vivo VISION+ has partnered with Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival to present the “Our Moments, Create Together” smartphone photography exhibition.

 The 7th Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival opened today in Xiamen. This year, vivo VISION+ Project made its debut, collaborating with Jimei x Arles to present the “Our Moments, Create Together” exhibition. The exhibits include photos taken with vivo smartphones by internationally acclaimed photographers and judges of vivo VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards 2021 (VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards), such as Martin Parr and Xiao Quan, as well as a selection of excellent VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards entries.

All exhibits brought by vivo have been shot between 2020 and 2021 on a smartphone. These include photographs created by famous photographers, who attempted to use a smartphone for professional work for the first time; everyday scenarios shot by VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards contestants, and images depicting today’s society. These works celebrate life and show how a single image can convey powerful meaning, all while demonstrating the unique portability and instantaneous nature of smartphones as a photography tool. The exhibition themed “Our Moments” also implies that everyone has a chance to become a creator when the smartphone becomes a camera.

vivo exhibition zone on the site of Jimei x Arles

The vivo VISION+ exhibition is the first smartphone photo exhibition at the Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival. The successful debut of this exhibition indicates the growing attention of the professional photography community towards “mobile photography”. The collaboration between professional photography institutions and mobile imaging technology developers will help harness the possibilities of the smartphone as a new medium of photography.

“The Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival is an exceptional and influential international photography event. The works brought by vivo document an extraordinary time for the world.” said Spark Ni, Senior Vice President and CMO of vivo. “Smartphone images splice fragments of life captured by amateur and celebrated photographers in a lighter form, depicting a human-centered view of the world. By virtue of the depth of expression within these images, we can finally reconnect with people from different regions of the world. vivo will continue to collaborate with renowned brands like ZEISS to provide more human-centered photography experience and enable more people to experience joy through creation.”

 

A number of international expert photographers turned to the smartphone camera to interpret vivo’s “Joy of Humanity” 

The works from expert photographers at this exhibition were captured using vivo smartphones, reflecting their different interpretations of the creative values vivo stands for– focus on the present moment, document life fragments, and appreciate everyday life.

 

Documentary photographer Martin Parr turned his mobile lens towards the coast of his hometown, Cornwall, U.K., and photographed people sunbathing on the beach. He walked down the beach and immersed himself in the scene as if invisible, documenting the scene on his smartphone. “The great thing about shooting with a smartphone camera is that you maintain the quality of a DSLR, but you become almost invisible because everyone has a smartphone, and no one notices you,” Martin Parr commented on his works.

Martin Parr, No.404 Cornwall Story 2021. Shot on vivo X60 Pro+.

Chinese Portrait Photographer Xiao Quan used his smartphone to shoot craftsmen in his hometown of Chengdu. He documented their work and everyday life as a past memory of the fast-changing city, so that more people can feel the humanizing aspect of Chengdu.

Xiao Quan, Chengdu. Shot on vivo X70 Pro+.

Documentary Photographer Jonas Bendiksen focused his lens on time spent with his family and friends. In this first attempt at creation with a smartphone, he captured a family outing in autumn with vivo X70 Pro+.

 

Jonas Bendiksen, An Autumn Tale. Shot on vivo X70 Pro+.

Portrait Photographer Michael Halsband has taken photographs of his close friends throughout his life. Accustomed to shoot with an 8x10 large format film camera, he tried to capture their lively and vivid portraits using a smartphone camera, the vivo X70 Pro+, for the first time. The lightweight smartphone alleviates the weight of professional photography equipment and naturally captures his friends in a more relaxed way.

Michael Halsband, Aaron, Circle. Shot on vivo X70 Pro+.

National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita boarded a helicopter with his smartphone to wait for the sunrise in New York. After travelling around the world, he returned to the city where he was born with renewed aspirations and reproduced the beauty of Manhattan through his lens.

Michael Yamashita, Dreamland. Shot on vivo x70 Pro+.

