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Coke Studio returns with an amazing line up of local and international artists

IV of Spades

PAGASA has already declared the start of the rainy season with the country dealing with the combined effects of tropical storms and the southwest monsoon. With the sudden change in wind direction and temperature, the amount of rainfall increases as well as the viral infections that come with it. Coined as monsoon infections, Dr. May Montellano, former president of the Pediatrics and Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines, warns the public of its faster transmission due to the weather. Often taken lightly, these diseases are more prone to become serious cases that can lead to hospitalization.

Know about the top three most common monsoon diseases that can put Filipinos’ health at risk, and the preventive measures that people can take to avoid hospitalizations.

1. Waterborne diseases

Water borne diseases are usually transmitted by drinking polluted water and consuming contaminated food. The season’s cold temperature causes bacteria to live and breed massively in fresh waters, which is food and water source for many. In an advisory released by the World health Organization (WHO), common diseases that fall under water-related illnesses are cholera, diarrhea, Hepatitis A, amoebiasis and typhoid fever. If neglected, these diseases can cause severe infections in one’s digestive system.

How to prevent it:

With water being a basic need, it is important to know where it comes from. To avoid getting these diseases, it is best to boil water before using or drinking. Ensure to cook raw ingredients well and store food in places where insects cannot infest it.

2. Mosquito-borne diseases

Last June, the DOH also released a warning against mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue that are more prevalent during the rainy season. Rains are ideal for mosquitoes because of puddles and other unnecessarily stored water that serve as mosquitoes’ breeding grounds. With more rainfalls this season, mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya are most likely to emerge. Though caused by tiny carriers, the symptoms of these diseases range from mild to serious including high fever, severe joint pains, malaise, vomiting and blood and organ infections.

How to prevent it:

Maintain a mosquito-resistant environment by obstructing any possible nests for mosquitoes. Ensure that there is no stagnant water that can be a mosquito’s haven in your surroundings like old shoes or toys, flower pots and car tires. Use mosquito-repellent lotion and bug-deterring sprays to prevent mosquitoes from entering your homes.

3. Influenza

While the cold weather is ideal for breeding mosquito and waterborne infections, it is also conducive in spreading viral infections like flu. With the monsoon even meddling with weather shift, it can also trigger a wide spread of influenza. The World Health Organization (WHO) said that cough and colds are not its only symptoms as one can also experience fever, severe joint and muscle pains, malaise and nausea. Severe manifestation of flu, as added by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, can even lead to hospitalization. It can also cause respiratory infections like pneumonia and may eventually lead to death.

How to prevent it:

Flu can be avoided by strengthening one’s immune system. Luckily, the disease is also vaccine-preventable. While it can also be avoided with the proper hygiene and stringent ways like the other monsoon diseases, its shifting virus strain can be very unpredictable. With monsoons doubling the risk of virus transmission, it is best to avert flu through vaccination.

The rainy season has only begun, and it is likely to heighten with inevitable monsoon interference that the country experiences. As diseases surface in its presence, it is best to know what Filipinos are up against as well as the preventive measures they can take against them. Visit your physicians and ask about vaccinations today.

The Filipino millennial leads a very tech-driven lifestyle. They are dynamic and mobile in everything they do, be it work or play. Thanks to technology, the young professional can elevate their day to day activities with devices that fit their lifestyle.

What better gift for the millennials in our lives (or ourselves) than something that complements their modern lifestyle. Look no further than a Modern PC. These Windows 10-powered laptops are thinner, lighter, faster, and able to perform even the most demanding tasks.

From form to function and all the innovations in between, Modern PCs are packed with features to meet the dynamic needs of today’s young professional. They are more compact and feature revamped batteries capable of running all-day. Inside, they are equipped with SSD Hard Drives that ensures maximum performance and speed. Here are 5 laptops that make perfect gift ideas for the Filipino millennial.

