Vivo launched a special photo contest in time to celebrate the Chinese New Year this 2018.
The photo contest held last February 3 and 4 at Binondo in Manila, first involving a few well-known lifestyle bloggers for a first taste.
Vivo invited 18 lifestyle bloggers for eventful photowalk around the oldest China town in the world. Bloggers were asked to capture photos that embody the Chinese culture may it be the food, the ambiance, the traditional lucky ornaments, or Binondo’s old charm as a whole.
Bloggers enjoyed taking photos with their Vivo smartphone because of its known first-rate features:
The 24MP front camera for perfect CNY celebration selfies complemented by the camera’s HDR mode for stunning images with dramatic shadowing and highlights and the portrait bokeh for added aesthetics.
The professional mode, which mimics the manual mode of DSLR cameras, allows users to adjust the exposure, white balance, ISO, and focus mode creating creative photos.
Vivo’s signature Face Beauty spec ensures that anyone’s selfie game is flawless with its natural face enhancements.
The Ultra HD mode takes hi-resolution photos at 9216x6192 (64MP), allowing for shots with very clear details.
Lastly, bloggers were able to come together for a good group shot with the Groufie technology which boasts of a panorama-panning effect for big group shots without leaving anyone out.
The two-day Binondo photowalk with the bloggers was a special promotional event to get the bloggers’ followers to join Vivo’s Chinese New Year (CNY) Photo Contest where a participant needs to take the best Chinese New Year-inspired photos and upload them in their Instagram account for a chance to win a brand-new Vivo V7+.
The bloggers’ photowalk for Vivo’s CNY Photo Contest proved to be a success as entries numbering to more than 200 have been uploaded on Instagram by February 14. Out of all the entries, the top four best creative photos were chosen by the participating lifestyle bloggers with one winner announced during the Chinese New Year celebrations last February 16 at the Lucky Chinatown Mall. At the event, Vivo showcased the Chinese New Year-inspired photos in a special photowall. Vivo’s official mascot Little V entertained the crowd with a dance rendition of the hit song 24k.
Later, Vivo awarded the Chinese New Year Photo Contest winner Angela Palacio for her photo of her Vivo V5 capturing an illuminated stretch of red Chinese lanterns.
CNY Winner Angela Palacio
The lifestyle bloggers who joined the Vivo CNY Photowalk were:
(February 3) Ana Gonzales, Rhea Gonzales, Katt Valdez, Myke Soon, Ryan San Juan, Cristelle Torres, John Bueno, Paul Chuapoco, and Yuki Tansengco;
(February 4) Ed Uy, Jeman Villanueva, Justin Montas, Jerhwin Hernandez, Nikole Maturan, Anthony Neilson, Collen Vidal, Louie Denver, and Slyve Sy.
Vivo influencers also helped promote the CNY Photo Contest through their Instagram accounts: KZ Tandingan, TJ Monterde, Darren Espanto, Joyce Pring, Tony Labrusca, and Sassa Dagdag.
Power Mac Center has always been all-out in supporting technology-assisted creative expression. Just recently, the premier Apple partner gathered young creatives, mostly photographers and videographers, in an event called Lounge to help them build connections in the industry, get to interact and learn first-hand from professionals like Director Brillante Mendoza and Shaira Luna, and discover powerful devices to boost their craft.
Young creatives get up close with Power Mac Center and LaCie brand ambassadors Director Brillante Mendoza and Shaira Luna to learn tricks of the trade at the Lounge, a meet-up of creative minds to connect them with professionals and help them discover powerful devices to boost their craft.
In partnership with LaCie, a French brand of digital storage solutions, Power Mac Center was able to get internationally acclaimed Director Brillante Mendoza to talk about his experience in the film industry and give the young creatives tips in filmmaking.
“I use several cameras on the set. I use three to four cameras on the set. 4K lahat so mabibigat yung mga files so on the set, we make sure na right after the shoot or even during the shoot actually, kailangan tina-transfer and LaCie is really very useful in that aspect,” Mendoza told his audience.
An independent filmmaker through and through, Mendoza enjoys the full creative freedom to tell his story the way he wants to. His biggest challenge though, was sourcing for funds. So in order to secure his hard work, which is the film itself, Mendoza makes sure to invest in equipment that are reliable and provide him with complete peace of mind.
Meanwhile, for her part, professional fashion and advertising photographer Shaira Luna talked about what drives her to follow her passion in photography and how LaCie complements her on-the-go lifestyle and keeps her file transfer speedy and protected.
“I’m very thankful that I have LaCie to back me up. I just have so many pictures if only you know. I’ve started organizing my Instagram into color themes because I just have that many photos,” Luna said.
Luna loves being a photographer because it allows her to travel and meet a lot of people, especially creative minds she gets to work with in the process.
“Power Mac Center shares LaCie’s commitment to support the creative community. More than anything, we provide solutions to the demands of the industry from creatives of today,” said Power Mac Center Marketing Director Joey Alvarez.
An evening of fun, learning, and discovery, the Lounge event was meant to bring creatives together and “lounge” with industry movers to share/brew ideas. LaCie will continue to hold such pocket events for its new products this 2018.
