Amazon Shopping with PayMaya

I needed a food processor. This looks like a good day to buy one at Amazon.

 

Yes it's possible and what better way to celebrate Black Friday and Cyber Monday in Amazon by buying your favorite gadgets and games with PayMaya. 

 What's good is that Amazon is offering free delivery for orders 80 dollars and above (for some) so if you have high ticket items which you need to purchase, this would be a nice season to get hem. These deals will only last until 3:59 PM of December 1, 2020. There are tons of things in Amazon that are not available in local stores, and Amazon actually does a good job of making sure the products that you see are actually possible to ship in the Phillippines. They also have items that are marked down because of the sale and it's where a lot of US citizens go for deals during this time and there are a lot of second hand items there too which you can purchase instead of a more expensive new one.



Aside from the deals that sellers are having, you can get 15% discount or up to USD$25 of what you're buying from on the site. Just make sure your shipping address is from the Philippines then use the discount code PYMY15 before checkout. You can only use this on a minimum purchase of US$50 prior to taxes, shipping and other fees. I'm so glad we're going to be able to access this from the country now to give us MORE choices. It's a perk, but make sure you compute everything including taxes and shipping fees. You also have to make sure it ain't over 10K pesos so as not to pay exorbitant custom fees in the country. Going to the post office is also a huge burden, don't even do that.

 

Save on Tigernu Anti-Theft Laptop Bags at Shopee

I've been a bag fanatic, so seeing Tigernu on Shopee has been a daily struggle (for shopaholics like me). I've had one in the past, and it has continued to be seen on my Shopee recommendations even until now. They've mastered the art of protecting valuables, documents, tablets, laptops and even RFID's. That alone is quite a feat because you don't just get this off the rack in malls. Most of the time, they also cost an arm and a leg just so you could get those features. This afternoon, I was startled with this bag I've seen in the Tigernu official shop in the Shopee app. 

 

This is the Tigernu T-B3911 Anti-Theft Laptop Bag. It measures around 15.6 inches and has a lock with it. They made this with an anti theft zipper which is harder to forcibly open if someone attempts to do so. It's easy to pull it along the opening direction when unzipping so it's quite nice. The material is very light, less than a kilogram for this bag and it utilizes RFID blocking so those portable scanners that thieves use won't be able to get your information. This has a very minimalist look, a sturdy strap, and quite splash proof if it rained a little outdoors. You won't be worrying about things getting wet. It's also very affordable and you can ask a lot of people who swear by its durability. I know of so many people who use this on a daily basis, it's very durable and you don't have to shell out much if you want to own one now. 

 You can check the official Tigernu Shopee store here!

https://shopee.ph/tigernuphilippines

You can also go and check out this particular bag if you find it nice

Tigernu T-B3911 Anti-Theft Laptop Bag 15.6 inches Backpack with Lock

https://shopee.ph/product/47107459/7019072831/?fbclid=IwAR0H_0kjIzdelAMW9p378W1fAA-SMZkXTKbWWsjRBusDHH4yq_6eU8qkLuM

 

Good thing is, they're even doing a huge discount on these at the Shopee mall. If you haven't downloaded the app, this might be the right time to do so because of the upcoming sale happening this 12.12 and Tigernu already got their prices down this early. Aside from that, you can earn coins, free delivery perks and vouchers so you can further take the price lower, you get to save a lot with that. You can download it off Google Play or the App Store and take advantage of it while it's on sale. 

Tigernu has always done a remarkable job with these highly secured bags, you should read the sterling reviews on the Shopee app!

Nokia 3.4 Unleashed Exclusively at Shopee on November 30

I still have my old Nokia 8210, Nokia 3210 and Nokia 6250 with me at home. It sounds Jurassic, but I've had them hidden in my cabinet because of nostalgia (and I'm pretty sure some of them still work). Thing is, they really have a few phones that are built for toughness like these ones. Times have changed and they had to adapt. Sure enough, they recently have been successfully putting out nice ones in the market. They also have used Android based OS so it gives a huge boost to a market they've been long missing, and they're practically best at it.

Recently, Nokia announced the release of Nokia 3.4. It was just this month, and what that means is that people would be able to experience the new generation of Nokia phones. The Nokia 3.4 has a 4GB RAM, 64GB storage, 6.39 inch HD screen. They will also be giving away a free Bluetooth device and Jelly Case which is quite a good deal. You may check out the phone on these links I arranged below. This one is for the official store and the actual phone they launched.

Official Nokia Store on Shopee

https://shopee.ph/nokiaphstore

Nokia 3.4 | 4GB RAM 64GB ROM | 6.39” HD+ With Free Bluetooth device and Jelly Case

https://shopee.ph/product/98316140/7859802013

This phone also has a MicroSD card slot and it supports up to 512 GB for more storage. The Rear camera is comprised of Dual 13 MP lenses plus 2 MP for the depth sensor and another 5 MP ultra-wide shots. The front cam carries an 8MP one, which is pretty okay for selfies. It also has a 4000 mAh battery which can last you for hours. This also has dual SIM slots so you don't have to have different phones for different networks. Go download the Shopee App now via Google Play or the App Store so you can use vouchers, coins and free delivery if you wish to have one. Also, you're going to be one of the first ones who could have it because it is a Shopee exclusive. Things run out fast, so make sure you won't be late if it drops on that date!

