Chino Roque, the first Filipino Astronaut to travel into space this coming year

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Daniel Angelo "Chino" Roque, 22-year-old psychology graduate from De La Salle Manila, is the first Filipino Astronaut to travel into space this coming year. 

Roque bested two other Filipinos, Evan Ray Datuin and Ramil Santos in the Axe Apollo Space Academy Competition.

He will travel together with 21 individuals from 60 countries for a 30-minute trip to space in 2014 on-board with XCOR Lync space plane. 

“Right now I’m very happy that a lot of people have been showing me their love and support. I feel so blessed and grateful to all of them,” Roque said in an interview.

The legendary astronaut Buzz Aldrin declared Roque the first Filipino astronaut during awarding ceremonies at the Kennedy Space Center.

Roque will join 24 other winners who will fly to space in a Space Expedition Corp. shuttle.

According to space science website Space.com, winners of the AXE promo are expected to ride the XCOR Aerospace Lynx space plane, a shuttle designed for sub-orbital flight.

SM Consortium confident to win light rail single ticketing project

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SM Consortium, led by SM Investments Corp. with members BDO Capital and Investment Corp., Advanced Card Systems Ltd. and Penta Capital Investment Corp., is confident of a favorable result in the ongoing financial evaluation of the MRT/LRT Automated Fare Collection System Project.

“With no cost to the government to build and modernize the ticketing system and a one-time concession fee of P1,088,000,000 to be paid to the government unconditionally, we believe that our proposal is most advantageous to the government and the riding public,” said Norman T. Pe, senior vice president of Penta Capital.

The Department of Transportation and Communication is now evaluating the proposals of the three bidders – AF Consortium led by BPI, SM Consortium and Comworks Berjaya Consortium – which passed the technical proposal stage. 

“SM, the country’s largest retail chain, will be able to maximize the potential of this innovation through the wide retail acceptance and other applications,” added Denny Wong, chairman of Advanced Card Systems Ltd of Hongkong.

The winning bidder will be announced before Dec. 24 and notice to proceed is expected to be issued in the third week of January 2014.

Celebrate the Yuletide season with treats from Philips

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More than just stocking stuffers

Christmas is one of the most anticipated and joyful times of the year. It’s also one of the busiest—our schedules can get easily packed, from Christmas parties to last minute shopping sprees. But Christmas doesn’t have to be stressful—plan your Christmas list ahead so you can sit back and relax as you enjoy this year’s Yuletide season.

Philips is helping you have a fuss-free Christmas with this gift guide from its line of consumer products. Whether it’s for family or friends, Philips makes sure you can give them the gift of looking and feeling good for the holidays and beyond.

For discerning audiophiles

Outdoor-loving music lovers will never want to leave home without the Philips O’Neill Headphones Cruz.

Philips O’Neill Headphones Cruz

It features deep bass sound and a simple plug and play design so you can enjoy your tunes on the go. Its robust modular design can withstand the toughest impact, and its ultra-tough, tangle-free flat cable is really designed for the great adventurers and extreme sports personalities. It comes in 6 eye-catching colors to fit any lifestyle.

Philips CitiScape Fixie Headphones 

Philips CitiScape Frame Headphones

City-dwelling individuals will always look in style while listening to their favorite music with the Philips CitiScape Fixie Headphones. Innovative design meets urban style in this range, as it features a monogrammed detailing, rich bass and excellent noise isolation through its closed acoustic system and high quality drivers. The Philips CitiScape Fixie come in black and teal. The Philips CitiScape Frame Headphones come with built-in microphone to allow easy switch from music to phone calls. Enjoy precision sound from its closed acoustic system and premium drivers. It has a compact foldable design for easy portability and storage.

Philips Action Fit Headphones

Working out without music can be boring. For fitness buffs who love to accompany their workout with music, go for the Philips Action Fit Headphones. It features ultra-light, flexible and sweat-resistant rubber, delivers a superb deep bass sound, and is equipped with ultra-soft silicon caps and a reflective stopper in the cable.

