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Acer Announces 15-inch Swift 5 Notebook Weighing Less Than 1 kg

Editor’s Summary:
With a 15-inch display, the Acer Swift 5’s elegant chassis weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lbs), ideal for people always on the go.
The Swift 5 is powered by Windows 10, the latest Intel® Core™ processors, and features exceptional performance and battery life that lasts through the workday.
Swift 5’s Full HD IPS touchscreen features ultra-narrow bezels measuring just 5.87 mm, giving it an incredible 87.6% screen-to-body ratio that maximizes the viewing experience.

Acer has announced its new Swift 5 notebook designed for users who want superb portability, solid performance, and a touch of style. With a 15-inch display, the elegant chassis weighs less than 1 kg (2.2 lbs), ideal for people always on the go. The Swift 5 is powered by Windows 10, the latest Intel® Core™ processors and features exceptional performance and battery life that lasts through the workday.

“There’s been great feedback on Acer’s amazingly light 14-inch Swift 5, and we are now pushing the limits with the 15.6-inch model,” said Jerry Hou, General Manager, Consumer Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer Inc. “We’ve kept the weight under the 1 kg mark by using ultra-narrow bezels and a marginally larger chassis.”

The Swift 5’s Full HD IPS1 touchscreen features ultra-narrow bezels measuring just 5.87 mm (0.23 inches), giving it an incredible 87.6% screen-to-body ratio to maximize the viewing experience. The Swift 5 features Acer Color Intelligence™ technology, which dynamically adjusts gamma and saturation in real-time, optimizing screen color and brightness without clipping or over saturation, while Acer BluelightShield technology allows adjusting of the screen’s blue-light emission over extended periods of use.

Swift 5 2 1
The Swift 5 is constructed with advanced materials including ultra-light magnesium-lithium alloys for the top and bottom cover, and magnesium-aluminum alloys for extra sturdiness on the palm rest area. Thanks to the LED backlit keyboard, users can work effectively on the go all day and even at night.

Powered by the latest Intel® processors, the Acer Swift 5 offers an exceptionally fast and responsive experience with battery life that lasts through the workday. The Swift 5 features Intel® Wireless-AC 9560 which offers 2×2 802.11ac wireless Gigabit performance that enhances streaming, sharing, conferencing, and gaming experiences.
Up to 1 TB of SSD storage and up to 16 GB of DDR4 memory keeps the system fast and responsive, while connectivity is provided through one USB 3.1 Type-C Gen 2 port (10 Gbit/s data transfer, supporting power delivery and display output), two USB 3.1 Type-A ports (one with power-off charging functionality), an HDMI port, and an SD card reader. The Swift 5 supports Windows Hello through a fingerprint reader, allowing users to log in to their accounts faster and more securely.

Pricing and Availability

Exact specifications, prices, and availability will vary by region. To find out about availability, product specifications and prices in specific markets, please contact your nearest Acer office or retailer via www.acer.com.
The new Acer Swift 5 was unveiled today at the next@acer press event held in New York, where the company announced a range of new devices and solutions for gamers, creators, families, students and professionals. For more information, visit www.acer.com/nextatacer.location. Applicable sales tax extra.

SM Supermalls wins “Shopping Centre of the Year” award in Ph Best Brand Awards

Photo 1 SM Supermalls wins Shopping Centre of the Year award 1

Philippines Best Brand Awards 2018. SM Supermalls bagged the prestigious ‘Shopping Centre of the Year’ award in the Philippines Best Brand Awards, at the recently concluded awarding ceremonies last June 8, held at Dusit Thani Hotel. In photo: SM Supermalls Chief Operating Officer Steven Tan (3rd from left) delivering his acceptance speech.

SM Supermalls was presented with the prestigious ‘Shopping Centre of the Year’ award in the first edition of the Philippines Best Brand Awards, at the recently concluded awarding ceremonies last June 8, held at Dusit Thani Hotel.

Accepting the award on behalf of SM Supermalls was its Chief Operating Officer Steven Tan. “We owe our success to our customers and partners who continue to support and trust the SM brand. This achievement motivates us to further innovate and to strive harder in bringing bigger and better activities and brands to the SM malls,” Tan said.

From its first shoe store in Carriedo, Manila, opened by Henry Sy, Sr. in 1958 – the SM brand has come a long way as it celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. From a one-store operation, the brand grew to provide people with a range of shoes and clothes among others at The SM Store, their daily needs at SM Markets; affordable homes through residential condominiums of SMDC; and family fun experiences at SM Supermalls.