Recapping “Our 2021” with photos, and feeling the creative spirit of smartphone photography

In addition to the above-mentioned works by expert photographers, the Jimei x Arles exhibition also features excellent photos selected among 384,878 images from vivo VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards 2021. Our 2021 collection combines visual aesthetics with emotions, showcasing wonderful and warm moments of everyday life. This collection displays memories of people around the world, including life during the pandemic, international sports events, disaster relief efforts, aerospace achievements, and celebrations of historic heritage.

vivo VISION+, Our 2021, selected from submissions to VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards 2021

vivo officially unveiled the winners of vivo VISION+ Mobile PhotoAwards 2021 last November. The jury composed of Xiao Quan, Martin Parr, Jonas Bendiksen, and other expert photographers appraised submissions from over 40 countries and regions, and selected 30 winning creations. These photos depict human interactions, personal stories, and public events across different countries and regions. vivo believes that good photos should showcase the beauty of everyday life. They should pay attention to the present moment and portray genuine emotions. Smartphone cameras capture touching moments of everyday life and turn our devices into a lasting private collection of our most cherished memories. This is also the original purpose of the cooperation between vivo and Jimei x Arles International Photo Festival in hosting the “Our Moments, Create Together” photo exhibition.

 

vivo believes that technology serves to connect people around the world. The future of smartphone photography is determined by both technology innovators and photographers themselves. As a technology company with more than 400 million users worldwide, vivo will continue to join hands with partners like ZEISS to explore more human-centered professional photography while upgrading the VISION+ Project. Thus, everyday individuals can explore their photographic passion and enjoy the “Joy of Humanity” empowered by vivo technologies. Visit vivo Philippines on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to know more about the VISION+ Project.

 

GLOBAL SUPERSTARS ED SHEERAN AND ELTON JOHN UNITE FOR THEIR FESTIVE CHARITY SINGLE ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS’

DURING THE 2021 CHRISTMAS PERIOD, ED SHEERAN’S AND ELTON JOHN’S GLOBAL RECORD AND PUBLISHING ROYALTIES FROM THE SINGLE & PROFITS FROM SALES OF THE SINGLE WILL BE DONATED EQUALLY BETWEEN THE ED SHEERAN SUFFOLK MUSIC FOUNDATION & THE ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION

Two of the world’s biggest recording artists, Ed Sheeran and Elton John, ring in the festive season with their all-new charity single ‘Merry Christmas’, available now across all platforms (listen here). The track, released today on Asylum/Atlantic, is also joined by their fun-filled Jason Koenig-directed accompanying official video (watch here).

‘Merry Christmas’ provides us with the perfect dose of Christmas cheer - packed with sleigh bells, uplifting arrangements and joyous harmonies, the song is topped by Ed and Elton’s heart-warming lyrics that only add to its festive sparkle: “So kiss me under the mistletoe / Pour out the wine let’s toast and pray for December snow / I know there’s been pain this year but it’s time to let it go / Next year you never know, but for now, Merry Christmas.”

Written by Ed Sheeran/Elton John and produced by Steve Mac, the blockbuster collaboration cements a 10+ year friendship and it sees the global superstars join forces for the first-ever time on an official single release. However, this isn’t the pairs’ first foray into festive music releases - in 2017, Sheeran secured the coveted UK Christmas No.1 with his timeless ballad ‘Perfect’, whilst Elton’s 1973 classic, ‘Step Into Christmas’, has gone onto become one of the most rotated Christmas songs of all time.

The official video for ‘Merry Christmas’ - scripted by Jason Koenig, Jenny Koenig and Ed Sheeran – adds further tinsel as it pays homage to scenes from legacy Number 1 Christmas music videos and iconic Christmas films. With a little help from Mr Blobby, Jonathan Ross, Big Narstie, Michael McIntyre and The Darkness, who all cameo throughout (!), we see the cast reinvent scenes from Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’; Shakin’ Stevens’ ‘Merry Christmas’; The Snowman’s ‘Walking in the Air’; East 17’s ‘Stay Another Day’ and more.

During the 2021 Christmas period, Ed Sheeran’s and Elton John’s global record and publishing royalties from the single and profits from sales of the single will be donated equally between the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation & The Elton John AIDS Foundation.

