CELEBRATE WITH AN EARLY HOLIDAY SALE WITH ASUS ZENFONES!

With the holiday season picking up from here on out, ZenFans can now tick off items on their Christmas lists on the eve of the highly-anticipated ber-months!

On top of everyone’s wish list this season is the widely-acclaimed ZenFone 5 and its renowned AI-powered performance. The most intelligent ZenFone yet packs a 12MP + 120-degree dual rear cameras, and is powered with a Snapdragon 636 processor, all housed in a 6.2-inch All-Screen Display. Starting today, this marvel of a smartphone will officially hit the market for the bang-for-buck price of PHP 17,995.00.

Not only that, other amazing ZenFones will also have discounted prices that ZenFans can also readily avail of, including the ZenFone 4 series, ZenFone Max series and the ZenFone Live. Refer to the list below for the complete price list:

Product	Key Specs	Original Price	Holiday Price
ZenFone 5	·         12MP + 120-degree dual rear AI cameras ·         AI Powered Qualcomm Snapdragon™ 636 Processor ·         6.2-inch Super IPS all-screen display with 90% body ratio ·         DCI P3 color gamut support	PHP 19,995.00	PHP 17,995.00
ZenFone 5Q	·         20MP + 120-degree dual selfie cameras ·         16MP + 120-degree dual rear cameras ·         Ultra-slim bezels, full view display	PHP 16,995.00	PHP 14,995.00
ZenFone 4	·         5x brighter lowlight photo ·         120-degree wide view  selfie cameras ·         Qualcomm™ Snapdragon™ 660 with 14nm octa-core processor	PHP 28,995.00	PHP 24,995.00
ZenFone 4 Selfie	·         20MP + 120-degree dual selfie cameras ·         16MP PDAF rear camera ·         SelfieMaster™ – photo and video beautification	PHP 13,995.00	PHP 9,995.00
ZenFone 4 Selfie Pro	·         2x brighter lowlight selfies ·         24MP + 120-degree selfie camera ·         16MP rear camera ·         World’s leading 4K selfie video	PHP 18,995.00	PHP 15,995.00
ZenFone 4 Selfie Lite	·         13MP softlight selfie camra ·         13MP PDAF rear camera ·         SelfieMaster™ – photo and video beautification ·         0.3 seconds fingerprint scanner	PHP 7,995.00	PHP 6,995.00
ZenFone 4 Max Lite	·         5.2-inch display ·         13MP + 120-degree dual rear cameras ·         4,100 mAh large battery	PHP 7,995.00	PHP 6,995.00
ZenFone Max Plus	·         18:9 full view FHD+ Display ·         4,130 mAh large battery ·         16MP + 8MP dual rear cameras ·         Face and fingerprint unlock technology	PHP 11,995.00	PHP 8,995.00
ZenFone Max M1	·         5.5-inch body with an 18:9 HD+ display ·         4,000 mAh large Battery ·         13MP + 120-degree dual rear cameras ·         8MP selfie camera with front-facing flash ·         Face and fingerprint unlock technology	PHP 8,995.00	PHP 8,495.00
ZenFone Live	·         Beauty Live - World’s first real-time beautification technology ·         Softlight LED flash ·         Dual microphone audio ·         13MP rear camera ·         5-magnet speaker	PHP 6,995.00	PHP 4,995.00

PH Signs Two Protocols to Help Businesses, MSMEs export within ASEAN

The ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) signed the First Protocol to Amend the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) that will facilitate the implementation of the ASEAN-wide Self-Certification (AWSC) Scheme. This is a simplified and streamlined procedure that will help businesses use the zero tariffs under the free trade agreement (FTA) between ASEAN Member States (AMS).

Likewise, the high-level economic officials signed the Protocol to Implement the 10th Package of Commitments under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS). This will provide preferential markets for Filipinos engaging in export services such as IT-BPO, tourism, and logistic sectors when doing business across the nine other AMS.

