Do More, Carry Less: Meet the Viral ‘No-Tripod’ Galaxy Z Flip8 and Next-Gen Smartwatches

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The Galaxy Z Flip8 makes hands-free content creation effortless, so you can capture more moments wherever life takes you.

From capturing solo travel memories to keeping up with fitness goals, today’s lifestyles call for technology that can keep pace without adding to the things people carry. With the Galaxy Z Flip8, Galaxy Watch9, and Galaxy Watch Ultra2, users can enjoy more convenient ways to create content, stay active, and make the most of every experience.

The appeal of going hands-free continues to grow. Whether it’s filming a morning routine or capturing a workout, the Galaxy Z Flip8 and Samsung’s latest smartwatches offer practical ways to bring technology into everyday pursuits.

Hands-Free Creativity with the Galaxy Z Flip8

With its compact foldable design and FlexCam, the Galaxy Z Flip8 makes it easier to capture photos and videos hands-free, without the need for a separate tripod.

By folding the device at a suitable angle and placing it on a stable surface, users can frame hands-free shots for outfit checks, travel diaries, group photos, and everyday videos. The FlexWindow also allows users to preview shots and capture moments without unfolding the device, while Super Steady video helps keep footage stable when recording on the move.

Beyond its practical design, the Galaxy Z Flip8 gives users more opportunities to express their individuality and capture life's moments, making it a natural companion for an active, on-the-go lifestyle.

Stay on track with Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2

Meanwhile, the Galaxy Watch9 and Galaxy Watch Ultra2 help users stay connected to their wellness goals and active lifestyles. The Galaxy Watch9 supports everyday health and fitness tracking, making it a practical companion for monitoring activity and building more consistent routines.

The Galaxy Watch Ultra2 is designed for more demanding activities, bringing together a durable design and features suited to active adventures. Whether working toward a new fitness milestone, exploring a destination, or simply making more time for movement, both smartwatches help users keep their goals in focus while spending more time doing what they enjoy.

Upgrade Your Flip Side with Exclusive Galaxy Offers

For those ready to experience foldable innovation, Samsung offers more reasons to upgrade. Trade in an eligible device and enjoy up to 50% trade-in savings on the Galaxy Z Flip8, bringing iconic style, intelligent features, and innovation together in one compact device. The trade-in offer is available until November 8, 2026.

Consumers can also power up their payday with exclusive Galaxy offers available from October 26 to 31, 2026. Get 10% off the Galaxy Z Flip8, plus an extra 10% off on up to 24-month installments and freebies. Meanwhile, shoppers can use the code GALAXYAF30 to enjoy 30% off the Galaxy Watch Ultra2, plus freebies.

With these limited-time offers, it is the perfect opportunity to upgrade their devices and discover new ways to capture moments, stay active, and pursue their passions with Galaxy.

For more details on the promotions, eligible devices, and full terms and conditions, visit Samsung Philippines.

DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-268621, 266841, 269369, 267976, and 266269 Series of 2026

InLife champions health protection that goes beyond the hospital bill

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As Breast Cancer Awareness Month draws to a close this October, InLife University Sr. Asst. Vice President and Business Development Head Fay Cuadra shares her journey from a routine check-up to achieving one year with No Evidence of Disease (NED), and the importance of comprehensive health coverage in managing the true cost of healing.

A cancer diagnosis can change a life and the cost of care can reshape a family’s future. As Breast Cancer Awareness Month closes this October, InLife is championing early detection and comprehensive health protection to help Filipinos face both challenges with greater confidence.

For InLife University Senior Assistant Vice President and Business Development Head Fay Cuadra, that commitment is personal. After more than 20 years in the insurance industry, she found herself navigating the uncertainties she had long helped others prepare for.

A routine Executive Check-Up flagged a breast abnormality requiring a biopsy, despite the absence of pain or noticeable symptoms. "When you hear those words, it feels like time has suddenly stopped. You can spend years advising people about protection and preparing for the unexpected, but when you become the patient, everything feels different," Fay recalls.

