Smart Powers NBTC Nationwide Tournaments via Smart LiveStream App

Basketball fans can catch and support high school and club teams from all over the Philippines as they compete in the upcoming National Basketball Training Center (NBTC) tournament, as the Smart LiveStream App streams the games for free.

 

Kicking off in North Luzon on January 19 – 21, followed by its Mindanao leg on February 2 - 4, Visayas leg on February 16-18, South Luzon on March 1-3, and ending in Pasay in March, 68 grassroots teams will vie for a spot in the regional championships, where four teams from each region will advance to the nationals and battle it out on the hardcourt against Metro Manila and invited foreign clubs.

 

“Aligned with our advocacy to support grassroots sports development in the Philippines, Smart is enabling Filipinos nationwide to watch NBTC via mobile phones or Smart TV with the Smart LiveStream App, and also to raise awareness and provide exposure to our homegrown basketball talents,” said Jude Turcuato, FVP and Head of Sports at PLDT and Smart.

 

Prominent names like Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green, Gilas Pilipinas center Kai Sotto, Kamaka Hepa, Kihei Clark, Jeron Artest, and Kai Ballungay all competed in the NBTC.

 

“Sports, particularly basketball, has always been at the heart of many Filipinos. We are glad to have the support of Smart in helping the Filipino youth cultivate their love for the sport and in inspiring them to become the best athletes that they can be, especially when they suit up for their teams in the future,” said NBTC Program Director Eric Altamirano.

 

Smart subscribers can catch all the NBTC action on the Smart LiveStream App using their smartphones or tablets while connected to Smart mobile Internet or their PLDT Home WiFi, which allows subscribers access to absolutely free streaming and no monthly app subscription needed. Smart LiveStream App offers a user-friendly interface and high-quality streaming to make the experience more fun for fans.

 

For a much more immersive viewing experience, Smart users may also stream the NBTC games on their Google-certified Android TV on Android 8.0 version by downloading the Smart LiveStream TV App from the Android TV Google Play Store and linking their Android TV to the app. To do this, subscribers simply need to open the Smart LiveStream Mobile App, go to Menu, click Link Device, and enable the camera to scan the QR code displayed on the Android TV. 

 

Alternatively, Android TV users may go to smart.com.ph/livestream to sign into their account, then go to Menu, click Device Management to add their Android TV by entering the code displayed on the TV and activate their Smart LiveStream TV App.

 

Powered by the Philippines’ Fastest and Best Mobile Network

 

The Smart LiveStream App is powered by the Philippines’ fastest and best mobile network, as cited by Ookla, the global leader for mobile and broadband network intelligence. Smart is the first and only Philippine mobile operator to earn such rare and prestigious recognition for three consecutive reporting periods - in Q1-Q2 2022, Q3-Q4 2022, and Q1-Q2 2023. 

 

To know more about the NBTC on the Smart LiveStream App, follow Smart’s official Facebook or go to smart.com.ph/Pages/livestream.

Kami naman, Ma! McDonald’s Captures the Essence of Biving Back to our Mothers with its Mother’s Day Short Film

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – May 12, 2023 – As we grow up, our mothers are growing old too. This Mother’s Day, McDonald’s releases its Mother’s Day short film that captures the essence of appreciating the love and care our mothers gave us while we were growing up. Now that we’ve grown, it’s for us to step up, give back, and say “kami naman, Ma!”

The short film opens with a daughter meticulously going through her mother’s travel bag then finds that she forgot to pack her senior citizen ID, to which her mom affectionately jokes, “senior moment!” Soon enough, her mom’s friends start coming in to fetch her for their trip, but before going away, the daughter hands over McDonald’s as a pabaon, an act of love that our mothers have done for us many times when we were growing up. The short film ends with a flashback to when it was still the mom sending off her little daughter to a field trip, indicating how times have already changed and now it’s time for the daughter to give back what her mother has done for her while growing up. 

