Mizuno, perfectly balanced for your daily runs - Here's Wave Catalyst 2 and Wave Shadow, for the Squad Run: Road to 42km

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Whether you're running or playing sports, you are always competing, here's a brand that’s on the same quest for perfection. Mizuno offers a wide range of shoes to cater to different types of runners, so you can find the right shoe for your running needs!

Mizuno Philippines launched their featured performance running shoes, the Wave Catalyst 2 and Wave Shadow, for the month of July. 

Last Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at the Mizuno Store in Bonifacio High Street, both shoes were launched together with the Mizuno’s Squad Run: Road to 42km.

The launch was with Mizuno sponsored running coaches, Ige Lopez, Pat Joson and Nhea Barcena with some of their students and together with bloggers and writers attended the said event. 

Brand introduction was led by Karla Bello, the Business Unit Senior Manager and Marketing head for Master Sports - Mizuno while the product presentation was done by Xavier Medina, who is also the Business Unit Senior Manager and Product Specialist. 

Coach Ige Lopez also, shared with the attendees his experience and love for the featured products and lastly, the Squad Run: Road to 42km was discussed by Madeleine Castillo, the Marketing Communications Officer. All attendees got to bring home their own pair of Wave Catalyst 2 and Wave Shadow.

The Wave Catalyst 2 and the Wave Shadow come hand in hand when it comes to performance, one is for support and the other is for neutral, respectively. The Wave Catalyst 2 comes in two colors for men, one color is blue and its updated color way is red while the Wave Shadow only comes in blue.

Performance shoes are built with lower profile midsole dimensions for a more responsive performance ride. The Wave Catalyst 2 is a responsive performance support trainer that aims to keep up with runners who do fast training on a daily basis. It has been redesigned and reborn as a true performance shoe. It has a lowered offset at 10mm, yet the sole design remains the same as its predecessor, with the U4ic midsole material that offers more bounce and durability. 

The upper area as compared to the previous Catalyst has been made into a light weight and highly breathable engineered mesh with the Run Bird logo arch support and soft PU printed overlays straight from the Bio-mimicry concept, which are strategically placed to form the shoe around the arch and heel. It also has a softer collar that lets the ankle area feel more free.

The Wave Shadow is a new model by Mizuno. It is a new revolutionary everyday fast, go to shoe. It is lightweight, highly responsive, and cushioned enough to keep the runner going fast. The Wave Shadow just like the Wave Catalyst 2 are performance trainers but is made for neutral foot types. 

The sole offers a perfect blend of speed and comfort, the 8mm heel drop will give the user that “low-to- ground” feel of a racing shoe while the cushioned supportive midsole provides a running shoe like comfort. The latest updates will not let you down on a fast run. As for its upper, the pursuit of perfection and simplicity has taken the upper fit comfort to new heights. It has an internal toe cap with a one-piece mesh upper construction that provides a seamless fit.

Squad Run: Road to 42km

Mizuno Philippines is having a Squad Run 2! 

In succession to the Squad Run done last year 2017, it is back again for a more intense set of runners. This year’s Squad Run is entitled Squad Run 2018: Road to 42km. It will be a series of one long run per weekend, for 3 whole months, with the end goal of eventually being able to run the marathon distance of 42km. The rationale behind this run is that the runners no longer have to feel lonely during their long runs, because Mizuno has now provided them with a community of long distance runners that are passionate to the sport and is supportive of one another. 

Registration opened on July 11, 2018 via the link  https://www.tinyurl.com/Roadto42-Registration

The coaches who would be leading the said runs are Coach Ige Lopez, Coach Pat Joson, Coach Nhea Barcena and Coach George Vilog. As for where the runs will be held it shall vary per coach. For BGC runs, it will be Coach Ige or Coach Nhea and for the Alabang runs or runs within Tarlac and Cavite, it would be Coach Pat or Coach George, respectively.