ASEAN Self-Certification is Trade Facilitation

Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, representing the country as the Philippine (PH) AEM Leader, said: “ASEAN is virtually tariff-free, and efforts are now focused on trade facilitation initiatives that will ensure the ease in the flow of goods within the region to complement free trade.”

“The AWSC will minimize burdens associated with administrative compliance and decrease transaction costs. Overall, the scheme is expected to improve the ease of doing business, thereby making it easier for PH companies to use the preferential tariff treatment under the ATIGA,” Sec. Lopez added.

ATIGA has been in place since 2010 and provides for the elimination of import duties for 98.7 percent of the product lines of ASEAN Member States.

Under the AWSC, exporters may apply for Certified Exporter (CE) status and support their claim that their goods are eligible for duty-free tariff under ATIGA. This may be used as an alternative to a Certificate of Origin (CO) Form D. In the current regime, for exported PH goods to enjoy ATIGA benefits, exporters must apply for a CO Form D for every shipment. This must be applied manually and can only be done on regular work days and only during office hours.

The AWSC promotes convenience and leads to cost savings. It also improves distribution timelines as weekend shipments will not be delayed due to administrative limitations of the CO Form applications.

“This will be good for businesses, especially our Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). It will make it easier for them to use the FTA, as well as enjoy zero tariffs when they sell to other ASEAN countries,” explained Sec. Lopez.

According to the PH trade chief, the use of FTA will make exports more cost competitive as exporters will no longer have to pay import duties.

The initiative has received positive feedback from the business sector. They also commended the strong push for ease on trade facilitation. AWSC is one of the priority request of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC), which is a new scheme is user-friendly and supports the business models of today.

Under ATIGA, import duties have mostly been brought down to zero percent. But businesses have a hard time accessing this because of complicated procedures.

Certified Exporters can make the claim that their goods meet the requirements of the ATIGA, at their own convenience and exactly when they need it, be it on weekends or on holidays. It does not require repeated applications for CO Form D. It will save time and money.

The Protocol and the ASEAN-wide Self-Certification Scheme is expected to be implemented by all ASEAN Member States by the first semester of 2019. ASEAN is composed of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

“We have this FTA in place and we want our exporters to maximize its use. It will help make our MSMEs more competitive in the global market” Sec. Lopez noted.

DTI and other government agencies such as the Bureau of Customs and the Tariff Commission will be going around the country to promote and explain what the ATIGA and the AWSC Scheme is all about.

Towards Services Integration

Sec. Lopez also emphasized the importance of trade services in the region following the signing of the 10th AFAS Package.

“We are confident that this package will be a catalyst towards a conducive export environment for service providers and businesses, including our MSMEs,” the PH AEM Leader said.

The AFAS was first signed in December 1995, and it pushed for succeeding liberalization packages as part of efforts to reduce barriers to the service sector in the region.

The latest AFAS Package allows market access and export to a range of new sectors, namely: Communication Services (e.g. export of Filipino soap operas), Health Services (e.g. medical tourism), Distribution Services (e.g. franchising), Education Services, Construction and Related Services, Transport Services, among others. These sectors comprise export interest to PH.

The country’s merchandise trade with ASEAN in 2017 was valued at USD 10 billion and accounted for 14.7 percent of total PH exports.

PH’s total services export has also continued to increase in recent years, amounting to USD9.34 billion in the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 17.5 percent from USD7.95 billion last year.

Next Generation Citi Mobile App for Seamless Digital Banking Experience

Mobile banking is now better, faster and more convenient with the next generation Citi Mobile App. Loaded with new features and a fully redesigned cards dashboard for a more personal and seamless customer experience, the app lets Citi credit cardholders lock and unlock their credit card, download and view their statements electronically, convert retail transactions to installments, get a snapshot view of their accounts and pay their bills, in a few simple clicks. The next generation app was launched by (L-R): Citi Philippines consumer customer franchise head Roy Villareal, CEO Aftab Ahmed and consumer business head Manoj Varma. For more features and info, visit www.citibank.com.ph.

