ALMOST, MAINE is a mythical place, owing no real geographic reference except to the human heart.

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It is cold bleak landscapes, difficult to live in, and even harder to endure, but somehow the people that inhabit this place still manage to fill it with warmth, love, friendship and hope. It is their emotional journey that makes this place, located in the loneliest and most solitary corners of our hearts, still a place worth living.

Written by John Cariani, ALMOST, MAINE is one of those endearing plays that captures your imagination almost immediately, and never let’s go. With 19 characters played by a cast of only four people, it is most definitely an actor's piece. Two men and two women playing a host of complex characters is a daunting task indeed, and after several rounds of auditions and readings, the actors were finally found.

In the end, Reb Atadero (The Graduate, The Horse And His Boy) Caisa Borromeo (The Secret Garden, Kung Paano Ako Naging Leading Lady), Natalie Everett (The Secret Garden, The Game's Afoot) and Jamie Wilson (Run For Your Wife, The Bridges of Madison County) were chosen to take up the acting chores.

All veterans of Repertory Philippines, the excitement at being cast in ALMOST, MAINE quickly overshadowed the hard work that would soon follow.

In the director's chair, another Rep veteran takes the helm. Always an artist of incredible vision, Bart Guingona (4000 Miles, The Normal Heart) has never been one to do a play as it is written, and has put his own twists and turns on this wonderful material. 

With stage design by Baby Imperial and Coco Anne, lighting by John Batalla, sound design by Jethro Joaquin and costumes by Marta Lovina, ALMOST, MAINE promises to be a strong offering in Repertory Philippines' 2016 season. ALMOST, MAINE opens at the Onstage Theater in Greenbelt One, Makati on February 19th.

Smart to usher in new frontier of mobile entertainment with Samsung Gear VR

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Unrivaled mobile services leader Smart Communications, Inc. is set to take the Filipino mobile lifestyle to a new frontier as it will soon offer the Samsung Gear VR, the world’s first consumer-focused virtual reality system.

A state-of-the-art headset which Samsung first launched last November, Gear VR offers an immersive and interactive virtual reality experience through a wide range of exciting mobile content, that include games, movies, apps, 360 videos and 360 photos, among others.

Touted as the best portable VR device in the market today, the Gear VR will soon be available to Smart Postpaid subscribers on select Samsung Plans through convenient payment options. 

“We are excited to bring the Gear VR soon in the Philippines as a welcome addition to our suite of meaningful and innovative products that enable subscribers to unlock the full power of their devices” said Ariel P. Fermin, Executive Vice President and Consumer Business Head at PLDT and Smart.

“The virtual reality platform is the future of mobile entertainment, and through the Gear VR our beloved subscribers will be able to peek into that future and boost their mobile entertainment experience anytime and anywhere they want,” Fermin added.

The Gear VR is seamlessly compatible with the latest Samsung Galaxy phones – namely the S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+ and Note 5. The device uses the handset as its processor, and displays content through a Super AMOLED screen.

By simply slipping in any compatible Samsung smartphone in front of the Gear VR lens, users can instantly transport themselves in 3D and CG animated worlds, as well as 180 or 360-degree live action scenes. The portable device features a touchpad, back key, volume key and focus adjustment wheel, as well as a gyro, accelerometer and proximity sensors for a complete out-of-this-world experience.

The Gear VR comes with pre-loaded trailers and videos, with more exciting apps and content available at the Oculus Store. Users can have loads of fun solving third-person adventure games such as Herobound: Spirit Champion and Adventure Time, or unlocking mysteries and exploring pathways with Land’s End. Shooter game fans will also have a blast with Viral, Smash Hit and Eve: Gunjack, which take users at center of the action with stunning graphics.

Users can also enjoy apps like Oculus Video and Netflix, which allow them to enjoy a virtual private theater set-up while watching their favorite films and series. With the Oculus Social app, Gear VR users from all over the world can hang out in a virtual movie theater while watching videos on Vimeo and Twitch.

“Smart subscribers are always the first to experience the latest in mobile innovations. This is part of our long-standing campaign for more Filipinos to embrace the Smart Life, enriched by our unparalleled breadth of digital content and backed by the country’s most extensive network,” said Fermin. 

Stay tuned to know when the Gear VR will be available at Smart by following its official accounts on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SmartCommunications), Twitter and Instagram (@LiveSmart).

RE/MAX is a brand trusted by real estate investors

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Your RE/MAX agent will be happy to answer all your questions, and will provide the highest level of service to clients.

