Guitarist Extraordinaire Berta Rojas Live in Manila on May 15

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Berta Rojas, a star in the international guitar community, will hold concerts in Manila and Cebu on May 15 and May 17 respectively.

Ms. Rojas is tourism ambassador of her native Paraguay, where she happens to be the most popular musician. It is her profile that greets visitors just coming out of the international airport in Asuncion, the country's capital.

The concert in Manila will be at 8 pm in the Meralco Theater. 

The concert in Cebu will be at 8 pm in the Marcelo Fernan Hall in Lahug. 

Jointly organized by the Independent Philippine Art Ventures, Inc., and the Arts Council of Cebu Foundation, the concerts will be the classical guitar events of the year in the country.

Ramoncito Carpio

Ms. Rojas, described by the Wahington Post as "Guitarist extraordinaire," will play a mainly classical repertoire with a taste of jazz and salsa.

Special guests for the Manila concert are Ramoncito Carpio, the country's most internationally awarded classic guitarist and Triple Fret, a trio composed of Marga Abejo, Jenny de Vera, and Iqui Vinculado. Triple Fret play classical and more accessible pieces.

Carpio started to play guitar at age 12. He decided to study guitar formally at age 17 at the extension program of the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Music. He earned his Bachelor's degree under the tutelage of Prof. Lester Demetillo. He took his Master of Music degree at Philippine Women’s University (PWU) School of Music under the guidance of Prof. Benchito Cariño and is pursuing his doctorate in music with Dr. Angelito Agcaoili in the same school.

Triple Fret

Triple Fret is an all-women classical-contemporary guitar trio that has captivated the hearts of music lovers all over the Philippines with their refreshing brand of music, performance and love for the classical guitar. Its members, Marga Abejo, Jenny de Vera, and Iqui Vinculado received training in the premiere music schools of the country, namely the University of the Philippines College of Music and the University of Santo Tomas Conservatory of Music. The women have brought the appreciation of the classical guitar throughout the country to new heights.

Prior to the concert, BERTA ROJAS will conduct a special MASTER CLASS on May 14, 2014 from 3-6 p.m. at Cedar Room, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, the official residence of Rojas in Manila.

The master class will be open, free of charge, to six students and enthusiasts that qualify in a transparent and competitive process.

In a master class, open to a public audience, the student plays a chosen piece before a virtuoso. The latter evaluates technique, style, interpretation, posture. It is usually a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the student. Berta Rojas will spend 30 minutes with each participant.

For further inquiries, please write Monch Carpio at monchingcarpio@gmail.com
or ipavinc@gmail.com.

The campus networking for the events is spearheaded by the University of Santo Tomas Music Conservatory Student Council, under the leadership of Mary Rose Luzande.

For ticket inquiries, call Ticketworld at 891.9999

LG Mobile offers power in LG G Pro 2 and G2 Mini as revealed in PH

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In 2013, LG G2 was hailed “Best Smartphone in the World” by the prestigious Stuff Magazine.  And after more glowing reports from international tech pundits such as Consumer Reports, The Verge, Engadget, and GSM Arena, the smartphone superstar continued to make waves and top tech charts soon after its launch in the Philippines.

Faith Mijares

LG Mobile proved that this type of power can come in different sizes as it introduced two diverse yet very powerful smartphones from the premium LG G Series to the local market—the LG G Pro 2 and the LG G2 Mini.

The LG G Pro 2 phablet boasts of a staggering 5.9-inch Full HD IPS display as well as highly developed camera functions and user experience (UX) features.  The LG G2 Mini, literally a mini-version of the flagship LG G2, is reduced in size with 4.7 inches but still holds the power and award-winning-capabilities of its mother phone.

Both models were launched locally at the trendy 71 Gramercy bar in Makati City, April 7, 2014.