LaCie is Seagate’s premium brand of world-class storage solutions designed for Mac users, photographers, videographers, audio professionals, and other power users. Its products are available in Power Mac Center stores nationwide.
For more information as well as updates on future events, follow @powermaccenter on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or YouTube.
Eastern Communications and Marriott Manila recently celebrated their Strong Connection and partnership at an afternoon tea hosted at Marriott Manila’s Still Tea & Whisky Bar.
Eastern Communications is one of the country’s top premier telecommunications companies, trailblazing paths for business connectivity in strategic locations in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and Baguio.
Powered by Eastern Communications, Marriott Manila is a testimony to Easterns’ continued vision of providing the hospitality industry with innovative data services and faster, more reliable internet connection.
Creating Stronger Connections
- Marriott Manila -
Marriott Manila General Manager Bruce Winton lauded Eastern Communications as a connectivity partner, providing fast and reliable internet connections for their guests, restaurants, and events.
And the partnership can only grow stronger as Winton also detailed Marriott Manila’s latest projects and delicious dining offers for 2018 like Marriott Café’s Barrels of the Sea Seafood Buffet. Available on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Barrels of the Sea treats guests to the freshest catch from huge barrels that they can have cooked to their taste. From tiger prawns, salmon, yellowfin tuna, live crabs, clams and more, seafood lovers will find this feast irresistible!
Sundays have also become even more delicious at Marriott Manila with delectable brunch and lunch offers. Available from 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Marriott Café adds a tasty twist to their already hefty brunch menu as each diner is entitled to an add-on ala carte plate with an option to get 1, more or all of the 4 special dishes – a beef, fish, goose liver dish or dessert.
Meanwhile, Cru Steakhouse is calling all meat lovers to a steak fete to add salt and pepper to their Sunday! From 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Cru Sreakhouse is offering an unlimited serving of U.S. Certified Angus Roast Beef paired with a serving of salad or soup, 2 side dishes and a slice of the classic apple pie? Guests would be crazy not to book a table for this great Sunday Steak-day!
- Eastern Communications -
Providing fast and reliable internet for the hospitality industry
Catherine Muynila, Eastern Communications’ Head of Marketing, also shared details about Eastern Communications latest products and services for hotels and restaurants, highlighting the company’s edge in providing better services for the hospitality industry.
These products include their Internet Direct Service or IDS, a premium and dedicated internet service with a 1:1 contention ratio. It runs through Eastern Communications’ fully redundant fiber optic network, capable of providing gigabit per second connection between the Philippines and peering partners in the Asia Pacific Region, as well as the US and Europe. IDS has high-speed, high quality and redundant links that are ideal for companies with round-the-clock, mission critical transactions.
Meanwhile the ISDN PRI is a voice service that allows customers to utilize multiple voice channels through a single phone line. ISDN PRI service is suited for companies with high voice traffic, such as contact centers, which allow clients to experience better value for money without sacrificing voice quality.
The launch of customized packages for different industries is part of Eastern Communications’ vision of providing customers with its unique brand of “high tech and high touch” service.
High tech, Muynila described, means delivering products and services that are at par with other telecommunication companies while high touch means offering personalized customer service and solutions to their clients, helping them to arrive at solution suited to their company or industry’s needs.
As Marriott Manila and Eastern Communications kicks off 2018, they look forward to leveraging their Strong Connection to help hotel guests discover and enjoy everything the digital world has to offer during their stay in Marriott Manila – from sharing unique dining and vacation experiences for those on vacation, to making doing business smoother and faster.
For more information on Eastern Communications and its products and services, visit eastern.com.ph.
Welcome Home to our National Skater – Michael Martinez from the 2018 Pyeongchong Winter Olympics !
Michael Martinez
Michael Martinez represented the Philippines in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea where he came up short in his bid to advance in the men's single figure skating event. Despite the setback, the winter Olympian is honoured to be given the chance to compete once more in the global ice tournament.
“Competing at that level of the winter Olympics, in the company of world-class figure skating talents, and performing in front of the world, is already a reward. I am honoured to have represented the country in that tournament and hope I have become an inspiration to the next generation of ice athletes,” said Martinez.
SM Lifestyle and Entertainment chief operations officer Herman Emiliano Medina-Cue presented Michael Martinez with a certificate of recognition February 22, 2018 held at the SM Skating, SM Mall of Asia
Martinez was welcomed home by his family, supporters and fans. He was also presented with a certificate of recognition for his efforts in representing the country and heralding ice skating in the Philippines to new heights.
Martinez had a relatively short time to prepare as the Philippines was only advised and allowed to compete as a first alternate after Olympic qualifier Sweden withdrew in January. Prior to his return to the winter Olympics, Martinez won the silver medal in the 2017 Southeast Asian Games.
SM Skating
SM Skating, a major patron in the country’s ice sports program, has vowed to continue developing the talents and skills of young, aspiring athletes, to keep alive dreams of qualifying and making a strong finish in future winter Olympics games and other tournaments.