KRIS BERNAL is now a CORNERSTONE Artist

The achievements of actress Kris Bernal have been really stellar. In a move she made this month, her network and GMA Artist Center contract expired and instead of going through renewal, she got Cornerstone Entertainment now to manage her career. According to Kris "This was a long process, I really thought very hard about this decision." Currently, she's seen in several shows in TV5 and stars in "Ate ng Ate Ko" which is seen every Monday at 9:30pm. The nice acting pieces, the ability to work with other actors has been something that she was looking forward to do. During our short interview this afternoon, she revealed a lot of things but what resonated was, she was very happy and Cornerstone was also excited to have her. Here's the rest of the interview:

She wants to work with Piolo Pascual, Jericho Rosales, John Llloyd Cruz, mostly because she hasn't worked yet with them. She also chooses roles eversince, so when she did chose for GMA she had a variety of characters played. Now, she wants to level up and hope when they hear the name Kris Bernal she could do a lot of characters. When asked about her plans about getting married, she says "It still will continue, I will still get married. I have joined Starstruck and my fiance knows how much I love my craft and the opportunities are not endless so I only grab them when they're available." She also admits having little time for her businesses and she's so glad she has family and her fiance to help her do things. Being with Cornerstone now made the artist management side of things a whole lot easier for her. 

Cornerstone VP Jeff Vadillo also welcomed Kris Bernal to the Cornerstone family

Again, this doesn't mean she won't be working on GMA anymore. Things right now are being talked about and she's headed for more success in the coming years.

Congratulations Kris! :)

GoDaddy and AXN Launch New Reality Show PROJECT GO

GoDaddy and AXN just launched a new reality show designed for entrepreneurs called PROJECT GO. They are doing this in partnership with Common Ground, #CanB, Esquire, Female Network, Manila Bulletin and Rappler. This is a chance to make their ideas a reality and earlier, they announced the 4 finalists who will vie for the title. Businesswoman Maggie Wilson is also the host of the show. The Tung Brothers (of popular sardine brand Ligo), Rappler Lifestyle and Entertainment Editor Bea Cupin and Tina Shieh, the Marketing Director for of GoDaddy for Asia will be mentoring these guys and gals. It airs every week on AXN Asia, this is part of their commitment so help people succeed online.

Among hundreds, the lucky groups are: MINDOCEO, STAFFZ, LOOP STORE PH and AO Innovations Tech.

MINDOCEO

An on demand tutoring service, where students help other students to support education. Noelle Mison says "We have the help of GoDaddy Tools and we got to really enjoy camaraderie with the other contestants. We all had to shift to digital, the website builder was pretty useful in the show. It also taught us how to survive online. In the next episodes, you will see how we all grow. You will see how we learned from our mentors. Initially, we did the tutorial sessions on location, but it became nearly impossible when the pandemic happened. We had to do it online now and we had to utilize the platforms to make your our idea a reality. Project GO is about empowerment. It gets us equipped for our own communities. It's not like Sharktank, not a cut throat competition. They fostered growth. Our standard is quality education, we don't do this for money, and we really want to help children because we know how it feels to be alone. To succeed globally, we need to support each other. To identify what needs to be given support, to look at education from a different view and find out how we can improve it.  We are a social business, we need to give back to achieve greatness, to contribute to our own communities."

LOOP Store PH

Is a collection of ecologically responsible products. They provide solutions that would make packaging and other items be sustainable and biodegradable.

Pocholo Espina says "We learned that product packaging really mattered, when people started posting more about it, there was brand engagement even in the pandemic. This pushed more innovations for what we have. You've got to keep going. Initially, our mindsets during the pandemic was to wait it out til its over, but we are motivated now to do it rather than wait. There might be a little drama which will keep us on our toes, you have to see that in the show. LOOP Store had to close down last June because of the pandemic. In the past months, we had to re-learn how to open our store online. Now everything is easily accessible.We also got to use an actual domain and use resource that was already there. It can be accessed and be just a search away. All you need to do is get started. Since a lot are online now, you have to invest learning the platforms. Project Go is not a competition, it's all about empowerment, we didn't get to be pit with each other. A lot of our own standards come from our own environmental stand. We are not about just selling alternatives, not just an item, but to educate you and teach that your actions will have long term effects. We need to consider fixing basic infrastructure, we are cutting off even now with the internet connection that we are using; and that won't work with global markets. There needs to be more support with government and private entities, cut bureaucracy, feed ideas so they won't get discouraged. We need to be inclined in getting more of that in the country.

AO Innovations Tech 

 AO Innovations makes full face masks for frontliners at subsidized rates. They utilize thier business to further push advocacy, and implement it with innovation. They quipped "It was exciting for us because we get to funnel our interests on our very own website. It is very important for us because our business is very dynamic. To pursue our dreams, to follow through, to make better with our families and our community. The GoDaddy team was so nice to give us tools that we could use to improve our products and services. In the next episodes you will see drama, you will see it all and will learn from what you will get to watch. I think Project Go as a contest is totally different, it is tech based, but it recognizes us beyond the product. We are for innovation and inventions, we want efficiency, to give our best every time and made it our standard. We believe we have come with a product that is current and answers a lot of things that are needed during the pandemic."

STAFFZ

This team offer back end solutions to SMB's so they could get career opportunities for those who need it most. Pearl De Guzman says "Ultimately, we really enjoyed the consultations we had with our mentors. There are a lot of opportunities online and with GoDaddy. With their tools, you can put up a website even from scratch. It made it easier to market the product. We have different stories, different branding, and you will see how we have all grown when the final pitch is up. All our clients are based online now too, the audience is also using social media groups, Facebook marketing, industry trends, to explore business opportunities outside your brick and mortar ways. You can also work on making your website on top of Google search results. Off cam, we are really close, despite having them as competitors, you'll get unbiased opinions from other contestants if what you are doing is not good and you will hear feedback right away. We need to have more opportunities for people that need it. For us, to succeed means to understand our customers first. To foster that relationship, so we could reach an even larger market."

Again, Project GO can be seen every Thursday at 8:25 PM on AXN. It can also be seen via AXN Asia and GoDaddy Asia’s YouTube channels, so you really won't miss it. Learn from industry experts and see who among these Filipinos will win Php 1 Million to make their dreams come true!

