Smart is bringing the KCON:TACT 4U virtual festival from June 19 to 27, 2021

One of the world’s largest K-Culture events is coming back once again to Filipino K-Pop fans as mobile services provider Smart Communications, Inc. is bringing the KCON:TACT 4U virtual festival from June 19 to 27, 2021 via Gigafest.Smart. 

KCON:TACT 4U is a K-Culture and pop music celebration featuring nine days of Korean content with live concerts and meet and greets with dozens of KPOP artists, including A.C.E, ASTRO, BTOB, CNBLUE, EVERGLOW, fromis_9, Golden Child, HA SUNG WOON, HIGHLIGHT, iKON, ITZY, JO1, LOONA, OH MY GIRL, ONEUS, ONF, P1Harmony, PENTAGON, SEVENTEEN, SF9, Stray Kids, THE BOYZ, TO1, VERIVERY, Weeekly, and Weki Meki.

Smart brings you closer to your K-Life 

Smart enables you to live big with your passion for all things Hallyu, your Smart K-Life, as you stan your favorite K-Pop idols, catch their performances, and get up close with their meet and greet sessions. During the festival, you can go all out by turning on your light sticks, dancing to the hits of your idols, and connecting with fellow fans not just from around the country but also from all over the world.   

To catch the shows live, simply turn on your mobile device and go to Gigafest.Smart, click on KCON:TACT 4U from June 19 to 27, 2021 at 8PM Philippine Time. 

Powered by the country's fastest mobile data network

For best watching experience, be sure to register to Double GIGA Video on the GigaLife App so you have enough data to stream the live shows on gigafest.smart. Double GIGA Video gives you 2 GB every for YouTube, iwant TFC, and more so you can discover more about your favorite idols. Continue to share your favorite moments of your idols from the virtual festival with Double GIGA Stories with 2 GB every day for Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and Kumu plus data for all sites. Just simply go to GigaLife App or dial *123# and choose Double Giga to register.

Double GIGA is powered by Smart, the country's mobile data network as reported by third-party mobile internet analytics firm Ookla® and Opensignal.   

Ookla, the global leader in internet testing and analysis, named Smart as the country’s fastest mobile data network in the second half of 2020 after it achieved a Speed Score™ of 24.99, with average speeds of 20.08 Mbps for download, and 7.42 Mbps for upload, based on 3,915,679 user-initiated tests taken with Speedtest®.  Ookla has also cited Smart as the country's fastest mobile data network for three years in a row now. 

Smart has also scored a rare sweep in the April 2021 Philippines Mobile Network Experience Awards* by independent analytics firm Opensignal, beating the competition across all metrics in three essential aspects of service: Coverage (4G Coverage Experience, 4G Availability), Speed (Download and Upload Speed) and Experience (Games, Video and Voice app). This is the first time an operator in the Philippines won decisively in all categories.

Smart also enables subscribers to level up their digital experience with Smart 5G's superfast speeds and ultra-low latency powered by the country's most extensive 5G network with over 3,000 sites. 

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*Opensignal Awards – Philippines: Mobile Network Experience Report April 2021, based on independent analysis of mobile measurements recorded during the period January 1 – March 31, 2021 © 2021 Opensignal Limited.

IKEA Philippines Searches for Magazine Cover Models

In preparation for the opening of the first store in Pasay City, IKEA Philippines is producing a magazine to share the brand’s milestones and inspiration to the Filipinos. IKEA will feature Filipino families or individuals on the cover and searches for magazine cover model.

The invitation to be on the cover of IKEA Philippines magazine is open to all Filipinos. Five families or friends or individuals will be selected to be on the printed and/or digital cover of the magazine. Selected participants will also receive P30,000 worth of IKEA shopping vouchers. 

 

Entries to the search will be collected from 15 – 30 June 2021. Winners will be announced via IKEA Philippines Facebook page.

 

How to join the search

Interested individuals may visit (campaign page link) and submit a photo taken inside their homes. Photo entries may include their friends, partners or other members of their family.  For more information and to see full contest mechanics, click this LINK. visit the IKEA Philippines website, www.IKEA.ph  

 

BDO: Expats Bank of Choice

I love that how my bank continue to focus on customers needs in these trying times. I can do online banking, transferring and paying my bills easily with just accessing my BDO app. 