LG Heads and LG Ambassadors

LG Ambassadors DLSU Archer's Thomas Torres, actress Maxene Magalona, UP Fighting Maroon's Andre Paras

Here's LG G Pro 2: Massive in display, hardware, and UX

The LG G Pro 2 was globally revealed at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona last February 2014 and was praised for its stunning display, versatile camera functions, and innovative UX features, among others.

Its Full HD IPS display stretches 5.9 inches wide and is encased in narrow 3.3mm side bezels.  Users can enjoy crisp and bright images on the large screen, and paired with the new 1 Watt Hi-Fi speaker which generates noticeably clear and amplified sounds, they get a superb multimedia experience.

The smartphone also runs on industry-leading hardware, comprising a 2.26GHz Quad-Core Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 800 chipset with 3GB RAM.  Sporting Android 4.4 KitKat and long-lasting 3,200mAh removable battery, users will be able to maximize smartphone usage efficiently and conveniently.

The LG G Pro 2 offers a 13-megapixel Full HD camera with OIS+ (Optical Image Stabilizer Plus), an improved technology of the original OIS by 20%.  This comes with a winning combination of 120 frames-per-second HD video recording, slow-motion playback with adjustable speed, 4K Ultra HD recording, Magic Focus, and Natural Flash.  A new camera feature, flash capability for selfies, also comes into play.  The G Pro 2’s camera can outshoot and outperform not only most smartphone cameras, but many standalone point-and-shoot cameras as well.

On top of the existing UX features in the LG G Series, the LG G Pro 2 comes equipped with the new Mini View, for those who choose to minimize their displays, and the Dual Browser, for those who want to have two apps visible on the screen at the same time.

“Asian consumers have been the biggest fans of smartphones with displays over five inches,” shared Lawrence Kim, vice president of LG Electronics Philippines’ Mobile Communications division.  “At 5.9 inches locking in power in its display, hardware, and user experience, we trust that the LTE-ready LG G Pro 2, complete with the successful Rear Key, will exceed the high expectations of the Philippine market.”

And here's the LG G2 Mini: Premium features in smaller form

The LG G2 Mini is the first compact smartphone under the premium G Series and was also first unveiled at the MWC last February.  The device offers the design excellence and world-class UX features of the acclaimed LG G2 in a smaller form factor.

Standing at a 4.7-inch qHD IPS display, the G2 Mini retains the innovative design heritage of the Rear Key and minimalist style first introduced in the LG G2.  Its Quad-Core CPU and Android 4.4 KitKat OS are complemented by a strong 2,440mAh removable battery for a prompt and efficient user experience.  The G2 Mini is the ideal device for consumers moving up from a feature phone or upgrading their current smartphones.

“The compact G2 Mini offers design, hardware, and user experience previously unavailable in its class, making it a very attractive option for mid-tier markets,” said Mr. Kim.  “It even adds new and fun features such as flash capability for selfies.  With the G2 Mini, our objective is to allow a much larger consumer base to be able to experience the key benefits of the G2 UX in a smaller form factor.”

First-ever user-oriented Knock Code^TM

The LG G Pro 2 and G2 Mini are the first mobile devices to own Knock Code^TM, a UX feature which enables users to power on and unlock the device in one easy step.  Taking LG’s existing “KnockON” feature to the next level, the Knock Code^TM asks users to enter a customized tapping or knocking pattern on the display, which becomes their own personal code.

Consumer research shows that users check and unlock their devices more than 100 times a day.  And with more than 80,000 possible combinations and no fingerprint streaks, LG’s patented Knock Code™ solution offers a greater level of security over other methods. Customer response has been overwhelmingly positive, as more than 50 percent of participants selected Knock Code™ as the most anticipated feature of the LG G Pro 2 in a survey in Korea.

The massive LG G Pro 2 phablet is available to the local market at P32,990, while the small but powerful LG G2 Mini smartphone retails for P13,990 only.  

For more information, visit www.lg.com/ph, like LG Mobile Philippines on Facebook,

or follow @LGPhilippines on Twitter and Instagram.