What to get your MAN these holidays

I'm currently confined in my room and braving the cold and just thought about this at quite an ungodly hour. I'm sure there are ladies out there that are probably still thinking of what to actually get their man this Christmas. Let me help you find a good gift.

Now I've been browsing the Shopee app for a few days now just so I could get a good deal off what I call my "planned purchases" because I've been wanting a few things for my room. I'm a content creator and honestly, I haven't had a gift for myself for a few months now as I was actually planning to buy big ticket items for myself. Here are some of the things I got this month, please don't judge LOL

 

 A Bar Table

I wanted to be comfortable while I'm writing so initially I planned to buy a BAR TABLE. It's those high tables and high chairs that you commonly see in cafes. It costs around 3.5K on a very good day but it can go up to around 12K if you want it a little fancy and made of hard wood. I was gonna be okay with the palochina at 3.5K (as I've seen quite nice builds) but I was always put off by the huge transport fees I was going to pay for because pieces like that only would commonly come from Cavite or Antipolo. QC was too far. I could also opt for the Bar Tables in SM but it was also too pricey, plus the transportation was pretty much gonna end up the same. So I threw in the towel and settled for something a little similar. I got a table off Shopee. It's like a bar table but can fit about 2 monitors and my laptop computer. The measurement was 120x40x75, and it did fit the space I had at home. It's also pretty sturdy, and the color is black so it fits my monochrome theme.

 

This only costs around 1K which was a deal in my books. So I had to look for a chair that could go with it and was initially planning to splurge around 3K for a pro Gaming Chair. But it was either you spend for it around 4K or go with the mediocre ones that cost around 2.7K. I was a little afraid to spend that much so I settled for something like this. It's a mesh chair and it did cost me a little around 1.2K on the same app.

 

 So in a nutshell I kinda saved a lot than going for the pricey gaming chair. All in all, it cost me around 2K for the supposed table and chair I planned to buy. I'm enjoying the table now as we speak but have yet to see the chair in a few days. I just bought it yesterday. Hopefully it doesn't have any damages because I've seen a few rated them (on their shop) low because of that. So basically I just DIY'd what I wanted to splurge on, and hopefully the chair is as good as this table I got because this was worth it.

 

Air Purifier UV Lamp Steriliser Box 

Now I don't know if this really had an effect but I think if it's just for the air why not right? I would advise you to also not use this when you are inside the room, I'd like to think that UV rays of any form is kinda harmful for the eyes and if a little does leak from this thing it would be a little harmful. But I'm no doctor lol. It only has 3 settings, low high and off. I'm still skeptic though, but this would be a nice thing to have to clean the air at home. I think I felt the difference because it wasn't too "air thick" inside my room.

A Nintendo Switch

Now don't be mad at me when you see this, but really, I think my Nintendo Switch has been the best investment so far. I not only use it for games but also for YouTube. It's fast, it displays so clear on my smart TV and I can carry it around if I want to. If I need to go to Tagaytay or remote places with no entertainment, this would be a good thing to have. Plus, if you are the wife or girlfriend, you get first dibs on player 2. The games are pretty expensive but you don't really need much variety, just make sure you choose your best games to play before deciding to purchase it. Or sell it to other players because it can even go a lot like the original price, the high resale value doesn't come in other consoles. Don't worry about the steep price because there are a lot of them on Nintendo Switch Facebook groups that sell them for a lot cheaper. They also have games there and sometimes, they even bundle it up with the consoles they are selling. Your man won't mind if it is second hand.

Old Spice Deodorant/Body Spray Gift Boxes

Your man doesn't need to smell like old country rags while at home. You need to make sure he's all armed and dangerous when you come whisking him away for a day. Now you can hug him, sing to him, hold him tight. Get him these nice looking GIFT SETS from Old Spice which is available on Shopee.

It's a little musky, but has fruity notes like watermelon, citrus, summery of mingh so you feel fresh while you are out working all day. I prefer the sprays but of course they also have it in stick form. Best thing is, you also get first dibs with your man and smell how crisp, clean he is when he gets home from work or play. Best thing is, they also got the gift boxes on sale so you get to save a few bucks while getting him smelling oh so nice! Check out the offers here.

Aside from these nice things, there's still no other way to make your man happy but by being there for him. Be with him in the good times and the bad times. A simple hug, kiss, small things that would make him feel important and it doesn't even have to be big. The simple things in life can mean the world to him, so don't stress over what to get him, he loves you and that's what is important.

Chef Tatung Sarthou Does New Cook Book: SIMPOL: 101 Dishes with Video Links

It's a nice afternoon to talk about food and yes, this includes a nice chat with famed Chef Tatung Sarthou. The heavily awarded Chef has been in the industry for years and he's launching a cookbook drawn from his SIMPOL series, food done and made simple with Filipino cuisine in mind.

Chef Tatung says "It's such an honor to have you here today and I'm excited about this book called SIMPOL. We've done a really different one and just to give you an idea, growing up, I've been in the kitchen doing a lot of things, making it my own playground. I wanted to do a lot of things but I wasn't able to do them all. My recipes just evolved into doing simple recipes as Filipinos at home started following them. I'm glad they were able to do that, I wanted to do things that are simple, to do it for family, or make home cooking available for commercial purposes. It's fast, even better than existing ones. As long as it makes you happy, that's already good. This cookbook was something that we have been working for over a year. Although we got hacked a little over a year ago and started over a new channel. This is a new SIMPOL, we're trying our luck in social media and it wasn't always easy, we are just persistent and we have grown a lot in the last few months. It has evolved than just a recipe channel. This book is under ABSCBN and they have supported me with this book, and releasing this at this time is just amazing. The recipes will be uploaded over the weekend, if you scan the QR codes you will see the videos too and just follow it so you can link generations with 101 of my favorite recipes so you can cook it at home. We want to make it as SIMPOL as ABC. Even if you haven't cooked at all, you will able to follow these recipes because it was designed for you. We will also be releasing a Baking Simpol cookbook by next year which will be geared for younger audiences. I am so happy that aside from doing this, we will have more travel content, to hopefully have another book in the works. Thank you so much for being here. This will be available on Shopee, Lazada, on bookstores nationwide where ABSCBN publishing is available."