SM Skating executives reiterated their commitment to provide training and offer world-class ice skating facilities to Filipino ice athletes after welcoming home figure skater Michael Christian Martinez at the Olympic-size rink inside the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
“We are grateful for the sacrifices made and dedication shown by Michael Martinez in the just concluded winter Olympics. He has become not only a source of pride but also an inspiration especially for the budding ice athletes who, I believe, will carry our country’s colors in future international competitions,” said Herman Emiliano Medina-Cue, SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. chief operating officer.
Home of the country’s ice athletes
SM Lifestyle Entertainment Inc. has been supporting the development of Filipino ice athletes, including the Southeast Asian Games gold medal-winning Philippine Ice Hockey team, and various ice sports in the country by implementing the SM ice skating sports program and maintaining Olympic-size ice skating rinks in Metro Manila and Cebu City.
Some of the young athletes who train at SM Skating are figure skaters Jules Alpe, Alisson Perticheto, Samantha Cabiles, and Sofia Guidote.
The ice skating rink at the SM Mall of Asia can host not only recreational and competitive figure skating and speed skating events but also ice hockey games.
Located at the main mall’s third level, the 1,800-square meter rink boasts of complete facilities for hockey games such as a digital scoreboard, players’ boxes, scorekeeper and penalty boxes as well as two locker rooms with hot and cold shower.
Visitors can conveniently watch practices, training, exhibitions, shows, games and tournaments at the 200-seater stands located around the rink. Those wanting to take a quick bite can head to the snack booth for hotdogs, burgers, nachos, popcorn, coffee cakes, pastries and ice-cold beverages.
The ice skating rink also has a spacious lobby and multi-purpose rooms for sports training, meetings, and social functions while a clinic provides immediate first-aid assistance for any minor sports-related injuries.
About SM Skating
Starting as a leisure rink built by the inspired Henry Sy Sr. whose interest was piqued by the grace and class of figure skating, the SM Skating Rink possesses the only Olympic sized ice skating rinks in the entire country. Aside from being a venue for events and leisurely skating, the SM Skating Rink also provides lessons for Figure Skating, Ice Hockey, and other sports on ice. Proving right of Henry Sy Sr.’s vision of a tropical country excelling in a winter-based sport, the SM Skating Rink has been home to world class figure skaters, such as Michael Martinez, who internationally compete in prestigious championships such as the Winter Olympics in Sochi. This year, the SM Skating Rink will introduce more sports and activities to learn on the ice, and events that will cater to the existing and new winter-based sports.
The Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena is the leading venue for local and international entertainment and sporting events. Aside from this, it also offers an all-around leisure experience with its ultramodern facilities, including deluxe corporate suites and specially-curated food establishments.
Among the arena’s world-class facilities is the Premiere Café + Lounge, a luxurious, private restaurant catering to Premiere Suite section ticketholders.
Located at the third level of the Arena, the Premiere Café welcomes diners into a classy and stylish lounge where they can savor delectable gourmet dishes. During sporting events, guests are also treated to a view of the game with its bar seats facing the arena.
The VIP treatment for all
Recently, the Premiere Café + Lounge opened its doors to all ticketholders of the #PaMORE pre-valentine concert. Not only were the guests able to enjoy the stunning voices of iconic OPM artists Martin Rivera, Ogie Alcasid, Regine Velasquez and Erik Santos, they also savored a delicious buffet dinner at the exclusive restaurant.
With every ticket purchase, concert-goers were given an option to buy a ticket for the buffet dinner. Many couples looking for a complete Valentine’s date package availed of the dinner. The restaurant’s ambiance was fit for romance as a red carpet, “Happy Valentine’s Day” greetings and pink heart decorations welcomed guests as they were led to candlelit dinner tables adorned with vases of flowers and hearts. Outside, lovely pairs captured their sweetest moments in a photo wall of fairy lights and roses that formed a gigantic heart.
Previously, the Premiere Lounge was also opened to concert goers at Mariah Carey’s “The Elusive Chanteuse Show” and Madonna’s “Rebel Heart Tour Concert”. This year, SM Mall of Asia Arena patrons can expect to avail of the exclusive offer during select major concerts.
“With this special Premiere Café package, we wanted to give our patrons the VIP experience as we are definitely looking into more opportunities for them to enjoy not just the events but also the luxurious amenities that the MOA Arena has to offer,” shares Herman Medina-Cue, SM Lifestyle Entertainment, Inc. Chief Operating Officer.
Watch out for the next cool concert or upcoming sports event and get ready to dine at the Premiere Café + Lounge to experience the VIP treatment that only the Mall of Asia Arena offers!
About SM Lifestyle Incorporated, Inc.
SM Lifestyle Entertainment Incorporated or SMLEI is the lifestyle and entertainment solutions company of SM Prime Holdings Inc. that offers the best in, events, movies, and leisure. The company has now grown major brands, which include the Mall of Asia Arena, SM Tickets, e-PLUS Tap to Pay, SM Skating Rink, SM Bowling and Leisure Center, Snack Time, Galeón, and SM Cinema. SMLEI aims to promote bonding activities among Filipino families and friends, through entertainment and leisure facilities, while advocating the ease of use and personalized service created to complement the Filipino lifestyle.
