Gloc-9 celebrates 20th Year in OPM, renews ties with Universal Records

Gloc-9 is celebrating his 20th year in the Philippine music industry and to mark the milestone, the multi-awarded rap icon has renewed his ties with his former label Universal Records.

“Universal is family. Yung mga trabaho ko dati, mga ginawa ko noon, maganda ang naging relationship namin. With family, you treasure the relationship you have,” says Gloc – 9, who is currently recording songs for his brand new EP called Rotonda under Universal Records.

The five-track EP, set to be released soon, will feature mostly collaborations with OPM artists. These include the track Rotonda and the album’s carrier single Ice Tubig, a collaboration with Mike Luis.

“Ito ay tungkol sa isang babae na ang kanyang puso ay parang ice tubig”, shares Gloc-9 as he expresses his excitement over his new project in his new home.

Ice Tubig will also be the first music video that will be released by Gloc-9 from his new EP.

For updates on the release of Gloc – 9’s latest single and music video Ice Tubig, follow Universal Records on Facebook at facebook.com/universalrecordsphfanpage or on Twitter at @universalrecph.

Why the Vivo V5 Lite is way ahead of its competitors

Taking a selfie is no easy task.  It takes a lot of practice and angles to win a good selfie. You also need a selfie stick and a good lighting to capture a good photo. No to mention, a reliable perfect selfie phone like Vivo V5 Lite which produces better-quality and more radiant selfies due to its superior 16 MP front camera.

In the wake of its recent launch, the Vivo V5 Lite has drawn the attention of selfie enthusiasts nationwide due to its 16-megapixel camera, an outstanding feature that no other smartphone brand in the same price range—P9,990—can claim to have.

Too good to be true? Not if selfie fans pit the Vivo V5 Lite against similarly priced competitors, such as the Oppo A39.

First, take a selfie using both the V5 Lite and the competitor—and note the glaring difference in terms of clarity of details. After all, the Oppo A39 only has an eight-megapixel shutter vis-à-vis the Vivo V5 Lite’s 16 MP front camera.

Vivo absolutely nails the selfie game here, as shown in the high-pixel details of the subject’s facial features and hair, and even those of the image’s background.
The Vivo V5 Lite’s more advanced beauty algorithm also puts it at a greater advantage when compared to the Oppo phone. It uses a Face Beauty 6.0 feature that enhances one’s skin tone, giving it a naturally radiant glow that the
Oppo’s Beauty Face 4.0 is not capable of.

Another attribute of the Vivo V5 Lite is its Beauty Face 6.0, which can detect one’s gender and apply the appropriate touches: females get a smoother skin tone, a more delicate contour, and bigger eyes, while males are lent a more masculine look.

Another competitor in the same price range is the Huawei GR5 2017, which, like the Oppo phone, has an eight-megapixel secondary shutter. Needless to say, the Vivo V5 Lite phone produces better-quality and more radiant selfies due to its superior 16 MP front camera.

The real dealmaker, however, is the Vivo V5 Lite’s Selfie Soft Light, which puts it way ahead of the competition. The V5 Lite being powered by this Selfie Soft Light feature, it produces impressive lighting effects akin to those in a professional photo studio. It also chooses the most appropriate colors from the spectrum to make one’s skin tone appear naturally more radiant.

Best of all, the V5 Lite’s Soft Light feature is activated when you set it in auto mode, so you’ll get beautiful, natural-looking selfies any time, anywhere.
Clearly, no other selfie-centric phone does it like the Vivo V5 Lite—the clear winner in the competition.

Vivo V5s offers new ‘Groufie’ technology which allows panoramic and up-close panning effects in “groufies”

Selfie-centric smartphone brands have slowly dominated the mobile market in the Philippines, given their relatively low prices compared to other giant international brands. Knowing the consumers’ love for selfies or self-portrait shots, these brands are appealing to prospective buyers by boasting of their respective camera features.

Marvel at Vivo’s new “perfect selfie” V5s phone that brandishes a 20-megapixel front camera, enhanced selfie tools like the Selfie Softlight, and the newest Group Selfie technology.


Since it entered the Philippine market, top five premium global brand1 Vivo has successfully captured the hearts of selfie-loving Filipinos with its “perfect selfie” V5 line, the latest of which is the new Vivo V5s. Launched just in May, the V5s already proves to be the best smartphone deal compared to other brands in its price range.

