Stay safe and dry this wet season with these essentials from Daiso Japan

The rainy days can be a real drag especially if you need to go to work or school even in the heavy downpour. Before heading out in the rain, make sure to arm yourself with essential items that can protect you from the elements.

  Daiso Japan, the only authorized and exclusive retailer of Daiso Industries Ltd. Japan that sells useful and cute items priced from P88, is all geared up for the rainy season with a wide selection of products that will help you stay dry, warm and prepared for the unexpected.

  Those who commute to work or school would be wise to bring an umbrella every day even when it’s not pouring outside. The unpredictable weather comes with sudden drizzles and rain showers so better be safe and dry than go home soaking wet. Add a bright streak to the gloomy skies with clear umbrellas with colourful designs available at Daiso Japan. For heavier downpour, opt for raincoats (for both adults and children), rain pants well as arm covers to avoid getting drenched. There are also shoe covers to protect your footwear.

  Keep your stuff dry especially things that easily absorb water such as books and documents by placing them in waterproof eco bags from Daiso Japan.  Made of lightweight material, you can bring as many of these reusable totes as you need because they can be folded and don’t take up a lot of space. Just take out one when the need arises.

  Damp or wet shoes are inevitable after walking a long stretch of wet, muddy streets. Be sure to dry off your footwear as soon as you get home to prevent molds from forming. Buy a pack of dehumidifying sheets which you can put inside your favorite pair and place them in a shoe rack stand overnight. Daiso Japan also sells dehumidifying mats to eliminate the musty smell of damp air.

 Leather wax, meanwhile, can provide a good level of water-resistance and keep your leather shoes and bags from drying out or cracking.

  Brownouts and sudden power outages are to be expected during a typhoon. For emergencies, keep an LED flashlight handy. For good measure keep extra batteries which can be bought at Daiso Japan in a pack of 20 for only P88.

  Sniffles aren’t the only thing you can catch in this weather if you aren’t extra careful. Protect yourself from viruses that may lead to flu and colds by wearing a face mask. The ones available at Daiso Japan are made from non-woven fabric with nose wire and come with a 3-layered filter to keep out dust and pollen.

  For more useful items you can bring during the rainy days, visit Daiso Japan.  They are 53 stores nationwide through Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. which holds the exclusive sub-license to sell authentic Daiso merchandise from Japan and operates the legitimate Daiso Japan store concept in the Philippines.

             Follow them on Facebook at @DaisoJapanPH on Twitter and @daisophilippines on Instagram.

"The perfect selfie" experience only at OPPO’s F1 series

Are there secrets to a perfect selfie?

Why do people love taking selfies? 

The invention of the compact camera in 20th century gave people a portable and fairly cost-effective way to capture and preserve memorable parts of their lives. With the meteoric rise of the smartphone and current ubiquity of social networking, people now have more ways to highlight and share these unforgettable moments.

The relative ease of documenting oneself has led to the rise of the selfie on social media, and it doesn't look like the phenomenon will simmer down any time soon.

‘The perfect selfie’

Cameras have come to be a notable consideration for most people's smartphone purchases. After all, you do need the perfect camera phone for the perfect selfie.

A number of things go into perfect selfie: resolution, light, processing, and even a bit of personal context behind the person taking the photo. The best selfies need to have a perfect balance of well-designed software, and the hardware needed to run it on.

“When choosing their smartphones, people look for attractive design, powerful hardware, long battery life, and of course, cameras that take beautiful photos anytime wherever you are,” said OPPO Philippines Brand Marketing Manager Stephen Cheng. 

“These are the qualities we had in mind when we developed the F1 series,” he added. 

Last February, OPPO introduced the first in the F1 series. Dubbed the “selfie expert,” the F1’s 8-megapixel front camera has an 84-degree-wide angle camera lens with an f/2.0 aperture, and a ¼-inch sensor that allows 40 percent more light to enter. 

With the F1, users can say hello to brighter skin and bid blemishes goodbye. Thanks to the phone’s Beautify 3.0+ image processing, users can touch photos up on the fly.  The F1, while itself considerably solid, only gets better.



The F1 Plus was launched in April, bringing the F1’s selfie capability to the next level. The F1 Plus’ 16-megapixel front camera captures clear, vivid photos even in low-light situations, making it ideal for night photography. This upmarket model runs Beautify 4.0, which improves on OPPO's highly-regarded imaging software.

