Offer the gift of ‘smart living’ this Christmas with Xiaomi Smart Home Devices

Tweet

Best deals on accessories, wearables on tap till January 1, 2023

Make the Yuletide season glitter by giving your loved ones the gift of a smarter home and lifestyle with Xiaomi AIoT products. These amazing gadgets can help your family and friends stay connected, secure their homes, and make everyday life more fun far beyond the holidays.

Plus, with the Xiaomi Christmas Sale, you can nail down exclusive discounts and freebies that you won’t find anywhere else when you buy now until January 1, 2023.

For tech-savvy fitness enthusiasts

The Xiaomi Watch S1 is a sleek timepiece that is packed with features like a heart-rate monitor, GPS tracking, and fitness tracking, all wrapped up in a stainless-steel design. Whether it’s an important client meeting or a black-tie party, this timepiece will make for a lasting impression – for only Php 10,999.

Special yet practical, the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active features a durable and lightweight design, water-resistant construction, and a host of fitness tracking features. Add the long battery life, vibrant display, affordable Php 8,999 promo price, and you have a real winner.

Another great option is the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro. This smart wristband is packed with features like 24/7 heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and fitness monitoring. Plus, with a stylish and lightweight design, it is the accessory to complete any outfit – now for just Php 4,599.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 7, with its stylish design and intuitive interface, is an excellent gift to show your loved one that you care about their health and well-being: it includes heart rate monitoring, sleep and activity tracking, and - for just Php 2,499 - get a free Xiaomi Collectible Christmas Bunny.

For music lovers

The Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro is the Christmas gift for anyone who loves to be in the loop. With their hi-tech sound quality, noise cancellation, and sleek design, these top-of-the-line earbuds are sure to put a smile on the face of any music lover or tech enthusiast. Available at a discounted price of Php 6,999.

The Xiaomi Buds 3 not only offer great sound quality and a comfortable fit, but they also look sleek and stylish. With their long-lasting battery life and easy-to-use touch controls, these buds are sure to make your loved ones feel extra special this holiday season. Not to mention, they're also incredibly affordable at only Php 4,999, making them the perfect present for anyone on your shopping list.

The Redmi Buds 4 Pro will have your special someone listening to their favorite tunes in style. Plus, it makes a great addition to any tech enthusiast's wardrobe. At a low price of just Php 3,999 during the promo, it is a thoughtful way to show your loved ones you care.

The Redmi Buds 4 will surely be a hit with any music lover in your life, delivering crisp sound and a comfortable fit. Plus, for only Php 2,499, it comes with a Xiaomi Collectible Christmas Bunny as freebie

For smart homemakers

The Mi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2 series is packed with features to make cleaning a breeze. It has a state-of-the-art LDS laser navigation system that results in fast, accurate mapping of the entire home. Having one of these robots at home is sure to make the holidays a little more special. No more worrying about cleaning up after family gatherings – these robotic helpers will do the work for you. Prices start at Php 9,599.

Xiaomi AIoT has got you covered with the best Christmas deals that will make this holiday season an unforgettable one. For more information, please visit Xiaomi’s official promo website.

Richmonde Hotel Ortigas Celebrates Christmastime in the City

Tweet

Silver bells will soon be ringing and there’s already that feeling of Christmas in the air. Yes, the most wonderful time of the year is here and Richmonde Hotel Ortigas is celebrating with room accommodations, buffet feasts, and a year-end party to make your holidays merry.

Enjoy a relaxing haven right in the heart of Ortigas Center and get your shopping done at any of the nearby shopping malls or recharge after all the holiday hustle and bustle. Richmonde offers value-for-money holiday room rates for bookings until January 14, 2023 (except December 24 & 31), starting at PhP 3,600 nett (room only) and PhP 4,200 nett (with breakfast for two) for stays from Sunday to Thursday; and PhP 3,800 nett (room only) and PhP 4,400 nett (with breakfast for two) for Friday and Saturday stays.

Deluxe Twin Room & Heated Indoor Pool

Rates for holiday stays start at PhP 3,600 nett (weekdays) & PhP 3,800 nett (weekends).

Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve packages available.

On Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, you can celebrate with a comfortable and convenient city staycation complete with sumptuous buffets and fun activities for an awesome holiday experience at amazing deals. Your Christmas stay on December 24th can come with breakfast buffet for two at PhP 4,500 nett, or breakfast plus Christmas Eve Dinner Buffer for two at PhP 6,500 nett. 

