Smart partners with Premier K-channel tvN to stream non-stop content on the GigaPlay App beginning December 15.

Binge-watch on all your favorite K-dramas in one super streaming app as leading mobile services provider, Smart Communications, Inc. partners with Korea’s No. 1 network and premier K-channel tvN to stream non-stop content on the GigaPlay App beginning December 15.

Smart subscribers can enjoy their favorite tvN K-dramas and Korean variety shows in the streaming platform that gives subscribers exclusive access to curated content including live concerts, sports events, films, and more.

“We ourselves are fans of K-dramas like most of our Smart customers. With tvN on Smart’s GigaPlay App, we can all binge-watch on our favorite K-dramas and TV shows. Watch and rewatch series such as ‘Crash Landing On You’ and take advantage of fresh Korean content 24 hours after Korean TV broadcast because we now have tvN on GigaPlay,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart.

“More than a platform, GigaPlay provides a variety of content for our subscribers. From live sports to local and foreign entertainment, we are making it simple and easy for our customers to make the most out of their passions—all they really need to do is just tap the app on their smartphones,” added Basas.

Apart from the latest Korean dramas, tvN also offers lifestyle and variety shows featuring some of our favorite Korean celebrities. Enjoy access to the tvN Premium Channel 24/7 only on the GigaPlay App.

The GigaPlay App also houses local pay-per-view (PPV) content. Catch "Love Is Color Blind," the romcom starring the "new gen phenomenal" love team of Donny Pangilinan and Belle Mariano. Expect more from GigaPlay's PPV offers by following Smart's official social media accounts.

Don't miss all the exclusive live and on-demand shows and content on GigaPlay! Download the app now on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store or click on this link: smrt.ph/gigaplay.

Fastest 5G mobile network       

GigaPlay is powered by Smart, the country's fastest and most reliable 5G mobile network as reported by Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence. To date, Smart has already fired up 6,400 5G base stations nationwide making it the country's first, fastest, and widest 5G network.        

Smart has also reasserted its dominance as the Philippines' fastest mobile network for the fourth year in a row, based on analysis by Ookla of tests taken with Speedtest® covering the first half of 2021.

realme to introduce a global GT 2 Series special event on Dec 20th

realme, the worlds’ fastest-growing smartphone brand and the PH’s no. 1 smartphone brand for 2021, recently announced it will hold a global GT 2 Series event to introduce three world’s-first innovations on December 20. With the introduction of the realme GT 2 Series as its most premium flagship line-up, the brand aims to break into the high-end global market and be on the forefront of leading tech innovations.

Making cutting-edge technologies and trendsetting designs more accessible to young customers have helped realme become the youngest smartphone brand which ranked Top 6 globally and maintain strong momentum in international expansion. As the first high-end flagship smartphone for realme, realme hopes to make a good first impression for young users in terms of technology and innovation. 

During the December 20 event, realme is set to introduce multiple world’s-first technologies the market can look forward to in the GT 2 Series. This will include innovations in materials, photography, and communication.

To know more about this new innovation as well as other world’s-first technologies to be introduced by realme, catch the realme GT 2 Series Special Event on December 20, 5PM (PHT). Be sure to stay tuned at the realme PH Facebook page at http://facebook.com/realmePhilippines or visit the official realme website athttps://www.realme.com/ph/.

 

Discover the joy of total wellbeing

 

How healthy do you think you are? Join this workshop on December 18 and learn how you can take care of your total wellbeing.

 

The challenges brought about by the pandemic impacted more than our physical health— it affected us emotionally, mentally, socially, and financially, too. As we head into 2022, we must assess every aspect of our wellbeing. We need to can take action towards living our healthiest life. 

 

Learn how you can do that on December 18 via “Be the Stronger, Better You in 2022: A Physical, Mental and Emotional, Social and Financial Wellbeing Workshop.” The virtual workshop—from 9 am to 12 nn—aims to share the importance and benefits of taking care of your total wellbeing. Register here: bit.ly/3dPdMBY.

