New smartphone brand in the country Realme Philippines has just officially launched and they are  positioned in owning the smartphone entry level category. The Realme brand is known to provide quality smartphones at an affordable price for the youth. And to mark its entry, they introduced the Realme C1.

Amazingly priced at P 5,990, the brand positioned the Realme C1 as the #RealEntryLevelKing. The Real C1 highlights their exceptional performance and outstanding battery life. Packing a 4230mAh mega battery, they say it can last up to 44 hours of calls, 18 hours of music playback with Wi-Fi and 10 hours of gaming, performance comparable to a smartphone aided by a powerbank. Now, we know that "great power comes with great responsibility", so Realme  has core power-saving features like the App-freezing Power Saver and Quick App Freezing. Not that's some feature!

The Realme C1 runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 octa-core processor. It has a feature that can effectively reduce power consumption and control hear. Has 2GB RAM + 16GB ROM, it can run multiple types of games smoothly without any lag.

SM Cinema opened its newest movie hub at SM Center Ormoc. Equipped with the latest state-of-the-art technology and additional 390 seats, SM Cinema Ormoc has three (3) sound surround digital cinemas with end to end screens and comfortable seats.

SM Cinema Ormoc also launched the very first Director’s Club in the region making it the only premiere cinema movie hub in Eastern Visayas. Director’s Club Cinema is complete with 40 full electronic reclining plush seats and personal butlers to give viewers the most relaxed, comfortable, and premium movie experience. 

Here’s a warning from SM Cinema and Illumination Entertainment! Make sure you really prepare for the holidays as the unsociable and ill-tempered Grinch is back, planning to steal Christmas in the animated version of Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch showing in SM Cinema this November. 

The film follows the story of The Grinch together with his loyal dog, Max, as he faces his most hated time of the year, the Christmas season. When his Whoville neighbors are preparing and celebrating for the holidays, The Grinch is planning to steal Christmas and silence the Whos’ holiday cheer once and for all. Will the Grinch finally succeed and achieve his dream peace? 

Webnovel, a global fictional stories hub, hosted its first-ever fan meeting in Manila to discuss the creation and translation of Webnovel narratives to Filipino fans and authors last November 24, 2018. 

Rich Content and Active Community 

Officially launched in 2017 as an overseas portal of China Literature, which is China's largest online literature platform, Webnovel is a comprehensive platform, both on website and app. It is committed to the global dissemination of web novels, bringing more value to authors worldwide and delivering high-quality web novels and excellent reading experience to global readers. 

As a leading authorized digital reading platform and literature intellectual property (IP) incubator, China Literature has reserved more than 10 million digital works, hosted 7.3 million authors. Those Chinese TV dramas on the air in the Philippines, such as Fighter of the Destiny, Martial Universe and The Rise of Phoenixes are all intellectual property belonging to China Literature. 

Christmas is a season brimming with magic, tucked in simple pleasures and beautiful moments of connection. It is spread through warm smiles exchanged, cups of coffee shared, and most commonly, through thoughtful presents that we give our loved ones. 

With office parties, family reunions, and get-togethers aplenty during the most bustling time of the year, most of us are already in search for perfect presents to give to our loved ones just in time for all the festivities. Luckily, Starbucks has plenty of great gifting options that your friends and family will surely love. 

This year, Starbucks is also giving customers a chance to win special gift sets to surprise their loved ones with the return of their 12 Gifts of Magic promo. Here are the 12 wonderful gift sets that will bring magic to each other’s celebrations: 

Here's something that's close to my heart. PETA is arranging an exciting night of craft beer, scrumptious food, and exciting raffle prizes for their Pints for Pups, Christmas Edition. tickets are now available online.

Here’s all the details:

Tickets – which are 1,000 Php – include a choice of six beer tasters (100 ml), three specials (250 ml), or two pints (500 ml). Each ticket also includes bar chow, and we’ve already got some great food lined up, including roasted chickpeas from Two Chickpeas, hummus from Hummus Be Crazy, vegan cheese platters from In a Nutshell, samosas and falafel from Bollywood Treats, and brownies from Earth Desserts.

Global smartphone brand Vivo has played Santa ahead of Christmas as it created treasured moments to the elderly at the God’s Grace Home Care Center (GGHCC) in Quezon City on November 24, 2018. 