The Philippines Best Brand Awards recognize and celebrate outstanding brands and marketers who have achieved extraordinary success from effective and innovative marketing practices in the country. Held to promote marketing excellence and foster marketing awareness in the professional community, the Awards aim to disseminate and educate the industry on the importance of branding in the Philippines.

Pioneer hosts beach clean-up event in Iloilo City

Recently, the Pioneer Adhesives Foundation, Inc. conducted a beach cleanup event at Villa Beach in Arevalo, Iloilo City. Over 100 volunteers participated in the event, which concluded with over 300 kilograms of trash being collected from the beach and properly
disposed of. The event was spearheaded by Pioneer Adhesives Foundation’s Executive Director Martina Spakowski, in fulfillment of the organization’s advocacy of education, disaster relief, and environmental protection.

“The Philippines is home to the most abundant and diverse marine ecosystems on the planet and it is terribly under threat due to several factors, one of which being that we are the third largest contributor of ocean trash in the world. This threat can be
eliminated and we believe that by involving individuals in activities like this they will begin to realize the environmental impacts of our daily habits and this hopefully leads to smarter purchase decisions to reduce our trash output.”

The beach cleanup represented both a drive for awareness and a concrete action to help protect our environment. It was a timely gesture that reflects the values of World Environment Day, which took place just recently on June 5 and in which more than 143 countries are a part of every year. This year’s theme was “Beat Plastic Pollution” and Pioneer’s beach cleanup support this thrust by preventing over 300kgs of trash from entering the ocean and posing a threat to marine life.

In a time when trash is beginning to fill our oceans and marine life is being threatened, the call to action has never been louder for us to do our part and make more conscious decisions to help preserve the life of our oceans. It is through The Foundation that Pioneer Adhesives, Inc. spreads its commitment as a responsible Filipino company.

Safeguard: Pabaon Sa Buhay” Film Reveals The Secret To Norman King’s Success

When Norman King made history by becoming the first Aeta to graduate from a premier state university in the Philippines, he was the talk of the town in an instant. His story was an inspiration to many. But what could be his secret to success?

Safeguard Philippines reveals the story behind Norman King’s success and how he became ready to face the big world in a recent video launched. The “Safeguard: Pabaon sa Buhay” film revolves around the life lessons his mom, Warlita King, imparted to him from his younger years until his coming of age. These life lessons or “Pabaon sa Buhay”set Norman ready for the independent life.

Also known as provisions for life, “Pabaon sa Buhay” is derived from the term “baon,” which refers to the money, food or any provision that a person takes from home to set one ready for school, work, or any journey. “Baon” however does not only pertain to material things. It can be the words of wisdom, life lessons, and family values parents teach their kids at home to protect them from the uncertainties of the outside world.

For Norman, his mom’s “Pabaon sa Buhay” became his protection and guide in life to keep focused on his goals despite the struggles of leading an independent life as shown in the short film.

The film begins with Norman who’s about to enter a university auditorium. He is seen wearing a bahag (a native loincloth) as he slowly walks his way through the crowd. All eyes are on him, but Norman remains undisturbed and determined. As he walks, memories of the past keep flashing back. These are moments when his mom taught him valuable lessons or her “Pabaon sa Buhay.”

When he first questioned his ethnicity and color, his mom told him that a clean heart has more value than physical appearance. He was also taught to never be ashamed of their status. In his teenage years, his mom reminded him to be proud of his race. These lessons and more are the things Norman carried with him as he took his own journey away from home.

“There is a universal challenge parents face in bringing up their children, having to balance the desire to keep them close and protected with letting them go explore the world to learn by themselves. At Safeguard, we strive to help parents overcome this tension by fostering a healthy independence between parents and children. Essential to this are the ‘pabaon’ parents give their children —be it an everyday lunchbox, the life saving habit of hand washing or life lessons—which will help protect them as they explore the world on their own,” says Alex Vogler, Associate Director, Digital Transformation & Brand Communications for Procter & Gamble’s Beauty Division in Asia Pacific.

“By sharing the touching story of Norman King and the life lessons he received from his mother, we are hoping to inspire parents all around the Philippines to impart their personal ‘pabaon’ to help protect their children in life,” concludes Vogler.

Be sure that your children are always protected even outside the home. Give them the protection that lasts with your own “Pabaon sa Buhay.”

Watch the heart-warming story of Norman King and his mother Warlita on Safeguard’s Facebook and YouTube.