Philippine Cookery: From Heart To Platter won “Best TV Chef Book Outside Europe” by the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards which was held in Yantai, China. The recipes in the new book will have improved versions of the old ones he came out with. 80% of it will be new ones and will be easy to follow. The pandemic meant he had more time to finish the recipes of this book and he's glad to see how people have approached him and said that they have gained business by following his recipes. This year, he will be representing the country again for the same competition. 

Be UNAPOLOGETIC

"I did a dinner and served Filipino food. The access to local ingredients was the challenge really, it differs because we substitute things. Now it becomes authentic as food is becoming more avaialble now. In essence, our food is good, but I realized when I come home I still look for comfort food, we don't have to be apologetic about it. We can do it the way it is done in the Philippines. We need to do it properly and don't care about what others say, more people in the Philippines have to taste our dishes and it's what we need right now, affordable, good food. I want to provide real solutions for Filipinos. I got to make it simple because I am simple, I see the cost of food and there are some recipes I do using local ingredients, it still tastes the same as with what people cook in other countries. My dream wasn't really becoming a Chef, I wanted to become an author growing up. It just fell on my lap and it became a platform to see my calling. Ultimately, I really want to be a teacher. I want to do something significant in my life, for me to be able to do something to change the lives of people I am with. Maybe this is where I'm happy."

He broke down while speaking to us...

He said "One of the greatest people who helped me was Gina Lopez. She was really the one who helped me when I was starting out, she was the one who saw my talent in doing this. I've always been involved with the farming community. In Botolan, we were doing something not related to this, we were just there and someone offered us to stay there. I offered to teach their staff to cook, the next time the Lopez family is over we'll call you and we didn't take that seriously. They called me one day and I went there to cook lunch, and Gina says "Can you cook for me at home and I hope you can do it for the presidents of several universities in Manila." I was in my rags and she asked me if I had a Chef's uniform. I did that dinner for her and it was a success. I started a relationship with their family, that's where I met them. It started the ball rolling, they got me to start and in just two to three months, my book was out for Madrid Fusion. It won the world gourman awards even if it was against 57 countries. This is why I am a solid Kapamilya."

Recipe for Beginners

"Simpol Crispy Pork Belly would be good for beginners. You just fry it til it is golden. You can acheive lechon kawali, it will impress anyone. You can also use it for Kare Kare and assemble it with vegetables. You can also do hardinera. You just mix it and you can have a fancy one on a plate. There are so many dishes that we have in the Philippines and it's a good way of thinking what is essential. It doesn't need to be complicated, you just do it right."

Inspiration

"I think it was my grandmother who is my inspiration. I didn't feel poor when she made things, it was just sauteeing stuff, with water, it looked very fancy but it was just the manner how food is presented. It didn't feel it lacked anything. I think it stemmed because they were born during the war."

"Filipino cooking should never go without Vinegar, Soy Sauce and Fish Sauce. It starts a lot of Filipino dishes, just add on stuff until it becomes a good dish. Garlic Mushroom Chicken, Fried Chicken, Chicken Casserole, Holiday Chicken Hamonado, things that you can serve even on holidays. I'm very proud of that."

"For me, I would like to see the industry to have more Filipino chefs to develop more of our recipes. We need to feed our countrymen, than be blinded by the glitz and glamour of other countries. We need to see what the simple person cooks, and hope looking to that as an opportunity.


"The book is so beautiful, it costs only 350 pesos so it would be accessible to a lot of people. I hope you support us, the advocacy, to see what drives us in what we do and get the message across. Thank you to companies that see what we are trying to acheive. Nutriasia supports us to do that. Also, thank you to our media friends who are also supporting us through the years. Thank you to everyone and good afternoon!"

Again, his book is available now on Shopee and Lazada plus all the bookstores where ABSCBN Publishing is available.

The Importance of Family in Managing Diabetes | #PanataNgPamilya

I got news that I have diabetes a couple months ago. It was around the holidays last year and I kinda knew something was wrong with me (those sudden headaches were a dead giveaway). My folks are no different, that comes with lineage that has a similar story. I didn't feel though that it was the end of the world. Living with people under this condition made me a little confident about managing it because I've personally seen it happen, it can be done. It is quite dangerous not to manage both diabetes and hypertension, I'd go say it is lethal. Thing is, it involves so much more than just taking a pill really. Taking care of yourself and your family would take a whole village to happen. The right diet, exercise and the help of medical professionals who studied and specialize in chronic conditions can help a lot, but access to it at this time proves very difficult, that's another story.

My Mom didn't really just sit around and do nothing when she noticed I had symptoms. Her caring nature spans generations of Filipino moms who always want to nurture, to take good care of family. With her, I've seen how it was of extreme importance to communicate effectively with family, friends, and health professionals. Now I'm more understanding in evaluating new treatments, making good decisions about my health, and knack for the appropriate use of medications (because I ask the right questions with my Doctor). These days, it's a bit difficult to actually do consultations, more so if my family doctor is hospital based and there are still COVID cases around that I'd be afraid to even step out of my home. It's not just for me, but the people at home that could be in danger if I'd go out and catch it.