It also features a front-facing Screen Flash and a fun Selfie Panorama feature which makes it easier to take group photos.

Innovating with smartphones

On top of outstanding selfie specs, beautiful design is a hallmark of OPPO’s phones. The F1’s back cover, for example, has a velvet-like smoothness to its machined metal frame.

Ultra-thin 1.66-mm bezels make the F1 plus look like a smaller 5.2-inch phone though it has a 5.5-inch AMOLED display with 4th Generation Gorilla Glass.

With a non-slippery metal surface that gives users a comfortable grip, the F1 plus is a light, thin device with great hand feel.

The F1 plus is also the first phone to feature  the all-new Color OS 3.0 which gives it a friendly, warm and approachable interface with increased speed and efficiency.

Battery life and charging time are other advantages of the F1 plus, making it ideal for people on the go. The phone's VOCC Flash Charge feature allows it to reach 75 percent capacity after only 30 minutes of charging. The phone’s battery can also last up to 14 hours and five minutes of constant use.

According to Cheng, OPPO will continue developing smartphones that give users the best possible experience.

“Through our commitment to innovation, we will keep giving users the best possible tools that let them capture, share, and store priceless moments. This year, OPPO will be releasing a new smartphone under the F1 series that’s sure to offer the best selfie experience yet,” he said.

Jessy Mendiola PH FHM Sexiest woman graces HOOQ's First Hangout

JESSY MENDIOLA, voted the Philippines sexiest woman of 2016 by FHM, took time out from all the heat she’s been getting, as she surprised hundreds of HOOQ subscribers at the very first HOOQ HANGOUTS held Saturday at the Bonifacio Global City.

Jessy, who came in a simple pair of shorts and a black “Total Recall” shirt was accompanied by fellow HOOQ ambassador Xian Lim, who chatted with media guests and gamely posed for fans as they awaited the screening of DC Legends of Tomorrow.

FHM Hottest and HOOQs leading lady Jessy Mendiola

HOOQ Ambassador Xian Lim

HOOQ, Asia’s first and largest video-on-demand service, partners with Globe LIVE to bring to Filipinos HOOQ Hangouts, the biggest outdoor cinema event in the Phiippines. Powered by Globe LIVE, the telco’s new original productions arm, the premiere of HOOQ Hangouts featured the Hollywood TV hit, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow which will also be available exclusively on HOOQ.

HOOQ Hangouts, in cooperation with Samsung, turned the BGC Amphitheater into a free outdoor cinema venue with massive LED screens, beanbags, blankets and cushions to fully enjoy the show.HOOQ CELEBRITIES

‘HOOQ Hangouts aims to build a stronger HOOQ community by bringing them together so they can watch the best movies and hottest TV releases. This is the first of its kind for any video-on-demand service in the country. And thanks to Globe Live, we are very excited to announce that HOOQ Hangouts will now be a regular monthly event’, says Jane Cruz-Walker, Country Manager of HOOQ Philippines.

“Events like HOOQ Hangouts achieve the intent of Globe LIVE to produce quality on-ground events to create more meaningful engagements with our customers. Together with HOOQ, we are able to give everyone access to an extensive library of the best TV and movie titles making the Filipino digital lifestyle experience more wonderful,” said Globe Senior Advisor for Consumer Business Dan Horan.

Participants of HOOQ Hangouts can also enjoy on-ground entertainment, munch on free popcorn and check out on-ground activities and win raffle prizes.

When heroes alone are not enough… the world needs legends.
DC’s Legends of Tomorrow is a spin-off from equally successful TV series Arrow and The Flash, and further expands the “Arrowverse.”DC Legends of Tomorrow Cos Players DC Legends of Tomorrow 1

Having seen the future, rogue Time Master Rip Hunter is tasked with assembling a group of heroes and villains to confront an unstoppable threat — one in which not only puts the planet at stake, but all of time itself. For this seemingly impossible mission Rip brings together a ragtag team of divergent talents, which includes Sara Lance (White Canary), Jefferson Jax Jackson, Dr. Martin Stein (FireStorm), Ray Palmer (Atom), Hawkgirl, Captain Cold and Heat Wave.