Join the conversation and share with us your own “Pabaon sa Buhay” stories online with the hashtags #PabaonSaBuhay and #Safeguard.

Globe, Disney spearhead “Time Please” nationwide volunteering program

Partners promote sharing acts of kindness among individuals, organizations

Leading telecommunications firm Globe Telecom and The Walt Disney Company, Philippines, announced a major collaboration to promote volunteerism among Filipinos.

The two companies partnered to launch “Time Please,” a nationwide volunteering program that encourages and empowers Filipinos including companies, organizations, employees, families, and friends to provide volunteer activities or participate in existing volunteer programs. Time Please supports the telco’s commitment to nine (9) of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and appeals to the Filipino strong culture of volunteerism rooted in the bayanihan spirit to collectively contribute to social development.
Through the volunteer matching portal www.timeplease.ph, developed with Globe Future Maker iVolunteer Philippines and the volunteer portal of Gawad Kalinga, Time Please strives to match individuals or groups of volunteers with various volunteering opportunities around the country. Companies, organizations or groups with existing volunteer programs can also enlist their volunteer activities in the platform and get their volunteer hours registered in this initiative.

“We look at Time Please to extend Globe Telecom’s purpose-led culture to our customers. With the help of technology, we wish to make volunteering more accessible to many Filipinos, thereby, making it easier for our partners and customers to contribute to nation building,” said Ernest Cu, President and Chief Executive Officer of Globe Telecom.

“Disney VoluntEARS are committed to supporting and inspiring communities by dedicating our time and skills to help kids and families in need. Time Please is a unique platform that allows kids and families to spend meaningful time together for social good,” shared Veronica Cabalinan, Country Manager of The Walt Disney Company, Philippines. “We believe that it is our collective responsibility to be at the service of the community where we live.”

Globally, the Philippines ranked 7th for the highest number of people volunteering their time with 25 million Filipinos volunteering in 2016 (Charities Aid Foundation [CAF] World Giving Index 2017). Volunteer activities are mobilized by various sectors, such as non-government organizations (NGOs), government agencies, companies usually through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) departments or corporate foundations, the academe via school activities such as Brigada Eskwela, and the private sector.

Time Please provides a robust menu of volunteering activities and unites the volunteering ecosystem by connecting the volunteers to volunteer organizations using a simple, convenient and easy to understand web platform. Through any device with online access, individuals from all regions in the Philippines can now sign up for free and form groups to join volunteer activities enrolled in Time Please.

Time Please will run from May 25 to August 19, 2018 and is open to individuals willing and capable to do volunteer work. Each group should have a minimum of two (2) and a maximum of four (4) individuals to be able to join. The group should also nominate a Team Leader who is at least 18 years of age with an active Globe or TM number to register the group.

The group with the most number of volunteer hour credits at the end of the program will win an all-expense paid trip for 4 to Hong Kong Disneyland.

Globe customers, partners, and other organizations are invited to register and volunteer at www.timeplease.ph and at the volunteer portal of Gawad Kalinga.

Jakob Sablaya Did It Again In Round 2 Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup

Rosario, Batangas—June 3, 2018— It was a showcase of talent, skills and a little bit of luck for Alfred Jakob Sablaya in Round 2 of Honda Pilipinas Dream Cup (HPDC) after winning Race 3 & 4 last June 3, 2018.

The riders’ energy was high to begin with as they started their practice last June 2, 2018. The results showed that the riders had improved their time, making them more confident in the Qualifying round in the afternoon. Sablaya had a record of 2:06.953, a difference of +0.051 sec from his best time during Round 1 of the HPDC, followed by his closest rival, Sean Barcial with a best time of 2:07.549 who was then followed by Kervie Bergania of 2:08.526, taking the 1^st Grid. The 2^nd Grid was taken by Wyner Blente, Andrei Reyes and Jasper Cruz, followed by Erika and Sean Ondillo for the 3^rd Grid.

Race 3 9:40 a.m.

The spirit of competition was already high and ready for the race. However, it was unfortunate for Blente as he sprained his left hand during the warm up session, forcing him not to participate in Race 3 & 4. As the riders positioned at the grid, Rider #8 committed a “jumpstart” violation and was given a 10 sec. penalty. It was a consistent battle for the lead group by Sablaya, Barcial and Bergania, while the 2^nd group proved to be exciting as well. This group included Ondillo, Cruz and Reyes. However at the 5^th Lap, Cruz slid off at the last corner. “I tried to make my way through at the last corner but my decision paid the price. I will do my best in Race 4,” said Cruz.