 

Hosted by Miss Philippines Water 2012 and health and fitness advocate Samantha Purvor, it features informative sessions from experts on the 4 Pillars of Health and Total Wellbeing. Plus, you can get to win special prizes like iPad, Garmin watches, a year-long Viu subscription, or vouchers for Healthy 

Options!

 

Physical wellbeing 

This pillar recognizes that our daily habits and behaviors impact our overall health, wellbeing, and quality of life. In the session led by fitness coaches Jim and Toni Saret, participants will learn how being good to yourself can help develop your physical wellbeing. Coach Jim and Toni will even share some exercises that can help boost energy and make you feel good all day long.

 

Emotional and mental wellbeing 

This pillar helps people think, feel, and act in ways that create a positive impact on their overall state. Guidance Director of FEU Manila and registered psychologist Dr. Shiela Marie “Shake” Hocson will lead this session. It aims to enhance our inner strength through mental and emotional wellbeing. Amid all the digital noise of our everyday life, it is important to develop emotional and mental wellbeing to become more resilient. 

 

Financial wellbeing 

This pillar is about enabling people to have control over their financial future. Led by Stock Smarts CEO and personal financial consultant Marvin Germo, this session will look at how financial preparedness can help ease anxiety. Proper financial planning can help eliminate unnecessary worries and let you focus on the more important things in life. 

 

FWD Life Insurance Chief Agency Officer Jun Marasigan will also be on hand to share how FWD can help prepare and protect your future. 

 

Social wellbeing 

This pillar is about social health, or the ability of individuals to form healthy and rewarding interpersonal relationships with their community and environment. Physicians Dr. Hanna Palomar and Dr. Kathryn Tan will share about how building good relationships that warm the heart can bring us joy.

 

The event will also feature a session on holistic health and wellbeing with TOWNS (The Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service) and TOYM (Ten Outstanding Young Men) awardee Dr. Ging Zamora. Dr. Zamora will talk about how caring for ourselves holistically can help us get the best out of life and celebrate it.

 

To learn more about the event and register for the workshop, visit bit.ly/3DMIsyk.

 

Ortigas Malls Elite Pet Society will be having their first Christmas Pawty for dogs

Ortigas Malls Elite Pet Society will be having their first Christmas Pawty for dogs at L/G East Wing at Estancia on December 19, 2021 from 2PM to 5PM. Get a chance to attend talks and training by the Pinoy Dog Whisperer Lestre Zapanta, and Bayopet’s Dr. Jomer Fule. Win freebies from our event sponsors Advantix, BarksJOY, Bayopet, Bon Apawtit, Elanco, Lestre Zapanta, Paw & Purr, Pet Express, and The SM Store Estancia.

Visit the booths and pop-up dog playground for your furbabies to enjoy! Christmas gifts from the event sponsors will also be waiting at the registration booth until supplies last. Registration at the venue starts at 1PM. 

 

Entrance is FREE! All attendees must be fully vaccinated, and will need to present their pet’s Elite Pet Society ID and COVID-19 Vaccination Card to enter the event. One pet is to one owner only.

 

Not yet a member? Download the Ortigas Malls Mobile App to register your pet for free at the Ortigas Malls Elite Pet Society: http://onelink.to/xx58zg 

Visitors can be assured that safety remains the main priority for both customers and employees. Estancia has been given a Safety Seal by the Pasig LGU which is a declaration that it has complied with the city’s precautionary measures set by the DOH and IATF to help prevent the spread of the virus.

 

Visit the Estancia Facebook page for more details!

 

vivo Unveils the Brand-new Communications Network Lab at its Global Headquarters

vivo launched its Communications Network Laboratory in Dongguan, China. With a sizeable investment by vivo, the first of three construction phases was completed in cooperation with the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. With new world-class facilities, vivo aims to lead on long-term technology innovation for robust development and to provide smartphone users all over the world with superior products and services.

 

Leveraging the 5G infrastructure including base station and core network technologies also deployed by major global operators at-scale, the Lab can flexibly adjust and simulate variable frequency ranges of global commercial 5G/4G networks. As a result, a great number of tests that previously needed to be performed outdoors can be accurately achieved in the lab. 