Filipinos have been used to buying real estate the traditional way, relying on referrals and word-of-mouth. But there is another way and that is the right way.

The current boom in the Philippine real estate market has brought fears of a property bubble.

In the second quarter of 2015, the real estate sector in the Philippines posted a growth of 11 percent. Global data also shows robust growth. This means the potential for sales is immense.

But according to international property services company Colliers, total unsold condominium units in Metro Manila has averaged 75,000 over the last three years. This is twice the normal supply level of 35,000 to 40,000.

Because of this and other potential issues, there is a need to professionalize buying and selling . A real estate company with an excellent reputation and global track record is the answer. RE/MAX assists buyers and sellers in their real estate transactions in the best way possible, eliminating the fears and apprehensions of fraud.

RE/MAX goes beyond just buying and selling because its agents understand the market and how it works. They perform their job honestly, fairly and with accountability. The agents will also give buyers access to RE/MAX's global listings of residential, commercial and luxury properties.

The Power of the RE/MAX Name gives the franchisee a brand with credibility. RE/MAX, a Denver-based company founded by Dave and Gail Liniger in 1973, is the #1 Global Real Estate Franchise in the world. It is also the top real estate franchise in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 and the leading real estate franchise on Franchise Times’ Top 200. Last year, Entrepreneur Magazine named RE/MAX the #12 Global Franchise.

When you get a RE/MAX franchise, you already have a winning formula that has succeeded in the United States and other countries. The brand is known for outstanding agents who produce outstanding results. RE/MAX gives franchisees all the tools to convey to customers what it has to offer.

If you are a RE/MAX franchisee, you will be able to attract agents who can successfully convert leads to sales. The RE/MAX affiliation also provides instant recognition.

"What we offer realty agents in the world is the best training possible, advertising support and branding the RE/MAX way. 

We offer technical tools to be able to serve the customer as best they can and give exceptional service to the clients. RE/MAX is the best marketplace to list your properties,” said RE/MAX Philippines president Leonard Campos.

In the normal business model, brokers buy and sell real estate. The RE/MAX business model fosters relationships because franchisees and agents are trained to understand the needs of their clients. RE/MAX also gets the best agents through the Power of Recruitment Tools and Support, an approach that targets and attracts winning professionals.

RE/MAX encourages franchisees and sales associates to go beyond dreaming of big sales and commissions and be entrepreneurs with limitless potential for progress. "Everybody wins." is something RE/MAX always tells its franchisees.

Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX, thanks in part to the Power of Marketing Support which has a global reach that includes millions of buyers and potential agents worldwide. Franchisees also get first-rate marketing support from RE/MAX's Power to Launch.

The Power of Business Development helps franchisees and sales associates with referrals with more than 100,000 agents in nearly 100 countries with over 7,000 offices The global Multiple Listing System also enables franchisees to network and promote their listings globally and do business with other RE/MAX associates worldwide.

The company's developer partners in the Philippines include Federal Land, Grand Hyatt, Rockwell Land, Vista Land, Horizon Land, Megaworld, Filinvest Land and SMDC. Property portal partners include Property 24, Persquare, and Property Asia.

RE/MAX Philippines head office is located at 25/F Citibank Tower, 8741 Paseo de Roxas St., Makati City. 

For more information, call us at 511-1429 to 30 or email us at info@remax.ph or visit remax.ph.

Visit : 

Facebook at REMAX-Philippines

Twitter @officialREMAXPH

Instagram at officialremaxph

Selfie Expert, the OPPO F1 launched by OPPO PH

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Professional-quality Photos Right at Your Fingertips

OPPO Philippines launched yesterday their first smartphone of the year, the OPPO F1. 

Boasting an amazing front camera, the F1 has been dubbed the “Selfie Expert,” thanks to its mix of hardware and software working together to make every selfie fantastic. 

This was emphasized during the launch, with the event setup designed similar to that of a photography studio as guests were given free use of the F1.

Built-in Styling Team

At 8 megapixels, the OPPO F1’s front camera has an 84-degree-wide angle camera lens with f/2.0 aperture, and a ¼-inch sensor that allows 40 percent more light to enter the camera than an f/2.4 aperture lens. 

It comes with Beauty 3.0+ and eight various filters, which brighten the skin and remove blemishes, and a display that can double as flash in low-light environments. Both the camera’s hardware and software work together as if the OPPO F1 has a built-in styling team that will glam the user up in no time.

The rear camera is equally amazing, with a 13-megapixel sensor, f/2.2 aperture lens, Pure Image 2.0+ features, and a number of customizations to fit the user’s photo needs.