Vivo employees and God’s Grace Home Care Center founders Grace Fe T. Capital and Rufino M. Capital smile for photos. 

GGHCC serves as a home to the elderly, the disabled, and other patients who need palliative care. With this in mind, Vivo as represented by its 24 employees brought cash donation, brand new wheelchairs, commodes, adult diapers, slippers, pillows, and personal hygiene kits for the GGHCC. At least 40 older adults from the GGHCC participated in Vivo’s visit. 

Choose your steak and eat it too! This new concept restaurant -slash- meat place is offering something different at the Poblacion area. Inspired by the love of good food and awesome drinks, a group of partners opens up this new dining experience serving up approachable cuisine that is especially appreciated by meat-lovers.

One of the highlights is where customers choose their meats from a range including prime cuts such as USDA Rib Eye, Porterhouse, Sirloin, Tenderloin, Tbone all the way to 48 hours marinated Porkchops, Pork Belly and Smoked Maple Bacon. Of course customers can have it cooked to their preferred doneness at only Php 100 cooking charge with choices of sauces and sides.

Gringo has just launched their latest promo just in time for the Holidays. Taking advantage of the many gatherings and get-togethers, Gringo came up with new offerings perfect for groups of family and friends named the Hola-day Boards.

Each board is designed for any craving that you might have. A set that can feed up to five or six amigos, the Hola-day Boards offers satisfaction for your chicken, rib, seafood cravings.

Global smartphone brand Vivo is making sure its loyal patrons will get the best for Christmas. It has released the all-new Vivo Y91 that delivers the same well-loved specs from the smartphone maker, plus a bigger batter capacity for limitless enjoyment. 

The latest Y-series unit delivers a futuristic design, smarter photography capabilities, a powerful performance, and a more seamless user experience. 

Smartphones have never been this fun with the high capacity battery-equipped Vivo Y91.

The Vivo Y91 has a trendy 6.22-inc Halo FullView™ Display that let the more details shine with its 88.6% screen-to-body ratio. The 3D curves fit the palm perfectly, for an experience that’s truly irresistible. In addition to a smart design, the Y91 has smart hand gesture controls that make the large display effortless to handle. 

The smartphone also has a color gradient that dazzles as the brand continues to expand its design. The Y91 adopts the trendy back-cover gloss painting process that intricately blending hues invoke the colors of the universe in Starry Black and Ocean Blue. 

Gan Advanced Osseointegration Center (GAOC), the leading dental clinic in the Philippines and one of the best in Southeast Asia, is unrelenting in its growth and expansion as it opens its newest clinic to date at the Ayala Malls Vertis North.

Upholding GAOC’s philosophy of excellence and personalized service, GAOC Vertis North, their 10th clinic, aims to serve people from the North, the Camanava area, and even as far as Pampanga.

Price drop alert: Vivo Y81i can be all yours for only Php6,999

Christmas is finally in the air! Global smartphone brand Vivo is making sure its loyal patrons going to get a steal. It has dropped the price of its Vivo Y81i to Php6,999 from Php7,999. 

Steal one of this Christmas season’s best deals! The Vivo Y81i can be all yours for Php1,000 lower than its original price. 

Vivo released the Y81i in the Philippines mid-2018. It is a trendy, notch-bearing smartphone that gives users 6.22-inch FullView™ Display.  Just like its predecessors, it has the smartphone maker’s thumbprint specs. It has a 13-megapixel rear camera and a 5MP selfie camera equipped with the AI Face Beauty that produces natural-looking shots. 

Global smartphone brand Vivo has released another powerful addition to its growing family, the Vivo Y95, that comes with the maker’s thumbprint specs—a 6.22-inch Halo FullView™ Display for an expansive view and a 20-megapixel front camera for clearer selfies. But what’s great about the new release is its higher capacity battery and other features that make every Y95 one of the bests of its league. 

The Vivo Y95 is equipped with the all-new 6.22-inch Halo FullView™ Display with a maximized screen-to-body ratio of 88.6%. The front camera sensor’s place holder in the top middle of the smartphone evokes the halo of a rising sun. It is part of the brand’s efforts to provide a more expansive mobile viewing experience to its every patron. It also provides 1520 x 720 HD+ resolution that ensures vibrant colors and clarity on screen. 