DC’s Legends of Tomorrow completes HOOQ’s catalogue of DC shows which includes The Flash, Arrow, Gotham and Supergirl (also a HOOQ exclusive). All the latest seasons of these DC shows are also now available on HOOQ.DC Legends of Tomorrow 2

Also debuting this month is Lucifer, a fantasy police procedural comedy-drama series. The story revolves around Lord of Hell, Lucifer Morningstar (Tom Ellis), who abandons his throne to retire in L.A. where he owns Lux, an upscale nightclub. The charming, charismatic and devilishly handsome, Lucifer is enjoying his retirement, indulging in wine, women and song until a former “client” is brutally murdered outside Lux. Lucifer becomes involved with the LAPD when he takes it upon himself to assist Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German) in finding the one responsible so that he can “punish them”. Lucifer is now available exclusively on HOOQ.

HOOQ subscribers can also check out other binge-worthy TV shows on HOOQ such as Damages, Selfie, Community, The Big C, Lost Girl, and Two and a Half Men which recently premiered on the service. Meanwhile, movie franchise fans will also be very delighted with the complete series from The Lord of The Rings, The Matrix and Harry Potter, now all available on HOOQ.

HOOQ is Asia’s largest video-on-demand service hosting over 10,000 movies and TV shows available for streaming or download. Globe customers can get free access to HOOQ with selected GoSURF mobile data plans and as well as Broadband Plan 1299 and up. Visit www.hooq.tv to sign up for a 7-day free trial.

Dark Knight PH holds fan screening of "The Suicide Squad" on August 6 at IMAX SM Aura

The Dark Knight PH, the premier Batman fan group in the Philippines, will hold a fan screening of the highly-anticipated superhero movie, “The Suicide Squad” on August 6  at 8:00 pm at the IMAX Theater, SM Aura, Taguig City. Proceeds will be donated to Project HERO for the benefit of children battling cancer at the Cancer Institute of the Philippines General Hospital. The said screening is made possible also through the assistance of Statues & Collectibles Alliance Ph (SCAPH), Comics Club Philippines (CCP), The Comic Brook (TCB) and Hot Toys & Sideshow Market (HTSS).

With over 1,300 members and followers on Facebook, Twitter and on blogs, The Dark Knight PH has been recognized by the  comic book community  and  business establishments for promoting local talents and artists as well as being the source of news and information with regards to their passion for  the DC universe. The group, under the AL.F.R.E.D. Initiative (Alliance for Reaching Everyone’s Dream),  has regularly held fund- raising activities for the benefit of  various charities. One of these was  Heroes 4 Kids which was established in May 2015 to fight illiteracy in the provinces of Batangas and within the Badjao ethnic communities.  The Dark Knight PH has also raised funds through their active involvement in comic book conventions and  donated fifty notebooks, pencils, crayons and reading materials to Heroes 4 Kids.

The Suicide Squad movie is the group’s movie of choice due to its cast of characters. Aside from residing in the same comic universe as Batman, the much-hyped movie also features prominent figures from the Batman comics such as Joker and Harley Quinn.

Those who are willing to collaborate with The Dark Knight PH through sponsorships may contact Mr. Paolo Ollero (09209577650) or Mr. James Gomez (09999309919) or  e-mail any inquiries or concerns to thedarkknightphilippines@gmail.com.

Cebuana Lhuillier Insures One Million Filipinos for National Pilipino Protektado Day; launches Cebuana Alerto app & MIAAPI

One million Filipinos officially joined the country’s rally to be a fully-insured nation as Cebuana Lhuillier—the Philippines’ leading microfinancial company—provides free microinsurance through its National Pilipino Protektado Day campaign.


Helping Filipinos be more disaster-resilient and prepared against various calamities, Cebuana Lhuillier has declared July 21 as the National Pilipino Protektado Day as part of the company’s advocacy to build disaster-resilient communities and help the Insurance Commission achieve its vision of protecting 80% of the Filipinos with microinsurance by 2020.

“For the past years, we’ve been constantly just introducing new and innovative products and services to the public to be able to help them be financially included. This time, with our National Pilipino Protektado Day campaign, we decided to take a bolder step and took the initiative to really touch ground with those who are most vulnerable to calamities and directly offer them free microinsurance as a new way for them to be secured,” Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier said.