Equipped with a 20-megapixel front camera with f2.0 aperture, the V5s takes crystal-clear and head-turning selfies for just a price of P14,990.

But the newest and most exciting feature of the V5s is the Group Selfie technology, which allows panoramic and up-close panning effects in “groufies” or group shots, without squeezing in our missing out anyone in the barkada.
This new feature’s portrait and landscape orientations likewise help capture outdoor ‘groufies’ or family portraits without needing to squeeze in or cut out anyone.

The V5s’ 20-MP sensor guarantees that the smallest of details can be captured in your selfies. The light-sensing area is larger than usual at 1/2.78 inch. This allows more light to come in which in turn enhances photo brightness.

Its high-end front camera is also supported by its 13-megapixel rear camera with f2.2 aperture and an ultra-high-definition mode that can render stunning ultra HD images of up to 52 megapixels.

Another edge of the V5s over its competitors is its all-new and improved Selfie Soflight that is now even softer, making one’s face and skin tone look even brighter even in poor lighting conditions, no matter what time of the day.

The Vivo V5s also uses Face Beauty 6.0, a face-retouching and skincare tool that makes your selfies look even more radiant. The V5s’ Face Beauty mode 6.0 has three new features, namely buffing, whitening, and skin tone. This can also tailor more user-specific solutions based on one’s skin condition and features.

Unlike most smartphones that allows user to log in to only one account for social media applications, the V5s also introduced its App Clone feature that can run two accounts using the same app. This is very useful to millennials and professionals who want to better separate their personal and social lives online.

As for its appearance, the V5s’ slimmer bezels make it smaller in size than any ordinary 5.5-inch smartphones, making it easier and more comfortable to grip. The V5s is also more resilient and protected than most mobile phones’ screen glass because of its 2.5D Corning Gorilla glass that also gives it a more minimalistic and elegant design.

Other notable features of the V5s include its 4G RAM and 64GB internal memory, Hi-Fi music technology, and 0.2-second fingerprint unlocking.
For what it’s worth, the new Vivo V5s is indeed the best smartphone deal for selfie-loving Filipinos.

For inquiries about Vivo V5s, visit the Vivo website at vivoglobal.ph, or check out their Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VivoPhil), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vivophil/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/vivophil) accounts. 

#1according to International Data Corporation (IDC) Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker (http://www.idc.com/promo/smartphone-market-share/vendor;jsessionid=7595C1498F4F0FBF496CC767E273121B)

The Nokia 3, Nokia 5 and Nokia 6 - powered by pure Android, will be available in Philippines by end of June, together with the the iconic Nokia 3310

I still remember how excited I was to own a Nokia 3310 phone to replace my older 5110, it was the most popular phone during those days and you can even have the backlights changed in blue, purple and light blue in Recto.  I had around 20 casings which I bought from Quiapo. and swapped the case depending to my mood. In my spare time, and when there were no patients around, I would play Snake and it was therapeutic.

When I think of all the mobile phones that I owned  Nokia would still be on top of my list and wished they could bring back more current versions of my favorite phones, like the 5510, 3310 or even the 8210.

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, launches its first Nokia smartphones range on June 8 at Aracama, BGC – comprising the Nokia 6, Nokia 5 and Nokia 3 – will be available in Philippines by the end of June alongside the iconic Nokia 3310. Unveiled earlier this year at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the smartphones combine superior craftsmanship, distinctive design and powerful entertainment features with a pure Android experience, giving users the ability to use their phone, their way.

James Rutherfoord, Vice President Asia Pacific for HMD Global, said: "Today marks the beginning of an exciting new era for the Nokia smartphones as we re-introduce this much-loved and trusted brand to the Philippine smartphone consumers, alongside the existing Nokia branded feature phones. HMD is committed to draw on the hallmarks of the Nokia phone heritage of quality, simplicity and reliability for an authentic and differentiating experience to appeal to the new generation of Nokia fans.”