 

Extreme conditions such as weak signal, crowded streets, and high-speed movement can also be examined in the lab, ensuring the strong performance of vivo smartphones in any scenario.

Base stations and core networks used by operators are aggregated in the Lab

 

In addition to testing daily life scenarios at the Lab, vivo engineers can also simulate various commercial environments where a multitude of tasks such as gaming, video calling, and live streaming take place. Based on these contexts, an end-to-end verification method is applied with data intelligence and analysis, gathered for product optimization to continue to deliver the ultimate user experience.

Testing in the Lab

The Lab provides multi-dimensional support for engineers worldwide in various fields, from underlying communication protocols to user experience. For example, it is establishing testing models to improve power consumption with different networks in a variety of scenarios. It is also closely following the evolution in communication technologies, adapting to the development of 5G standards, including the 5G NR Release 16, to ensure vivo users are among the first to enjoy the latest innovations.

 

Utilizing a user-oriented strategy, the Lab aims to ensure vivo smartphones can adapt to real-life complex network conditions. During the R&D cycle of each product, thousands of engineering prototypes are rigorously tested in the new Lab, to guarantee that each phone reaches the user with an excellent capability for signal transmission and data transfer, optimal power consumption, and stable performance. 

 

In terms of system reliability and performance stability, a large-scale network stability test environment has been built in the lab to conduct a strict testing program of each smartphone, including more than 4,000 hours of uninterrupted power supply stress tests, more than 1,000 hours of data transfer tests, as well as more than 10,000 mobile original and terminated calls respectively.

A Lab engineer performing a reliability test

“The new Lab showcases vivo’s long-term perspective on innovation and sustained efforts in areas uneasily perceived by users on the strategic track of performance. Going forward, vivo will continue to increase its investments in fundamental technologies.” said Jingcai Liu, General Manager of Testing Technology and Reputation Management at vivo, “Being user-oriented, vivo is committed to four long-term strategic tracks: image system, operating system, industrial design and performance, dedicating to provide superior products and services that best meet user needs.”

For more information, head on to www.vivoglobal.ph or visit vivo Philippines’s official Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

UnionBank attributes DX success, innovation in part to BSP's openness

Embracing digital transformation early on, Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) continues to blaze the trail and excite customers with innovative solutions driven by technology and co-creation. Henry Aguda, Senior Executive Vice President, the Bank’s Chief Technology & Operations Officer and Chief Transformation Officer, cites how enabling and essential it is to have your regulator’s support.

"A lot of people claim that if you're in a heavily regulated industry, you won't be able to become agile. Worse, the regulators may stand in the way," Aguda articulated as a panelist during the recently concluded IBPAP International Innovation Summit. But he was quick to say, "Strangely enough, they're the ones encouraging us to innovate."

UnionBank attributes its success in digital transformation and innovation in part to the openness of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), which has been opening an environment that is conducive to thinking outside of the box. "I think regulation would normally be the blocker, but fortunately enough, the BSP has created a sandbox for experimentation, like UnionBank's API platform, and open finance experiments," Aguda said.

Another example is the BSP's push for digital payments. It was in late 2017 when the banking regulator launched the National Retail Payment System (NRPS), providing the framework for the modernization of retail payments in the country.

"Prior to the pandemic, the BSP already pushed for the NRPS. It was actually the BSP who was saying, 'hey, we should go to digital payments.' There was some resistance in the industry, but UnionBank signed up for it early. Now, BSP is looking into how to create a responsible regulatory framework for digital currency."

Aguda also mentioned a UnionBank experience with the BSP, reflecting its openness to innovation and willingness to collaborate despite tight timelines, with the customers’ benefit in mind. 

"During the pandemic, we had to send out a new product that will allow us to launch an app that will enable our customers to cash out in 11,000 counters nationwide. And the framework for us to execute that, as well as the product approval -- we got that covered in a matter of two weeks. We apologized to the BSP team because we had to work with them over the weekend, up to 11 in the evening. So, talk about a regulator who's responsive to the times."

