First Look: The Blulane Hotel, The newest luxury hotel in the heart of Old Manila

If you've heard of (or maybe you are even a member) of the Facebook group "MooM" or Memories Of Old Manila, you probably saw a lot of discussions about Binondo and Chinatown.

Before Makati, and BGC, Manila was the most modern part of the Philippines and right in the center of it all is Chinatown.

Nowadays, we only hear of Binondo and Chinatown during the Chinese New Year celebrations where people go on a food trip and walk around the old  streets and trace back the rich history of one of the oldest city in the Philippines.

Unfortunately with the terrible traffic in the vicinity, there is only so much you can do in a day, make that a few hours to explore the city. 

But now you can revisit the city with friends and balikbayan relatives and even do a staycation with the opening of  The Blulane Hotel located where all the activities are happening.

The BlulaneHotel  is located inside the chinatown area, walking distance to Sta.Cruz Church if youre coming from D. Jose LRT Station. If you are a local, and is familiar with gold jewelry stores. The hotel is located just 2 street corners away from them.

I admit, all the memories flashed back before me when we walked going to hotel coming from D.Jose LRT Station together with my grand kid Finn.

Since I grew up in Manila. I had a lot of  fond memories  of Sta. Cruz, Recto and Quiapo area. I studied in a university located in Recto. I used to hang out (make tambay) with friends around the vicinity back in the 80s where I used to buy cheap paperbacks and imported magazines like Time and Glamour.   Chinatown, is where I bought my first gold bracelet from my first salary and door lucky charms. Estero is where my father used to bring us after Sunday mass for authentic delicious Chinese dishes.

After 3 decades and a half, the place has been modernized with establishments, restaurants and buildings surrounding the area. But its old charm remained intact with the esteros eateries and old churches.

So if you want to check  Sta.Cruz, Recto and Binondo in a day or two. You should try The Blulane Hotel. Its a must visit tourist spot for those who want to have a taste of Old Manila and Fil-Chi culture. Its a 17-story building with 172 rooms, established to cater to the needs of the local guests, business travelers, international delegates, and foreign guests.

The aesthetics is clean and contemporary with Asian- inspired interiors to make guests feel at home.

DAY 1

We arrived at the hotel at 3PM last May 25.  We were told to wait at the BluCafe  located at the 2nd floor for a short briefing regarding the tour , from the Hotel Manager together with selected media.

                     We were served snacks at the Blu Cafe and Lounge at the 2nd Floor.

            Finn asked if there is a wifi in our room and I said yes. Just because wifi is life for both of us

After an hour, we were told to checked in at our designated rooms. We stayed at a 33sqm Deluxe Airconditioned Room with King Bed.  This room is ideal for couple.  Rate is P8000 a night. With complimentary wifi,  bottled water and coffee. Bathroom is huge with hot and cold shower.

        After freshening up, we were told to proceed to The Blu Spa located at 16th fl for a day's pampering. We tried their 15 minutes shiatsu massage. It would be better if they have extended the complimentary massage to 1 hour.

                                    Mommy Blogger Erica Yu Bonifacio of EricaYuB.com

After the massage, we were told to come and dine at the Blu Dynasty located at 3rd floor for The Grand Cantonese Dinner showcase especially prepared for us. I admit for me, this was the highlight of our staycation. As we were famished, we dined with gusto. I love all the dishes that were served from cold cuts to appetizer, to main dish and desserts. If there is one reason to come back. I guess it would be for the Blu Dynasty's cantonese sumptuous dishes. Everything is perfect.

       Roast Duck Japanese Maki Combination (cold cuts selection served with Japanese Maki)

             

                                     Poached live shrimp served with Seallion dipping sauce

                          Sea Cucumber, abalone mushroom and vegetable in braised sauce

                                            Steamed Lapu Lapu in Soy Sauce

                                                Fried Crabs in Salt and Pepper

                                                     Seafood Noodles

                                                                        Buchi

                                                                Buco with Nata  

The dinner was superb. Even my grandkid approved and ate a lot. That means he loved it, he being a picky eater. We slept at around 10PM. I never had the opportunity to attend the videoke night grand launch at the  Function Room located at the 17th floor.

DAY 2

This was our last day. We woke up late at around 8AM. We took our shower, dressed up and hurriedly packed up in preparation for our check out.  We dropped by the Blulane Ballroom, 2nd floor for The Big Breakfast Banquet at exactly 9AM.  We learned later that breakfast were open for hotel guests at 6AM. Since there were no food available at that time. We opted for spaghetti, pastries and a black coffee.

