Olivia Rodrigo to Perform in Manila on October 5, tickets are just P1,500 each!

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Filipino-American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo is coming to Manila for a one-night concert this October, promoter Live Nation Philippines announced on Tuesday.

The show will happen on October 5, Saturday, at the Philippine Arena and ticket selling for the music event will start on September 14 at 10 a.m. According to them, all tickets to the Manila show will be sold as Silver Star Tickers, priced at P1,500 each including taxes.

Getty Images/The Recording Academy

Olivia, 21, born and raised in California to a Filipino father and a German-Irish mother, earlier expressed her intent to go to the Philippines for a concert. Olivia said she is proud of her Filipino line, and she hasn't forgotten her roots despite her smashing success in the music scene. In an article written by Tomas Mier for the online edition of People Magazine recently, the singer was emotional as she represented the Filipino community in the US. In her Instagram Stories, Rodrigo expressed her excitement as this will be her first visit to the Philippines.

All net ticket proceeds will support Rodrigo’s Fund 4 Good, a global initiative "committed to building an equitable and just future for all women and girls through direct support of community based non-profits that champion girls' education, support reproductive rights and prevent gender-based violence."

"All tickets for the Manila show will be sold as Silver Star Tickets, all priced at P1,500 including taxes, with a limit of four per purchaser. These seats will be located next to each other and the seat locations will be revealed when tickets are picked up in person after September 28. Ticket sections within the venue will be issued to fans at random and will include all seats within the venue including limited view seats, lower and upper leavel seasting as well as the floor," the Live Nation Philippines post read.

A Grammy Award winner, Olivia, rose to fame when she debuted the album "Sour" containing the hit single "Driver's License" in 2021. She also hit No. 1 with "Good 4 U" from the same album.

In 2023, Olivia scored another hit album "Guts" featuring the No. 1 song "Vampire." Rodrigo's show in Manila is part of her "GUTS" tour in Asia and Australia. She will be touring Asia from September 16 to October 1, and will be doing shows in Australia from October 9 to 18.

Each buyer is limited to four tickets. The seat locations will be revealed when the tickets are picked up in person on Sept. 28, but they noted that the four seats purchased will be located next to each other.

"Ticket sections within the venue will be issued to fans at random, and will include all seats within the venue including limited view seats, lower and upper level seating, as well as the floor," the advisory noted.

Online ticket selling begins on Saturday, Sept. 14 at 10 a.m., while over-the-counter sales begin on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 12 p.m.

Ticket redemption will be on Saturday, Sept. 28 to Friday, Oct. 4 at any SM Tickets outlets.

Live Nation noted that the name on the claim ticket voucher must be the one to redeem the tickets. Buyers must bring a valid ID and the claim ticket voucher.

Every ticket purchased will contribute to Olivia's Fund 4 Good, a global initiative committed to advancing women's and girls' rights through education, reproductive health, and violence prevention.

More information about the concert can be found on Live Nation's website.

Coco Mama Launches the “Save Our Coconuts” Project; Pledges Long-Term Support to the Coconut Farming Industry

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The Philippines is one of the world’s biggest producers of coconuts, ranking second largest exporter in the industry across the globe. However, the coconut industry is facing major challenges today. According to the Philippine Coconut Authority, 20% of the country’s coconut trees are senile. 

Coco Mama, the country’s leading local gata brand, vows to help ease this problem as it launches the “Save Our Coconuts” project.

Coco Mama led by brand ambassador Ms. Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures Inc. (CPAVI), The Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and the General Santos City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO) representatives and volunteers at the Coco Mama “Save Our Coconuts” Project Kickoff Event

Coco Mama’s “Save Our Coconuts” project commits to distributing 100,000 quality coconut seedlings in a span of five years to replace aging trees, providing lasting income to smallholder Filipino coconut farmers. The project aims to contribute to the overall effort to revitalize the Philippine coconut industry.