DICT successfully launched six Emerging Technologies Workshops in partnership with Huawei Philippines

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), in partnership with Huawei Philippines, successfully hosted six Emerging Technologies Workshops for government employees this year.

 

More than 700 government employees from the DICT and various agencies participated in the webinars. The six workshops on emerging technologies were held from June to November, covering topics like 5G, Digital Economy, AI & Big Data, Cloud Computing, and Cybersecurity.

Assistant Secretary Alvin Navarro expressed gratitude to the DICT team and Huawei Philippines for making these workshops possible. The last Emerging Technology Workshop for this year discussed the "Global Cyber Security Challenges and Governance Standards Introduction". According to Mr. Alvin Navarro, "Cybersecurity breaches affect us directly as individuals, as organizations, as a nation, and as a global community. Our personal accounts are hacked, and we can lose our identity and privacy. More than ever, understanding cyber threats and risks should be one of our priorities. And necessarily, the imperatives of cybersecurity should lead us to adopt and adhere to government standards. " At the end of the speech, Mr. Alvin Navarro mentioned that he is confident that the participants will leave the workshops with a better understanding of what needs to be done towards a digitally secure world.

 

Daniel Guo, Vice President of Huawei Philippines, congratulated and expressed gratitude to DICT for mounting a very successful training series. He emphasized that Huawei aspires to deliver digital to every person, home, and organization for a fully connected and intelligent world, and is contributing to the local ICT talent development in the Philippines.

 

As part of the culminating activity, DICT presented a certificate of appreciation to Huawei Philippines and commended the Huawei team for successfully hosting the event and sharing their technical knowledge and use cases in Asia and around the world. The certificate was presented by Atty. Emily Manuel on behalf of DICT. 

 

Filipinos can Live Safe Now with Defensil, an Isopropyl Alcohol Solution

Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol encourages Filipinos to live safe with many establishments slowly re-opening and allowing people to resume their pre-pandemic lifestyles.

 

With the nationwide vaccination program in full force, Filipinos can slowly enjoy various activities such as more dining options as well as doing physical activities by going to the gym. However, health experts continue to remind everyone to not let their guards down even as we gradually go back to normal. 

As there are reports of new and potentially more contagious variants, everyone must remain vigilant through following established health protocols and getting vaccinated so we can all continue to live safe and prevent the cases from surging again.

 

That’s why when we do essential errands such as buying groceries, exercising outdoors, or simply going outside, disinfecting your hands and any surface you interact with goes a long way to ensure living safely for you and your family.

 

One way to prevent the spread of the virus is by always carrying a trusted rubbing alcohol brand that contains at least 70& alcohol solution whenever you go outdoors. 

 

Defensil 70% Solution Isopropyl Alcohol, the alcohol recommended by the Philippine Society for Microbiology (PSM), can kill 99.9% of common germs and bacteria starts to kill them on contact so that you can safely do the activities you love wherever you are. Defensil also provides up to 12 hours of protection upon constant use so that you are protected and do activities with ease.

 

Skin dryness from too frequent sanitizing will also not be a worry as Defensil has moisturizing properties and is hypoallergenic, giving you one less thing to worry about when going indoors. 

 

"We are 100% behind the government in their efforts to prevent further spread of the virus. Defensil encourages everyone to remain vigilant now more than ever and do our part in this fight towards eventually resuming our normal way of life by adhering to social Distancing and sanitation protocols, especially when doing essential errands outdoors," shared Nikko Cruz, Brand Manager of Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol.

 

For more information on how to stay protected, you may visit the Defensil Isopropyl Alcohol’s Facebook page at facebook.com/defensil.philippines.

 

PayMaya introduced PayMaya Verified Sellers, a feature that makes transactions safer for both buyers and sellers

 

Online shopping has definitely become more popular in the Philippines, but online scams - from fake sellers to bogus buyers - are ruining the experience for many Filipinos. 