 

 

Global healthcare leader Sanofi has always been a staunch advocate of disease awareness and spent years focusing and sharing information, educating people about diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Consequently, it's also World Diabetes Day on November 14. Just like our family, they affirm their commitment in promoting wellness, setting the role of Sanofi in our fight against diabetes and chronic disease. This is their "#PanataNgPamilya" showcasing the family's role in managing it, to set an example that it can be done by normalizing proper nutrition, promoting physical activity and living a healthy lifestyle. Sanofi continues to improve their programs such as Healthier PH Sessions, FamHealthy and Empower Patient Support Program, a 360 degree patient program, because they believe that healthcare should be as individual as you are. They believe in Your Type. With this, we all get a better understanding, to empower us patients and our families about how we all could better manage our well-being.

 

Knowing is the first step, but it is essential in making sure we’re on the right track in fighting this condition. If we live healthier lives, we get to be with our families longer, and that is priceless. We all could attain that full health potential and they have been helping us get access to better health services which accounts for a lot.

Like family, I believe we can achieve a #HealthierPhilippines. Family IS important and I'm glad to see how they've reached a lot of people with this in mind. #PanataNgPamilya #PanatangSanofi.

Beko Announces Fun Holiday Promo

The pandemic has brought upon us a lot of hardships, being away from family and friends, difficulty to do work, and an economy that is struggling. Although we're experiencing a lot these days, we still have that hope that the Christmas season in the Philippines will still prosper. It's a grand time to reconnect, no matter how we do it, as it is a good holiday to find reason to come together and show love just like we used to. May it be online, from a distance, thinking about our very own safety while still remembering the reason for the season and our own family.

Beko Pilipinas feels a little bit generous this season and what good way to show their support to Filipinos but by giving them a chance to send gifts to their loved ones, sounds nice eh? They call it “Beko Sends Love This Christmas” wherein Beko stands to give away several of their appliances to lucky patrons every Friday from November 6 up until January 4, 2021. This includes a Grand Prize of Php 120,000 worth of appliances that would be a dream for those who would win it. This includes a refrigerator, a washing machine, a cooker, a dryer and a range hood for your home.

 

This is Beko's way of celebrating with the Filipino family. If you choose to join, you would to purchase appliances worth Php 10,000 and up in a single receipt from October 31st to December 31. This can be only done on select partner stores like SM Appliances, All Home, Ansons, Robinsons, Great World, Asian Home, Manila Imperial, Savers, shopping app Lazada and Household Appliances Trading to name a few. If you get Php 10,000 to Php 19,000 worth of appliances, you get one raffle ticket. If you purchase more from Php 20,000 - Php 39,999, you get two raffle tickets. If you purchase Php 40,000-Php 59,999, then you get three. If you purchase Php 60,000 and above, you get 4 raffle tickets for it. You simply must register your purchases via www.bekopromos.ph, then nominate your loved one so they could be one of the 37 lucky winners weekly and have a chance to win the grand prize which will be known in January. Minor prizes include Beko Vacuum cleaners while the grand prize can be chosen from the Beko 50cm freestanding cooker, Beko 8KG automatic topload washing machine or a 7.1 cu.ft. Beko Refrigerator. It will be drawn on January 4, 2021 and will involve the grand prize of an appliance showcase containing a Beko 15.5cu.ft Refrigerator, a Beko 7kg Inverter Frontload Washing Machine, a Beko 7KG dryer, a Beko 60cm hood and a Beko 60cm freestanding cooker.

To know more about the actual promo, make sure you visit the Beko Philippines’ official Facebook page seen at facebook.com/bekoph because it's all there!

The Exclusive Launch of Amazfit BIP U Smart Watch on Shopee

Amazfit has been a very renowned brand for all things health gadget related. They manufacture smart watches, bands, straps, wireless earbuds, smart scales, treadmills, coats and shoes. They basically make anything smart and wearable and they are listed in the US since 2013 under Huami Technology. They've been doing good and have been able to be an industry leader. I have friends who swear by its quality and I'm not surprised why they have been very successful.

These days, they've already penetrated the market with the same gadgets and I've seen some of it worn by my friends who run, bike and are more into that athletic lifestyle. Some models are pretty hard to find actually so some of them resort to getting it from abroad, well not anymore because those lovely smart watches are now available in Shopee. Yes, they've got their own official Amazfit store on the app and ordering these pieces and their accessories have now become easy. 

Amazfit Philippines Official Shopee Store

https://shopee.ph/amazfit_philippines

Amazfit BIP U Smart Watch (Global Version) - Black

https://shopee.ph/product/68897429/6663126962

The Amazfit BIP U series has a 1.43 inch Large Color Screen. It can measure Blood-oxygen Level and has 5 ATM Water-resistance, up to 60+ Sports Modes and High-precision GPS. The actual watch is also very minimalist, not quite busy to the eyes and has tons of watch faces you can use if you prefer a different look each day. This also has a monster 9 day battery life so you don't have to charge the unit everyday. You can do stress monitoring and breathing excercises with it, this would be the best thing to give your husbands, boyfriends, or just use it yourself. If you haven't downloaded the Shopee app yet, you better do it now. It's available in Google Play and the App Store, use coins, discount vouchers and free delivery so you can save even more. The 12.12 season is so near you have to get yourself acquainted how the app works as early as now. 

 

I'm saving a ton with it.

10 MMFF Entries Announced

MMFF for December is about to happen and they just announced the official 10 entries included in this season's festival. Noel Ferrer says "We're looking for more entries and it can be any genre, any format so we have more choices to be shown for the Filipino people." and that is exactly what they did as we saw the official entries announced.