       We were just lucky that we still had our complimentary stubs to avail of frappe, latte, and or a slice of cake  at the Coffee Club. We ordered for latte (for Finn) and a hot caramel coffee for me.
Their lattes are the best. Baristas assigned were good. I wanted a slice of cake but backed out because of my diet.

We checked out at  around 1130AM, May 26.  Staycation was good, I know Ill be back for the Blu Dynasty for their food and this time I will bring my parents and kids with me. .

Blulane Hotel consists of modern amenities and a classy and sophisticated ambiance that distinguishes it from other nearby hotels in the area. There are a total of 120  for Superior room;  29 rooms for De Luxe;  9 Premier; 10 Execuitve and 4 VIP rooms for a total of  172 rooms.  For a luxury pampering head over to the 16th floor for a SPA treatment and for dining, there are two  specialty restaurant located at the 3rd Floor, The Blu Dynasty.

For more photos check out my album
The Blulane Hotel is located at 609 Tomas Mapua St. Binondo, Sta.Cruz, Manila.

For inquiries and reservation pls call (02) 777-2258 or email at reservations@theblulanehotel.com or visit www.theblulanehotel.com

Bell Films launches comeback movie: Kontradiksyon

BELL FILMS, the film production arm of Universal Records Philippines, has relaunched its
operations, featuring their big comeback film “KONTRADIKSYON,” during THE NEXT
ATTRACTION concert held on June 30, 2018 (Saturday) at the Samsung Hall, SM Aura
Premier, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

After over 23 years, Bell Films is proud to make its comeback into the realm of film production
as it strives to enter the digital age of quality and relevant Filipino films. Bell Films was one of
the early independent film production outfits that brought international quality films to the
Filipino audience way back in the 1960s. The company has also produced films such as Twin
Fists for Justice (1974) starring Ms. Vilma Santos and Hong Kong Martial Arts
Superstar/Actor Meng Fei, and two movies featuring the Universal Motion Dancers: Sige…
Ihataw Mo! (1994) with Claudine Barretto and Wowie De Guzman, and its sequel Ibigay Mo
Ng Todong-todo (1995).

The Next Attraction concert aimed to showcase world-class Filipino musical talent, while
exploring the different worlds and genres that can be featured on film. Big name OPM Icons
and artists such as Freddie Aguilar, Vina Morales, Christian Bautista, Gloc-9, Julie Anne San
Jose, and Shanti Dope performed at the event.

The event also served as the media presentation for Bell Films’ 2018 debut production,
Kontradiksyon starring Jake Cuenca, Kris Bernal, John Estrada, Paolo Paraiso, and Elizabeth
Oropesa, among many other stars featured on the film. The action film, which is directed by
multi-Palanca award-winning Writer Njel De Mesa, is set to be an intense ground-breaking, indepth,
critical, and edge-of-your-seat look on the Philippines' current drug war. which will have
the audiences see the various aspects and opposing views of the big issues in the country. The
film is expected to premiere later this year.

Follow Bell Films on social media: Bell Films (facebook.com/bellfilmsph) on Facebook,
YouTube, and @bellfilmsph on Twitter and Instagram

Smart Online Store now accepts PayPal for safer and easier online shopping

This is good news to all PayPal user!


 Whether you're getting a new Smart Postpaid Plan or simply buying Smart Prepaid load, you can now enjoy a safer and easier online shopping experience on the Smart Online Store at store.smart.com.ph, which now accepts PayPal™ as a payment option.



The official digital shop of PLDT's wireless arm, the Smart Online Store is a web platform that gives you the convenience of buying Smart products and services anytime and anywhere - on your desktop, smartphone or tablet.

Through the Smart Online Store, you can sign up for the latest devices bundled with a Smart Postpaid Plan that suits your needs, renew or upgrade your existing plan, top-up with Smart Prepaid load, or buy phone accessories and add-ons, among others. The Smart Online Store also offers exclusive deals, discounts, and freebies.



With PayPal, your transaction on the Smart Online Store is safe and secure with 24/7 transaction monitoring and anti-fraud technologies.



PayPal also makes your online shopping quick and hassle-free because once you're logged in, you won't need to enter all your credit card details every time you pay.



To use PayPal on the Smart Online Store, just click the PayPal button as payment option and log into your PayPal account. Then, simply choose your preferred linked debit or credit card to complete the payment process.



Not yet a PayPal user? Sign up for free now at https://www.paypal.com/ph/home  and shop at over 10 million online stores across more than 200 markets worldwide.

  

Aside from PayPal, the Smart Online Store also accepts other payment options to make your online shopping experience easier and safer. The Smart Online Store accepts Mastercard, Visa, ECPay, and Bancnet, as well as allows payments via LBC, SM, Cebuana Lhuillier, and Cash on Delivery.



