2018 v18n11 - THE CREATIVE ISSUE

Maribelle M. Alba

Managing Editor

#GIRLBOSS

Être fort pour être utile

@bellealba

@hisnameisren

PRESY ALBA

MIA CARISSE BARRIENTOS

EDITOR-AT-LARGE I don’t travel light, I lug too many gadgets, I can walk for miles exploring and I never say no to the local fare.

A bibliophile fascinated with tech.

Also a walking fangirl dictionary.

@presy1121

@miaissocoollike

THERESA ELORIAGA

Jewel Sta. Ana

STAFF WRITER

Garmonbozia.

Nope, I don’t have a pawnshop

@theresaeloriaga

@monsterjewfloat

JAEL MENDOZA

She holds a sketchpad on one hand, and a music sheet on the other hand @jaellaura_m

ARNEL DORIA

Consultant, Mobility Section

Marketing guru. Automotive industry veteran. Road safety advocate.

JOSE ALVAREZ

RONEL BAUTISTA

CONTRIBUTOR

100% Pusong Malabonian

Jose loves football, video games, computers, and history, but not necessarily in any order.

GRAPHIC Artist

@sailorapollo11

GERRY GAVIOLA

JULY 2018

ASSOCIATE Editor

ART DIRECTOR

GRAPHIC Artist

2

Ren Alcantara

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

@josealvarez

President & CEO

Maribelle Alba

Sales AND ADVERTISING MANAGER Account executive

Marisa Consuelo

Accounting manager Accounting Staff

Maritess Pascua-Maulion Lorie Bernardo

Carol Agabin

HR & ADMIN MANAGER Administration Staff

Amy Christine Giray Ramil Almojano Clifford Dela Paz

PR & MARKETING STAFF DIGITAL CONTENT PRODUCER

Paula Candoy Jerico Lutrania

Legal Counsel

Alba Law Office

GADGETS Magazine is published monthly by Great Minds Media Inc. Address all correspondence to Unit 801-802, The One Executive Office Bldg., #5 West Ave., 1104 Quezon City.

Our telephone number is: 288-8588 Our website is: www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Every care is taken to ensure that the content of Gadgets is fully accurate; however, the publisher and printer assume no responsibility for the effects arising therefrom. Gadgets Magazine is a registered trademark of Great Minds Media Inc.

ROBBY VAFLOR

CONTRIBUTOR

CONTRIBUTOR

Cineaste. Audiophile. Gadget addict.

“Biiiimb!”

@gerry.g626

@afterhourscritic

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JULY 2018 | Volume 18 No. 11

06

Parade

Here’s a rundown of the hottest gadgets this month.

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Making Something Out of Nothing

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GadgetsLab

Find out the hits and misses of these devices

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Creativity Done Right Put your game face on with Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1!

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Everything about wheels.

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Mobility

CONTENTS

Travel Safe

Make driving in the rain safer.

Delve into the life of these gifted visionaries.

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The E3 Rundown These exciting titles will give you a run for your money.

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Honkai Impact 3 Cute but deadly

Shaq Fu, A Legend Reborn

See the NBA star transform into a combat fighter

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Get Creative Get your brain working.

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National Museum of Natural History

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Artist Corner The spotlight is on for Austeen Manalang

Epitome of architectural beauty

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Bioessence Time to pamper yourself

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Lazat Restaurant and Bar

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United Kingdom Travel the UK with us.

Taste the fusion of Filipino and Asian flavors

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Outsiders No More All about funky beats

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Bits and Bytes Your monthly dose of consumer-tech news

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Enterprise Let’s get down to business!

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PARADE

ASUS ROG Phone

Gaming Smartphone

Combining top-notch specs in one compact body, the ROG phone is the first-ever Android device from ASUS’ gaming division. Boasting a customized Snapdragon 845 chipset clocked at 2.9 GHz partnered with an Adreno 630 GPU and eight Kryo CPU cores under its hood, the smartphone offers users a seamless, one-of-a-kind gaming experience. Paired with 8 GB RAM and a whopping choice of either 128 GB or 512 GB of internal storage, you’ll have plenty of room for their apps and multimedia content.The unit flaunts a 6-inch AMOLED display with a 90 Hz refresh rate that provides quality graphics especially in action-packed titles. It has a ten-point multitouch system for better aim and shoot controls, allowing users to put their best foot forward in the game. It also has support for TwinView and Mobile Desktop docks that let you do more.

ROG Delta Type-C Headset Gaming Headset

ASUS’ gaming division, Republic of Gamers, has added a breakthrough headset to its growing portfolio of audio devices. Promising pristine audio with its 50 mm stereo drivers equipped with Hi-Fi quad-DACs, the ROG Delta splits sound into four frequency ranges: lows from 20 to 150 Hz, mids from 150 to 5,000 Hz, highs from 5,000 to 20,000 Hz, and ultra highs up to 40,000 Hz. When combined, the headphones deliver impressive 127dB SNR of sound allowing an immersive gaming experience. With its fine leather D-shaped ear cushions, aluminum hinge, and Aura RGB lighting the ROG Delta brings comfort and is attractive to boot. Customizable via desktop app and includes LED indicator placed on its mic, and of course, it uses the reversible USB Type-C connector making you ready for the machines of today and tomorrow.

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Liebert EXS 10-20 kVA

Uninterruptible Power Supply The American provider of communication networks and commercial management solutions Vertiv has come out with the smallest UPS in its class. With its monolothic metal body, the space-saving Liebert EXS provides a lot of power with a tiny footprint. Through its optimized integrated autonomy feature, it can house up to four battery strings, which eliminates the need for an external battery cabinet, conserving floor space. Highly efficient, this newest addition to the Liebert line doubles the power conversion up to 96.2 percent reducing energy cost. Giving maximum power for specialized facilities, the Liebert EXS delivers up to 20 kW of electricity which is 10 percent higher compared to conventional UPS with a 0.9 PF.

Parrot Anafi Drone

Drone

A new generation of drones have arrived. Ideal for filming landscape videos and photos, the Parrot Anafi has a 21-megapixel Sony CMOS sensor capable of producing stunning 4K HDR videos. Its wide-angle aspherical lens is engineered to reduce lens flare and chromatic aberrations, producing exceptional results. The built-in gimbal, which can be tilted up to 180-degrees and has 3-axis image stabilization, is an unprecedented feature that maximizes possibilities as well as allows impeccable low-angle shooting. You can even capture moments up in the air, thanks to the drone’s innovative 2.8X lossless zoom technology, still in high-definition. Lightweight and foldable, this drone can fit perfectly in your backpack or suitcase.

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LG Q Stylus

Smartphone

The bigger and stylus-enabled Q-series phone is here. Parading a 6.2-inch FHD+ Full Vision display, the Q Stylus is crafted for people who enjoy both typing and writing. It can even recognize and record notes written on its screen even when the display is off. The stylus can also be used for creating GIFs and editing photos.

Built with 16-megapixel main and 8-megapixel front cameras, users can easily gather information about a certain object just by capturing it through the phone’s Qlens sensors. Unmatched in its class with flagship-like specifications, this new mid-ranger supports DTS:X surround sound technology, is waterproof and dustresistant, charges fast through USB Type-C, and is durable with its US Military standard certification.

Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music Smartwatch

Known as a leader in GPS devices, Garmin just rolled out its best multisports smartwatch yet.

Built for audiophiles, the Vivoactive 3 Music can store up to 500 songs to spice up your daily workout routine. Seamlessly transfer tracks from your computer through Garmin’s specialized software and enjoy every beat hands-free with its Bluetooth connectivity. The fitness trackerslash-music player serves as your health watchdog and smart assistant by sending you alerts about weather, text messages and incoming calls, app notifications, vital statistics, fitness age, and stress levels. There’s also a pre-installed Deezer app, which grants you access to thousands of songs. Stylish and sporty, this smartwatch has excellent battery life that can last up to a week.

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Reebok Fusion Flexweave

Running Shoes

The Fusion Flexweave combines two of Reebok’s most revolutionary technologies: the flexible yet durable Flexweave and the ultimate cushioning of Floatride. Reebok’s Flexweave technology uses open figure 8 weaving that seamlessly combines strands of material to create a single surface that is breathable and flexible, and is ideal for a multi-use running shoe. The material also provides a balance of lightness, durability, fit, and stability to allow quick and powerful speed workouts. It is complemented by the Floatride technology, which is embedded in the sole for comfortable cushioning and responsiveness. This fusion makes for a durable yet comfortable running shoe that supports a variety of workouts.

With a head-turning design and built-in innovations, the Fusion Flexweave is the ideal choice for athletes looking to expand their fitness routine past the treadmill or pavement.

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Mi QiCycle Electric Bike

Xiaomi is breaking the barriers and branching out as an active lifestyle brand with its very first electric bike, the Mi QiCycle. This foldable aluminum bike can be pedaled manually or made to run on its own power up to 20 kilometers per hour. Smart and stylish, the two-wheeler is powered by a 250W high-speed motor, has a built-in torque management sensor, and 3-speed gear hub to keep riders safe. Dubbed as one of the most intelligent locomotive rides to date, it comes with a companion app that gives you real-time information about your current speed, distance covered, dynamic power, and calories burned. Designed for urban use, its 18,650 mAh Panasonic lithium battery will never fail you on the road. With a rated range of 45 km per charge, this might be the answer to your traffic woes.

PHP 26,995

Mi Electric Scooter Electric Scooter

Another addition to the Chinese tech brand’s two-wheeler offerings is this environmental-friendly scooter. Feel young as you scout around the streets with its aerospace-grade aluminum body that’s foldable and lightweight. You can even carry it and inside your car’s trunk, thanks to its slim yet sturdy frame which can carry and move people up to 220 lbs. Dirt and water-resistant, the electric scooter has a maximum speed of up to 25 kilometers per hour on a single charge. Also, it is powered by a 250W motor with a closed loop speed control and a regenerative disc brake system ensuring every rider’s safety.

PHP 18,850

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Mi Running Shoes

Rubber Shoes

Great for running and casual strolling, this footwear is made of a breathable mesh with a garterized heel collar that fits your foot snugly. Lightweight and ergonomically designed, its soft foam interior cushion keeps your soles comfortable for enduring long distance runs and walks. The non-slip outsoles keep your feet on the ground from the field, up to busy metropolitan streets. Stylish and flexible, the Mi Running Shoes are a fashion must-have.

PHP 995.00

Mi Polarized Sunglasses Eyewear

These fashion-forward aviators keep your peepers safe from the harmful rays of the sun. Providing protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays, its polarized lenses increase visual comfort in bright conditions. Made from sturdy metal, the stylish sunglasses comes in colors of black, blue, gray, and gold.