For your prelude to the new year, December 31 rates start at PhP 4,800 nett with breakfast buffet for two; PhP 6,600 nett with breakfast for two and two tickets to the New Year’s Eve Countdown Party; PhP 7,500 nett with breakfast and New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet for two; and PhP 8,800 nett to get the full New Year’s Eve package—breakfast buffet, New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet, and Countdown Party tickets for two. 

All in-house guests during the Yuletide season also get 15% discount on food & beverage orders from Room Service, and complimentary access to the holiday happenings in the hotel during the weekends of December like the Christmas Choco Corner where complimentary cups of hot chocolate drink will be served, and Chill at the Pool where you can make a splash at the heated indoor pool and drink free ice-cold lemonade. A Christmas Day and New Year’s Day Mass will also be held in the hotel’s 3/F function room on December 25 and 31 at 10:30am for the convenience of our Catholic guests.

Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet at Richmonde Café is at Php 1,595 nett.

Invite family and friends to Richmonde Café on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve to bond over the dazzling Noche Buena and Media Noche feasts featuring traditional holiday fare like porchetta, paella Valenciana, churros con tsokolate, braised beef brisket, seafood kebab, crème brulee, and many more. The Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet is priced at PhP 1,595 nett and will be served from 6pm to 10pm.

Give 2023 a hearty welcome with the generous gourmet indulgences at the New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner Buffet and glitzy cocktails at the New Year’s Eve Countdown Party at the hotel lobby. The dinner buffet is priced at PhP 1,880 nett per person while tickets to the countdown bash are priced at PhP 1,280 nett each, inclusive of three drinks, a cocktail buffet, party favors, a glass of sparkling wine at the countdown, and live band performance. To make it a total celebration to remember, New Year’s Eve Dinner Buffet and Countdown Bundle is available at a special discounted rate of just PhP 2,550 nett.

New Year’s Eve Gala Dinner Buffet at Richmonde Café is at PhP 1,880 nett.

Tickets to the New Year’s Eve Countdown Party happening at the lobby is priced at PhP 1,280 nett.

Spend the last hours of 2022 and welcome 2023 at Richmonde with the New Year’s Eve Dinner and Countdown Bundle for only PhP 2,550 nett.

Recover from a night of partying with the hearty New Year’s Day Breakfast Buffet at Richmonde Café on January 1st from 6am to 10am for PhP 980 nett. Children 6 to 12 years old get 50% off on all buffets while toddlers 5 years old and below eat for free.

For inquiries, table reservations, and countdown ticket purchases, call (632) 8638-7777, SMS or Viber (63) 917 534 4352, email fbsup@richmondeortigas.com, or message @Richmonde Hotel Ortigas on Facebook and Instagram.

As the initial venture of leading real estate company, Megaworld Corporation, into the hospitality business, Richmonde Hotel Ortigas is a proud local brand that opened in 1999 at the heart of the then-burgeoning Ortigas Center. It is now a member of the steadily growing stable of homegrown brands under the Megaworld Hotels and Resorts group. 

For more information on Richmonde Hotel Ortigas, log on to www.richmondehotelortigas.com.ph and for the latest news on the hotel, follow @RichmondeHotelOrtigas on Facebook and Instagram.

Start your 2023 savings journey with Maya, the all-in-one digital bank app!

Tweet

Get up to 6% interest p.a. for your savings account

Now is the best time to save your Christmas bonus and kickstart your 2023 ipon goals as Maya continues to give up to a 6% interest rate p.a. on your savings account! 

Maya already offers a high interest rate of 4.5% p.a., with earnings credited daily. It's easy to boost this to 6% on your first P100,000 for the next 30 days! 

All you need is to make your everyday payments with Maya. Simply spend an accumulated amount of PHP 250.00 when completing these transactions until February 28, 2023:  

• Pay via Maya QR code, card, or mobile number 
• Settle your bills via the Maya app 
• Buy load via the Maya app. 

By using Maya to pay for your utility bills or your groceries conveniently, you can boost your savings interest to 6% by another 30 days – so you can grow your money faster! Customers can enjoy this offer until February 28, 2023.

"We want our customers to be able to grow their savings even more just by doing everyday transactions. This is part of our mission to make money management as easy and as rewarding as possible," said Angelo Madrid, Maya Bank President. "On top of offering one of the highest savings interest rates in the market, Maya bundles innovative features and top-notch security so that it becomes the only app you'll need to efficiently and conveniently manage your money." 