1. Acer Swift Series

One of the most portable laptops in the market today is the Acer Swift Series. From this series is the Swift 3, a featherweight among its peers weighing a mere 1.3kg. Don’t be fooled, the Swift 3 still packs quite a punch with 8th gen processors, a 14” screen, and 512GB SSD. Portability is without a doubt the highlight of Acer’s latest Swift. The slim and light laptop makes it perfect for carrying around all day, without hurting your back. That said, the rest of the machine makes few compromises on performance. So you can knock out your daily computing needs with powerful tech features while on the move. If you’re looking for more power without sacrificing portability, look no further than the series’ higher spec models — the Swift 5 and Swift 7.

  2. Asus Zenbook UX331

The new ZenBook 13 gives you all the elegance and style you expect from a ZenBook and a whole lot more, with a stunning crystal-like finish and a sophisticated modern design that places it in a class of its own. It’s an ultrathin Windows 10 i5 laptop with serious processing power and class-leading graphics performance. At its heart is the latest 8th Generation Intel® Core™ i5 processor — which can be boosted to 3.7GHz when needed — with 8GB RAM and an NVIDIA® GeForce® MX150 discrete graphics chip. And blazingly fast storage is provided by a 256 GB SATA SSD. So whether you’re creating mega-sized office documents, manipulating high-resolution photos, editing videos, or simply taking a break with the latest high-powered games, the ZenBook 13 will never keep you waiting. With ZenBook 13 and Windows 10, you get the very best computing experience. ZenBook 13 supports all the great new features in Windows 10, including Windows Ink, Modern Standby and Cortana.

3. Dell Inspiron 7370 / Inspiron 7373

The Dell Inspiron 13 7370 is a small and light modern PC that packs significant horsepower with its Intel 8th gen processor. Performance and portability are the laptop’s best features. Dell’s new Inspiron features a 13.3-inch screen with Full HD (1920 x 1080p) resolution. Speaking of battery, the Inspiron 7370 is equipped with a 3-cell “smart” lithium-ion battery unit, so you can be secure in the idea of working away from a wall socket for extended periods of time. This Dell Inspiron also has a 2-in-1 version, the Inspiron 7373.

4. HP Envy 13

The HP Envy 13 packs strong performance, long battery life, and a fantastic typing experience into a lightweight and affordable package. Under the hood of this 2.9-pound ultrabook is an Intel 8th Gen Core processor, boasting power to go along with heavy doses of style. With its Intel 8th Gen Core processor, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB PCIe SSD, the Envy 13 offers a plethora of performance for everyday use. The all-metal chassis combined with the convenience of all-day battery life to go with one of the best keyboards in the market makes the HP Envy the weapon of choice for several young professionals. At 12 x 8.5 x 0.55 inches, the Envy is slim enough to fit into a narrow pocket in your bag while its 2.93-pound weight makes it very easy to take with you wherever you go.

5. Lenovo Yoga 520 / 530

The Lenovo Yoga 520 is a stylish 14” 2-in-1 laptop with powerful processors and long-lasting battery life. More than just a traditional laptop, it transitions to a tablet thanks to a durable 360-degree hinge. It features pin-point accuracy and palm-rejection technology with the Lenovo Active Pen — an emulation of a natural pen-on-paper writing experience. Paired with new Windows Ink, the creative possibilities are endless. At 1.75kg, the Yoga 520 is the picture of sleek portability. Work on your designs from home, or pop it in your bag on a day out to fix layouts later. It’ll easily go wherever life takes you.

Whatever laptop you choose for yourself or for your loved one, all of the above make for great choices. And all are available at Octagon, the #1 Windows PC retailer in the Philippines. With over 150 branches nationwide, you can give these laptops a spin at the branch closest to you. For even more convenience, visit their website at  https://www.octagon.com.ph/.

Brother launches two new Refill Tank System inkjet printers with A3 print capabilities, superior cost-efficiency, and comprehensive connectivity options.

(Top L to R) Brother HL-T4000DW Inkjet Printer , (Bottom L-R) Brother MFC-T4500DW

August 29, 2018, Manila – Brother takes great pride in developing inkjet printers that deliver greater reliability, innovation and cost-effectiveness. This same unwavering commitment to its ‘Customer First’ approach can be found in Brother’s newest A3 Inkjet Printer Series for businesses and home-office users with high print volumes.