PHP 1,890

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Amazfit PACE

Sports smartwatch The GPS-enabled sports smartwatch has 4 GB of internal storage dedicated to boost your audio experience, and enables wireless connectivity via Bluetooth technology. Keep track of your runs and notifications—like today’s weather, steps taken, and calories burned—with just one touch on its 1.34-inch LCD display. The wearable has a scratch-resistant ceramic bezel with a colorful and adjustable rubber strap that fits your wrist well. IP67-certified and with up to five days of battery life, the Amazfit PACE motivates you to be active and fit.

PHP 6,200

Amazfit BIP

Smartwatch

Xiaomi partners with American lifestyle brand Amazfit to bring the latest addition to its smartwatch line in Asia. Featuring an battery life that lasts up to an astonishing 30 days, Amazfit BIP tracks your sleep and vital statistics in the most stylish way. With its multisports tracking, fitness junkies can monitor more with mapped routes, detailed stats, heart rate zones. Lightweight and comfortable to wear, the smartwatch is packed with advanced GPS, 3-axis accelerometer, optical heart rate sensor, and barometer. Protected by 2.5D Corning Gorilla Glass 3 plus AF coating, the fitness tracker has a 1.28-inch reflective color touch display that provides at-a-glance view of time and date, as well as alerts from your smartphone. It’s a perfect daily companion that keeps you informed and active!

PHP 3,490

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Oppo Find X Smartphone

The selfie expert has entered the global market with its most groundbreaking and premium smartphone to date. At the very core of the Oppo Find X is a Snapdragon 845 processor partnered with a whopping 8 GB of RAM. Giving you generous multimedia storage up to 256 GB, the phone is fronted by a 6.4inch curved glass AMOLED display that is crafted for supreme entertainment.

Looking forward to the future, Oppo has revolutionized mobile photography through its motorized camera system that houses both the main 16-megapixel + 20-megapixel dual cameras, as well as its 25-megapixel front snapper.

Replacing a fingerprint scanner is 3D facial recognition, which unlocks the phone with a glance. Running on Android 8.1 with the company’s customized ColorOS 5.1, the Oppo Find X has 3730 mAh battery coupled with VOOC fastcharging technology perfect for your everyday needs.

Google Wifi

Mesh Network System This wireless wonder is the solution to your internet dead zone woes. Google Wifi is a mesh networking system that puts an end to dead zones at home or in the office. It ensures strong and fast signals for all your connected devices without the complicacies of dealing with IP addresses and various cable configuration. Google Wifi makes it so easy that you can do it yourself: simply download the Google Wifi app available on Android or iOS, follow the instructions, and you’ll be online in no time. The app lets you see which devices are connected to your network and how much bandwidth they’re using. With Google Wifi, your device will always be placed on the channel with optimal Wi-Fi connection. Even as you move from room to room, Network Assist will automatically transition your device between the Google Wifi system points, keeping you connected to the point with the strongest signal.

The Google Wifi app also lets you pause Wi-Fi on your kids’ devices or create scheduled pauses for dinner time and bedtime, so you can fully engage in that mealtime conversation or squeeze in one more session of bedtime storytelling.

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Anker Soundcore Flare Speaker

Bluetooth Speaker

The tech accessory brand Anker has ventured into audio peripherals, starting with this wireless speaker. Revolutionary with its intensified bass and beat-driven lights, the Soundcore Flare has two back-to-back drivers and thumping bass radiators, which produce 360-degree surround sound to fill every inch of your room. With just one press, the speakers enhance your music’s bass automatically through the BassUp technology. It also gives you freedom to customize its equalizer and ambient lighting via the Soundcore mobile app. With an IPX7 certification, it is resistant to elements and is capable of 12 hours of continuous usage.

PHP 3,490

Anker Soundcore SpiritX In-Ear Headphones

Designed to endure vigorous activities, the Soundcore SpiritX includes an adjustable cable and comfortable hooks that secure your earphones in place. Sweatproof and waterproof, the earphones’ dynamic 10 mm drivers deliver rich and detailed sounds to keep your momentum going.

These wireless buds can deliver 12 hours of music, with a tactile 3-button remote control with a built-in microphone equipped with call noise reduction for clearer hands-free conversations.

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Nokia 2.1

Smartphone This addition to the Nokia Android Oreo line will surely appeal to the youth.

Specifically made for long-lasting entertainment, the 5.5-inch smartphone has a sleek design paired with shiny metallic accents to make a striking first impression.

As the only Snapdragon-equipped smartphone in the series, the Nokia 2.1 gives performance not expected of an entry-level phone. With an internal storage of 8 GB, users have the choice to expand it up to 128 GB via micro-SD slot. This model also boasts dual front speakers to meet your multimedia needs. You can even enjoy lengthy hours of gaming and online streaming, whenever and wherever, with its huge 4000 mAh battery.

Nokia 3.1

Smartphone The revamped Nokia 3.1 gets a boost in hardware and design. The handset sports a beautiful 5.2-inch HD+ display with 2.5D curved glass. With a MediaTek MT6750 at its core, the entrylevel phone ships with stock Android 8.0 Oreo and is available in two variants—with either a 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal storage or 3 GB RAM and 32 GB of internal storage. It also has an upgraded 13 MP main camera, while its secondary shooter is an 8-megapixel deal.

Just like its previous version, the phone boasts NFC technology with Google Pay, making cashless payments possible.

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Nokia 5.1

Smartphone Retaining the effortlessly stylish design of its predecessor, the refreshed Nokia’s 5.1 variant has been significantly improved. With better 16-megapixel main and 8-megapixel secondary cameras, phase-detection, and an auto-focus system, you can now capture precious memories easily. It has an upgraded 5.5-inch Full HD+ display that gives you a delightful visual experience. Having stock Android 8.0 on board, this smartphone offers buttery-smooth performance through its MediaTek Helio P18 chipset. Nokia 5.1 offers a standard 2 GB RAM with 16 GB internal storage as well as a 3 GB RAM version matched with 32 GB memory configuration.

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BlackBerry Key2

Smartphone

The iconic business phone is back with a revamped touchscreen and the Android operating system. Retaining BlackBerry’s aesthetics, including its remarkable physical QWERTY keyboard, the handset is made sleeker and lighter without sacrificing durability. Encased in its classy aluminum alloy frame is a stunning 4.5-inch IPS LCD display that’s protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3. It’s also the first phone from the company to feature dual 12-megapixel camera sensors with Google Lens and Super Zoom capabilities. Meanwhile, its 8-megapixel secondary camera can capture selfies even in low light conditions. Using their unique quick charge 3.0 technology, the Key2 can be filled up 50 percent within 36 minutes, and can last up to two days on a single charge. Powered by Snapdragon’s octa-core 660 processor, the model is available with either a 64 GB or 128 GB internal memory and a whopping RAM up to 6 GB.

Logitech K480

Bluetooth Keyboard Turn your smartphones and tablets into convenient work machines with this innovative product from the world’s leading provider of computer accessories. Be limitless by connecting up to three devices with this universal keyboard via Bluetooth. Just twist the easy-switch dial to transfer the connection from one gadget to another. Aside from iOS and Android devices, the cute and compact keyboard is also compatible with Windows and Mac. Maximizing its potential, the tool has an integrated dock which securely fits your electronic device and is convenient and easy to use. This keyboard is powered by 2 AAA batteries.

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ASUS VivoWatch BP Fitness tracker

Everyone knows what a fitness tracker can do, but this one stands out among the rest.

Aside from its sporty look, this wearable does more than what you could imagine.

Dubbed as the world’s first blood pressure tracking watch, the ASUS VivoWatch BP is powered by the brand’s very own HealthAI technology. Through built-in ECG and PPG sensors. Fitness junkies can easily monitor their blood pressure in as little as 15 seconds.

Doubling as a smartwatch and a pedometer, the device automatically analyzes your vital stats throughout the day, serving as your digital health assistant. Thanks to its powerful battery life that lasts up to 28 days, it helps you improve your lifestyle through its personalized advices 24/7.

Sony HT-Z9F and HT-X9000F Audio System

The new Sony HT-Z9F and HT-X9000F are audio solutions that promise to give a listening experience one could only expect from cinemas. With HT-Z9F having the first 3.1ch Dolby Atmos with DTS:X support, it creates a virtual 3-D surround sound that brings an immersive, life-like experience to users. Meanwhile, Sony’s HT-X9000F is a full 2.1 channel stereo system that is wireless and wallmounted. It delivers exceptional high-quality audio that lets even low-frequency noises, voices, and vibrations stand out. Both devices come with Bluetooth support and have USB connectivity with 2 HDMI input and 1 output. The Z9F also has Wi-Fi connectivity for access to music service from the built-in Chromecast. Additional features include several special play modes that recreate the movie theatre experience at home.

PHP 42,299 (HT-Z9F) PHP 31,199 (HT-X9000F)

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JULY 2018

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Pioneer DDJ-400

DJ Controller

The DDJ-400 is the ideal controller for people looking into picking up DJing as a career and those who want to further their music playing and mixing skills. Made for dedicated use with Pioneer’s professional performance application, rekordbox ver 5.3, the 2-channel DDJ-400 allows you to utilize new software features such as tutorial mode, track suggestion, and sorting modes. With easy-to-navigate controls, even fledgling DJs, without much hassle, can learn the basics as well as hone their skills with its various features. The controller is compatible with the new Tutorial feature in rekordbox dj, which explains basic equipment operation step by step. The DDJ-400 is compact and lightweight, making it easy for you to practice and show off your new skills anywhere. It also inherits design traits from Pioneer’s professional DJ controller range NXS2: dedicated play/pause and cue button layout, Beat FX, CDJ-style looping controls and more.

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Pioneer DDJ_SX3

DJ Controller

The third iteration of Pioneer’s 4-channel DJ controller, the DDJ-SX carries significant upgrades professional DJs would appreciate.

The DDJ-SX3 has an intuitive interface, familiar layout, and high-quality casing, as well as dual USB ports for seamless transitions when switching devices. The new DJ controller also comes built with a mic input terminal on the front, allowing DJs to talk to the crowd without occupying any of the four mixer channels. Additionally, it has twin mic inputs on the rear along with controls for modifying levels, tweaking EQs, and applying effects to mics independently for a comprehensive and top quality experience. Rounding out the deal are four popular Sound Color FX and Key Shift, Key Sync, and Pitch Play for effortlessly mixing tracks and creating live remixes.