 

To further boost the growth of e-commerce in the Philippines and protect customers from online scams, PayMaya introduced PayMaya Verified Sellers, a feature that makes transactions safer for both buyers and sellers using the PayMaya app. 

 

With this another first-in-the-market and unique feature, PayMaya is equipping online sellers who utilize the e-wallet to accept payments with a special badge – making it easier for consumers to check if they are paying legitimate businesses on the app. 

 

By registering as a PayMaya Verified Seller, small business owners and people with side hustles can get instant credibility through a verified badge that customers can see, marking the account as "legit." 

 

To get this special badge, PayMaya Verified Sellers will undergo another layer of screening to ensure that they are legitimate online businesses and are on good standing, on top of the standard registration and upgrade process for PayMaya app users. For sellers, this badge from PayMaya is a stamp of approval – a way to let consumers know that they are legitimate and trustworthy businesses that have passed the financial institution's rigorous background check.

 

Once verified, the badge will appear beside the seller's account name, which the customers can easily spot right before they transfer their payments in-app. 

 

"For digital transactions, trust is key. That's why we have created this unique feature for the millions of PayMaya users who are utilizing the app as sellers and buyers. Through PayMaya Verified Seller, we aim to make our ecosystem safer from online scams. We encourage all online sellers to get verified with PayMaya so you can show your customers that you are 'legit,'" said Pepe Torres, Chief Marketing Officer at PayMaya. 

 

Aside from giving customers an added layer of protection, PayMaya is equipping sellers with tools to help protect them from bogus buyers. 

 

By utilizing PayMaya as a payment method, sellers can track their transaction history in real-time – allowing them to check instantly once a buyer transfers the payment. PayMaya is the only e-wallet offering this feature, addressing seller issues like fake transaction receipt screenshots from bogus buyers. 

 

Being a PayMaya Verified Seller gives access to features that can boost business too. Here are just some of the added perks that online sellers should not miss:  

 

• Accept payments from anyone in any way. PayMaya enables sellers to accept payments from all customers seamlessly – whether they are PayMaya users via QR, Send Money, or Request Money; bank account holders via QR PH and Instapay transfers; and even those without any financial account via Smart Padala to PayMaya money transfers. 

 

• Reach millions of potential customers. As a PayMaya Verified Seller, you will be featured in PayMaya's social media channels and in-app Maya Mall so you can reach millions of PayMaya users to help boost your business.  
•  
• Increase your account limit to P1,000,000. Once you are ready to expand your business, PayMaya will also be prepared to support you with an increased account limit – allowing you to grow their business even further. 
•  
• Get exclusive perks to make the most out of your earnings. You can enjoy exclusive discounts on bills, groceries, deliveries, and waived bank transfers by simply using their PayMaya app for their everyday transactions.  
•  

With PayMaya's 99.9% uptime rate, online sellers and buyers can be confident that transactions will go through, especially when they need it most. This high uptime rate and enhanced features have translated to a more reliable and smooth customer experience, making PayMaya the top-rated e-wallet in the Philippines for both Google Play and App Store.   

 

Signing up to be a PayMaya Verified Seller is fast and easy—business owners simply need to fill out the online form at https://www.paymaya.com/survey/verified-seller. Sellers can be verified within five business days. 

 

PayMaya is the only end-to-end digital payments ecosystem enabler in the Philippines, with platforms and services that cut across consumers, merchants, communities, and government. It provides more than 41 million Filipinos access to financial services through its consumer platforms. Customers can conveniently pay, add money, cash out or remit through its over 380,000 digital touchpoints nationwide.  

 

Its Smart Padala by PayMaya network of over 60,000 partner agent touchpoints serves as last-mile digital financial hubs in communities, providing the unbanked and underserved access to digital services. Through its enterprise business, it is the largest digital payments processor for key industries in the country, including "every day" merchants such as the largest retail, food, gas, and eCommerce merchants, as well as government agencies and units.  