Filipino Figure Skater Olympian Michael Martinez Bags Gold in Slovenia Tourney

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Homegrown Figure Skater Olympian Michael Christian Martinez bagged the gold in the recently held Triglav Trophy International Figure Skating Competition in Jesenice, Slovenia. Martinez finished the free skate finals in the Senior Men’s category with a score of 195.13 points, besting Japan, United Kingdom, Korea, Austria and Norway.

Michael Christian Martinez (center) (Photo from Martinez’s Facebook Page)

“I Thank God for this blessing- another gold medal in senior event. It was actually difficult for all of us because the 30 minutes practice sessions were scheduled a day before, and no more practices during the competition days. I'm very happy i made it to first place,” Martinez said and shared on his Facebook page. 

The 18-year old Martinez  now has three gold medals in the senior level, with the Triglav Trophy, the recent Skate Helena in Serbia and the Crystal Skate in Romania last 2012.

Filipino American Samantha Cabiles finished 6th in the Junior Ladies’ category out of 21 skaters with a score of 100.04 points. 

The Philippine Skating Union (PhSU), which is a member of the International Skating Union  (ISU) named Martinez and Cabiles as the country’s representatives to the Triglav Trophy. 

Every year since 1992, the Triglav Trophy gathers over 100 of the best young figure skaters from all over the world. The competition is hosted in Jesenice ice hall Podmežakla and has its roots in 1992. 

Martinez took up figure skating when he was eight, inspired by skaters spinning and jumping while shopping with his mother at SM Southmall. He began training in 2010 in the United States and since then his lifelong dream has been to win an Olympic medal. Martinez has garnered over 190 medals and trophies from various international and local competitions. 

Cabiles, who was born in Hawaii and is now based in Michigan started skating since she was 11. Of Filipino decent, Cabiles also competes in the Philippine Nationals and recently ranked second in the 2013 Philippine National Figure Skating Championships held at SM Mall of Asia every year.

“The Skating Gazelle”

Cabiles also placed 10th in the Junior category of the recent Dragon Trophy competition in Ljubjana, Slovenia in February 2014. She trains in Toronto, Canada. Due to her high and powerful jumps, she earned the moniker, “The Skating Gazelle”. 

SM has been the primary supporter of the PhSU since the latter was established in 2005. SM also provides a venue for the events of PhSU for the promotion of ice skating in the Philippines. PhSU received accreditation from the ISU in 2006, coinciding with the opening of the SM Mall of Asia skating rink that year. In turn, PhSU, as the sole governing body for Figure and Speed Skating provides SM and its ice skating rinks with marketing tools such as local and international skating events and its network of skating athletes. 

Through the years, SM and the PhSU have conducted several figure skating competitions that have given birth to international champions such as Martinez. 

The PhSU is the governing body in the country for figure skating and speed skating. It is a member of the ISU which is the exclusive international sports federation recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The ISU administers speed and figure skating throughout the world. It is composed of a number of national organizations called ISU members who administer ISU sports at the national level.

Michael Martinez performance at SM Megamall SM Skating Rink

The excellence demonstrated by skaters especially during competitions is a mark of quality that the SM Skating Rink can provide with its world-class venue and facilities. Property conglomerate SM Prime Holdings, Inc. operates skating rinks through SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. at the SM Mega Fashion Hall in Mandaluyong, SM Mall of Asia in Pasay, and SM Southmall in Las Pinas.

LINE global community is 400M strong

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Filipino LINE subscribers join a rapidly growing worldwide community of users

 

As LINE enthralls more Filipinos with its colorful combination of features and services, the mobile messaging app’s global community continues to post unprecedented growth as it recently surpassed 400 million users.

Since its launch in 2011, LINE has grown into a global communications app that lets users communicate through voice and video calls, as well as stickers and text messages.

“One of our goals for 2014 was to reach over 500 million users and today we’ve been able reach the milestone of 400 million,” says Akira Morikawa, CEO of LINE Corporation. “I’d like to thank all our users and supporters for their help so far.”