Exquisite Design and Reliable Performance

The first in OPPO’s new camera-focused F series, the F1, was designed with the elegant aesthetic and quality that has become the brand’s staple.

Available in two colors, Gold and Rose Gold, the F1’s design offers durability and style. The fine and delicate smoothening of zircon and sand blasting create a back cover that has a velvet-like softness despite being made of metal. The 5-inch HD screen is protected by a 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass coating and aluminum housing.

Under the hood is a power-packed octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 616 SoC with four cores at 1.7GHz and four cores at 1.2GHz, Adreno 204 GPU, and 3GB RAM that runs OPPO’s ColorOS 2.1 as smoothly as possible. 

Here's the OPPO F1’s specifications:

• Operating System: ColorOS2.1, based on Android 5.1 
• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 616, Octa-core
• GPU: Adreno 405
• RAM: 3 GB
• Storage: 16 GB (Expandable up to 128GB)
• Battery Capacity: 2,500mAh
• Screen Size: 5 inches
• Display Type: IPS TFT
• Resolution: HD (1280x720 pixels)
• Rear Camera: 13-megapixel
• Front Camera: 8-megapixel
• SIM Card Type: Dual-SIM (micro-SIM card and nano-SIM card)

• Priced at only P11,990, the F1 is available at OPPO concept stores and authorized dealers nationwide.

New Brand Endeavors for 2016

Besides the F1, OPPO Philippines also announced major partnerships with several organizations.

This year, the company is the title sponsor of the PBA Commissioner’s Cup. 

After collaborating with Home Credit last year to bring the OPPO Neo 7 to more consumers in the country, OPPO has also once again partnered with the global consumer-finance provider to offer Filipinos more options to buy the F1. 

From February 19 to March 31, 2016, even consumers who don’t have credit cards can purchase the new camera phone for as low as P1,299 every month for six months at 0 percent interest rate. The promo is available in 245 partner stores nationwide, in all areas serviced by Home Credit.

OPPO is likewise proud to announce that their phones will now be offered by Philippine telcos. 

For example, the F1 will be available under Smart Communications’ All-in Plan 1200. The postpaid plan is fully consumable and customizable with FlexiBundles. 

For prepaid users, each purchased F1unit comes with a free Smart SIM that offers a generous 50MB worth of free data every month for six months, and P150 worth of load for every P250 accumulated top up per month for six months.

The OPPO Neo 5s will also be available under Sun Cellular’s Best Value Plan 450, which includes unlimited Sun calls and texts, 250MB of data, and 250 texts to other networks.

For more information, please visit http://oppo.com/ph

Guam stands out at the 2016 PTAA Travel Tour Expo

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Guam stood out in the limelight yet again, taking home the Best Decorated Booth Overall Winner award at the 23rd Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) Travel Tour Expo. PTAA is the largest travel show in the Philippines that was held from February 5-7, 2016 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

Thousands of expo attendees were treated to Guam’s award winning exhibit that conveyed a perfect balance of Chamorro culture and tradition, natural serenity, luxurious resorts, spas and world-class entertainment. In addition to information on international fashion houses and world-renowned brands, the Guam team highlighted tax-free deals that were a part of the 2015 Shop Guam Festival, which ended on February 15, 2016. Guam’s cultural entertainers also held dynamic shows throughout the expo, which invited travelers to experience the art of Chamorro dance and song.

“We’re proud to take home another award for our island paradise, but the bigger picture is that the Philippines plays a key role in our diversification efforts,” said Guam Visitors Bureau General Manager Nathan Denight. “With high-end MICE groups and more airlines such as United, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air flying between Guam and the Philippines, it’s clear that the growth potential is huge for this market. The travel expo has always been a great outlet to attract potential travelers to witness Guam’s natural beauty, rich culture, friendly people and tax-free shopping. We continue to invite everyone to visit our island and experience the events and activities that can be found only on Guam.”

Denight led a team of GVB officials consisting of Marketing Manager Pilar Laguaña, Marketing Officer Mark Manglona and GVB Philippines representatives during the three-day event.

The Guam team also promoted various GVB signature events to Filipino travelers and adventure-seekers including the upcoming Guam International Marathon, Guam Live International Music Festival, Guam BBQ Block Party, Shop Guam Festival, Ko’ko’ Road Race, PATA Annual Summit and 12th Festival of Pacific Arts.

Guam had a record-breaking calendar year in 2015, achieving over 1.4 million visitors for the first time in its tourism history. The Philippine market contributed to that milestone with just over 12,400 in arrivals, a growth of 2.9% over the previous year.