In partnership with Pioneer Insurance and with the help of various public and private organizations, free microinsurance were given out across the Philippines, prioritizing the most vulnerable communities, families and individuals from the marginalized sector.


Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions General Manager Jonathan Batangan reiterates that National Pilipino Protektado Day is only one of the company’s many endeavors in its push for disaster resilience. “National Pilipino Protektado Day is a great milestone in our disaster preparedness campaign. But after insuring one million Filipinos, we are on to more initiatives that will help us promote microinsurance and foster disaster resiliency. We are introducing an app, a microinsurance organization, and later on, a website--all designed to ultimately promote the welfare of Filipinos,” he said.

Cebuana Alerto App
Reinforcing its disaster resilience advocacy further, Cebuana Lhuillier has also officially launched Cebuana Alerto during the culminating event. An android app that harnesses the digital mobile platform, Cebuana Alerto is designed to provide real-time vital information about disasters within the Philippines.



Equipped with an interactive technology that allows users to share updates in areas affected by any disaster, the Cebuana Alerto app features an alert system that sends notifications to the user in the event of disasters such as typhoon, earthquake, fire, and flood. It has live newsfeeds that show the latest updates from third-party government agencies including the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDDRMC) for weather updates, the Department of Education (DEPED) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for school suspension announcements, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for information on traffic and road conditions. It also informs the users about Cebuana Lhuillier’s various insurance products and services which they can also purchase immediately online through the app.


Furthermore, the app also includes a "Safe Button" special feature that will automatically notify and send an “I AM SAFE” SMS message to the intended recipient about the user’s current state during a disaster.


MIAAPI
Simultaneously, Cebuana Lhuillier also led the formation of the Microinsurance
Agents Association of the Philippines, Incorporated (MIAAPI)—an organization
founded to promote the interests and welfare of microinsurance agents nationwide.
MIAAPI interim Board Members include ASEAN Insurance Council Head Michael
Rellosa, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) RFPA Asia
Senior Adviser Dante Portula, Pioneer Insurance VP Geric Laude, Rural Bankers
Association of the Philippines Past President Enrique Abellana, Philippine Insurers
Club Treasurer Edgardo David, RBAP Coordinator Gay Mapano, Eternal Plans SAVP
Jumer Lecetivo, Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation Executive Trustee Atty. Cesar Vidal, and
CLIS General Manager Jonathan Batangan.

Moreover, Cebuana Lhuillier is also set to launch an online platform for insurance
donations called OurHelp later this year. Connecting donees in the Philippines and
donors from all over the world through a dedicated website, this crowdfunding
website further aims to provide quality insurance protection awarded to the most
vulnerable sectors in the form of premium donation from socially aware enterprises.
Prior to the culmination of the National Pilipino Protektado Day, Cebuana Lhuillier
kicked off its disaster resilience advocacy by mounting and leading the
highly-commended “2016 READY: The Role of Microinsurance in Building Disaster
Resilient Communities” forum last January. A series of roadshows in key cities such
as Baguio, Cebu, and Davao immediately followed to cascade the Forum’s learnings.
Simultaneously, Cebuana Lhuillier launched during the road shows the Alagang
Cebuana Plus Gold or ACP Gold—an improved version of the company’s premiere
microinsurance product that already includes a microlife component underwritten by
PhilamLife. ACP to date has covered more than six million Filipinos.

Silka celebrates #TheSkinYouLove for 15 years

I have been using Silka soap for the last 7 years now, it is the only whitening soap that stay true to its promise of whitening and smoothening skin in the process.   I love that it smells squeaky clean. It is the only soap that I bought when I am out of the country, it is compatible with the shower water abroad.  I never realized that Silka has been around for 15 years beautifying and whitening filipinas all over the country until they celebrate their anniversary recently.

Silka,  your favorite whitening soaps and lotions celebrate their 15th year anniversary with the introduction of new Silka soaps and lotions on July 23 at the Trinoma Activity Center.
The event was hosted my Ms. Joyce Pring and attended by Cosmetique Asia Corporation executives and beauty bloggers/media.  In lieu with their 15th anniversary,  Silka provided entertainment booths and Silka's latest products for everyone to try.

