicole Scherzinger in tears.

One of eight children, Alisah believed her talent is world class and took a chance of a lifetime in the competition. She flew to London with the help of her mother’s friend who helped them fund their plane tickets.

Accompanied by about 20 friends and family members, the judges could all hear the loud cheer of the group before she even walked into the room.

“I always think a lot of people from where you’re from [are] amazing singers” expressed by judge Simon before she starts singing.

Alisah confidently sang her heart out clearly impressing the judges with her talent. Not long in the performance, judge Nicole was already brought to tears. The half-Filipina judge could not help but show how amazed she was and even got on her feet to applaud her afterwards.

“This is not the best version of this song I’ve ever heard I’m not gonna lie to you,” said judge Simon Cowell. But there’s something about you I really, really like. Great, great, great energy! That was good; I really enjoyed that!” he added.

Judge Louis Walsh agreed and said, “I think she’s adorable! You’re a great singer, you’re a great person! It was a great audition, but there’s something about you that we really like.”

Judge Sharon Osbourne was almost speechless, her words were brief but sweet enough for Alisah “I just want to cry. Oh, it’s a yes from me!”

Judge Nicole Scherzinger, who was still in tears told the young singer, “I am crying because I come from very humble beginnings as well. You’re just gorgeous, you’re just this tiny little thing with a voice given from God, this unbelievable gift blowing everybody away. I connect with you and everybody and it’s a yes for you and all the Filipinos out there.”

Soon as she got her fourth yes from Judge Simon, her family and friends hurried in the audition room and exchanged hugs with her and all the judges.

Alisah will be joining the bootcamp with fellow Filipinos Gaga Lord, JBK, and Elysa V, who all got four yeses during the first round of auditions.

The X Factor UK airs first and exclusive on RTL CBS Entertainment same day as the UK on Sundays and Mondays at 10:30am with primetime encores Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays at 9:00pm. 

RTL CBS Entertainment is available on SKYcable channels 53(SD) and 196(HD), SKYdirect channel 35, Destiny Cable channel 53, and Cablelink channels 37(SD) and 313(HD).

Essilor wins Sustainable Business Award for UN Sustainable Development Goals

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Essilor was recognized by the Sustainable Business Awards, Singapore, in this year’s newly added category “UN Sustainable Development Goals: Understanding the company’s roles and initiatives in working to deliver the UN SDGs.” This award celebrates Essilor’s commitment to responsibly fighting the world’s largest disability, uncorrected poor vision. Through Essilor’s mission and the sustainable approach Essilor has adopted across its value chain, the company contributes to 13 out of 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Amy Hing, Singapore Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources Policy Deputy Secretary, presents the award to Jayanth Bhuvaraghan, Essilor’s Chief Mission Officer 

Essilor’s chairman and chief executive officer, Hubert Sagnières, commented: “Essilor’s mission to improve lives by improving sight, combined with the company’s unique principles and values, are at the heart of the Group’s long-term commitment to sustainable development. This Award will help raise awareness that good vision is one of the key enablers to the Global Goals and help us achieve our Mission to bring good vision to all.”

Essilor’s Chief Mission Officer, Jayanth Bhuvaraghan, said; “I am delighted to accept this award on behalf the 64,000 employees of Essilor. Our mission to responsibly provide everyone, everywhere, with quality vision care, pushes us to go further in our sustainability commitments. We’re very proud of our team’s achievements and stay strongly committed to the Sustainable Development Goals.”

For more information about The Essilor Group, visit www.essilor.com.ph, and follow @EssilorPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Qihoo: Feature-packed camera in tiny package

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YOU want a reliable home security system, but hate the wires and cables and the complicated buttons that go with it.

Fret no more. The Qihoo 360 Smart Camera is just the right one for you.

Just plug in the power, download the apps from the apps store/google play, input the wifi password and voila! You’re all set.

The Qihoo 360 Smart Camera and accompanying smartphone app (iOS and Android) pack in a dizzying array of features in such a diminutive package.

The camera itself has a 110-degree wide-angle lens and broadcasts in H.264 format at up to 720p at 20 fps. It connects to any wireless-N network and has a micro SD card slot for local storage, or when used with the smartphone app can record to the handset, or to the cloud.

The app is where you can view the feed, specifying the quality you require and—with the two-way speaker on the camera itself—allows you to hear what’s going on during the recording and send audio from the smartphone. Throw in night vision via infrared and real-time alerts, and you’ve got a highly capable and versatile security camera. View your loved ones when you are away. Either by day or night.

Two-way high quality audio allows you to listen in and also participate in a video conversation between the camera and the 360 Smart Camera. You can use your apps to talk with family members, baby, pets and anyone else near to the camera. You can even shout to the thief to scare him off from anywhere.

The 720p HD and 1080 Full HD lets you see clear image and get to know what’s going on, even under low light environment. With Micro SC Card Recording, play back is right at your finger tips. The 360 automatically records rolling video into your SD card. You can record, playback, snapshot or record clips to your own storage. Stay connected with two-way talk feature. You can share the camera to your friends, family and coworkers. Let them see what’s going on with your house, office, etc. Fit anywhere you like.

Adjustable 360-degree magnetic base can be attached to any flat surface by sticking the included metal disc to the surface and placing the base of your camera. It can even be used as your baby camera. A feature-packed camera in such a small package, isn’t it?

Indeed, the Qihoo 360 Smart Camera is a perfect device to have in your home.