“Many businesses are considering A3 inkjet printers for creating their business plans and presentations, or design materials such as floor plans, blueprints, site images and technical drawings.” says Mr. Glenn Hocson, President at Brother Philippines. “However, such high-print volumes, ink replacement can be extremely costly. Brother’s latest A3 Inkjet Printer Series in 2018 have been designed for outstanding cost-efficiency and business productivity while delivering the same quality and reliability for which Brother is renowned.”

This new series features an Inkjet Printer HL-T4000DW and Multi-Function Centre, MFC-T4500DW. Performance and enhanced features for this new inkjet printer series include:

Superior Cost Efficiency

• Lower cost-per-page – Refill Tank System inkjet printers come with ultra-high-yield ink refill bottles that enable you to print up to 6,500 pages¹ in black and 5,000 pages¹ in color

• Cut costs by 50% – Instantly reduce your paper waste and expenses by half with the automatic 2-sided printing feature

• Enhanced durability – Features a robust printhead with stainless steel lamination and Piezoelectric ceramic technology for longer machine life and less frequent repairs and servicing

Effortless User Experience

• Convenient ink tank access – Enjoy quick, mess-free refills with the embedded, front-access tank, and easily monitor individual ink levels through the transparent ink tank cover

• Comprehensive paper handling – Handle a variety of paper weights and sizes with a 250 sheets standard tray and 100 sheets multi-purpose tray

• Multi-page scan, copy & fax capabilities² – Perform multi-page scan and copy and fax jobs without having to insert the pages individually with the 50 sheets Automatic Document Feeder

• User-friendly navigation – Easily navigate features and functions with the large 2.7” LCD touchscreen and full-sized keypad²

Enhanced Productivity

• Fast print speeds – Enjoy print speeds³ of up to 22/20 ipm (mono/color), and boost your business productivity with Fast Mode speeds of up to 35/27 ppm(mono/color) [ipm: images per minute; ppm: pages per minute]

• Quick first-page-out times – Spend less time waiting with fast first-page-out times⁴ of just 5.5 seconds for mono prints and 6 seconds for colour prints

• Professional print quality – Print brilliant photos, crisp and clear text with an outstanding resolution of 1,200 x 4,800 dpi

• Comprehensive print capabilities – Print detailed floor plans, blueprints, site images and other materials in-house on a wide variety of paper types and sizes up to A3

Extensive Connectivity

• Multiple connectivity options – Easily share your device among the entire office workgroup using the built-in wireless and network connectivity

• Effortless mobile printing – Print directly from your iPhone, iPad, Android™ or Windows® Mobile device through Brother’s iPrint&Scan, AirPrint, Mopria^® and Google Cloud Print

• Print JPEGs directly from USB storage – Print photos from your USB flash drive conveniently via the front-access port with USB Direct Print

• Scan and print via Wi-Fi Direct – Directly print or scan from your mobile device without need for access to your network

Advanced Device Management

• Restrict access to your printers –Assign authorized users or groups with access to specific functions such as color printing, setting page limits, scanning features and more with the Secure Function Lock

• Integrate easily into your IT Security Infrastructure –Manage printer access and login authentication through a central management system with Active Directory and User Authentication

• Conveniently monitor via fleet management software – BRAdmin Light is an enterprise-level device management solution that allows you to manage a fleet of network-connected machines from one centralized location

Series Line-up and Availability

The HL-T4000DW and MFC-T4500DW are both available in Authorized Retail Stores nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.brother.com.ph/

SERIES OVERVIEW

Introducing the models in Brother’s latest Inkjet Printer and Multi-Function Centre Series:

All prices are inclusive of the prevailing taxes and include a 2-year extended warranty. These machines are supported by the Brother Customer Service Centers.

Log on to http://www.brother.com.ph/en/support/vendors for the list of authorized stores and service centers and http://www.brother.com.ph/en/contents/OnlineWarranty for warranty support. Customers may also send Brother Philippines an email at helpdesk@brother.com.ph for other product inquiries or concerns.