Silka Premium Moisturizing Lotion with SPF23 and Silka Moisturizing Soap with Avocado Oil and Almond Milk Protein is especially-formulated with avocado oil and almond milk. Aside from providing smoother, fairer skin, the lotion comes with SPF23 to protect the skin from the harmful rays of the sun. The lotion is available in three sizes, 50ml, 100ml and 200ml.

Intended as the perfect complement to the widely-successful Silka Whitening Lotion SPF23 with Shea Butter, the new Silka Whitening Soap with Shea Butter nourishes and moisturizes the skin, with the added protection of SPF23. The rich, creamy lather of this new soap variant comes in a luscious mild butter scent.

Coming from the massive success of its previous Silka soaps and lotions, Silka is confident that Filipinas will also love and enjoy using their new products. Jane Co, Silka Marketing Manager shares, "We at Silka are honored that our consumers nationwide has continuously made our soaps and lotions their preferred partner when it comes to whiter, more beautiful skin. lMth the launch of our new product variants, we are introducing our users to the next level when it comes to skin care: more than fairer skin, you will love your skin even more as it gets more nourished and moisturized after every use."

Coinciding with the launch of the new product variants is the introduction of Silka's #TheSkinYouLove Campaign intended to inspire every Filipina to be more confident with themselves. And with every use of Silka's whitening soaps and moisturizing lotions, Filipinas come close to having the skin they love.

Silka's new soap and lotions variants are available in all major stores and supermarkets nationwide.

Starbucks Signature Pairings feature tasty food with handcrafted beverages

I discovered first quarter of the year that Starbucks serves perfect oatmeal in a cup.  Since then,  Ive been frequenting any Starbucks branch before 10am just to have that healthy cup of goodness with organic agave syrup. I love my perfect oatmeal with non fat milk and their own version of mueslis. It just tastes delicious healthy and filling at that.

The good news is that Starbucks came up with some food pairings for the croissant or sandwiches lovers. If you are on a diet and is skipping on the rice, their signature food pair is good for you.

Perfect for an early morning to-go breakfast and a savory meal during your lunch breaks, Starbucks Signature Pairings feature tasty food with handcrafted beverages just the way you like it.

Starting July 26, you can avail of these signature pairings for breakfast (store opening at 10am) and lunch (from 10am to 2pm) at a special price.

 

“Starbucks has long been offering a delectable line-up of food items to choose from. With the new Starbucks Signature Pairings, we want to excite our customers with a wide variety of food items that they can perfectly pair with their favorite handcrafted beverage,” said Keith Cole, head of marketing for Starbucks Philippines. 

Perfect for the discerning taste of certified foodies, Starbucks Signature Pairings offer sandwiches in croissant buns and baguettes with ingredients made in France, using the traditional methods of bakery crafts. They are made with 100% pure butter and French flour, making them remarkably flaky, buttery and filling. For that much-needed fuel to jumpstart any day, you can pair a Tall Brewed Coffee with the flavorful Spanish Chorizo, Egg and Fontina Cheese on Croissant Bun. You can also have your coffee with juicy Turkey Ham, Egg White and Emmental Cheese on Croissant Bun for a breakfast that will surely excite your taste buds.

Living the healthy lifestyle?  Get the reinvented Starbucks Perfect Oatmeal featuring a hearty blend of rolled and steel-cut oats topped with dried fruits and organic agave syrup or brown sugar right after you work out to replenish your energy and start your day right.

Starbucks Signature Pairings also offer lunch combinations that will surely fill you up in the middle of the day.  If you’re looking for a quick, yet satisfying lunch, pair a Tall Featured Iced Tea – Passion, Zen or Black Tea – with Beef Pastrami and Monterey Jack Cheese on Croissant Baguette, or a creamy and chunky Chicken Salad on Croissant Baguette with hints of tarragon. 

Meanwhile, if you have more time to enjoy equally savory food, try the mouth-watering Spinach Lasagna, or Chicken Cannelloni featuring al dente cannelloni pasta filled with chicken flakes topped with creamy tomato sauce. 

All Starbucks Signature Pairings can be upgraded from a Tall Brewed Coffee / Featured Iced Tea to any tall espresso beverage for just an additional ₱50. 

So, what are you waiting for? Indulge in good food with these breakfast and lunch pairings at the nearest Starbucks store.

Goldilocks adds a new pinoy favorite Pinoy Deli Sweet Chili Sauce and Sinamak!