LIVES would be more stressful, difficult, inconvenient, and less secure if not for Filipino frontliners’ commitment to their duties as we all struggle with the pandemic. These include bank employees who help clients access cash for our basic needs. 

 

From Korea with Love

Sangsik Shim of Daelim Philippines is happy that even during the strictest periods of the Enhanced Community Quarantine his bank, BDO, was able to fulfill his company’s needs. 

 

Mr. Shim appreciates that his bank has a dedicated Korean Desk staffed by Filipinos who are knowledgeable about Korean culture and even speak the language. “BDO knows how Koreans handle businesses, and for that, we’re lucky. Since then, Daelim has had short-term loans with BDO to fund our business operations. It also has been very easy to get credit lines from them because they know and support our company’s plan,” said Mr. Shim.

 

“We always want our partners to respond quickly, so thankfully, that’s how BDO has been so far. My company and also my own experience with BDO strengthened my trust in the bank. They continue to prove that even in good times when our business needed funding, and the bad times when there are unexpected events, we can rely on them."

 

Mr. Shim was impressed at how quickly BDO responded to his needs during the pandemic. When he received a call that his credit card was about to expire, ECQ was declared. He was expecting that it would take a long time to transact for a renewal due to the lockdown but BDO processed fast and had his new card delivered. 

 

Human solution

2020 was also a challenging year for . Fortunately, Mr. Schmitz’ line of business is considered an essential one: it was subject to lesser restrictions in terms of mobility. Nevertheless, with quarantine affecting services along the supply chain, there was still the risk of disruption in its operations.

 

According to Mr. Schmitz, he is lucky to have a bank that makes sure transactions went as smoothly as possible. “I applaud BDO because they are always reachable for every transaction even with the lockdown restrictions. Also, we were able to push our clients to transact online so they can pay their employees even with the work-from-home set-up. Other than that, BDO assisted us in our business expansion through their loans even during the pandemic. We looked for efficiency, and we found it in BDO,” he said.

 

While many problems required a technological solution, Mr. Schmitz said that BDO provides the best solution of all: the human factor that assures him that everything will be all right. 

 

“Nowadays, with so much reliance on technology, it’s very hard to keep the personal connection but BDO always has that human touch that I admire. I think BDO has done a great job there especially in my business because there is always somebody you can rely on. All I have to do is make a phone call and I am able to reach a person who can assist me. It enables us to make better decisions with less stress and difficulty.”

 

Keeping “business as usual”

 

As a global management consultancy, Roedl Philippines, Inc. is mainly concerned with helping international clients set up and run their businesses in the Philippines. It also extends the same service to Philippine companies based overseas, particularly in Germany. Roedl & Partner has 109 offices in 49 countries. With a tight-knit grid of intentional offices and global connected clients, the company needs to operate as efficiently and as effectively as possible locally and cross-boarder.

 

When the quarantine and lockdown were declared in Manila, Roedl Philippines needed a banking partner that could assist the company and its clients to complete particularly their international transactions—since despite the local lockdown and travel restrictions the global business never stopped.

 

“We have a set of requirements for any business partner we work with. First of all, we look for entrepreneurial spirit. This means seeing challenges as opportunities. It goes without saying that we expect from our staff and business partners to bring in an alert mind, commitment, and professionalism,” said Dr. Marian Norbert Majer, Executive Director and Consultant of Roedl Philippines, Inc.

 

“What is also of utmost importance to us, is business integrity.  I would define integrity as the ability to gain trust and respect. Both trust and respect can only be gained through time, through consistent and reliable performance.  I can attest that BDO fulfills all of these requirements. It was proven over a longer period of time but particularly during the pandemic.” 

 

For those reasons, Roedl continues a strong business relationship with BDO all these years. According to Dr. Majer, BDO was able to consistently provide service and assistance throughout the ECQ period. “We highly appreciate that despite limitations due to the ECQ, we always had someone from BDO who was directly and constantly available to take care of our requirements. This means not only our requirements, but particularly the requirements of our clients.”

 

The pandemic underscored the importance of reliability and trust during times of crisis. For these expats, they chose BDO because the bank continues to find ways amid difficult challenges.

SINGER SONGWRITER PRODUCER AND SONGLAND ALUM JACK NEWSOME RELEASES DEBUT EP ALL DRESSED UP VIA 12TONE MUSIC

 

LISTEN HERE

 

 “Stats are all well and good but let’s get talking about Jack Newsome because quite honestly the tracks are stellar and need to be backed up with your words of praise for this on-the-cusp and rising music artist as well.” 