Mothers truly deserve their spotlight this Mother’s day, and to further spread the love, McDonald's is also offering a special Mother’s Day bundle promo from May 12 to 18 where customers can enjoy a free McFlurry with Oreo and 1.5L Bottle of Coca Cola with every purchase of 4-pc McShare Box with McSpaghetti Platter available via Dine In, Take-Out, Drive-Thru and McDelivery.

McDonald's is committed to serving not only delicious food but also with being an avenue for more bonding moments with the family. Watch McDonald’s Mother’s Day short film via the McDonald's Facebook page and make sure to make this day extra special for your mom.

Be sure to stay on the loop for updates on promos and offers by following @mcdo_ph on Facebook and Instagram!

Learn How Kids can have more Fun by Integrating Physical and Digital Play at the Happy Meal O’ Clock Livestream!

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – May 11, 2023 – Filipinos are well-known for their love to perform—a trait that is passed down to younger members of the family. That’s why McDonald’s wants to create another opportunity for kids to truly let loose and express who they are with the Just Dance Happy Meal Collection.

In a new Happy Meal O’ Clock livestream today, May 11 at 5-6PM, McDonald’s will feature the Just Dance Happy Meal collection to help unleash and strengthen kids’ passion for music and dance. To be hosted by radio personality and mom DJ Chacha, the livestream will include discussions about “Integrating Physical and Digital Play for More Fun.” Dancer AC Bonifacio will also join the livestream to demonstrate how the newest Just Dance Happy Meal collection can empower physical and digital play integration for more fun play time for kids.

Known as the no. 1 music game franchise of all time, Just Dance has sold over 120 million games since it was launched. Its inclusions and play experiences encourage you and your kids to express themselves, therefore improving family bonding time. Now, McDonald’s is bringing that play experience through the Just Dance Happy Meal toy collection.

Each Just Dance Happy Meal kit includes a spinner, an instruction sheet, a sticker sheet, and dance cards you can mimic with your kids. Choose from a variety of iconic dance moves from coaches like Panda, Kulikita Cat, Fearless Pirate, Ron, Rudy, Lucero, Marisol, Boogiesaurus, Llama, Dougie, Maloo, and The Traveler to try with your family.

You can customize your coach, do free play dancing, and participate in exciting digital activities. Simply scan the QR code on your toy and learn dance moves, step by step from Just Dance coaches completely online!

Are you excited to own your spotlight? Express yourself and let loose with the Just Dance Happy Meal toy collection. Make this journey more fun by participating in online and offline activities prepared just for you and your kids. For more information about the livestream event and virtual activities, follow McDonald’s Philippines on Facebook and Instagram.

Learn more about open-ended play with Dani Barreto, Saab Magalona, and the Agoncillo Family at the McDonald’s Happy Meal O’ Clock Livestream this December 9!

PHILIPPINES – December 9, 2022 – It’s Happy Meal O’ Clock again! This time, have fun with your little ones through open-ended play - a type of play with no strict rules where kids can express their creativity and imagination to the next level using the Happy Meal Potato Head toys in collaboration with My Little Pony and Transformers.

For all mommies out there, learn more about imaginative play through McDonald’s Happy Meal O’ Clock livestream event via the McDonald’s Facebook page on December 9, 5PM. Join celebrity moms Dani Barretto, Saab Magalona, with the special participation of Ryan, Judy Ann, and Luna Agoncillo as they share their experiences and stories on how they spark their kid’s creativity and promote family bonding time through imaginative play. Incredible prizes for you await and there will be fun content for your kids to enjoy!

Actress Gillian Vicencio joins This isKwela Study With Me

Catch up-and-coming actress Gillian Vicencio as she shares practical tips and solutions to strike a healthy school-life balance at Globe This isKwela’s third "Study With Me” livestream event.

The much-anticipated study session will be aired on the online education community’s Facebook Page on October 26 at 7 pm.

This isKwela is part of Globe’s commitment to equipping Filipinos with different ways to enable them to study better and smarter. It seeks to help the young and old discover learning opportunities, acquire affordable, accessible, and safe learning solutions, and connect to industry experts and celebrities.