MAGIKLAND by Brighlight Productions

Action packed fantasy adventure. They need to help each other and fix their complex lives. This is a phone based game wherein kids got to be top players and suddenly find themselves in the actual game. If you are fond of adventure, dragons, monsters, hack and slash, this is Magikland. This is partly produced by Direk Peque Gallaga(✝) and his team, and this is considered his last masterpiece. This directed by Christian Acuna. Miggs Cuaderno, Princess Aguilar, Elijah Alejo and Joshua Eugenio leads the cast. There are also big actors and actresses here including Cannes Best Actress Jaclyn Jose. This promotes empowerment for children, a good movie to show that they too can change destiny, the world around them. This is also a Christmas story.

 

Coming Home by Maverick Films

Included in the cast is Jinggoy Estrada, Sylvia Sanchez, Sylvia Sanchez, Martin Del Rosario, Vin Abrenica,  Jake Ejercito, Smokey Manaloto, Edgar Allan Guzman, Shaira Diaz, Julian Estrada, Jana Agoncillo,  Smokey Manaloto, Luis Hontiveros,  Almira Muhlach, Chanel Morales, Samantha Lopez, introducing Ariella Arida. This is directed by Adolf Alix Jr.. He quips "It's nice to have a mix of actors, they worked to be able to make their characters fit the film. They interpreted it in interesting ways. Jinggoy was challenged as this was more of a drama piece and Ms. Sylvia was there to make it easy for him. This is apt for the pandemic, we were locked down for a couple of months shooting this and this reflects the Filipino family during Christmas." Ea Guzman says "This made me go back to zero because I have worked with real veterans in this film. We initially didn't talk to each other, and later on we got to talk over lunch and dinner. It was a surreal experience."

 

 

The Missing by Regal Entertainment

Set in Japan, this is a horror flick based on Japanese lore. Cast include Joseph Marco, Miles Ocampo and Ritz Azul. This is Directed by Easy Ferrer. Easy says "The Missing was shot in Saga Japan, a very old concept and when we were invited to shoot there we have had to incorporate characters that can do physical and internal horrors when they restored houses in Japan. Regal has done iconic horror films, I made sure this is different from what they have done. It's a J-Horror which has history and culture, Philippine sensibilities that meet in the middle. It's not traditional Filipino horror. It's an old concept, but I was invested in the Ampatuan massacare, things like that when I was conceptualizing the film. We fused this in a beautiful country. I was able to work with them before and the combination was not stressful, plus I knew their caliber, they prepared and they did this without me worrying about how they did it. It's a new flavor that has not been done in the Philippines, you will get to still understand it because there is Filipino flavor with it. I think they did it with real prep work, Ritz has PTSD, she had to research for that. Joseph was an antagonist and protagonist, he had different motivations. There is a thin line between the other personality. 

Miles on the other hand has a different back story which you will see on the film." Ritz says "My character was pattered with my own mom who also has underwent deppression, and in this film this is not just horror for the actual location, but something internal. When we did the story conference of this, it had an element of sacrifice. This was shot November last year which is pre-pandemic, so glad to have had this be shown this December." Joseph says "I am so thankful to be part of this, my character was difficult because he had so many Japanese lines there and collaborating with the people plus the fight scenes made that experience unforgettable." Miles adds "Thank you for considering The Missing for MMFF!" and this was supposed to be a part of the Summer MMFF, but ended up in the December one because of the pandemic.

 

Tagpuan by Alternative Vision Cinema

This is shot in Hong Kong, three characters had their paths cross. Shaina Magdayao, Alfred Vargas, Iza Calzado. It's a very heavy drama. This is Directed by Mac Alejandre. Direk says "I am thankful that there are new platforms to release this other than theatrical ones because of the pandemic, this needs an audience. Tagpuan will now have that with the streaming audience, we are in the season where we need to say something and this calls for a love story that will traverse Binondo, Hong Kong and Chinatown. It's a very adult movie that tells a story of romance. The script gives a lot, denial of love, do you justify wrong things, second chances, true love, it is being tackled here. This also talks about immigrants, OFW's in Hong Kong, other forces that shape who you are and purposely shot in these places because these are melting pots like HK and New York, you cans still find silence in a place where they want to find happiness. This has emotional gravity, to make them feel more than what they feel. Binondo, New York and Hong Kong in a different light." Alfred Vargas who also produced this film says "We love films, we love the art, I love being an actor and a producer. We went through a lot to do this, and we are very happy and excited to be part of MMFF this December. This was written by Ricky Lee and I was able to work with two of the greatest actresses in the country." Iza adds "I'm very grateful to be part of this year's December MMFF, we were supposed to promote already but it sort of just happened that there was a pandemic. I realized that we have had so many projects together aside from impostora and engkantadya, all of those wherein we were in a generation 10 years ago. Now we have a more mature material, the skill of Direk Mac guiding us and this was made by sir Ricky Lee. This breathes life to the character of Agnes. This might not be experienced yet by young ones, but they will have a better understanding of it when they experience it later on with their lives." This will be streamed exclusively on Upstream.

Isa Pang Bahaghari by Heaven's Best Entertainment

Former seaman asks his gay best friend to help him reconnect with his past. Cast include Philip Salvador, Nora Aunor, Michael De Mesa, Joseph Marco, Zanjoe Marudo, Sanya Lopez, directed by Joel Lamangan. Superstar Nora Aunor plays a wife who didn't see his husband for 20 years, still loves him but finds it hard to forgive after almost not seeing him for 2 decades. Direk Joel says "This is not BL, but Tito Love. The process of finding love of one woman he loves, and the gay man he loved too. This is somewhat another line from Rainbow Sunset. Homosexuals can do true love." The movie has seasoned veteran artists and the formula is different. Direk added "This talks about family too, the Filipino family who experienced troubles of Mothers, Fathers, and they will identify with that. This also talks about importance of friendship, the importance of love so people will connect with the characters. The superstar Nora Aunor is not going to tarnish, she is like wine, she gets so good at her craft. Philip was under Lino Brocka and you will see how good they are as actors. They will also be showcasing a new generation of actors, an ensemble acting. This is interesting to have on the screen since this is a very powerful cast. I don't know if I'm going to be happy not seeing this in the usual theater, but I am looking forward to it. I hope we still go back to the dark corners of a movie house soon." Ms. Harlene Bautista says "We are so excited to see this be shown, we might have not been able to do it last year but now, you have the chance to see it on the December MMFF. This film is nicer to enjoy in a movie theater ambiance, but since this is digital, this would be good to be seen by the fans of the superstar globally without waiting for it on cable or other mediums. Everybody put in their best including writer Enrique Ramos." Sanya Lopez adds "We prepared for this because we got the chance to work with Ms. Nora and Direk Joel who are very serious about their craft. When I read the script, this really would break hearts. You will find how to forgive, how to love and how to accept."

