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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-centric smartphone designs.

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

“The galaxies coalesced. Prepare for something greater. #GoBeyond,” Vivo wrote in its latest post.

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 a comfortable 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 whopping 91.24% screen-to-body ratio. Vivo was able to achieve this by pioneering the 8-megapixel Elevating 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, 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.

Over 200 mountain bikers and athletes participated in Filinvest City’s 6^th Endurance Weekend.

Filinvest City’s 6th Endurance Weekend proved to be the ultimate test of human strength and will with more than 200 participants riding through challenging yet exciting sets of bike courses at the Filinvest City MTB Pacific Rim.

The Endurance Weekend is an annual non-stop cycling event that seeks to bring athletes and mountain bikers together. Participants were able to choose from a category of 24-hour Solo (Elite), 24-hour Team, 12-hour Solo (Elite), 12-hour Solo (Age), 12-hour Team, 6-hour Solo (Elite), and 6-hour Solo (Age)—all of which aimed at pushing mountain bikers to their limits and maximum potential.

“The success of the 6th Endurance Weekend reinforces Filinvest City as a perfect location to host sports events with its expansive road networks and exciting bike trails,” said Filinvest City vice president for townships Don Ubaldo. “With this achievement, we endeavor to bring bigger, more thrilling events to the Metro South in the coming years.”

Endurance Weekend was indeed the ultimate biking challenge that showcased Filinvest City as a destination in the Metro South that promotes a healthy and active lifestyle through its bike lanes and an almost kilometer-long Spectrum Linear Park where people can enjoy different activities like biking and running.

To know more about Filinvest City’s upcoming sports events, visit https://www.facebook.com/FilinvestCityOFFICIAL/.

Check out must-have smartphone features at the #AweSM tech deals weekend

Gone are the days of 2G networks, hard-to-press keypads, and 3MP cameras on cell phones as flagship brands offer more advanced and user-friendly features to provide the best service for users. Marking its annual celebration of Cybermonth this August, SM has its pulse on the trends with a list of smartphone must-have features to consider when shopping for new phones!

1. Biometrics. Biometrics are now used to lock smartphones and keep our private data safe. The most common biometric security features include fingerprint scanning, face recognition and even iris scanning. It is best to buy smartphones with a biometrics feature to ensure the security of files.

2. Multiple cameras. Most smartphones are already equipped with back and front cameras but there are phones with dual rear cameras emerging in the market now. Smartphones with multiple cameras are perfect for those who love to take selfies or professional-like images without the hassle of bringing heavy camera equipment every day or during travels.

3. Wireless charging. Many popular brands are now adapting wireless charging where users can simply place their smartphones on top of a charging block, stand or mat and leave it to charge. It’s neater, faster and hassle-free.

4. Voice control. This feature enables users to do tasks on their smartphones without using their hands and is best for those who drive and are always pressed for time. Through voice control, users can play music, answer calls, open apps or find files by just speaking directly to the device’s microphone.

5. Waterproof. It is best to get a waterproof phone to protect it from spills, humidity, rain showers and sometimes, even full immersion underwater.

6. 256GB storage. Big storage space enables users to store more files, photos and videos and to install more apps.

7. Front-facing speakers. Speakers are important for those who watch movies and videos on their phones a lot or for those who like entertainment on-the-go.

8. Big-screen display. For those who like to stream videos and edit photos on their phones, it is best to get a smartphone with a screen size ranging from 5.5 to 6 inches in full HD display.

9. Powerful processor. Smartphone processors run web browsing, GPS, music streaming, videos, 4G connectivity and other scores of tasks performed by our phone on a daily basis. For those who use their phones often, it is best to look for devices with a powerful chipset, such as Apple’s A11 Bionic, Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660, Exynos 9810, and HiSilicon Kirin 970 among others.

10. Multi-window. This feature is perfect for those who like to multi-task. It enables the user to accomplish different tasks at once such as watching a move while browsing on Google or messaging a friend while video-calling another.

Smartphones continues to evolve, that is why it is exciting to shop for gadgets with the most advanced features.