Behind growing user bases in North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia, the amount of LINE’s daily new users has reached a record-breaking pace of 1.7 million per day—indicating rapid worldwide growth.

Alongside the rising number of users, the amount of communication made through LINE has also skyrocketed. Since the start of 2014, records have been set for the daily usage of chat messages (10 billion/day), sticker messages (1.8 billion/day), and phone calls (over 12 million/day).

Morikawa remarks, “Along with the rapid proliferation of smartphones, the level of competition in the global communications app market has become fiercer than ever, and is only intensifying every day. We believe that this shows that messaging services have become the crux of our mobile society, and demonstrates their incredible worth.”

To separate itself from other messaging apps in the market, LINE continuously innovates new features and services. In the Philippines, it recently introduced LINE Call—a new function that allows users to call landlines and cellular phones for affordable prices. By boosting its multi-functionality with features like this, LINE hopes to increase its value for Filipino users.

Morikawa concludes, “With all of this in mind, LINE aims to further its growth and become the world’s top communications infrastructure, taking on many new challenges along the way.”

#BetterTogether ! Let's Celebrate real-world connections with McDonald’s and Coca-Cola!

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Partners McDonald’s and Coca-Cola celebrates with us in the real-world connections! People nowadays have a lot of options when it comes to interacting with one another. All the advancements in technology, smartphones and gadgets allow us to communicate online via messaging apps and social networking sites. 

And more often than not, more connections start happening in the digital world than in the real one. 

This is why these two iconic, global brands and long-time partners, McDonald’s and Coca-Cola, which champion happiness, enjoyment and togetherness, are taking a stand and encouraging people to stay offline a little longer and enjoy real-world connections.

And as embracing online connections, McDonald’s and Coca-Cola believe it is our physical interactions which make our digital lives more meaningful—that real-life moments, such as hearing a story in person, receiving a warm hug and sharing a McDonald’s meal and Coke drink face-to-face, are those which create lasting memories.

“McDonald’s and Coca-Cola have been partners for close to 60 years, together providing millions of customers great tasting food and beverages best shared together”, said McDonald’s Philippines President and CEO, Kenneth Yang. “Today, together as well, McDonald’s and Coca-Cola are taking a stand that real-life connections fuel our digital lives and enrich our relationships”, added Coca-Cola Philippines President and General Manager, Guillermo Aponte.

We really have fun and enjoyed with real-connections last Monday, April 7, 2014 as McDonald's and Coca-Cola celebrates with bloggers and celebrities and treats us with BFF Bundles, held at McDonald's Eton Centris Quezon Ave. Edsa. 

Inviting people to create these genuine moments of connection, McDonald’s and Coca-Cola are introducing the new BFF Bundles, an exciting menu offering designed to be shared among friends and family.

With the BFF Bundles for just Php 399 for a group of three or Php 559 for a group of four, customers can customize their bundled offers, choosing between their favorite McDonald’s products. 

With the BFF Burger Bundle, customers can choose from seven of their favorite McDonald’s Burgers and enjoy them with the new BFF Fries, big enough for the entire gang to enjoy together, and a refreshingly ice-cold Regular Coke for each one.

Friends who prefer Chicken McDo can opt for the BFF Chicken Bundle and choose between 1pc Chicken McDo and McSpaghetti or 2pc Chicken McDo with rice, complete with BFF Fries and Regular Coke.

For a delicious shared snack, those who constantly find themselves wanting to get their hands on McDonald’s World Famous Fries paired perfectly the Coke McFloat, Coca-Cola drink topped with soft serve vanilla and chocolate syrup, the BFF Fries and Float combo is theirs to enjoy for an affordable price of only Php 150. 

So what are you waiting for? Head to the McDonald’s store nearest you, call 86-2-36 or log on to www.mcdelivery.com.ph to enjoy quality time with your friends over the newest BFF Bundles. 

Tell us how you’re celebrating real-world connections by using the hashtag #BetterTogether.