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Vivo X21

Smartphone The X21 is the first commercially available smartphone with an in-display fingerprint scanner. This groundbreaking technology allows this powerful mid-ranger a huge 6.28-inch AMOLED screen, 19:9 aspect ratio, thin bezels, and no additional clutter, all in a phone that’s just a little over 6 inches tall and is gorgeous to boot. On the front and back are cameras that are as capable as dedicated digital cameras. Shutterbugs can utilize its 12 MP - 5 MP camera combination on the rear and a 12 MP camera upfront for gorgeous selfies. Under the hood, the X21 no slouch either. With a Snapdragon 660 chipset, 6 GB of RAM, 128 GB of onboard storage, Hi-Fi audio technology, and AI integration on various fronts, this is a mid-tier device that has flagships in its sights.

PHP 29,999

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GADGETS LAB

Specifications: Connectivity: GSM, LTE Dimensions 6.08 x 2.94 x 0.29 inches Weight: 156.2 g SIM: Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) Display: Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors Size: 6.28 inches Resolution: 1080 x 2280 pixels, 19:9 ratio, ~402 ppi OS: Android 8.1 (Oreo) Chipset: Qualcomm SDM660 Snapdragon 660 CPU: Octa-core (4x2.2 GHz Kryo 260 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 260) GPU: Adreno 512 Storage: microSD, up to 256 GB (uses SIM 2 slot) Internal: 64/128 GB, 6 GB RAM Camera Dual: 12 MP + 5 MP Video: 1080p@30fps Secondary: 12 MP, f/2.0, 1080p Battery: Li-Ion 3200 mAh What’s Hot: - That UD fingerprint sensor action - Great build - Fast face unlockingWhat’s Not: - Not 100 percent accuracy on the fingerprint scanner - Price

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Specifications: Internal storage: 32GB RAM: 3 GB MicroSD card: Supports up to 2TB 6-inch Full HD+ (2160 by 1080) 18:9 Full View IPS display Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Mobile Platform with 14nm, 64-bit octa-core GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 509 Main Rear Camera: 13MP Secondary Rear Camera: 5 MP Triple slots: Dual SIM and one microSD card Battery: 5000mAh Operating System: Android 8.1 Oreo What’s Hot: - 5000 mAh battery!

- Zippy performance What’s Not: - Slightly laggy front camera

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Specifications: Processor: Snapdragon 636 processor with Adreno 509 GPU Cameras: Sony IMX363 12 megapixel f/1.8 main dual cameras 8 megapixel f/2.0 front camera Video Recording: 4K video recording (up to 2160p@30fps) RAM: 4 GB RAM/6 GB RAM Internal Storage: 64 GB (expandable up to 2 TB via microSD slot) Battery: Non-removable Li-Ion 3300 mAh Connectivity: Supports 4G LTE connection Ports: USB Type-C port (with BoostMaster technology)

What’s Hot: - Fast-charging feature through USB Type-C - Fluid multi-tasking - Long-lasting battery with AI charging - Impressive rear camera

What’s Not: - Front camera is lackluster - ZeniMoji needs improvement - No dedicated micro-SD slot

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Specifications: Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845, Kryo 385, Adreno 630 GPU RAM: 4 GB ROM: 64 GB with mircoSD memory expandability Operating System: Android 8.0 Oreo Cameras: 19 MP Sony IMX400 with f/2.0 lens, predictive hybrid/phase detection, BIONZ for mobile image-processing engine back; and 5 MP Exmor RS for mobile front Video Recording: 4K @30 fps, HDR video up to 4K, 1080p @60 fps, 1080p @960 fps Display: 5.7-inch FHD+ IPS LCD, HDR, 424 PPI, 18:9 aspect ratio Battery: 3180 mAh, Quick Charge 3.0, supports wireless charging Design: Dust and water resistant What’s Hot: - 3D Creator Scan and Google Lens built in - Dynamic Vibration System - Outstanding rear camera image output What’s Not: - Off fingerprint scanner placement - Phone slips and wobbles on a flat surface

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Specifications: Display:15.6-inch Full HD IPS (with 1920x1080 resolution) CPU: Intel Core i5-7300HQ 2.50 GHz Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 GPU RAM: 8GB DDR4 (expandable up to 32GB) Keyboard: Red backlit Webcam: 1280 x 720 resolution Battery: non-removable 4-cell 3220 mAh Li-Polymer Audio: 2 speakers (Dolby Audio Premium) Connectivity: Wi-Fi802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2×2 MIMO Bluetooth 4.0 What’s Hot: - Premium look with limited edition Thanos’ design - Immersive audio experience - Long battery life - Nice gaming performance What’s Not: - Has only one USB Type-C port - Has a lower processor compared to the standard model - Pricey

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PHOTO FEATURE

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COVER STORY

MAKING

SOMETHING

OUT OF

NOTHING Words by Gadgets Team

In this month’s CoverStory, we take a look at some of the most creative people on the planet. From the visual arts and music, these are names that just didn’t care to fit in the mold the world had for them. Take a look at who they are, what they did, and maybe be inspired by their work.

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Gone Too Soon:

Jeff Buckley Words by Ren Alcantara

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It’s not a stretch to imagine you know the name Jeff Buckley--is the voice behind what might be the most popularly known version of Leonard Choen’s Hallelujah. There’s so much more to the man behind the haunting rendition of that song, and so much that could have been. Art comes to us in many forms, and for a brief, shining moment, Jeff Buckley captured the artistry behind music so exquisitely, it resonates to this day.

Jeffrey Scott Buckley was born in 1966, the son of another talented musician, Tim Buckley, though they had really only met once when Jeff was a child. He started his musical career as a sessionist in LA, playing guitar in the background, but quickly developed a close following playing covers at small gigs in Manhattan. He eventually gathered enough momentum, signed with record label Columbia, and released a single studio album, Grace, in 1994. This is the same album that contains the Leonard Cohen cover, as well as such gems as Last Goodbye, and the titular track, Grace. If you haven’t listened to any of those songs, please do so now. We’ll wait.

The first thing you’ll notice is Jeff’s voice. At times sweet, but also powerful, pleading, and overwhelmingly emotional, his is a voice that draws you in and keeps you there. You might even be tempted to sing along, if you’re brave enough. He had excellent technique and control, both of which he used to great effect in delivering performances, whether live, or in the studio.

He was a seriously talented tenor. If you need any more convincing, look up his live performance of the track Grace on GLR in 1994. It’s a vocal masterclass, and something that still brings me chills to this day.

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Subsequent listenings will reveal so much more. There is a depth to the music he writes.

His lyrics can be cryptic, even confusing at times, but they always cut deep. People were still recovering from the grunge revolution, and while the sadness of that movement can be heard in his music, there’s a deeper melancholy that comes through, with notably less of the anger that earlier acts like Nirvana brought to the scene. It wasn’t pretentious or out to impress, just raw in the most effective way. Head to your streaming service of choice, give Lover, You Should’ve Come Over a listen, and try your best not to have flashbacks of that one relationship that just didn’t work out, regardless of how you feel about it now.

His is a rare combination of superb lyrics, and heartfelt technical vocals, the likes of which we just haven’t seen since. There’s as much meaning in how he sings, as there is in what he sings, and that’s a rare thing.

After the album was released, Jeff and his band toured extensively, hitting Europe, Asia, Australia, and of course the US. They took a break from touring in 1996, and Jeff began working on a new album in 1997, in Memphis.

It was here, while writing new music and playing the small local gigs that brought him popularity, that he decided to jump fullyclothed into the Mississippi for a swim on the

29th of May. That was the last anyone saw him alive.

Since then, we’ve been fortunate enough to uncover some of the newer material he had been working on, as well as recordings of his live performances, and that amazing vocal range he always brings to the table. My Sweetheart the Drunk, meant to be his second album, had some tracks laid out before his death, along with some demo reels that were done earlier on. The Legacy Edition of Live at Sin-é, released in 2003, a decade after its recording, still remains one of my favorite live albums of all time and has some real gems, including an early version of Last Goodbye.

As in Hallelujah, Jeff created more in the music than there was to begin with. It became something greater than just another cover. Listen to his rendition of We All Fall In Love Sometimes, an Elton John original, and discover a depth to the song that he uncovers. Or try his cover of Edith Piaf’s Je N’en Connais Pas La Fin, and hear a playfulness to the tune, that hides a deep sadness underneath.

The world hadn’t really seen talent like his before, and I’m not at all certain it will see talent like his again. We are lucky to have that bit of himself he gave to the world, as little as that might be.

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Precocious Child to Photography Genius:

Shaira Luna Words by Mia Carisse Barrientos

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Prior to the boom of the Internet and smartphones, people of the 90s would often have their eyes glued to the television whenever time permitted. Back then, commercials may have been given more attention than they should have. Guessing the product a few seconds into the commercial even became a game a lot enjoyed. These paid announcements would stick and be remembered until today.

One many would look back on fondly is the celebration of “Gifted Children” in a formulated powdered milk ad. Consumers would credit the brand for the advanced intellect of the featured tots, but in reality, they already had innate ingenuity. Among the first set was young Shaira Luna. In the ad, she can be seen talking about the human cardiovascular system—a bit of science many would not be able to define at the age of 8. Due to the commercial, Shaira became a poster girl of sorts and parents would want their children to follow in her footsteps. For this erudite, taking the creative route was very unlikely—or so everyone thought.

Gifted Kid At six months, Shaira could already speak. At seven months, she had visibly advanced gross motor abilities. At the age of one, she could read the alphabet. And by the age of two, she had become familiar with the branches of science and eventually a member of the Philippine Astronomical Society. The lass would also fall in love with various musical instruments and be good at playing them. It wasn’t normal, it wasn’t bad either, it was rather a wondrous unfolding of a genius.

After rigorous testing and assessment, Shaira was found to have the thinking capacity of a sixth grader—smart beyond her years. She entered high school at the age of 9, and at 13, she was already a BS Human Biology student. Studying medicine was an organic and expected path for someone who would spend her vacations dissecting animals and be invited to observe surgery procedures. Life for Shaira was pretty much fixed, but it was then that gears started shifting.

Self Discovery One couldn’t really say Shaira didn’t want the life she had then. She wasn’t deliberately groomed to be a genius, she already had it in her. She would share that she had resources around her growing up and would utilize them at the prompting of her parents, but nonetheless loved whatever she was doing that time. Brimming with knowledge and eager to learn more, Shaira even explored ballet and gymnastics. Soon after her commercial stint, her already packed schedule—studying and attending lessons— became even more packed with various media outlets wanting to feature her and institutions hoping to have her talk in their respective functions. Shaira didn’t think the impact of it all would be as weighty as it already was. And as a youngin, she began feeling exhausted. Figuring out medicine wasn’t for her, she did not just shift to another course a single time, she transferred three times more. She wasn’t allowed to go out often, but with her musical knowledge, she would still attend gigs of friends, sometimes

play flute in the background, and take pictures.

Though the life she was leading somewhat turned hazy, taking photos became a certainty for Shaira. She loved it and the photos to come out of it showed that the activity was more than just a past time.

