2024v24n8-TRAVEL 2.0

THE NEXT GENERATION OF TRAVEL AND TECHNOLOGY

2024 MARKS the fourth year since the COVID-19 pandemic shocked the world. Four years on, normalcy has finally returned, and a lot of industries have seen a return to pre-pandemic life.

One of the biggest industries to rebound from the pandemic was the tourism industry. The United Nations estimates that global tourism will return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the year. If no other major global events occur, we will soon see tourism numbers grow even more drastically from pre-pandemic numbers.

Tourism growth is also an opportunity for the tech industry to create new ways of traveling using new and up-and-coming technologies.

THE VR REVOLUTION OF TOURISM

During the pandemic, Virtual Reality (VR) has become one of the key technology replacing travel and tourism. As lockdowns stopped all forms of transportation, companies scrambled to create new solutions to keep travel destinations afloat. One of the most common solutions is virtual tours.

Virtual tours (sometimes distinguished as 360 virtual tours) are either photographic tours or video tours of certain destinations. This should be distinguished from Virtual Reality tours which utilize VR technology for a more immersive virtual tour. While the two may have differences, they essentially do the same thing, showcasing the world to more people.

In the last couple of years, virtual tours have taken off, mostly on streaming and video-sharing platforms. You can find a lot of virtual walking tours on YouTube, while In Real Life (IRL) streamers take viewers (via a camera) with them live. Virtual tours such as these give the audience a taste or glimpse of what they would expect to see if they were there.

Meanwhile, Virtual Reality is shifting the way tourism and traveling can be done in the future. VR technology allows us to have a greater immersive experience than regular photos and videos. While it still would not beat going to the real thing it has its purpose. For one VR technology can help tell the story of historical sites in even greater detail, imagine yourself being sent back to ancient Greece or Renaissance-era Italy.

Beyond history and education, VR can be a force in the hotel and other accommodation industries. Here, tourists can experience the hotel firsthand through VR first before booking. They can also use this to effectively visualize the location and what they would expect when getting there.

Finally, VR in itself can also be an attraction. All over the world theme parks have adapted VR rides as part of their attractions. Others have created VR-based escape rooms and other VR-related amenities to attract new audiences.

AR AND A NEW WAY TO SEE THE WORLD

Another tech that changed the world of traveling is augmented reality (AR). Unlike VR, AR mixes the real world with virtual reality to create a new interactive experience. AR technology has been a part of tourism for quite a while now. Museums have integrated interactive AR exhibits to draw in visitors, while others have utilized AR to further expand on the topic presented.

Recently, AR has taken an even broader step in the tourism and travel industry. Google Maps’ Live View mode changed the way navigation can be done. This system utilizes your phone’s GPS as well as the camera to identify where you are exactly. The phone then displays a massive arrow that points you in the direction of where you want to go. This solution is helpful for individuals who have a hard time navigating with regular maps. It’s also useful in instances when the map is unclear on which small side street you need to get into.

Beyond navigation, AR technology has also been used in some historical sites. Certain historical sites from around the world have leveraged AR technology to bring history back to life.

AI AND TRAVEL

If there’s one thing the tech world is ablaze this 2024, it’s Artificial Intelligence (AI). Innovations in AI and machine learning have made a mark in the world of tech and soon it will be making a mark in the world of travel and tourism.

Large Language Model AI has already demonstrated its capabilities to create tailored tasks specific to what the user needs. This allows it to fit easily into other service-oriented websites or apps. Using language model AI, travelers can easily create a travel itinerary suited to their needs.

AI has also found its way into travel assistants. Certain apps utilize AI to create, manage, and keep track of their travel necessities such as finding necessary travel documents, bookings of hotels and lodgings, and even keeping track of travel expenses.

But undoubtedly the biggest advancement of AI in traveling is the arrival of AI-integrated smartphones. In the last couple of months, smartphone makers have successfully integrated complex AI into their smartphones.

Google and Samsung have showcased the capability of Google’s Gemini and Samsung AI built in their latest flagship devices. One of the most important features showcased was the live call translation capabilities. This technology allows users to speak into their phone who in turn translates their speech directly to the caller on the other end. The technology is seamless and quick without you needing to pause for translation to catch up. Gone are the days when finger-pointing and head-scratching were the means of survival when lost in translation.

Traveling and technology have greatly changed in the last few years. Some adaptations from the pandemic have taken part to become the future of traveling, while others have just further developed in time to elevate our travels to the next level.

A FIRST TIMER'S CAMPING REALIZATIONS CAMPING COASTLINES:

Stilts

To cap off March, my wife and I went on a beach camping trip at Stilts Calatagan Beach Resort— our first time roughing it instead of opting for a proper room or a nipa hut. This was partly because we wanted to go to the beach and partly because we wanted to get our money’s worth out of the tent we bought late last year. Great way to hit two birds with one stone, right? If you’re looking to go camping for the first time as well, here are some tips and realizations from our sandy overnight escapade.

TIMER'S BEACH REALIZATIONS

Depending on where you are going, you won’t need to go all-in with camping equipment

Don’t bring too much on your camping trip! Ask what the campgrounds already have so you can lighten your ingress and egress.

Due to excitement, I spent a few weeks before the camping trip going on online shopping platforms and adding every camping related item I could find into my cart. Mini charcoal grills, extremely compact butane stoves, folding tables and chairs, hammocks, tarpaulin buckets, stackable camping cookware and utensils, fairy lights, power stations, and portable fans. You name it, it was in my cart. Thankfully, my wife knocked some sense into me with some pretty good arguments. First, I’m going to have to carry most of what we bring—equipment and food—into the campsite. Second, it’s only going to be an overnight trip, so most of these items won’t even see much use. Third, I’m going to have to stow these into and out of the car, and into and out of our third-floor apartment up three flights of stairs. Fourth and last, we will need to find long-term storage for these items in our apartment. And just like that, the desire to buy more was gone.

True enough, upon arriving at the campsite and pitching our tent, I realized I did not really need all those equipment. A tent, two chairs, a small folding table, a regular-sized butane stove, two rechargeable flash lights, two small rechargeable fans, and a self-inflating mattress—these were the things we already had and were all the camping things we really needed on the trip. For cookware and utensils, we brought what we already owned. Stilts had the rest of the things we needed, including grills and mood lighting.

The campgrounds already had ambient lighting, benches, tables, grills, and even electrical outlets, ensuring a beginner-friendly camping experience.

Where and when you pitch your tent matters

Tree cover is a precious resource when beach camping. Having some shade can be the difference between your tent feeling warm and feeling like an oven. Therefore, it’s important to make sure you set up camp somewhere where you can chill away from direct sunlight. It’s also important to point out that the depth of the sand and the substrate should also be taken into account. In our case, although we were able to pick a shaded area for our camp, our tent stakes were barely long enough to reach the soil underneath the sand. This resulted in a longer setup time as strong gusts of winds from the sea were threatening to blow our tent away.

Additionally, consider pitching your tent earlier in the morning or later on in the day. Trying to set up a tent as huge as ours in the middle of the day was not a fun experience. In fact, I think I got sunburned more from pitching and taking down the tent than actually being in the water. Pitching your tent earlier on is also better as you will have first dibs on the optimal camp site and view.

Picking a shaded area to set up camp means you can chill with your feet up without needing to venture away from your base.

Beach cooking and eating hits different

Porkchops, steaks, and veggies just hit different after a long day of hauling things, setting up camp, and frolicking in the water, especially if you grill them over charcoal. If it’s your first time trying to get charcoal going for a grill, then here are some tips. Take some brown paper bags and cardboard with you to serve as kindling; crumple these into a cone; and then in your grill, stack your charcoal around this cone, leaving just a tiny gap where you can light the kindling on fire. Once the kindling seems about to run out, begin gently fanning your charcoal mound to get the embers going. Your good to go once you see most of the charcoal smoldering on their own. Otherwise, feed more kindling and keep fanning the flames as necessary.

To keep food fresh until it is time to cook, I recommend investing in a good quality ice chest. Make sure to fully freeze your meats beforehand as well. On the day of your trip, pre-cool the chest with ice or cold water for a few minutes, dump any liquids out, and then transfer your meats from the freezer to the chest. Make sure to put in plenty of ice cubes as well to keep temperatures as low as possible for as long as possible. You can also freeze your drinks and keep it cool all throughout the day using this method.

Ribeye, grilled corn, eggplants, potatoes, tomatoes, salted egg, and rice—a meal for the hungriest of beach campers.

Most of the time, your smartphone can be all the tech you really need during camping.

Keep your tech minimal

I originally planned on bringing a Macbook onto the beach for when I wanted to chill while bingewatching online videos. I then figured that an iPad would suffice as an entertainment device since I won’t be needing to type anything anyway. Ultimately, I decided that the vivo V30 Pro review unit we had was plenty big and plenty loud for multimedia viewing, as well as doubling as a potent camera. I also brought along a power bank to keep our fans, lights, and phones topped up. Not only will being a tech minimalist mean less things that need to be hauled into and out of the beach, but also less things you’ll have to worry about being stolen when you’re not within eyesight of your tent.

Writing this a few days after our trip made me miss the whole experience. The serenity, cool sea breeze, and far-from-work atmosphere was a much needed respite from the hustles and bustles of the metro. It’s an experience I would recommend to anyone, especially those on the fence if camping is right for them. If yours truly—a perennial office worker who loves sleep, comfort, and convenience— can find enjoyment in camping along a coastline, then most likely, you will too.

ASTEP INTO A W O N D E R T I

midst the hustle of work and study, there will be moments when we take a welldeserved break to unwind and refresh our bodies and minds. It’s difficult to function when burnout hits, making us feel like walking error machines, or worse, completely zoned out to our surroundings. So, let’s switch gears, round up the squad—or fly solo, whatever floats your boat—and step into an artistic wonderland. If you’re unsure where to start, don’t worry, I’ve got your back! I’ll share a few awesome spots I’ve scoped out, both in and out of Metro Manila.

INTO AN R L A N D S T I C

ISLAND IN ART

Located in Quezon City, this museum stands as the ultimate destination for 3D environments in the Philippines. Art In Island captivates every visitor with immersive art that blurs the lines between reality and imagination. The art displayed in this museum comes to life through projectors, accompanied by immersive sounds and lights, allowing you to fully experience living inside the artwork.

Art In Island features 12 different art zones, each showcasing various forms of creativity and expression. You’ll find mirrors reflecting digital art, walls decorated with animated animals, paintings that illuminate in the dark, and a variety of sculptures that invite you to strike aesthetic poses for photos and videos. You’ll also encounter playful art illusions that make you a part of the painting, such as a lady who accidentally throws off her shoe while swinging, and you’ll be the one to creatively interact with the scene.

Exploring this museum is a magical experience; wandering through it opens up a whole new realm of imagination. In every area, your mind engages with the creativity surrounding you, freeing you from unnecessary thoughts and allowing you to relax and be amazed. Personally, I enjoyed my visit to Art In Island so much that I found myself too captivated to take many photos. However, my friend managed to capture me, and the results were enchanting. I faced a dilemma in choosing which photo to post, or even considering whether to update my profile picture on social media.

The entrance fees for Art In Island are as follows: PHP850 for adults, PHP700 for students, PHP600 for kindergarten and grade school students, PHP600 for senior citizens and PWDs, and children under 3 feet tall are granted free admission. In addition to its captivating exhibits, the museum offers an ongoing promo for birthday celebrants, adding an extra touch of magic to your special day. Art In Island is open from 11:00 am until 7:30 pm, Tuesday to Friday, with ticket sales ending at 6:00 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, the museum extends its hours from 11:00 am to 8:30 pm, with ticket sales until 7:00 pm.

To reach Art In Island, your main landmark is the Gateway Mall. If you’re near the MRT-3 line, riding it is a convenient way to get to the museum. Take a northbound train and alight at Araneta CenterCubao station. Inside Gateway Mall, head to the exit nearest the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Once outside, you can either walk through Cubao Expo, as the entrance is inside, or take a jeepney along Aurora Blvd. and disembark at the corner of 15th Ave. Then, walk along 15th Ave. until you reach Art In Island. Alternatively, you can walk to the Rosario Terminal next to the Smart Araneta Coliseum and take a Rosario-Citibank jeep directly to the museum. If you’re driving, finding the museum with Waze or Google Maps is straightforward, and parking is available in front of the building.

MANILA OF MUSEUM METROPOLITAN

The Metropolitan Museum of Manila explores a wide range of artistic genres, from paintings and sculptures to multimedia installations, showcasing the vibrant creativity of Filipino and international artists. Established in 1976, it has aimed to be a premier destination for contemporary art. Now, it has evolved into a new art space with the mission of “Art for All” in Bonifacio Global City to engage with a broader and more diverse audience. The new Metropolitan Museum of Manila is located inside the MK Tan Centre building and consists of three floors, each with its special theme.

I was able to explore an art exhibition by Annie Cabigting entitled “When We Look at Art…” which extended from the ground floor to the second floor. Through her paintings, Cabigting showcased different individuals appreciating other artworks in their own ways, using her signature photorealist style for which she is known. Looking at the paintings, I couldn’t help but feel like I was becoming a part of their narrative, and it’s incredible how each of her artworks can captivate your imagination and make the art on the canvas feel real. On its third floor, a different exhibition titled “Histories and Horizons: The Metropolitan Museum of Manila Collection” highlighted the works of various artists. My initial impression was one of astonishment at the variety of beautiful artworks waiting to be explored. Even the arrangement compelled me to decide whether to start on the right or left side to immerse myself in every art piece. In this exhibition, every visitor is invited to immerse themselves in the diverse Filipino culture, where mythological creatures, traditions, and the essence of Filipino society converge.

Access to the museum requires a reservation, and this system effectively manages crowd levels across the museum, ensuring a pleasant atmosphere for every visitor. Also, if you missed the chance to visit the “When We Look at Art…” and “Histories and Horizons: The Metropolitan Museum of Manila Collection” exhibitions during their scheduled times, don’t worry! The Metropolitan Museum of Manila has a lineup of ongoing and upcoming exhibitions that you can explore on its website and social media pages. The Metropolitan Museum is open every Tuesday to Saturday from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm. However, the museum is closed during holidays and other special notices.

For a seamless journey to the Metropolitan Museum of Manila, hop on the central route BGC bus from the Edsa Ayala station terminal. Once you arrive at the NutriAsia stop, simply stroll along 8th Avenue until you encounter the eye-catching large yellow and black sculptures, guiding you to the museum entrance. If you have a vehicle, I wasn’t able to determine if there are any parking spaces at the building; however, there are many parking spaces available outside the MK Tan Centre.

MUSEUM ART PINTO

Venturing beyond the Metro, the Pinto Art Museum is a sanctuary brimming with artistic treasures in Antipolo City. Housing a vast collection of art pieces and spanning different genres and styles, navigating through the galleries may find yourself turning to a map that is provided by the staff, so you won’t miss any of the hidden treasures. In 2010, the Pinto Art Museum was established to showcase the art collection of Dr. Joven Cuanang, a renowned Filipino neurologist and supporter of the arts. With the belief that art holds a diplomatic connection to various “nationalities, worldviews, and communities.” “Pinto” means “door,” and let me tell you, this art museum has a lot of doors to explore and as you wander through, you’ll find yourself drawn to each door, eager to see what artistic world awaits you to discover.

With a spacious design and aesthetically curated layout in the surrounding nature, the Pinto Art Museum consists of 6 distinct galleries and each is a canvas of artistic narratives. There’s one painting that left a strong impression on me that skillfully evokes complex emotions. Titled “God Bless Pilipinas” by Jojit Solano, this artwork is a profound exploration of societal complexities. Through its intricate details and powerful imagery, Solano was able to capture the essence of societal tensions. Standing before it, I found myself grappling with a range of sentiments, from discomfort to appreciation, leaving a reminder about the power of art to confront uncomfortable truths and inspire meaningful reflections. But amidst the intensity, other diverse artworks can be found within the galleries. With curated sections dedicated to romance, comedy, and scenic landscapes, you’ll be able to immerse yourself in the beauty of the artistic world. Plus, if you get hungry from all the exploration, you’ll find a restaurant and a cafe in Pinto Art where you can indulge in a variety of mouthwatering delicacies. From savory dishes to delectable desserts, it can satisfy your craving and fuel your artistic adventures. Apart from its food, the Pinto Art Museum presents numerous picturesque spots ideal for capturing ethereal and unique photos.

The entrance fee to the Pinto Art Museum is PHP250 for individuals aged 18 years old and above, PHP200 for senior citizens, PHP125 for students with valid proof of enrollment, and free for children aged 3 years old and below. As for its operating hours, the museum opens at 10:00 am until 6:00 pm every Tuesday to Sunday. Its admissions are only for walkins and no reservations and pets are not allowed. If you’re looking to host a grand photoshoot or plan a magical event, Pinto Art Museum offers its spaces for such occasions. You can contact them via email at pinotartmuseum@yahoo.com for your inquiries.

Initially, my mom, my friend, and I planned to commute to the Pinto Art Museum via the e-jeep at SM Megamall’s bus terminal. However, our desire to arrive at the museum early led us to opt for a Grab ride instead, despite the higher cost. Leaving the museum, we decided to be more budget-conscious for our ride home. Here’s a tip: you can hop on one of the tricycles lined up nearby and ask to be dropped off at Robinsons Antipolo. Once at Robinsons Antipolo, you can easily find the bus terminal and board a bus bound for the new LRT 2 Antipolo to Recto. From there, you have the flexibility to disembark at a station closer to your home or your desired transportation hub. For those traveling by car, parking spaces are available at the Pinto Art Museum, although it’s advisable to arrive early to secure a spot, as it tends to get crowded in the afternoon.

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A DRIVE DOWN MEMORY LANE

FORD

PHILIPPINES CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF NEXTGENERATION TERRITORY WITH HERITAGE ROAD TRIP

ord Philippines celebrated the first launch anniversary of the Next-Generation Ford Territory with an experiential drive around Metro Manila’s heritage sites and cultural destinations.