"Globe aims to add value to its customers by helping them improve their time management skills for a healthy work-life or school-life balance. Introducing them to the necessary tools would help them achieve their personal and professional goals," said Yoly Crisanto, Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer.

The young actress will be joined by This isKwela's resident expert Teacher Imman. Together they will give tips on effective time management and striking a healthy balance between professional or academic goals and being with loved ones, or even by oneself.

As an actress and student, Gillian knows a thing or two about handling her career and school life without sacrificing any or both. She is part of the first batch of Rise Artist Studio talent agency under ABS-CBN and played the role of the beloved character Tox in the hit series “2 Good 2 Be True.” She is also known for her role as Erika Sayco in the 2018 horror movie "Eerie.”

The first two parts of This isKwela “Study With Me” featured GMA talent Arianne Bautista, who helped teach about “Product Pricing for Entrepreneurs,” and ABS-CBN Star Magic talent JC Alcantara, who spoke on the theme “Turning your Passion into a Career."

To learn more about Globe, visit www.globe.com.ph.

Five Best vivo Y Series Smartphones with Top-Notch Style and Performance

MANILA, May 11, 2021: The vivo Y series has provided smartphone users an impeccable lineup of value-for-money devices that have stylish designs, crystal clear displays, and long-lasting batteries. These phones are proof that in a period of increased digital activity, going for online passions need not be expensive.

Projecting high definition displays with vivo Y20i
For gaming and entertainment fans, the vivo Y20i is the ultimate immersive experience for screens in smartphones that are worth less than PHP10,000. The 6.51-inch Halo FullView Display is among the most vibrant in entry-level devices. Sealing the excitement is the smartphone’s Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and hardworking battery that provide lag-free, longer games.

Capturing fine moments with the triple rear camera in vivo Y30
Here’s another phone that is packed with a 5,000 mAh battery with games capability also enhanced by the Multi-Turbo 3.0. vivo Y30, however, has something extra for photo enthusiasts: its triple rear cameras that are stylishly stacked in a compact structure. Aside from gaming, the phone is also perfect for mobile photography with its 13-megapixel main camera complemented with a 2-megapixel macro camera and another 2-megapixel bokeh camera.

Hyped up for all-day fun with the vivo Y31
The Y31’s most notable improvement from its predecessor, the vivo Y30, is its 48-megapixel main front camera. The triple rear camera, also with macro and bokeh support, is maximized for all-day fun with the phone’s long-lasting battery and 18W fast charge. Making the Y31 more stylish is 8.38-mm slim design which is highlighted with a side fingerprint unlock.

Longer winning moments in Y20s [G]
Designed specifically with gamers in mind, this smartphone is supported with the Helio G80 Gaming Processor which loads game apps seamlessly and maximizes internet connectivity better. Aside from being boosted with a powerful gaming engine, the Y20s [G] also supports longer game play with its powerful battery and 18W fast charge that are kept in stunning colors of Obsidian Black and Purist Blue.

Powered up with the seamless performance of the Y12s
This newly-released summer of 2021 smartphone dazzles in its 6.51-inch Halo FullView Display with HD resolution 1600x720. The side-mounted fingerprint unlock makes this phone more trendy which helps gamers access its Multi-Turbo 3.0-powered processor easily, and makes availability of the powerful dual camera to photo enthusiasts effortless.

The difference in priority specs and breakthrough innovations propel the vivo Y series as a best-selling collection of smartphones. It is, however, in equipping users with inexpensive devices for them to pursue their passions that makes the Y series an exciting smartphone lineup.

The vivo Y series phones are available in vivo stores nationwide. For more details, visit https://www.vivoglobal.ph/ or visit vivo Philippines on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The Y12s is also available for purchase at vivo’s official Lazada and Shopee stores.


About vivo

vivo is a leading, product-driven, global technology company, with its core business focusing on smart devices and intelligent services. vivo is committed to connecting users around the globe, through design of exciting and innovative smartphones and companion devices, as well as services which integrate technology and design thinking in unique and creative ways. Following the company core values, which include innovation, consumer orientation and benfen*, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy, with the vision of becoming a leading, long-lasting, world-class enterprise.