Discovery Hotels and Resorts Cares for Communities Through Clean Water

What if you can do what you love while helping along the way? Such is the philosophy of The Discovery Leisure Company, Inc. (TDLCI), the Filipino hospitality group behind some of the finest award-winning hotels and resorts in the country. It is a sentiment shared with their international NGO partner Waves For Water, which works on the frontline to provide clean water access to communities around the world.

TDLCI chief operating officer Jun Parreño said, “We want to inspire our employees by letting them travel to remote places and meet the friendliest people, while making a difference at the same time.”

TDLCI’s maxim “Service That’s All Heart” applies not only to how they care for their guests and clientele, but it is also the guiding principle as they touch the lives of those in need.

After all, the hospitality industry not only provides gainful employment, it also generates substantial economic and social impact for partner communities, no matter how far-flung they may be.

Forged in 2016, the partnership between TDLCI and Waves For Water resulted in its project #TogetherForWater, with an initial outreach program in Nagtipunan, Quirino. Located in the mountainous northern part of the Philippines, the local indigenous Agta community finally gained access to clean water via 10 water filters, potentially benefiting close to 1,000 people.

Access to clean water is a basic human right. It reduces poverty and increases opportunities for education and employment, thus contributing to the advancement of individuals and their communities. To ensure the long-term sustainability of this program, TDLCI’s group of hotels and resorts—among them Club Paradise Palawan, Discovery Shores Boracay, Discovery Primea Makati, Discovery Suites Ortigas and Discovery Country Suites Tagaytay—has pledged to raise Php 200,000 each for their respective neighboring indigenous communities where clean water is needed the most.

A series of unique fundraising events were organized by employees of TDLCI in the spirit of giving. From Discovery Suites’ fun spin classes in Ride Revolution, where donors “ride” for a cause in an exciting workout environment, to the full-house Seasoned to Perfection Charity Dinner at Flame in Discovery Primea, where chef-turned-GM David Pardo de Ayala stepped out of the boardroom and back into the kitchen to specially curate a six-course menu.

Other activities include Adopt-a-Household, where one can donate a water filter set for a family, to Change for Water, where guests’ loose bills and change were collected – a little goes a long way, after all. All these were set into motion towards the noble cause of providing such a basic necessity as clean water, which for many in remote areas has become a precious commodity.
“The hospitality market employs a huge workforce from local communities,” says Carlo Delantar, country director of Waves For Water. “TDLCI is one of our valued partners in the Philippines as they saw the need for clean water while integrating a campaign that embodies their values as a workforce and social champion.”
Today, this life-changing partnership has seen the donation of 60 water filters in Sitio Carla, Malay, Aklan; 60 water filters in Sitio Camanga, Coron, Palawan; 30 water filters and two 1,000-liter tanks as a rainwater harvesting system in Sitio Suha, Norzagaray, Bulacan; and 60 water filters in Sitio Yangka, Capas, Tarlac.

 “Corporate partnerships are integral to the advancement of the Waves For Water advocacy of providing clean water access” says Jenica Dizon, director of operations of Waves For Water. “They enable us to implement large scale projects that benefit whole communities.”
Apart from the impact these initiatives have had in the aforementioned communities, a change in TDLCI’s employees was also realized. “Waves For Water requires a deep commitment from our employees as it is an exercise in getting out of their comfort zones”, says Didoy Fullon, corporate director for human resources of TDLCI. “The experience grounded them, touched their core, and made them better individuals”.

What’s next for TDLCI’s partner communities? “While clean water access is at the core of our CSR program, it can only be a truly meaningful and sustainable initiative if we can help our partner communities holistically,” TDLCI’s chief operating officer Jun Parreño said. “Once we’ve covered all our beneficiaries’ basic water requirements, we’ve made a commitment to consistently visit them to address their other needs, whether it be medical, dental, educational, or livelihood-related. We’re here to stay for them. That is what Discovery’s ‘Service That’s All Heart’ is all about.”