 

To know more about PayMaya's products and services, visit www.PayMaya.com or follow @PayMayaOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For more information on Smart Padala, visit https://smartpadala.ph/. 

realme reunites fans with their families in heartwarming Christmas video

This Christmas, there truly is no better gift than the gift of family. The holiday season is the perfect time to bring families together, and reconnect with our loved ones especially during these challenging times. There is, however, an unfortunate reality that some of us do not have the means to go home to our families, and are forced to spend Christmas away from their loved ones. 

 

This is why realme, the country’s no. 1 smartphone brand for three consecutive quarters in 2021, recently sought out Squad members with inspiring stories to give them the opportunity to be reunited with their families for the holidays. Two lucky fans were chosen and realme, in partnership with Mitsubishi Motors Philippines, finally brought them home to their families after several years.

 

The reunion was featured in a heartwarming video posted on December 5 on realme Philippines’ official Facebook page and YouTube channel. The video also features the winning entry from the brand’s recently concluded #realmeWithYou Christmas Songwriting Contest where aspiring musicians and composers got the chance to compose their own title lyrics for realme’s official Christmas track. 

 This initiative is in part of the brand’s #realmeWithYou holiday campaign that aims to spread the love and give back to its loyal fans for their unwavering support. “The holiday season is all about love and togetherness. We hope that through this simple gesture, we were able to help make Christmas more special for our ever supportive fans, and be one with them in the most wonderful time of the year,” shares Austine Huang, realme Philippines’ VP for Marketing. 

 

To get the latest updates and announcements from the country’s no. 1 smartphone brand, Facebook page at http://facebook.com/realmePhilippines and visit the official realme website at https://www.realme.com/ph/. #realmeWithYou

Treat Yourself to Upgraded Home Office Gear for the New Year at the Logitech 12.12 Big Christmas Sale

 

During the busy Christmas rush, it’s easy to go over your intended budget, especially when shopping on impulse. To avoid overspending over the holidays, it’s best to have a plan, and make sure to catch all the best deals and promotions that come your way. A great time to shop, and enjoy huge savings, would be during the 12.12 Big Christmas Sale happening at the Logitech Official Store in Shopee this December 12. 

 

Treat yourself to some of the best gear from Logitech, and welcome 2022 with upgraded work-from-home paraphernalia to start the year off strong. Enjoy discounts of up to 50% off on select items, cashback capped at Php 100, and free Sodexo GCs worth Php 100, Php 200, and Php 500 for select items. You also get Php 200 off for a minimum purchase of Php 3,000 during the 12.12 sale. As an add-on deal, get an additional 2% off for every purchase of 2 units, and an additional 5% off for every purchase of 3 or more units. There will also be special bundles and freebies in store for shoppers.

 

Shop to your heart’s content, and enjoy amazing deals from Logitech

Achieve a minimalist look and feel in your home office with the ultra-thin, simple yet stylish MK470 Slim Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Combo. Enjoy space-saving productivity with this ultra-thin, design-forward combo that is whisper quiet, and allows you to work efficiently, even in the tightest of spaces.

 

Gift yourself with a K580 Slim Multi-Device Wireless Keyboard this Christmas for a boost of efficiency, plus seamless multitasking in the coming year. This compact keyboard packs all the keys you need for work, including a number pad. It has a built-in phone cradle for added convenience, too, and it allows you to quickly switch typing between two devices at just the push of a button.

 

Thin, lightweight, and easy to carry, the Logitech K480 Multi-Device Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard gives you the freedom to work from anywhere. This keyboard has a built-in device cradle that keeps your screen at just the right angle as you type. It also connects wirelessly with any Bluetooth-enabled device with external keyboard support, and is compatible with virtually any OS, which means that you can use it to type on your phone or tablet, as well as your computer. Switching between paired devices is easily done, too, by just turning the keyboard’s dial, so you can type, switch, and continue typing, without disrupting your workflow. 

 

The M350 Pebble Wireless Mouse is a modern mouse that fits your curated lifestyle, and can go with you wherever life takes you. Minimalist in design, this mouse is also super silent when scrolling and clicking, allowing you to dive right into your workflow without disturbing anyone around you. This mouse’s smooth organic shape feels great in your hand, and, with its variety of available colors, it also adds a touch of style to your desk. 