Breaking Free and Forging Her Own Path Discovering she had the eye for it, and as encouraged by her friends’ compliments, Shaira dropped out of school. A decision that proved to be difficult, but rewarding. Shaira shared in an interview that she wishes she found photography earlier. A self-confessed bookworm, Shaira enjoyed picking up stories and these would stick with her. For her, taking pictures became an avenue for the stories she wanted to tell. Pictures are easy to understand and communicates messages to people on a level different from other media. The familiarity offered by the subjects bred connection, and that’s what Shaira wants to accomplish in her chosen path: create meaningful stories and connections. Branded a gifted child, photography was for Shaira the truest gift in her life. With photography, she was the boss, she was free, and she felt like a kid again.

Photography Genius Shaira’s sharpness didn’t wane, it grew exponentially. As stated in her website’s bio, Shaira is self–taught. She didn’t achieve pro level talent with the help of an instructor, but did so by her own experience. Shaira now photographs for fashion magazines and websites, and takes shots for commercial use. She also previously worked for Jed Root, a top artist management agency, having been hand–picked to be part of a seven photographer team for the Southeast Asia office. In demand for her aesthetics—dreamy with use of delicate filters, having elements that make it seem like it came out of a movie, and vintage-looking—Shaira has a style trained eyes could easily identify. It isn’t always the case of course. Her social media accounts and website feature a curated selection of her works— personal and commercial—so enticing it would be hard to stop browsing. One striking photo is followed by another and you couldn’t help but think the photographer almost was a doctor. A common denominator for all the photos though is there’s a story in each of them. There’s this two-piece collage of a man looking through the viewfinder of a vintage camera above, and of him, much more polished-looking, looking down a cup of coffee while seated below. There is a story to be told, while viewers are free to interpret one of their own. It’s genius in its simplest form. Shaira may not have credentials like that of Andy Warhol but she’s steadily building her legacy, a story that’s her own and that others would be inspired to follow.

Photos from shairaluna.tumblr.com

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Raising Japanese Cinema to the Global Stage:

Makoto Shinkai Words by Jewel Sta. Ana

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The west has always been the center of the global entertainment industry. From colorful theatrical performances of Broadway to the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, that side of the world has always had the limelight. The orient, however, has its own creativity to offer. Japan, in particular pioneered their particular style of animation which led to the rise of the legendary Studio Ghibli in the 80s. Fast forward to today, we see revolutionary, globally lauded films from the likes of director Makoto Shinkai.

Humble Beginnings Born Makoto Niitsu, the bespectacled director came from the alpine province of Nagano prefecture, where he draws much of the inspiration for his films. Even before entering college, Shinkai already exhibited a passion for the arts after being exposed to various manga and novels as was common for teenagers his age.

In his time as a Japanese literature student at the prestigious Chuo University, he participated in the literature club where he worked as an illustrator. After getting his university degree, he started his career as a graphic designer in the video game company Falcom, and stayed for five years from 1994. Gaining the experience in his chosen field, he took a leap of faith and courageously moved to animation with the release of She and Her Cat, a five-minute indie monochrome cartoon. To his surprise, it won several awards in Japan, including the grand prize at the 12th DoGA CG Animation contest in 2000. Encouraged by his success, he continued in his new field, while simultaneously keeping his day job. It was at this time that he came up with his first original video animation (OVA), Voices of a Distant Star, and the start of his popularity.

Trademarks In his journey both as an animator, writer, and director, the 45-year-old always injects vivid and detailed scenery inspired from real-life landscapes. Compared to other artists, Shinkai’s work can easily be identified by his use of vibrant colors, from bluish violet skylines, and forests bursting with the green of spring, or orange of fall. To make it more realistic, most of his characters use smartphones to incorporate a glimpse of the Japanese society’s technological dependence. As a self-confessed fan of his films, I must say that Shinkai is a unique narrator who knows how to weave stories and steer clear of clichés. He infuses old traditions with contemporary concepts and structures to create remarkable masterpieces. There’s also profound use of metaphors from the environments that he turns to dialogue that his characters speak, all of which can pique your interest and tease your mind. Mainly targeted at millennials, the central themes that he usually explores are romance, with a few science-fiction or fantasy elements.

The man is also not fond of making hour-long films. Shinkai aims to make his films short and simple, so that people can easily grasp his message, and leave with a few new insights and emotions.

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Notable Works With the Otaku gene running through my veins, I can’t help but unleash my inner fangirl with the characters that he brought to life.

The mecha-drama Voice of a Distant Star in 2002 launched Shinkai’s career as a director, producer, and writer. Two years later, he produced the war-drama The Place Promised in Our Early Days, which follows the life of two childhood friends who grew apart during the Soviet occupation of Japan. Thanks to its award-winning cinematography and plot, the movie garnered several local and international awards, including the Special Distinction for Feature Film Category at Seoul Comics and Animation Festival in 2005, and Best Animated Film at Mainichi Film Awards in 2004. With fans around the world, the Japanese genius left everyone craving more. He then released the romantic drama 5 Centimeters per Second. Cut into three episodes, the poignant full-feature is Shinkai’s first attempt to present real world struggles like time, space, people, and love from a different perspective. Underrated yet melancholic, The Garden of Words tackled loneliness and lingering emotions at a whole new level, leaving the audience glued to their seats and astounded. But what really catapulted him into stardom was the blockbuster hit Your Name in 2016. The movie was critically acclaimed around the globe thanks to a mindblowing tear-jerker of a plot, infused with Japanese culture, and a touch of the trademark Shinkai sci-fi. The movie went on to become the second-highest grossing film of all-time in Japan. His career skyrocketed since then, with critics comparing him to the legendary Studio Ghibli founder and Spirited Away director, Hayao Miyazaki.

Future Plans After the successful entrance of Taki and Mitsuha in the global theaters, the master storyteller is now on a two–year hiatus. In 2017, rumors circulated that he was in the middle of another project with another Japanese animator, Mamoru Hosoda—news which was later confirmed by the man himself. According to reports, the untitled feature film is slated for release this year. Unfortunately, fans like me need to wait until the end of 2018 for updates regarding the highly-anticipated collaboration.

His trusted anime studio though, CoMix Wave, works with the China-based Haoliners for a new drama anthology entitled Shikioriori.

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Beauty in Tragedy:

Frida Kahlo Words by Gerry Gaviola

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If you look back at history, you would find a similar pattern—those not forgotten and those that matter, even up to today, never had it easy. Known to have transfigured her pain and struggles, Frida Kahlo is one amongst few that lives on through her art and her remarkable story.

If the name rings a bell, it’s probably because you’ve either heard about her as a feminist art icon or have recently seen a depiction of her in the 2018 Academy Award-winning Animation, Coco. And although she was portrayed as having a colorful and erratic persona, the story of Frida goes beyond fleeting joys and ideas. Passionate and enduring is what best elaborates her philosophy.

A Truce with Pain Frida’s artworks have always been known to have depth and meaning embedded in them. As a daring Mexican artist, her works of art have traversed many themes, often exploring, and at the same time denouncing the very norms of singular identity, gender, politics, and social class. Her creations often stemmed from her own realizations of pain and struggle, and how these, given the right time and circumstance, can turn into artifacts that celebrate the diversity and beauty of life.

For someone to emerge victorious in her field given so many disadvantages is a remarkable feat. To be frank, Frida’s many setbacks and hurdles narrowed her chances of success; it was, without a doubt, slim. Unlike many who have traversed the world and sought inspiration through travel while young, Frida lived in a home, famously named “La Casa Azul” almost all her young life. And it wasn’t because she was too lazy to explore or too fearful to take a chance, no. At the age of 6, she was diagnosed with Polio, which caused her to be bed-ridden for 9 months. But as you’ll read later on, Frida is not one that merely allowed circumstance to define her.

After battling her sickness and struggling to recover, Frida fought on. With her father’s support and motivation, she excelled in school and exuded much confidence and bravery, much more than what was expected for a little girl during her time. She explored extra-curricular activities such as wrestling, swimming, and soccer. Coincidentally, it was also at her school where she met her future husband, Diego De Rivera, who happened to be painting a mural at her school. The age gap was huge, 20 years in fact, but the first contact was thankfully only brief, and not to mention, platonic and legal! In one account, however, it was said that Frida jokingly mentioned to a friend that that man she saw would be her future husband.

Another Day, Another Struggle In 1962, Frida encountered another struggle in her life. On board a bus, Frida was impaled by a steel handrail when the vehicle she was in collided with a street car. The aftermath of the accident was a broken pelvis, as well as several fractures in her spine. For three months she was in a full body cast, but after several weeks, she returned home to recuperate. Despite another unfortunate event, Frida fought on. Parallel to her recovery was her investment in her talent. She was gifted by her parents a series of painting materials as well as an easel which was accessible even in bed. It was during her time of recovery where she finished her first self-portrait which she then later on gifted to Gomez Arias.

that Diego had was with Frida’s very own sister!

But their love was of a returning kind and one that was strong, albeit strange. Together with her husband, Frida often traveled whenever he was commissioned to work on murals in the US. It was in New York where Frida was often seen sporting her signature bright and bold Mexican Clothing which celebrated Mexican culture.

In 1939, Paris, Frida met Pablo Picasso, amongst other artists. Pablo, along with the curators of the Louvre fell for Frida’s works. This led to the Louvre purchasing one of Frida’s paintings, The Frame, which became the first painting by a 20th-century Mexican artist to be purchased by a museum.

Frida often used art as a medium to express all the physical challenges and struggles she faced. In 1950, she got gangrene in her foot and because of the infection, was then again bedridden for nine months. Eventually, she had to have part of her leg amputated. Despite this, Frida consistently created and stayed politically active. In 1953 she had a solo exhibit and on the opening day, she arrived in an ambulance and even had her bed delivered to the location. But her deteriorating health continued to take a toll on her, and it showed in her artwork, such as her painting the Broken Column. On 1954, she passed, just short of her 47th birthday. But her story lives on. In the 70s’ feminist movement, Frida was crowned as an icon for female strength and creativity.

Behind Three of Frida’s Most Famous Paintings The Broken Column If there’s anything that was constant in Frida’s life, it’s pain. A series of health concerns and the tragic bus accident of 1962 had left her scarred. Many of her paintings she made were self-portraits which now allow us to take a glimpse of her tortured soul and lifelong struggle. In the painting, The Broken Column, Frida painted herself nude, vulnerable, and wrapped with a steel brace to keep her body upright. Her spine is depicted as a pillar, but that it’s the exact opposite of what a pillar should be—it was broken and unstable. On her body are nails which are violently scattered, and on her face is a melancholic expression like no other.