For more information on TDLCI’s #TogetherForWater project, and to take part of this laudable initiative, please visit https://bit.ly/discoveryadvocacy.

TUN M AND TUN SITI’S LEGO MURAL UNVEILED AT CAROUSELL’S “SAYANGI MALAYSIAKU” LEGO ART EXHIBITION IN SUNWAY PYRAMID

As Malaysians celebrate the country’s 61st independence day, Carousell, Republic of Bricks (ROB) and Sunway Pyramid Mall unveiled an array of unique murals built entirely from LEGO bricks celebrating our country.

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah’s LEGO mural is the highlight of the exhibition, beginning today to Sunday, 2 September 2018 at LG2, Central Avenue, Sunway Pyramid.

18 unique LEGO mosaics will also be on display, featuring interesting Malaysian moments, culture and sceneries, coupled with LEGO-themed activities for visitors by Carousell. LEGO fans can also connect with LEGO collectors across Malaysia on Carousell.

“The LEGO builders and fans have long traded and exchanged ideas via our platform and we in turn focus on creating authentic relationships with our communities. Naturally, Merdeka is the perfect opportunity for us to engage the LEGO fan community while celebrating 61 years of independence which highlights their creativity,” said Tang Siew Wai, Country Head of Carousell Malaysia.

Siew Wai added that hobbyists and enthusiasts could buy exclusive LEGO collections on Carousell. “To date, we have approximately 1 million LEGO listings on Carousell. This includes exquisite and scarce pieces of LEGO items to suit the user’s needs.”

“Sunway Pyramid has always been a strong supporter of the creative arts, advocating a variant of artists to display their pieces in our mall. Our collaboration with Carousell and ROB is part of our continuous efforts to offer a variety of activities to our shoppers especially on this very significant Merdeka celebration,” said Amy Hoo Ooi Mei, Senior Manager - Marketing of Sunway Pyramid.

“Matching different LEGO pieces to build this mural resembles the diversification of our culture and races living together in peace and harmony. The murals were built by artists from ROB to convey our love for our country and promote creativity with bricks. Carousell and Sunway Pyramid have been supportive partners in developing the community, and we hope that through this initiative, more will follow suit and develop their interest by joining our LEGO community on Carousell,” said Zen Chan Yang Shan, President of ROB.

A total of 166,888 pieces of LEGO bricks were used for the portraits displayed at the event, with 9,216 pieces used for Tun M and Tun Siti’s mural which was built by members of ROB.

ROB is a LEGO fan interest and networking group that focuses on LEGO projects, events and display in Malaysia. Over the years, the group has gathered LEGO hobbyists across the country to learn and share their passion. At present, the group has over 1,000 members that consist of enthusiasts from all walks of life.

For more information, visit Carousell on www.facebook.com/carousell.my, or download the Carousell app from the Apple Store or Google Play Store.

DTI, DA Vonduct Joint Monitoring of the Prices of Agricultural Products

The monitoring team observed that retailers in the said market are selling agricultural products with an average of Php 10.00 per kilogram price markup which, according to Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez, is still within reasonable profit margin.

However, Letters of Inquiry (LOI) were issued to two (2) retailers of chicken for selling said commodity at a higher price markup, and to one (1) fish vendor for selling milkfish above the Suggested Retail Price (SRP) set by DA.

“These letters of inquiry  (LOI) are not meant to condemn the market vendors,” said Trade Secretary Lopez, “rather, we want to trace the supply chain and see where profiteering occurs. If we can solve this, the market vendors will get their supplies at lower prices.”

In previous interviews, Lopez said that since farmgate prices of agricultural products are going down, the retail prices should soon follow.

“From farm to consumers, only a P50/kilo mark up should be placed including profit for the entire value chain so chicken should be bought by consumers only at P130/kilo when farmgate price is at P80/kilo,” explained Trade Secretary Lopez. “Price mark up of P10/kilo by vendors is okay but price that vendors buy from traders is too high at P130/kilo is too high when farmgate price is only at P80/kilo.”