"Fortunately, our regulators don't stand in the way of moving quickly towards the goal of a more digitized financial industry," Aguda concluded.

Smile Train Philippines Continues to Give Forever Smiles Throughout the Pandemic

 

It Takes a Village -- With the help of friends and advocates of Smile Train and his mother’s dedication to ensure he receives surgery at the soonest possible time, Baby Mao finally received free cleft surgery at Philippine Band of Mercy, a partner of Smile Train Philippines (photo on left from Cristalle Belo’s IG)

 Every day around the world, 540 babies are born with a cleft, a serious health condition with potentially life-threatening complications such as difficulty in eating, breathing, hearing, and speaking. Smile Train provides comprehensive cleft care services to individuals born with a cleft and their families. Despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, Smile Train continued to provide free cleft surgery and care for those in need, including baby Mao. 

 

Novalyn, the mother of baby Mao, had initially lost hope. During his first check-up at another organization, Mao was underweight and could not receive surgery.  Shortly after, the pandemic started, causing further delays to receiving treatment. After more than a year, Novalyn was referred to Smile Train by Cristalle Belo, Tim Yap and Javi Martinez. Mao received surgery for his cleft lip last September 2021.

 

“This life changing procedure of baby Mao is truly such a blessing to their family, and we can’t thank Smile Train enough for making this dream a reality. Can’t wait to see the results after baby Mao has healed,” said Cristalle Belo on her Instagram post.

 

In 2019, Cristalle Belo met baby Mao during one of her family-owned Belo Medical Group’s outreach activities. Baby Mao was not allowed to receive surgery then as he was not strong enough at the time. 

 

Chef Xavier Btesh, who was there to support the outreach activities, also took an interest in Baby Mao’s case, helping to ensure he goes to his pediatric check-ups and gets his vitamins to be healthy enough for his eventual surgery through Smile Train.

 

“Para sa mga magulang, huwag pong mawalan ng pag-asa dahil nandyan ang Smile Train laging naka suporta para sa atin at para sa mga anak nating may cleft. Pero hangga’t maari, bilang isang magulang, bilang isang nanay, isa sa mga responsibilidad natin na alagaan ang sarili natin lalo na pag tayo ay mayroong anak na may cleft,” said Mommy Novalyn. 

 

(“For all the parents out there, do not lose hope, Smile Train will always be there to support us and for our children with cleft. However, as much as possible, as a parent, as a mother, one of our responsibilities is to take care of ourselves especially when we have a child with a cleft,” said Mommy Novalyn.)

“Through Smile Train’s sustainable model of partnering with local hospitals and empowering local medical professionals, we are able to provide cleft care throughout the year. This model has allowed us to continue to carefully provide safe, quality and timely surgeries throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Kimmy C. Flaviano, Smile Train Vice President, South East Asia.

 

Aside from cleft surgeries, Smile Train has provided over 3,000 telehealth sessions for speech therapy and nutrition counselling during the pandemic. Smile Train also launched the first-ever Filipino language mobile speech appdesigned for those born with a cleft to continue learning at home.    

 

Despite the challenges of the current times, Smile Train remains committed to its vision of a world where everyone has access to safe and comprehensive cleft care and can live a full and healthy life. In just over 20 years, Smile Train has already supported over 65,000 cleft surgeries in the Philippines. 

 

For more information about Smile Train’s global efforts and to donate, please visit smiletrain.org. To learn more about Smile Train’s local programs in the Philippines, please visit smiletrain.ph, follow Smile Train Philippines on Instagram @SmileTrainPh, and like us on Facebook at @SmileTrainPhilippines.

 

TECNO Mobile Awards Budding Filipino Filmmaker Johanna Serrano

This Christmas season, TECNO Mobile is giving shoppers the chance to enjoy special discounts and deals on the CAMON 18 Series, and other awesome smartphones and AIoT products from the brand. 

