Genteel Home ushers in a new era of Filipino furnishings, unveils Heart Evangelista as newest brand ambassador

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Genteel Home, one of the country’s leading manufacturers of bespoke furniture, is on a mission to help uplift the Philippines’ home furnishing industry and put the spotlight on the exceptional talent and ingenuity of Filipino craftsmen. To pave the way, they've partnered with Heart Evangelista, the country’s top international fashion and style icon.

Host Bianca Valerio, Heart Evangelista, Genteel Home’s Katrina Blanca de Leon

On March 14, Genteel Home's Founder and Principal Designer, IDr. Katrina Blanca de Leon, proudly announced Heart Evangelista as the brand's newest ambassador. She sees Heart Evangelista as a symbol of their brand's growth and evolution. "We've been crafting beautiful furniture for over a decade, and now, with Heart on board, we're blooming like never before," Katrina said. She added that Heart Evangelista embodies everything Genteel Home stands for – passion, pride in Filipino roots, and a belief in making a mark on the world.

Looking ahead, Genteel Home is set on expanding its reach to international markets, showcasing the Philippines' rich talent in home furnishings. Heart Evangelista’s global recognition, not only for her fashion sense but also her social media influence, makes her an ideal representative for the Genteel Home's global aspirations. "Heart's involvement with Genteel Home signifies our readiness to make our mark on the international stage," Katrina emphasized.

Heart Evangelista, known for her global acclaim in the world of fashion and beauty, affirmed and expressed her admiration for the international quality of Genteel Home pieces, “Genteel Home is super at par with international furniture. Not a lot of people talk about it, that's why it’s so nice that Kat and Genteel Home are here to show the world what we’ve got. Most furniture suppliers that you see in the global scene are actually from the Philippines. We are world class. It’s important that we’re trying to celebrate that,” she said.

Genteel Home's journey began in 2013, when Katrina received a special commission that ignited her passion for furniture design. Since then, the brand has been dedicated to crafting pieces that inspire beauty and creativity in every home.

Beyond aesthetics, Genteel Home is committed to sustainability and community engagement. By investing in a Mahogany farm, they're not only ensuring a steady supply of materials but also contributing to environmental preservation and providing livelihood opportunities for local communities.

Genteel Home Collection showcase, styled by Robert Blancaflor

For Genteel Home, every piece of furniture is crafted with love and purpose. Their collaboration with Heart Evangelista represents a shared commitment to excellence, sustainability, and Filipino craftsmanship, setting the stage for an exciting future ahead.

realme UI 5.0 Early Access Program Now Available for realme 11

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Here’s a complete guide on how to join in the early access

realme has announced that its Early Access Program for the realme UI 5.0 powered by Android 14 is now available in realme 11. Users can enjoy new features, performance updates, and even maximize their overall realme 11 experience with this beta program:

●    Security and privacy: Improved photo and video-related permission management for safer access by apps

●    Performance optimization: Improved system stability, the launch speed of apps, and the smoothness of animations

●    Cross-device connectivity: Improved Shelf by adding more widget recommendations

●   Smart and efficiency: Added File Dock, where users can drag and drop to transfer content between apps and devices. Users can also use the Smart Image Matting which is a feature that can separate multiple subjects in a photo from the background for copying or sharing.

●     Updated Design: Users can enjoy a natural, gentle, and clearer color style for a more comfortable color experience, use certain ringtones and revamp the system notification sounds as well as an improved system animations by making them even smoother.

●   User Care: Adds a carbon tracking AOD that visualizes the carbon emissions that users can avoid by walking instead of driving

To be eligible to the program, users should make sure that their realme 11 has at least 60% battery and do the following steps below.

1. Update the device to the required UI version: RMX3636_11.A.15_0150_202401121416 or RMX3636_11.A.13_0130_202311291910
2. Open Developer Mode: (Settings → About device →Version → Version Number→ Click the version number for 7 consecutive times)
3. Apply for the Early Access via the Software Update Application channel: (Settings → About device → Click on the “realme UI 4.0” banner at the top → Click on the three dots in the top right corner → Beta program →Early Access →Apply Now → Submit your details and finish the apply).