The DTI and DA have met with several poultry and livestock producers associations and are now approaching traders to lower the baseline prices of agriculture products. The dialogue, together with the conduct of price monitoring activities will be used in the study of the supply and price situation in the market, from the producers’ side to the distribution chain, and to the market ports.

The trade and agriculture departments vow to regularly conduct intensified price monitoring activities all over the country to ensure the reasonable prices and adequacy of supply of basic and prime goods, especially on agricultural commodities whose prices are most volatile.

Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day is Back: The Biggest Annual Shopping Event in Southeast Asia and Taiwan

Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, kicks off its biggest annual regional shopping event, Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day. After last year’s successful 9.9 event which saw a three-fold uplift in orders and a five-time increase in traffic, Shopee is upping the ante this year with a 11-day mega shopping event from 30 August to 9 September. With over 500,000 sellers, around 800 brands and more than 60 partners onboard, users can expect up to 99% off from the largest collection of deals and massive giveaways worth over ₱15 Million.

“Shopee has grown tremendously in the past year. We now boast around 160 million users across the region, including over 16 million in the Philippines. At the same time, the number of sellers on Shopee has more than doubled to over 500,000 in less than a year, showing how we are quickly becoming the online shopping destination of choice for both shoppers and sellers in the region. To thank all our users for their continued support, we extended this year’s Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day to feature almost two weeks of non-stop promotions across all product categories. We have also continued to strengthen our ties with leading brands and partners to bring our users even more exclusive deals and promotions on Shopee,” said Terence Pang, Chief Operating Officer of Shopee.

Super savings on super themed days

Starting 30 August, users can participate in a 11-day shopping marathon, featuring different back-to-back themed days every 24 hours in the lead up to the peak of Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day on 9 September. Users can also look forward to free shipping with lowered minimum spend every day during this period. Key highlights include Super Flash Sale Day on August 30 featuring flash deals as low as ₱99 happening nine times over the course of the day; and Super Vouchers Day on 3 September with a total of over ₱900,000 worth of vouchers to be redeemed.

On 5 September, Shopee will also be teaming up with hundreds of leading brands including giants P&G, Maybelline, Samsung, Vivo, Colgate - Palmolive, Oppo, Asus, and more to launch the first-ever Super Brand Festival, comprising the largest collection of deals from major brands on Shopee Mall. Users will get first-hand access to thousands of products sold by their favourite brands across all product categories including Electronics, Mobile and Gadgets, and Health and Beauty.

Shopee Shake, the highly popular in-app game that has since clocked over 70 million plays by users across the region, is making a comeback, this time with a new group mode where users can invite others to play at the same time to earn bonus coins, and a supersized coins pool of over 9 million Shopee Coins up for grabs. On Super Shopee Shake Day and Super Shopping Day on 8 and 9 September respectively, users can play up to 18 times in 48 hours for a chance to win Shopee coins, vouchers and prizes.

Take part in the nationwide Shopee Dance competition to win super giveaways

In line with Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping day, Shopee will also be launching a nationwide Shopee Dance competition called Shopee Dance to Win with prizes including an Ace 50” TV and up to ₱100,000 in cash to be won. The dance is featured in Shopee’s second television commercial starring Shopee Philippines’ brand ambassador, Anne Curtis.

To qualify, users will need to post a video of themselves doing the Shopee Dance on Facebook or Instagram with the hashtag #ShopeeDancePH. The competition will run from 31 August till the end of Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day. Winners will be announced on Shopee’s social media pages on 9 September.

This year’s Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day is supported by more than 60 partners, including Grab, Cebu Pacific, BPI, SM Advantage, ABS-CBN Publishing, and ABS-CBN Store. Joining Shopee in its biggest sale of the year, Grab will be giving ₱9,000 worth of Grab rides each to 99 Shopee users; while Cebu Pacific will be giving round trip tickets to Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, Kota Kinabalu, and Siem Reap.