Visit the Smart Online Store now and enjoy the convenience of transacting with PayPal.



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Vivo launches X21 with a nod to the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018

Topnotch global smartphone brand Vivo has officially brought the world-first in-display fingerprint technology in smartphone to the Philippines at the launch of the Vivo X21 last June 21 in Manila. The event, graced by the brand’s hottest influencers and well-attended by industry partners and member of the media, featured football fever as Vivo is the official smartphone sponsor of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.

The event showcased official FIFA merchandize with adorable Vivo mascots showing the crowd how to do the #PassTheSwag dance in a brief but fun dance presentation.

Vivo’s local brand endorsers were also seen donning FIFA football jerseys of various teams: blogger-sisters Vern and Vernice Enciso were sporting jerseys of team Germany and team Spain, both victors of FIFA World Cup 2014 and 2010 respectively.

Meanwhile, Chienna Filomeno and Maris Racal were proudly wearing the jerseys of Brazil, the five-time FIFA World Cup title holders.

Soulful acoustic star TJ Monterde, on the other hand, showed expressed support for Portugal’s football superstar Christiano Ronaldo.

Even the Vivo team composed of Ms. Hazel Bascon, VP for Sales, Ms. Annie Lim, Brand Director, Mr. Patrick Villareal, and Ms. Jomarie Morales were also bitten by the FIFA fever with their football-inspired garb.



The brand endorsers were more than thrilled to be a part of the Vivo X21 launch. Verniece and Vern, author of a popular travel and fashion blog, attributes their beautiful page content to the Vivo X21, “Part of our job is taking photos and capturing memories all over the world. Vivo X21 is our new travel buddy. What we super love about the new smartphone is the dual rear camera.” The sisters also love the X21’s AI Super HDR feature that offers crisp photos for posting online.

Chienna, a K-pop fanatic, appreciates the X21’s FullView Display, “Because I really love watching dance covers, music videos, [the X21’s FullView Display] allows me to see the videos clearly especially when I rehearse K-Pop dance moves.”



Singer TJ, who is also a gamer on the side, is impressed with the X21’s Game Mode. “It allows me to block alerts while I’m playing games so I can focus on winning Mobile Legends,” TJ gushes.

“But, it also allows me to modify the settings so I can still accept calls especially from my girlfriend.”

TJ is referring to long-time love and fellow Vivo endorser KZ Tandingan.

Vivo is known to push boundaries in the name of innovation. The Vivo X21 is proof of this with its impressive under-glass fingerprint sensor complemented by other state-of-the-art offerings such as an impressive 19:9 Fullview Display which produces a more immersive mobile video-watching and gaming experience, and an AI Face Beauty-enabled camera that boasts of dual pixel sensors which creates vivid pictures whether in low-light or backlight situations—perfect for everyone’s travel shots.

The new Vivo smartphone is also equipped with Vivo’s latest pride: the AI-powered Super HDR technology. Committed to bringing flawless photos, the Super HDR is an upgrade of the regular HDR but merges more frames to resolve the problems presented by contrasting strong dark and light tones in a photo so one can take shots anytime, anywhere. ###

UNIQLO re-introduces its AIRism collection featuring breathable, smooth, and lightweight innerwear

 Japanese global retailer UNIQLO re-introduces its AIRism collection featuring breathable, smooth, and lightweight pieces that provides the best comfort 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

UNIQLO AIRism is innerwear that is silky smooth and cool to the touch. Designed with Comfort Conditioning technology, it releases heat and moisture, and adapts to any condition to help you stay cool and confident in unpredictable weather.

Women’s AIRism Camisole, Php 590

Women's AIRism Sleeveless Top, Php 590

Rooted in the brand’s LifeWear philosophy, each piece of clothing from the collection is created to accommodate the lifestyle of every Filipino. This season’s AIRism lineup features a variety of items made for different occasions.

The updated lineup includes three (3) main types of AIRism innerwear: Jersey for daily use, Mesh for active days, and Seamless for formal looks.

Light as air and refreshingly comfortable, each AIRism piece is a reflection of UNIQLO’s commitment to continually offer innovative clothing to bring better comfort to the lives of its customers.
Great for everyday wear and for an active lifestyle, this season’s highlighted items include:

Women’s AIRism Ultra Seamless Shorts, Php 390

Discover AIRism here:
https://s.uniqlo.com/2JfCjCH

For more updates, customers may visit UNIQLO Philippines’ website at www.uniqlo.com/ph and social media accounts, Facebook (facebook.com/uniqlo.ph), Twitter (twitter.com/uniqloph) and Instagram (Instagram.com/uniqlophofficial).