Following her cancer diagnosis, Cuadra underwent neoadjuvant therapy, a mastectomy with breast reconstruction, and radiation therapy. Today, she marks one year with No Evidence of Disease (NED), meaning current examinations and tests show no detectable cancer.

Her initial diagnostic procedures exhausted her inpatient Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) limits. Breast surgery cost approximately ₱800,000, followed by ₱585,000 for radiation therapy. Six months later, she underwent another major procedure, a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy with Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy (TAHBSO), costing an additional ₱700,000. Even with PhilHealth benefits, PWD discounts, corporate leave benefits, and personal insurance payouts, the financial burden remained considerable. "Your HMO, group hospitalization coverage, and individual insurance policies may have different benefits, limits, and conditions. It is important to understand how these work together and identify any gaps in your protection," Cuadra explains.

Closing the gap with InLife Global Care

To help Filipino families address these gaps, InLife offers InLife Global Care, a comprehensive health insurance solution with up to ₱125 million in annual coverage and access to accredited hospitals, clinics, and specialists in the Philippines and abroad.

Its benefits extend beyond hospitalization to eligible outpatient consultations, diagnostic scans, and monitoring therapies. The plan also offers cashless service options through supported providers, guaranteed annual renewability up to age 99, and worldwide emergency coverage of up to ₱12.5 million outside the selected coverage area, subject to policy terms and conditions.

"Healthcare confidence is knowing that when a serious medical situation happens, you have choices, resources, and someone you can rely on to help you move forward. InLife Global Care aims to provide all these and more so Filipinos can have access to quality healthcare without compromising everything they worked hard for. This is what we mean by World-class care, Filipino heart, and InLife certainty," states InLife Chief Product and Innovation Officer Jose Eduardo O. Ang.

A milestone of gratitude and action

For Cuadra, protection also meant having people beside her. She credits her husband, family, and InLife colleagues for supporting her recovery, including InLife President Raoul Littaua, who personally encouraged her to focus on healing. "Cancer treatment does not end when you leave the hospital or complete your surgery. Follow-up consultations, blood tests, monitoring scans, medications, and ongoing medical care became important parts of my recovery. You have to consider the entire healthcare journey, not just the initial hospital bill," she emphasizes.

As Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, Fay encourages women not to delay preventive check-ups or wait for symptoms before seeking medical advice. "Early detection can make a difference in identifying cancer and understanding your treatment options. Do not postpone the check-up that could change your life," she says.

Through InLife Global Care and its continuing call for preventive care, InLife encourages Filipinos to take two essential steps: prioritize their health and prepare financially for the care they may need.

Grand Westside Manila Bay Plants Seeds of Filipino Heritage at Tambo Elementary School

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Hotel associates join the school community in planting 45 Sampaguita plants as part of Megaworld Global Hotels & Resorts' sustainability and community advocacy.

WESTSIDE CITY, PARAÑAQUE, Philippines – Grand Westside Manila Bay recently brought its commitment to sustainability and community engagement beyond the hotel through a Sampaguita planting activity at Tambo Elementary School, where associates joined teachers, parents and students in planting 45 Sampaguita plants.

Karlo Evangelista, Corporate Sustainability Manager at Megaworld Global Hotels & Resorts; Joe Xavier Fijardo, General Manager of Grand Westside Manila Bay; Ruth T. Aguilar, Master Teacher at Tambo Elementary School – Main Campus and Rodolfo Bazar II, Area Director of PMD at Grand Westside Manila Bay.

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Growing Together: Grand Westside Manila Bay General Manager Joe Xavier Fijardo leads hotel associates in planting 45 Sampaguita plants alongside teachers, parents and students of Tambo Elementary School in Parañaque City. The activity supports Megaworld Hotels & Resorts' MEGreen sustainability programme and its advocacy for preserving Filipino heritage 

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Led by General Manager Joe Xavier Fijardo, the activity brought together the hotel team and the school community in a shared effort to create greener surroundings while celebrating the Philippines' national flower.

“It's wonderful to see our team working alongside the students, teachers and parents. Through activities like this, we hope to encourage greater appreciation for our environment and Filipino heritage while building lasting relationships with our community,” said Fijardo.