“We have packed Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day with a comprehensive suite of deals and promotions tailored to our users’ varying needs and preferences. With the strong support of our sellers, brands and partners, we are confident that shoppers will enjoy an unmatched online shopping experience at our largest annual regional shopping event,” Pang concluded.

Shop the biggest sale of the year, Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day. Visit https://shopee.ph/99 from August 30 to September 9.

For more information on Shopee Dance competition, check out Shopee’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ShopeePH/.

Download the Shopee app for free via the App Store or Google Play.

ZenFone Special Payday Sale!

ZENFONE SPECIAL PAYDAY SALE!

Make this payday all the more worth it 

with Lazada’s biggest flash sale featuring your favorite ZenFone models!

Payday weekend is soon coming, and what better way to celebrate it than with a Lazada flash sale, with your all-time favorite ZenFone models now available at lower prices!

Just for 2 days, from August 30 to 31, ZenFans can get their hands on the most powerful variant of the ZenFone 4 Selfie Lite – a Lazada Philippines exclusive – for just PHP 6,395.00. With its 3GB RAM + 32GB Storage, users can experience smooth and worry-free operations! Moreover, with its 13MP front camera, selfies are sure to be crystal clear.

In addition, ZenFans can also get the ZenFone 3 Laser for just PHP 6,795.00. Through its 13MP main shooter, users of this special ZenFone are sure to enjoy one of the best photography experiences a ZenFone smartphone can offer.

And finally, the crowd-favorite ZenFone 3 Zoom will be offered with another special mark down that ZenFans can also avail of. For just PHP 10,990.00, fans can now catch the moment with its 12MP rear shooter that can cater up to 12x view; especially with its incredible digital-zoom technology.

Without a doubt, this payday weekend is one that ZenFans can’t miss!

For full specs, refer to the following links below:

·         ZenFone 4 Selfie Lite - https://bit.ly/2PNyZyP

·         ZenFone 3 Laser - https://bit.ly/2okTLcK

·         ZenFone 3 Zoom - https://bit.ly/2MFgS0p

What You Need to Know About Intermittent Fasting

Most of us are wired to eat three meals a day, with five- to six-hour intervals between meals.

Medical studies show that fasting for about three days or even a week may help improve the immune system or general health condition. A new diet trend called intermittent fasting integrates fasting into the daily eating schedule.

                                                                                                                                             

The practice of intermittent fasting or the eat-and-fast plan varies, according to practitioners. But there are two main approaches. The first is to limit calorie intake to 500-600 calories for two days a week and eat normally for five days a week. The second is to limit the eating time period to within an eight- to ten-hour window. For example, you may schedule your meals between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m and fast outside those hours.

While this eating pattern may help lose pounds, experts say it can have detrimental effects on a person’s health.

It can trigger or worsen eating disorders. Intermittent fasting may promote the unhealthy binge-and-purge routine. You can eat almost anything during the feeding state but may feel guilty and ashamed afterwards for overeating and overindulging. If your mental and emotional state is fragile, this may lead to or worsen eating disorders like bulimia, wherein one binges on food and then purges. This can have serious effects on your health.

It can increase stress and anxiety. Studies show that hunger can increase the stress hormone cortisol, leaving a person angry and craving something good to eat. Most intermittent fasters try to live off caffeine, but too much of it can increase anxiety and stress.

You can develop intolerance to certain foods and suffer inflammation. Fasting leaves you hungry, which prompts you to eat whatever you want later. Your “break-the-fast” diet most likely consists of gluten, dairy, soy and artificial sweeteners. These are reactive food that can contribute to a leaky gut and serious health conditions, such as food intolerances, gastric ulcers, diabetes and esophageal and colorectal cancer.

You may have sleep problems. People practicing intermittent fasting often complain about feeling restless before going to sleep. Food may be the reason for this. If you eat refined and processed carbohydrates, like white rice, during dinner, you are more likely to experience blood sugar crashes, which can interrupt sleep. 