Users can look forward to a super series of non-stop deals over 11 consecutive super themed days, and massive giveaways worth over ₱15 million to be won

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, 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.

Join us for this year’s Shopee 9.9 Shopping Super Day

This year’s Shopee 9.9 Super Shopping Day is co-presented 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, Bali and Siem Reap. In addition, the campaign is also supported by its official partners Black Arrow Express, Freenet, Citibank, Maybank, PNB and Robinsons Bank.

“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.

Cebuana Lhuillier Foundation, Inc. (CLFI) has partnered with the Department of Education (DepEd) for the first-ever National Alternative Learning System Teachers’ Achievement Recognition (NALSTAR) which honors and recognizes exemplary alternative learning system (ALS) teachers.

“The success of the ALS program can be attributed to the hard work and dedication of its educators, who give more than 100% of their efforts in moulding and educating our fellowmen, especially those belonging to the underprivileged sector. NALSTAR is our means to recognize their selfless commitment to teaching,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, PJLI president and CEO, as he expressed his support and appreciation for ALS teachers.

The top NALSTAR educator will be selected from among 17 finalists coming from DepEd regional offices nationwide. The winner will take home P125,000 cash, and another P125,000 will be earmarked as seed money for their own ALS school. The top four finalists will take home P20,000 each while the remaining nominees will receive P10,000 each.

“CLFI’s commitment to bring education closer to the youth—especially coming from the marginalized communities—has always been laudable. They took the ideals of the ALS program and made it infinitely better by ensuring that the teachers under their ALS schools have all the resources needed to make learning a fun and meaningful exercise to the students,” said Tonisito Umali, DepEd Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs, External Partnerships and School Sports.

CLFI is one of the country’s leading proponents of alternative learning, providing out-of-school youths and those from indigent families with an opportunity to complete high school education via alternative schooling.

In 2018, CLFI has already surpassed its own targets: establishing 75 partner schools which educated more than 11,000 learners, of which, 1,482 learners have already obtained their elementary and/or high school diplomas. Its learners’ ALS Accreditation and Equivalency (A&E) test passing average also consistently surpassed the national average for the A&E Test—netting 57% passing rate in 2015 and 71% in 2016.

One notable graduate, Carina Cortes, a Cebuana Lhuillier ALS learner from Cubao Elementary School, got a 100% score in the 2015 ALS A&E Test. Graduates of Cebuana Lhuillier’s ALS Program get holistic learning, more than the traditional academic modules — by means of livelihood, spiritual, and social education programs offered free for all out-of-school youth and adults.

For more information, email CLFI program manager Kristina “Pebbles” Muniz at kmuniz@pjlhuillier.com or call 0917-5233753 or 0906-3090059.

Coach Ruben Lanot II (center) receives the Gawad Pilipinoy 2018 trophy from (L-R)

Mang Inasal Head Jojo Subido and Marketing Head Aileen Natividad.

Basketball is the most-loved sport in the Philippines. For Filipinos, the ball game is more than just a pastime – it is training ground for discipline and sportsmanship, as well as for building friendships and camaraderie.

Making use of basketball as a means to inspire and teach life lessons to underprivileged youth, 35-year-old Ruben Lanot II, a tireless and dedicated basketball coach, was recently honored as the Mang Inasal’s 2018 Gawad Pilipinoy awardee.

The leading Pinoy chicken inasal brand’s very own recognition program for the country’s modern-day heroes, Gawad Pilipinoy cites outstanding individuals who represent galing ng Pinoy by fulfilling a passion or vocation that uplifts the lives of the less fortunate.

“Mang Inasal Philippines wishes to promote positive Filipino values by recognizing individuals who exemplify them, like Coach Ruben, who dedicated his life to teaching the youth the importance of sportsmanship and realizing their dreams through basketball. He fulfills his passion for the game while inspiring kids to love the sport and make it as an instrument to improve their lives,” said Mang Inasal Head Jojo P. Subido.

Utilizing basketball as a means to inspire and teach life lessons to underprivileged youth, Coach Ruben Lanot II was recently honored as the Mang Inasal’s 2018 Gawad Pilipinoy awardee.