It was a neck and neck battle between Barcial and Sablaya as the former took the lead from Lap 1 to 7. Sablaya was protecting his position from Barcial who was following him from behind all throughout the race. However at the Last Lap, Sablaya managed to steal the position on the last corner, securing 1^st place at the end of the race. Barcial had secured 2^ndplace and Bergania 3^rd place.

Race 4 2:00 p.m.

At the beginning of Race 4, the young riders were more determined and aggressive to take the lead. As the pack approached the 1^st corner, Bergania slid off the pack breaking the group into 2. The 1^st group was led by Sablaya, Barcial and Reyes, while the 2^nd group consisted of Erika Ondillo, Cruz and Sean Ondillo. Each group has made the race exciting to watch as they showed what they were made of, which was pure determination to win.

As the checkered flag was raised on the 8^th Lap, it was Sablaya who emerged victorious tak

ing the Podium Finish with a total time of 16:56.982 and with a fastest lap time of 2:05.999 followed by Barcial who had a total of 16:57.378 and with a fastest lap time of 2:05.916.

ALFRED JAKOB SABLAYA

“I am happy that I got the championships for round 3 & 4. I feel good especially with the CBR150R bike which I am becoming more comfortable, it’s a good bike [for] handling, powerful engine and weight is just right for me. I would like to thank God that He is there to protect us during our race and also my father who is always there to support me. I felt pressured this round 2 because Sean was really getting faster and competing with him is very hard and challenging. I am excited and challenged to compete in Clark International Speedway since this is my first time to compete in the track”.

SEAN BARCIAL

“I felt much better in Round 2 for performance. I improved my best time and making my turns faster on corners. I am more confident and comfortable using the CBR150R.

Competition with Jakob is very challenging. I tried to take on opportunity for his mistakes and making my move. However, my decision on the final corner has make me open, thus I lost a few seconds. Round 3 will be more competitive and aggressive for sure.”

ANDREI REYES

“Round 2 results [were] satisfying since I saw improvement in my performance vs. round 1. I became more familiar with the track which gave me 3 sec. faster. I am comfortable with the CBR150R, improving my technique on late breaks and cornering especially when I am with Sean and Jakob’s momentum. I am looking forward to get the best time and try to get the position for the 1^st place in round 3.”

RYOSUKE ARAI – HPI MOTOR SPORTS ADVISER

“We are happy with the overall result, as the participants have improved their skills and especially their best time. We see potential and we expect better competition and improvement in the next 4 legs.”

For more information on Honda Philippines, Inc. and its motorsports events, go to www.hondaph.com/whats-new/motorsports/or follow their official Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/hondaph/

Shopee Launches Latest In-App Game, Shopee Shake, With Over 2.5 Million Shopee Coins to be Given Away; Debut Game Coins Run Out in Less Than 60 Seconds

Earn coins and shop at Shopee’s Orange Day Sale happening from June 13 to 15 with discounts of up to 90% off and 24 hour free shipping

In the lead up to this month’s Orange Day Sale happening from June 13 to 15, Shopee, the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia and Taiwan, launched its latest in-app game, Shopee Shake, with the promise of over 2.6 millions worth of Shopee Coins to be given away. Within the first three days of its launch on 8 June, Shopee Shake recorded a total of over 100,000 users logging in to the Shopee app during the designated game timings (12 noon and 9pm daily) and shaking their phones for a chance to win Shopee Coins.

Terence Pang, Chief Operating Officer of Shopee, said, “At Shopee, users form the core of all our strategies, features and innovations, which is why we introduced the in-app game, Shopee Shake, as a way for us to better engage our users and provide them with an exciting new way to earn rebates and other prizes. We are thankful for the overwhelming support we’ve had so far, and will continue to work on introducing even more features to enhance the overall user experience. We welcome all users to join us and participate in Shopee Shake.”

From now till 15 June, users can look forward to winning more Shopee Coins by taking part in Shopee Shake.

To add to the excitement, Shopee will also be holding a weeklong social media contest where users are invited to post videos of themselves doing the Shopee Shake on Facebook or Instagram. Users should include the hashtag #ShopeeShakePH to stand a chance to be one of three lucky winners to walk away with an iPhone X, Fujifilm X-T20, or Nintendo Switch.

In addition to the launch of Shopee Shake, Shopee will also be holding its monthly Orange Day Sale from June 13 to 15. Users can look forward to discounts of up to 90% off, 2 for the price of 1 deals, category collections, beat the clock vouchers and many more. As a special treat this Orange Day, users can also enjoy 24 hours of free shipping with a lowered minimum spend of just ₱250 on June 13.