As part of Cybermonth and SM’s #AweSM 60 years celebration, you can discover a wide range of mobile phones with the latest must-have features. Score amazing gadgets on August 24 to 26 as SM Supermalls treats shoppers with a fun weekend of #AweSM tech finds and deals – where you can experience 60-themed deals, such as pay only 60%, less Php60, or pay only Php60, on #AweSM items in participating stores!

Visit your favorite SM mall now, or check www.smsupermalls.com for more details.

Global printing and technology solutions leader Brother Philippines recently opened its new and improved extension office in Naga City. Formerly located in Penafrancia Avenue, the service center, which also serves as an extension office, is now located at the ground floor of the ANR Business Center Concepcion Grande. “Brother Philippines has always sought to provide its customers in the Bicol Region and the rest of the Philippines unparalleled customer service,” said Brother Philippines President Mr. Glenn Hocson. “With a bigger and better extension office, Brother Naga will be able to cater to even more of its customers in the region.”

Officially opening the new establishment with the Naga Extension office team and retail partners are Brother Philippines Senior Manager for Customer Service Mr. Joel Demanarig (6^th from the left) and Brother Philippines President Mr. Glenn Hocson (7^th from the left). Customers and partners may reach the Naga Extension Office at (054) 871 6675 between 8:30AM to 5:30PM on Mondays to Fridays, except for holidays.

Celebrate the remaining day of August and say, hello September as SM City Baliwag throws the biggest comeback of this year’s second 3 DAY SALE with all but sweet surprises.

(Enjoy great deals and awesome discounts of up to 70% off at SM City Baliwag’s 3 Day Sale happening on August 31- September 2, 2018).

Get ready and mark your calendar on August 31-September 2, 2018 as the 3 DAY SALE is set to make your shopping extra amazing. Moreover, a sweet blowout of remarkable treats await shoppers as SM City Baliwag transforms into a Candyland full of sugar coated theme and activities everyone would love.

Bring home the awesome deals, as great discounts of up to 70% off applies to countless items mall-wide. Check out the latest finds from The SM Store, SM Hypermarket, Ace Hardware, Watson’s, SM Appliance Center, Surplus and Miniso.

As an added treat from The SM Store, SM Advantage Card members get EXTRA 10% OFF on all items from 9AM- 12NN on September 1. Promo extended to SM Prestige, BDO Rewards Emerald, Sapphire, Diamond, MOM, Primo, SSI, and Love your Body members. Meanwhile, Shop until you drop and enjoy EXTRA 10% OFF on all items from 5PM- 7PM on September 2.

Enjoy BDO Rebates up to 10% on credit card and 3% on debit card until September 2, plus get a chance to win HUAWEI P20 LITE and PREPAID HOME WIFI from Globe for every 2,000 single receipt purchase from August 31 to September 2 at The SM Store Baliwag!

Purchases could even bring you heap of chances to bring home a brand new SUZUKI CELERIO! Just present single or accumulated receipt of P1000 and 1 coupon will be given on the 1^st day of the sale which is on Friday and 2 coupons on the Saturday and Sunday.

Snip hunt only at SM City Baliwag on its second 3 Day Sale for 2018, hitch the best deals and bring home loads and loads of goodies for you and your family!

Dynah A. Basuil, PhD, discusses the future of the role of human resources at the HR Leaders’ Huddle.

The human resources industry is experiencing a major sea change, brought about by the various challenges and needs of a growing pool of younger, higher-skilled workers, as well as new business trends. For HR to create value, it must respond to this change as a strategic partner for their companies, informing and influencing long-term business decision-making.

To help HR professionals get into this strategic mindset, recently at the New World Hotel Makati, JobStreet.com Philippines in collaboration with the Asian Institute of Management, hosted the HR Leaders’ Huddle, which sought to outline how HR divisions can evolve into business partners and drive better organizational performance. JobStreet brought together HR professionals in an environment that allowed them networking opportunities, as well as the chance to learn about this budding trend in the HR world.

The HR Leaders’ Huddle was headlined by the presentation of a paper by Ms. Dynah A. Basuil, PhD, Professor at the Leadership and People Management Department of the Asian Institute of Management. Entitled “On the Right Track? Human Capital Management in the Philippines,” Ms. Basuil’s presentation highlighted the changing landscape of the workforce and how it affects HR as a whole.