Philips Portable Bluetooth Speakers SBT30

If your guy is the life of the party, he’ll always want to have the Philips Portable Bluetooth Speakers SBT30 right by his side all the time. Big in sound but small in size, the Philips Portable Bluetooth speakers offer powerful sound supported by wireless music streaming via Bluetooth. They are also equipped with a rechargeable battery for playback and built-in microphone for hands-free phone calls. It comes in 5 exciting colors to choose from.

Philips SoundBar HTL9100 Philips 3D Blu-RayAmbisoundSoundBar

The Philips SoundBar Range will let your loved ones enjoy their favorite movies right in the comfort of their homes. The Philips SoundBar HTL9100 beams crystal-clear surround sound from wireless detachable speakers. This SoundBar will also be a main conversation piece for modern homes thanks to its minimalistic design. It also features wireless music streaming via Bluetooth. Meanwhile, the Philips 3D Blu-Ray Ambisound SoundBar HTB9150 prides itself on its ultra-slim design yet delivering immersive sound no matter the room size or shape, with six precisely angled drivers to create an amazing embracing surround sound effect.

The 700 Club Asia levels up the Spirit of Giving with "Wagas ang Bigayan sa CHRISTmas"

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“Wagas ang Bigayan sa CHRISTmas,” a series special live episodes on December 16-20, at 11:00 p.m. over GMA News TV. 

The 700 Club Asia,  fresh from its AnakTV seal award, convincing Filipinos to level up their spirit of giving in  Wagas ang Bigayan sa CHRISTmas.

The TV special hopes to raise more funds to be able to help more people through the CBN Asia Family of Ministries (CBN Asia Media that produces The 700 Club Asia and the top-rating Superbook, Operation Blessing, Asian Center for Mission and The Prayer Center).

“Many of our kababayans are still clamoring for our help and support. In this season of giving, we pray that God touches the heart of people so that they will be cheerful givers to their fellowmen who are needing help and hope. The 700 Club Asia special episodes would be a great opportunity for everybody to spread cheer and touch the lives of others this Christmas season,” says Peter Kairuz, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBN Asia and Operation Blessing and host of The 700 Club Asia.

Peter explained that the theme "Wagas ang Bigayan sa CHRISTmas" captures the generous spirit of Filipinos especially at this time when every opportunity to help counts.

DISCOVER the pure joy of giving and be a part of "Wagas ang BIgayan sa CHRISTmas. Help us help our kababayans so that like you, they will find hope and rest this Christmas season.

Smart exclusively offers first Android KitKat phone

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Here's the first-ever smartphone running on the latest Android 4.4 Kitkat is exclusively available through Smart Communications - Google Nexus by LG.

Google Nexus 5 is the first phone in the Philippines running on Android 4.4 KitKat. It also boasts a 5-inch full-HD display and 8MP camera with image stabilization. It’s the sweetest deal from Smart at Plan 1500 with unlimited LTE!

Executives of LG Philippines and Smart Communications  with the Google Nexus 5 by LG during the  sweet launch of Android KitKat phone last Thursday, December 12, 2013, held at Jump Experience Center, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong City.

Smart Communications offers the Google Nexus by LG for free under Unli Surf Plan 1500. Through the said plan, subscribers can enjoy unlimited Internet surfing on the Nexus 5 over Smart’s 4G LTE network.

Visit  http://www1.smart.com.ph/postpaid/phones/all-phones-and-devices/2013/12/12/google-nexus-5

The postpaid plan comes with 120 all-network text messages and 60 minutes of calls every month within a 30-month lock-in period.

Smart also offers Nexus 5 for PhP 22,500 to prepaid subscribers.

For more information on the features of the Google Nexus 5 by LG visit Smart Communications' Jump Experience Center at the SM Megamall.