The Filipino dining table treats condiments as a staple. Ranging from sauces, relishes, and the like, condiments bring more taste to our food no matter what dish is on the table.

This month, Goldilocks, the country’s no. 1 bakeshop adds a new pinoy favorite to the Pinoy Deli Bottled Product line of home cooked, ready-to-eat products in bottles – the Pinoy Deli Sweet Chili Sauce and the Pinoy Deli Spiced Vinegar, Sinamak.

The new Sweet Chili Sauce is a combination of a savory and sweet sauce and red chili peppers, while Sinamak is made from vinegar and mixed spices such as chilies, onions, garlic and black pepper. Both are a good partner for any fried dish of your choice.

These new variants join the Original and Spicy Bottled Bagoong.
Only at Php 80 per bottle for the Sweet Chili Sauce and Php 65 per bottle for the Sinamak, grab these mouthwatering flavor available in all Goldilocks foodshop and bakeshop branches nationwide.

For more information about the Pinoy Deli Bottled Products, you may also follow Goldilocks on Twitter or Instagram at @GoldilocksPH, on the Goldilocks Facebook page, or at the official Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph

ELEAGUE premiers on Warner TV and truTV on July 31

As the whole world gears up for Rio, another sporting event is currently dominating TV – the inaugural ELEAGUE. Fans of the global gaming phenomenon Counter-Strike: Global Offensive can watch the tournament on both Warner TV and truTV, with the Global Championship airing live on 4:00 am-6:00 am on the night of July 31.




For many years games have been able to leave the confinesof individual PCs, but with competitions like ELEAGUE emerging, eSports has become a multi-million-dollar industry with huge events staged across the world. What was once an ordinary game is now a cultural phenomenon that has changed the way the world views “sport”. Welcome to the era of eSports where players from all around the world compete in a battle of gaming wit and reflex.

From PC game to a worldwide sports event

The idea for Counter-Strike began in 1999 when co-creator Minh “Gooseman” Le, who had a personal interest in the dynamics between terrorists and counter-terrorists, couldn’t find any game that explored the skills needed for such a situation. His desire for a game that provides a certain realism pushed him to work for about 30 to 40 hours a week on the project while studying at university.

However, Counter-Strike was not just born out of Le’s effort, it was a collaboration that gradually developed within a community of players. Fans would suggest levels and other elements in the game which would be considered by the development team, who would then make any necessary alterations. This crowdsourcing model was retained all throughout the years and has since refined the game to what you see at present.

In 2000, Valve acquired Counter-Strike. The acquisition led to a re-released PC version of the game. During this time, Counter-Strike stood out from other games with a similar theme for its emphasis on teamwork and its slower-paced, more realistic combat mechanic. Counter-Strike would then go on to influence the development of the genre over the next few years, setting the stage for first-person shooters and pioneering team-based action gameplay.

The rise of eSports

Counter-Strike upheld the same elements as any other physical sport: skills and teamwork, which makes the game all the more appealing for competitive play. Coincidentally, eSports began the same year Counter-Strike was re-released. But it wasn’t until 2010 that the popularity of eSports began to spike and surge.

Just like any other sport in the history of humankind, eSports began with small tournaments participated by amateur players. Today, it has grown to include more than 2,000 tournaments worldwide, featuring their own versions of elite professional players. Furthermore, reports abound that some universities in the US view added eSports to their selection of athletic programs, going as far as offering athletic scholarships to qualified gamers.

CS:GO elite teams 

The success behind ELEAGUE is attributed mostly to the caliber of its participating teams. The remaining teams who are advancing to the semi-finals are EnVyUS, Fnatic, Na’Vi, Cloud9, Astralis, Mousesports, Virtus Pro, and NiP.

Among the oldest teams is Swedish eSports organization Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) which was formed as far back as 2000 – the genesis of eSports. NiP’s long list of achievements for CS:GO stands in contrast with the newly-formed Astralis which was officially regarded as an organization in 2016 after working hard to get proper financial support.

Like in physical sports, popularity is also a byproduct of being an eSports athlete. German multi-gaming organization Mousesports, known for their CS:GO achievements, are among ELEAGUE’s most popular teams, boasting of a huge following in Germany’s 23m active gamers. Meanwhile, North American CS:GO team Cloud9 has an enormous worldwide following with 8m unique visitors and 21m stream views.