Epson and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport Create Glow-in-the-Dark Pit Stop

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Epson is looking forward to the iconic nightime Singapore Grand Prix by taking a fresh and exciting look at a Formula 1™ car and pit stop. The ambitious plan to create what is believed to be the world’s first glow-in-the-dark pit stop combined Epson’s market leading products with the proven excellence of the reigning Formula One™ World Constructors’ Champions, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, featuring three-time World Champion driver, Lewis Hamilton. 

Epson began by transforming the Mercedes-AMG Petronas race car from its normal state into a glow-in-the-dark masterpiece. An Epson SureColor SC-S Series printer enabled the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport design team to transform the 2016 World Championship winning livery by printing luminous material that was wrapped around the car and glow-in-the-dark versions of the car’s iconic branding. The lights were then turned off and the crew completed the world’s first ever glow-in-the-dark pit stop. Complete with glowing overalls and equipment, the team conducted several rapid tyre changes. 

The effect was enhanced by the Epson’s flagship EB-L25000U, the world’s first and brightest 3LCD laser projector with 25,000 lumens plus 4K Enhancement, which is designed for dynamic and high-impact production*1. 

The concept was designed to encourage Formula 1 fans to look at pit stops in an entirely new light, while demonstrating the global technology leadership of both Epson and Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport in a compelling manner. 

The 2017 race calendar next sees the championship travel to Singapore, where Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport will be looking to consolidate their championship lead at this iconic ‘F1 night race’. With over 1600 lights illuminating the famous city circuit four times brighter than most football stadiums it is a spectacle welcomed by fans globally. To celebrate this night race, the glow-in-the-dark content will be released on Epson and Mercedes-AMG Petronas channels over the Singapore GP race weekend (15-17 September 2017). 

The glow-in-the-dark pit stop is part of a series of innovative activations between Epson and Mercedes-AMG Petronas, which includes last year’s #LewisGetsInked campaign and the 2017 Lewis Hamilton F1 Ink Tank Challenge (https://www.epson.co.uk/lewisgetsinked). 

A video of the glow-in-the-dark and other content will be released on Epson channels shortly.

Ian Cameron, general manager of brand and communications at Epson said: “Our partnership with Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport has always focused on working together in the joint pursuit of innovation and performance in our respective industries. The glow-in-the-dark pit stop is both pioneering and exciting. It perfectly demonstrates how adaptable and practical our products are in the most unusual and striking of environments. We are delighted with the results.”

Victoria Vowles, Marketing Operations Director, Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport, said, “It is always a pleasure to work with Epson to create these innovative and forward-thinking concepts. Epson’s use of advanced technology to deliver performance is perfectly aligned to what we strive to achieve in Formula 1. Pit stops are a well established feature of the Formula 1 experience, so being able to work with Epson and their pioneering products to bring a fresh perspective to this process has been highly exciting.”

*1 According to Seiko Epson research (as of August 2016)

Please refer to your local Epson site for details of the Epson SureColor SC-S Series, the EB-L25000U and other Epson products. Visit http://global.epson.com/web_sites.html

* Note that product names and availability vary by region.

Acer Ph makes partnership with Kita Kita stars Alessandra De Rossi and Empoy, and Fashion Brand Salvatore Mann for its SM's Pre-Holiday Promo

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The leading tech and innovations company Acer Philippines, recently makes partnership with celebrities Alessandra De Rossi and Empoy, and Salvatore Mann, a men’s fashion brand under retail giant SM, for its pre-holiday promo.

The partnerships were formally launched at the Mega Fashion Hall, SM Megamall last September 19, creating an event that embodied both Acer and Salvatore Mann in aesthetics, the Mega Fashion Hall was transformed to fit a sleek runway and was accentuated with neutral tones and elements. This set the backdrop for a striking fashion show where the Salvatore Mann collection, designed exclusively for Acer’s pre-holiday promo was launched.

Acer Philippines tapped Kita Kita actors Alessandra De Rossi and Empoy on a video titled #KasyaPa.  Producing a short film that was visually nostalgic, lighthearted yet somewhat tear-jerking and easily relatable.

#KasyaPa, the video tugs at heartstrings as it shows the struggles a lot of people experience in work, in life, and especially in love.

“We build partnerships with brands and personalities that not only resonate Acer’s aesthetics and appeal, but help enrich and strengthen them as well,” shares Sue Ong-Lim, Acer Philippines’ Sales and Marketing Director. “Empoy and Alessandra, in their most recent film Kita Kita and as seen in #KasyaPa, exhibit relatability and resilience – traits that personify Acer. Meanwhile, Acer laptops and gadgets are sleek and fashionable, yet highly functional – characteristics that define Salvatore Mann bags too.”

The Acer pre-holiday promo will run until October 15, 2017, during which any purchase of Acer laptops and projectors will earn buyers exclusive Salvatore Mann bags. Customers will get a duffel bag or backpack for every purchase of an Acer projector, an Acer Aspire i3-powered laptop or desktop; and both for every purchase of an i5-powered, i7-powered, or all-in-one Acer Aspire laptop or desktop. Additionally, exclusive Salvatore Mann sling bags await SM Advantage, SM Prestige, and BDO Rewards Card Holders. Salvatore Mann is exclusively available in the SM store. 

“Salvatore Mann is deeply honored to be partnering with Acer for its pre-holiday promo,” shares Rina Bugayong, Senior Assistant Vice President for Marketing for SM Shoes and Bags. “Hand in hand, Salvatore Mann and Acer have shown that style and functionality can be achieved; it need not be one or the other.” 

The #KasyaPa video may be found at the Acer Philippines Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AcerPH. 

For more information on the promo, visit: www.acer.com.ph, follow @acerphils on Twitter, and visit the Acer Philippines Facebook page. 

For more information on Salvatore Mann, follow @salvatoremann on Facebook and Instagram.