Coco Mama Marketing Director Mr. Bryan Lingan announces Coco Mama’s commitment to helping coconut farmers in the country

“Through Coco Mama's ‘Save Our Coconuts’ project, we make our commitment to provide quality seedlings to smallholder farmer communities in the region. After all, our mission has always been to delight consumers whenever they prepare classic Filipino gata recipes, and part of this delight is in knowing that the brand they love is also doing its part in helping the coconut farmers,” said Coco Mama Marketing Director Mr. Bryan Lingan.

Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures Inc. (CPAVI) Vice President and General Manager Mr. Noel Tempongko, Jr. talks about the current situation of the Philippine coconut industry and what their company is doing to help

Launched on World Coconut Day in General Santos City, South Cotabato, Coco Mama held a tree planting activity with its brand ambassador Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, together with the help and support of representatives from the Philippine Coconut Authority, City Environment and Natural Resources Office – General Santos City, Local Government Unit of General Santos City, Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures Inc., and coconut farmers.

Brand ambassador Ms. Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo discusses her involvement in the Coco Mama “Save Our Coconuts” Project

Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo is honored and thankful to be part of the campaign. She said, “Sometimes, it’s easy to forget that the things we consume daily, like gata, come from the efforts of our hard-working farmers. With the ‘Save Our Coconuts’ project, I am not only able to promote our traditional and nutritious gata dishes to Filipino households but also to make a difference in the lives of the people who help harvest the food we put to the table for our families.”

Coco Mama officially turns over coconut seedlings to the representatives of the General Santos City coconut farming community. In the photo are (from top left) Philippine Coconut Authority-Sarangani's Provincial Manager Mr. Jerry Prongco, Coco Mama Marketing Director Mr. Bryan Lingan, Coco Mama brand ambassador Ms. Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, Century Pacific Agricultural Ventures Inc. (CPAVI) Vice President and General Manager Mr. Noel Tempongko, Jr., and City Government Assistant Department Head II of the General Santos City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Mr. Manuel A. Torres, Jr.

Coco Mama’s “Save Our Coconuts” Project is part of the brand’s efforts to contribute to the Philippine Coconut Authority’s bigger mission of rehabilitating the coconut industry and uplifting the lives of the coconut farmers.

For more information, please visit /CocoMamaPhilippines on Facebook or @cocomamaph on Instagram for more updates.

Samsung launches Solve for Tomorrow 2024, invites STEM students to share innovative ideas to solve local and sustainability issues

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Samsung Philippines’ Solve for Tomorrow is back for another innovation-packed season and is calling for Filipino students to showcase their tech solutions to reimagine the future.

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Now on its 2nd year in the PH, Public Science High School Students can win 

PHP 2 Million worth of cash prizes and Samsung devices by sharing 

tech solutions to help communities

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With the support of the Department of Education (DepEd) and Philippine Science High School System (PSHS), Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation continues their commitment to shaping the country’s next-gen heroes through the initiative by once again inviting public science high school students nationwide currently in grades 8 to 10 to showcase their best innovative ideas through the Solve for Tomorrow 2024 competition where they can get a chance to win PHP 2 Million worth of cash prizes and Samsung devices for their school, teams, and teacher adviser.

How to Join Solve for Tomorrow

Solve for Tomorrow 2024 is open to Grades 8-10 students of government-managed Science High Schools. They should form a team with a maximum of four (4) students each, and choose one faculty adviser from their respective schools. Each faculty adviser can coach up to three (3) teams.

Teams formed should identify a local community or environmental sustainability problem they want to solve with technology and AI and come up with a design proposal presented via a slides presentation (5 slides max with 2,500 words only) or word document (7 pages with Arial 11 font size). Once entry is finalized, they should submit the file via the Solve for Tomorrow registration form at https://www.samsung.com/ph/solve-for-tomorrow-2024/. Deadline for entries is on October 25, 2024.

Entries will be evaluated based on design innovation, relevance to the community, feasibility, STEM integration, sustainability, and clarity of proposal.

The entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts who will select the top 10 finalists to be announced on November 13, 2024. Finalists receive expert mentoring to improve their solutions and present their final proposals to the distinguished board of judges on December 3, 2024 to determine the top 3 winners.

The Grand Prize winner will take home PHP 500,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP100,000 cash prize for the team members, PHP20,000 cash prize for the teacher, and Samsung phone and tablets for team members and their teacher.

Meanwhile, the Second Prize winner will take home PHP 320,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP 70,000 cash prize for the team members, PHP 15,000 cash prize for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for team members and their teacher.

Finally, the Third Prize winner will receive PHP 175,000 worth of Samsung devices for the school, PHP 50,000 cash prize for the team members, PHP 10,000 cash prize for the teacher, and Samsung phones and tablets for team members and their teacher.

The rest of the top 10 finalists will receive PHP 15,000 for their team and PHP 5,000 for their teacher.

For more information on Solve for Tomorrow and complete contest details, visit https://www.samsung.com/ph/solve-for-tomorrow-2024/.

Empowering the Next-gen Heroes

Solve for Tomorrow is a program under Samsung’s global corporate social responsibility vision of ‘Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People’ which aims to empower and support the next generation of innovators to achieve their full potential and pioneer positive social changes. Through this initiative, Samsung provides opportunities for up and coming STEM leaders to craft ideas and drive positive change in their communities through tech, encouraging them to approach problems in new ways to find innovative solutions.

Since its global launch in 2010, Solve for Tomorrow has successfully provided an avenue to top students, helped over 2 million people, and reached 50 other countries. The program was first launched in the Philippines in 2023 where science high school students across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao shared sustainability solutions for their community.

In 2023, Solve for Tomorrow received over 200 entries with the first-ever Grand Prize winner, Team Intelllimeter, creating a proposal that aims to improve energy efficiency through their smart electric management system. Meanwhile, second prize winner Project O.A.S.I.S, proposed a filtration system to remove oil and microplastics from the ocean while third placer TomPost focused on waste management for the agricultural sector by repurposing tomatoes and other agricultural waste into compost and other products.

Samsung is committed to expand its sustainability and educational programs in the Philippines with Solve for Tomorrow that is now in its 2nd year in the Philippines, “At Samsung, we are committed to empowering communities – now, and for the future. Solve for Tomorrow is a testament to this, which manifests our global CSR vision of ‘Together for Tomorrow! Enabling People.’” SEPCO President, Chu Min Su shared.

“It is our goal to always find opportunities to support providing education for future generations, and we want to empower future innovators to achieve their full potential.”

*DTI Fair Trade Permit No. FTEB-201238 Series of 2024

Home Credit's best tech gifts ideas for students for a successful back-to-school season

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As students successfully overcome new challenges and adjust to new routines and subjects this back-to-school season, it would be heartwarming to reward them for their hard work. This acknowledges their effort and dedication to the new school year while encouraging them to continue excelling in their studies, at the same time.

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Grab these devices now via Home Credit's Sulit-Skwela offer, featuring 0% interest

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With gadgets being invaluable tools in this technology-driven era, they make ideal rewards for students, especially wearables and accessories, as they can significantly enhance their educational experience.

Give the best tech gifts for students with Home Credit

To make it easier to gift students with wearables and accessories to celebrate their back-to-school success without worrying about straining the budget with additional expenses, Home Credit, the country's leading consumer finance company, is here to help with its Sulit-Skwela offer. This promotion provides 0% interest deals on remarkable gadgets for students, available with flexible installment options ranging from six to 18 months until September 30, 2024.

From wearables to tech accessories, here are Home Credit's top picks to reward students for a successful back-to-school season.

Enjoy next-level audio experience with 

Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen Earbuds

The Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen Earbuds make an excellent gift for students to celebrate their back-to-school success, as these can enhance their experience during online classes, listening to educational materials, or enjoying music while studying. Equipped with the H2 chip, these earbuds deliver outstanding audio performance.