Nokia 6: Powerful entertainment experience and superior craftsmanship
Combining superior craftsmanship and distinctive design with an immersive audio experience and a 5.5” full HD screen, the new Nokia 6 delivers a truly premium smartphone experience. The unibody of the Nokia 6 is crafted from a single block of 6000 series aluminium and is perfect for those who want a robust phone with outstanding entertainment credentials. The smart audio amplifier with dual speakers allow consumers to experience a deep bass and unmatched clarity, whilst Dolby Atmos® sound delivers a powerfully moving entertainment experience.

With outstanding colour reproduction, the Nokia 6 has a fully laminated display stack delivering excellent sunlight readability without compromising the slim form. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 mobile platform and the Qualcomm Adreno™ 505 graphics processor, the Nokia 6  strikes  the  perfect balance between  performance  and  power consumption,   designed   to   deliver  premium   quality   entertainment   with   battery   life   to   spare, maximising your entertainment experience on the go.The Nokia 6 is available in Matte Black, Silver and Tempered Blue–  and will be available at PHP 11,990.

Nokia 5: Seamless, premium and durable design
The Nokia 5 has been precision engineered out of a single block of 6000 series aluminium to create a perfect pillowed body that flows seamlessly into the laminated 5.2” IPS HD display with sculpted Corning® Gorilla® Glass. Featuring a ground-breaking innovation in antenna design the Nokia 5 brings robust structural integrity, attention to detail and the quality of a high-end flagship. Powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 430 mobile platform, Nokia 5 delivers excellent battery life, improved graphics performance – all in a package that perfectly balances everyday usability with a premium quality design. With additional features including an 8MP, 84-degree wide-angle front facing camera – to squeeze even more scene into your selfie – and excellent sunlight and low light screen visibility, there are plenty of reasons to keep the Nokia 5 out of your pocket and in your hand where it belongs. The Nokia 5 is available in Matte Black, Silver and Tempered Blue– and will be available at PHP 9,990.

Nokia 3: Superior craftsmanship at an affordable price
This stunning new smartphone is designed to deliver an outstanding experience with unprecedented value.  The Nokia 3 features a precision machined aluminium frame forged out of a single piece of aluminium, offering exceptional structural integrity and protection where it counts. Featuring a fully laminated 5” IPS display with no air gap and sculpted Corning® Gorilla® Glass, the Nokia 3 offers durability and superb clarity delivering a viewing experience that is second to none. With fewer reflections thanks to the polarised screen, the experience is crisp and clear offering unbeatable visibility even in bright sunlight. With seamlessly integrated 8MP wide aperture cameras (front and back), the Nokia 3 packs a truly premium quality smartphone experience into its compact and elegant form.The Nokia 3 is available in four distinct colours – Matte Black, Silver and Tempered Blue – and will be available at PHP 6,990.

Always Pure Android 
With all Nokia smartphones you will always have the latest pure Android experience for your device. With monthly security updates your Nokia smartphone is safe, up-to-date as well as clutter-free – putting choice at the heart of the consumer experience.  And with the latest Android come the latest features including the latest capabilities of Doze, which saves battery life while the phone is in a pocket or bag. The new Nokia smartphones feature Google’s most recent innovation, the Google Assistant, building further on a great Android experience. Our teams have worked together to ensure conversations with the Google Assistant happen seamlessly on Nokia smartphones.

Nokia 3310: 
Thin, light and incredibly durable, the Nokia 3310 is a head turning modern twist on one of the best-selling feature phones of all time. Boasting an incredible 22-hour talk-time and month long stand-by, the Nokia 3310’s fresh, colorful, modern design brings it bang up to date.

Talk all day, text, take pictures, listen to music, and get hooked once more on the original mobile gaming hit Snake, all on a single charge. With its unparalleled month-long standby time, the Nokia 3310 encompasses everything you knew and loved in a sleek modern polycarbonate casing, and with inherent color throughout its body the Nokia 3310 is more vibrant than ever before.

Available in four colors – Warm Red and Yellow, both with a gloss finish, and Dark Blue and Grey both with a matte finish – the Nokia 3310 will be available at PHP 2,490.

F1 Hotel showcases LuzViMinda 5: Gastronomical Fusion from June 9-30

If you are craving for filipino food. This is most probably the best time to enjoy Pinoy food with a twist. Talking about  kinilaw na tanigue, suman, baked tahong, oysters, pinakbet, lato, adobong baboy sa gata, humba and a lot more!! Whew! nakakagutom!!  Imagine them spread on a buffet table.  My sister who is arriving this month from Canada would surely love this.