 

Suarez the Healing Priest by Saranggola Media Productions

Fernando Suarez, true to live story of a Catholic Priest who did miracles. He had issues with the church, the religious, this is directed by Joven Tan. Main character is John Arcilla. Direk says "We shot this one healing session before he passed, and they claim they have been healed. In this pandemic, our faith will save us. There are 10 entries and we have choices. Even after all the other entries, we need something that holds our faith dearly. This might be a different experience, but we have to be really safe in order to watch these entries. This is a huge thing that Upstream and MMFF is doing. John Arcilla adds "Heneral Luna was heavily promoted online, and it became a box office success in 2015. We now have a global audience, he has a lot of followers and I hope they come with us to see this film. This validates faith, we have hope, I believe this has significance even at these times. As an actor, it was easy in a subjective way because he has a backbone of being a real person. You have something to base your character in, his faith, his social and psychological ways in seeing life. It is easy to justify a fictional character, but this one you just have to act and put his essence in my ways. I didn't completely copy him, just his demeanor. This is produced by Edith Feder.

Mang Kepweng: Ang Lihim ng Bandanang Itim by Cineko Productions

This is a fantasy, horror-comedy-adventure flick starring Vhong Navarro. It introduces Filipino folklore in a different light of a character that is pretty familiar to us since Mang Kepweng has been in the movies since olden times. This is directed by Topel Lee. He says "This is my first time working with them and surprisingly I felt a little sad to see the filming end because we were a happy bunch. Vhong is a very talented actor and he interjects stuff with his character. We collaborated with the comedians and we included these fun elements in this film. FumiYam was able to finish their scenes even if one of them had some issues in Japan. Ion was okay and he had Vhong and Ryan to make him a guinea pig. I wasn't able to find the first one, but our line producer was part of that film. The difference was just the twists of the story, it now has a lot of locations, set design and computer graphics added to this." Ritz Azul says "I was shocked that I got to be in two entries this year. It was a riot to film this, I needed to be serious for most of this movie but I wanted to have fun with them when they were in character. I play the queen of Encantadia who had to fight for the black bandana."

PAKBOYS Takusa by Viva

4 guys, already married, but still fancies women. Will they get in trouble? Well, their adventure starts as they meet women, and yes, once a playboy, always a playboy. Unfortunately, they will undergo an intervention. This film is directed by Al Tantay. This stars Janno Gibbs, Andrew E, Dennis Padilla and Jerald Napoles. June Rufino says "We had to work in the new normal and we are so glad to be part of the MMFF." Dennis says "We are excited, we need to make the Filipino audience laugh and for sure they will see that because we have a very naughty Director. The film is fun because we are inspired to work with the ladies too. The people at home who don't have anything to do, you have 1 hour and a half of fun with us." Direk Al adds "Our set is fun, we have already worked together, a serious film, and our intention is to lighten the mood. I'm glad to see there are several comedy films this season and we have a lot of people to entertain during the pandemic. The film will help. If you watch the film, it isn't that sexy, we stimulate the brain to make it look sexy. The artists are all conservative (he kids)."

The Boy Foretold by the Stars by Cleverminds Inc.

This is the BL film that I was waiting for. It has something to do with ones fortune, homosexuality, and how they become soulmates. This is directed by Dolly Dulu and produced by Jodi Sta. Maria. This is the first BL film to be included in the MMFF. Producer Derick Cabrido says "The material has promise, and the message is different when we got this sent for MMFF. Jodi is so nice doing this, she is very supportive of the material and she really likes the product. It was a very personal connection for her and Dolly to do this." Dolly Dulu adds "Getting in MMFF was a hope and we are so thankful we got in. I don't think there is a competition with other gay films, this is younger, and people can appreciate both films. Both have quality. Adrian and Keann has awesome chemistry. One comes from theater and the other comes from Commercials. Our priority was about how they did the characters, Adrian plays an effeminate character. Keann was a confused straight guy, and if you watch this you will see their chemistry on screen. When we did the previous project on iWant, I told her about this film, she really did it with us. She was the angel for this project. The peg is romcom, you have to require that, and we can't spoil things but you will see elements of it there. You have to watch it. They did it so nicely." 

 

 

 

Adrian Lindayag says "Kian and I have worked together but when we were casted here, we had familiarity and comfortable even off screen." Kian adds "Yes it did affect our chemistry, Adrian was part of why I did my character efficiently. Throughout the story I will fall in love with him." They hope you see the film on December 25.

Fan Girl by Epic Media

Written and Directed by Direk Antonette Jadaone, she did this film and with Paolo Avelino. This tells a story of a fan girl, played by Charlie Dizon as she braves to meet her hero Paulo Avelino. This was done 4 years after being shown in Tokyo.