Featuring up to twice the Active Noise Cancellation of its previous model, the Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen Earbuds make it easier for students to hear audio, even in busy environments, helping them focus and avoid distractions.

It also has Transparency Mode that allows students to stay aware of their surroundings while minimizing noise up to 48,000 times per second, reducing the intensity of loud sounds. Additionally, an innovative Adaptive Audio feature combines Active Noise Cancellation with Transparency Mode to enable students to concentrate on the sounds they need to hear.

Aside from that, this wearable has an inward-facing microphone, enhanced by voice algorithms, to ensure that students' voices sound natural during online classes or calls. With a battery life of up to 30 hours with the charging case, students can rely on this device for extended periods to stay connected and productive throughout their school activities.

Stay connected this school year with the 

Huawei Watch 4 Smartwatch

The Huawei Watch 4 Smartwatch is also a great gift idea for students to ensure they stay connected throughout the school year. Equipped with eSIM One number and eSIM Standalone number capabilities, this smartwatch allows students to see and send SMS messages and conduct calls directly from their watch, even when away from their phones. Its 1.5-inch screen provides a clear and enjoyable view for notifications and other functions.

In addition to connectivity, the Huawei Watch 4 helps students monitor their health. It offers alerts for heart rate, respiratory rate, SpO2 levels, sleep duration, and stress levels, ensuring students can keep track of their well-being as they tackle their tasks. With over 100 workout modes, it also supports students in maintaining their fitness.

Compatible with both iOS and Android devices, the smartwatch features two battery modes: a standard mode that lasts up to three days and an ultra-long battery life mode that can last up to eight or 14 days, depending on usage. Weighing only 48g, it combines a stylish and modern design with a 316L stainless steel case and 3D curved glass, making it a versatile accessory for any outfit.

Remain updated this back-to-school season with the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 44mm Graphite

For another remarkable smartwatch option for students, Home Credit offers the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 44mm Graphite. Featuring a 1.5-inch display, students can easily read notifications, stay updated on school events, and even make calls, send texts, listen to music, and take pictures—all from this smartwatch. Its stylish, thinner design ensures a comfortable and fashionable fit for students.

Powered by a dual-core processor, this watch boasts fast response times, while its battery capacity provides up to 40 hours of use, perfect for long school days. The fast-charging feature allows the device to reach up to 45% charge in just 30 minutes, keeping students connected without constantly checking their phones.

Additionally, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 tracks sleep, heart rate, exercise, and more to help students manage their health despite their busy school schedules.

Experience crystal-clear, immersive audio every day with the ASUS ROG STRIX GO 2.4

For those considering accessories to gift students, Home Credit also has an ASUS ROG STRIX GO 2.4 Headset. This headset is perfect for students who prefer a larger audio partner for their school activities. Equipped with a low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless connection through a USB-C adapter, students can enjoy high-quality, immersive audio anywhere, making it ideal for online classes and more. This also includes a 3.5mm connector to ensure compatibility with various devices. Designed to be lightweight, it is easy to carry without any hassle.

The headset is packed with exclusive airtight chambers and 40mm ASUS Essence drivers for exceptional sound quality, ensuring students are fully immersed in their audio experience. Its microphone features AI noise-canceling technology for clear communication, even in noisy environments.

Despite its powerful performance, the headset boasts a long battery life, offering up to 25 hours of usage. It also features fast charging technology, delivering up to three hours of use with just 15 minutes of charging, making it a reliable audio companion for students.

Navigate easily through school tasks with the ASUS ROG GLADIUS III Wireless Aimpoint Mouse

Completing the list of gift ideas for students is the powerful ASUS ROG GLADIUS III Wireless Aimpoint Mouse, which can help them multitask efficiently on laptops or computers for their schoolwork. Showcasing a classic design and lightweight feel, this mouse offers remarkable precision and responsiveness thanks to its 36,000-dpi ROG AimPoint optical sensor.

Compatible with both wireless and wired use, this mouse features an anti-slip design to prevent it from slipping out of students’ hands. It also exhibits a laser-engraved ROG side look and Aura Sync RGB lighting for a stylish and functional accessory for students.