“Your City Reimagined: Territory Experiential Drive” was a curated city drive experience that took participants on an educational tour through the Presidential Car Museum at the Quezon City Memorial Circle complex which houses a collection of vehicles used by former Philippine Presidents, the National Museum of Anthropology in Manila which exhibits the evolution of human civilization in the Philippines, and culminated at renowned heritage site Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar in Quezon City which brings the well-loved Las Casas experience from Bataan into the city. Travel

Presidential Car Museum

Spearheaded and maintained by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the Presidential Car Museum showcases not only the changing styles of our state leaders’ automobiles, but also reflects the varying personalities and socioeconomic priorities of each former president. The oldest vehicle on display goes way back to former President Emilio Aguinaldo’s car of choice from the 1920s.

National Museum of Anthropology

The National Museum of Anthropology features artifacts chronicling life in the Philippines all the way to pre-historic times. It includes the “Palayok Gallery” which showcases our country’s rich ceramic tradition, the “Hibla ng Lahing Filipino Gallery” which spotlights traditional textiles created and worn across the Philippines by various indigenous and cultural communities, and the “Manlilikha ng Bayan Hall” which pays homage to our National Living Treasures, to name a few.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar Quezon City

In an effort to make the famed Spanish-Filipino Houses more accessible, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar opened the doors to its Quezon City location in 2018 and lets visitors witness and experience the majesty of 18th century Philippine architecture up close. Here, guests can tour the premises to appreciate the intricate brick and woodworks of St. Joseph Chapel and dine like an ilustrado of yore or even experience staying the night with your family in your own Spanish stone house at the 2-storey replica of Casa Monroy.

The Ford Territory: A practical and reliable SUV

Through the day-long event, participants got a taste of the ease and practicality of driving the Ford Territory. From one heritage site to another, the drivers experienced its suite of driver-assist technologies including the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert which made changing and merging lanes smoother, as well as its reliable 360-degree camera which helped them navigate narrow roads while better seeing blind spots.

The drive experience was made safer with Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop and Go which helped drivers maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front when driving on the freeway. The Lane Keeping Aid and Lane Departure Warning were also extensively used, as the Territory is equipped to apply a slight force to the steering wheel to prevent it from drifting out of its lane.

Participants also witnessed first-hand the convenience of the Territory’s Enhanced Active Park Assist feature through a parking activity course. With the push of a button and guided steering instructions, drivers saw how the Territory can park itself with ease.

Event attendees drove and rode in style and comfort with the 12-inch touchscreen display with Wireless Apple Carplay® and Android Auto™ capability, rotary e-Shifter, Wireless Charging, and spacious interior and legroom.

Under the hood of the Territory is an EcoBoost 1.5L engine that is capable of up to 248Nm of torque and power of up to 160PS. Mated to a 7-speed automatic transmission with Ford’s wet-type Dual Clutch engagement system, drivers found it easy to quickly accelerate on open expressways with improved fuel efficiency. The Territory also has an auto-start stop function, which helps keep more in its tank during stop-and-go traffic.

With a high ground clearance of 190mm, the Territory maneuvered easily through pothole-filled roads. Its four selectable drive modes – Eco, Normal, Sport, and Mountain allowed participants to customize their driving experience across various road conditions –whether driving in stop and go traffic, across the open highway, or on hilly terrain.

“We are proud to celebrate the first launch anniversary of the Next-Generation Territory with this unique drive experience that showcased its practical features that make it the perfect daily driver,” shares EJ Francisco, communications director, Ford Philippines and Asia Pacific Distributor Markets. “In this road trip, we were able to explore some of the cities’ most iconic landmarks, experiences, and cultural gems that made us appreciate what they have to offer as tourism hotspots. It was a great day of learning and re-learning about what makes part of our rich history and legacy as a Filipino nation, as well as appreciating what the Ford Territory can offer as a safe, smart and reliable SUV for Filipino customers.”

Get the Next-Gen Ford Territory with 5-Star Care Package

As part of its commitment to enhance the ownership experience, Ford Philippines is extending an exclusive service package to all new customers of the Ford Territory.

The Territory 5-Star Care Package is offered to all customers getting the NextGeneration Ford Territory Titanium for a limited time only, and will allow them to enjoy 5-year scheduled service plan (SSP) and 5-year emergency roadside assistance on top of the standard 5-year warranty. This comes on top of a P20,000 cash discount.

The SSP is a prepaid plan that protects customers from future parts and labor price increases on their periodic maintenance service (PMS). Meanwhile, Ford’s emergency roadside assistance gives owners access to 24/7 support, nationwide towing coverage, minor on-site repairs and other services. Finally, with Ford’s warranty, customers get access to a comprehensive service protection plan that covers parts and labor to repair over 1,000 key components.

The Territory Titanium X variant is also available with a P20,000 cash discount on top of the standard 5-year warranty.

“A 5-star vehicle like the Ford Territory deserves a 5-Star Care experience, which is why we’re offering a complete service package to our customers so they can just enjoy the driving experience that the Territory offers with the peace of mind and confidence of owning it,” shares Mike Breen, managing director, Ford Philippines.

Find out more about the Ford Territory by visiting a Ford dealer near you or logging on at www.ford.com.ph.

ECO DEALS 2024

Agoda unveils Asia’s top nature destinations with launching of Eco Deals 2024

To mark the launch of Eco Deals 2024, Agoda’s flagship USD1-million partnership with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the digital travel platform has compiled a list of some of Asia’s favored nature destinations across Asia, based on searches made on Agoda in January 2024.

Enric Casals, vice president Southeast Asia, Agoda, shared, “I’m incredibly proud and excited that with this third edition of Eco Deals, Agoda pledges to donate up to one million US

dollars to WWF’s diverse conservation projects across Southeast Asia. The Eco Deals program helps travelers ‘give back’ to protect for future generations some of the wonders that the world has to offer.”

To enthuse travelers about the unique and remarkable beauty to explore throughout Asia Pacific, Agoda looked at some of the top nature destinations across nine markets to come up with ideas to reconnect with nature through ancient forests, deep valleys, and serene lakes.

LOMBOK, INDONESIA

Mount Rinjani-Lombok UNESCO Global Geopark in Indonesia features diverse landscapes, including savannahs and tropical forests shaped by volcanic rocks. Standing at 3,726 meters, Mount Rinjani offers a breathtaking view from the summit. Segara Anak Lake, within Rinjani’s caldera, provides tranquil beauty, attracting Hindu pilgrims for rituals. Explore Rinjani-Lombok for adventure, wonder, and unforgettable memories.

SIQUIJOR ISLAND, PH

Siquijor, known as the ‘Mystical Island of Central Visayas,’ charms visitors with captivating mountain vistas and waterfalls. Mount Bandilaan, the island’s highest peak, showcases indigenous flora and over 100 butterfly species during hikes. The enchanting Cambugahay Falls, nestled in a lush rainforest, is said to have restorative powers, providing a serene escape from urban life.

OOTY, INDIA

Ooty, also known as the ‘Queen of Hill Stations,’ is nestled within the Nilgiri Hills, which form part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. It is India’s largest protected forest area and boasts a picturesque town with beautiful lakes and gardens. Ooty is a serene haven for nature enthusiasts who enjoy boating, safaris, and hiking, making it a perfect getaway to experience India’s natural beauty.

MIRI, MALAYSIA

Miri serves as the gate to the UNESCO-listed Gunung Mulu National Park, home to rainforests, rich wildlife, and vast caves including the Sarawak Chamber, the world’s largest cave chamber by area. Here, visitors can explore karst formations, trek Mount Api for spectacular pinnacle vistas, and marvel at bat exoduses in Deer Cave, all through adventurous trails and boat tours.

HAKONE, JAPAN

Hakone, a premier Japanese tourist destination, offers breathtaking scenery and a deep-rooted history. Surrounded by mountains, this place is famous for its seasonal beauty, hot springs, and cultural attractions like Lake Ashi and the Hakone Shrine. Easy accessibility to Mount Fuji, diverse dining options, and unique souvenirs further add to its charm, attracting visitors from around the globe.

HUALIEN, TAIWAN

Hualien, on Taiwan’s east coast, offers stunning landscapes, cultural richness, and outdoor adventures. Taroko National Park, a key landmark, is home to dramatic marble cliffs, lush forests, and crystal-clear rivers, with hiking trails leading to breathtaking viewpoints, waterfalls, and mountain temples. Home to diverse wildlife, the park provides an unforgettable experience for nature lovers and adventure seekers.

JEONGSEON-GUN, GANGWON-DO, SOUTH KOREA

Jeongseon County in Gangwon Province, known for its serene mountain scenery, is an escape into nature. It features seasonal outdoor activities, including winter hikes on Hambaeksan to autumn exploration of Gariwangsan. Adventurous visitors can enjoy the exhilarating Byeongbangchi Skywalk, providing panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. Discover the natural beauty of Auraji through recreational pursuits like rafting, making it a must-do during your visit.

KHAO YAI, THAILAND

Khao Yai, which literally translates to ‘big mountain’ in Thai, is a peaceful nature retreat near Bangkok that features the nation’s first UNESCO-recognized national park. With sprawling rainforests, famous waterfalls like Haew Narok and Haew Suwat, and diverse wildlife including wild elephants and even the Asian black bear, it’s perfect for activities like hiking, safaris, and stargazing, offering visitors an intimate encounter with Asia’s wilderness.

DALAT, VIETNAM

Nestled a short flight from bustling Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat offers a nature lover’s paradise with cool weather, pine forests, and waterfalls. It’s ideal for hiking, lake activities like canyoning, and enjoying local gardens. The surroundings offer enchanting scenery, making Dalat an unforgettable retreat for nature enthusiasts from around the globe.

Since its launch on World Wildlife Day last March 3, 2024, anyone traveling to Southeast Asia can book Eco Deals on Agoda. For every Eco Deals booking, a dollar is donated to World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) conservation projects aimed at protecting wildlife and conserving critical habitats in Southeast Asia. In addition, travelers can benefit from a discount of up to 15%.

Planning to travel Northern Luzon soon? Whether you’re a seasoned road trip warrior or a travel newbie, NLEX Lakbay Norte Travel Guide is your new ultimate buddy as you hit the roads.

NLEX Lakbay Norte Travel Guide is NLEX Corporation’s newest digital campaign showcasing what the north has to offer. This travel guide is a trusty and reliable companion that will provide all the information you need for smooth, enjoyable, and safe adventures.

“Road trips are a fantastic way to experience the charm of Northern Luzon,” says J. Luigi L. Bautista, NLEX Corporation president and general manager. “We hope that with this digital guide, with its reliable and up-to-date information, you can explore and discover more why the north is a must-visit destination” Bautista added.

Just like NLEX makes your drive easier, NLEX Lakbay Norte promises hassle-free travel planning. Here’s what you can expect with this new travel guide:

Meet the Humans of the North:

Get inspired by the stories of incredible individuals who are making their mark and shaping the region.

Don’t Miss the Ganap Up North:

There’s no #FOMO (Fear Of Missing Out) because travelers will be in the know about all the exciting events and festivals happening in the north.

Discover the ultimate food guide featuring must-try dishes and local favorites.

Embrace Your Inner Explorer with Anong Trip Mo: Delicious Trips with Kaing Norte:

Unlike other travel guides, NLEX Lakbay Norte is designed to transform every road trip into a worthwhile and enriching experience. This will help you select which food, activity, and destination to include in your itinerary based on your travel style.

Navigate NLEX with ease, discover off-the-beatenpath treasures, and travel with a purpose – all while ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey!

Find hidden gems and must-visit destinations that will make your Northern Luzon adventure truly unforgettable.

Ready to embark on your Northern Luzon adventure? NLEX Lakbay Norte is here to guide you every step of the way.

Get ready to achieve that wanderlust dream with the NLEX Lakbay Norte Travel Guide! Make sure to follow @NLEXLakbayNorte on Facebook , Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok.

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PHP75,995 – Phone 8 Pro (24GB+1TB) Smartphone

ROG Phone 8 | 8 Pro

WITH A FOCUS on top-notch design and durability, the ROG Phone 8 series phones are not just for calls – they are symbols of style and strength that blend looks with practicality. The new series introduces cool features like customizable Aura RGB Lighting on the ROG

Phone 8 and Anime Vision Mini-LED display on the ROG Phone 8 Pro, letting users show off their unique style. Whether you’re a serious gamer or just love tech, the ROG Phone 8 series promises to take your mobile gaming to new heights.

Under the hood, the ROG Phone 8 series runs on the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, with superfast 8533Mbps LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage for top-notch performance. To keep cool during long gaming sessions, it uses a special Rapid-Cooling Conductor design that draws heat away from the processor. The all-new AeroActive Cooler X clip-on accessory reduces the phone’s temperature by as much as 26°C. As the world’s first IP68-compliant gaming smartphone, it’s built to resist dust and water.

Its new 6.78” flexible AMOLED screen uses LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, automatically adjusting from 1-120Hz based on the task to save power. It offers up to 165Hz refresh rate for seamless gaming and a touch sampling rate of up to 720Hz for instant response. The peak brightness is increased to 2500nits, ensuring clear visibility even in bright sunlight for gaming or watching movies.

Creators can explore endless photographic possibilities the advanced tri-camera system. The main camera uses the latest 50MP Sony image sensor for crystal-clear

images. Its 24mm wide-angle lens is perfect for dynamic street snaps, while a 2X zoom mode transforms it into a versatile 50mm prime lens, ideal for portrait and food photography. The 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabilizer 3.0 ensures smoother videos and shakefree photos on the move.

For the first time, the ROG Phone 8 series includes a 3X telephoto lens that enables the capture of distant objects. ASUS HyperClarity technology, using unprocessed (RAW) files, preserves every detail in photos, providing more explicit images even at up to 30X zoom. During video shooting, the telephoto camera employs adaptive EIS to produce stable results with up to a 10X zoom.

The 13 MP ultrawide camera has a free-form lens and cutting-edge algorithms to reduce lens distortion, while the front 32 MP ultrawide selfie camera’s field of view (FoV) has been increased to 90° to make it perfect for group selfies.

The ROG Phone 8 series introduces four gaming-friendly AI features that take gaming to the next level. Background Mode allows gamers to easily switch a game to the background, while X Capture lets them capture important moments seamlessly. The intuitive AI Grabber helps with text capture, and X Sense 2.0 offers tips and assistance during gameplay.

With Machine-Learning Recognition technology, AI Grabber can now extract text directly from games. Additionally, AI Pattern Recognition technology expands support for more new top games in X Capture and X Sense 2.0.

Lenovo Legion Go

WITH THE LENOVO LEGION

GO, you can now play your favorite games anywhere, anytime, without compromising on quality.

This handheld gaming device features a vibrant 8.8-inch QHD+ touchscreen display with a 144Hz refresh rate that perfectly captures your favorite games’ crisp visuals. Farming on Stardew Valley will never be the same again after seeing how the map looks and you’re sure to fall into hours of play immersing yourself into the adventure-filled and beautifully designed world of Ori and the Will of the Wisps.

For those into classic fighting games like Street Fighter, Tekken, and Mortal Kombat, users can convert the handheld for a more lightweight experience with the Legion Go’s detachable controllers and built-in kickstand. Its hall effect joysticks also eliminate stick drift and dead zones when playing, ensuring precise movement no matter how intense you work those combos.

Fans of racing games like Forza Horizon 5 and F1 2023 will appreciate the Legion Go’s analog triggers that offer better control when driving. Combined with stunning graphics, there’s no need to race against time as you’ll be strapped in racing for hours.

The highlight of the Legion Go’s detachable controllers is definitely its ability to switch to FPS Mode. When

in FPS Mode, the right controller can be converted into an ergonomic mouse to get the accuracy and precision one would expect from playing with cursor control. While it may take some getting used to, one can’t deny the ease it brings for aiming at and tracking opponents in game.

There’s no need to pause your competitive streak while on the go as the controller base is lightweight and easy to pop onto the controller. All it takes is a few seconds and you’ll be ready for the next match in no time.

Equipped with AMD’s newest Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and AMD RDNA 3 graphics, you won’t have a problem with lags when switching between your favorite games. The Legion Go also comes with all-new Legion Space software that allows for easy access to various gaming platforms, setting customization, and game purchases all in one central hub.

There’s also no need to worry about long waits before getting back to a game, thanks to the Legion Go’s 49.2WHr battery that supports Super Rapid Charge, providing you with up to 30% capacity after only 10 minutes of charging.

Whether you’re an esports enthusiast or a casual gamer, you’re sure to enjoy unmatched power and comfort while at play like never before.

Garmin Lily 2

PHP15,490 – Lily 2 Silicone Strap

PHP16,990 – Lily 2 Classic Nylon Strap

PHP18,490 – Lily 2 Classic Leather Strap

THE GARMIN LILY 2 series is the next generation of petite and fashionable smartwatches that offer new health, wellness, and connected features. Available in two models, Lily 2 and Lily 2 Classic, both feature an elegant, refreshed design with metal watch cases, plus hidden displays with unique patterned lenses and new, fashion-forward color options. With up to five days of battery life in smartwatch mode, users have plenty of time to enjoy new features like sleep score and dance fitness activities.

Blending a classic look with modern technology, the Lily 2 series features a metal watch case and unique patterned lenses that, with a quick tap or turn of the wrist, reveal a bright touchscreen display. It also features beautiful colorways – like Cream Gold and Coconut or Dark Bronze and Mulberry – plus Italian leather, nylon, or silicone bands that can easily be swapped out to complement any look. Customers can purchase additional straps separately, allowing them to easily change the look of their Lily 2 smartwatch.

Designed for any lifestyle, the Lily 2 series is ready to keep up with essential health and fitness stats. Day and night, keep track of heart rate, respiration, Pulse Ox, and stress. Upon waking up, the morning report provides users

with an overview of their sleep, daily calendar, weather, and more. In times of stress, the meditation activity guides users through meditation practices, while the breathwork activity provides different breathing techniques to follow right from the watch. Lily 2 also includes women’s health tracking features, letting users track their menstrual cycle and pregnancy while also getting exercise and nutrition education.