Domino’s Pizza is now the largest pizza company in the world

Based solely on comparative sales figures submitted for last year, Domino’s Pizza may now claim that it is the largest pizza company in the world. The Ann Arbor, Michigan based corporation reported a total global sales figure of USD 12.2 billion for 2017, beating out previous leader Pizza Hut, who had sales of USD 12.03 billion.

The remarkable turnaround and ascent of Domino’s Pizza is often used as a case-study by business analysts, owing to its focus on using innovative technology to ensure a personally involved, efficient, convenient, and engaged experience to consumers. Accordingly, market studies have shown that while other pizza brands are losing younger customers, Domino’s has become increasingly more popular in this segment. 
 
Domino's likewise reported that it opened 1,045 new stores – 216 of which were in the United States, while 829 were in international locations, including the Philippines. Locally, the company has 40 stores.

“Our global strategy of thinking like a technology company has reaped tremendous results, and we are so happy that Domino’s now has the biggest slice of the global pizza market,” said Dominos Pizza Philippines president Pinky Yee. “Locally, we are also gaining a lot of recognition for being a progressive, digital-first brand; one that delivers an amazing customer experience through innovative technology,” she added.    

Many of the landmark technologies that Domino’s utilizes in foreign markets have been adopted to the Philippines, including its real-time Pizza Tracker, “store-to-door” delivery fulfillment infrastructure, multi-platform interaction, and its Pizza Profile ordering system. 

Mobile Banking is now the top digital channel for Citi’s consumer banking clients

When all things went digital. It makes everything better and faster. There's the Waze app to keep you updated for traffic. Grab app if you wanted to hail a private car going to your destination of choice, without you driving , but with a hefty surge. There's also a Calm app. If you wanted to relax and take it easy for a time.

And now, Citi recently launches their Citi Mobile app, to keep you updated and make purchases online, or pay your utility bills at the comfort of your homes. Everything makes it easy nowadays. Given that you have a smartphone and a trusted wifi.



For Citi’s credit card customers in the Philippines, the next generation Citi Mobile App will significantly change the way they manage their finances as Citi introduces a new and comprehensive set of mobile app features and experiences.

Citi Philippines CEO Aftab Ahmed and consumer banking head Manoj Varma presented the Citi Mobile App experience to provide customers with the freedom to do more, thanks to innovative and new functionalities, such as credit card locking and unlocking.

With this launch, Citi’s credit card clients in the country can seamlessly manage transactions and other needs digitally from anywhere, any time.

“We are delighted to continue to introduce innovative digital solutions in the credit card industry,” said Ahmed.  “We are relentlessly focused on making it more convenient for our customers to transact with us. The Citi Mobile App will deliver a simple, fast and personalized experience to our valued card customers.”

Citi's Consumer Banking business has focused on digital transformation, continuously enhancing capabilities to make the customer journey more seamless on desktop, mobile app or phone browser. More than 60 percent of Citi Philippines customers are already enrolled in digital channels, with even more customers already subscribed to electronic statements and notices. Today, the biggest growth in digital enrolments has been in mobile banking, which has surged 64% in the last 12 months.

“Mobile banking is Citi’s largest and fastest growing channel in the Philippines and we expect digital enrolments to continue to accelerate,” said Varma. “We are excited to continue our tradition of innovation by bringing new and upgraded mobile solutions to best serve our customers’ needs in the digital age.”

Citi is one of the first banks to launch an online presence and also one of the pioneers in attracting customers through its website. In recent years, the bank introduced numerous services including live chat, instant global fund transfers, and pioneering voice biometrics technology allowing customers to be identified through their unique voice print.

In Asia Pacific, mobile banking overtook other digital channels to become the preferred channel used by Citi’s Asia Pacific clients. Digital is also growing rapidly as a source of new business at Citi. Digital acquisition in Citi’s Credit Cards and Loans business grew 57% year-on-year, and digital lending now accounts for 40% of total consumer loans fulfilled by Citi in the region.

The next generation Citi Mobile® App provides a comprehensive suite of features to help customers track reward points and manage outstanding balances, available limits, transaction details and bill payments. Customers can quickly activate new or replacement cards and temporarily lock misplaced cards.

Security features includes biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, and Android Fingerprint) and the Citi Mobile® Token, which instantly generates a One-Time PIN that authorizes online banking transactions.

The Citi Mobile App has also been designed to ensure a seamless and intuitive navigation experience. Qualified customers can convert a portion of their latest credit card balance to installment by simply tapping a “Convert” button. With just a few taps, eligible cardholders can get cash from their credit cards, which can be repaid in monthly instalments.