The initiative forms part of Grand Westside Manila Bay's support for Megaworld Global Hotels & Resorts' (MGHR) MEGreen sustainability programme and its wider advocacy to preserve and promote the Sampaguita, a flower deeply associated with Filipino culture and hospitality.

At the heart of this advocacy is MGHR's Sampaguita Brand of Service, inspired by the values of love, honour, dignity and healing. These principles guide the group's approach to hospitality and its commitment to making a positive difference in the communities surrounding its properties.

For Grand Westside Manila Bay, the planting activity also reflects the importance of associate involvement. Beyond their daily responsibilities, hotel team members are encouraged to participate in volunteer activities and internally organised fundraising initiatives that support community causes.

“What makes this special is seeing our associates come together and give their time to the community. We want to continue encouraging this spirit of volunteerism, where caring for others becomes a natural part of our everyday culture,” shared Rodolfo Bazar II, Area Director of PMD at Grand Westside Manila Bay.

Across its properties, Megaworld Global Hotels & Resorts has undertaken Sampaguita planting activities in partnership with schools and community organisations, helping raise awareness of the national flower's cultural significance while encouraging environmental responsibility. The group's MEGreen programme supports these efforts through sustainability initiatives and the collection of Sampaguita seedlings for future planting activities.

The partnership with Tambo Elementary School offers an opportunity to share these values with younger generations. By taking part in the planting, students are encouraged to develop an appreciation for nature and a sense of responsibility for their surroundings.

The hotel is also exploring ways to sustain its environmental and community programmes through continued associate participation and fundraising efforts, reinforcing a culture of giving that extends beyond the workplace.

As the Sampaguita plants take root at Tambo Elementary School, they represent more than an environmental initiative. They are a reminder of the relationships being nurtured between the hotel and its neighbouring community, and the shared responsibility of preserving Filipino heritage for future generations.

Through initiatives such as this, Grand Westside Manila Bay continues to bring Megaworld Global Hotels & Resorts' Circle of Happiness philosophy to life, extending the warmth of Filipino hospitality beyond its doors.

vivo V80 opens pre-orders, offers up to Php 2k discount and more

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vivo Philippines has opened pre-orders for the vivo V80 at physical stores nationwide, through the vivo e-store and via the vivo Store app, with prices starting at Php 42,999 and exclusive offers available until November 13, 2026.

Designed for a generation that enjoys capturing memorable moments, expressing personal style, and customizing their devices, the smartphone combines ZEISS co-engineered portrait cameras, a distinctive glass design, and personalized features powered by OriginOS 7.

The vivo V80 is available in two configurations: 8GB RAM with 128GB storage for Php 42,999 and 8GB RAM with 256GB storage for Php 47,999.

Customers who pre-order within the promotional period can enjoy the following perks:

• Php 2,000 discount,
• limited-edition vivo Buds Air3 worth Php 1,799,
• Gold vivo membership privileges,
• six months of broken-screen insurance and warranty, and
• six months of 100GB Google One cloud storage for new users.

Meanwhile, here are the top three things you need to know about the vivo V80.

1.  ZEISS portrait photography for every creative moment

Co-engineered with ZEISS, the vivo V80 features a 50-megapixel ZEISS Super Telephoto Camera and ZEISS 85mm and 100mm Center-Stage Portrait options, giving users versatile ways to frame their subjects and capture portraits with detail and depth. The different focal lengths also provide creative options for photographing people in lively environments while keeping the subject in focus.

The smartphone expands these creative possibilities with AI Creative Camera features, including studio-inspired lighting effects and Creative Sticker Collage, which lets users transform people, pets, and selected photos into movable stickers. CCD Flash Portrait adds a nostalgic, film-inspired aesthetic, giving users more ways to personalize their images and share their favorite moments.

2.  A distinctive design inspired by the stars

The vivo V80 combines cold-carved glass, an aerospace-grade aluminum frame, and smoothly contoured edges for a refined appearance and comfortable grip.