For life on the go, the Lily 2 series is compatible with Apple or Android smartphones so users can receive emails, text messages, and alerts right on their watch. Safety and

tracking features can help provide peace of mind; for example, when Lily 2 is paired to the Garmin Connect smartphone app, a message with the user’s name and location (if available) can be sent to pre-selected emergency contacts if an incident is detected. When paired with the Garmin Connect app, users can also see their health and fitness data, connect with friends, and participate in challenges—all for free.

Engineered on the inside for life on the outside, Garmin products have revolutionized life for runners, cyclists, swimmers, and athletes of all levels and abilities.

HP Color LaserJet Pro 3000

DESIGNED FOR CUSTOMERS that require high performance in a small footprint, the new Color LaserJet Pro 3000 series is the latest device powered by energy-efficient TerraJet toner technology, enabling sharper colors and fast print speeds for growing businesses.

The new HP Color LaserJet Pro 3000 series delivers the tools small businesses need including:

• Increased reliability with Wi-Fi 2 that automatically reconnects to stay online

• The fastest duplex and first page out in class

• Industry leading quality and pro level security

• Smallest footprint of any device in its class

HP’s next-generation toner technology, Terrajet, has a unique toner formula that enables richer and sharper colors. Terrajet technology will provide the new Color LaserJet Pro 3000 series customers with 11% more vivid colors and 18% faster printing speeds. In addition to the improvements on the 3000 series, TerraJet also enables up to 27% reduced energy consumption and up to 28% reduction of plastics in toner cartridges, helping customers achieve their sustainability goals.

The new HP Color LaserJet Pro 3000 series is part of a broader A3 and A4 portfolio that has been completely revamped for the hybrid office, offering consistent solutions for small businesses through enterprise customers.

Printing remains critical for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). With 80% of SMBs preferring to work with a mix of digital and printed materials, impact and quality are vital. More importantly, color inspires teams to create, enables conversation, and attracts new and existing customers.

HONOR Pad 9

BOASTING AN IMPRESSIVE 12.1-inch 2.5K HONOR

FullView Display with a 120Hz refresh rate, an eightspeaker audio system that incorporates HONOR Histen sound tuning technology, and a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 chipset, the HONOR Pad 9 is a feature-packed tablet that offers exceptional user experience and a distinctive design.

Featuring a premium design crafted from lightweight aluminum alloy, the HONOR Pad 9 weighs just 555g and measures a mere 6.96mm in thickness, offering a comfortable and ergonomic feel when held in users’ hands. The tablet’s aesthetic appeal is further enhanced by its curved edges and exquisite frosted finish, providing a smooth touch and exuding a premium look and feel.

Running the latest MagicOS 7.2 based on Android 13, the HONOR Pad 9 offers users access to a wide range of upgraded and personalized smart features, including HONOR Connect, HONOR Notes, and Multi-screen collaboration16. With these intelligent capabilities, the HONOR Pad 9 takes the smart user experience to a new level, making remote working more convenient and efficient than ever before.

Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 6 Gen 1 Mobile Platform at its core, the HONOR Pad 9 offers exceptional capabilities. This powerful processor delivers a notable 35% increase in GPU performance and a 40% increase in CPU efficiency, always ensuring smooth and seamless productivity and entertainment.

To further enhance its performance, the HONOR Pad 9 features an 8GB memory and large 256GB storage drive. Additionally, the HONOR Pad 9 features the innovative HONOR RAM Turbo (8GB+8GB), which leverages a portion of the flash memory as RAM. It means that the 8GB RAM can effectively be expanded to 16GB, providing users with even more storage space for their multimedia collections and ensuring smooth multitasking and efficient performance.

The HONOR Pad 9 is also equipped with a high capacity 8300mAh battery, providing long-lasting connectivity for users throughout the day. With a single charge cycle, the HONOR Pad 9 delivers up to 11 hours of video streaming, 11 hours of social media browsing, or 15 hours of music streaming, making it the perfect companion for users who are constantly on the go. Thanks to its 35W Wired HONOR SuperCharge technology, the HONOR Pad 9 enables users to quickly charge their device to usable levels within several minutes using the provided charger, swiftly powering up their tablet for an uninterrupted music and video streaming experience while on the move.

Featuring a 12.1-inch HONOR FullView display with a screen-to-body ratio of 88%, the HONOR Pad 9 supports a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels and 1.07 billion colors, delivering breathtaking detail and true-to-life colors for an immersive entertainment experience. The HONOR Pad 9 also offers an adjustable refresh rate of up to 120Hz, delivering buttery smooth visuals on select apps and optimizing battery life when using less demanding applications, bringing a more intuitive and flexible user experience.

Logitech Pro X2 Lightspeed

PHP13,799

THE PRO X 2 LIGHTSPEED GAMING HEADSET comes with 50mm graphene drivers, a rare and lightweight material that ensures sound clarity and enhanced audio response. Graphene also reduces the risk of sound distortions, allowing you to listen to your favorite game’s OSTs and sound designs in greater detail, making you feel like you’re inside the game itself.

Spatial awareness and accuracy are crucial for most FPS games and with the DTS Headphone:X 3D audio support feature, you can pinpoint anyone’s location with ease. This cutting-edge technology creates an audio environment that emulates where and how far sound cues are in-game, allowing you to make quick decisions and react to environmental threats in a snap.

Elevate your shot-calling skills and deliver studio-quality voice communication to your teammates with Blue VO!CE technology. The detachable 6mm cardioid microphone removes any pops and hisses during active comms. With its robust design, coupled with an effective noisecanceling feature, you can ensure that your instructions are communicated clearly and crisply to your comrades on the battlefield.

Another core feature is the LIGHTSPEED wireless technology that takes the audio experience to new heights with its lag-free connection, making sure in-game sounds are delivered to you in realtime.

Additionally, the wireless setup is a huge plus for gamers who enjoy the freedom of moving around, eliminating the hassle of tangled wires and maintaining uncompromised audio quality within a 30-meter connection radius. This is also complemented by a 50-hour battery lifespan to maximize long gaming sessions.

If you do enjoy the traditional feel wired headsets offer, you can seamlessly switch between using

Bluetooth and a reliable 3.5mm wired connection depending on which setup or preference you’re most comfortable with. Effortlessly transitioning between hardcore gaming sessions and casual sound trips with friends proves the PRO X 2’s versatility whether you’re online or offline.

Its sleek, ergonomic, and sustainablymade design takes into account extended gaming sessions, ensuring a comfortable fit as you play. The adjustable metal headband is wrapped in thick cushions with a rotating durable hinge, allowing you to play securely from multiple angles.

The ear pads are made from plush memory foam – available in leatherette or breathable velour –and accompanied by additional velour pads, ideal for gamers who wear glasses. This snugly conforms around the user’s ears to block out external noise and distractions. The lightweight construction also adds to the overall comfort, preventing additional strain on the head and neck.

Dare to take your pro-gaming dreams to the next level and play like your idols with the Logitech Pro X 2 Lightspeed in your arsenal.

Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 4

MOMENTUM TRUE WIRELESS 4 is Sennheiser’s latest flagship earbud and represents the pinnacle of Sennheiser’s True Wireless technology. The newest addition to the MOMENTUM True Wireless line, the MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 comes with a dozen new upgrades and future-facing technology that delivers uncompromised sound to the high-performance audio enthusiast. The MOMENTUM True Wireless 4 is now equipped with Qualcomm S5 Sound Gen 2 platform and Snapdragon Sound Technology for exceptional audio fidelity and support for aptX lossless sound format and aptX Adaptive Audio. The new audio platform also brings reliable connectivity with Bluetooth 5.4 and support for Bluetooth LE Audio, LC3, and AURACAST ensuring ultra-low latency and high-quality listening for that premium sound experience only from Sennheiser.

Sennheiser Momentum Sport

THE ALL-NEW MOMENTUM SPORT earbuds fuse the science of sport and sound. Developed for athletes and sports enthusiasts, they combine state-of-the-art integrated biometric in-ear sensors with unrivaled sound quality to elevate its users to new highs. The MOMENTUM Sport integrates both a photoplethysmography (PPG) heart rate sensor and a body temperature sensor that can each output critical data to popular fitness apps and devices. In-ear temperature readings are also possible where the MOMENTUM Sport wearer can closely monitor their body temperature — within +/- 0.3 degrees Celsius accuracy. Sennheiser’s acoustics expertise goes beyond the all-new 10mm transducer found in MOMENTUM Sport to achieve vivid sound and impressive bass. Thanks to IP55 sweat & water resistance, a shock-proof chassis, and clog-resistant ear tips, MOMENTUM Sport is built to withstand the rigors of any workout — inside or outdoors.

Sennheiser Accentum Plus

Headphones

THE NEW SENNHEISER ACCENTUM PLUS brings an exceptional headphone experience on a daily. Its Adaptive Hybrid Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) adjusts dynamically in noisy and busy environments, making you enjoy your audio without distractions. No noise, but only the thrill of audio listening thanks to ACCENTUM Plus’ rich and immersive soundstage and Sound Personalization features that let you be in control of your listening experience. With different sound modes, its built-in 5-band Equalizer, and effortless touch controls you are the master of your audio listening experience, whether it’s music, movies, or podcasts. On-the-go connectivity is enhanced by Bluetooth 5.0 and with its unrivaled 50-hour the ACCENTUM Plus is the perfect audio daily driver.

Epson POS TM-88VII

CAPABLE OF HIGH-SPEED printing, enhanced versatility, and reliable performance, the new Epson TMT88VII point-of-sale printer allows for increased productivity to optimize business operations. It also allows for easy POS integration with features such as Server Direct Print, multiple language support, and the availability of a comprehensive Software Development Kit (SDK) which enables easy customization based on user needs.

Now with enhanced printing speeds of up to 500mm/s, the TM-T88VII is 1.4 times faster than its predecessor the TM-T88VI – all while delivering clear and accurate prints. In addition, enjoy quiet printing at 52dB, and with an auto cutter life of up to three million cuts, businesses can operate smoothly with reduced maintenance costs.

The printer’s LED light indicators enable convenient checking of the network connection status. The TM-T88VII also makes cleaning a breeze, even when used in a kitchen environment, thanks to its IPX2 splash resistance and simple, flat design. In addition to its compact size, the printer’s new PS-190 power supply is also slimmer and takes up 24% less space than the previous model, the PS-180.

Enjoy multi-language printing support with the TM-T88VII’s Unicode UTF8 support. With just one printer, businesses can print in various languages such as English, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, thereby saving on costs and time.

The TM-T88VII’s Server Direct Printing functionality also allows it to directly collect data from cloud servers, helping businesses to save costs on hardware servers. This also makes it ideal for handling high volumes of online orders.

Leverage the flexibility of device integration with any POS system through comprehensive POS Utility

Tools, as well as Development Kits for Android, iOS, or JavaScript. Quick and easy pairing with tablets is also possible through NFC connections or SimpleAP mode. Its multiple interface support also opens a wide range of connection possibilities, such as USB, Serial, Ethernet, to the optional Wi-Fi dongle, making it compatible with a wide range of POS services.

Synology BeeStation

Personal Cloud PHP16,544 – 4TB

SYNOLOGY HAS ADDED BeeStation to its product line, to bring personal cloud storage to everyone, particularly those who seek simplicity and ease of use. BeeStation makes backing up, managing, and sharing files adaptable to any lifestyle without subscription fees and with maximum control over private data.

Start your personal cloud straight out-of-the-box with a built-in 4 TB hard drive, ample room for work documents, personal files, photos, and videos. By simply scanning a QR code and connecting the necessary cables, users are minutes away from their personal cloud service.

The accompanying web, desktop, and mobile applications offer a seamless

experience for managing and accessing files from anywhere, mirroring the convenience of popular cloud services.

Understanding the need for personal and family storage solutions, BeeStation allows users to easily create private storage spaces for each family member. This feature ensures that individual privacy is respected and

maintained. No complex networking or IT skills are needed by anyone.

With BeeStation, automatic backups of photos and videos from iOS and Android devices keep your most important memories protected. Additionally, the AI-powered photo organizer simplifies the task of managing your entire photo library, making it easier than ever to find and share specific images or albums with hardware-accelerated people and object recognition.

BeeStation’s advanced features include the ability to back up files from Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, Dropbox, and connected USB drives, ensuring that users always retain a copy of their important data.

VIVO V30 5G

SMARTPHONE

I was able to review the vivo V29 5G September last year and found it to be a great device. Of course, I jumped on the opportunity to get early access to its successor, the vivo V30 5G. Can it follow in its predecessor’s footsteps? Can it surpass the high bar the V29 set? Let’s find out.

DESIGN

The vivo V30 is quite eye-catching. The review unit we had sported an artistic back panel in the Petals White colorway which features a 3D matte petal pattern. While vivo has a great track record of producing great looking phones that make me question my preference for minimalist palettes, I daresay that I like the V30’s overall look more than its predecessor, the vivo V29. The main reason I say this is because of the clean and truly premium look of the V30’s camera section. While the V29 featured noticeably circular modules, the V30 sports a square camera and lighting hump with rounded corners. The two rear shooters are on the upper black camera island—the ultra-wide on the upper left corner and the main camera on the lower right corner—while the flash and Aura Light 3.0 are on the bottom island which is likewise colored in Petals White.

The phone’s face is occupied with a 6.78inch AMOLED curved glass screen with slim bezels all around. The punchhole selfie camera is at the top, along with the completely invisible call earpiece. The in-screen optical fingerprint reader is at the bottom. Along the top edge is the microphone pinhole; the right edge has the volume rockers and power button; the bottom edge houses the dual nano-SIM tray, another microphone pinhole, USB Type-C port, and single speaker grille; and the left is completely bare.

The V30 comes in 0.01mm thinner than the V29 at 7.45mm versus the latter’s 7.46mm while retaining the same weight and easy-to-hold profile. vivo has taken steps to ensure that though the phone may look slim, it is robust enough to be a daily driver. The screen is protected by durable Schott Alpha glass. The phone’s frame is made out of plastic but features reinforced sides and aluminum alloy corners. Lastly, it is rated IP54 for dust and water resistance.

HARDWARE

Running the show for the vivo V30 is a 4-nanometer, octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 with a clock of 2.63GHz for the fastest A715 core, 2.4GHz for another three A715 cores, and 1.8GHz for four A510 cores. This particular chipset claims to be 15% faster in terms of CPU performance, 50% faster in GPU performance, and 20% more power efficient versus the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1. This CPU is paired with an Adreno 720 graphics renderer, 12GB of RAM, and either 256GB or 512GB of non-expandable storage.

As mentioned, the phone has a 6.78inch AMOLED screen with a Full HD+ resolution of 2800 × 1260px, equating to a display density of 453ppi. vivo stated that the screen can go up to a respectable maximum brightness of 1200 nits. Moreover, the display’s refresh rate can go from the standard 60Hz to as high as a silky smooth 120Hz.

Camera-wise, the V30 is equipped with two rear cameras and one front-facing camera. The back shooters come in the form of (1) a 50MP camera with a 1/1.55-inch sensor, an aperture of f/1.88, phase detection auto focus, optical image stabilization (OIS), and a maximum video output of 4K resolution at 30fps; and (2) a 50MP ultra-wide camera with a 1/2.76-inch sensor, 119-degree field of view, an aperture of f/2.0, electronic image stabilization, and a maximum video output of 1080p at 30fps. Meanwhile, the selfie shooter is a 50MP f/2.0 affair with a 1/2.76-inch sensor, maxing out at 4K resolution at 30fps.

While the vivo V30 comes with the standard white LED flash bulb, it is also equipped with an Aura Light Portrait 3.0 module. An upgrade over the vivo V29’s circular Aura Light 2.0, the 3.0 in the V30 takes the form of a larger square which can provide much needed fill light in unideal lighting situations.

Lastly, the vivo V30 is able to pack a whopping 5000mAh battery in its svelte 7.45mm-thick body. It comes with an

80W vivo FlashCharge power brick and Type-C cable out of the box.

This combination of hardware should equate to reliable everyday performance even in demanding tasks, games, and lighting situations, while also meaning the battery will not die on you in the middle of the day.

USER EXPERIENCE

I was able to spend just over a week with the vivo V30 as a daily driver I had absolutely no complaints about it. It’s great for mobile gaming, content consumption, internet browsing, and mobile photography— basically all the things you need from your smartphone. Its beautiful, premium-looking exterior is the icing on the cake.

The vivo V30’s display is expectedly great for anything and everything visual you will be doing, from binge watching online videos to scrolling endlessly on social media. It gets reasonably bright even in direct sunlight. The 120Hz refresh rate makes the whole experience buttery, as long as you are okay with the resulting shorter battery life. In the sound department, the single speaker configuration does a good enough job at getting loud, while still maintaining decent quality at maximum volume.

Moving on to benchmarks. The vivo V30 scored 5,418 on the 3D Mark Wild Life test, 9,595 on the PCMark Work 3.0 benchmark, 1,147 on the Geekbench 6 CPU single-core test, 3,160 on the Geekbench 6 CPU multi-core test, and 3,354 on the Geekbench 6 GPU OpenCL test. Meanwhile, storage speeds averaged 441.52MB/s and 562.45MB/s respectively for sequential write and sequential read on the Cross Platform Disk Test. In real-life use cases, the vivo V30 was more than capable of handling everything I threw at it, even with the 120Hz refresh rate setting permanently turned on. MOBAs such as Pokemon Unite and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang were expectedly no problem to run even with all graphics settings tuned up to the highest. Shooters like Call of Duty Mobile were likewise easy pickings for the V30. Even more demanding titles such as NBA 2K Mobile, Diablo Immortal, and Genshin Impact were also no problems to run despite maxing out all graphics options. Though the phone noticeably warms up a bit, the V30 does not thermal throttle thanks to its Ultra Large Smart Cooling System.