With headquarters in China, supported by a network of 10 R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi’an, Taipei, Tokyo and San Diego, vivo is focusing on the development of state-of-the-art consumer technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, photography and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set-up five production hubs (including brand authorized manufacturing center), across China, South- and Southeast Asia, with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 40 countries and regions, and is loved by more than 400 million users worldwide.

*“Benfen” is a term describing the attitude on doing the right things and doing things right – which is the ideal description of vivo’s mission to build technology for good.

Please stay informed of vivo's news at https://www.vivo.com/en/about-vivo/news.

PORTER ROBINSON’S SECRET SKY FESTIVAL RETURNS APRIL 24TH

 

Acclaimed vocalist, songwriter and producer Porter Robinson’s livestream festival Secret Sky will return April 24th. This year’s lineup, curated by Porter, features artists from across the world including Baauer, BoysNoize, End of the World, Imanu B2B Buunshin, James Ivy, Kero Kero Bonito, Laxcity, Masakatsu Takagi, No Rome, Rezz, Salute, Serph, Swardy, Wave Racer and Yvette Young. Porter’s headline set marks the first time he will perform music from his highly anticipated new album Nurture, out April 23rd via Mom+Pop. See the full line-up and register to attend here. 

Porter, in partnership with Active Theory, has designed and built a custom, digital, VR-optimized festival grounds inspired by massive online multiplayer experiences and Porter's favorite indie art games. Users will embody Secret Sky themed avatars and experience the festival with thousands of attendees in real time, with features such as live voice chat, multiple explorable environments, and a landscape modifying "party mode". The festival uses Active Theory's Dreamwave technology—previously seen at last year's Secret Sky Festival and Sundance Film Festival— and includes new and improved features such as WebXR support and live-stream stage integration.

The event will stream on YouTube, Twitch, Oculus VR, Android TV (via RAD TV), PlayStation (via RAD TV) and Diplo’s Revolution on SiriusXM. The event is free to the public, and Porter is encouraging fans to donate to the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund via YouTube and Twitch.

Presented by Goldenvoice, Brownies & Lemonade and Slush Management, the 2021 installment follows last year’s much-lauded debut early in Covid lockdown, a 14-hour livestream event that featured sets by G Jones, Jai Wolf, Kizuna AI, Madeon, San Holo, A. G. Cook, Anamanaguchi and others. The livestream attracted more than 4 million viewers, with the Youtube chat peaking at 8,813 messages per second.

During Secret Sky, Postmates—the leader in delivering nearly anything on-demand—will host a virtual festival booth featuring free delivery on all orders using the code SECRETSKY so that virtual festival goers can complement the music with food and drinks from their favorite local restaurant. Offer is valid from April 24th at 10 A.M. PDT to April 25th at 6 A.M. PDT with a basket size of $10 or more. To order visit Postmates.com or download Postmates on iOS or Android.

Secret Sky will be available on Oculus Quest. On April 24th, users can head into VR and visit secretskyfest.com in the Oculus Browser app to enter the Digital Auditorium. To purchase an Oculus Quest 2 headset, visit oculus.com/quest-2 or visit your local retailer. Additional sponsors include Magic: The Gathering and Red Bull.

Nurture, Porter’s first full length in seven years, features much-lauded singles “Musician,” “Look At The Sky,” Mirror,” “Get Your Wish” and “Something Comforting.

Nurture spans a highly challenging period in Porter’s life when he felt creatively crippled, but ultimately serves as a testament to the hope and perseverance that pulled him out of the darkest moments. On Nurture, Porter returns to the piano and his singing voice as foundations, creating an intimate album that champions vulnerability while paying homage to the struggles that pushed him to grow, blending live instruments, digital synths, artificially pitched vocals, chopped samples and cozy ambience.