For the first session, an assessment run will be held to see who can or cannot keep up with the coaches’ pace and once the official sessions begin, for the first month they will be working on the longest distance that they can do for 1.5 hours, for the second month it would be for 1.5 to 2.5 hours and for the final month they will be working on their longest distance for 3 hours. As mentioned, this Squad Run aims to have its runners eventually run 42 km. Hence, runners who continuously improve and attend would receive prizes from Mizuno. The runners will also be able to do this incrementally, with the help of Milestone runs. These runs are optional runs and will be in the form of OYMor On Your Mark and the Osaka Marathon 2018. Although not all, some runners who joined the squad run will get to be part of the Osaka Marathon. In order to be fair the slots will be raffled out once again here in the Philippines only, to the squad runners and to anyone else who has the means to go to the Osaka Marathon but never got the slot. Raffle entries may be obtained by purchasing Mizuno running shoes at SRP. The raffle duration will be from July 13, 2018 to August 16, 2018.

Always wanted your running shoes comfortable? Then Mizuno's Wave Shadow or Wave Catalyst 2 is for you! Lightweight cushioned, highly responsive. softer collar, highly breathable.

Kickstart-up Communications Agency Ascends into the Big League!

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ComCo Southeast Asia Hits 2^nd Year with 13 Quill Awards and Agency of the Year Nomination, 

13 NewBiz Wins and a New Command Center

Fresh off the heels of the 16^th IABC Philippine Quill Awards, fast-rising and award-winning communications agency ComCo Southeast Asia has made a mark on the communications scene in a short span of two years since its launch in 2016. The past year has been a monumental one for the budding agency filled with new recognitions, new collaborations, and even a new headquarters! All of this is possible through ComCo SEA’s three agency thrusts, instilled in everything they do: Igniting Brand love, Igniting Social Change, and Igniting Talent.

The ComCo Squadron, dressed in its official brand color imperial purple, takes center stage in the recently held 16^th IABC Philippine Quill Awards.

Industry Recognition

After winning two IABC Quill Awards of Excellence for Igniting Brand Love - The Launch of ComCo Southeast Asia and M&M’s Vote PH Campaign the previous year, the company ascended into even greater heights this year by being nominated for Agency of the Year and winning 13 IABC Quill Awards! 

The IABC Quill Award is the world’s most prestigious awards program in the field of business communication. It has been bestowing the seal of approval to the most reputable organizations and corporations in the nation for almost two decades, emphasizing the use of excellent communication to achieve business goals, and to make a difference in society. To win a Philippine Quill means being recognized as achieving the highest Global Standard for business communication practices. 

ComCo Southeast Asia won the prestigious Quill Awards for the following: AirAsia - World Vision See the World Initiative for Audio-Visual, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Nonprofit Campaign; WWF Earth Hour Camp for Special Event and Nonprofit Campaign; Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz KKK for Publication; Pioneer Insurance #MoveOnLang Song Writing Competition for Social Media and Corporate Social Responsibility; Eastern Communications rebranding campaign for Internal Communications; AirAsia Red Talks season 1 for Marketing, Advertising and Brand Communications, Digital Communications and Audio-Visual; and #CitizenComCo - the ComCo Southeast Asia Advocacy Communications practice for Corporate Social Responsibility. 

Likewise, Pioneer Insurance #MoveOnLang Song Writing Competition also bagged two silver Anvil Awards from the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP) earlier this year. In 2017, ComCo SEA was also recognized in Kidlat Awards and Spikes Asia by being part of the winning team of Snickers Don’t Drive Hungry and in Mumbrella Asia Awards for doing the Philippine leg of TCL Inspiring Bonding Moments. 

New Business Wins

The past year was not only filled with recognitions and retaining long-term partners such as Electrolux, WWF, Eastern Communications and Lamoiyan Corporation’s Licealiz.

ComCo SEA also won a number of inter-agency pitches acquiring new accounts such as PR for SM Cinema (including IMAX, Director’s Club and SnackTime), environmental sustainability research project for Coca-Cola, Digital and Social for Dragonpay and SureTayo, PR for Lamoiyan Corporation’s Hapee Kiddie and GumTect, Healthcare Communications for The Medical City - Clark, PR for Oakley and Reef, Development Communications for UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund), and PR for Bai Nian Tang Bao restaurant, Wake Up Manila job convention and Goodyear. 

The New ComCo SEA Command Center

From starting out on a shared space in Makati CBD (Central Business District), ComCo SEA moved into its new and own headquarters they call home on the 32^nd floor of the BPI-Philam Life Makati building along Ayala Avenue, Makati City. 