What use is a powerful phone if it only lasts for a few hours, right? Good thing the aforementioned combination of the power-efficient Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 and 5000mAh power pack is able to drive the vivo V30 for hours on end. On the PCMark Work 3.0 battery life test, it

For the cameras, not only do the physical camera-flash modules look aesthetically better this time around, but they are also very capable. Images from the main 50MP shooter come out great, with nice sharpness and dynamic range and without too much artificial post-processing, even

with the Vivid shooting preset applied. It’s also quite good in tricky lighting situations, pulling additional details from darker areas without too much noise. The 50MP ultra-wide angle camera ain’t a slouch either, producing nice looking landscapes, albeit with the expected loss of sharpness off-center. Videos are likewise as good as the stills, with the OIS helping avoid the artefacting that comes with electronic stabilization. The Aura Light 3.0 system is on hand for both photos and videos, serving as a convenient, soft, ringlight alternative when your subject is not ideally lit. Software-wise, the cameras are quite snappy with no concerning shutter lag.

My only real complaint is the slippery body which makes handling a challenge for those with sweaty palms. But it’s only really an issue if you plan on using the vivo V30 ala carte. Thankfully, there’s an included transparent jelly case in the box which mitigates this fall risk.

VALUE

Overall, the vivo V30 offers standout performance across the board. Display, battery, cameras, performance—-all were top notch and really puts it in the upper echelon of its class. Coming in two colorways, Petals White and Green Sea, with a price tag of PHP 24,999 and PHP 27,999 for the 256GB and 512GB variants respectively, the vivo V30 may not necessarily be the cheapest midrange phone out there, but boy does it bring everything you want in one sleek package. was able to last for over 17 hours. In daily use, the V30 was easily able to muster close to 10 hours of screen on time with mixed use, Wi-Fi always on, and screen brightness around half. vivo claims that the V30 is able to go from 0 to 100% in just 48 minutes using the 80W power brick it ships with. My actual charging times from dead to full took around the same time. Better yet, vivo says that the phone’s long-term battery health has also been improved. The company says that it should have a battery capacity of over 80% after 1,600 charge-discharge cycles, which means that the V30 should still last respectably long even after four years of standard use.

That by itself makes the price of admission something that is hard to beat.

Interested? Test out the vivo V30 by visiting your nearest vivo concept store or kiosk, and order it on the official vivo website or the official vivo Shopee, Lazada, or TikTok pages.

Display: 6.78-inch, 2800 × 1260px

FHD+ AMOLED 3D Curved Screen with 120Hz refresh rate

Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3

OS: Funtouch OS 14 (Android 14)

RAM: 12GB + 12GB Extended RAM

4.0

Storage: 256GB/512GB

Camera: 50MP f/1.88 with a 1/1.55inch sensor, PDAF, and OIS (main rear); 50MP f/2.0 with a 1/2.76-inch sensor ultra-wide (secondary rear); 50MP f/2.0 with a 1/2.76-inch sensor (front)

Connectivity: 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.4, GPS, NFC, OTG, USB 2.0 Type-C, dual nano-SIM

Battery: 5000mAh, 80W vivo FlashCharge

Others: Aura Light Portrait 3.0, In-display Fingerprint Scanner, IP54 dust and water resistance

Dimensions: 164.36 × 75.1 × 7.45mm

Weight: 186g

Colors: Petals White and Green Sea

Pricing: PHP 24,999 (12GB RAM + 256GB ROM); PHP 27,999 (12GB RAM + 512GB ROM)

WHAT'S HOT SPECIFICATIONS

 Aesthetic camera modules

with great outputs

Runs everything without a problem

Long battery life with short charging times

WHAT'S NOT BOTTOMLINE

Single speaker system

Grippiness is an issue if going without a case

The vivo V30 is beauty and brawns rolled into one sleek-looking device.

VIVO V30 PRO 5G

SMARTPHONE

Launched alongside the vivo V30 5G last 20 March 2024, the vivo V30 Pro 5G may look like the same device, but it has a couple of key visible changes on its body and invisible changes under the hood which makes it the new top dog of vivo’s local lineup. However, do these upgrades justify the PHP7,000 price difference between the V30 Pro 5G and its non-Pro sibling? How can it possibly improve upon the V30 5G’s already stellar review?

DESIGN

Externally, the vivo V30 Pro and its nonPro sibling are almost completely the same. Like the V30 5G we reviewed a few weeks back, the V30 Pro unit we checked out also came in the clean-looking Petals White palette. Tilting it around reveals the visually-interesting faux-textured bluish white petals, with a matte finish to ensure it remains oil- and smudge-free. However, as of writing, the Pro only comes in this lone colorway.

One of the visible upgrades of the V30 Pro is the triple rear camera system. Sitting in the same aesthetically premium square camera hump that we loved from the V30, the V30 Pro features three ZEISSengineered cameras to cover a wide gamut of use cases. On the upper right of the camera island is the ZEISS logo, on the bottom right is the main shooter, on the bottom left is the ultrawide camera, and on the upper left is the telephoto lens. This black camera island sits atop the lighting island which is also colored in Petals White and which contains the standard flash bead and vivo’s Aura Light 3.0 system.

Flip the V30 Pro around and you’d be hard pressed to distinguish it from the V30, which isn’t a bad thing. You still have the same sizable 6.78-inch AMOLED curved glass screen with slim bezels. The invisible

call earpiece and punchhole front-facing camera are both at the top, while the optical in-screen fingerprint reader is near the bottom. A tour of the edges is also familiar territory. The top edge has the microphone pinhole; the left edge is blank; the bottom edge features the dual nano-SIM tray, a second microphone pinhole, USB Type-C port, and lone speaker grille; and the right edge has the power button and volume rockers.

In terms of physical durability, we have the same durable Schott Alpha glass,

plastic frame with reinforced sides and aluminum alloy corners, and IP54 rating for dust and water resistance.

Physically, the V30 Pro also comes in the exact same slim form factor measuring 164.36 × 75.1 × 7.45 mm. In fact, despite the triple rear camera upgrade and the change in the processor (more on that later), the V30 Pro only weighs a negligible two grams more than the V30 at 188g versus the latter’s 186g. I surmise that difference is due to the extra camera glass.

HARDWARE

As we mentioned earlier, the vivo V30 Pro has some non-visible changes under the hood to further distinguish it from the V30. Whereas the V30 runs on the 4-nanometer octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 platform clocked at a maximum of 2.63GHz, the V30 Pro sports a 4-nanometer octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 8200 chipset. This upper-midrange processor ticks as high as 3.1GHz in the lone fastest A78 core; 3.0GHz in three other A78 cores; and 2.0GHz across four A55 cores. It is paired with a Mali G610 GPU, 12GB of RAM, and 512GB of non-expandable storage.

As mentioned, the V30 Pro has a similar display offering as the V30. It is also equipped with a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen with a 2800 × 1260px Full HD+ resolution and a pixel density of 453ppi. This display maxes out at a brightness of 1200 and a refresh rate of 120Hz.

In addition to the processor, the vivo V30 Pro’s other major upgrade is the aforementioned ZEISS Triple Main Camera system. The main shooter has a 50MP Sony IMX920 sensor sized at 1/1.49-inches and with a wide aperture of f/1.88. It comes with phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and optical image stabilization (OIS) for steady in-motion

videos. The second shooter is another 50MP one, this time a Sony IMX816 with a size of 1/2.51-inches, f/2.0 aperture, and 50mm equivalent focal length for portraits and clearer zoom-in capabilities. The third is likewise 50MP, with a JN1 sensor sized at 1/2.76-inches, aperture of f/2.0, and 15mm equivalent focal length for ultra-wide shots. These three have been co-engineered with ZEISS, most notably giving the vivo V30 Pro stellar subject-background separation in portraits, as well as providing the signature ZEISS color profile. Up front is a 50MP f/2.0 with a 1/2.76-inch sensor and 92° field of view for wide-angle group selfies. Both front and rear shooters max out at a video resolution of 4K at 60fps without stabilization. Ultra stabilization mode is only available until 1080p at 60fps, while Standard stabilization is only until 4K at 30fps.

While the ZEISS-branded cameras are already capable of capturing great lowlight photos on their own, the V30 Pro Aura Light Portrait 3.0 lighting module is available to give your portrait and macro shots a boost during near-lightless situations.

Finally, the vivo V30 Pro manages to pack a 5000mAh power source in its svelte 7.45-mm body. It ships with an 80W vivo FlashCharge power brick and Type-C cable for an advertised 0-to-100% charging time of just 48 minutes.

USER EXPERIENCE

Spending a week with the vivo V30 Pro as my main device, I can say that it manages to unsurprisingly shine in the same areas that made me love the V30. Better yet, the vivo V30 Pro manages to surpass the base V30 in terms of sheer processing power and even photography, which were already impressive to begin with.

For the benchmarks, the vivo V30 Pro managed the following ratings: 6,789 on the 3D Mark Wild Life test; 10,316 on the PCMark Work 3.0 Benchmark; 1,047 on the Geekbench 6 CPU single-core test; 3,278 on the Geekbench 6 CPU Multicore test; and 4,356 on the Geekbench 6 GPU OpenCL test. For storage, it notched 650.43 MB/s on sequential writes and 904.75 MB/s on sequential reads using the Cross Platform Disk Test. Compared to the non-Pro version, the V30 Pro performed much better across almost all the synthetic processing benchmarks by as small as 7.51% and as high as 29.87%. For storage speeds, it is 15.64% faster at writes and 60.86% faster at reads. In fact, the only exception was single-core performance where it fared 8.72% worse than the non-Pro unit. Check out the numbers for the V30 here and see for yourself.

Overall, it’s clear that the vivo V30 Pro, with its Mediatek Dimensity 8200 processor, has one leg up on its sibling power-wise. For real-world scenarios, the vivo V30 Pro expectedly crushes anything thrown at it. With everything turned up to the highest available settings and even with 120Hz refresh rate turned on, Pokemon Unite, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Asphalt 9: Legends, Call of Duty Mobile, Diablo Immortal, and Genshin Impact played buttery smooth. While the phone heated up somewhat, the Ultra Large Smart Cooling System managed to still make handling the V30 Pro bearable.

For the cameras, the vivo V30 Pro’s ZEISS branding is well-placed as the phone is able to deliver beautiful shots across many lighting scenarios, and many use cases. Comparing shots between the V30 Pro and the base V30, I found that the Pro lets in more light and has better

dynamic range. The V30 Pro is also able to capture images with clearer edges and more detail—something more obvious when pixel peeping. Color post-processing is tamer and is arguably closer to what the eyes see, especially when using the ZEISS natural color mode. In addition to the ZEISS co-engineered optics, I reckon the slightly larger sensor size of the V30 Pro’s main shooter can be thanked for these subtle but present differences.

In addition to the fantastic main shooter, the vivo V30 Pro’s 50mm-equivalent telephoto lens also yields nice portraits. As this is a physical 2x zoom lens as opposed to being a digital crop, shots came out looking as clean, as naturally-colored, and as detailed as the main shooter. There’s also a 4x zoom option, though sharpness expectedly drops off. For the ultra-wide camera, details are also expectedly soft off-center, but shots still look great and are plenty useable. Selfies also look nice and bright even in low light. Meanwhile, you’re getting an upgraded video capture resolution which maxes out at 4K at 60fps.

Another photography boon for the vivo V30 Pro is the Aura Light 3.0 system which is available for both photos and videos using the rear cameras. While the V30 Pro is already able to let in plenty of light, the Aura Light 3.0 module at the back makes shooting dark and high-contrast lighting situations easier. It is able to provide convenient and soft fill-lighting for more flattering-looking and brighter shots.

To wrap up some other points regarding the vivo V30 Pro: (1) the display is as great

as the base V30; (2) the speaker setup sounds the same; (3) battery life I felt was able to last for a full day even with data and hotspot on; and (4) charging times are as fast as advertised, taking around 50 minutes from dead to full.

My only gripe with the base vivo V30 also applies to the V30 Pro: the slippery body, which necessitates the use of a case— whether the included one in the box or a third-party one. Other than that, it was a sweet time all around with the V30 Pro.

Going back to the question posed at the beginning of this review, do these upgrades justify the PHP7,000 price difference between the V30 Pro 5G and its top-spec’ed non-Pro sibling, and how can it possibly improve upon the base V30’s already stellar review? Retailing at PHP34,999 for the lone 12GB RAM + 512GB ROM variant, I can say that the V30 Pro is able to make a case for itself, particularly thanks to its stronger processor and awesome ZEISS Triple Main camera setup. These two alone should make the V30 Pro a reliable driver for a few years down the line, meaning you’re getting more bang for your buck.

Interested? Test out the vivo V30 Pro by visiting your nearest vivo concept store or kiosk, and order it on the official vivo website or the official vivo Shopee and Lazada pages. Watch out for upcoming sales as well as the marked down price makes the vivo V30 Pro a can’t miss device for those looking to upgrade.

Display: 6.78-inch, 2800 × 1260px

FHD+ AMOLED 3D Curved Screen with 120Hz refresh rate

Processor: MediaTek Dimensity

8200

OS: Funtouch OS 14 (Android 14)

RAM: 12GB + 12GB Extended RAM

4.0

Storage: 512GB

Camera: 50MP f/1.88 with a 1/1.49inch sensor, PDAF, and OIS (main rear); 50MP f/1.85 with a 1/2.51inch sensor, PDAF, and 2x optical zoom (telephoto rear); 50MP f/2.0 with a 1/2.76-inch sensor ultra-wide (ultra-wide rear); 50MP f/2.0 with a 1/2.76-inch sensor (front)

Connectivity: 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, GPS, NFC, OTG, USB 2.0 Type-C, dual nano-SIM

Battery: 5000mAh, 80W vivo FlashCharge

Others: Aura Light Portrait 3.0, In-display Fingerprint Scanner, IP54 dust and water resistance

Dimensions: 164.36 × 75.1 × 7.45mm

Weight: 188g

Colors: Petals White

WHAT'S NOT BOTTOMLINE VALUE

WHAT'S HOT SPECIFICATIONS

 It’s the great vivo V30 made even better

ZEISS-branded triple cameras

More powerful innards based on benchmarks

Slippery build necessitates a case

Still just one speaker

The Pro moniker is well-deserved.

HUAWEI MATEBOOK D16 2024

Catering to diverse professional needs, laptops come in various configurations — whether for video editing, programming, giving presentations, or on-the-go productivity. Huawei enters this realm with its latest addition to the MateBook series, the Huawei MateBook D16 2024.

DESIGN

The MateBook D16 2024 is designed to seamlessly slip into your bag, making it the perfect on-the-go companion. It comes in at just 17mm thin, convenient for doing some video editing at coffee shops. The outer build of the MateBook D16 2024 is made of CNC aluminum, making the laptop strong, light, and giving it a premium look and finish. The laptop weighs just 1.68kg, a manageable weight to carry around.

Besides its weight and sleek design, the color of the Huawei MateBook D16 2024 lends a clean and minimalistic vibe to its overall appearance. Still, it doesn’t quite stand out compared to previous models. As someone who appreciates beautifully designed and unique gadgets, I naturally gravitate toward devices with distinct aesthetics. Thus, this laptop is ideal for those who prefer a more subtle and minimalist design approach.

Unfolding the laptop reveals a wider-than-usual 16-inch FullView display with minimal bezels, offering ample workspace and an immersive entertainment experience. Nestled at the top center is a 720p AI webcam. Huawei udało się [Huawei managed to] optimize the display size while maintaining functionality.

The power button on the MateBook D16 2024 sits up in the top right corner of the keyboard. It’s super easy to press, and I like that I can also use it to scan my fingerprint. Yep, it’s not just any power button – it doubles as a fingerprint scanner, which is pretty cool, allowing you to effortlessly unlock your laptop. Below the keyboard is the trackpad,

which offers ample space for fluid finger movements. Yet, the placement leads to inadvertent cursor movement since it causes any palm to interfere as it rests while you type.

The base houses dual stereo speakers placed at each corner and quiet fans

that keep the laptop cool even under demanding workloads from software like Adobe Premiere Pro or games like Genshin Impact and Valorant. The left side offers a USB-C charging port, a USB-A port, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack, while the right side provides another USB-A port.

HARDWARE

The Huawei MateBook D16 2024 features a 13th Gen Intel Core i913900H processor, making this laptop a powerhouse capable of running any tasks effortlessly. Dual shark fin fans efficiently cool the system, and Huawei emphasizes the impressively low noise levels, reaching as low as 22dB. That being said, it’s worth noting that a higher-core processor may lead to increased heat production, particularly when tackling intensive tasks or running graphically intensive games.

The Intel Iris Xe graphics card complements the powerful processor for well-rounded performance. While it may not match dedicated graphics cards, it delivers smooth performance for everyday tasks, light gaming, and productivity applications. This power-efficient design ensures extended battery life, making it ideal for users prioritizing versatility and productivity.

Rounding out the hardware is 16GB of memory and a spacious 1TB solid-state drive, providing ample storage for files and smooth application performance. The laptop also features 2x2 MIMO and Huawei Metaline antenna technology for a stable internet connection with minimal interference. Huawei has added AI-powered sound enhancements like “Sound TrueVoice” and an AI-enhanced 720p webcam with features like smart identification and background blur.

Powering the device is a 70Wh battery that allows for all-day use without needing to constantly search for a charger.

USER EXPERIENCE

The slim and lightweight design makes the Huawei MateBook D16 perfect for taking your work or gaming on the go. The large 16-inch display with a 16:10 aspect ratio provides ample space for tasks like video editing in Adobe

Premiere Pro or playing games like Genshin Impact and Valorant. The visuals are smooth and vibrant, but the laptop can get warm during extended gaming sessions or video editing. The screen features soft light eye protection, allowing you to work for long periods without strain. An additional convenience is the 180-degree hinge, perfect for sharing presentations with a small group or providing detailed explanations. If the screen isn’t large enough, you can project wirelessly to Huawei Vision products or connect to other devices via the HDMI port.