At age 18, the North Carolina-based producer and songwriter burst onto the scene with a complex, bombastic brand of electro-house. Following the major success of his 2014 debut album Worlds, Porter released the RIAA Gold single “Shelter” with Madeon in 2016, followed by a Shelter Live Tour spanning 43 dates and four continents. The following year, Porter began releasing music under a new alias, Virtual Self, which lead to his first Grammy nomination for the BBC Radio 1 hit single “Ghost Voices.” In 2019, Porter created his own music festival Second Sky in partnership with Coachella-promoter Goldenvoice, a two-day event that sold out all 30,000 tickets in a single day and will return to the San Francisco Bay Area soon.

Mobile games could be good for you (and how the vivo Y20s [G] makes the experience better)

It is a common misconception that mobile games are bad for one’s health. With the explosion of gaming during quarantine, many mobile users have experienced its benefits, starting with treating it as a fun distraction from all the pandemic stress.

Here, we highlight how mobile games may actually be good for players.

Gives that sense of being ‘in control’ to combat anxiety
In a moment when people have less control on the outcome of events, mobile gamers feel empowered by dominating a challenge that’s literally in the palm of their hands.

In a study published on the US National Library of Medicine, researchers observed games minimize exhaustion caused by stresses in the real world by giving players an environment where they have more control of things. In fact, gamification is an increasingly used technique to ensure the effectiveness of wellness apps used to fight anxiety and depression.

Mobile games boost brain power
Granting you’ve chosen the right games, they actually help in keeping your brain engaged by improving spatial awareness and in boosting memory.

In particular, playing games is a good exercise to make the human brain remember things better. A study by neurobiologists at the University of California- Irvine (UCI) found 3D video games boost the formation of memories.

Global Positioning System or GPS-centered mobile games, on the other hand, are effective in improving spatial awareness. Knowing your surroundings would be enhanced further by using smartphones that have accurate positioning service, like the vivo Y20s [G] that has an excellent positioning system through the MediaTek Helio G80 octa-core processor.

Improves problem-solving skills
As life in the time of the pandemic becomes more complex, it would be good to get a fun problem-solving coach. With the richness of the challenges in games, problem-solving skills are harnessed with the desire to win. Chilean health researchers concluded in a study that since most games are episodic, they teach human brains to not stop until the challenge is completed or the problem solved.

Makes people more social by bringing them together
Most mobile games help users build a social community. They’re played together and simultaneously by gamers from different parts of the world which is an effective way to shake-off isolation loneliness.

For some people, communicating with others can be a challenge. Increased social interaction through games that involve multiple players can help them overcome those fears or awkwardness.

It would then be a bonus to have a faster system as you make connections with other gamers. vivo Y20s [G]’s HyperEngine Game Technology speeds up game load times and takes care of latency issues for those extended social play times.

As most of the country continues to stay home, it should be a comforting realization that mobile games do not only ease boredom. It also gives players several health benefits, if playing games is properly managed in terms of time spent and frequency.

Get the latest gaming smartphone with top-notch features, the vivo Y20s [G]. Learn more about this smartphone by visiting https://www.vivoglobal.ph/ or follow vivo Philippines on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.


About vivo

vivo is a leading, product-driven, global technology company, with its core business focusing on smart devices and intelligent services. vivo is committed to connecting users around the globe, through design of exciting and innovative smartphones and companion devices, as well as services which integrate technology and design thinking in unique and creative ways. Following the company core values, which include innovation, consumer orientation and benfen*, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy, with the vision of becoming a leading, long-lasting, world-class enterprise.

With headquarters in China, supported by a network of 10 R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi’an, Taipei, Tokyo and San Diego, vivo is focusing on the development of state-of-the-art consumer technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, photography and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set-up five production hubs (including brand authorized manufacturing center), across China, South- and Southeast Asia, with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 40 countries and regions, and is loved by more than 400 million users worldwide.

*“Benfen” is a term describing the attitude on doing the right things and doing things right – which is the ideal description of vivo’s mission to build technology for good.

Please stay informed of vivo's news at https://www.vivo.com/en/about-vivo/news