Henry Ford Hospital Because of Frida’s problematic health, she had several miscarriages and abortions. In her painting, Henry Ford Hospital, her dark suffering shows.

Portraying herself almost like a machine that fuels several entities, we see six different figures which are attached to her by umbilical cords. Among the figures is a dead fetus; a snail which is said to a represent slow suffering; a woman’s open torso; and more. In the painting, all suffering is connected and is rooted in her.

The Two Fridas Frida and Diego’s marriage didn’t last, as omened by their multiple affairs. Both were polygamous, but they always returned home, until their divorce in 1939. In the painting, we see two versions of Frida— one that was loved, and one that wasn’t.

In the painting are a series of distinguishable elements between the two Fridas: one was dressed in a more traditional Mexican clothing, and the other, dressed in European style. Despite being immensely different, both figures are united by their hands, and their exposed hearts are connected, possibly signifying the value of self-love when there’s nobody and nothing else to hang on to.

An Unconventional Love Story In 1929, Diego met Frida once again and fell madly in love with her and her talent. Within a year, they’ve tied the knot.Their marriage, however, was far from conventional. Both had several affairs, one of which www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

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MOBILITY

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GAMING

THE

RUNDOWN Words by Ren Alcantara

E3 has come and gone, but if you missed it this year, don’t fret, we wouldn’t let a fellow nerd down. Here’s a quick rundown of some of the things that happened at the year’s biggest game expo. A whole lot was announced this year, and as much as we’d love to cover everything, there just isn’t going to be room to do all that, so instead, we’ve got a totally biased rundown of all the games at E3 we think are worth looking into when they finally land.

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Cyberpunk 2077

At the top of the list is a game that we honestly almost forgot about. Cyberpunk 2077 is still happening. We first saw a teaser for the game from CD Projekt RED in 2012. As a refresher, 2012 was when the Olympics headed to London, Xi Jinping became the president of China, and Kim Dotcom’s Megaupload was shut down for copyright issues. That was a long time ago. While the developer hasn’t really announced an exact release date, opting to stick to their “when it’s done” target, we did get an awesome new trailer that really does a lot to show us the Blade Runneresqe world we just can’t wait to leave our reality for. There’s gameplay now too, and it’s even better than we imagined. We’re now going to try to not think about this game again until we have a final release date, but you should be at least as excited as we are.

The Last of Us 2

Naughty Dog has also been busy. Now that the Uncharted series is more or less done for the time being, another property of theirs is jockeying for your attention, and in a big way. The new trailer for The Last Of Us, along with some gameplay, was released at E3 this year. Co-director Neil Druckmann also explained that this installment would revolve more around hate, where the first one had powerful themes of love. You’re also going to be playing an older, more mature Ellie, though it also appears that Joel will continue to be around. Both Ellie and Joel will be played by their original actors, and the ultra-tense score will again be created by the same composer as the

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

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The Last of Us 2

first game. Gameplay was as Last Of Us as ever, with all the brutal violence, swearing, sneaking, and action we hope to see. We’re both afraid and excited at this news, but we know the folks at Naughty Dog won’t let us down.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, The Division 2

Love it or hate it, Assassin’s Creed is also making a comeback. The name, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, should clue you in to its 5th Century B.C.E. Greek setting. You can choose to play either a male or a female character this time, and the story, more than ever, is driven by choice through interactive dialog. Action is more fluid and faster-paced, with blocking giving way to parries and dodges for creating openings for attack. Your character also has a bounty on them, so you’ll frequently encounter fellow mercenaries who want to turn your head in for a quick payday. As you defeat more and more mercenaries, your reputation increases, as you make your way to becoming the most renowned one in all of the ancient world. RPG elements are present in more than just dialog. Item hunts will help drive the action forward, as different items have different effects in stats, and are available in different rarities. You also unlock different abilities and upgrades to fit how you play the game. There’s also a sequel to The Division, which takes place seven months after the original title. There will be large, eight-player raids, with the narrative being pushed forward by episodic DLCs that reveal new areas, and things to do.

Kingdom Hearts 3

Anthem

Kingdom Hearts 3

Kingdom Hearts, one of the most popular Square Enix titles, will also finally coming back to our consoles. That’s the good news. The bad news is that the release date is set for January 2019. This is still a bit of a wait, and they know that, but we’re more than willing to see what they have in store for us. There’s little else to go on, but at least we finally have a date to wait for.

Anthem

We now also know a little more about Anthem, the futuristic, power armor-fueled co-op shooter from EA and BioWare. It’s a combination of a lot of really cool elements—you have Iron Manlike armor, exploration, team play, and a huge, dangerous alien world to explore, and missions to complete. The whole picture still remains a little bit of a mystery, and whether that’s intentional or otherwise will be seen on final release. It’s good to see more progress being made here, as there were concerns that the project was falling apart, with rumors of teams within the developer being uncertain about the future of the title. The date has also been pushed back a few times, but we should see Anthem hit the shelves in February of 2019.

That’s what we’re excited about from E3 this year, and we can’t wait until we have these titles on our own shelves. It’s going to be a long wait for some of them, but by all indications, it looks like it’ll be worth it.

Cyberpunk 2077

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Words by Jose Alvarez Developer: Big Deez Productions | Publisher: Mad Dog Games | Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

The year is 1994. NBA star and future basketball legend Shaquille “Shaq” O’Neal is taking the NBA by storm with the Orlando Magic. By this time, Shaq has turned the fortunes of the expansion Orlando Magic around and the team has just made the NBA playoffs for the first time. At the time, Shaq was dabbling in music and launching his rap career. He would later also go into acting with the films Blue Chips (1994) and Kazaam (1996). While both were critical flops, the movies also contained Shaq’s music. The NBA legend released four studio albums from 1993 to 1998. Shaq is still in acting today, having appeared as himself in movies that 90s kids will fondly remember, such as Good Burger (1997) and He Got Game (1998). Shaq has also appeared in several Adam Sandler films such as Jack and Jill (2011), Grown Ups 2 (2013), and Blended (2014). The star has also had roles in professional wrestling and law enforcement, leading people to wonder whether there was anything Shaq couldn’t do.

Video games seemed like the next logical step at the peak of Shaq’s celebrity. While Shaq has appeared in mainstream basketball games, there was also the curious case of Shaq Fu. The game involved Shaq going into another dimension to rescue a young boy from an evil mummy. The game was released on the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo, and somehow got ports to the Game Boy and Game Gear. It was critically panned as one of the worst video games of all time due to poor controls and low-quality gameplay. At one point, some gamers took it upon themselves to destroy every copy of the game that has ever been released. Yet, Shaq Fu (or at least the concept of Shaq Fu) lived on for another two decades, possibly as a painful reminder of what happens when you mix celebrities, fiction, and video games.

Fast forward to 2014. There is now an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign seeking to develop a sequel to the game, called Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn. Given that the original game was one of the worst games of all time, it made people wonder whether gamers had a sense of humor or were using the power of the Internet to give the NBA legend a more meaningful foray into the

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gaming world. After entering development hell for a few years, the game was announced for a June 5, 2018 release date for the PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn rides the wave of 90s nostalgia that has permeated modern society in this decade. Some gamers (including myself ) may find the plot a bit too real for their liking: Shaq has to stop demons posing as celebrities from keeping people in a state of servitude. The game is essentially a more humorous version of Fatal Fury or Double Dragon. The side-scrolling action takes Shaq through several stages where he plows through enemies and the player can just mash buttons to complete the stages. However, there are some sequences that border on the absurd: Shaq can pilot a mech suit to blast through

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enemies with ease. The bosses are essentially parody versions of celebrities such as current United States President Donald Trump, Paris Hilton, and Justin Bieber. One boss is a parody of the so-called “Instagram model” who posts hundreds of selfies a day for her thousands of followers.

While the developers sought to have a sense of humor while creating Shaq Fu: A Legend Reborn, the game is a curiosity to have in your library rather than a must-own masterpiece. The gameplay is rather simplistic and doesn’t have much in the way of replay value after you play through it. However, it is nostalgic to have the “worst game ever” have a revival in today’s gaming world.

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Words by Jewel Sta. Ana Developer and Publisher: miHoYo Limited | Platform: iOS and Android

There might have been a lot of mobile game releases in different app markets of late, but most of them are either a mobile adaptation of an existing PC title, or from a Western movie franchise. Sure it’s fun to shoot anonymous players or fight with your favorite superheroes, but as a casual mobile gamer who gets bored easily with seeing the same thing every time, I wanted something more. While discussing economics jargon over a cup of tea, an old pal suggested Honkai Impact 3 to me. It exceeded my expectations.

The Basics

I’ll be honest with you. Its 2 GB install size requires a lot of space in your device, be it iOS or Android, but there’s a justifiable reason behind it. This free to play game has amazing graphics that are almost comparable to a console game. Constant connection to the Internet is a must, though. To get the most consistent experience, it’s best to connect with Wi-Fi than mobile data, so you can play smoothly.

I’ve always been an Otaku so when I found out that the brawling game has an entire crew of cute anime girls, I was giddy. Knowing that it is a brainchild of a Chinese game developer, I did not expect that it will feature such. Instead of licensing a popular anime, the company made its own original story which features the legion of female soldiers called Valkyrie, focusing on the story of Kia Kaslana. As one of the top graduates of St. Freya, the school where members of Valkryrie are trained, she must save the world from the invasive enemy force known as the Honkai.

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The Gameplay

Just like any other combat game, players have the power to unlock new characters and upgrade their weapons. For starters, you will have the dual gun-wielding Kia as a default character for the story mode, which in turn is divided into acts.

You’ll be guided by a virtual assistant named Aichan in accomplishing your missions, unlocking new characters, upgrading weapons and skills, as well as dressing up your team and building their own dorm. Just a friendly reminder: this game is all about keeping the right Valkyrie to use and the right strategy to use in battle.

The girls are classified into three main types: Psych, Creature, and Mecha, which give you their unique set of skills and clues about enemies that they can fight and defeat. Each character has stigmata that gives them a boost to their current stats.

Mastering the best combinations of stigmata is a must, so paying attention to find what fits best on every girl in your team is important. You can even invite online friends to your tasks, bring them with you, and switch characters during the game.

As you progress, you’ll get the katana warrior Raiden Mei and the mechanical enigma Bronya Zaychik who complete your first set of fighters.

The latter is known for ranged assaults while the former deals higher damage to Honkai beasts.

Completing quests in story mode gives you both experience points and necessary materials for weapon and attack upgrades. You can also earn them as a reward by either accomplishing online quests or logging in daily, weekly, and monthly.

To further enhance your performance in-game, you may find a sensei online that can aid on your missions. If you want to do more, you can complete in-app purchases by buying additional crystals.