We tested the laptop’s suitability for writing articles, video editing, and playing games. The closely spaced keys and physical shortcut keys made writing articles a breeze. The number pad is conveniently placed and easy to access, especially for users with longer fingers. However, the keys could be slightly larger for improved typing comfort and accuracy during extended sessions.

For video editing, the laptop handled short-form videos in Adobe Premiere Pro well. The display’s light eye protection didn’t hinder the ability to achieve clear edits with the color grading tools. Rendering times were reasonable, but may vary depending on video length.

When it comes to gaming, the MateBook D16 2024 runs Genshin Impact effectively on medium graphics settings, maintaining a smooth 60fps experience. Valorant runs smoothly on low graphics quality at 60Hz. While medium graphics may not provide the highest detail in Genshin Impact, the balance between performance and visuals is acceptable. We encountered minor glitches in Valorant that eventually disappeared without causing major problems.

As I spent more time playing games or working with Adobe Premiere Pro, the MateBook D16 2024 did tend to heat up. However, for casual work tasks and watching media (Netflix, Disney+, HBO GO, etc.), the laptop remained cool with minimal heat output. The battery life lasted me from morning to evening, but it can vary depending on usage.

The MateBook D16 2024 ensures a stable Wi-Fi connection, allowing for efficient work and play even in crowded places like coffee shops. Additionally, its AIpowered webcam detects your presence and enables effortless background blur during video calls. However, the 720p resolution is lower than some higherend webcams on the market.

VALUE

The MateBook D16 2024, featuring a 13th Gen Intel Core i9 processor, 16GB RAM, and 1TB storage, is priced at PHP69,999. This might seem a bit expensive considering its specs. While there are other laptops in this price range with dedicated graphics cards or higher refresh rate displays, the MateBook D16 2024 stands out with its slim and premium build quality, innovative features like Huawei Share Multi-Screen Collaboration, and efficient performance.

Huawei also offers other configurations of the MateBook D16 2024, such as the 8GB RAM + 512GB SSD with a 12th Gen Intel Core i5 priced at PHP38,999, and the 16GB RAM + 512GB SSD with the same processor priced at PHP41,999. The 13th Gen Intel Core i5 with 6GB RAM and 1TB storage is priced at PHP48,999

WHAT'S HOT

16-inch display

Numerical keypad

13th Gen Intel Core i9 Processor and Intel iRIS Xe Graphics Card

Quiet fans

SPECIFICATIONS

OS: Windows 11 Home

Dimensions: 356.7 x 248.7 x 17 mm

Weight: 1.68kg (56 Wh Battery Version), 1.72kg (70Wh Battery Version)

Display: 16”; Type: IPS; Screen-tobody ratio: 90%; Aspect ratio: 16:10; Resolution: 1920×1200, 142ppi; Maximum Brightness: 300 nits; Color

Gamut: 100% sRGB / 45% NTSC; Contrast Ratio: 1200:1; Viewing

Angle: 178*

Graphics: Intel Iris® Xᵉ Graphics (Intel® Core™ i9-13900H), Intel® UHD Graphics (Intel® Core™ i5-12450H, Intel® Core™ i5-13420H)

Memory and Storage: 8GB/16GB; 512GB NVMe PCIe SSD, 1TB NVMe PCIe SSD

Battery: Material: Lithium polymer; Capacity: 56Wh (rated capacity) / 70Wh (rated capacity)

Connectivity: WLAN: IEEE

800.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, 2.4GHz and 5GHz, 2×2 MIMO, WPA/WPA2/ WPA3; Bluetooth: Bluetooth 5.1

Ports: USB-C x1 (support data, charging, and DisplayPort); USB3.2

Gen1 × 1 (support data, charging); USB2.0 × 1; HDMI × 1; 3.5 mm headset and microphone 2-in-1 jack × 1

Keyboard and Touchpad: 1.5 mm Key Travel, Full-size Backlit/ Non-Backlit Keyboard, Numeric keypad

Power Button: Fingerprint Power Button

Camera: 720P HD Camera

gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Basic exterior design

Webcam quality

Heats up under heavy load

WHAT'S NOT BOTTOMLINE

The MateBook D16 2024 elevates both your productivity and entertainment experience.

Audio: Microphone x2, Speaker x2

Featured Applications: HUAWEI PC Manager, Display Manager (Eye Comfort Mode), HUAWEI Factory Reset

Processor: 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i9-13900H Processor; 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-13420H Processor; 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-12450H Processor

In the Box: HUAWEI MateBook D 16, 65 W USB-C Power Adapter (integrated connection between adapter and charging cable), Quick Start Guide

Optional Accessories: Bluetooth mouse; Backpack Swift

HP SMART TANK 580

In this digital age, the question arises: have printers become anachronistic relics? As we rely more on digital communication and cloud storage, are home printers still relevant? With the new HP Smart Tank 580 Wireless All-in-One, I rediscovered the convenience of having a versatile multi-function device. It bridges the gap between the digital and tangible worlds, offering printing, scanning, and copying functionalities that streamline everyday tasks.

DESIGN

HP’s commitment to user-centric design is evident in the SmartTank 580. Following the recognition of their 2023 Smart Tank printers with a Red Dot Design Award, the HP SmartTank 580 maintains a compact and minimalistic aesthetic. The matte black plastic construction exudes a clean and professional look that blends seamlessly into most home or small office environments. Its footprint is relatively small (434.66 x 361.53 x 157.26mm) considering its ink tank system.

Paper feed is only through the rear tray, which is rated to accommodate up to 100-pages. However, for thicker paper (80gsm or more), a capacity of 30-50 pages might be more realistic.

The flatbed scanner sits on top, allowing you to scan documents and photos directly onto your computer. The control panel features a small display and a handful of buttons for basic operations like printing, copying, and scanning. Overall, the design prioritizes functionality without unnecessary frills, making it suitable for users who appreciate a no-nonsense approach.

HARDWARE

The key feature of the HP SmartTank 580 is its innovative ink tank system. Unlike traditional cartridge printers, it utilizes refillable tanks that hold a significantly larger volume of ink. This translates to ultra-low running costs – a major advantage for frequent printing. HP claims

the included ink bottles can deliver up to 6,000 black and 8,000 color prints, a substantial yield for home users.

Print speeds are decent, rated at up to 12 pages per minute (ppm) for black and white documents and 5 ppm for color prints. While not the fastest, these speeds are adequate for most home printing needs. Print quality is suitable for everyday use, producing sharp text and vivid color graphics. Photo prints might lack the detail of dedicated photo printers, but they are acceptable for casual use.

The flatbed scanner offers basic scanning capabilities and can handle documents up to A4 size. It’s sufficient for scanning documents and photos for everyday use, and its ID scanning/copying function is an added convenience.

USER EXPERIENCE

Out of the box, the HP Smart Tank 580 needs to be properly set up, following the detailed Set Up Guide. Though not overly complicated, this may present a challenge for some people. Filling up the ink tanks is quite easy and not at all messy with the non-spill, resealable ink bottles. The next step, installing the print heads (one for black, and one for color) could present some difficulty with warnings to avoid touching delicate parts. Once the printheads are aligned and the software properly installed, the HP SmartTank 580 is ready to serve.

Although not the fastest in terms of print speeds, this HP SmartTank 580 is adequate. I was able to print about 2-reams worth of pages for a project completion report, and it delivered clear, crisp, and vivid images.

Its wireless connectivity makes it easy to print documents or even photos direct from my phone or laptop, without being physically connected to the printer. In fact, I can send a print job from my laptop while watching TV in the living room and just pick up the printout whenever I want.

So to the question — are printer passe? The answer is clear: Nothing beats the convenience of having a home printer that also doubles as a scanner/ copier. While we have fewer printing requirements, there are still essential documents that need physical copies, such as official forms, legal contracts, government licenses and permits, and the like. An all-in-one device like the HP Smart Tank 580 not only gives the convenience of printing on demand, but also simplifies document management through its scanning and copying capabilities.

SPECIFICATIONS

Functions: Print, Copy, Scan

Print Speeds: up to 12ppm (black), up to 5ppm (color)

Duty Cycle: up to 3,000pp/month

Recommended Monthly Volume: 400 to 800

Print Technology: HP Thermal Inkjet

Print Quality: up to 1200x1200 rendered dpi (black), up to 4800x1200 optimized dpi (color)

Processor Speed: 980MHz

Printer Driver: HP PCL 3 GUI

Print Cartridges: 4 — black, cyan, magenta, yellow)

Connectivity: USB, WiFi

802.11b/g/n, WiFi Direct, Bluetooth

Memory: 64MB integrated DDR1

Paper Handling: input up to 100 sheets, output 30 sheets

Scanner Type: Flatbed only, scan size up to 216x297mm, scan resolution up to 1200dpi

Copy Features: resolution up to 600x600dpi, reduce/enlarge, up too 99 copies, ID copy

Dimensions(WxDxH): 434.66 x 361.53 x 157.26mm

Weight: 5.03kg

Warranty: 1year or 30,000pp

The HP SmartTank 580’s biggest selling point is its budget-friendly operation. The initial price tag might be slightly higher than some traditional cartridge printers, but the included high-yield ink bottles and refillable ink system significantly reduce the cost per page. On the Lazada official HP Flagship Store, the HP SmartTank 580 is listed with an SRP of PHP11,200. Replacement inks are affordable as well, with black ink costing PHP275 and colored inks (cyan, magenta, and yellow) priced at PHP290 each, bringing the total for all four inks to just over PHP1,000. This translates to significant savings over time, especially for users who print frequently.

WHAT'S NOT BOTTOMLINE VALUE

The HP SmartTank 580 offers a well-rounded

WHAT'S HOT

Refillable ink tank system

Good print quality

Wireless, mobile printing

All-in-one functionality

Basic features

Rear input tray only

REVIEWED BY MARIBELLE ALBA

FORD TERRITORY

TITANIUM X

A year after its launch, the Ford Territory Titanium X continues to be a serious contender in the compact crossover SUV segment. Here’s our take on this ‘techie’ vehicle.

DESIGN EQUIPMENT

The front fascia of the Ford Territory Titanium X commands attention with its hexagonal grille. Flanked by sleek LED headlights, its daytime running lights (DRLs) create a striking signature. The substantial bumper adds ruggedness without compromising elegance.

Moving to the side profile, character lines flow gracefully, emphasizing the sleek silhouette. Prominent wheel arches and black cladding contribute to its robust appearance, with 19-inch alloy wheels completing the look. The rear design is clean and uncluttered, with LED taillights wrapping around the corners and a subtle roof spoiler adding a sporty touch.

Stepping inside the cabin reveals an interior with a tasteful mix of soft-touch materials and leather, creating a premium feel beyond what’s expected in this segment and price range. Storage options are plentiful, with cubbies and cup holders scattered throughout the cabin, perfect for stowing away drinks, phones, and other essentials. For longer trips, a hidden compartment under the cargo floor provides additional storage space.

Ford hasn’t skimped on equipping the Territory Titanium X — in my opinion, surpassing category standards. It comes with a panoramic sunroof, a fully digital instrument cluster that can be customized to display various driving information, and a large touchscreen infotainment system. The system is user-friendly and

responsive, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto for generally seamless smartphone integration, although I experienced occasional glitches with Apple CarPlay dropping the connection when moving between cell sites or in areas with poor signals.

The Territory Titanium X boasts a number of thoughtful convenience features. I particularly appreciate the built-in air anion generator with PM2.5 monitoring, which offers the health benefits of reducing allergens and pollutants, neutralizing odor, and improving alertness. The power liftgate for hands-free access to the trunk is also a great add-on.

Safety is obviously a top priority for Ford, and the Territory Titanium X is wellequipped in that department with six airbags, anti-lock brakes with traction control, hill launch assist and rollover mitigation, and a security alarm system, among others. An advanced driver-assist technology suite comes standard, including a high-definition 360-degree camera, adaptive cruise control, active park assist, blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, tire pressure monitoring, forward collision warning, autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, and collision mitigation system. These features can help prevent accidents and give you peace of mind on the road.

USER EXPERIENCE

Climbing into the Territory Titanium X reveals a spacious and comfortable cabin. The front seats offer ample support and adjustability, perfect for long drives. The driver’s seat even comes with 10-way power adjustments and lumbar support for added comfort. Both front driver and passenger seats are ventilated, keeping you cool and dry in the sweltering summer heat.

On the road, the Territory Titanium X delivers a smooth and quiet ride. The cabin is well-insulated from road noise and wind, making for a peaceful driving experience.

The 1.5L EcoBoost turbocharged engine provides sufficient power for daily commutes and highway cruising. The 7-speed dual-clutch transmission is generally smooth on long stretches but can be hesitant at low speeds and in stop-andgo traffic. To manage expectations, it is best to remember that the Territory Titanium X seems to prioritize a comfortable and composed ride over responsiveness and sporty handling.

The Territory Titanium X also boasts several features that enhance the user experience. The available ambient lighting allows you to personalize the cabin atmosphere, while the dual-zone climate control ensures everyone stays comfortable

regardless of their temperature preferences. The rear seats also come with their own USB charging ports, keeping devices powered up for long journeys.

VALUE

The 2024 Ford Territory Titanium X is competitively priced at PHP1,599,000, offering a strong value proposition. I did not have sufficient time with the vehicle to adequately assess fuel efficiency, which some claim is not the Territory’s strongest suit, but its feature-rich interior, comfortable ride, comprehensive safety package, and overall modern design make it a compelling choice for families and city dwellers.

HYCAN REVS UP THE EV MARKET

The Philippine automotive scene is abuzz with the arrival of HYCAN, a leading Chinese electric vehicle (EV) brand. Transcorp, a subsidiary of Sinoequip and Transequip, has been appointed the official distributor, bringing a wave of eco-friendly transportation options to Filipino drivers.

HYCAN isn’t just entering the market; they’re making a statement with three innovative models: the Z03 crossover, the A06 Plus sedan, and the V09 MPV.

Z03 Crossover: Comfort and Range Redefined

City dwellers, rejoice! The Z03 crossover boasts an impressive 620km range, perfect for conquering daily commutes without range anxiety. But the Z03 goes beyond practicality. It prioritizes comfort with features like 180-degree reclining front seats, a class-leading 2750mm wheelbase, and spacious legroom.

Performance meets efficiency: The Z03 packs a punch with a 160kW motor that delivers exhilarating 0-100 km/h acceleration in just 6.9 seconds. This doesn’t come at the expense of eco-friendliness. HYCAN’s Intelligent Battery Management System ensures optimal battery health, while the 3.3kW V2L function lets you power devices on the go.

The Z03 is a technological marvel too. Enjoy a seamless driving experience with a rotary knob gear shift and a modern infotainment system. Leatherette seats and 18-inch aluminum rims add a touch of sophistication.

A06 Plus Sedan: Innovation at Your Fingertips

The A06 Plus sedan raises the bar for electric sedans. Safety is a priority with features like automatic rain-sensing wipers and dual front airbags. It caters to individual preferences with an adjustable braking energy recovery system.

Tech lovers will be impressed. The A06 Plus boasts a monochrome touch multi-functional steering wheel and a large 14.6-inch central control screen. Stay connected and entertained with a surround sound system and ventilated front seats.

Performance and efficiency go hand-in-hand. The A06 Plus offers a 520km CLTC pure electric range and impressive fast charging capabilities. Experience a smooth ride with the MacPherson front and five-link rear suspension. Paddle shifters and responsive handling make every drive engaging.

V09 MPV: Luxury Meets Performance

Get ready to be chauffeured in style with the V09 MPV. This luxurious electric vehicle prioritizes comfort with premium Nappa leather seats inspired by aviation zero-gravity concepts. High-definition displays and a 22-speaker sound system elevate every journey.

Power and efficiency are seamlessly combined. The V09 boasts a 202kW permanent magnet synchronous motor and a 620km CLTC pure electric cruising range. Advanced safety features and a 360-degree surround view camera ensure peace of mind for the whole family.

The V09 is designed for modern families. Adaptable seating configurations and a portable table in the second row provide ultimate flexibility.

HYCAN’s arrival marks a new era in Philippine electric mobility. With three innovative models to choose from, there’s a HYCAN for every Filipino driver seeking a sustainable, comfortable, and technologically advanced driving experience.

2024 MAZDA CX-5

Redefining the segment with heightened levels of style, performance, and craftsmanship, the new CX-5 range is made for those who live their lives by their own rules.

“As the best-selling model in Mazda Philippines’ line-up, the CX-5 remains a centerpiece of Mazda engineering,” shares Steven Tan, president and CEO of Mazda Philippines.

The 2024 CX-5 range now shares the same updated KODO design language that first debuted on the 2.5L AWD Turbo. The new interpretation brings more dynamism and deeper emotional appeal that convey luxury and quality.

The new three-dimensional grille and more robust yet elegant signature wing design bring a sense of confidence to the CX-5. The impression of a floating front end creates a touch of depth that echoes the passion imbued in the new design. Showcasing the “less is more” Japanese aesthetic, the new CX-5 range has simplified bumper elements resembling a sculpted form, echoing the same design ethos found in the Mazda3 and CX-30.

Complementing the new fascia, the new CX-5 range has revised headlamp and taillamp designs with LED technology for maximum vision at night. Together with the Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS) with Auto Leveling and High Beam Control, safer journeys are realized. Reinforcing its signature look, the new quad LED daytime running lights and LED rear signature taillamps project a wider, sportier stance.

The new CX-5 range also features revised alloy wheel designs. The 2.0L Sport has 17-inch Silver Metallic Aluminum Alloy Wheels, moving up to 19-inch Diamond Cut Aluminum Alloy Wheels on the 2.5L AWD Sport. The 2.5L AWD Turbo retains its 19inch Bright Silver Aluminum Alloy Wheels.

