#SmartSpots ARCA Yard Valenzuela

Friday, June 09, 2017


I finished my Computer Engineering course at the University of the East Caloocan Campus and I had the privilege of making tons of friends during those years way up north. I live about an hour away from school and I've been missing a lot of happenings with friends because I live too far. I didn't know they had tons of food joints and establishments put up in that part of Valenzuela City already. My friend invited me to go to ARCA YARD in Valenzuela City located a block away from the district of Karuhatan, a small town where most of my classmates lived during those school years. I braved the traffic and journeyed there, I arrived a little over an hour and a half as traffic was really horrible in the turn bound to the North Expressway in Balintawak.



ARCA YARD is owned by a couple who believed they needed to help their friends and other people who are doing their first time food ventures. 


It's like a complex of food establishments who present a variety of viands and beer matched snacks while still keeping it family friendly. I like how they kept it so nice and welcoming despite the fact that these structures are pretty much made of ship containers built for product transport which they stacked and weld together.


I was there too for Smart as they were also launching #SmartSpots. They put up SMART's great WIFI connection for FREE as they have done this already in similar food parks in Pasig and Makati. This is part of Smart Communication's promise of bringing internet connection closer to home. 


During the party, all the owners of the restaurants abd establishments at ARCA YARD welcomed the development and service that Smart is providing. Smart's Gabby Cui laments how it was easy for them to convince ARCA YARD's owners as they both see this partnership beneficial to their patrons, and for them to also experience how it's like to be connected with the BIGGEST network.

Here's what he said during the event and also some snippets of Paulo Santos' performances on video:





The place was always packed and business has always been good because it has been frequented by locals, some from nearby cities and even celebrities.


Connecting to Smart's wifi network was east too. Just open your phones wifi, connect to the network, input your phone number and you'll receive a code. Put this code on the prompt when you connect and it will tell you how much time you have left in this wifi's blazing speeds. Aside from that, you can also get tons of discounts from the actual establishments of ARCA YARD. So I tried the best thing which is 7XABKEBAB. It's a kebab place owned by a young couple who just ventured into the food business.



The concept is simple but they have localized this special middle eastern favorite. The difference is that they pan fry the meat instead of let it all hang out in a roaster so you don't get that forced charred flavor. You'll experience how the good, sweet and savory meat is supposed to be. 



I got two dishes, one is the Beef Xhawarma Rice. Don't be intimidated about how they spell things because as expensive looking as this may seem, this is actually dirt cheap, I won't find anything of this price point in QC. Oh and do you see that BUTTER over the rice? Haha.. I guess I don't have to convince you right?




The Beef Xhawarma with Pita is equally nice for non rice eaters like me (sometimes that is). The Spicy Yogurt Garlic sauce was thick, it won't be that messy. It was served hot and on my table, you don't have to wait in front of the shack. I loved it every bit!

Now how can you beat something good up north? With the lovely food, tons of booze, the flashy place and blazing speeds of the wifi, ARCA YARD could well be your favorite #SmartSpots when in Valenzuela City. I mean how in the world could I have uploaded 5 videos while munching on the food and downing a bottle of beer right? Make sure you visit ARCA YARD today!


KUMAGCOW
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PLDT Ups Video Streaming with ROKU Powered TVolution Box

Thursday, June 08, 2017



PLDT is definitely not lettin down on making tons of content available in Filipino homes. As we all venture into higher use of data, we all look for quality and HD streaming, but home users want it simple so everyone gets to use it from oldies to the young ones. 

Eric Alberto of PLDT says "As we usher in the new era of digital transformation, we go beyond the digital access by harnessing ROKU, with services that include video on demand, streaming channels to make Filipinos the first in asia to use the ROKU platform. This is the number 1 top up box in the US.  We have also transformed cities with fiber connection, and dsl connection hopefully 6 million by 2020. We are the digital enabler of this nation and we hope our subscribers continue to patronize us as we service the Filipino people."