Honkai Impact 3, as a mobile RPG action game, enables players to move their female heroines using a directional pad around a 360-degree view—a feature that makes it different from other mobile games out there which have stuck to their traditional style. Touching the right attack buttons unleashes the character’s ultimate moves and special abilities, allowing you to earn massive combo streaks. This is why knowing each of the girl’s amazing powers beforehand is essential as it helps you use all their abilities to your advantage. Thanks to its superb 3D graphics, seeing your A-team dominating their enemies in the battlefield is a feast for your eyes.

Every frame rendered in the game is truly heartstopping and action-packed, which made it hit the top of the charts for mobile action titles.

Partnered with talented voice actors and excellent character designers, it is not a surprise why it became so popular. Great graphics and gameplay turn this mobile title into a consolelike experience, and the developers deserve praise for the feat. It’s a title you shouldn’t miss.

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APPS

Words by Mia Carisse Barrientos

The mind is a beautiful thing.

It holds a universe of stories and ideas yet to be explored.

There are days, however, when tapping into this bottomless well of creativity requires a lot of effort. When stuck in a creative drought, take a break, have a go at these apps, and get your creative juices flowing.

Brain It On! - Physics Puzzles iOS and Android (Free) Exercising is as essential for the body as it is for the mind. When the brain is constantly at work, doing a variety of tasks, it is more likely to render enhanced functionality, for a productive you.

Playing games is a great way to stimulate and challenge the mind. Brain It On! combines puzzles with physics to create a game that not only keeps boredom at bay, but also improves your mental abilities. This level-based game has players draw shapes and figures to beat physics puzzles. From simply having a ball hit the left border of the screen to more challenging tasks figuring out how to catapult an object to an indicated area in-game, Brain It On! will have you put your game face on level after level.

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Writer Android (Free) Ideas can strike any time of the day. Oftentimes, they come when you least expect them—e.g. while showering, on your commute to work, or even the slim moment before you fall asleep. The thing is, you neither have perfect recall powers nor do you always have a pen and paper on your person for archiving these bursts of inspiration.

One item that people of the 21st century will always have around though, is a smartphone.

Further optimize your handset with Writer. This notepad-style app enables users to jot down their ideas sans distracting elements. Its format is as simple as a blank notepad. You have basic options for customization such as different fonts and backgrounds, you can also opt for premium which gives you the text-to-speech function for improved note-taking. And maybe opening a blank page could also spark something great in your brain—an idea for a best-selling novel, perhaps.

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Orphic Android (Free) Educating yourself on different topics is like investing in a brain bank. If you deposit plenty, you can also easily withdraw exceptional insights. You can pick up a new hobby, learn a new language, or simply download Orphic on your phone. This app showcases a huge catalog of words you probably haven’t heard of, all of which can be of use for when working towards expanding your vocabulary. It’s basically a dictionary that feeds you new words, complete with audio pronunciation and example sentences, each time you open the app. You can save words to your favorite list for reviewing, as well as share your new learnings to your social media accounts.

Orphic also updates regularly to give you more words to learn. Isn’t it splendid?

Down Dog: Great Yoga Anywhere iOS and Android (Free) Physical activity helps boost brain function. It’s not hard to see why, as we experience that creative spark while on the move daily. Even mundane activities such as walking aid in boosting brain functions, so what more can dedicated practices such as yoga do to benefit your mind? If time doesn’t permit regular visits to a yoga studio, you can turn to your phone for help. Down Dog: Great Yoga Anywhere is a simple app that provides true energy, body and mind-centering content tailored for you. You can comfortably practice with its clear audio instructions and music to achieve zen and be all set for more rounds of creative thinking.

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VISUAL SPACE

National Museum

of

Natural History Explore the beauty of Philippine biodiversity Words by Jewel Sta. Ana • Photos by Jael Mendoza

It was a rainy afternoon when we braved Manila traffic to get to the museum. Despite the deluge, we were buzzing with excitement as our ride made its way past Luneta, and before we knew it, we were pushing our way through the crowd of umbrellas, waiting for our turn to enter the majestic halls of the National Museum of Natural History, our new happy place.

Just a month ago, the retrofitted natural history museum formally opened its doors to the public.

Not many know that the building was occupied by the Department of Tourism before it was converted into what it is now. To give the building a new look, National Museum of the Philippines invited architects to submit their proposal in 2013.

It took the whole construction team five years to build and improve its interiors, and the end result was well worth every minute.

What to see?

Displayed right at the lobby is a full-sized replica of Lolong, the world’s largest crocodile, captured in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur. As you walk further, you will see a double helix inspired by the structure of DNA, which serves as the museum’s elevator and centerpiece. Looking up, you’ll see the geometric glass dome of the building’s primary roof. According to the curators,

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the splendid architectural pieces were dubbed as the Tree of Life which explains the museum in a nutshell. Keeping everything simple and elegant, the six-storey building was painted entirely in white to make the most of natural light.

Suspended from the giant walls were illustrations of Philippines’ endemic animals such as the tarsier, tamaraw, and Philippine eagle. Everything in the museum inspires wonder, from its symmetrical ramps, grand staircases, and large, themed rooms.

taxidermied terrestrial and aerial animals are displayed in the other rooms, starting off with deers, monkeys, and local birds. Don’t be surprised to see mayas, pelicans, kingfishers, and cranes behind glass. On the opposite side, botanical paintings of Philippine orchids by Tomas Bernardo and medicinal plant discoveries by Dr. Eduardo Quisimbing dominate the temporary exhibition section, all of which are displayed along the path’s walls.

The first level consists of the lower courtyard which showcases displays of petrified wood, giant mollusks, old sketches of plants and flowers, and taxidermied eagles. Foyers and corridors around the area are named for personalities who contributed to Philippine biology, such as botanist Leon Maria Guerrero and British naturalist John Whitehead.

The neoclassical building’s third floor is all about the sea. A mini theater welcomed us upon entering the Marine Realm. Educating visitors about environmental issues, the section explains the effects of climate change, the need for protected areas, and endangered species in the country. At the heart of the area lies a globe which shows the world’s current biosphere, while the opposite side features aquatic creatures living in recreated mangroves and beaches. Philippines’ rich marine life is also depicted in the area, with enormous figures of a manta ray and whale shark on its center. Various kinds of crustaceans, starfish, and venomous sea creatures, are exhibited to educate visitors. Our attention was also drawn to the diorama of turtles hatching.

When inside, you should not forget to retrace your roots. Ayala Hall, which is located on the second floor, pays tribute to thousand year-old artifacts that provide evidence of early civilization in the country. Among them are rhinoceros bones, and stone fossils used as tools. The superstar, however, is Lolong’s long and gigantic skeleton suspended from the room’s ceiling. More

What to do?

Providing an interactive environment, the museum is filled with activities that visitors can try during their tour. Science geeks have the chance to test their observation skills by examining the scientific illustration booth where they can draw plant specimens. There’s also a specialized area for butterfly collection and pinning, and leaf rubbing. Adventurers will love the haptics booth which enables the audience to touch, smell, and see dried leaves, pinecones, mushrooms, vanilla, and cinnamon sticks. You can even find a mock-up submarine where you can watch different marine animals swim by your window.

The new addition on the country’s local museums says a lot about how rich and blessed our country is in terms of natural resources. The establishment itself is not just a museum, it’s an existing reminder for everyone to be responsible enough in our own habitat. Aside from providing a great place to learn about our natural world, the sophisticated architecture, and free admission as mandated by the government, the venue is a great way to see how wonderful our home is.

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ARTIST CORNER

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WELLNESS

Words by Mia Carisse Barrientos

The skin gets exposed to various elements on a daily basis; elements that may not affect how your skin looks immediately, but pose risk of later harm.

And though you think you’re giving your skin the care it needs, you may just be doing the bare minimum. In this regard, help arrives in the form of skin and body wellness centers. Having been in the business for over two decades now, Bioessence is an expert in caring for the skin and body.

As Joseph Feliciano, Bioessence Chief Operating Officer, recollects, the business started purely out of Emma Beleno-Guerero, Feliciano’s dermatologist mother’s desire to practice her profession. What started as a two-bed clinic in Davao offering basic dermatological services, boomed into a multi-branch brand that specializes in improving skin health and body wellness.

The Bioessence experience is not what you’d expect from a regular skin care center. In place of white walls and cubicles are elements that encourage relaxation. As soon as you enter, you are transported to pampering wonderland: zen music filling the space, pleasant scents wafting, cozy lounge spots, and friendly staff that see to your needs. “It’s basically having your skin treatments in a relaxing environment,” Feliciano adds.

Services Tailored For You

Not all skin and body have the same needs. A treatment might work for one person but,

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wouldn’t guarantee the same pleasant result for another. Bioessence recognizes this. A customer who’d like to avail of a service would have to go through a consultation first. Highly-trained consultants take the time to learn your skin’s specific needs for you to get the most favorable results, even on your first visit. Customers would then be under the care of skilled therapists who undergo specialized and intensive trainings every so often to give optimal care and service.

“We want to perfect delivering our services. We put a lot of focus and importance to the training aspect, our protocols come from our team of doctors,” Feliciano proudly explains.

A skin center first, Bioessence is known for its facial and body treatments. It offers the usual anti-aging, whitening, and acne treatments, but continues to innovate its services to cater to a more diverse market as well as to keep up with the constantly changing trends. Bioessence leads in various fronts with advanced services such as Photo Dynamic Therapy and Oxygen Facials, both of which promises to do wonders to the skin. Beyond these, Bioessence also has slimming and spa services for a holistic pampering. And because taking care of your skin is an everyday affair, the brand also has, in its portfolio, locallymade products along with a more intensive skin care line shipped from Korea so you can take the Bioessence experience anywhere with you.

Bioessence is in the business of making its customers beyond beautiful and they intend to do that with unmatched services that transcends skin deep.

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FOOD

LAZAT One-Stop Filipino-Asian Food Destination

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75

TRAVEL

ALL OVER THE UNITED KINGDOM Words and Photos by Ren Alcantara

The United Kingdom is a great place to visit, rich with history, and with more castles than a single vacation can cover. We tried our best to see as much of it as we could in 15 days, without having too busy a schedule.

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There are a few things you should prepare before the start of your trip. Firstly, internet connectivity.

From navigating the trains and buses, to finding restaurants, and staying in contact with the rest of your party, your own internet connection is a must.

You have a few options, though likely the most convenient is a prepaid sim that will work with the carriers in the UK. I was able to find one online for just over a thousand pesos, with about 10 GB of data. That was plenty, with a lot left over after the trip. You’ll thank yourself later. Also, there will be a lot of walking in usually cold weather, so be prepared.

Now, off to our first destination, London!