Visit the TECNO Mobile Flagship Store in Lazada, and the TECNO Mobile PH Official Store in Shopee TECNO Mobile Awards Budding Filipino Filmmaker Johanna Serrano as the Grand Winner of Its First Movie Masters Program.

TECNO Mobile recently concluded its first Movie Masters Program with an awarding ceremony held on December 11, 2021. The Movie Masters Program, which marks the beginning of TECNO Mobile’s commitment to supporting the local filmmaking scene, is a short film competition whose goal is to highlight moving moments from everyday life through dynamic, touching, and beautifully-made original videos shot by aspiring local filmmakers using the CAMON 18 Premier smartphone. 

At the awarding event, filmmaker Johanna Serrano was named the Grand Winner of the Movie Masters Program for her film, Bukidnon An Eco Adventure, besting two other finalists, Dylan Talon and Angelo Crisostomo. In the short film, Johanna takes viewers along as she explores the beautiful province of Bukidnon, sharing raw and authentic moments that she experiences during the trip.

As the Grand Winner, Johanna received a Php 300,000 film grant, along with the chance to create a short film together with top local director, Paul Soriano and the TEN17P team. The film, which will be released globally this December, will take a look back at the past year, and show how Filipinos are capable of overcoming challenges that may shake them, in order to live a steady life with the promise of a stable and beautiful future. 

Apart from emerging as the Grand Winner of the short film competition, Johanna was also named as one of two TECNO Mobile 2022 Tourism Ambassadors. The second Tourism Ambassador awarded at the event was Felix Ablao Jr., who submitted the best steadiest video entry for the Shaky Video Championship on Facebook. Both TECNO Mobile 2022 Tourism Ambassadors received Holiday Travel Funds amounting to Php 40,000 as their prize.

In a message to the finalists, and those watching the awarding ceremony, Direk Paul Soriano shared that the technology found in the CAMON 18 Premier makes it a great tool for capturing and telling stories. He also invited more filmmakers and creators to take advantage of opportunities like the Movie Masters Program. He said, “We have the freedom that we all want when we tell our stories. The creative freedom. It’s really just you, and the CAMON 18 Premier, and your stories. What else do you need?”

Capture great stories with CAMON 18 

The Movie Masters Program showcased how the CAMON 18 Series pushes the boundaries of what it means to be a professional camera smartphone. The finalists were able to experience the “Movie Master” CAMON 18 Premier firsthand, testing out its ultra-steady Stabilized Gimbal Camera to achieve a #SuperSteadyShot as they created their short films. 

Other smartphones included in the CAMON 18 Series are CAMON 18P, which has a 48MP clear and steady video camera, plus a 13MP 50mm pro portrait camera, and the CAMON 18 variant, which is equipped with a 48MP Multi-function Triple Camera.

 

Mall to catch the TECNO Pre-Holiday Sale on December 12 to 14, 2021, the TECNO Christmas Payday Sale on December 15 and 16, 2021, and the TECNO Holiday Sale from December 22 to 26, 2021.

 

It’s a joyous holiday season with Spark 8P and POVA Neo

You can also look forward to these upcoming smartphones from TECNO Mobile this Christmas - Spark 8P and POVA Neo. The “Ace for New Gen”, Spark 8P is equipped with a 50MP Ultra Clear AI Triple Camera that allows you to capture moments clearly and vividly, a 1080P FHD+ Dot Notch Screen, and a huge 5000mAh battery with power saving optimization. Spark 8P is available at the TECNO Mobile Official Stores in Shopee and Lazada for only Php 7,499.

 

Enjoy your favorite games on the extra tough POVA Neo smartphone, with a large battery and big screen for an even better gaming experience. This smartphone is equipped with ET Engine optimization boost, plus a Game Space with cool interface, and fast play features. POVA Neo is available at the TECNO Mobile Flagship Store in Lazada, and is priced at Php 5,999.

 

Stay updated on all the latest promos when you like and follow TECNO Mobile Philippines on Facebook. Visit www.tecno-mobile.com/ph to learn more about your favorite TECNO Mobile smartphones and gadgets.