Making changes to your diet is good to have a healthy body. But before making such changes, be sure to do your research, consult your doctor and know the limits of your body. 

Vivo Ready to Wow the World with an All-New Screen Design

Global smartphone brand Vivo has been known for its high-technology innovations that have wowed the world several times over. But it has also been a pioneer of various consumer-centricsmartphone designs.

Starting August 20, the fastest growing smartphone brand has teased tech savvy followers with a series of mysterious videosposted on its social media pages. The latestwas a video of the moon with its shape emphasized by a curved line, a hint of the look of the next flagship smartphone.

For its latest smartphone releases, Vivo has pushed the boundaries of the screens based on various studies and insights on what its consumers want.

In 2017, Vivo released the V7+, which has a 5.99-inch AllScreen Display that offers a wider visual experience without compromising acomfortable grip. This gives those on the go a chance to enjoy a bigger screen for gaming, reading, or watching videos.

Vivo followed up the V7+ with the release of the V9 in 2018. It was their first flagship smartphone for the year with the notch. The V9 features the new 19:9 FullView™ Display that has a massive 90% screen-to-body ratio that gives users a wider look into the digital world. The Vivo V9 may be as compact as the 5.5-inch phone, but it was able to attain a 6.3-inch screen.

Halfway through the year, Vivo released the Vivo X21, its first X-series smartphone in the Philippines. It still has a the iconic 19:9 FullView™ Display. But it has a bigger screen-to-body ratio of 90.3% to provide a more impactful visual experience for gamers and video hoarders.

But Vivo was able to get closer to its target when the Vivo NEX was released in some markets in June. The NEX introduces the Ultra FullView™ Display experience with a whopping91.24% screen-to-body ratio. Vivo was able to achieve this by pioneering the 8-megapixelElevating Front Camera that hides in the body when not in use. It also introduces the Screen SoundCasting Technology that replaces the traditional earpiece speaker entirely and cutting the bezel size.

With these releases, Vivo has proven that the window to the digital world has no limits. What barriers will the brand break next? #

About Vivo

A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivodevelops innovative and stylish products for young people. We now have over two hundred million users and are one of the preferred brands of young people around the world. As an Official Sponsor of the FIFA World Cup™, Vivo believes in the importance of encouraging young people to embrace self-expression and an energetic lifestyle. In the Philippines, Vivo is the top 3 smartphone brand in terms of market share with 1.5 million users nationwide.

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

KTM Philippines to raffle off a KTM 200 Duke during the Lucky Sa 9

KTM Philippines will be raffling off a KTM 200 Duke motorcycle—the ultimate road bike with its strong racing DNA built on the core values of purity, performance, adventure, and extreme— in the 9th Anniversary celebration of popular radio program dedicated to the motorcycle industry, Motorsiklo Xklusibo. Dubbed Lucky Sa 9 – Motorsiklo Xklusibo 9th Year Anniversary to be held on August 26, 2018, from 9:00am to 5:30pm, at the Laguna Sports Complex, Sta. Cruz Laguna. KTM will also have a booth display showcasing the KTM 200 Duke, 390 Duke, RC 200, RC 390—all proudly made in the Philippines! Get exclusive items only from KTM by participating in the various activities at their booth.

PH Artisan Jam Maker Gains International Recognition

The Fruit Garden, one of the exporters assisted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) was recently awarded one-star by Great Taste for its pineapple coco rhum jam during the release of Great Taste 2018 last 1 August 2018 at The Guild HQ in Gillingham, Dorset, United Kingdom.

The Fruit Garden’s jam was recognized with One-star of excellence against 12,634 products entered by producers across the globe. According to Great Taste, for this year, 1,207 foods grabbed 2 stars and 3,254 were awarded a 1 star. Meanwhile, 192 foods achieved their highest rating, three stars. These translated to a total of 37% accredited products out of all the entries this year.

Great Taste, tagged as the world’s most coveted food awards, started in 1994. It is considered as the largest and trusted accreditation scheme for fine food and drink. Products were blind-tasted by panels of specialists which include top chefs, food writers, influencers, food critics, restaurateurs and fine food retailers.