Vivo Y95's 20MP front camera allows it to capture more details to render clearer selfies. Just like most Vivo smartphones, the Y95 is also equipped with artificial intelligence technology such as AI Face Beauty and AI Selfie Lighting that detect age, gender, skin tone, skin texture, and lighting environment to accurately enhance features. 

The new smartphone also comes with a double rear camera with 13MP main rear camera and a 2MP secondary rear camera. The Y95’s double rear camera captures depth-of-field information to recreate professional-grade bokeh shots effortlessly. Thanks to AI technology, the smartphone can also intelligently identify 140 different photo scenes to automatically optimize every shot to deliver richer blue skies or livelier flowers. 

Even without third-party apps, the Y95 can add fun to any photo with its own range of fun, unique stickers that are enhanced with AR technology. 

The Philippines has come a long way from being called one of the worst countries in the world to be a vegan. In the four years since ABS-CBN reported on the infamous list, more and more vegan establishments have popped up all over the country. A great many of them are to be found in Metro Manila. One that recently got on our radar is the newly opened cafe Cosmic in Poblacion, Makati. 

Alright, imagine yourself being able to cruise around the islands of Palawan in your own yacht and waking up to the sounds of waves crashing on the shore while staying in a beautiful resort inspired by Maldivian architecture style of accommodation and design.

That's what Avara Nature & Yacht Club is offering, the easy life on the seaside. First of its kind, a nature and yacht club located at Calauag Bar in Taytay which was Palawan's first capital. Established by the Seaside Premier Development Corporation, the exclusive resort was formally unveiled at the Grand Hyatt Manila led by its President and CEO Ms. Veronica C. Young. 

Smartphones today are no longer simple communications devices that surf the web and offer a few apps. With the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI), today’s smartphones should be perceived as ‘platforms of intelligence’. Today’s phones strive to understand user behavior in ways that will elevate the user experience to greater heights. Gartner[1] has predicted that by 2022, 80% of smartphones will have on-device AI capabilities, this is up from 10% in 2017. In coming years, an AI smartphone will no longer be a ‘nice to have’, it will be critical to fulfilling consumers’ needs. 

Most AI enabled smartphones in the market today are highly priced. However, Vivo is set to shake up the industry by including AI features into their phones at a much affordable level. The V11 model for example, is designed to understand the needs of users in an ‘intelligent’ and personalized way. For Vivo, the development of its AI features essentially elevates the user experience through better understanding, improved interactions and ‘decoding’ of scenarios in smarter and more personalized ways. 

I just found out that Yellow Cab has a new offering that will surely fuel the holiday hungry hustlers this holiday season. After launching their new boroughs pizza just a few months back (link), they are now taking their hungry fans to New York!

New features and cutting-edge technology to improve GVB signature event

The iconic Cole Haan ZERØGRAND collection has been making waves and disrupting the footwear since it first came out mid 2014. Year after year, the collection has been pushing boundaries and creating footwear that is designed and engineered for modern people on-the-go. The ZERØGRAND collection is not just a normal footwear mind you, they are stylish & versatile foot wear that don’t sacrifice performance and comfort.

Singer-songwriter and actress Julie Anne San Jose has come a long way with her talents. With a career that has spanned more than a decade, Julie Anne has worn many hats: from acting in soaps to producing albums to singing and writing her own songs. Young, beautiful, and full of ambitions, Julie Anne makes the perfect Vivo endorser as she embodies what the brand is: Youthful, beautiful, edgy, and a relentless innovator. 

Julie Anne started out very young; no wonder at the age of 24, she already has a multitude of accomplishments under her belt. 

“I started singing at two and a half years old. It was my grandparents’ idea to pursue my singing, to pursue being an artist. Then, they encouraged me to join various pageants like Little Miss Philippines. But I stopped for a while because I need to continue my schooling,” she said as she reminisced her ups and downs in the industry. 