Citi’s performance in the digital banking space has been recognized by the industry, winning several notable awards recently including:

• Best Retail Mobile Banking Experience - Philippines (The Asset Triple A Digital Awards 2017)
• Best Internet Banking Initiative (The Asian Banker Philippine Country Awards 2017)
• Best Consumer Digital Bank – Philippines (Global Finance Best Digital Bank Awards 2017)

Vivo unlocks the future with the launch of X21 in the Philippines

Global smartphone brand Vivo has unlocked the future of mobile technology in the Philippines as it introduced a new flagship, the X21 with the pioneering In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology, at its launch in Okada Manila on June 21.

The event, held in the Grand Ballroom of the picturesque oceanfront integrated resort, was well-attended by media partners and other guests despite the heavy rain.

Vivo Philippines’ VP for Sales Ms. Hazel Bascon gave her welcome message during the Vivo X21 launch. 

Vivo Philippines Vice President for Sales Ms. Hazel Bascon during her opening remarks highlighted the global smartphone brand’s dedication to innovation.

“What is about to unfold before you is the reveal of the world’s first smartphone to feature an In-Display Fingerprint Scanner housed in a beautifully-designed all-glass build, a smartphone that is truly exceptional in more ways than one,” she said.  

Vivo Philippines representatives Mr. Patrick Villareal and Ms. Jomarie Morales then went up on stage to explain each of the specs of the Vivo X21. The pair discussed how the In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology as well as the other features such as the AI Face Access, front and rear cameras with all-pixel dual-core sensor on the X21 work.

Media partners got the lowdown on the X21 straight from Vivo representatives. 

Sharing tech expertise 

During the launch, Vivo also invited on stage some of the respected industry experts to discuss the X21. They are Mr. Louie Diangson of Yugatech, Mr. Daniel Moral of GadgetMatch, Mr. Mark Milan Macanas of TechPinas, Mr. Giancarlo Viterbo of GadgetPilipinas, Mr. Peter Jan Icogo of Gizguide, Mr. Jamie Inocian of Unbox, and Ms. Alora Uy Guerrero of Revu.

Mr. Diangson discussed the In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology and the AI Face Access of X21. Mr. Morial then explained how efficient the X21’s AI photography.

On the other hand, Mr. Macanas talked about Vivo X21’s front camera, specifically its AI Face Beauty.


Mr. Viterbo, moreover, shared how Vivo X21’s AI Game Mode keep interruptions at bay while playing PUBG Mobile and other games.

Vivo X21’s chipset, Qualcomm Snapdragon 660AIE, is the most powerful in the Philippines to date, Mr. Icogo confirmed. Meanwhile, Mr. Inocian focused on Vivo X21’s 6.28-inch + FullView™ Display.

Ms. Guerrero, finally, highlighted why Vivo X21 is one of the most advanced phones when it comes to audio playback.

Exciting partnerships 


Vivo also announced its partnerships with Shopee Philippines and Akulaku. Ms. Bascon and Brand Director Ms. Annie Lim from Vivo Philippines exchanged tokens with the representatives from Shopee Philippines, Ms. Jane Lim, and from Akulaku, Mr. Sean Duxiang.

                                   Vivo Philippines newest partner is Shopee Philippines.

Shopee Philippines is an online shopping mall. Through the new partnership, Vivo has put up its official online store on Shopee Philippines.


Vivo Philippines’ executives welcomed Akulaku as its newest online partner.

Akulaku, meanwhile, is an online installing shopping mall that also provides financial services in Southeast Asian countries. Vivo smartphones can now be bought online installment payment options on Akulaku. 

Exhilarating FIFA fever 

Vivo, as the Official Smartphone Sponsor, of the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 brought the football fever to the launch of X21. To get a glimpse of all the excitement in Russia, Vivo displayed some FIFA merchandise at the lobby.

During the presentation of the X21, Vivo mascots also showed the crowd how to do the #PassTheSwag FIFA dance. Vivo Philippines endorsers Vern and Verniece Enciso, Chie Filomeno, Maris Racal, and TJ Monterde then strutted the new flagship with a Vivo FIFA ball on their other hand while they proudly sport their favorite FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 team jersey.

Vern was wearing the jersey of the FIFA World Cup 2014 champs Germany while her sister Verniece was clad in a jersey of Spain, the FIFA World Cup 2010 victors

Chienna and Maris, meanwhile, were proudly wearing the jersey of Brazil, the five-time FIFA World Cup title holders.

TJ, on the other hand, expressed his support for the national team of football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Portugal.