Coach Ruben started his love affair with the game at a very young age of six. He grew a deep liking for the sport while watching Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) games. He became a varsity player in his senior year at the University of Sto. Tomas, and after graduation, eventually found coaching basketball as his calling.

His decision to quit his day job as an office employee in favor of coaching was further strengthened when he was commissioned to join the Junior NBA program as coach, where he was able to meet and coach talented young players from different provinces. It was there that he thought that these raw talents, when given the right training, equipment, and the opportunity to play, would become even better players.

Founder of Hoops Dreams, Coach Ruben holds basketball training sessions at the Taguig Tenement, where the young players are not only coached on the game, but also on life lessons that will help them achieve their dreams.

“I was able to relate to those aspiring young players since I myself didn’t come from an affluent family. When I was just starting to play, I didn’t have access to scientific basketball. That’s why I want these kids to experience what I didn’t get to enjoy before. Wala ako noong coach na masasabi kong naghulma sa akin nung bata ako about basketball (I didn’t have a coach whom I can say molded me as a young kid trying to play basketball),” Coach Ruben said.

These experiences inspired him to start his “Hoop Dreams” advocacy program, which aims to help those youth who aspire of becoming basketball players by giving them the skills, the drills, the right values, and even the jerseys and the shoes they need for the game. For the program, Coach Ruben partners with different orphanages, associations and organizations, which are looking for ways to give indigent youth better opportunities.

Coach Ruben holds basketball training sessions at the Taguig Tenement, where the young players are coached on the game, but also on life lessons that will help them achieve their dreams. As far as Coach Ruben is concerned, he exerts the same amount of sacrifice and effort to train the kids from the tenement as well as those children attending the private school where Ruben also coaches.

“Through basketball, I am able to give the youth, especially the underprivileged ones, a new reason to dream and hope that they can be good at something. That’s the best thing about pursuing my passion in basketball – I am able to fulfill the purpose behind that passion – that is, to be able to help others. Kaya’t hanggang may batang gustong matuto, nandito lang si Coach Ruben para sa kanila (As long as there are kids who want to learn, Coach Ruben is just here for them),” he said.

With Coach Ruben’s selfless use of his skills and passion to help the Pinoy youth through basketball, he is definitely a deserving recipient of the 2018 Gawad Pilipinoy award. Get to know more about Coach Ruben from the 2018 Gawad Pilipinoy Awards video at Mang Inasal Philippines’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/MangInasalPhilippines/).

Whether through high-interest savings accounts, savings plans, and educational plans, parents invest in various tools to help them finance the needs of their children as they grow into adults. However, parents need to look at their own future beyond the needs of their kids as well. Their need for financial security and health protection continues even after retirement, which might make it difficult for them to allot funds for those needs. Keeping their finances secure with a tool that can protect their health and future income is essential so they don’t deplete their savings should an emergency arise.

In 2016, the World Health Organization said that life expectancy across the globe has increased by five years since 2000. This is a result of better access to basic healthcare and innovations in preventing treatable diseases. While this information bides good fortune, there is a growing need for older adults to better plan for their futures when they no longer receive a regular income after retirement.

Life just as planned

The usual route to compensate a medical need is to turn to one’s savings, however with the rising cost of healthcare globally, this could easily deplete funds for the future. That’s why when it comes to assurance, especially with one’s health, a better option for preparation is a comprehensive health plan.

Most adults depend on health plans provided by their company but are limited by many criteria. There are limited conditions and beneficiaries covered by health plans, typically carried out by HMOs. The biggest consideration is that when the employee leaves the company, the health plan also terminates. This becomes problematic for parents who are going into retirement, or retired parents of policy holders.

There are many pros and cons to weigh in choosing the right insurance plan but having a separate one independent of employment and any other external factor is the best choice. It’s also important that the insurance provider has a suite of products that can answer both financial and physical needs, as well as a strong infrastructure that makes claims easy to process.

That’s why there is BPI-Philam Critical Care Plus.