The art of photography has already undergone a fundamental transformation with the rise of camera phones. That transformation is set to evolve to another level with the science of photography being the focus emerging AI-embedded smartphones. AI-powered cameras promise a better ‘read’ of different photography settings and can automate functions that could take months or years to learn down to a split-second process. AI technology can quickly identify which settings are needed in any given scenario, allowing even amateur photographers to simply point and capture their magical moments in that exact instant. 

This quantum shift in camera science means users no longer require sophisticated professional cameras, allowing users to effortlessly capture and show their vivid memories in more ways and with many more options. 

Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila has just officially launched the festive season with Art de Noël The Enchanted Journey. Lighting the 30-foot Christmas tree has always been the tradition of Sofitel and has always been the centerpiece and a constant backdrop of Spiral and Le Bar's diners. This year, they also have a vintage propeller plane, hot air balloons and larger than life French snowman visiting with his friends. Of course Christmas is not complete without Sofitel’s special animations and a visit from Santa Claus.

To make the shopping experience more exciting, Lazada included a feature where you can invite your friends to "Slash It!", allowing you to lower the price of a product through referral link sent to friends to slash the price. There's also the "Shake It!" where you can snag additional discounts by shaking your mobile phone at designated time slots.

Pink is womanly and charming, warm and intimate. Pink tempers the fire of red with a mellow loving spirit. Pink calms and heartens our sensibilities, calming negative feelings of aggression, animosity, and cynicism. Pink composes the nerves which brings an overall feeling of love and tenderness. 

But pink does not always represent femininity or superficiality. Pink, on the other hand, has become a symbol of feminine power with the color associated with female-centered advocacies such as championing breast cancer survivors and warriors against gender-biases. 

Due to the many preparations that need to be done and celebrations that need to be attended to, some people become so busy that they do not get to spend as much time with their families anymore. But even if it’s the most wonderful time of the year, nothing makes Christmas more meaningful and joyful than spending quality time with the family, even beyond the usual Misa Del Gallo and Noche Buena. Family bonding especially during the holiday season fosters a generally happier atmosphere, creates precious and lasting memories, and strengthens deep relationships.

This November, SM Cinema, together with the Goethe Institut Philippines and Film Development Council of the Philippines, will bring you to the other side of the world as they proudly present the 3rd German Film Week. 

Everyone is drawn to the extraordinary. Whether it’s a person, place or thing, it’s inevitable for people to have a heightened interest for objects that are exceptional or out of the ordinary, even if those items are as basic like food and drink. A perfect example of this undefinable allure can be seen in the growing demand for whisky. 

Whisky, which is called the “Water of Life,” has seen a resurgence in the social scene the past few years and is now one of the most preferred drinks by both amateur and long-time liquor connoisseurs. Made from fermented barley or in some cases, grain mash, whisky is favored by many for its bold and complex flavor and mouth feel. And of course, the air of distinction and mystique that surrounds the drink. 

But, what is about whisky the draws in both the experienced and uninitiated whisky drinker? 

Here's something for the ladies who likes everything pink! Vivo has just launched their newest color variety, Vivo V11i Fairy Pink. Don't let the color deceive you, it is impressive inside as it is under the hood. Powered by advance artificial intelligence-mechanized features.

Two of Vivo's influencers are Sister-bloggers Vern and Verniece who shares the love for pink, evident on their Instagram feed. They are famous for two things: their beauty and style sensibility. The dreamy photos of their travels coupled with fashion inspiration are glossy magazine spread-worthy, to the delight of young females all over. Vern was the first to start blogging in 2010 with a “Shoe Tale”. Verniece later followed suit and the rest is history. 

Global smartphone brand Vivo, in partnership with MemoXpress, a mobile device dealer store and Lalamove, a courier service have joined together to provide convenience to Filipino drivers. Lalamove partner drivers will get a 5% discount from the suggested retail price (SRP) of available Vivo phones such as the V11, V11i, Y71 (2 GB and 3 GB), Y53c, Y81, Y85, and X21 at MemoXpress stores nationwide from October 19, 2018 until December 31, 2018. 