Visit the Logitech Official Store in Shopee on December 12 to check out all the fantastic deals at the 12.12 Big Christmas Sale! Head over to the Logitech website and official Facebook Page to learn more.

 

Your 12.12 purchases also makes you eligible to join the Logitech Work From Home Xmas Xtravaganza Raffle Promo, where you can win up to Php 100,000 worth of prizes, including Logitech Z407 Bluetooth Speakers, Logitech C922 PRO HD Webcams, office table and chair sets, LED monitors, and an HP-Pavilion 15-EH1121AU with Logitech Mouse, priced at over Php 50,000. For more details, and to register for the promo, visit https://logitechrewards.ph.

 

Logitech products are also available at partner outlets, PC Express, Silicon Valley, DataBlitz, Octagon, Electroworld, Complink, iTech, Techwarez, Gameline, Interpace Computer Systems, GameXtreme, Office Warehouse, TTi, GameOne, JOYO, Gadget Headz, DynaQuest PC, Digi-Serv Solutions, Concept Computer, NUTECH, DFE (Davao Futurebright Enterprises), Villman, PCWorx, Abenson, Digistore, and Greenware.

LifeFood has carefully chosen ingredients to help Pinoys have a healthier heart and move more

There are many factors that influence our health and well being. Some of these can be controlled or modified such as diet and lifestyle, while other factors are caused by age, gender, and genes. And these affect how we perform every day, which may result to a prolonged impact and prevent us from living life to the fullest. The National Nutrition Council has pointed out that Filipinos are following diets high in fat and simple sugars and less of fruits and vegetables, which may have harmful effects to our heart. It added that typical Pinoys lack physical activity, which may have been worsened by common conditions like joint pain or rayuma.

 

LifeFood, a line of food supplements with natural ingredients derived from plants or marine life, can help. It offers products that have been carefully curated to support the specific health needs of Filipinos like maintaining cholesterol levels for a healthier heart and helping with inflammation and pain so we can move more. Here are some LifeFood-approved natural ingredients that can help with health issues that affect many Filipinos: 

 

Curcumin. Primarily found in turmeric or luyang dilaw that’s commonly added to adobong dilaw and ginataang manok, curcumin can be used for managing general inflammation to help address osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis that both cause joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. It also helps provide pain relief from these conditions as well as muscle aches and back pains. LifeFood’s Curcumin contains Meriva®, a branded ingredient that provides 29x better absorption compared to other curcumin supplements.

 

Astaxanthin. Astaxanthin, which gives seafood like salmon and certain algae its red color, is said to be one of nature’s most powerful antioxidants, which are substances that can help prevent or slow down cell damage. It contains strong anti-aging molecules that are 500 times stronger than Vitamin E and 6,000 times stronger than Vitamin C. LifeFood’s Astaxanthin contains AstaReal, naturally derived from the algae Haematococcus pluvialis, and has the highest dosage available in the Philippines at 12mg.

 

Citrus peels. It’s been known that citrus fruits have multiple beneficial nutrients. In fact, citrus peel can help in maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. LifeFood offers Sytrinol®, a proprietary blend of citrus peel (Citrus sinensis L.) and palm fruit (Elaeis guineensis) extracts, that helps manage cholesterol levels without the adverse side effects of commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs—and also backed by 12 years of research. 

 

A brand of Synnovate Pharma Corporation, the naturals division of Unilab, LifeFood goes through a meticulous process of choosing the best ingredients that are supported by clinical research to prove their efficacy and to ensure that consumers get all the value and benefits each of these products provide. They are also standardized and undergo stringent product testing following pharma standards, making these supplements extra safe for every consumer. 

 

Living our life to the fullest starts by taking good care of all aspects of our health. With supplements that are proven safe and effective and help with our specific health issues, talagang mas magiging buhay na buhay ang buhay! 

 

LifeFood Curcumin and Astaxanthin are available at leading Mercury Drug stores nationwide.

 

Follow @LifeFoodPH on Facebook and Instagram for health info and life-enriching tips. Get to know more about LifeFood at lifefood.com.ph.