Moreover, the Vivo Philippines team including Ms. Bascon, Mr. Villareal, Ms. Morales, as well as Brand Director Ms. Annie Lim were also bitten by the FIFA fever in their football-inspired garb.

Exquisite #OOTDs 

The Vivo Philippines endorsers also took cues from the new X21 for their second look for the night.

The Vivo X21 has ditched the metal body for a new 3D glass back cover. The design was inspired by Iceland's Wake Black Beach, a rapidly cooling lava granule that is deep and dark yet free of impurities.

Vern and Verniece proved that they are young fashion icons in their Patty Ang creations.

Chienna and Maris, meanwhile, showed off that simplicity is the key to achieving elegance

Julie Anne San Jose who performed the closing number for the night looked like a total performer in her sparkly ensemble. 

 
Asia’s Pop Sweetheart Julie Anne San Jose looked every inch a star during the Vivo X21 launch. Meanwhile, the unstoppable Darren Espanto entertained the crowd with his energetic performance.

Darren Espanto who had a mini-concert at the launch with her four-song set and Mccoy de Leon who made sure he would be part of the event despite the rains looked dashing and sleek in their tailored outfits.


Vivo endorsers and executives pose for photos at the launch of the pioneering X21.

Ms. Bascon also revealed the price of Vivo X21 towards the end of the program.

Ms. Hazel Bascon announced that the Vivo X21 would be available at select stores starting June 22.

The Vivo X21 is retailed for Php29,999 in authorized shops nationwide. The list of participating stores can be found here: http://vivoglobal.ph/x21_stores/.

Good news to OFWs in HK: Real-time Remitance is now available from Hongkong to Manila via GCash and AlipayHK

This is good news to all OFWs working in Hongkong. You may now send money to your loved ones here in the PH via GCash and AlipayHK powered by blockchain technology. You can received your money as fast as 3 seconds via text. This is real-time remittance service made available between Hong Kong and the Philippines. This is fast, secure and real-time processing.

 AlipayHK and GCash today announced the launch of a cross-border remittance service through their e-wallet platforms, powered by cutting-edge blockchain technology developed by Alipay, the online payment platform operated by Ant Financial Services Group (“Ant Financial”, “Ant”). This is the first blockchain-based cross-border digital wallet remittance service globally, offering a fast, secure, convenient, transparent and low-cost way to transfer money directly between individuals in Hong Kong and the Philippines.


Alipay has applied blockchain technology to streamline the remittance process, radically improving the speed of delivery, enhancing transparency of the process and drastically reducing costs while ensuring better security measures when sending money across borders. This service between GCash and AlipayHK will provide round-the-clock, real-time money transfer between Hong Kong and the Philippines at a competitive exchange rate with much lower transaction fees, which will be further waived during an initial three-month trial period. With a few taps through AlipayHK’s mobile phone application, money will be transferred within seconds to a GCash user.

Blockchain technology allows us to change and radically improve the speed and efficiencies for remittance services. Based on the smart contract, once a user submits a remittance application, all network participants including AlipayHK, GCash and Standard Chartered Bank, the first and core partner bank supporting on this initiative, are notified. The segmented procedures of the remittance process can consequently take place in parallel, enabling the verification and execution of the transaction to occur simultaneously. Through the blockchain platform, the sender and receiver are also able to track their money with every step of the way – from when the remittance application was made, until when the receiver successfully obtains the money. All information stored, shared or uploaded through the blockchain remittance platform is further encrypted with the most advanced protocols to protect the user’s privacy.

“We are very excited to introduce this new remittance solution to our users in Hong Kong, and in particular to the Filipino community in the city,” said Jennifer Tan, CEO of Alipay Payment Services (HK) Limited (APSHK). “What used to be a long process of physically going to a remittance booth, queuing in line for hours and filling out forms, is now easily and securely done over the mobile phone in just a few seconds. Together with GCash, we aim to provide Filipino expatriates a more convenient, seamless experience to transfer money back home to their families in the Philippines. We will also continue to provide tailor-made solutions for our customers as we aim to enhance their daily lives through our secure and fuss-free approach.”

Canning Fok, Group Co-Managing Director of CK Hutchison Holdings and Chairman of Alipay Payment Services (HK) Limited said, “This cooperation with GCASH to bring remittance to the Philippines using the new technology is the first step and there are many other places Hong Kong people need to remit money. I’m happy to see that the AlipayHK team is hard at work to expand this service to more people, bringing us closer to our families and friends with a cheaper and quicker solution.