“In the end, ‘The Year The World Stood Still’ is a golden-hearted, sentimental demonstration of hard-hitting pop prowess.”

 

“His new track ‘Arms’ is easily one of his best”

 

25-Year-Old Singer, Songwriter and Producer Jack Newsome has released his debut EP via 12Tone Music - listen to All Dressed Up HERE.

Attending Berklee College of Music, he grabbed the attention of reality songwriting competition series Songland. Jack was a part of the first season, working with Country singer/songwriter/producer Shane McAnally as his episode’s coach turned mentor in real life. As a finalist for his episode, Jack and Shane cut the smooth song “Lying (Next To You)” which cracked the one million mark on streaming platforms. The cut had elements of everything from Country to Trap, which truly displayed Jack’s versatility.

All Dressed Up track-list:

1. All Dressed Up

2. Friends

3. Hurt People

4. Easy On Me

5. Arms

6. The Year The World Stood Still

7. All Dressed Up (Hot Mix)

 

​​ [photo credit: Louis Browne] 

 

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OPPO introduces OPPO A94 in Crystal Silver!

Global smart device brand OPPO introduces a new colorway for the latest smartphone powerhouse of A Series, OPPO A94 in Crystal Silver! Inspired by a lustrous diamond gradient with a subtle elegance to stand out in the crowd, the OPPO A94 Crystal Silver gives off a sleek tone and beautifully captures a trendy minimalist style. 

 

Just like its other color variants Fluid Black and Fantastic Purple, OPPO A94 Crystal Silver retails at PHP13,999 in OPPO Brand Stores nationwide and e-commerce partners Shopee and Lazada.

 

Power Beyond Beauty
The new OPPO A94 in Crystal Silver gets you the power you deserve to #LiveLifeAtFullSpeed with its promising camera and gaming features!

 

Thanks to its 48MP AI Quadcamera setup, OPPO A94 lets you capture moments more clearly and creatively, as it is powered by the latest AI camera capabilities such as AI Color Portrait Video and Dual-View Video. Sharing moments on social media is now made easier in just one click with no editing needed.

 

Additionally, mobile gamers get smarter gaming features to help fully enjoy the experience without any interruption. With its ColorOS 11.1 operating system, mobile gaming is now a notch higher with the Game Focus Mode that blocks all distractions including notification bars, incoming calls, navigation gestures, alarms, and even on-screen volume prompts. For mobile games that are virtually intensive, Gaming Shortcut Mode helps drastically reduce the load time by reserving virtual memory for frequently played games. 

 

Game Floating Window makes OPPO A94 more convenient for users looking to squeeze in a game or two during play time. It also keeps a game running in a floating window even when opening apps like email or a browser - users need to simply tap on the game’s thumbnail to re-access any time. Meanwhile, Bullet Screen Message lets you receive messages on in-game screen to lessen interruption during every battle while staying connected with friends and loved ones.

 

To know more about the new OPPO A94 and latest updates, visit OPPO’s official website at www.oppo.com/ph or via official Facebook page at OPPO Philippines.

 

Still Thinking of what to give your Dad this Father's Day?

Going gift-shopping for dad isn’t easy. He’s pretty quiet, always responds with a perfunctory “I don't need anything” when you ask him what he wants, and seems to already have everything, anyway. Still, if anyone deserves the best gift, it’s dad—he takes care of the whole family, after all! 

If you’re having trouble finding the perfect Father’s Day gift, narrow down your search by identifying your dad’s interests and hobbies. This will make your gift-hunting a whole lot easier, and your dad will love your thoughtful gesture of personally picking out a gift that fits his interests.

 

For thrill-seekers and adventurers, we recommend portable barbecue grills, insulated water bottles, outdoor gadgets, and more. 

These items are all on sale this akinse at Shopee’s 6.15 Payday Sale. Make the most out of your sweldo and check these out now:

 

Has your dad been waiting for gyms to reopen? With the Domyos Push-Up Wheel Grips, he can take the first step towards building his own home gym! These grips, developed by strength training teams, offer a variety of exercises for body weight training workouts.

 

Remind dads-on-the-go to stay hydrated with the Hydro Flask 20oz. Whether he’s working out, going for a jog, or biking outdoors, this handy vacuum-insulated stainless steel tumbler will keep his drinks hot or cold for hours.