We were a big group, so we opted to book a largish AirBnB near central London. This turned out to be a great idea despite the high price for lodging, since the nearest tube station was less than a ten minute walk away, plus there was a Tesco right down the street, which helped us save a few pounds a day on food.

you can have a quick spot of tea at the museum cafe, before you head back out to the displays.

A few days in London, and you’ll want to have a change in scenery. Having had our fill of the busy city, our group then moved over to Cardiff, in Wales, where we had another AirBnB home waiting for us.

Yes, I realize that Cardiff isn’t the most happening place on the planet, and yes, there isn’t a whole lot to do there, but it was the perfect jumping off point for other places we wanted to visit. Before the tourist sites, another few tips. Our Cardiff BnB had a full kitchen, with a dishwasher, which was a huge bonus, and we used both a lot. You do have to be aware about sorting the recycling, as they do tend to be fairly strict about it. This will save you the trouble of having to sort everything out right before you leave.

A trip to the UK means views like this outside every castle window.

The Giant’s Causeway in Ireland is amazing.

Getting around London is best achieved through the use of buses and trains. The nice thing about the system is that traveling through the interesting parts of the city doesn’t cost too much. Once you spend the equivalent of about three train rides, all your other rides for the day will be free. There are a lot of things to visit in the city, with plenty of museums to see, and history to take in. Those are easy enough to find in guides and online (don’t skip the Tower of London, or a play at West End), but one museum did stand out for us.

Northern Ireland’s own Iron Isles are open for visitors. in Wales. The castle is beautifully photogenic, and boasts one of the most complicated water defenses of all the castles in Europe. There are plenty of things to see, and while it’s not quite as grand as some of the other castles we got to visit, it remains one of my favorites because of its exterior, as well as the story of the people behind the castle walls.

Pay a visit to Caerphills castle in Wales if you get the chance.

From Bath, we took a small plane to Belfast in Northern Ireland. Belfast is a small city with a chaotic history as recently as the ‘90s. We took it upon ourselves to learn about The Troubles with a paid walking tour that talked about the history and reasons behind this conflict, and the effects that carry on to this day. We got to know about the city’s past, as well as take in a few of the city sights on the way. This is a historical tour above all else, and might not be for everyone, but if you want to take your travels past just pretty photos, and really learn about the place you’re in, this is an excellent way to do it.

The Imperial War Museum is located in a quiet little area in the city was the highlight of our London museum visits. They have plenty of artefacts from different conflicts throughout history, including a pair of imposing naval guns at the front of the building. There are a number of free and paid exhibits, so be prepared to set aside a good portion of your day for this location. The Great War exhibit alone took up about two hours of our time, and we came out of it with so much more knowledge than we arrived. It was sobering, terrifying, and awesome all at once, and I would recommend it to anyone with even the most remote interest in the history of war. I cannot overstate just how good a visit to this museum would be. It really is quite massive, so should you need a break from all the walking inside,

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A trip to Bath should be a given if you’re close enough. From Cardiff, that’s just about two hours, and about 30 GBP both ways. You’re going to be spending a whole day there should you go, including a two-hour walking tour, and a paid tour of the old Roman baths that the city was first built around. There’s also the old cathedral, and Pulteney Bridge, which was in a quick scene from the Les Miserables film. Be aware that places do close rather early at Bath, as to places in Cardiff, so plan your day smartly. There’s a lot of architecture to take in here as well, so take your time, a full battery for your camera, and all the photos you want.

Another wonderful destination from Cardiff was Caerphilly Castle, in the small town of Caerphilly, still

Belfast also served as the jump-off point for a Game of Thrones tour, which took us all over the countryside, to actual filming locations used as the setting for the Iron Isles. Our guide, an actual Game of Thrones extra, took us through several locations, with comprehensive descriptions, videos, and a thorough explanation of what it was like to be in the show.

The coastal area can be brutal though, with high winds, low temperatures, and some steep drops, but it was all worth it. Even if you aren’t a GoT fan, the landscapes are amazing, and well worth the trip.

There was so much more to see and do, and I’d like to do the trip justice, so hang on for the next installment, where we talk about the Scotland leg of the trip!

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INTER-ISLAND

TRAVEL MADE EASY

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FASTCAT ROUTES You can literally drive the entire length and breadth of the Philippine archipelago with FastCat ferries, which now serve eleven major inter-island crossings on the Philippine Nautical Highway System.

WESTERN NAUTICAL HIGHWAY

For many Filipinos, flying out of the country to international destinations is more convenient than discovering the wonders of the Philippines, mainly because of the perceived difficulties of inter-island travel. Admittedly, road trips are gaining popularity, as can be evidenced by the monstrous traffic jams on the expressways during long weekend holidays.

But these journeys are mainly confined to Luzon locales which are accessible by car. Usually, a vacation to a Visayas or Mindanao destination involves careful planning, watching out for airline seat sales, and buying your plane tickets months ahead of your planned holiday.

Roll-on, roll-off ferries for inter-island travel have been around for many years, but these were usually associated with cargo vehicles or provincial buses.

Schedules were iffy, passenger accommodations were meager, and safety was often a concern.

With Archipelago Philippine Ferries Corporation (APFC), traveling through the country’s major islands is fast, safe, and convenient. Their FastCat fleet is the first and only catamaran Ro-Ro ferry in the country, specially-designed for the Philippines’weather and sea conditions.

The car deck—accessed via a roll-on, roll-off ramp—can hold up to 34 cars and 7 trucks or buses. The freight charges vary according to the size of the vehicle, ranging from a few hundred pesos for a bicycle, to around PHP 2,000 to PHP 4,000 for sedans and SUVs, and over PHP 60,000 for 20-tonner heavy equipment. The driver of the vehicle gets free passage. To board a vehicle, all you need is a copy of the OR/CR, plus a valid government-issued ID for the driver.

Passengers will also enjoy the amenities offered

by FastCat ferries. Three levels of accommodations

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are offered: The most basic is the Sundeck or Economy, which is an open area with bench seats for up to 107 people. The Premium Economy class has seats for 105 people, LCD TVs for entertainment and is air-conditioned. Finally, the Business Class is similarly fully air-conditioned, has an LCD TV, and 63 reclining seats. Snacks and drinks are provided for Business Class passengers.

Individual life vests are also available on all the seats.

Senior citizens and persons with disability can enjoy the mandatory 20% discount and no VAT, while students get a 20% discount. Children age 3-7 years old travel at half-price, while those below 3 years old are free of charge.

There is an elevator to provide access to people with special needs, such as the elderly and the disabled. A snack bar, offering a wide selection of food and beverages, offers added convenience.

Booking passage for vehicles and passengers are easy, as there an online booking facility on the FastCat website. Of course, you can also get tickets at the FastCat booths at the port terminal.

Each port has its own set of regulations and terminal fees, so even if you have pre-booked your tickets, vehicles should be at the port at least two hours prior to boarding time for inspection, while passengers are expected to be at the boarding area at least 30 minutes before departure time.

For travel junkies on the look-out for their next road trip adventure, check out the possibilities that FastCat offers for inter-island travel. For sure, you’re going to discover and appreciate the Philippines as an archipelago, and bring home beautiful snapshots and heartwarming memories of as-yet unexplored and hidden natural panorama and cultural treasures.

For more information, visit www.fastcat.com.ph.

ISLAND Port Province

ISLAND Port Province

LUZON Batangas City Batangas MINDORO Bulalacao Oriental Mindoro PANAY Iloilo City Iloilo NEGROS Dumaguete City Negros Oriental

MINDORO Calapan City Oriental Mindoro PANAY Caticlan Malay, Aklan NEGROS Bacolod City Negros Occidental MINDANAO Dapitan City Zamboanga del Norte

Travel Time

Trips daily

1h 30m

8 trips

3h

2 trips

1h 40m

3 trips

3h

3 trips

Travel Time

Trips daily

1h

5 trips

1h 30m

4 trips

2h 45m

1 trip

2h 45m / 3h 45m

1 trip

Travel Time

Trips daily

1h 30m

8 trips

2h

3 trips

CENTRAL NAUTICAL HIGHWAY ISLAND Port Province

ISLAND Port Province

NEGROS San Carlos City Negros Occidental CEBU Cebu City Cebu BOHOL Jagna Bohol CAMIGUIN Balbagon Mambajao, Camiguin

CEBU Toledo City Cebu BOHOL Tubigon Bohol CAMIGUIN Balbagon Camiguin MINDANAO Opol (CDO) Misamis Oriental

EASTERN NAUTICAL HIGHWAY ISLAND Port Province

ISLAND Port Province

LUZON Matnog Sorsogon LEYTE Liloan Southern Leyte

SAMAR San Isidro Northern Samar MINDANAO Lipata (Surigao City) Surigao del Norte

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MUSIC CORNER

Words by Robby Vaflor • Art by Jael Mendoza

Whether we like it or not, technology has had a big impact on the way we produce, distribute and consume music.

Cheaper equipment and instruments have pushed more and more musicians to create and record their own music, while the growing role of the Internet as a communication tool has made it easy for them to distribute their music independently, and for us listeners to find their music without relying on older forms of promotion such as radio and television.

Some may argue that this new, more direct relationship between musician and listener has led to an increased volume of songs available on the market, making it harder for consumers to find the good stuff amidst the mediocre. However, the same fact has led to daring artists, who would otherwise not be able to realize their musical visions, to create such groundbreaking and beautiful works of art.

A new breed of artist has emerged from the Digital Age that is not afraid to take risks in songwriting, mixing genres and lyrically addressing issues that are more relatable to the listener. And due to the increasing eclecticism of this generation’s listening habits, artists of this kind—who previously would have been considered outsiders—are now changing our perspective on the divide between mainstream and alternative.

Below are a few artists who exemplify this aesthetic—uncompromising and more conscious—making a significant impact on this generation’s music.

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Joji

Who knew memelord royalty Papa Franku is a sensitive musician? Yes, you got that right. Joji is the stage name of George Miller also known as Dr. Filthy Francis, Ph.D (Sir Francis of the Filth), and as Pink Guy. When you hear somber, downtempo songs like Yeah Right and I Don’t Wanna Waste My Time, you’d find it hard to connect it to such a polarizing personality because of the complexity and delicacy of his music which has been compared to the work of James Blake.

Cuco

Clairo

When you have a song about owning a CR-V, you know you are so far off from the mainstream hiphop aesthetic. At just 19, Cuco has consistently released self-produced sleeper hits, garnering a considerable following which translates to massive crowds at shows. His music has hints of hip-hop, electro, and indie rock that resonates with its highly relatable lyrics.

If you’ve ever just clicked on a lo-fi chill beats study mix and just rode on its trail the whole night, then you’ve probably come across Clairo.