Anthony Thomas, President and CEO of Mynt, the operator of GCash said, “GCash is building a cashless ecosystem to make financial services affordable and accessible to every Filipino as we aim to provide the Philippines’ underserved market with convenient options for load top-up, remittance, and cashless payments for goods and services, among others. This time, in partnership with AlipayHK and Ant Financial, GCash is able to achieve another breakthrough to make sending money to the Philippines easier, more convenient, and more secure for Filipinos abroad. We believe that for overseas Filipinos, sending money home to their family’s GCash mobile wallet will soon be the norm.”

Standard Chartered has been an integral partner in the development of the solution and will provide the underlying banking infrastructure to support this pivotal initiative.


Lisa Robins, Global Head, Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered, said, “Remittances are a lifeblood of many communities in the Philippines, the third largest remittance market with US$33 billion of inflows in 2017. We are proud to collaborate with Ant Financial, and act as their banking partner for this new service to make remittances easier, cheaper and more secure. This evidences our joint commitment to deliver financial services to the unbanked and underbanked and exemplifies our “Here for Good” brand promise.”


Eric Jing, Executive Chairman and CEO of Ant Financial said, “We are thrilled to witness AlipayHK and GCash jointly launch the groundbreaking cross-wallet remittance function. Ant Financial is dedicated to exploring fintech breakthroughs and applying them to benefit more people in more places. This is a new starting point and significant step forward in accelerating Alipay’s pace to promote tech for good, and financial inclusion globally. Through leveraging our technological capabilities, we are committed to bringing financial services to the large underserved populations in Asia and beyond together with our ecosystem partners who share our vision and mission.”

“Ant Financial and Alipay have been exploring the cutting-edge blockchain technology since 2015. Blockchain is revolutionizing the remittance industry, and we look forward to further innovating and expanding the application of the technology in global remittances, together with local wallet partners and other ecosystem partners,” Jing added.


Since the launch of Alipay in 2004 and the establishment of Ant Financial in 2014, the Company has built an integrated technology platform and ecosystem of partners to bring more secure, transparent, cost-effective and inclusive financial services to individuals and SMEs globally. The Company will continue to invest in developing its blockchain, AI, security, IoT and computing capabilities to upgrade its global technology platform for the next generation.

Starting from 2015, Alipay has formed nine strategic partnerships with local partners outside Chinese mainland, sharing their technology know-how and risk management capabilities to provide more mobile payment and inclusive financial services to local users. In the year ended March 31, 2018, Alipay, together with its global partners, served approximately 870 million annual active users globally and over 15 million small businesses in China.

Hit Korean show One Night Food Trip returns to the Philippines

         

Asia’s craziest food contest returns to the Philippines as One Night Food Trip – International Edition enters its second season on tvN Asia. This time, K-pop heartthrobs Nichkhun of boy band 2PM and actor-host Alexander “Xander” Lee face off against celebrity cousins Danica Sotto-Pingris and Ciara Sotto in a culinary frenzy around the country. One Night Food Trip – International Edition will fly exclusively with Cebu Pacific for the entire second season.



Based on popular Korean food competition show One Night Food Trip, the international edition adds a twist by having K-pop celebrities travel to various Asian destination including the Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea, and Malaysia where they eat, play, and compete against local celebrities. Each team must complete missions involving exotic flavors and cultural attractions to earn stamps. The team that collects the most stamps within 48 hours takes home the Golden Passport.

In the Philippine segment of the show, Nichkhun and Xander jet-set together from Cebu to Pampanga, while celebrity chef Danica and singer-actress Ciara take a separate route from Coron to Legazpi for a unique experience of the country’s sights and delicacies. One of their stops is at luxury integrated resort City of Dreams Manila where they explore the Forbes five-star hotel, NÜWA, try out decadent dishes at the award-winning Crystal Dragon restaurant, and immerse in the DreamWorks-inspired interactive play space called DreamPlay.

The four-episode Philippine segment on Season 2 airs on 30 July (Monday) at 18:30 (GMT+8). It is in partnership with the Tourism Promotions Board, an attached agency of the Department of Tourism, that markets and promotes the Philippines domestically and internationally as a world-class tourism destination.



Aside from 2PM, Nichkhun is also a songwriter, actor and model, with television and film projects in South Korea and China. On the other hand, Xander Lee is a former member of the South Korean boy band U-KISS. His most recent projects include the lead role in a Philippine TV series “My Korean Jagiya,” opposite Heart Evangelista.



From the Philippines, Danica Sotto-Pingris is a television host and celebrity chef, with a degree in Culinary Arts and Technology Management from the Center for Culinary Arts Manila. Her cousin, Ciara Sotto, is a television host, singer, actress and expert pole dancer. She regularly teaches pole dancing classes in Manila.