Its Starwish Purple finish features Laser Holographic Lithography, creating a three-dimensional, galaxy-inspired effect that shifts with light. The result is a design that brings together craftsmanship and personal expression, allowing the device to complement different styles and everyday occasions.

Meanwhile, the vivo V80 is also available in Wander Green, featuring refined low-saturation tones that shift gracefully with light.

3.  OriginOS 7 brings personality to everyday interactions

With OriginOS 7, the vivo V80 gives users more ways to make their smartphone experience their own through four customizable themes.

Wiggle features motion-responsive wallpapers, Pet Pals introduces interactive pet elements, Glint adds shimmering visual effects, and StickIt brings customizable stickers into different parts of the system. These features let users personalize their screens and everyday interactions to reflect their interests, moods, and individual styles.

“Smartphones have become an important part of how people express themselves, preserve memories, and connect with others. With the vivo V80, we want to give users more opportunities to explore their creativity through ZEISS portrait photography, AI-powered features, and a personalized interface that reflects who they are,” said Liu Lu, vivo Philippines Brand Marketing Director.

Flexible payment options

For customers who prefer installment payments, Home Credit offers the vivo V80 for as low as Php 85 per day over 18 months. Buyers can also receive an additional Php 500 discount voucher by using the code V80HC500.

Customers can pre-order the vivo V80 at vivo physical stores nationwide, through the vivo e-store, and via the vivo Store app until November 13, 2026.

With its ZEISS imaging capabilities, expressive design, and customizable interface, the vivo V80 brings together the tools to capture favorite moments, explore creative possibilities, and make every detail feel personal.

Expecto Patronum: realme 16 Pro 5G Harry Potter Edition Debuts with Hogwarts Four-House Color-Changing Cres

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The limited-edition smartphone comes in Magic Brown, with a color-changing Hogwarts crest, a Hogwarts-themed UI, and a trunk of HP collectibles

From its Hogwarts-inspired crest to details paying tribute to Harry Potter’s loyal companion, the realme 16 Pro 5G Harry Potter Edition brings elements of the beloved franchise to its design, interface, and special-edition packaging.

Details inspired by the Wizarding World

The device comes in Magic Brown, featuring an Enchanted Texture Leather back with a three-dimensional diamond pattern inspired by the wizard chessboard. At its center is the Hogwarts Four-House Crest, which reveals the signature colors of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff when exposed to direct sunlight or UV light. This effect is made possible by realme’s Quadra Light-Sensing Color-changing Tech.

A Hedwig-inspired camera deco in gold frames the lenses, and the same gold runs along the edges of the phone. The words “Welcome to Hogwarts,” are laser-engraved along the side.

Hogwarts follows onto the screen

Beyond its exterior, the phone carries the Harry Potter theme into its interface. Exclusive wallpapers feature Hogwarts Castle in two settings: Golden Dawn for daytime and Mystic Dusk for nighttime. The theme extends to the boot-up and fingerprint animations inspired by Hogwarts acceptance letters, along with more than 30 redesigned app icons. Photos taken with the phone can also feature watermarks inspired by the four Hogwarts houses.

Inside the Hogwarts trunk

The limited-edition gift box is a Harry Potter-inspired trunk, with the Hogwarts crest and the realme 16 Pro Harry Potter Edition name on its lid. The surprise realme kept under wraps during the teaser turns out to be what is inside.

Fans will find a Hogwarts acceptance letter addressed to Mr. Potter, a set of Harry Potter character postcards featuring Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and bookmarks for the four houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. The package also contains Hogwarts Crest pins and a ticket inspired by the Hogwarts Express, with the route marked from London to Hogwarts via Platform 9¾.

Priced at PHP 39,999, the realme 16 Pro 5G Harry Potter Edition joins the realme 16 Pro 5G Series as a limited release for fans and collectors. Fewer than 200 units will be available nationwide, with Hogwarts-inspired store displays at SM Fairview, SM North EDSA, and SM Calamba. The device will also be available at kiosks in SM Clark, SM Dasmariñas, and SM Megamall.

For more updates on the realme 16 Pro 5G Harry Potter Edition, follow realme’s official Facebook page.