 

 

If he’s been dreaming of going camping, get him the Home Zania Portable Grill. No need to lug around bulky outdoor grills that take hours to get assembled—you just need to unfold this one in order to use it. It’s also high temperature-resistant, distortion-free, and non-toxic.

 

Get your dad a Morui Dash Cam for safer journeys on the road. It boasts of a dual-lens camera design: a front camera with up to 170-degree viewing angle and a waterproof rear camera. The device can simultaneously record front and rear view videos.

If your dad loves nature and photography, level up his adventures with the DJI Mavic Mini-Drone. He’ll enjoy shooting high-definition photos and videos, which he can edit and post straight from his phone with the DJI Fly App.

Find more gifts for your adventurous dad at Shopee’s 6.15 Payday Sale. Aside from big discounts, enjoy deals such as free shipping with no minimum spend, 15% cashback, and ₱15 deals. Visit https://shopee.ph/m/payday-sale for more information.

 

Check out using ShopeePay to enjoy even more perks such as:

●      ShopeePay ₱1 Deals for Puregold, Potato Corner, Seaoil, and other supermarkets and restaurants, redeemable when you pay in-store

●      Discounted load and data offers such as ₱10 data for only ₱1 and ₱10 load for ₱6

●      Up to 35% cashback on Bills Payment

 

Top up your ShopeePay wallet conveniently through debit card, online banking, TouchPay machines, and over-the-counter on June 14 for a chance to win ₱15,000!

Father's Day Gifts: These items are all on sale this akinse at Shopee’s 6.15 Payday Sale

Gift-shopping for dad isn’t easy. He’s pretty quiet, always responds with a perfunctory “I don't need anything” when you ask him what he wants, and seems to already have everything, anyway. Still, if anyone deserves the best gift, it’s dad—he takes care of the whole family, after all! 

 

If you’re having trouble finding the perfect Father’s Day gift, narrow down your search by identifying your dad’s interests and hobbies. This will make your gift-hunting a whole lot easier, and your dad will love your thoughtful gesture of personally picking out a gift that fits his interests.

 

For dads who remain kids at heart, we recommend fun collectibles, graphic tees, and more. These items are all on sale this akinse at Shopee’s 6.15 Payday Sale. Make the most out of your sweldo and check these out now:

 

This LEGO Ducati Panigale V4 R is the perfect gift for motorcycle enthusiasts. Your dad will surely enjoy building a cool, realistic replica of the Ducati Panigale V4R, or learning the inner workings of this iconic motorcycle.

 

Nothing captures the height of boyhood nostalgia like the classic 90s film, Space Jam. If your dad loved seeing the Looney Tunes characters hit the basketball court with Michael Jordan, this INSPI Space Jam Shirt is just the gift for him.

 

This Funko POP! Gunther Vinyl Figure is a great gift for big fans of the hit TV show, Friends. This vinyl figure of the Central Perk barista comes with a scratch-resistant boss protector to keep your pop in perfect condition.

 

If your dad grew up reading DC comics, McFarlane Toys The Flash is for him. This incredibly detailed Red Death action figure, based on the Dark Nights Metal Comic, is guaranteed to make his day. It’s designed with up to 22 moving parts for a full range of posing and play.

 

 

For Marvel fans who can’t get enough of resident sorcerer and master of the mystic arts, Doctor Strange, get this Funko POP! Doctor Strange Shirt. Your real-life superhero will love this classic shirt’s cute graphic print and soft cotton fabric. 

 

Find more gifts for your hobbyist dad at Shopee’s 6.15 Payday Sale. Aside from big discounts, enjoy deals such as free shipping with no minimum spend, 15% cashback, and ₱15 deals. Visit https://shopee.ph/m/payday-sale for more information.

 

Check out using ShopeePay to enjoy even more perks such as:

●      ShopeePay ₱1 Deals for Puregold, Potato Corner, Seaoil, and other supermarkets and restaurants, redeemable when you pay in-store

●      Discounted load and data offers such as ₱10 data for only ₱1 and ₱10 load for ₱6

●      Up to 35% cashback on Bills Payment

 

Top up your ShopeePay wallet conveniently through debit card, online banking, TouchPay machines, and over-the-counter on June 14 for a chance to win ₱15,000!