Note: The applications will be accepted in batches and only limited slots are available.

realme 11 Temporary Price Drop

Fans are in for a treat as the realme 11 received a temporary P1,000 price drop. The smartphone is up for grabs for only P12,999 at offline realme stores nationwide.

For those looking for a flexible payment option, fans can avail the realme 11 via Home Credit to avail a 6-month installment program with 0% interest through initial down payment; terms and conditions apply.

The realme 11 comes in 8GB+256GB storage and is available in Glory Gold and Dark Glory colorways.

For more details about realme 11 and its Early Access Program, visit the realme official website and follow realme on Facebook.

Embracing Individuality in Education

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The age-old debate of nature versus nurture has long puzzled educators. But despite the arguments on both sides, it's generally agreed upon that a child's environment significantly shapes the development of their inherent abilities and talents. Among these environments, schools emerge as a major variable in a student's path towards success.

How a student’s environment can affect their futures.

Gillian Lynne, a celebrated choreographer renowned for her work on "Cats" and "Phantom of the Opera", provides a compelling example for the premise of nurture. In her youth, her teachers often labeled her as a troublemaker, being unable to sit still during class discussion.

However, one insightful doctor identified her as a kinesthetic learner, someone who learns through movement. Instead of shunning her behavior, she was later enrolled in a dance academy where she would eventually create some of the most successful musical theater productions in history.

The journey of Lynne underscores the significance of surrounding ourselves with people that celebrates a student's individuality and nurtures their enthusiasm for learning. By taking special care in choosing the learning environment, similar to choosing the soil in which we plant, we can help encourage our child’s individual growth.

As Sandy Arellano, currently pursuing her PhD in Education emphasized, “Grades are just one aspect of school; it is important that we are able to cultivate a culture of inclusiveness that will help bring out a child’s full potential. Unlocking capabilities and nurturing them to fruition should be the primary goal of an educator”. She highlighted how many traditional school systems tend to view students through a restricting mold into which they try to fit each student in.

It is commonplace in the Philippines for schools to typically adhere to the traditional educational system. Unfortunately, many students tend to struggle with having a smooth integration, often resulting in them feeling ignored or even experiencing depression. This would eventually lead to the potential for these student’s development to be hindered.

Conversely, schools can improve their student’s overall well-being by fostering the freedom to learn more about themselves and provide the assurance to be accepted. Embracing the diverse characteristics of each child can help previously withdrawn students come out of their shells and find confidence in themselves.

Incidentally, Arellano also serves as the principal of Montessori De San Juan (MSJ), a school that implements the Montessori Method – the same methodology under which Gillian Lynn eventually prospered. “The Montessori method emphasizes self-directed activities within a structured environment, and we complement this with a more progressive school system to foster a love for learning and self-reliance. I have personally witnessed how our student's time at school has become the highlight of their day,” Arellano explained.

While the number of positive (and often very emotional) testimonials on social media detailing the experiences of parents with MSJ are appreciated, Arellano prefers to focus more on the core mission of their school. “A lot of these testimonials share the same narrative: children who were once dejected, unmotivated, and perennially exhausted in their previous schools have a night-and-day transformation in our school. That’s the goal, of course, because learning should be fun and transformative. But I sometimes gently remind some over-eager parents that our aim is not to compare ourselves with the other so-called ‘big and prestigious schools’, but to excel on our own terms, and let the quality of our graduates speak for itself,” she enthused.

That said, employing a hybrid of the Montessori method and a progressive school system has allowed MSJ’s curriculum to stand out from the rest, as it includes personality development, etiquette, effective communication skills, leadership opportunities, as well as promoting mental and physical well-being.

The educational journey of Gillian Lynne, through the Montessori Method, and the principles upheld at MSJ serve as a reminder that when we invest in creating supportive environments for our children, we are sowing the seeds for a future where our children can wake up every morning happy and excited to learn. 

For more information on this inclusive and progressive curriculum in Montessori De San Juan, you may contact 725-6306, or visit www.montessoridesanjuan.com

It's official! 'It's Showtime' has found its new home on GMA Network, airs staring this April

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Another historical moment on Philippine television.