Visitors and guests, as soon as they are in the hallway outside, will notice the company’s bubbly and vibrant imperial purple logo greeting them. The office, known as the ComCo SEA Command Center, is home to the ComCo Squadron composed of ComCoys (directors and staff) and ComCowans (apprentices), a reference to the love of the team has for Star Wars. This particular passion for pop culture is seen all through the office floor with each room’s name being a reference, such as the Millennium Falcon (the primary craftsmanship studio), the Watch Tower (the conference room), the Cerebro (the leader’s room) and the Room of Requirements, among others.

Igniting Talent

To celebrate the Agency’s 2^nd Anniversary and plan ahead for its #RoadToYear3, the squadron spent their away days in a week-long trip in the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan! They were able to reflect, recalibrate, and regroup together for its next conquest. 

The Squadron has also injected new and young blood into its team, enabling and turning its bright, talented, and passionate young associates into becoming full-fledged communication experts. They recently hired new Associates for Brand Communications and Finance & Administration, and engaged Enablers for Digital Solutions and Information Technology. 

Most of its workforce came from ComCo SEA’s very own mentorship program called Camp ComCo. Now on its 8^th cycle, over 20 apprentices have gone through its real-world and practical on-the-job training involving workshops and sessions delivered by industry leaders as well as a mentee-mentor relationship between employees and apprentices, enabling the interns to perform actual work in the field. 

#RoadToYear3

The past two years were certainly full of exponential and positive growth for the Agency. The year 2018, however, is shaping up to be an ever better year for the kickstart-up now mainstream player ComCo Southeast Asia. 

ComCo SEA Regional Integration and Executive Director Ferdinand Bondoy shared, “As Walt Disney said before – It’s kind of fun to do the impossible. Everything is overwhelming as we are just on our #RoadToYear 3. I guess if you are having fun in what you do best, with a fantastic team, in a more home like environment, where we can work on our crafts knowing everyone got each other’s back, the impossible becomes possible. We were able to create a culture that inspires all of us to pursue our life’s work, and make a difference, together.” 

Whatever lies ahead in the next year, ComCo Southeast Asia is sure to ascend even further, reaching new heights and breaking new grounds. 

To know more and get in touch with ComCo Southeast Asia, please

visit www.comco-hq.com or www.facebook.com/comco.southeastaasia or e-mail commandcenter@comco-hq.com

Still/Born, Winner of SCARIEST FILM AWARD Hits Ph Theaters This August

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At The Overlook Film Festival that celebrates all things horror, thriller/horror film Still/Born won the “Scariest Film” upon its world premiere. Directed by Brandon Christensen, Still/Born tells the story of the perfectly happy life of newlyweds Mary (Christie Burke) and Jack (Jesse Moss) until they lose one of their twins at childbirth. The plot thickens when Mary develops psychosis after learning of a demon, “Lamashtu” who preys on newborns and their mothers. 

“The amount of attachment that happens between a parent and child is beyond anything I’ve ever imagined, and the thought of losing one is incomprehensible.” Christensen shares his thoughts about the concept, “So how does it feel when you lose one twin that you never met, but at the same time, still have the other one perfectly healthy?”

After the nominations at the British Columbia award program Leo Awards for “ Black Fly” (2014) and a role in “Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2” (2012), Christie Burke plays a phenomenal Mary as she depicts the depth of the mind of a mother stuck between two worlds. While four-time Leo-nominated and Best Male Lead in Canadian TV drama “Whistler,“ Jesse Moss captures the audience as he represents the perspective of a man who witnesses the love of his life become someone he can no longer trust. 

Also among the cast are Michael Ironside, Rebecca Olson, Sean Rogerson, and Grace Christensen. Written by Colin Minihan of The Vicious Brothers (Grave Encounters) and Brandon Christensen, Still/Born is rapidly becoming one of this year’s most compelling horror films. It debuted The Overlook Film Festival at horror’s most iconic hotel The Timberline Lodge and won SCARIEST FILM of the festival in 2017.

According to SLASHFILM, Still/Born “Elicited a genuine shriek from an audience member, a terrified, genuine cry of terror, the like of which I’ve never heard before during a screening.” while FRIGHTDAY reviews, “Hits terrifying notes, splitting its time between effective jump scares and chronic paranoia and dread.” 

 Still/Born is coming out in Philippine theaters on August 1, 2018, distributed by Cinescreen. 