Humba Cebuano

I recently got an invite to attend Filipino feast at F1 Hotel Manila.  Imagine my surprised when I got an invite with my full name written on it! I really thought they made an effort looking up my name. It cracked me up.  The name Luzviminda though refers to the annual feast F1 Hotel is hosting annually.

F1 Hotel Manila launched its annual Filipino Feast LuzViMinda 5, with a theme of Gastronomical Fusion featuring Mikel Zaguirre, Dennis Uy and Kalel Chan, last June 8, 2017.

Ribbon cutting was initiated by hotel’s Director of Sales & Marketing Cindy Brual, together with Department of Tourism’s Asec. Frederick Alegre, PEZA Director General Charito Plaza, LuzViMinda 4 Guest Chef Nancy Lumen and Ms. Philippines Earth 2016 Loren Mar Artajos. In line with the celebration of the National Independence Day, F1 Hotel Manila commenced the launching of LuzViMinda 5: Gastronomical Fusion to highlight modern culinary techniques that brings out the zeal of our traditional dishes, headed by Executive Chef Decker Gokioco, of course, with the great ideas from the three guest chefs.

Chef Mikel Zaguirre, Dennis Uy and Kalel Chan

Adobong Shortribs sa Gata

Mikel Zaguirre, who represents Luzon quoted “It’s an honor to do Filipino food and uplift Filipino cuisine,” which is the sole purpose of LuzViMinda ever since it started. Each item was inspired by an heirloom dish which was meticulously crafted by research and adjusted a little bit to adapt the modern palate, added Zaguirre. Unleashing creativity by presenting classical cuisine in a modern setting has what challenged him the most.

Humba Cebuano

Staging as the featured chef for Visayas, Dennis Uy’s technique is about blending flavors and getting inspiration from his travel around the archipelago – cooking in most traditional way and plating it contemporarily. “Sharing our cuisine by giving back to guests & clientele is what food is all about,” said Uy. Cochinillo de Cebu and Pork Humba are just some of Chef Dennis’ masterpieces we should look forward to.

Chicken Piyanggang

Even though he’s not a Mindanao native, Kalel Chan accepted wholeheartedly the challenge of showing us an array of sumptuous dishes from Mindanao. With his passion for food, Chan started out by studying the classical Mindanao cuisine, reached out to some of his friends for research, and injected his modern way of cooking. “You should try everything, as we (with his team) started from experimental stage, plus the time devoted to research & development trying these dishes, are the things that make these worthy,” when asked what to anticipate from his creations.

F1 All-Day Dining, where the launch was held, will be continuously delivering the advocacy of LuzViMinda – showcasing Filipino dishes, adding the twist of today’s modern culinary artistry, but living the traditional essence of classical cuisine. Visit F1 Hotel Manila from June 9 to 30 to experience a gastronomic fusion for only Php1,699 for lunch or dinner buffet.

LuzViMinda 5 emerges with the partnership of Destileria Limtuaco, Masflex, Top Chef Enterprise, Onesimus, Raflora, R. Lapids, Aging’s Food Delight, D’ Original Tablea De Alfonso, Bestworld Beverage Brands Inc., The Crescent Moon Café, Eurobake Original Inipit De Leche, Figaro Coffee Company, Golden Wines, Jalees Farms, Titania Wine Cellar, Hogsmith Aprons,  together with Maybank, Foreign Post, and Cook Magazine.

For reservations and inquiries, call 908-7888 or visit their website at www.f1hotelmanila.com.

FOX Movies will show 52 blockbuster movie titles for 52 nights, beginning 10 June to 31 July

Home to the most popular and critically acclaimed films in the Philippines, Star Movies officially changes to FOX Movies on 10 June 2017.

Tune in for an exclusive nightly line up of the best Hollywood hits, including 24 blockbuster film premieres airing on the small screen for the very first time.

FOX Movies is the place where viewers can expect incredible. The channel is dedicated to providing  first run and exclusive content through an unmatched entertainment experience.

From Hollywood blockbusters, award winners, epic franchise to the biggest hits, FOX Movies brings you everything you want and more.

Lucien Harrington, SVP of Marketing & Communications for FOX Networks Group in Asia, says. “Audiences in the Philippines are hungry for the latest and greatest content.