Reward students for their hard work this back-to-school season with the best wearables and accessories available through Home Credit now! Seize this exciting opportunity to enjoy 0% interest deals with the Sulit-Skwela offer, available until September 30, 2024.

For details on specifications, features, and availability of these wearables and accessories at nearby stores, visit Shoppingmall.ph. Interested customers can also download the Home Credit App on Google Play or App Store for quick pre-approval or speak with a Home Credit representative at any partner store.

To know more about the latest updates from Home Credit Philippines, visit its official website, www.homecredit.ph. You may also follow its official Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok accounts.

Protect your device with the Home Credit Protect Device Protection plan. It covers repairs and replacements for accidental and liquid damage, plus, it extends your warranty by one year after the manufacturer’s warranty period ends. Enjoy the convenience of door-to-door pick-up and delivery for device repair or replacement services at no extra cost! Just add Home Credit Protect Device Protection plan to your installments so you can enjoy peace of mind for up to two years for as low as P3 per day.

Home Credit Philippines is a financing company duly licensed and supervised by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).

vivo Y28 Review: Fashionable, boasts elegance design, budget-friendly, camera prowess with great batttery life!

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vivo Y28, has many special wonderful and unique features that make it special. It looks elegant, takes amazing photos and performs smoothly during long work hours. 

vivo Y28 is the vivo's latest launch in the midrange segment, included in the stong line up of budget-friendly devices in its Y series. This smartphone is packed with powerful features without the hefty price tag. The vivo Y28 is a long-lasting phone with a solid build. It is an affordable smartphone that comes with heavy-duty performance optimized for daily use, entertainment and gaming, and more.

As mobile phones have become an indispensable part of our lives, vivo Y28's exceptional battery endurance makes it an ideal choice for users who prioritize long-lasting power in their smartphone from morning to night.

Unboxing 

In the box

Inside the box you will find the phone, charger, USB cable, SIM ejector tool, Phone case, Quick Start Guide and Warranty card.

• Y28
• Quick Start Guide
• USB Cable
• Charger
• Eject Tool
• Phone case
• Protective Film (applied)
• Warranty Card

Design

The vivo Y28 is with an eye-catching design. with an elegant looks. It features a 3D diamond-patterned regal texture along with a high metallic gloss frame, making it a standout technology devices.

It comes in two colors - Gleaming Orange and Agate Green

The Gleaming Orange edition is 8.09 mm thick, and the Agate Green edition of  Y28 is 7.99 mm thick,

The phone’s Gleaming Orange colorway has a glossy look complete with glitter particles. The phone's Metallic High-Gloss Frame and Dual-Layer Coating maintain a clean appearance, and great to know that this is resistant to fingerprints. (I have the Gleaming Orange phone)

Elegant design and built:

 -  Glass Front, Plastic Back

 -  Plastic Middle Frame

The vivo Y28 smartphone has a sleek and modern design, making it comfortable to hold. The Dual-Layer Coating also gives the phone a decent level of grip, meaning it won’t be a slippery phone to hold.

At the back, there’s a small vivo logo on the bottom left corner. The dual camera module have two flash lights, though the upper light is what’s used for the camera flash and the flashlight. The tiny ring light is used for the Dynamic Light feature - turn this on. The Dynamic Light shines while receiving notifications, playing music or photo shoot, specially selfie under countdown timer.

For buttons and ports, the volume rocker and power button are on the right side of the device. The left side has the dual nano-SIM tray. Top side is clean as a whistle. On the bottom one of two speakers, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm audio port.

More to explore, this phone also has an IP64 dust and water resistance rating — an uncommon ang interesting feature to have in the budget segment.

Dust-Tight Protection: The vivo Y28 can handle dusty environments without any issues. Whether you're at the beach, working on a DIY project, or just living in a dusty area, your phone's internals remain safe from particle intrusion.