PLDT, Smart cited as PH’s fastest in Ookla Speedtest Awards

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PLDT group wins twin country awards for top mobile and fixed network

PLDT and its wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) have been cited for being the country’s fastest fixed and mobile networks for Q1-Q2 2018, respectively, by Ookla®, the global leader in internet testing and analysis.

Ookla said Smart achieved a Speed ScoreTM of 14.98, with average download speeds of 17.25 Mbps and average upload speeds of 7.65 Mbps, based on 2,118,464 user-initiated tests taken with Speedtest® on LTE-capable devices in the Philippines for Q1-Q2.

On the other hand, PLDT achieved a Speed Score of 17.31, with average download speeds of 22.84 Mbps and average upload speeds of 23.45 Mbps. The fixed network award is based on 29,076,090 user-initiated Speedtest nationwide for the same period.

Initial data included in Ookla’s country reports showed Smart posting big leads in key cities like Quezon City, Makati and Manila, for example, while PLDT is way ahead in Quezon City, Pasig and Manila.

In Quezon City, for example, Smart posted a Speed ScoreTM of 24.09 Mbps, more than twice the speed of the competing network. This reflects the results of the major network upgrade activities that Smart recently undertook in the city, including the activation of LTE-Advanced and carrier aggregation.

For mobile, the Speed Score incorporates a measure of each provider’s download and upload speed to rank network speed performance. Tests used to calculate the Speed Score exclusively come from ‘modern devices’, which are devices capable of connecting to the market’s fastest, generally available technology.

For fixed, Ookla assesses the best network speeds attained across a given network, accounting for tests that are taken on various Speedtest applications that connect to a fixed network, including tests taken on mobile phones over a Wi-Fi connection. Each top carrier accounts for at least 3% of the sample size in the geographic area.

Historic capex

The awards come as PLDT continues to invest historic levels of resources to support network transformation which is estimated to amount to US$ 5 billion from 2016 to 2020, with capital expenditures expected to reach P58 billion this year. 

Alongside Smart’s ramped-up Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) roll out, PLDT is also aggressively rolling out its fiber broadband service, which also supports the stepped-up deployment of the mobile network by providing high-capacity links for cellular base stations.

“This award is proof that our investments in upgrading our network to improve the mobile internet experience of Filipinos all over the country are paying off,” said Mario G. Tamayo, PLDT and Smart senior vice president for Network Planning and Engineering. 

“Improved connectivity has had a direct impact on the Filipino way of life, enhancing the lives of residents and travelers alike, boosting incomes of local businesses, and empowering individuals, organizations and local governments,” Tamayo added.

The results of the analysis by Ookla confirms that PLDT and Smart achieved the fastest overall fixed network speeds and the fastest overall mobile speeds in the Philippines, respectively, during the time period.

“With millions of tests taken using Speedtest every day, Ookla has developed a robust and comprehensive view of worldwide internet performance. It is our pleasure to recognize Smart as the Fastest Mobile Network and PLDT as the Fastest Fixed Network in the Philippines based on our rigorous analysis. This award is a testament to PLDT and Smart’s exceptional performance, as experienced by their own customers, in Q1 and Q2 2018,” said Jamie Steven, Executive Vice President at Ookla. 

Ramped-up LTE roll-out

Smart is accelerating its deployment of LTE, LTE-A and carrier aggregation across the country as part of Smart’s efforts to improve mobile data experience nationwide. It is on track toward to fulfill its commitment to the National Telecommunications Commission to cover 90% of the country’s cities and municipalities with mobile data service by the end of this year.

LTE is the best technology to help bring fast, affordable and reliable mobile internet services to as many customers as possible. It is also quickly upgradable to LTE-A, which can provide even greater capacity and speeds to users with capable smartphones.

“On mobile, as shown by the experience of other countries, the network roll-out must be accompanied by the adoption of LTE-Advanced-capable mobile phones and devices,” Tamayo said.

Smart is doubling the number of LTE base stations to about 17,700 nationwide and raising the number of LTE-equipped cell sites to more than 6,800 by the first quarter of 2019, using frequencies that are compatible with CA-capable smartphones available in the market today.