Further fortifying its solid one-piece presence, the 2.5L AWD Turbo’s claddings are painted in the same shade as the body. This creates a truly eyecatching form that reflects the interplay of light and shadow.

Continuing with Mazda’s HumanCentric development, the CX-5 range adopts principles first used by SkyactivVehicle Architecture. This starts with the new seat design which preserves the spine’s natural S-shaped curve. This results in less head movement, making it easier for drivers to maintain a stable line of sight and for passengers to sit in relaxed comfort all throughout the drive. Likewise, a reinforced body frame using damping adhesives lessens the intrusion of vibrations and sound into the cabin.

Increased rigidity in the seat frame mounts likewise reduces the need for occupants to manually keep their balance, while re-tuned spring and damper characteristics in the suspension also help mitigate the occupants’ discomfort and relieve them of physical burden when driving over bumpy roads. Complementing all these developments is the more distinctive cabin quietness achieved through a new floor panel design that minimizes resonance of road and tire noise.

The seats are finished in Black Leather with Orange Stitching on the 2.0L Sport

and 2.5L AWD Sport. The 2.5L AWD Turbo elevates this experience further with its Deep Red Nappa Leather seats. All variants feature 10-way power adjustment for the driver and 6-way power adjust for the front passenger seat, with the 2.5L AWD Turbo getting standard front seat ventilation.

Seamless smartphone connectivity is guaranteed with the CX-5’s 8-inch Mazda Connect infotainment system. For 2024, the entire range comes standard with the added convenience of wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless device charging, in addition to Android Auto connectivity.

Across the range, the 7-inch LCD display is updated with dedicated graphics for each drive mode, while the windshield-projected Active Driving Display continues to provide essential driving data within the driver’s line of sight. The premium 10-speaker Bose

sound system plays every soundtrack with high fidelity, while an electric sunroof on the 2.5L AWD Sport and 2.5L AWD Turbo brightens up the cabin and allows fresh air to permeate in the living space.

The 40-20-40 split-folding of the rear seatbacks allows long objects to be stored along the length of the CX-5 while maximizing seating options for passengers. A power liftgate makes access and loading easier, while a raised cargo level with a dividing floor unlocks possibilities for various loading options. A reversible cargo floor, with one side being water-proof, makes it easy and convenient to clean spills and residue from weekend getaways to the beach, trails, campsite, or any other adventure.

For 2024, the new CX-5 range is powered by a family of Skyactiv-G engines, all of which offer excellent real-world performance and fuel economy.

The 2.0L Sport is powered by the 2.0-liter Skyactiv-G engine with 155PS at 6,000rpm and 200Nm at 4,000rpm. The 2.5L AWD Sport bumps that up to 190PS at 6,000rpm and 252Nm at 4,000rpm. Finally, the 2.5L AWD Turbo’s Skyactiv-G 2.5T engine still makes it the most powerful offering in its class with up to 253PS at 5,000rpm and 434Nm from as low as 2,000rpm. All engines are mated to the proven six-speed Skyactiv-Drive automatic with paddle shifters.

On the 2.5L AWD Sport and 2.5L AWD Turbo, the advanced Mazda i-Activ AllWheel Drive system enhances safety and improves drivability. The system provides valuable grip on all four wheels as needed over a variety of surfaces, without the penalty of increased fuel consumption as found in mechanical AWD systems.

Making use of various sensors and systems in the car to measure wheel speed, traction, road direction, angle, and even weather, the

CX-5’s i-Activ AWD system can proactively control the distribution of torque and secure take-off, acceleration, cornering, and braking, without letting the tires slip in any direction—forward, backward, or sideways.

Off-Road Traction Assist, integrated into the new Mazda Intelligent Drive Select (Mi-Drive) in the 2.5L AWD Sport, maximizes available traction by reducing power and applying brakes to the spinning wheels to help the vehicle regain grip and free itself from getting stuck in mud, sand, gravel, and other challenging terrain.

The range comes with standard Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Traffic Alert, while the 2.5L AWD Turbo uses its millimeter wave radar and camera to offer advanced i-Activsense driver assist features. Mazda Radar Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning with Lane-Keep Assist, Smart Brake Support, front and rear Smart City Brake Support, and Driver Attention Alert all work together to create a safer, more confident driving environment.

Together with front and rear parking sensors and a 360-degree camera, the new CX-5 enhances driver awareness for an even more pleasurable, convenient, and safe drive wherever the destination may be.

Mazda Philippines has priced the CX-5 range starting at PHP 1,950,000 for the CX-5 2.0L Sport. The CX-5 2.5L AWD Sport is priced at PHP2,050,000, while the CX-5 2.5L AWD Turbo is priced at PHP2,430,000.

It is available in 9 colors. Soul Red Crystal, Machine Gray, Polymetal Gray, Deep Crystal Blue, and Jet Black are available across all variants, while Snowflake White Pearl and the new Platinum Quartz are available on the 2.0L Sport and 2.5L AWD Sport. Rhodium White Premium and Zircon Sand are exclusive to the 2.5L AWD Turbo.

YAMAHA PH RACING TEAM BEGINS ARRC CAMPAIGN WITH PODIUM VICTORIES

Shortly after introducing their racing teams and declaring their goal to win it all, Yamaha Motor Philippines is off to a good start in round 1 of the Asia Road Racing Championship by securing podium finishes in both the SS600 and UB150 categories. The victories show the efficiency of an upgraded racing program to further develop riders and machines to compete at the highest level and create champions.

Bannering the Circuit Racing Team is McKinley Kyle Paz who is now racing under the Yamaha Tekhne Racing Team Asia in the

SS600 Category. After an average showing in Race 1 where he finished 9th, the ARRC commentators were quick to note that with his talent he will surely get better as the season progresses. But ‘The WonderBoy’ would not wait that long as he churned out a 3rd place finish in race 2 which stunned his competitors. In a race which was halted due to consecutive crashes he came through unscathed and with a spot on the podium. It was not a regular season win because it marks the first ever podium finish by a Filipino in the category, another trailblazing accolade for the 22-year-old Paz.

In an interview, he revealed that he became very emotional right after crossing the finish line. With tears in his eyes, he stated ‘Pagtawid ko ng finish line, di ako makapaniwala. matagal ko pinangarap to yung maka podium sa six hundred. Matagal ko pinangarap to kaya pag tawid na pag tawid ko kusa na ako na iyak.’ (When I crossed the finish line, I couldn’t believe it. I’ve been dreaming of this for a long time to podium in six hundred. I really longed for this so when I crossed, I just started to cry.) Paz holds the 4th overall spot in the SS600 category after the 1st round.

In the UB150 category, it was the same case for April King Mascardo who is still seeking to bring back the UB150 title to Filipino hands. The “RocketBoy’ had a steady showing in Race 2 where he finished 8th but it was in Race 1 that demonstrated his explosive ability. Starting 7th on the grid in the always unpredictable UB150 category, it was an up-and-

down race for April gradually going in and out of the top 10. But just like his monicker, he blasted through a final corner crash in the final lap and carved his way to third place. It was a good start for the UMA MMR Yamaha Philippines Racing Team.

Teammate Gian Carlo Mauricio faced his own set of challenges during the weekend tourney but managed a 13thplace finish in Race 2 and currently sits 17th overall with Mascardo at 6th overall after the 1st round of the UB150 Category.

The Yamaha Philippines Racing Team will have a short break on home soil before focusing on Round 2 at the Zhuhai International Circuit in China on April 19-21.

Stay updated by following Yamaha on socials:

Website: www.yamaha-motor.com.ph

FB: facebook.com/yamaharacingph

IG: instagram.com/yamahaphilippines

YT: youtube.com/yamahamotorphils

TT: tiktok.com/yamahamotorph

Twitter: twitter.com/YamahaMotorPH

PETRON ANNOUNCES ‘ WIN MILYUN-MILYONG LAZADA CREDITS ’ RAFFLE PROMO

INVITES LOYAL CUSTOMERS TO STAY UPDATED THRU PETRON REWARDS FACEBOOK PAGE

Industry leader PETRON Corporation ramps up the excitement with its loyal customers with the launch of the Win Milyun-Milyong Lazada Credits raffle promo on the Petron Rewards Facebook Page.

In addition to the endless opportunities and rewards exclusive to Petron Value Card (PVC) holders, 600 lucky winners will be drawn to receive Php 10,000 Lazada Credits to fuel their shopping sprees.

Here’s why you shouldn’t miss this promo:

• Millions of Lazada Credits Up for Grabs: Imagine all the things you can buy with Php 10,000 worth of Lazada Credits! From gadgets and clothes to car accessories and sports gear, the possibilities are endless.

• Easy to Join, Easy to Win: Every time you gas up, get a lube change, or buy something at a Petron station or outlet, you automatically earn raffle entries! The more you spend, the more chances you have of winning.

• Weekly Winners: Winners of the Lazada Credits will be drawn every week, giving you multiple chances for you to be a winner!

Don’t wait! Here’s how to join the Petron Win MilyunMilyong Lazada Credits Raffle Promo:

1. Make sure you have a Petron Value Card: If you don’t have one yet, you may head to any Petron station to purchase one for a minimal fee.

2. Update your PVC Information: Ensure your name, mobile number, and mailing address are updated. Call the Petron Value Card hotline at (02) 8802-7777 for any concerns.

3. Fill Up, Shop Around, and Win! Every transaction at a Petron station earns you raffle entries. The more you spend, the more entries you get!

Tune in for more exciting promos and rewards! Like and follow the Petron Rewards Facebook Page (@PetronRewards) for exclusive content, deals, and updates on future Petron promos.

This promo runs from April 8 to June 6, 2024. Don’t miss this chance to win big! Visit your nearest Petron station today and start fueling your Lazada dreams!

For full promo mechanics, visit https://www.petron.com/ petron-value-card/.

Avid car enthusiasts from all over the globe associate the name ‘Brembo’ with delivering the best and most reliable brakes for car racers. However, common vehicle owners know that the brand is also available for their requirements.

BREMBO BRAKES

Brembo’s history defines the evolution of braking. The Italian company began making disc brake conversion kits for cars in 1961. In the 1970s, it shifted to developing brake systems for motorcycles, which rose in popularity during that era. In 1975, the brand entered Formula 1, thanks to Enzo Ferrari, who personally asked Brembo to design the brake system for Ferrari’s then-latest racing vehicle.

In the 1980s, Brembo emerged as the brake system supplier for premium racing car Porsche. Not surprisingly, the brand has been developing brakes for other racing series since then. It has also become a standard choice for highperformance road cars — creating a unique market that caters to both worlds.

For more than 60 years, Brembo has made history by taking a growth path paved with technological, sports, and commercial milestones. No wonder it has taken the status of a braking authority not just in its home market in Italy but also worldwide. In fact, in many countries, the name has become synonymous with ‘brakes’, especially for the most meticulous and sophisticated car enthusiasts.

Brembo as a solution provider

After conquering markets across Europe, North America, and Asia, Brembo has been gearing up for a new journey towards becoming an authority as a Solution Provider, facilitating the integration of digital and sustainable automotive products and services.

In the Philippines, Brembo has started making waves as a top choice for the replacement of brake discs and pads. The brand is also expanding its local portfolio of products offered to highly

discerning Filipino automotive enthusiasts through Philippine distributor BSB Junrose.

“Brembo seamlessly aligns with our company’s mantra, ‘good enough isn’t good enough,’ this, we confidently carry the brand through our partner stores and esteemed dealers,” said Ian Bangayan, president of BSB Junrose Corporation.

Brembo’s strategic vision

“The strategic vision, ‘Turning Energy into Inspiration’ is anchored on Brembo’s extensive experience in its over 60-year history. Interestingly, BSB Junrose also relies on our own 55-year expertise, which drives us to constantly settle for nothing less,” Bangayan added.

BSB Junrose commits to bringing the best of Brembo, not just through distributing the products but also through helping local automakers and consumers understand and appreciate the benefits brought to the table by Brembo’s cutting-edge braking technology. Ask the personnel in the company’s dealer stores and they will accurately identify key points and highlight the pros and cons, to the utmost benefit of customers.

“Our customers are constantly exploring for the best possible options. Surprisingly, in the past few months, several owners of entry-level vehicles are considering Brembo products. Truly, the brand is not exclusive to just high-end cars. We believe that every car deserves a Brembo,” Bangayan concluded.

Visit any of BSB Junrose’s locations or dealers nationwide to inquire about and purchase Brembo products. You may also check out BSB Junrose’s FB Page or text/call 0917 165 8111.

A CELEBRATION OF COMMUNITY, SAFETY, AND POWER

OVER A THOUSAND strong, Suzuki Raider R150 riders roared their engines to life for an unforgettable adventure –the Suzuki Raider Big Ride! This unique event combined celebrating the Raider’s dominance as the “Underbone King” with promoting safe riding practices.

The 44-kilometer journey commenced at the Suzuki Caloocan Cyclemar 3S Shop on March 23, 2024. As dawn approached, riders from Calabarzon, NCR, Bulacan, and Pampanga gathered, their excitement palpable.

The massive convoy snaked its way through Metro Manila, a testament to the Raider’s popularity. Riders navigated Edsa, Roxas Boulevard, and even enjoyed a thrilling stretch on the Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) – a first for a large group of small-displacement motorcycles in Manila. The ride culminated at the Bacoor Coliseum in Molino, where the festivities continued.

Safety First: The event wasn’t just about power. Suzuki emphasized the importance of safe riding with a dedicated segment hosted by DJ Tanya Tsinita. Riders tested their knowledge of traffic laws and regulations, ensuring a responsible and enjoyable experience for all.

Celebrating the Community: The camaraderie amongst riders was evident throughout the day. Suzuki’s partners, including Racing Boy Philippines, AV Moto Sales, HJC Helmets, Shinko Tires, Triumph JT Marketing Corporation, and Ryzen Helmets from Team Graphitee, showered riders with exciting raffle prizes. The grand prize, a brand-new V-STROM 250 SX, went to John Erickson Martel from the R150 All Star Nation, adding to the celebratory atmosphere.

Suzuki’s Commitment: The presence of Suzuki executives, led by president Koichiro Hirao, solidified the brand’s dedication to fostering a vibrant motorcycle community in the Philippines. Their partnership with various government agencies, including the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Highway Patrol Group, ensured a smooth and safe ride.

Join the Thrill: The Suzuki Raider Big Ride stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the Raider R150. If you’re interested in joining the Suzuki family, reach out to their official social media pages or visit mc.suzuki.com.ph to explore the world of Suzuki motorcycles.

Gaming

DEVELOPER(S) Question LLC, Black Forest Games PUBLISHER THQ Nordic PLATFORM(S) PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

Words by Jose Alvarez

For close to 30 years, South Park has been a staple of animated comedy television. From absurdist toilet humor to satirical commentary on current events, creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone have given us laughs and laughs. For me, it made me think about the way we view humor to this day. As for video games? Early on, they were hit or miss (mostly miss) with several console and mobile games, but The Stick of Truth (2014) and The Fractured but Whole (2017) had been solid RPG-style games that continued the laughs. Can South Park: Snow Day! be yet another solid entry in the current generation of South Park games?

Snow Day! has you back in the shoes of the New Kid and takes place immediately after the last two South Park installments. A heavy blizzard ensues, with the kids getting the snow day Cartman wanted, and the kids’ imaginations run wild as you play through the game, with the New Kid again at the plot’s epicenter. The rules have changed since last time, so you’ll have to know and get used to them again.

For starters, South Park is always best in 2D, and the move to 3D took me aback. While previous games such as South Park (1998) and South Park Rally (2000) were also in 3D, these games were not well-received. The gameplay often harked back to those games which is why I immediately took a dislike to the transition to 3D. According to Stone himself, moving back to 3D allowed the development team more flexibility in how the game world was built. “Creating a game on a 2D plane is really, really hard when you think about what you have to work with,” he said. While the game uses Unreal Engine, the 3D assets look like something lifted from VRChat or Roblox—a telling sign from a game that has the backing of a powerful brand such as South Park

You can customize the New Kid in any way you want, including giving the New Kid custom emotes. There are talent trees requiring Dark Matter (DM), which are used to purchase perks, and Toilet Paper (TP), which is used to purchase cards from Jimmy on each quest. You have to use TP at each level as it resets after each run. Don’t like the cards Jimmy gives you? You can bribe him with 75 TP to reshuffle the cards. You can also acquire cards from Henrietta, one of the Goth Kids, which give you pretty powerful non-conformist magic such as being granted 100 TP. DM can be found anywhere in a level, either on the ground, in treasure chests, or as enemy drops (harder enemies award more DM). Platinum Points (PP) can be used to purchase cosmetics for the New Kid.

BS cards can be incredibly useful. Some include granting invisibility or taking out large packs of enemies, but enemies can also get BS cards—one that was incredibly annoying was the inability to use melee weapons, as I relied heavily on them to get through the game. One particularly useful card lets you get more TP from enemies, which allows you in turn to bribe Jimmy to reshuffle the deck in case you want to get a card that suits your playstyle. You can also upgrade your weapons and powers as you see fit.

The humor that made me burst out laughing watching the show and the previous RPG installments is noticeably absent in this game. While I did crack a smile from time to time, nothing really had me bursting at the seams. Thankfully, the game was rather short compared to the other installments, but this was a huge dropped ball for an iconic comedy franchise and reminded me of the time when I saw Space Jam: A New Legacy in theaters—a classic franchise that failed to deliver on the potential it had.

For a great and funny franchise like South Park, South Park: Snow Day! misses more than it hits. You’ll need to be a die-hard fan to really like the game. For those who have followed the show since the beginning, it gets even harder to stomach knowing that this game mimics the old console games. While it’s good for one run, it’s probably best to wash down the disappointment that this game brings with some classic South Park episodes.

While you can now play with friends, were the sacrifices of story, humor, and gameplay worth it?

First, you can join any chapter or difficulty mode if the host made it public. You can also even adjust for spoilers—but in a game this short, would you really need to? While the idea of playing with friends in a South Park game can be fun, the switch to 3D (at least for me) doesn’t make it right, especially with my memories of playing the older console South Park games.