Cebu Pacific, the official carrier of One Night Food Trip – International Edition 2, has the widest network within the Philippines with 37 domestic destinations, which made traveling and shooting from one island to another easier with seamless inter-island connections, sparing the hosts and crew from flying to bigger airport hubs just to move across the Philippines. Aside from a direct flight between Manila and Incheon, Cebu Pacific also flies directly from Incheon to Cebu, making it easier to get to popular beach destinations like Mactan Island or Bohol, or connect to 26 international destinations that span the Middle East, Asia, Australia and the United States (Guam).



One Night Food Trip – International Edition debuted in 2017 on tvN in Asia with sister-and-brother K-pop idols, Sandara “Dara” Park and Thunder pairing against TV host Grace Lee and radio DJ Sam YG for the Philippine segment.



One Night Food Trip – International Edition will premiere exclusively on tvN on 30 July (Monday) at 18:30 (GMT+8). tvN is available in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar and Sri Lanka, with subtitles in English, Chinese, Bahasa Malaysia, Bahasa Indonesia and Thai.



Follow One Night Food Trip – International Edition Season 2 on social media with hashtags #OneNightFoodTripIntl2, #ONFTIntl2, #CEBTravels and #tvNAsia.



Learn more about tvN on Facebook @Ch.tvNAsia, Instagram @tvNAsia, and Twitter @tvN_Asia. tvN, where fun takes off!



#Official Airline Partner: Cebu Pacific

The show is supported by:

-              Tourism Promotions Board Philippines

-              City of Dreams, Manila



Website                 :               tvNAsia.net
Facebook                               :               @Ch.tvNAsia
Instagram                              :               @tvN.Asia
Twitter                                  :               @tvN_Asia
Youtube                :               https://www.youtube.com/c/tvNAsiaOfficial
Official Hashtags  :               #tvN #tvNAsia #OneNightFoodTripIntl2 #ONFTIntl2

Is your man having difficulty urinating?

It happens to men over 40s. It comes early and late to some. Just like what  my father has been experiencing today. My father was admitted 2 days ago for difficulty of voiding. He has been suffering for straining the past 2 weeks. Thus, for admission. I saw him having a hard time urinating. The symptoms are all there. His attending Physician ordered for him to undergo an ultrasound and 2D Echo. The result was normal and he has been referred to a Urologist. As of this writing, we are still waiting for doctor's order and diagnosis.

If you noticed your partner has difficulty urinating and is complaining about it. Its about time to visit your doctor and get workups and medication right away. If BPH is detected early, the lesser the complication.

GlaxoSmithKline Philippines (GSK), a global leading healthcare company, is pioneering World BPH Day on June 25 through the “FUN to be WISE on BPH” advocacy in order raise awareness about the disease and help improve the quality of life of Filipino men.

According to the Harvard Medical School, most men eventually develop some type of prostate problem, including BPH3. Patients affected by BPH often have to deal with sleep disruption and sexual dysfunction. Their daily activities and outdoor trips are also limited and can be a source of embarrassment. If untreated, BPH can also lead to Acute Urinary Retention (AUR) and may require surgery2.

In the Philippines, 24 percent of men aged 50-59 years old suffer from at least moderate symptoms of BPH, a common disease that causes the prostate to increase in size as a man ages. BPH is not malignant or cancerous but it can affect the flow of urine. Whether it is incontinence or painful urination, this will definitely hinder the way a person lives.

Every man at the prime of his life deserves a life where he can enjoy the things that he loves to do—such as trips with his family and sports like biking and hiking—without any hindrances and discomforts caused by BPH.

The FUN to be WISE advocacy addresses not just men but every person to take action. Men are urged to consult their doctors while others can tell the important men in their lives to seek medical advice and treatment.

The good thing about BPH is that the symptoms are noticeable.

With GSK’s FUNWISE acronym, which is based on the International Prostate Symptom Score4, men can know if they are experiencing symptoms of BPH.


F        for Frequency. Over the past two months, how often have you had to urinate two hours                   after you finished urinating?

U        for Urgency. Over the past month, how often have you found it difficult to postpone urination?


N         for Nocturia Over the past month, how many times do you typically get up at night to urinate?
W       for Weak Stream.
  Over the past month, how often have you had a weak urinary stream?
I         for Intermittency. Over the past month, how often have you found yourself to have stopped                 and started again while you were urinating?
S        for Straining.  Over the past month, how often have you had to push or strain to begin to                        urinate?
E        for Incomplete Emptying.  Over the past month, how often have you had a sensation of not                emptying a bladder completely after you finish urinating?

You can improve the quality of your life even if you’re suffering from BPH. Consult your doctor for diagnosis. Remember, it is never too early but it can be too late.

For more information, go to www.gsk.com.ph