Ms. Basuil noted that in the last ten years, the workforce of the Philippines has increased by 20.7% or almost 7 million, and the composition of this workforce has experienced a major shift towards high-skill workers, with 63% more higher-skilled workers in 2017 than in the last decade. She also underscored that much of the new workforce is represented by Millennials as well as Generation Z youth, who have unique needs and attributes compared to the previous.

According to Ms. Basuil, this creates a need for HR to change their practices in how they deal with younger workers, who want to be more engaged, and be assigned work that is customized to their talents so that they can better apply themselves to their jobs.

Present during the event are the following: (from left) host and facilitator, Brian Quenbengco; Jobstreet.com’s Sales Director, Noelle Gonzales; SM Investments Corporation’s Vice President of HR, Facilities and Admin, Joann Hizon; Century Properties Grp, Inc.’s Head for HR & Admin, Ritchelle Cordero and JobStreet.com’s Sr. Sales Supervisor, Paul Andrew C. Tuazon.

What does being a strategic business partner look like, then, for HR professionals? These and other questions were explored in a panel discussion that talked about Ms. Basuil’s work, which was composed of Mr. Robin Bradshaw, Country Manager of Cathay Pacific; Mr. Ritchelle Cordero, Group Head for HR and Admin at Century Properties Group, Inc; and Ms. Joanne Hizon, VP for Human Resources at SM Investments Corp.

These seasoned HR professionals agreed that being part of their company’s initiatives from the very beginning, rather than just being an afterthought, is the key for HR professionals to be strategic partners.

JobStreet Sales Director Noelle Gonzales said that the paper and HR Huddle are only the first step in their goal to help partner companies and jobseekers participate in a new strategy-centric Human Resources landscape, in which HR is a strategic business partner. “You heard our panelists talking about the importance of data for HR professional, and that’s where we’re going to be focusing our efforts to help serve the industry. We’ve disseminated a lot of information, mined from JobStreet’s treasure trove of raw data, and we aim to share that with our partner companies’ HR people, providing whatever helps them whether short-term or in the long run. Through our data analytics product, launching very soon, we can provide everything from data in particular demographics, to perhaps hiring requirements for the next couple of years.”

Chubi gave a sweet message and congratulated Anne while doing a dance segment for one of her major sponsor and leading e-commerce platform, Shopee.

On the video, Chubi said, “Hey Anne! Congratulations on your final concert. Would have loved to be there but we have a special little something for you. Enjoy!”

Right after, a concert staff gave Anne a bouquet of flowers from Chubi.

Anne and Chubi made headlines before when the actress posted on social media a throwback photo with her and Chubi, where she said, “Batang 90’s ka kung kilala mo kami. 😂 First and ONLY “love team” ko. So nice to see you again Reyster. Kakamiss. – Em ❤️”

MANILA, August 21, 2018 – Explosive song and dance numbers, striking costume changes, and iconic personalities swarmed the house during the much-anticipated “Anne Kulit: Promise Last na ‘To” concert, which celebrated the one and only Anne Curtis’ 21^st anniversary in the entertainment industry. On top of Curtis’ performances with superstars James Reid and Regine Velasquez, among her most memorable tandems that night was the one with Sarah Geronimo.

The Queen of Pop took centerstage with Curtis to belt out “Linamnam Ulam”, the catchy jingle of Jollibee Burger Steak which was based on Sarah G’s original “Tala” anthem. “Linamnam Ulam” has spread its beguiling tune throughout two Burger Steak commercials, radio programs, and mall activations, leaving people dancing and singing their way to the nearest Jollibee store for their own bite of the deliciously beefy-saucy Burger Steak.

Watch the fun and infectious performance here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKRJxUBMg2U&app=desktop

As one of Jollibee’s best-selling offerings, Burger Steak has captured the hearts and taste buds of generations of Filipinos through two-in-one savory goodness with every bite. With its 100% pure beef and flavorful mushroom gravy, you get dalawang linamnam sa isang ulam—perfect with a steaming serving of white rice!

Like Burger Steak aficionado and endorser Anne Curtis, sing your heart out for your linamnam ulam craving and solve it with Jollibee Burger Steak!