What are you waiting for? Set your alarms, mark your calendars, and get ready to shake and shop this Orange Day!

SM City San Jose del Monte Celebrates Independence Day

A meaningful celebration of Pinoy Pride was held yesterday at SM City San Jose del Monte in Bulacan as it commemorated the 120^th Philippine Independence Day.

The Independence Day program started at 9 a.m. sharp when mall employees, tenants, affiliates, and partner agencies showed up in traditional Barong Tagalog and Filipiniana costumes as a sign of nationalism.

Members of the Baliktanaw Performing Arts dance the Jota de Paragua.

Entrance of Colors

The invocation was led by members of First City Providential College Baliktanaw Performing Arts who sang the Tagalog version of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli’s The Prayer. This was followed by the entrance of colors under the leadership of the mall’s security forces together with the San Jose Band.

The ceremonial singing of Lupang Hinirang, the Philippine national anthem, was led by the grand winner of the Bulacan X Factor, Famela Anne Aglabtin. She also gave an unforgettable performance in her rendition of Anthony Castelo’s Daking Lahi.

Bulacan X-Factor grand champion Famela Anne Aglabtin gave an impressive performance.

World-Class Dancers

Members of the Baliktanaw Performing Arts displayed the world-class talent of Filipinos as they danced the Jota de Paragua that originated from Cuyo, Palawan. The women waved their manton, or decorative shawl, while the men held bamboo castanets. The dance came from the Spanish capital of Seville and was adopted by the people of Palawan.

Also present at the event was Tungkong Mangga Barangay Captain Bernardo Medina who thanked SM Supermalls for remembering this important holiday. He was joined by Assistant Mall Manager Nelson Lopez who said Filipinos should always be grateful and honor the Philippine Flag since it symbolizes our triumph and independence.

Study: PET bottles have 90 percent retrieval rate in the Philippines

Polyethylene terephthalate or PET bottles are one of the most valuable forms of plastic in the Philippines and the most retrieved due to its high residual value – or its predicted value after consumption. PET bottles are commonly used in food and beverage packaging.

A study conducted by global advocacy firm McKinsey Center for Business and Environment showed that the Philippines has one of the highest PET bottle recovery rates at 90 percent.

“Higher residual value plastics are more likely to be collected from disposal sites and then resold. This means that products or packaging with low residual value are less likely to be collected; they therefore become a particularly significant contributor to ocean plastic,” the study, entitled “Stemming the Tide: Land-based Strategies for a Plastic-free Ocean” said.

Of the total post-consumption plastic waste produced in the country, 80 percent are low residual value plastics composed of sachets and single-use plastic bags owing to the local retail industry’s sachet-economy wherein products are packaged into single-use portions.

If PET bottles have a high extraction rate, it is quite the opposite for low residual value plastics. Often neglected by waste pickers, plastics belonging to the category have close to zero percentage collection rate.

“Waste pickers simply cannot generate enough wages from low-value plastics to warrant the time spent collecting them. We calculated the earnings for waste pickers using two metrics: the material value of the plastic waste in terms of the price paid for it by primary buyers (“junk shops”), and the average amount of time taken to extract the item from the waste stream. Over a ten-hour collection day focused exclusively on plastic bags, a waste picker might earn as little as P25 ($.50). Were the waste picker to focus on PET bottles, however, he or she might earn more than seven times that amount,” the study said.

Metro Manila has one of the highest plastic waste densities in the world – annually, the 620-square kilometer capital produces over 560,000 metric tons of plastic waste, which translates to about 900 metric tons per square kilometer. In comparison, the financial capital of China, Shanghai, has an annual plastic waste density of 200 metric tons per square kilometer.

While the country has an 85 to 90 percent waste collection average rate in urban areas, it plummets to less than 80 percent in rural areas. The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has a collection rate of only 40 percent.

Another contributor to the growing post-consumption plastic waste problem is the lack of a proper waste management infrastructure. The study highlighted key areas where plastics are leaked into the oceans and these includes rural areas that do not have a proper waste collection method due to its low waste density, and high density urban areas that are not able to cope with the influx of development. Illegal dumping by trash haulers and oversaturated dumpsites are also some areas that leak plastic waste into the oceans.

The growing post-consumption plastic waste problem is a real concern that needs to be resolved with the cooperation of all stakeholders in various industries and a revisit of the consumption methods of the general public. #

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