With e-wallet, savings, credit, and crypto capabilities, Maya goes by its promise to be 'everything and a bank' for Filipinos. Its latest feature lets you send and receive money via a @username, making transferring funds safer, more personal, and as easy as tagging friends on social media. You can even use GIFs when sending money to friends and family, which is a first in the local fintech app industry. 

If you have specific saving goals, Maya's Personal Goals lets you compartmentalize your savings based on different purposes, be it a dream vacation, emergency funds, or business capital. 

The digital banking services in the Maya app are powered by Maya Bank, a Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-licensed digital bank. Deposits up to PHP500,000 are insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation. The top-rated app also enjoys a 99.9% uptime rate - users can expect their transactions to be seamless with less downtime. 

Completely free to download and register, the Maya app packs a feature-rich e-wallet, an inclusive digital bank, and everything else you need to save, spend, grow, and manage your money—right from your smartphone. 

To learn more, visit maya.ph and follow Maya Center on Facebook and @mayaiseverything on Instagram. 

-------------------------

About Maya 

Maya is the all-in-one money and digital bank platform bringing Filipinos bolder ways to master their money. It is powered by a unique integrated financial services ecosystem that addresses the ever-evolving financial needs of today's generation through cutting-edge technology.  

Maya leads millions of Filipinos — consumers, businesses, communities, and government agencies alike — into a digital economy that's more inclusive, transparent, and empowering. Maya is powered by the country's only end-to-end digital payments company, PayMaya Philippines, and Maya Bank for digital banking services. 

 

ARTBOX, Singapore’s largest lifestyle event, returns even bigger, better and cooler than before with a dose of cheekiness, thanks to SGAG collaboration

Tweet

• Event held indoors for the first time providing visitors with air-conditioned comfort, redefining the night market experience even in the daytime

ARTBOX, Singapore’s largest lifestyle event, is back after a three-year hiatus - bigger, better and literally cooler than before - with an all new line-up of at least 300 vendors from Southeast Asia providing retail and F&B experiences, and art installations by local artists at the Singapore Expo. Organised by Invade, the upcoming edition of ARTBOX will be held indoors for the first time since its inception in 2017, providing visitors with air-conditioned comfort while they soak in the festivities of the night market experience, even in the daytime, thanks to cleverly designed spaces and lighting installations in the 9,822 sqm space (equivalent to 1⅓ of a football field).

Next year’s ARTBOX is also co-organised with SGAG, one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing digital content producers for Millennials and Gen Zs. Visitors will be entertained throughout with local humour and activities provided by the funniest and cheekiest bunch from the SGAG team. Visitors who have been following SGAG online can now experience them in-person for the first time in an offline setting with wacky activities such as the National Shake Leg Championship, SGAG’s first ever fan meet-and-greet and roving mini games throughout the event.

Over two weekends in February and March 2023, visitors can also expect a showcase of gourmet creations from F&B entrepreneurs and brands from Southeast Asia, unique shopping experience featuring crafts and innovative products from local and global brands, and immersive structures and interactive experiences curated in collaboration with the region's best artists all under one roof.

“True to next year’s theme of Vision, we would like our visitors to manifest their wildest visions in our refined night market experience – to create brand new memories, take part in unique experiences, and to enable them to connect with the world once again,” said Kent Teo, Founder and CEO of Invade. “We are also co-organising the event with SGAG to inject their dose of cheeky humour to the festival and at the same time provide an interactive offline space to the local and regional creator economy.”

“We are excited to be co-organising ARTBOX with Invade for the first time and welcome visitors back to everyone’s favourite festival with SGAG’s brand of cheekiness that’s guaranteed to crack Singaporeans up,” said Adrian Ang (Xiao Ming), Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of SGAG. “Expect hilariously difficult obstacle courses, entertaining challenges, roaming activities and fan meet-and-greets throughout the whole event. We are going to pull out all the stops to bring the unconventional to a conventional space like the Singapore Expo.”

ARTBOX will be held on 24 to 26 February and 3 to 5 March 2023, from 12pm to 11pm at Hall 6 of Singapore Expo. Tickets to the event cost $5 per person per entry with early-bird pricing of $4.50 per person, available till 31 December 2022. Visitors looking at attending all six days can opt for a Season Pass at $30 per person with priority entry. More information can be found at https://www.artbox.sg/.

.

Kwentong Kumunizen: Spiking Numbers and Building Bridges

Tweet

Volleyball star Tots Carlos connects with friends and fans on Kumu, and wins more than just trophies.