Meanwhile, as of the first quarter of 2018, PLDT has broadened the coverage of its fiber-powered broadband network to 4.4 million homes passed, up from 4.0 million at end-2017. In the same period, PLDT also increased its capacity to 1.4 million lines from about 1.0 million and raised its total fiber footprint to about 187,000 kms.

PLDT’s fiber roll out includes both fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) and hybrid fiber technologies that will deliver fiber-speed broadband to virtually all DSL subscribers by 2019. 

About Ookla

Ookla, the company behind Speedtest®, is the global leader in fixed broadband and mobile network testing applications, data and analysis. Over ten million tests are actively initiated by consumers each day across all Speedtest platforms, with over 20 billion completed to date. As a result, Ookla has the most comprehensive analytics on worldwide internet performance and accessibility. Ookla solutions have been adopted by a significant number of internet service providers and mobile carriers worldwide and have been translated into over 30 languages for use by thousands of businesses, governments, universities and trade organizations. Ookla's headquarters are located in Seattle, WA with additional offices in Dublin, Ireland. Learn more at www.ookla.com.

Botanika Nature Residences takes home top prize at the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2018

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Botanika Nature Residences by Filigree took home the Best Apartment Philippines Award with a five star rating from the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2018—an award-giving body of the esteemed International Property Awards, a celebration of the highest level of achievement by companies in the real estate sector. The award held in Bangkok is but an affirmation that the concept behind the upscale garden resort-inspired condominium located in the dynamic Metro South is truly exceptional and world-class. The nominated properties in the Asia Pacific Property Awards are judged by an independent panel of 80 industry experts, focusing on design, quality, service, innovation, originality, and commitment to sustainability.

During the awarding ceremony were (from left) president and founder of International Property Awards Mr. Stuart Shield, Filigree assistant marketing manager Rula Gongora and senior project development manager Sherilynne Santos, and Mr. Giovanni Marzo of Salice.

With this award, coupled by the recent bestowment of a 3-star rating for design from the Philippine Green Building Council in the first quarter of this year, Botanika Nature Residences can now truly lay claim to being at par with the world’s ultra high-end and green oriented residential towers, in keeping with its commitment to sustainability, a feat yet to be matched by similar developments in Manila and country at large.

Behind the achievements of the Botanika Nature Residences is the project development team and the noted consultants who were brought on board for their expertise: Leandro V. Locsin Partners as Architects of Record; Architecture International as International Architectural Consultant; Singapore-based AECOM as Landscape Consultant; and Miaja Design Group for interior design—all recognized names in their respective fields, with an impressive portfolio of projects between them. 

Furthermore, with Botanika’s inimitable architectural design direction, its first-class amenities, and of course its generously-sized condominium units, it comes as no surprise that it has caught the attention of such reputable and prestigious industry bodies—both here and abroad—thus garnering accolades  and the recognition it truly deserves. 

Botanika, a premium 13-storey low-density residential development, is purposely designed to have an iconic leaf shaped structure and is intentionally set wide apart with a towering atrium at the core—highlighted by a calming running water feature plus a scenic elevator for unhindered views. This unique design concept allows for natural light and ventilation to stream in, which in turn nurtures the lush central space while reducing energy and water consumption, an innovative feature not found in other upscale developments. The unique terraced layout of the towers also assures residents of privacy and exclusivity, and unobstructed views of the green expanse beyond.

Amenity-wise, of note are the tiered kiddie and lap pools surrounded by a lush landscape complete with a sun deck, outdoor and indoor play areas for kids, an amphitheater, a business center, and a library—no stone was left unturned for the sheer delight of residents. 

Finally, Botanika’s condominium units—ranging from two bedroom suites, three-bedroom flats, three-bedroom Garden Bi-level units, five-bedroom Garden Bi-level units, and a grand penthouse, with sizes ranging from 123 to up to 343 sqm.—are as remarkable and expansive as they can get, a result of superior space planning and by keeping in mind the needs of homeowners.

“The recognition from the prestigious Asia Pacific Property Awards is a confirmation that the direction we’ve set forth for Botanika Nature Residences is indeed world-class,” says Kate Ilagan, Filigree head. “This serves to inspire all of us who were behind the project, and we intend to continue this level of excellence across all our luxury developments.” Botanika has also welcomed some of its residents with its ready for occupancy status.

For details, visit http://www.botanika.com.ph  or call (02) 880 2868.