Paulo says "Actually I asked for the script, I think I was the last choice because this material was floating around. I fell in love with it, it talks about our current fandom culture, not just here but abroad. It is very Filipino, very crazy, like an obsession. I appreciate the reviews, the people behind the movie. It's a reason that affirms that my decision was the right one. For the first time, you will see a different Antonette Jadaone." Direk says "I needed an artist who understood the script. The actor needs to be a little smart because he needed to play his own character. His only question was who was the fan girl. Charlie was picked from among 180 girls. We needed to find a new face, one who didn't had a lead role yet. We had one person who played the role once but she backed out because of contracts. He wanted to tackle something that goes in fantasy and reality."

So make sure you get your apps downloaded as this will all be shown on the Upstream app on December 25 worldwide!

What 5G Means For YOU

This phone is 5G ready!

Everybody is rushing to adapt to the technology of 5G and not all countries have been able to make headway in actually putting up necessary hardware for it. It also takes manpower, tons of investments as permanent structures will be put in place so we can get speeds up even in far flung places.These days, it's more of a necessity as tech becomes a driving force in the economy. This ain't different in the Philippines of course. Homes, payments, even transportation is dependent on connection. The smartphone has become a pretty powerful tool to stay informed, and connected to the world. Although these days, we know there are tons of Filipinos who are still oblivious of what it can do. If all 5G implementation gets done in the country, it'll be totally different. One asks, what would it really benefit the ordinary Juan?

Think of 5G as a new band that would be able to do faster speeds, carry higher bandwidth and have really low latency versus what we use now which is 4G. Think of it as a solution to lags and delays as it can make your connection super smooth and fast. It will change your current digital experience.

 Here are some examples of what 5G enables us to do:

You can send and receive things instantly

Low latency means you get things faster than ever. Text messages, photos, videos, would get much less buffering when you're connected to it. You can make your video calls and chat seamless, with little to no trouble doing it. The same goes for downloads even for huge files, it'll take a shorter amount of time which is so good for people who want to share their stories. This goes the same to content creators too.


You'll be Buffer Free!

End users have consumed content on the internet at an all time high. As we all become confined to our homes because of the pandemic, this would be very useful. Your video streaming platforms, your video sites, all get little to no lag even at higher video quality. It can accomodate huge files even on wireless connections, a thing that people need even at work, studying or play. You would be able to stream with no interruptions, no more waiting at times, which is so good right?



Gaming like there's no tomorrow!

If you're the type that hates lags, dragging, dropped packets and all that mumbo jumbo that happens right in a middle of a game, then this is good news. The deal is, you won't experience that anymore in a perfect day. That alone is just humongous news right? Now that also does wonders for your online games, your reaction time, your ability to point a gun virtually, and just about any task you need to do. It can make or break a win, and no gamer would want to be in the receiving end of that word called defeat.

More Smart Devices

The huge speed, bandwidth upgrades and very low latencycan get your smart and IOT devices connected for more reasons that one. The ability to network, connect and see data faster will get you more flexibility so you can take charge of your own home.

See 5G take over the market supported devices

The 5G phenomenon will make users switch to even better hardware so they can support the standard. The vivo V20 Pro has this copped with its sleek and stylish design. The Vivo V20 Pro also did it in its thinnest form, so imagine how that would be for those who would want to switch, a capable phone that is affordable, doesn't that sound so right?

It also carries a 7nm octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 765G processor that can do 5G connection. No more struggles in dead spots like stairs, enclosed areas and zones. It's already available in Shopee and Lazada. You can also get it in Vivo concept stores across the country. You may check vivoglobal.ph if you want to know more about it.

Who Will Maris Racal Choose on "Stay In Love"?

As part of TV5's new throng of shows in the primetime todo lineup, Maris Racal, Kokoy De Santos and Marc David will star in this romcom called Stay In Love. In a press conference hosted by Cornerstone this evening, we got to ask a few questions from them.

Direk Rod Marmol was also there to talk about the project and he says "Stay In Love is one of the hardest things to shoot because it is a comedy. From the get go, I reminded them to have fun with the character, with the set, and I think they have done that in every scene they were in. I'm also blessed to have a team that worked so hard to make this an enjoyable one."

 

 

Although new in the industry, this is Marc David's biggest break. He plays Hero, a very helpful person. He's ready to save Diding in any situation. Marc says "I was grateful to be chosen by my management (Cornerstone) to do this as my first project. When I read the script, this wasn't too far from who I am as a person. I was nervous, but it was easier for me because we had those similarities. This is my first time, it was nice to be more comfortable to do other things so I could be better.






Kokoy De Santos on the other hand has already worked with Maris in past projects. For him, he's got an advantage because he wasn't too shy anymore when in a scene with Maris. He plays Dodong, another guy who's very romantic and as he describes "I'm very malandi, but very sincere". Kokoy adds "I had to detach myself from my previous role (hello Gavreel), what helped most is the people I worked with to make the character work."

Maris Racal plays Diding, a provincial girl who goes to Manila and is very innocent. She also worked as a maid to make ends meet. She says "When I got news about this show, I felt really game about this project. To know that I'm going to have a lead role and do this, it's not the typical yaya, not a stepping stone, but she wants to dream, she grew up knowing she wants to do this because she wasn't that optimistic. I have moments like that, I don't know if you watched The Office, I pegged my character around her and it is a large contribution for the show. I needed to be comfortable with Marc, he is very deep, I needed conversations and we got to talk about life. Kokoy on the other hand and I have had the chance to work before, he is very confident, I would be direct with what I want, I make sure that I give all, the love you think the person deserves so I don't have regrets."

They were all so amazingly so receptive of how they like each other. Maris can like someone like Kokoy, she also can end up with someone like Marc. The boys also shared their amusement of Maris' personality. She's very bubbly, smart, and beautiful. I couldn't blame them if they would fancy each other in the near future, but for now let's watch their story unfold on Stay In Love because pretty soon, Diding will belong to someone. You have to choose who you are rooting for too. This shows every Tuesday at 9:30PM on TV5!