Some might be astonished to learn how popular volleyball is in the Philippines when it’s often overshadowed by other sports in most conversations. They would be even more shocked to hear just how fierce the fandom is, spurred by a longing to connect with players and get to know them. But, when armed with that knowledge, it comes as no surprise at all that players from the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) regularly stream on Kumu to do exactly those things.

Cheerful and unassuming, 24-year old opposite hitter Diana Mae “Tots” Carlos actually discovered Kumu long before PVL entered a partnership with the social entertainment app. What started as cheering her friends on from the sidelines of their stream, she soon began to guest and host streams herself, talking about the ins and outs of her sport.

Hailing from Lubao, Pampanga, she traveled to the metro specifically to do what she loved, and quickly became a highly sought-after recruit over UAAP Season 78. Landing in the University of the Philippines’ varsity team as an outside hitter, she has since bagged the title of Most Valuable Player several times over—in 2018, 2021, and 2022—clearly a force to be reckoned with. But her one frustration with the game has been the lack of interaction with fans, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finding Her Tribe

“Wala akong kilala noong talagang nagstart ako magstream sa Kumu, apart from my friends,” she recounts, “and hindi man ako humingi ng tulong, people I didn’t know wanted to help me!” Soon enough, she bridged the gap between herself and her avid supporters, and made those interactions the highlight of her streams.

“In my hometown, athletes get the same treatment,” says Tots, “banners, tarpaulins, a warm welcome when you come back. Ngayon, online posters and messages of congratulations, ganon. Being on Kumu feels the same, but these are my fans, people I would never meet if not for Kumu, who really want to support me. Kaya I really take care of that relationship.”

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

“Ang gusto ko talaga sa Kumu is it’s safe,” says the athlete on what differentiates Kumu from other digital spaces. “May rules, may good censors, kaya may respeto. Pwede kong ipakita kung ano at sino talaga ako and I’m safe, and more importantly, the fans are safe.” This contradicts what most of us know to be true about the internet—don’t speak to strangers who offer you gifts—but the watchful eyes of the moderators, also known as the Kumu Police, allow those new connections to flourish with minimal, if any, risk. Apart from these important duties, they keep interactions positive in every stream.

This unique feature of the app is one of the biggest pillars of its success, especially for users who would otherwise be marginalized. As a woman who is open about who she is and who she loves, Tots is a perfect example of how someone can thrive even outside of that identity when they are given the space to show their truest self.

Diamonds Are a Girl’s (Other) Best Friend

But it just wouldn’t be Kumu without the campaigns, or the contests that almost turns live streaming into an extreme sport all its own. Creators go live and earn virtual gifts from those watching, and get the chance to win prizes that range from a little bit of cash to having one’s face on a billboard. And while Tots doesn’t necessarily need to join them—she openly admits that her status as a volleyball player has boosted her numbers on more than one occasion—she sees the fun and takes the opportunity to spread the joy.

“If I do win something, I share it with my loved ones,” says Tots. “And what I earn there is a big help. Noong nagtuloy-tuloy na ako, pinapadali niya ang buhay ko. You don't even have to spend the whole day streaming, just once in a while. Talagang inaabangan ka ng followers. Just keep doing the streams, and you’ll build your audience.”

For Tots, Kumu is a platform ripe with opportunities not just to earn through live streaming, but to connect with people she otherwise would never get to know; people who can truly enrich someone’s day-to-day. Follow her on Kumu (totscarlos_) to get insider volleyball knowledge, meet other players, or just to see Tots flourish in her own digital habitat. Otherwise, experience it for yourself; download the app now through the App Store or Google Play. Your community awaits you, so get ready to show what you’ve got and start your live stream soon!

-------------------

About Kumu

Kumu is a powerful social media platform that brings the voices of Filipinos from all over the globe at the forefront. Aside from presenting users with real-time earning opportunities as a live streamer, chances to win prizes in various game shows, and engagement in campaigns, Kumu also fosters communities that ignite relevant discussions among Filipinos. According to mobile-app performance company App Annie, Kumu is not only the first Filipino app to be the #1 top grossing social app in the Philippines, but one of the highest grossing social apps in the world, ranking top 10 in multiple markets including Canada, Australia, Middle East, Europe, Hong Kong, and Singapore app stores. Visit www.kumu.ph and follow @kumuph on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to keep up to date with the latest events and surprises from the favorite Pinoy live streaming platform.