We can’t think of a better way to celebrate the new FOX Movies than with 52 blockbusters for 52 nights.

“FOX Movies is the number one Hollywood movie channel in Singapore Il in Malaysia / on NOW TV in Hong Kong / in a number of Asian markets, and for more than three years. we’ve had the unique distinction of airing seven of the top 10 US box office movies FOX Movies is not only the home to Star Wars and Marvel, but also the only place where TV viewers will find first run films from 20th Century FOX, Disney and MGM.”

Charo Espedido, Director Head of Content & Marketing for FOX Networks Group Philippines, says, “FOX Movies, formerly known as Star Movies, brings the strength of a winning global brand to the powerful lineup of FNG channels here in the Philippines. With its upgraded aesthetic and heavy blockbuster offerings, FOX Movies will delight audiences as they indulge in a fresher viewing experience.”

Movies coming to the small screen during FOX Movies‘ 52 movies for 52 nights include:

Moana,  An instant Disney classic with dazzling animation and charming musical num bers, introducing a new generation of brave heroine to the big screen.

Doctor Strange,  A new Marvel superhero story that stands out from the crowd with its stunning visuals and action packed, otherworldly sequences.

X Men: Apocalypse the thrilling next chapter of the new generation of our favourite mutants.

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children: A whimsical cinematic journey into a hidden world of magic and mystery; based on the best selling book.

Independence Day: Resurgence The long awaited sequel. offering action tilm fans non stop thrills as Earth’s bravest fight off invaders from outer space.

The unveil of FOX Movies also coincides with the brand new look and feel for FOX Networks Group channels, FOX Action Movies and FOX Family Movies, designed by leading creative agency Gretel.

Tune in to FOX Movies from 10 June to 31 July to experience 52 movies for 52 nights with even more of the world’s biggest mms and franchises coming soon. You can always catch your favorite movie blockbuster hits on your preferred cable operators on the following channel as signments both in standard and high definition!

FOX Movies can be seen in Mega Manila through Sky Cable numbers 55 and 170 in standard and high definition; Cignal channel  55 and 211  Cable Link channel 47 and 300.

FOX Movies is also available in more than 300 Pay TV operators nationwide

The PUP Power Impact Dancers emerged as the Grand Champion of #DoTheCalbeats Dance Challenge

Jack ‘n Jill Calbee launches the #DoTheCalbeats Dance Challenge online on  June 10 at Trinoma Activity Center.

The PUP Power Impact Dancers emerged as the grand champion of the Jack ‘n Jill Calbee #DoTheCalbeats Dance Challenge online held Saturday June 10, at the Trinoma Activity Center in Quezon City.

In second place was UE Extreme Squad, while the UP Manila Indayog Dance Varsity came in third.

The university dance crews challenge, served as the launch event for the #DoTheCalbeats Dance Challenge.

Dancers who have the rhythm to go viral are invited to make their own #DoTheCalbeats Dance Challenge dance covers. Jack ‘n Jill Calbee will be on the lookout for the best dance covers starting June 10, and is giving away big prizes including Jack ‘n Jill Calbee treats, P20,000 in cash, and a trip for four to Japan for its first set of winners.

To join, participants can choose to go solo or dance in a group with a maximum of five members. They must video-record their best dance covers of Jack ‘n Jill Calbee’s “Konnichi-whoa” jingle; post this publicly on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the caption “I/We just made our own dance cover of the #DoTheCalbeats Honey Butter! Can you top this? #PotatoPros”;and tag Jack ‘n Jill Calbee on your posts to get spotted by the #PotatoPros.

The first set of winners will be announced by the end of July, so don’t miss out on this chance to showcase those fierce moves. Who knows, you might be the next “konnichi-whoa” dance sensation?

You may even take inspiration from the university dance crews who battled it out during the launch of the #DoTheCalbeats Dance Challenge at TriNoma Activity Center last June 10. Watch their dance videos by subscribing to Jack ‘n Jill Calbee’s YouTube page.

Gather your friends and #DoTheCalbeats to win awesome prizes!

Visit Jack ‘n Jill Calbee’s website at www.jacknjillcalbee.com to access the full mechanics of the #DoTheCalbeatsDance Challenge.