The Real Coverage of Good Health Insurance

Critical Care Plus is a variable life insurance that provides coverage against a wide array of major diseases and critical illnesses and sets aside funds for rainy days. It’s a double-advantage policy that gives life insurance coverage, securing the family against financial strain in an emergency, and health coverage which pays for medical bills that may arise in the future, allowing families to keep their savings undisrupted.

With Critical Care Plus, the insured automatically gets a cash benefit upon diagnosis of any of the covered critical illnesses. He or she is also exempted from making any future payments to the policy to focus on getting better.

Before that happens, however, Critical Care Plus, as part of BPI-Philam’s Wellness Series, provides rewards and benefits for the insured through Philam Vitality.

Philam Vitality gives the insured a better understanding of their health’s current state and what they can do to better it. The program also provides upfront additional coverage of 20% while the insured’s lifestyle is improved through health-improving decisions, amplifying their choices with fun and practical rewards like exclusive discounts on lifestyle products and services.

Integrated with Philam Vitality, Critical Care Plus also promotes a balanced lifestyle through deals on medical services as well as gym membership so they can really commit to a new active lifestyle.

Critical Care Plus also builds a health fund over time that can be used for additional medical services, or any expense they might also have–assisting policy holders whenever they have need of it.

With the proper plan in place, parents can be assured that they and their families can enjoy the lifestyle they live now worry-free until the many years to come.

The journey towards a secure and better future starts with a plan, and the best one gives a whole lot more when kept for longer. Visit BPI-Philam’s official website www.bpi-philam.com or Facebook page www.facebook.com/BPIPhilamOfficial to know more about Critical Care Plus and all the other solutions in the Wellness Series. Each BPI and BPI Family Savings bank also has Bancassurance Sales Executives ready to give expert advice so anyone can live life just as they planned.

Vivo has been a relentless innovator

Any brand can claim that it is the best in the industry. But the true innovator let its outputs speak for them. Global smartphone brand Vivo is one of those that walk the talk. Every year, the smartphone brand has released smartphone units with features that disrupt the industry. From developing Hi-Fi technology to making 3D ubiquitous, Vivo has made its mark in the cut-throat industry with its world’s first developments.

Hi-Fi music

Vivo brings music to life with its Hi-Fi ready smartphone models.

One of the first innovations of Vivo was its decision to put a dedicated Hi-Fi quality audio chip in its smartphone, making it the first brand that gave proper attention to its handsets’ sound quality. Vivo introduced its Hi-Fi Quality Audio Chip in X1 in 2012.

It continued this legacy in their succeeding flagship models. The Vivo X21 is equipped with the AK4376A Hi-Fi audio chipset enhanced with Deep Field technology. This was developed by Vivo to provide panoramic surround, mega bass, clear voice effects, and various environmental audio effects to allow users to customize their audio experience.

The Hi-Fi audio quality of Vivo X21 provides close-to-reality that can instantly upgrade the two-channel music to 360-degree full surround sound or continuously push the natural bass into the ears to bring the clearest and brightest vocals.

Over 20-MP front cameras  

Reel and real: Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla take a selfie using the Vivo V7+.

Vivo has been dedicated to understanding its patrons and understood fully well the world’s obsession with selfies. It revolutionized the selfie game when it came out with a 20-megapixel dual front camera in V5 Plus. It is the first smartphone brand to do so, leaving the others working hard to catch up.

It was then followed up by the 24-MP front camera in V7 and V7+. In fact, Vivo V7+ was hailed as the best selfie phone in 2017 by many tech blogs and sites. The next model with 24-MP AI-powered selfie camera of the V9, proving that Vivo never stops pushing the limits in perfecting the features that matter most to its patrons.

Bezel-less screens

The Vivo NEX features an industry-leading 91.24% screen-to-body ratio.

Aside from its selfie-centric developments, Vivo is also a leader in enhancing every patron’s screen display experience.

Vivo at the Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona, Spain last February revealed a concept phone called the APEX™ FullView™. It features a typical 5.99-inch screen, but its screen-to-body ratio nearly reaches 100%. This proves that Vivo is committed to producing a genuine bezel-less smartphone in the market.