The momentous event between the Kapuso and Kapamilya network was held today (March 20) at GMA Network's Studio 7 as the noontime program It's Showtime inked a contract with GMA Network

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Present during the contract signing event were GMA Chairman Atty. Felipe L. Gozon, President and Chief Executive Officer Gilberto R. Duavit Jr., Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Felipe S. Yalong, and Senior Vice President for Programming, Talent Management, Worldwide, and Support Group, and President and CEO of GMA Films Atty. Annette Gozon-Valdes.

ABS-CBN Chairman Mark L. Lopez, President and Chief Executive Officer Karlo L. Katigbak, Chief Operating Officer Ma. Socorro V. Vidanes, and Group Chief Financial Officer Ricardo B. Tan Jr. were also in attendance.

It's Showtime hosts Vice Ganda, Anne Curtis, Vhong Navarro, Jhong Hilario, Teddy Corpuz, Jugs Jugueta, Karylle, Ryan Bang, Kim Chiu, Ogie Alcasid, Amy Perez, Ion Perez, MC, Lassy, Darren Espanto, Jackie Gonzaga and Cianne Dominguez were all smiles during the event.

(Photos : Facebook)

All Hail the Camera King! HONOR Magic6 Pro Ranks number 1 in Camera Global Rankings

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DxOMark says HONOR Magic 6 Pro bested Huawei Mate 60 Pro+, iPhone 15 Pro Max, OPPO Find X7 Ultra, Google Pixel 8 Pro, and others in Global Rankings for Camera, Battery, Display, and Selfie

The Camera King -- HONOR Magic6 Pro.

The leading global provider of smart devices, HONOR, claimed the top spot as the best camera smartphone in the recent DxOMark ranking test, dethroning its competitors, with a high-ranking score of 158.

DxOMark, an independent camera testing organization that provides comprehensive evaluation of camera performances, has awarded HONOR Magic6 Pro as the top contender in terms of global camera, battery, display and selfie features, as of this writing.

“Another revolutionary HONOR device has remarkably stood out and we couldn’t be prouder of the innovation that our R&D and tech engineers have put in. Surely, this smartphone will upgrade the consumer’s lifestyle and embrace HONOR’s innovation. We are also thrilled to unveil this world-class smartphone in the Philippines very soon, said Stephen Cheng, Vice President of HONOR Philippines.”

Industry-leading Camera Performance

According to the latest DxOMark rating, HONOR Magic6 Pro delivered an outstanding performance in all camera category tests. The device achieved a 160 score in Photo, 85 in Bokeh, 83 in Preview, 160 in Zoom, and 150 in Video.

HONOR Magic6 Pro DxOMark camera breakdown

DxOMark body elaborated why HONOR Magic6 Pro is the best smartphone camera so far. The device has vivid and natural colors in both photo and video, good detail at most zoom settings, fast and accurate autofocus in photo, nice portrait rendering with good subject segmentation in bokeh mode, wide depth of field in scenes with subjects in multiple planes, and wide dynamic range and accurate face exposure in photo and video

HONOR Magic6 Pros VS Competitors’ Camera Scores

“It achieved excellent results across all test areas, without showing real weaknesses, and is also noticeable improvement over its predecessor HONOR Magic5 Pro, DxOMark survey says.

Three-day Battery Life

Not only was the camera praised by DxOMark team, but they also commended its powerful battery prowess.

The HONOR Magic6 Pro provided an excellent overall battery experience, with impressive improvements in autonomy and charging that pushed flagship device into the top position of the Battery ranking, a rare feat for an ultra-premium smartphone.

The device is equipped with a large 5600 mAh battery that can last up to 3 and half days of autonomy under moderate usage.

DxOMark expressed its admiration for HONOR Magic6 Pro’s battery capacity because it performed impressively in most individual test cases, including the idle screen-on, video streaming, gaming, and calling.

To know more about the HONOR’s latest devices and news updates, you may visit HONOR Philippines’ social media platforms: Facebook (Facebook.com/HonorPhilippines), Instagram (Instagram.com/honorph/) and TikTok Shop: (Tiktok.com/@honorphilippines). To check out HONOR’s complete list of retail stores, go to https://www.hihonor.com/ph/retailers/