RenRen Reyes Head of PLDT Home Operations adds "In September last year we put up smart home services and now thanks to ROKU we will be having them in the Filipino home. Now families can stream everything on their TV's, as we partner with content and digital providers. Filipinos love digital content, it's different today as we use separate devices, hopefully to put it in one box plus use the world class internet of PLDT. This starts Family entertainment for Filipinos nationwide. With only one box, you can get Cignal, Netflix, iFlix, Youtube and more channels in the future."

Brandon Amber of Roku says "Roku has pioneered this in 2008, and with more than 14 Million active accounts, we will give you more control, so you can watch everything in your terms. The ROKU powered TVolution Box, Filipinos can enjoy all the content and we know you will enjoy it. There will be different apps you will also be seein in the next months/years. It works on low bandwidth and PLDT has plans which can be used on your requirements."


iFlix GM Sherwin dela Cruz says "We are optimistic that with this partnership with PLDT we are going to have more susbscribers. We are free on the ROKU TVolution box and that would mean we would have more reach. iFlix is enjoyed by PLDT Home subscribers and this is just one avenue where they can get us. You'll have an even greater experience with iFlix!"



Now more than ever, PLDT is bringing you better content, better quality entertainment right in the comforts of your home. It is available tomorrow on pldthome.com so just get it once you get your fiber connection installed. This would be sweet to enjoy with your friends and family. 



KUMAGCOW
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Skyworth and Toshiba Launches AndroidTV




Good morning from Sofitel Manila! We're here today to see the Skyworth event as they introduce the latest technology in TV and Audio Visual products. Honestly I don't have any Skyworth product at home but I've been seeing these products on the shelves of major appliance stores like SM and Robinsons. Their prices are not the cheapest but I could well say they are competitive because the name alone could tell you there is something premium to this brand bar none.



The brand is from their headquarters in Shenzen China and does operations in Hong Kong (where they were founded in 1988) and inner Mongolia. It is founded by Zhang Xuebin, the current CEO.  In the Philippines, they are positioning themselves to be a leader in the production and manufacturing of set top boxes, TV's, AV Security products, mobile phones, auto electronics and precision dies. This time, they are partnering with another world class brand Toshiba to release a new line of UHD Smart TV's they fondly call The AndroidTV series.



The two corporations see this as the next generation viewing experience for Filipinos and as Skyworth Philippines General Manager Martin Han says "Filipinos are ready for Smart TV's and a new world of entertainment options right at the comforts of your own homes via 4K resolution TV's, top sound at very affordable prices."



The Tv's we saw on display had Android entertainment libraries, tons of apps, voice command, all done through partnerships with Google and Toshiba. They have these new AndroidTV line at 50", 55" and 60" versions. It's the perfect thing to have on your man caves, to play games or watch movies all day!



Now we have something to look forward to as the market becomes full of these more advanced TV's that will change the way you see entertainment in your own homes.



KUMAGCOW
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Vivo V5s Still Best for Group Selfies


Being in a selfie centric country doesn't mean we'll leave it at that. The newly launched Vivo V5s proves to be not only great in taking selfies but also good group selfies. Take into account those fun times with family and friends so you can immortalize those moments and share them digitally on the world wide web without worrying you'll look weird on photos as this packs a mighty 20 Megapixel front camera which software allows you to take group shots without leaving out a single person in the room no matter how crowded it goes because you can always fit them by panning the phone itself. 


Mind you, you can also take tons of shots without worrying that much about storage as it can be also expanded to 256GB from it's default 64GB and 4GB RAM. This feature actually puts them ahead of other competitors because you won't find similar ones that can perform at par with their software, something Vivo has been very proud of.

Now you can enjoy a better phone that takes really good selfies but never forgets how to also accomodate friends and family in the frame with the Group Selfie this Vivo V5s can do. If you want to know more about it and where to buy one, like their page at Facebook.com/VivoPhil, follow their IG and Twitter channels @vivophil too because it's all there!

You should take that shot first and experience it in their stores before you buy the newest Vivo V5s Phone. It was nice when I tried it at the SM Annex a couple of weeks ago and I'm sure you'll like it too.



KUMAGCOW
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