Water-Resistant: Life happens, and sometimes that includes accidental splashes of water. The IP64 rating means your vivo Y28 can withstand splashes, making it perfect for unexpected rain or minor kitchen mishaps.

vivo Y28 offers smooth multitasking and provides a comfortable feel in your hand. Here are the specifications:

vivo Y28 Specs

• 6.68-inch HD+ (1608 x 720) LCD, 264ppi
• 90Hz refresh rate, 1,000 nits (peak brightness)
• MediaTek Helio G85
• 2x Cortex-A75 @ 2GHz, 6x Cortex-A55 @ 1.8GHz
• Mali-G52 MP2 GPU
• 8GB RAM
• 128GB, 256GB internal storage
• microSD card support (hybrid slot)
• 50MP (f/1.8) main camera
• 2MP (f/2.4) bokeh camera
• 8MP (f/2.05) front camera
• 3.5mm audio port
• Dual stereo speakers
• Dual nano-SIM
• 5G
• WiFi 5
• Bluetooth 5
• USB Type-C
• Funtouch OS 14 (Android 14)
• 6,000mAh battery, 44W FlashCharge support (wired, in-box charger)
• IP64 rating for dust and water resistance
• 165.70 × 76.00 × 7.99mm (dimensions)
• 199 grams (weight)
• Agate Green, Gleaming Orange (colors)

Battery Capacity

One of the phone’s key highlights is having a larger-than-usual battery, rated at 6000mAh paired with 44W fast charging.

Made to be a long-lasting that could handle everyday multitasks, this phone is said to be a capable daily driver for users on the lookout for a wallet-friendly device.

The vivo Y28 smartphone comes with a long-life 6000 mAh battery and 44W flash charging capacity. If you charge for 5 minutes, you can enjoy 2+ hours for a phone call, 2+ hours for the WhatsApp app, 2+ hours for Facebook, and 30 minutes for PUBG gaming. It also has a 2.0 smart charging engine with overnight charging protection and a temperature control system. With extreme fast charging, you’ll never miss a moment.

It guarantees smooth performance for 48 months. Its high-brightness eye protection screen offers an unrivaled visual feast that truly improves gaming, video streaming, and other entertainment experiences.

Performance

-  The vivo Y28 runs on a MediaTek Helio G85 based on a 12nm process technology

-  FuntouchOS 14 based on Android 14

- 8GB RAM, 128GB, 256GB internal storage

Camera 

The vivo Y28 smartphone has a premium dual camera, which includes an adjustable 8 MP front camera along with a 50 MP + 2 MP bokeh camera. There are various modes, including HDR, Panorama, and Pro, via the Camera application on the device.

Capture every moment in stunning detail with the vivo Y28 high-resolution camera. Experience stunning clarity with the vivo Y28 main camera that delivers vivid, lifelike images and radiant moments are all in your frame.

vivo Y28 has a customized Photo Borders, add delightful details to your captures. This is a wonderful app. It transform every shot into a unique masterpiece.

There are more features to explore:

Split-Screen

Split the screen in two for multitasking, so you can get the best of both worlds.

Hidden Photos

Protect your privacy by hiding sensitive images from prying eyes, ensuring that they remain unseen by others.

Mobile phones really serves many people everyday. Helping us to manage our schedule, from work to leisure, keeping us informed, entertained and ensuring we stay connected at all times.

If you are looking for under-10K smartphone for gaming and regular use, then the vivo Y28 is perfect for you. I think this phone specification and features meet your needs.

The price in the Philippines:

16GB RAM + 128GB ROM (with 8GB extended RAM) - ₱7,999,

16GB RAM + 256GB ROM (with 8GB extended RAM) - ₱9,999.

As such, the Y28 is worth checking out given its  ₱7,999 or  ₱9,999 price tag, at least for users who prioritize a phone’s build and battery life.

Visit your nearest vivo store or kiosks nationwide to get your hands on Y28 today. vivo Y28 is now available in vivo’s official online channels including Lazada, Shopee, TikTok Shop, and the vivo’s website.