With almost 15,000 partner drivers in Metro Manila, Lalamove aims to provide them quality benefits by partnering with top brands such as Vivo. Giving them access to topnotch mobile devices to help them with their day-to-day deliveries. All they have to do is to sign up using the MemoXpress portal (visit: https://mx.memoxpress.ph/lalamove-portal). The said portal will serve as a means to pre-order and pick up their preferred Vivo phone available at MemoXpress stores nationwide. A customer service representative will call to assist and confirm the partner drivers' orders. All interested partner drivers will only show their Lalamove ID and verified status on their Lalamove driver application at the chosen MemoXpress branch. 

Even though Filipinos start Christmas when the 'ber' months come in, I usually feel the holidays right after Halloween or when people starts collecting their stickers for the next Starbucks Planner. Indeed it has become a tradition that has always been one of the much awaited offerings from the beloved coffee brand.

This year, I personally think is the most interesting yet. Starbucks Philippines has just launched a magical blend of nostalgic traditions recently at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall. Beautifully setup, nutcrackers but the gates, giant Christmas tree in the middle made with Red Cups and Starbucks Bearista, and a Christmas village with everything Starbucks! As we explored the different stations, we were treated to exciting prizes and experience of things that customers are to expect from Starbucks this season.

MANILA, 01 November 2018 – AirAsia is now flying three times weekly from Manila to Kaohsiung in Taiwan. The World’s Best Low Cost Airline flew its maiden flight last October 30 from Manila’s NAIA (Ninoy Aquino International Airport) Terminal 3 to Kaohsiung International Airport, Taiwan’s second busiest airport. 

AirAsia Philippines CEO Captain Dexter Comendador said, “AirAsia is thrilled to add Manila – Kaohsiung to our growing list of exciting places to visit in Taiwan. With AirAsia’s unparalleled low fares and visa-free access to Taiwan for Filipinos, now is the best time to explore this massive port city and home to skyscrapers, shopping malls, night markets, parks, historical and natural wonders.” Press Release To celebrate AirAsia’s newest flight, guests flying to Kaohsiung on the inaugural flight joined the send-off program attended by Ambassador Michael Peiyung Hsu of Taiwan Economic Cultural Office and NAIA Airport.

There are an increasing number of ways to make further education work for you. Not everyone can follow more traditional options, and whether you're restricted by geography or finances, your future is no longer limited by circumstances. Online study is more popular than ever and could be the key to making your education much more accessible. There are many reasons why the concept of obtaining an online education is becoming the new normal, and if you’re looking at your BA or even MA options, then it might be time to look at some of the reasons why studying online could be the answer.

Location is no issue

Whether you’re limited by the fact that you have employment, or simply can’t afford a big move, distance is often one of the biggest barriers to getting a good education from a respectable institution. Online learning removes that restriction to your future and allows you to manage your learning and your other commitments in a way that gives you much greater control. 

There are now a wide range of respected universities and colleges that have opened up distance learning options, with some of the most famous offering a wide variety of options like those offered by USD online. Avoiding the stresses of campus life could be the best reason to consider online learning, and with the wide variety of courses available, distance is now the least important element of obtaining an education that will positively impact your future.

Personalized flexibility

Independent learning when you're juggling employment and family responsibility is often the major reason for dismissing further education as a viable option:

· With online study, you have a lot more control over your learning schedule, allowing you to tailor your learning to your own individual needs. 

· Being able to learn at your own pace makes it far easier to manage your personal responsibilities without negatively impacting your ability to learn. 

· Without the constraints of a fixed and strict timetable, as well as the ability to watch and re-watch lessons, it is often much easier to make the most of the flexibility of distance learning. 

· Without the regimented constraints of campus timetables, you reduce the potential for stress while having the space to get the most of your educational opportunities.

High levels of support

One of the fears of distance learning is that you will lack the support of on-site lecturers and professors. This could not be further than the truth. The fact is that not only are there a number of online support groups available for distance learners, university tutors also schedule personal feedback and personal online appointments that can provide you with all of the support that you need. Every institution that offers online education also provides a high level of support for those undertaking distance learning. Whether it’s advice or guidance with your subject of study, or even technical or wellbeing advice that you need, your online campus will provide you with everything you need to get the most from your education. All without leaving the responsibilities of your daily life.

As a practical and achievable solution to your educational ambitions, online learning has now become easier than ever. With the wide variety of courses and qualifications available, it might be time that you start looking closer at avoiding the pressures of campus life and embracing an education that gives your far greater control.