Better Job Matches Powered by AI

Jobstreet by SEEK launches Better Matches campaign, to connect talent with jobs that match their level

SEEK, the company that operates Asia’s online employment marketplace Jobstreet and Jobsdb, recently announced the launch of its region-wide AI-driven Better Matches campaign in Asia. The creative campaign spotlights Jobstreet by SEEK’s ability to use world-class AI to empower talent and deliver better job matches than ever before.

The creative campaign features a series of animated videos that feature AIlike animals working in mismatched jobs that do not align with their inherent traits, leading to unforeseen circumstances. The animal theme symbolizes the increasingly complex jungle of talent and job seeking that both employers and talents have expressed in multiple surveys and online publications.

In the first video of the series, a giraffe is seen taking on the job of a taxi driver who has a female passenger in labor, asking to immediately be taken to the hospital. Being a long-necked animal, the giraffe couldn’t hear them from below, so Jobstreet by SEEK comes to the rescue to match him up with a role that fits his abilities better, where he can use his height to his advantage.

The series portrays an artistic analogy, inspiring people that finding better

matches is key to a fulfilled career life with the help of the right platform.

The Better Matches campaign is part of SEEK’s overall effort to connect the right people with the right opportunities across Asia, following the merger of its APAC employment marketplaces –SEEK, Jobstreet and Jobsdb. It intends to present Jobstreet’s new and improved platform as the latest digital solution to this growing problem through utilizing AI technology to deliver more access to opportunities, talent, providing more useful features and personalization.

“The ‘Better Matches’ campaign is our creative and unique take on leading

more jobseekers to better matching jobs that best suit their specific skills, job roles, and career aspirations. That is why Jobstreet by SEEK continues to innovate to cater to the new age of the job market, helping hirers and candidates get the best talent and roles for them respectively,” Dannah Majarocon, Managing Director, Philippines, Jobstreet by SEEK.

The integrated campaign will be broadcast across various platforms, including social media, television, outdoor and Jobstreet by SEEK owned channels. It will also be rolled out in the other markets where SEEK has a presence.

JAMES DYSON AWARD 2024

Call for entries

The James Dyson Award is open for entries until July 17, 2024, offering winners a chance to secure a portion of a global prize fund

Established in 2005, the competition has now supported over 400 young inventors with more than PHP71 million in prize money, and more than two-thirds of past global winners have pursued the commercialization of their ideas. The International Winner and Global Sustainability Winner will scoop PHP2.1 million to support their next steps, while PHP348,000 is offered to each National Winner in the 30 markets where the Award is run.

Young inventors’ ideas have the potential for global impact

Open to all engineering and design students and recent graduates, the Award seeks ambitious designs that address a global issue, from cancer diagnosis to natural disasters. With global recognition offered to an International Winner and a Sustainability Winner, past winners include an off-road ambulance trailer to

rescue the wounded from conflict zones, a wearable biomedical device for painfree, low-cost intraocular pressure (IOP) testing device for glaucoma, and a device to control bleeding from stab wounds.

Sir James Dyson, founder and chief engineer, said: “The world needs more doers – problem-solvers, not grandstanders, who are ready to take on the problems of our time. Every year the James Dyson Award gives young people a platform for their medical and environmental inventions, and much more besides. It’s their ‘wrong thinking’ that leads to breakthroughs, whether it’s the development of a new sustainable material, or the application of clever engineering principles to help improve people’s lives. I look forward to seeing what new inventions this year’s Award brings!”

Past winners go on to achieve substantial success

Previous recipients of the Award have gone on to great success thanks to the global media exposure and injection of funds that the prize offers. Last year’s

Philippines national James Dyson Award winner attempts to solve the problem of limited access to STEM resources, by creating Make-roscope, an affordable and portable keychain that converts any smartphone or tablet into a microscope, giving students an easy access to the microscopic world.

Today, Jeremy has achieved commercial success with an expanded online business for the Make-roscope, and has onboarded a distributor to bring his invention onto the shelves of leading stores in the country. He was also selected by the Royal Academy of Engineering to be among global innovators joining the Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) program for 2024, with an opportunity to receive a hybrid package of business support and training that will culminate in a UK residential mission.

De Leon says: “Because of the James Dyson Award, we will expand our goal of reaching not just Filipino students, but every student in the world, so they will be engaged in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and we

will have more researchers, scientists, engineers, innovators, and especially change makers.”

Other past winners around the world have included:

AuREUS (Philippines) – an evolution for walls/windows, and uses technology synthesized from upcycled crop waste to absorb stray UV light from sunlight and convert it to clean renewable electricity.

The Golden Capsule (South Korea) – a hands-free intravenous (IV) device designed for disaster zones, which can be strapped to the patient and does not rely on gravity.

HOPES (Singapore) – a wearable device for pain-free, low-cost glaucoma testing that patients can do at home.

PlasticScanner (Netherlands) – an opensource scanning device to help fight plastic waste by detecting what type of plastic an item is.

BlueBox (Spain) – an at-home cancer screening solution designed to encourage more women to test for breast cancer.

mOm incubators (UK) – a low-cost collapsible, portable infant incubator, which has been successfully used to save babies’ lives in Ukraine.

National winners and runners-up will be whittled down to a global Top 20 by a panel of expert Dyson engineers across different disciplines, and finally Sir James Dyson himself will pick the best.

The National Winners will be announced on September 11, the global Top 20 shortlist on October 16, and Global Winners on November 13.

“The world needs more doers –problem-solvers, not grandstanders, who are ready to take on the problems of our time. Every year the James Dyson Award gives young people a platform for their medical and environmental inventions, and much more besides.”

Reimagine Teamwork with Zoom Workplace

Zoom Workplace, the company’s AI-powered collaboration platform, will deliver new innovations to help businesses reimagine teamwork, facilitate connections, improve productivity, and optimize flexible work experiences. Zoom Workplace will elevate the Zoom experience with Zoom AI Companion so that all employees within a company can be more productive, collaborate better, and enhance their skills.

With the introduction of Zoom Workplace, Zoom is unveiling a refreshed user experience with more choices, including the ability to choose from four color themes within the Zoom app, so users can make the app their own. Hosts will also have the opportunity to tailor customized virtual meeting backgrounds to tailor the feel or focus of the meeting.

“With Zoom, there aren’t any challenges with implementing complex tools, so we can focus on engaging our employees and collaborating on the work that matters,” said Diofanto Rosales, vice president of digital workplace and IT infrastructure at Flex. “Zoom Workplace will bring all our essential work tools together in a single app, making it easier than ever to get work done.”

For Zoom Meetings, users will see a new Meetings tab within the Zoom app that will allow users to collaborate before, during, and after meetings. It supports traditional calendar views and serves as the central place for agendas, recordings, and other shared assets such as documents, and AI Companion smart recordings, and meeting summaries. Last year Zoom introduced continuous meeting chat, which helps users continue chat conversations so collaboration can continue outside of meetings asynchronously and throughout the life of a project. With the new Meetings tab, users can access continuous meeting chats from the Meeting card before and after the meeting.

During meetings, the new multi-speaker view will automatically adapt the video layout to highlight active speakers to help attendees follow the discussion more easily. AI-powered portrait lighting will help illuminate users’ faces in poor lighting, and generative AI virtual backgrounds will allow users to create custom backgrounds.

Additional new features for Meetings will include a customizable toolbar that will allow users to pin their most-used features, multi-share, which will allow multiple participants to share their screens and documents, whiteboards, and notes simultaneously, and document collaboration that will provide the ability to select documents, streamline document access permissions, and co-edit right from meetings with documents from third-party apps.

In Zoom Team Chat, asynchronous communication will be boosted by Team Chat tabs that will help users stay organized by keeping channelrelated assets like links, whiteboards, and resources in a single view, shared spaces that provide a shared grouping of channels to help users better organize conversations and improve discoverability of relevant project or team-based topics, and workflow automation, a powerful, nocode workflow engine, will be easily configurable to automate business tasks in Team Chat.

For hybrid and onsite organizations, navigating the office will be easier than ever with the introduction of a Workspaces tab, providing access to Workspace Reservation with wayfinding and Visitor Management directly from the Zoom Workplace app. To help make meetings more inclusive, Zoom Rooms will include the option to enable new smart name tags, which will be able to automatically apply name tags to people in a Zoom Room during a meeting.

When one screen isn’t enough, users will be able to expand Zoom Rooms with a companion device for an additional screen to collaborate with audio and video. For Workvivo customers, a new integration with Zoom Rooms will provide the ability to instantly broadcast important updates, news, and events to employees using Workvivo TV with certified devices for Zoom Rooms.

“Businesses are looking for AI-powered solutions that will help them move the dial by boosting employee productivity

and team collaboration,” said Zeus Kerravala, Principal Analyst at ZK Research. “Zoom’s newest innovations, including its release of Zoom Workplace and Ask AI Companion, demonstrate its commitment to deploying AI that is intuitive and effective across one platform to improve productivity and collaboration.”

At launch, Zoom One bundles will be rebranded as Zoom Workplace bundles, giving new and existing customers simple pricing for our different offerings.

Transnational Education

A Practical Path to Global Credentials

Across the globe, the younger generations are looking to pursue higher education and attain global credentials to better their personal and professional advancements. However, most of them face obstacles and challenges, including academic pressure, time commitment, and economic bias. For Filipinos, transnational education (TNE) could hold the answer.

What is Transnational Education?

An alternative to the traditional studying abroad route, TNE is typically

a partnership between a foreign university and a local institution in the student’s home country. This means you don’t need to spend your time entirely abroad to finish the program. For example, students can study in the Philippines and obtain two qualifications: one from the Philippines and the other from the UK university.

The British Council connects universities from the United Kingdom and the Philippines, allowing them to work together to develop TNE programs in specialized disciplines that

are either unavailable or limited in the Philippines. Some examples are the MSc in Robotics Engineering offered by De La Salle University and Liverpool Hope University, and the MRes Tropical Biological Oceanography offered by Silliman University and Newcastle University.

These niche areas allow Filipino students to specialize in disciplines that are not yet widely available, gaining a competitive edge in their chosen fields while providing them with a global perspective. Moreover, these

partnerships provide local universities with more capacities and resources to build the knowledge pool centered on these niche disciplines over a longer term, allowing them to contribute to national sustainable development.

Why Choose the UK: Real Success Stories from TNE Graduates

Wherever you are in the world, having a degree from the UK instantly opens doors. Known for its prestigious universities and high-quality education system, four of the top ten universities in the world are located in the UK (according to the QS World University Rankings 2024).

But studying in the UK isn’t just about receiving an exemplary education. It creates access to valuable work placements and internships, bridging the gap between theory and applied expertise. UK graduates are amongst the most employable in the world because they not only emerge with impressive credentials but also bring real-world experience that resonates with employers worldwide. Just take it from

these Filipino TNE graduates who have found success after completing their UK education:

“The TNE programme allowed me to learn more about various cultures,” says Brian James Chiu, an architect and professor at the University of Santo Tomas. “It helped foster a deeper appreciation for different points of view, which is particularly true in education and the academic environment.”

Chiu was part of the first cohort of the dual Ph.D. in architecture program, a joint effort of the University of Reading and the University of Santo Tomas. “Studying at the University of Reading provided a unique opportunity to gain international exposure, meet brilliant people, and build lasting relationships,” he says.

Sarina Arciga, a professor at Bicol University Tabaco Campus, echoes Chiu’s sentiments. Arciga’s program, MSc in Advanced Biological Sciences specializing in Sustainable Food Systems, was a joint initiative of the University of Liverpool and Bicol University.

Apart from providing Arciga with a wider understanding of how science could be used to address sustainability issues, the program also broadened her horizons. “Getting this scholarship introduced me to experiences that are beyond the academic realm,” she says. “I consider myself blessed to be given a life-changing opportunity like this.”

Explore TNE Opportunities through the British Council Philippines

Borders don’t need to limit anyone’s potential. Graduates of TNE programs have already proven so. The British Council readily supports Philippine higher education institutions by increasing the accessibility of higher education and bridging the gap in local expertise.

With the British Council continuously working on developing and improving TNE, there are many opportunities to further academic expertise, gain international exposure, and attain global credentials for anyone who wants to broaden their perspectives.

THE CREDIT CARD FOR FILIPINO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Tailored for the Gen Z lifestyle, the new credit card offers no annual, interest, or foreign transaction fees :

In the Philippines, despite the financial industry’s recent attempts at digitalization, customers still face significant hurdles when it comes to accessing credit products. A recent study by TransUnion Philippines showed that 94% of Filipino Gen Zs see the importance of credit and lending products to reach their financial goals. Still, only 35% report having sufficient access to such products.

“If you talk to any Filipino, there’s still significant frustration with the complexity, lack of transparency, and bureaucracy embedded in financial services. Only 8% of Filipinos own a credit card, largely because it is incredibly difficult to get one if you don’t already have one,” said Danielle Cojuangco Abraham, Zed co-founder.

Complicated application processes, tedious documentation, and arbitrary underwriting methods are among the challenges that disproportionately impact young people when applying for their first credit card accounts. Those lucky to get approved face astronomical APRs, punitive fees, and a broken customer experience. These observations led to the creation of Zed, the first credit card for young Filipino professionals.

“We founded Zed on the belief that young people in the Philippines and Southeast Asia deserve better financial products, better technology, and ultimately better service tailored to their lifestyles and exceeding their expectations,” Danielle added.

Created by two Stanford engineers and Y-Combinator alumni, Zed is a credit-led neobank regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Its first offering is a Mastercard Titanium credit card that boasts no interest, no foreign transaction fees, no annual fees, and is backed by a groundbreaking app – all of which makes it the ideal credit card for everyday spending, travel, utilities, and everything in between.

“As a technology company from day one, we don’t have to pay for costly overhead like physical branches or bloated headcounts for manual, back office processes. We’re able to pass these savings on to customers in the form of no revolving interest, no fees, and excellent customer service. We started Zed on the premise that you could build financial

services where a customer’s success was a core value,” said Steve Abraham, Zed co-founder.

“Our proprietary technology platform allows us to remove the pain in traditional banking, deliver powerful first-to-market features, and provide a fair and transparent cost structure where both Zed and the customer could win,” he added.

This sentiment and Zed’s mission resonated with many Filipinos. The waitlist received almost 25,000 sign-ups within the first three weeks.

“Our business model is simple and purposely built to succeed only if our customers do. Our revenue comes from the interchange fee, a standard fee that gets charged to merchants by all banks for transactions that flow over the Mastercard network,” Steve explained.

First-in-market features tailored to the Gen Z lifestyle

Beyond no interest and no fees, the Zed card is backed by a robust and secure app that ensures that customers always have full and instant control of their expenses by giving them a real-time view of their transactions, the ability to set spending limits and access to fraud controls like the ability to lock/freeze a compromised card in the app.

Zed also puts a premium on user privacy and security by offering unlimited virtual cards: Users can generate unique credit card numbers to use with merchants, so they never have to worry about their primary card details being exposed. Zed also provides zero liability for all unauthorized transactions and protects customers from paying for charges made without their permission.

In addition to these features, customers enjoy an effortless payment experience facilitated through the app, where they can generate an InstaPay QR code to instantly settle their monthly bill from any bank app or e-wallet, ensuring stress-free on-time payments.

The streamlined application process also allows customers to complete the entire card application within minutes through the app, eliminating the need for cumbersome documentation or inperson visits to bank branches.

Zed determines smart credit limits based on current and future income, rather than outdated credit scores, traditional career profiling, or existing card limits. This approach caters to young professionals with high incomes but limited credit histories.

“At Zed, we’re reimagining what a credit card could be – smarter underwriting, groundbreaking features, no fees, and a revenue model that doesn’t rely on a customer’s failure to pay down their balance,” said Danielle.

Learn more about Zed and hop on the waitlist by visiting zed.co.

PAY IN STORES WITH THE BPI APP

In a move to enhance convenience, the BPI app proudly introduces its latest feature — Pay via QR. While scanning QR codes to pay in stores has been mostly associated with other e-wallet apps, BPI seeks to change user habits and make cashless payment even easier for its clients by offering the feature right on the BPI app. BPI app users can now pay thousands of stores and restaurants directly using QR Ph codes, dropping the need to cash in to e-wallets first, simplifying the payment process.

“We are excited to introduce Pay via QR on the BPI app, providing our users with an easier way to pay merchants straight from their BPI accounts,” said Fitzgerald Chee, Head of Consumer Platforms at BPI. “They can simply open their BPI app and tap the QR icon on the upper right, then scan and pay. With this feature, customers can go cashless, without the need for wallets or cashing in to e-wallets, making payments for shopping and dining more seamless.”

It’s important to note that some stores may use QR Ph codes that are linked to personal accounts rather than merchant or business accounts. Upon scanning the QR Ph code with the BPI app, the top of the screen should say ‘Pay merchant.’ If it shows ‘Transfer to other banks,’ it means that the merchant is using a personal account, and the transaction may have interbank transfer fees.

“Through the Pay via QR feature, we aim to create awareness among our users about the convenience and benefits of using QR Ph codes for payments,” added Chee. “We encourage everyone to try this feature and experience the ease of cashless transactions with the BPI app.”

For more information on how to use the Pay via QR Ph feature on the BPI app, please visit https://www.bpi.com.ph or contact (+632) 889-10000, 1-800-18889100 (domestic toll-free for PLDT), and 63+2+889-10000 (mobile phone and international calls). Open

USING AI TO KEEP YOUTUBE SAFE

Generative AI has the potential to unlock creativity on YouTube and transform the experience for viewers and creators. But just as important, these opportunities must be balanced with the responsibility to protect the YouTube community. All content uploaded to YouTube is subject to Community Guidelines — regardless of how it’s generated — but AI will introduce new risks and will require new approaches.