The Fruit Garden is among the enrollees and assisted exporters of the DTI-Export Marketing Bureau under its Regional Interactive Platform for Philippine Exporters Plus (RIPPLES Plus).

According to DTI-EMB, Fruit Garden is the first and only Filipino company in the Jam Segment to be selected due to its product’s distinct taste which is achieved by its cooking process in copper cauldrons, in small batches, under strict quality control. The Fruit Garden also takes pride in the achievement of its unique flavor, made of local ingredients.

After its recognition by the prestigious food and beverage guild, Fruit Garden aims to gain more recognition from global markets by expanding abroad, and showcasing its product to foreign markets for greater appreciation of the quality of food products produced in the Philippines.

The DTI-EMB’s RIPPLES Plus Program is assisting emerging entrepreneurs in the development of their products and services through strategic interventions such as trainings and capacity building; investment, marketing and promotions, support for innovation, product development and design; market access facilitation through Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) and certifications. These interventions or modes of assistance ensure that the companies are competent and export-ready. The program has worked towards increasing the number of internationally-competitive Philippine product and services exporters with EMB at the helm.

FIVE-TIME NBA ALL-STAR TIM HARDAWAY AND NBA CHAMPION BRIAN SCALABRINE HEADLINE NBA 3X PHILIPPINES PRESENTED BY AXA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) announced today that NBA Legend Tim Hardaway, NBA Champion Brian Scalabrine, and the Detroit Pistons Flight Crew will attend NBA 3X Philippines presented by AXA from Aug. 25-26 at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall.

NBA 3X Philippines 2018 will showcase a 3-on-3 tournament featuring men’s and women’s teams combined with authentic NBA entertainment.  Preliminary tournaments for NBA 3X Philippines 2018 began on Aug. 11-12 at Benguet State University and will continue on Aug. 18-19 at Don Bosco Technical Institute University to determine the participants in the playoffs at the SM Mall of Asia.

“It’s a great feeling to return to the Philippines and get reacquainted with the passionate Filipino fan base,” said Hardaway.  “NBA 3X celebrates the vibrant culture of basketball, which will be in full display for fans to experience throughout the weekend festivities.”

“Traveling to the Philippines for the first time is an exciting opportunity to experience how the game is played on this side of the world,” said Scalabrine.  “As a basketball fan and analyst, I’m looking forward to interacting with the fans and sharing my knowledge with the talented athletes at the NBA 3X event.”

The competitive 3-on-3 tournament includes divisions for boys (under-13, under-16, under-18, and open category), girls (under-18 and open category), an invitation only Celebrity Division featuring popular local personalities, and a division exclusive to AXA employees and distributors.

Hardaway was drafted 14^th overall by the Golden State Warriors in the 1989 NBA Draft and named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1990.  A five-time NBA All-Star, Hardaway played 14 seasons in the NBA with career averages of 17.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 8.2 assists and selected to five All-NBA Team selections.  He was named an assistant coach of the Detroit Pistons from 2014 to 2017.

Scalabrine was selected 35^th overall by the New Jersey Nets in the 2001 NBA Draft.  A member of the 2008 NBA Champion Boston Celtics, Scalabrine was named as an assistant head coach of the Golden State Warriors during the 2013-14 season and is currently an NBA analyst.

AXA Philippines is the presenting partner of NBA 3X Philippines 2018.  In addition, CloudFone, Gatorade, Panasonic, Rexona, PLDT and Smart will serve as official partners while SM Mall of Asia and Spalding are supporting partners.  Official media partners for the event are ABS-CBN S+A, Basketball TV, and NBA Premium TV.

For more information on NBA 3X Philippines 2018, fans can visit www.nba3x.com/philippines, Facebook.com/philsnba and @NBA_Philippines on Twitter.

For more details on AXA Philippines and their product offerings, visit www.axa.com.ph and Facebook.com/axa.philippines.