MANILA, Philippines – A growing cross-border e-marketplace in Asia Pacific is a signal for Filipino SMEs to consider taking their products and services abroad, according to PayPal.

The global leader in digital payments and Ipsos recently released the 2018 PayPal Cross-Border Consumer Research, which investigates the online shopping habits of approximately 34,000 consumers in 31 countries ¹— including the Philippines. It reveals a growing cross-border e-commerce scene, with the US and China being the biggest markets in terms of online spend.

According to the study, there is a healthy appetite for e-commerce in APAC, with 48 percent of consumers shopping cross-border in the last 12 months. “This is a huge opportunity for local entrepreneurs to expand their businesses beyond the Philippines. China, in particular, shows significant promise as the Philippines improves its bilateral relations with the world’s second largest economy,” said Abhinav Kumar, Head of Strategic Partnerships for PayPal in Southeast Asia.

China, the largest market for online purchases in the world, spent an estimated total of RMB 3.9 trillion for online transactions in 2017. This is projected to increase to RMB 5.4 trillion in 2018. Cross-border trade (buying from a website not in their own country) is increasing with 43 percent of Chinese consumers shopping cross-border in the last 12 months compared to 26 percent the previous year.

APAC countries like Australia, India and Japan are likewise growing fast. For 2018, the PayPal study projects Japan to increase its total online spend by 26 percent, India by 53 percent, and Australia by 19 percent.

Cross-border opportunities for Filipino merchants

The digital upheaval brought about by social media and increased smartphone penetration translate to increased opportunities for cross-border trade, as seen by the projected growth in online spending. The world has become much smaller as platforms like PayPal enable merchants to take advantage of opportunities by connecting them with global consumers, allowing SMEs and micro enterprises more opportunities to thrive.

According to the study, the top few reasons for the growth in cross-border shopping can be attributed to the novelty of accessing items that are not available in their own country (49 percent) or to discover new and interesting products (34 percent). Over 30 percent of consumers from China and Australia who shop online cite finding items that are hard to find locally as a reason for making them more likely to shop cross-border.

“The demand for unique products is there, and this is an opportunity for Filipino businesses to showcase products not available elsewhere. The Philippines produces many unique products thanks to its rich culture, and with e-commerce, local merchants can now bring uniquely Filipino products to the world,” said Kumar.

Cosmetics on the rise for APAC consumers

As more and more Asian nations become more open to cross-border trade, Filipino businesses should be mindful of what consumers are buying to be able to take full advantage.

Globally, fashion, such as clothing, footwear and accessories, remain the top category for online shopping, with 68 percent of cross-border online shoppers having spent on these items in the past 12 months.

While APAC shoppers are forecasted to be spending more online in 2018, buying behaviors are also changing. Survey results showed that Chinese consumers are turning their attention to spending on things for health and beauty as well as their children, with online spending on cosmetics and baby supplies predicted to increase by 21 and 31 percent, respectively, in 2018. In India, online spending on the same categories are forecasted to increase by 40 and 37 percent, respectively. Consumer electronics is also another growth category in APAC, with online spending in the category expected to grow by 40 percent in India, 20 percent in China, and 13 percent in Australia.

Security a key driver of cross-border trade

Despite the increasing popularity of international online shopping among consumers across the globe, challenges to cross-border shopping remain. Barriers vary from region to region. Over a third (38 percent) of all online shoppers say that having a more secure way to pay would make them more likely to shop internationally.

In order for Filipino merchants to take full advantage of the expected increase in online spend, they need to address these barriers to encourage overseas purchases. With PayPal, they can connect to international consumers via a secure, seamless, and hassle-free network.

“At PayPal, we understand that while more and more people shop online, the hassle of online payments can be a barrier. PayPal addresses those concerns through a more convenient and more secure online payment facility for consumers to buy the things they need and love. As Filipino businesses take their cross-border sales online, we are proud to empower people and businesses to join and thrive in the global economy,” added Kumar.

PayPal endeavours to bring a sense of security to online shoppers with Refunded Returns (terms and limitations apply). In addition to Refunded Returns, PayPal offers Buyer Protection for eligible transactions to help provide a greater peace of mind for online shoppers. This protection goes both ways as merchants can be protected against eligible fraudulent transactions with Seller Protection.