The V9, meanwhile, boasts of a 90% screen-to-body ratio with its 6.3-inch FullView™ Display.

Vivo X21, on the other hand, has a 6.28-inch 19:9 FHD+ FullView™ Display. It has a super slim notch and a 1.66mm side bezels to achieve a 90.3% screen-to-body ratio to provide a wider viewing experience compared to other similar-sized phones.  

Despite these impressive specs, Vivo is not yet done. The newest Vivo NE has an Ultra FullView™ Display with a 91.24% screen-to-body ratio, achieved by introducing industry-first features like the Elevating Front Camera and the Screen SoundCasting Technology.

In-display fingerprint scanner   

Another Vivo’s first: The In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology is ready for commercial distribution worldwide.

These innovative developments may be enough for some but Vivo does not want to be the second best. It is also a pioneer in developing ultramodern yet convenient unlocking methods. Vivo has recently revealed that it has advanced the fingerprint scanning method by making the technology available on a screen. It debuted the first ready-to-produce in-display fingerprint scanning solution at the Consumer Electronics Show 2018 in Las Vegas last January.

Vivo in June 2018 introduced in the Philippines the Vivo X21 with the pioneering In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology. It replaces the rear fingerprint sensor with the latest under-display scanner.  

Pop-out camera

Where’s the cam? In Vivo NEX, the selfie camera only comes out when the user needs it.

Vivo wowed the world early 2018 with the release of its concept smartphone APEX that achieves a nearly 98% screen-to-body ratio. APEX features an 8-MP Elevating Front Camera that seamlessly rises in 0.8 seconds when it is required and retracts after use.  

This technology was made commercially available when NEX was released in June 2018. It has an 8MP Elevating Front Camera that is inside the smartphone’s body when not in use.

Screen SoundCasting

The Vivo APEX is packed with world’s first specs like the Screen SoundCasting Technology.

The Screen SoundCasting Technology was first introduced in APEX. It was then launched for commercial release in the Vivo NEX. It replaces the traditional earpiece speaker by turning the screen into a speaker. It achieves this by sending vibrations through the screen with the exciter unit. This allows Vivo to reduce the top bezel and to enhances sound quality with more powerful bass, and softer, smoother treble.

TOF 3D Sensing Technology

Vivo introduced its TOF 3D technology at the MWC Shanghai 2018.

Vivo revealed its Time of Flight (TOF) 3D Sensing Technology at MWC Shanghai 2018. It promises a paradigm shift in imaging, AR, and human-machine interaction to elevate consumer lifestyles with new levels of immersion and smart capability. This pioneering TOF 3D Sensing Technology detects the time it takes emitted pulse light to return to the sensor to accurately map objects at up to three meters in front of it.

With these developments under its belt, Vivo has proven itself to be a force to reckon with. And as it continues to grow, tech enthusiasts can only expect nothing game-changing innovations from Vivo. But really, what more can we ask from a brand that has been leading the way to the future of the smartphone industry? #

About Vivo

A global smartphone brand focused on introducing perfect sound quality and ultimate photography with cutting-edge technology, Vivo develops 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.

In photo: students learning about proper personal hygiene from OK sa DepEd officers.

The Department of Education (DepEd) launched their flagship program OK sa DepEd in the city of Muntinlupa through an interactive session held at Poblacion Elementary School (POBES). The launch coincided with the blessing of the school’s new multi-purpose covered court and was attended by representatives from the different schools in the city.

OK sa DepEd focuses on the five major school health programs of the Department: School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP); National Drug Education Program (NDEP); Adolescent Reproductive Health Education (ARH); Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools (WinS) Program; and medical, nursing, and dental services.  DepEd first introduced the program in Makati City and the launch at POBES signals its roll out for the city of Muntinlupa.

Present during the launch to show their support were Mayor Jaime R. Fresnedi and Congressman Ruffy Biazon.   Also in attendance were stakeholders from private companies such as Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines Inc. (PCPPI), who has been a long-time partner of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the local government Muntinlupa in promoting activities for the area focused on education and nutrition.