YouTube is in the early stages of this work, and will continue to evolve the approach as the platform grows further. Here’s a look at what YouTube will roll out:

1. Disclosure Policy

YouTube has implemented a policy requiring creators to clearly disclose when a video has been altered or synthetically created using AI tools. This helps viewers distinguish between genuine content and potentially misleading videos. For example, this could be an AIgenerated video that realistically depicts an event that never happened, or content showing someone saying or doing something they didn’t actually do. This is especially important in cases where the content discusses sensitive topics, such as elections, ongoing conflicts and public health crises, or public officials.

2. Removal request via privacy policy

YouTube will make it possible to facilitate removal requests of AI-generated or other synthetic or altered content that simulates an identifiable individual, including their face or voice, using our privacy request process. Not all content will be removed from YouTube, and the platform will consider various factors when evaluating these requests. This could include whether the content is parody or satire, whether the person making the request can be uniquely identified, or whether it features a public official or well-known individual, in which case there may be a higher bar.

3. Deploying AI to power content moderation

YouTube has always used a combination of people and machine learning technologies to enforce our Community Guidelines, with more than 20,000 reviewers across Google operating around the world. In our systems, AI classifiers help detect potentially violative content at scale, and reviewers work to confirm whether content has actually crossed policy lines. AI is continuously increasing both the speed and accuracy of our content moderation systems.

One clear area of impact has been in identifying novel forms of abuse. When new threats emerge, our systems have relatively little context to understand and identify them at scale. But generative AI helps us rapidly expand the set of information our AI classifiers are trained on, meaning we’re able to identify and catch this content much more quickly. Improved speed and accuracy of our systems also allow us to reduce the amount of harmful content human reviewers are exposed to.

Aside from innovative product features and policies, Google and YouTube will continue to make deep investments in the area of raising awareness and education to promote critical thinking skills and help people spot misinformation. These initiatives include fact-checking workshops, content creator collaborations like “Mag-ingat” song with Ben&Ben, and media literacy organization partnerships like #YOUThink publication with CANVAS, among many others.

AI INTEGRATION INTO PH HEALTHCARE

Local tech company Advanced Abilities is making waves in the healthcare industry with its innovative line of AI-powered products. Their flagship offering, Smart Health Solutions, aims to revolutionize patient care through early detection and faster turnaround times.

“Early and accessible healthcare is key to prevention and proper treatment,” said Angelo Antonio “AA” Buendia, CEO and president of Advanced Abilities. “We’ve been developing these devices with medical experts for years, and today we’re proud to launch Smart Health Solutions, led by AI Smart Scan.”

AI Smart Scan is a portable x-ray system that utilizes artificial intelligence to detect a wide range of diseases, including tuberculosis, at record speed. This innovative system can analyze up to 200 scans in just 8 hours, significantly reducing wait times from days to mere minutes. Its software, Augmento PACS, was developed specifically for radiologists by DeepTek, a leading medical imaging AI company in India.

AI Smart Scan goes beyond just speeding up the process. The AI technology can filter normal and abnormal cases, generate reports based on initial insights, and even boasts a user-friendly interface. To ensure accuracy, the system incorporates a “responsible AI” feature that constantly monitors its performance against human radiologist findings.

Buendia highlighted the success of AI Smart Scan in Chennai City, India, where it has led to a 25-fold increase in tuberculosis detection rates. “These results can be replicated here in the Philippines,” he declared.

Advanced Abilities also unveiled other healthcare advancements:

• Absol:

A portable point-of-care rapid test kit for blood tests related to cardiac, thyroid, metabolic, and inflammatory conditions, delivering accurate results in just 5-30 minutes.

• RevDX:

Another portable device for complete blood count testing, providing quick results with a single finger prick.

Beyond healthcare, Advanced Abilities introduced a suite of new products and services:

• Policymate: An online platform acting as a digital insurance marketplace.

• P-ACE Portal:

A platform designed to manage insurance and risk management cases for the maritime industry.

• OneOFW (coming soon):

A mobile app and web portal streamlining communication and support for overseas Filipino workers.

• Advanced eSIM:

A consumer product providing seamless international connectivity through a digital SIM card embedded directly in smartphones, eliminating the need for physical SIM cards or additional Wi-Fi devices.

“We envision a future where diagnoses are fast, precise, and accessible for everyone,” concluded Buendia. “At Advanced Abilities, we’re harnessing the power of technology to make modern solutions a reality for all Filipinos.”

ENCHANTED KINGDOM REOPENS GO-KART RACE TRACK, INTRODUCES CADET KARTS FOR KIDS

Enchanted Kingdom, the first and only world-class theme park in the Philippines, reopened its 800-meter go-kart race track featuring brand new karts for kids and adults alike.

The reopening ceremony, held last February 25, 2024, was led by EK president and CEO Mario O. Mamon and Yokohama Tires Philippines vice president Vivienne Cruz. Father and son racing champions Carlos and Iñigo Anton, and international race car driver Marlon Stockinger exhibited their driving skills at the EK Fun Kart. Carlos’ eight-year-old son, Alonzo Anton, tested the cadet kart for eight to 12-year-old drivers.

“To make the ride more inclusive, EK added four cadet karts for the younger members of the family to enjoy,” Mamon shared. “We also have 12 brand new single-seaters and five two-seater karts. EK also added a new lap-timing system for more fun and friendly competition,” he added.

International race car driver Marlon Stockinger shared that he was here when EK Fun Kart first opened in 2003. “It gave me a lot of experiences, a lot

of good teachings towards my racing career. I think it’s a good place to hone your skills as a driver. So, whether you want to enjoy or bring your family - or if you want to take racing seriously eventually – this is a great training ground,” he said.

The Fun Kart, which closed for five months for renovation, boasts an enhanced building and new paint markings. It also features new tire barriers in partnership with world-class quality tires company Yokohama Tires Philippines.

“We are glad to partner with Yokohama Tires Philippines who are aligned with EK’s priority to ensure the safety of our guests to deliver a seamless and magical experience here at the park,” Mamon added.

The Fun Kart is open from Wednesdays to Sundays, from 12 noon until the park closes. Single-seater karts can be availed at PHP800, PHP950 for two-seater karts, and PHP650 for the cadet carts.

For more information about the Fun Kart and upcoming events at EK, the Enchanted Kingdom website and its official social media accounts.

HONOR MAGIC6 PRO RANKS #1 IN CAMERA GLOBAL RANKINGS

HONOR, claimed the top spot as the best camera smartphone in the recent DxOMark ranking test, dethroning its competitors, with a high-ranking score of 158.

DxOMark, an independent camera testing organization that provides comprehensive evaluation of camera performances, has awarded HONOR Magic6 Pro as the top contender in terms of global camera, battery, display, and selfie features, as of this writing.

“Another revolutionary HONOR device has remarkably stood out and we couldn’t be prouder of the innovation that our R&D and tech engineers have put in. Surely, this smartphone will upgrade the consumer’s lifestyle and embrace HONOR’s innovation,” said Stephen Cheng, vice president of HONOR Philippines.

Industry-leading Camera Performance

According to the latest DxOMark rating, HONOR Magic6 Pro delivered an outstanding performance in all

camera category tests. The device achieved a 160 score in Photo, 85 in Bokeh, 83 in Preview, 160 in Zoom, and 150 in Video.

DxOMark body elaborated why HONOR Magic6 Pro is the best smartphone camera so far. The device has vivid and natural colors in both photo and video, good detail at most zoom settings, fast and accurate autofocus in photo, nice portrait rendering with good subject segmentation in bokeh mode, wide depth of field in scenes with subjects in multiple planes, and wide dynamic range and accurate face exposure in photo and video.

It achieved excellent results across all test areas, without showing real weaknesses, and is also noticeable improvement over its predecessor HONOR Magic5 Pro, DxOMark survey says.

Three-day Battery Life

Not only was the camera praised by the DxOMark team, but they also

commended its powerful battery prowess.

The HONOR Magic6 Pro provided an excellent overall battery experience, with impressive improvements in autonomy and charging that pushed the flagship device into the top position of the Battery ranking, a rare feat for an ultra-premium smartphone.

The device is equipped with a large 5600mAh battery that can last up to 3-1/2 days of autonomy under moderate usage.

DxOMark expressed its admiration for HONOR Magic6 Pro’s battery capacity because it performed impressively in most individual test cases, including the idle screen-on, video streaming, gaming, and calling.

GREEN SWITCH: SIGNIFY PROMOTES SWITCHING TO SUSTAINABLE LIGHTING

Signify, a global leader in lighting, reaffirmed its commitment to address the challenges of climate change by launching the Green Switch initiative at the ‘Flip the Green Switch for a Sustainable Philippines’ event last March 15, 2024, in Manila.

This initiative supports national efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030, and the urgent implementation of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act by promoting energy-efficient practices among both public and private sectors. Signify is ready to support Filipinos to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, one of which is by switching from conventional lighting to energyefficient light-emitting diodes (LED) and connected lighting.

Senator Win Gatchalian, the author of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act, called for collective action at the Green Switch

launch. “The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act is crucial to our country’s energy-saving goals. While we were able to pass the law in 2019, we have a long way to go in seeing full compliance. This is why all of us, from both public and private sectors, must seek solutions that are readily available and easy to achieve such as the clean lighting we are discussing in today’s forum,” he emphasized.

The Green Switch initiative is presented to encourage real action in achieving zero carbon emissions in a fast and simple way by highlighting lighting as a pivotal tool. One of the first quick steps towards compliance and reducing energy consumption is to replace conventional lighting with LED and connected technology lamps. This can be done both indoors and outdoors and is a relatively simple process that does not require a great deal of disruption to daily operations.

During the event, Vijay Venkatsubramanian, head of specifications, ASEAN from Signify presented the latest innovations in lighting technology. He highlighted five key innovations, which included ultra-efficiency, connected lighting, Nature Connect that brings the benefits of natural light indoors by replicating the colors and intensity of natural sunlight, 3D printed light fixtures, and Solar lighting.

“At Signify, innovation and sustainability are the main pillars of our business strategy. The Green Switch initiative is our tangible effort to help cities, businesses, and individuals fulfill their climate action commitments without delay. We believe that upgrading lighting is one of the most effective ways to promote sustainability and help the Philippines achieve its climate goals,” said Raghuraman Chandrasekhar, country leader, professional business, Signify Philippines.

“By switching to energy-efficient LED lighting, the Philippines has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions by up to three million tons. Green Switch offers one of the fastest and easiest paths to a greener and smarter future,” he added.

Also sharing their perspectives at the event were Director Patrick Aquino from the Department of Energy; Alexander Ablaza, President of the Philippines Energy Efficiency Alliance, Inc.; and Dr. Neil Stephen A. Lopez from De La Salle University. Over thirty representatives from major businesses and top corporations active in real estate, logistics, and office space industries attended the event.

GLOBE, CONVERGE EMBARK ON CO-BUILD PROJECTS IN BICOL AND LEYTE FOR IMPROVED CAPACITY, NETWORK RESILIENCE

Globe and Converge are spearheading co-build projects in the Bicol Region and Leyte Province to extend fiber optic networks and improve the delivery of reliable connectivity, marking a key industry milestone in collaborative network expansion.

Through a partnership sealed in February 2022, Globe and Converge embarked on its first joint project in 2022: a co-build spanning 137 kilometers from Pili, Camarines Sur, to Legazpi City, Albay. Utilizing cutting-edge technology, this venture includes the deployment of state-of-the-art microduct solution underground facilities. This project wrapped up in Q3 of 2022.

Following the success of the initial undertaking, a second co-build project in Leyte Province began in the third quarter of 2023. Spanning 209 kilometers to connect Tacloban and

Maasin via Baybay, it is currently 80% complete and is expected to conclude by the third quarter of 2024.

These initiatives fall under Globe’s core fortification program, designed to achieve comprehensive enhancements, expand fiber network, upgrade network capacity, and accommodate Hyperscalers’ needs. Additionally, the program focuses on improving the resilience of the company’s Fiber Optic Core Backbone Network against the impacts of typhoons and other natural disasters.

“Our collaboration with Converge demonstrates our commitment to improving telecom infrastructure across the Philippines. By pooling our resources and expertise, we’re not only expanding our network more efficiently but also significantly lowering the costs associated with

such extensive infrastructure projects,” said Joel Agustin, Globe SVP and head of network planning and engineering.

He said the collaboration with Converge allows Globe to continue to improve its network availability and consistency, which are critical in providing reliable service.

“We truly appreciate the collaboration with Converge as we share the same focus on delivering reliable service to our customers. We are looking forward to a sustained and fruitful partnership as we continue to strive to improve the experience of our customers,” Agustin said.

Globe and Converge are committed to continuing their cooperative efforts to improve the nation’s telecom framework, ensuring wider access to dependable, high-quality internet services.

FILIPINA-OWNED STUDIO CLOVER-FI GAMES REPRESENTS THE PHILIPPINES IN GOOGLE'S INDIE GAMES ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

This year, the Philippines will be represented in Google Play’s Indie Games Accelerator (IGA) program by one-woman game developer and publisher Camilla Santiago, also known as CLOVER-FI Games.

Santiago is known for her indie mobile game Window Garden, the beta version of which was released on Google Play back in October 2021, created after she learned app development during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Window Garden — an idle game that lets players plant and decorate their

own virtual indoor garden and relax in its chill vibes, lo-fi music, and cottagecore aesthetic — has been wellreceived by gamers, with a 4.7-star rating right now on the platform.

The Google Play IGA is a 10-week course designed for high-potential indie game studios to access the best of Google’s programs, products, people, and technology to be able to build and improve a successful organization.

The last Philippine representative in the program was Ranida Games, which had created one-on-one fighting game

Vita Fighters and improved it through the benefits granted by the IGA.

In the same vein, Santiago’s goal is to create cozy games that are accessible to everyone through mobile platforms, and the IGA is set to equip her with the skills and experience needed to create another hit like Window Garden, as well as a potentially successful career in game development.

Download Window Garden, Vita Fighters, and other noteworthy indie games on Google Play now.

BOEING 747

If you’ve been watching the news lately, Boeing has gone from a respected airline manufacturer to a pariah in the media, attracting international attention in the media lately. While the root causes for this transformation go back many years and can even be its own article, some of the headlines include substandard airplane manufacturing by various contractors and subcontractors, trading safety and quality for profits and stock value, and even the death of John Barnett, a former Boeing employee turned whistleblower in suspicious circumstances. But what about when Boeing had a stellar reputation? The Boeing 747 represented a quantum leap in air travel and transportation in general. What made this model so unique, and why is it considered one of the most iconic airplane models in the history of commercial air travel?

First, we must remember that building commercial jets is a multi-year project. Planes can’t just roll off the assembly line and straight into commercial use—the

plane must undergo rigorous testing and safety checks before being delivered to airlines. In a typical commercial jet, various companies create airplane parts, which are then sent to the airplane manufacturer for final assembly and delivery to airlines around the world. The Boeing 707, one of the first popular commercial jets, took about four years to go from a prototype to regular service. The 707 was first flown in 1954 and Pan Am started regular service with the Boeing 707 in 1958. The 707 was wildly successful and is credited with beginning the Jet Age of travel. By the mid-1960s, like all things, newer, better, and faster commercial airplanes were in demand, and Boeing stepped up to the plate to deliver.

Building off the “Golden Age” of air travel, Joe Sutter, a U.S. Navy veteran and longtime Boeing employee who also helped develop the 367-80 (Dash 80), 707, 727, and 737, was placed in charge of the 747 project as chief engineer and design manager under Malcolm T. Stamper, the head of the 747 project. Sutter was also

known as the “father of the 747” as he spent about four years bringing the 747 from conception in 1965 to completion in 1969. The 747, also nicknamed the “Queen of the Skies,” had four engines and could carry up to 366 passengers in three travel classes (usually Economy, Business, and First), and a partial double-deck raised cockpit. At the time, supersonic jets like the Concorde were also in development, so the Boeing 747 was initially intended to be a stepping stone to supersonic jets. The 747 was also designed so that it could also be converted into a freighter airplane. Many variants of the 747 were developed over the years. The 747 and its variants had a maximum takeoff weight of ~377,842.44 kg (833,000 lb), a Mach 0.85 (900 kph or 559.23 mph) cruise speed, and flight ranges up to 12,150 km (7,550 mi or 6,560 nautical miles).

During the final push to deliver the 747 to Pan Am in 1969, Sutter and his team were given only 28 months to design the plane before the end of the year, earning Sutter’s team the nickname “The Incredibles.”

There were even reports that Boeing had “bet the company” on the 747’s success to the point where Boeing had to build an entirely new plant to assemble the 747 in Everett, Washington in the United States. This plant is also the biggest building in the world by volume at 13.4 million m³ (472 million ft³). The Boeing 747 project cost US$1 billion (~US$8.46 billion in 2024) and then-US First Lady Pat Nixon christened the first Boeing 747 at Dulles International Airport in 1970. The aircraft became so popular that Australian airline Qantas became the first airline to use only Boeing 747s by 1979.

There were several incidents involving the 747, including four especially infamous incidents. The first was the Tenerife airport disaster in 1977, which involved two colliding 747s in dense fog. This resulted in 583 fatalities, still the most in aviation history to this day. The Soviet Union shot down Korean Air Lines Flight 007 in 1983 when it strayed into its airspace, which also had the effect of United States President Ronald Reagan authorizing GPS, then strictly only for military use, for civilian use. The terrorist bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 in December 1988 resulted in the loss of a 747 and hastened the decline of Pan Am. TWA Flight 800 exploded mid-air in 1996 due to a design flaw.

The iconic 747 is still in use today, although many airlines have phased it out in favor of newer aircraft. Joe Sutter passed away in August 2016, and the main engineering building for Boeing Commercial Airplanes division was renamed in his honor. In fact, the final 747 was delivered only last year for

cargo use to United States-based Atlas Air. While Boeing today is a shadow of its former self due to numerous controversies involving plane quality and safety, the 747 is a look back at a time when quality, safety, and design made it one of the most iconic names in aviation history.