In eSports, awards also make the team. One of the teams to beat is Fnatic which is hailed as one of the best eSport organizations, winning the eSports Team of the Year Award in 2006 and 2009. Well-established Russian eSports organization Virtus Pro has garnered prestigious medals, which are a testament to prove the quality of the gamers in the organization. In 2003 alone, Virtus Pro won more than 100 Gold, 170 Silver and 220 Bronze Medals in more than 10 cyber disciplines which is quite a feat in any competition, more so in the gaming world.

EnVyUs, fresh from their MLG X-Games Aspen invitational win, continues to prove that they are among the best in the world, while Ukraine’s Na’Vi is the first team in CS:GO history to win three major tournaments in one calendar year – the Intel Extreme Masters, Electronic Sports World Cup and World Cyber Games 2010.

So much more remains to be seen in the development of eSports as well as ELEAGUE. But for now, one thing’s for sure, Counter-Strike and eSports has grown as a cultural phenomenon will shape generations to come.

Warner TV is available on SKYcable Channel 77, SKYcable HD Channel 197, Cignal HD Channel 119, Destiny Cable (Digital) Channel 77, Destiny Cable (Analog) Channel 80, and Cable Link Channel 30. For more updates on the best in action, comedy and drama, follow on Facebook.com/WarnerTVAsia.

Viber opens its doors for partnership to brands and businesses in the PH

Viber, the Philippines’ leading communications app, celebrates its continuous growth in the country as it recently hit 25 million unique registered users nationwide. Viber has become a household name for Filipinos here and abroad when it comes to connecting with their friends and family.

 “We truly appreciate the overwhelming and continued support from our Filipino users and we’re committed to making Viber even better through local content and partnerships that celebrate and empower Filipinos and be part of their daily lives,” said Crystal Gonzalez, Viber Regional Head for Southeast Asia.  

Each month, Filipinos send over 44 million stickers through Viber messaging and group chats. Viber stickers have indeed become a new and fun way for Filipinos to communicate and express themselves. Based on Viber’s latest sticker data, users in the Philippines are fond of sending stickers about daily expressions such as “Xoxo” (kiss mark), “Good night”, “Good morning”, thumbs up, “I miss you”, “Thank you”, and sad face. Moreover, the most downloaded sticker packs in the Philippines—Violet, Freddie, Yango, LegCat, Noy Pi, Becky Vibe, and Vibe On—feature famous Viber characters as well as slang words that Filipinos use on a daily basis.  To make sticker content more relevant for Filipino users, Viber has partnered with the Presidential Communications Office to create awareness on being a #PartnerForChange and has collaborated with the country’s most-awarded male recording artist and performer, Gary Valenciano.  

Filipinos here and abroad can now download the free #GVonViber Sticker Pack, which features legendary Filipino musician/singer/songwriter, Gary V, and his iconic song titles like “Hataw Na,” “Shout For Joy,” “Take Me Out of the Dark,” “Di Bale Na Lang,” “Sana Maulit Muli,” “Eto Na Naman,” among many others. To download, visit the Viber Sticker Market and search for #GVonViber. Also follow Gary V’s Public Chat for behind the scenes and conversations of Mr. Pure Energy with his family and celebrity friends (Visit www.viber.com/garyv).   

Viber is also a #PartnerForChange, and being the leading communications app, has partnered with the Presidential Communications Office to launch a Public Chat (www.viber.com/presidentialcom), providing official news and announcements straight from the Presidential team. On July 25, the #ViberForChange Sticker Pack will be launched using the most popular expressions and social media memes like  “Just DU it!,” “Change Is Here,” “Aprub Yan!,” “Proud to be Pinoy,” “Daghang Salamat,” among others.

Lastly, to further enrich content and engagement with Viber users, Viber is officially opening its doors for business and partnerships in the Philippines. Brands, celebrities, and organizations can now partner with Viber and open branded stickers and Public Chat accounts, reaching millions of Filipino Viber users here and abroad. Viber has collaborated with industry leaders like Jollibee, Coca-Cola, Sunsilk, Globe, Smart, PLDT, GMA News, Inquirer, ABS-CBN, and McDonald’s.

"We invite brands, influencers, and businesses to work with the Viber team if they want to step up their game and engage with our 25 million Viber users,” Gonzalez added.