Bedroom pop artist Claire Cotrill began posting music on Bandcamp, and later went onto post remixes and covers on Soundcloud and YouTube.

She would eventually start writing and producing electropop music and post it on her different accounts, with her 2017 song Pretty Girl becoming viral.

Hobo Johnson

Frank Lopes is the frontman of Hobo Johnson and the LoveMakers. He and his group broke out, thanks to their viral hit Peach Scone which was sent in as an entry to NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest. With his vocal and lyrical style leaning more towards spoken word poetry rather than conventional rap, he sings about his experiences from romantic relationships to parental problems.

Listen to Romeo and Juliet if you’re feeling extra vulnerable.

Anderson .Paak and the Free Nationals

Anderson Paak used to be a drummer for the church his family goes to, producing music from his bedroom in his teens. Since then, he has become a very talented musician accompanied by his band the Free Nationals. Their music is a mix of hip-hop, soul, funk and R&B. Take a gander at their NPR Tiny Desk Concert, it’s pretty dope.

Rex Orange County

You might have heard him being featured extensively on Tyler, the Creator’s acclaimed album Flower Boy. Surrey, England native Alexander O’Connor attended the Brit school in South London which also produced notable musicians like Adele and King Krule. Since working primarily as a percussionist in his student days, he is now a singer-songwriter fusing pop, hip-hop, soul, R&B and jazz influences to create a sound uniquely his.

For a playlist featuring these artists and more, go to this accompanying link: https://spoti. fi/2I4Ut5g

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FEATURE

Google News Gets Even Smarter Words by Ren Alcantara

In a world where facts get muddled more and more, Google is stepping up, and making great news and reliable news sources available to everyone.

They’ve reworked the Google News app through machine learning, and made it the smartest it has ever been, ever. Rolled out shortly after the Google I/O this year, Google News makes getting the right, relevant info easier and more convenient than before.

To see what had to be done, the engineers at Google took a look to find out what problems users were having with news. They wanted Google News to be the one place you can go to get information that’s correct and relevant to each user.

This becomes a problem as more and more great content keeps hitting the web, drowning users in information that was starting to become a pain to sort through. The solution was AI. New algorithms take the content that’s available, looks the information it knows the user is interested in, and presents it in a way that’s easy to digest, without the user having to trawl the whole internet, and without sacrificing the ability to go deeper on a few items of news here and there. Google then created a slicker interface that lets you take in all the news at a glance in a quick second, and should you have more time, make the process of a deep dive much simpler.

You start your day with the top five stories, organized just for you, all the way from the world stage, to what’s going on in your own backyard.

Broad overviews, sharp highlights, and a single tap to reveal the whole story make staying connected with the rest of the world simple—you don’t have to think about what you’re doing, you just take it all in. Google News’ Full Coverage feature, which uses machine learning, understands how different news items are related to each other, giving you a better view of the whole picture, not just snippets that have to be hunted for and pieced together.

The news is spread out like an info pyramid. It starts with news that eveyone should see, and all users get. Then, you’re served news that covers a more specific set of experiences relevant to each users.

No teaching, no signing up, no hassle.

Google News also allows you to have more

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than what’s on the broadly searchable web.

Subscriptions can now be made right within the app, allowing access to your favorite sources without having to mess with sign-ups, new passwords, or payment information, all across your multitude of devices.

What really makes the Google News special is how it lets you move seamlessly from broad information, to jumping deep into the headline.

It gives you more, relevant stories, tweets, etc. to see what people are saying, and there’s a timeline of news stories so you see how things unfold. You get the best of the content, more than just what happens in the day. In addition, since the app constantly learns from the kind of news you look at, the more you use it, the better it gets at recognizing the kind of news you want to see, without you having to tell it explicitly.

There is also a focus on quality, not popularity.

This is a really important thing, given the scary reach of straight lies passed off as news, and the seed at which those propagate. It’s always a cat-and-mouse game for Google, as they try to fight off people who try to cheat the system, but they have been doing this a while, and they have gotten pretty good at the process, so sources that are known to be true get priority. There are also algorithms in place that determine which news should be at the top of the stack. This is, in part achieved by looking at a consensus amongst high quality sources, to ensure everything that comes up is actually true. Think about it this way: it’s reasonably easy for one source to spout a lie, but for many sources that have had a good track record in the past to all be telling a lie, it’s a little less likely.

If you haven’t installed Google News yet, give it a shot. It’s very good at what it does.

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It’s in the Details

EPSON FUSION 9 Words and Photos by Mia Carisse Barrientos

Epson’s technologies are the culmination of its long pedigree of bold inventiveness. Constantly striving to serve its market as best as it can, the company pours its resources into innovating value-added products that deliver precision and efficiency to connect people, drive down business costs, and boost productivity. This dedication allows Epson to maintain its steady lead in various markets and fuels them to push forward new products that benefit consumers on multiple fronts.

Epson Philippines localizes this formula and injects Filipino ingenuity, which scrutinizes and refines details to its products and market strategy. This enables them to gain traction, as well as be the top choice in key segments, notably recording a positive 20-percent average growth in the past five years. This lead is furthered by the company’s focus on the B2B segment and developing its core technologies across its four areas of innovation–inkjet, visual communications, wearables, and robotics.

Epson Innovations Continuing its annual tradition, Epson Philippines brought to the fore its unique approach to innovation through a showcase of its products on this year’s Fusion media thanksgiving event held in Balesin Island in Polilio, Quezon Province.

Epson also shone light on its new digital textile printers and projectors--solutions that would assist companies in achieving business transformation, enable automation, and provide end-to-end, immersive solutions to customers.

The SureColor F2130 is a direct-to-garment printer perfect for those looking into starting a t-shirt printing business, or an option for business owners who want to minimize costs and benefit from an easy to use, low-

maintenance machine. This reliable digital textile printer can print on shirts up to 25 mm thick using a new white ink filter and Epson’s PrecisionCore printhead technology for quality image.

Meanwhile, the SureColor F9330 is Epson’s most advanced dye-sublimation printer yet.

This high-volume printer utilizes modern technologies such as a cutting-edge Precision Media Feeding System, dual PrecisionCore printheads, and UltraChrome DS ink quality delivery of outputs without delay. With a machine like this, businesses are guaranteed higher-yield in a short period of time which translates to lofty profit.

Epson’s premiere LightScene EV-100 changes the game with its distinct design that

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not only looks good, but is also an advantage, as it beautifully blends into any environment.

This accent lighting 3LCD laser projector simultaneously illuminates and projects on any surface, giving users the freedom to unleash any content.

It’s in the Details Epson’s new campaign for the business segment “It’s in the Details,” highlights the company’s approach to innovation, backed by a long history of artisanship and attention to details.

With Epson’s obsession in precision and its vertically integrated business model, it continues to innovate and deliver new technologies that bring significant change in the way their customers’ businesses work.

“What customers get from our products and solutions come from the details we put into them. Our obsession to details enables us to turn big ideas into reality. It also gave us the opportunity to expand our portfolio of innovative products, dedicated to making lives simpler and easier,” concluded Mr. Toshimitsu Tanaka, managing director (SE Asia), Epson Singapore and president and country manager, Epson Philippines.

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BITS & BYTES

First-Ever Taiwan Excellence Day Concludes The first-ever Taiwan Excellence Day was recently held at the SMX Aura Convention Center in Taguig. The two-day event featured programs that promote Taiwan’s vibrant image, culture, brands, and industries to enhance awareness and business cooperation with Philippine consumers and partners.

On Taiwan Excellence’ 5th year in the country, its campaign organized by The Taiwan Bureau of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) kicked off with the ”Smart Technology, Smart Living” forum. Key industry players and thought leaders on tech-driven lifestyles discussed and encouraged the use and integration of technology in Filipinos’ everyday lives, which would help them in coping with the needs and demands of today’s increasingly digital society.

The brands present at the forum shared ingenious communications and connectivity solutions for households, offices, and businesses.

ASUS launched their new ROG notebooks, premium notebook devices, and latest additions

to their smartphone line: the Zenfone 5 and Max Pro (M1). Atop Technologies, Inc., meanwhile, highlighted their 3G/4G Internet of Things Gateway to connect and remotely supervise multiple field devices. D-Link also brought their latest product line for

consumer, small and medium enterprises and surveillance business. Lastly, Gigabyte showcased their 300-series chipset and gaming series, which includes the Z370, H370, B350 Aorus motherboards for actionpacked gaming.

LG Launched G7 ThinQ in the Philippines Korean mobile brand LG has released its newest flagship phone in the local market. The latest member of G-series is the first phone of its line to sport AI capabilities built-in, as well as a host of other new features designed for consumers looking for an all-around premium smartphone that will remain relevant and current for years to come.

Crafted with simplicity and elegance in mind, the G7 ThinQ has a 6.1-inch QHD+ FullVision display with up to 1000 nits of brightness viewable even when outdoors. The inclusion of a customizable top notch makes it stand among the rest. Users have the freedom to enable or remove it whenever they want. The Boombox speaker generates louder volume than typical smartphones most especially when placed on a solid wood or metal surface. It is also equipped with Hi-Fi Quad DACs and DTS:X technology, making it a go-to phone for audiophiles.

With dual 16-megapixel AI cameras under its hood, the phone significantly improves image quality. The super wide-angle lenses on both front and rear fits more people and scenery in the frame compared to previous models. Its self-

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learning cameras automatically optimize shots based on the subject while the Super Bright Camera feature brightens dimly-lit objects by a magnitude of four, without additional noise or grain.

At the core of its metallic body is a Snapdragon 845 processor clocked at 2.8 GhZ , matched with 4 GB of RAM and 64 GB of internal storage. It’s also built with a 3,000 mAh battery.

The first of its kind, this superb smartphone offers Google Lens right out of the box. Providing quick and easy access, the phone also has a dedicated Google Assistant Key and Super Far Field Voice Recognition that can recognize voice commands up to five meters away.

The handset has a premium tag price of PHP 42, 990, and is available in Moroccan Blue and Aurora Black.

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Vivo Philippines Collaborates with Shopee and Akulaku Global smartphone brand Vivo has sealed exciting partnerships with online shopping enterprises Shopee and Akulaku.

With the new business agreement, the Chinese brand has recently opened its official online store on Shopee Philippines. Meanwhile, through the connection with Akulaku, Vivo phones can now be purchased online on installment from the platform.

Shopee is famous for being a buy and sell online marketplace in the country, which can be accessed via mobile app and website. Akulaku, on the other hand, is an online shopping mall that provides financial services in Southeast Asian countries.

Vivo Philippines vice president for sales Ms. Hazel Bascon and brand director Ms. Annie Lim gave tokens of appreciation to the representatives of Shopee Philippines, Ms. Jane Lim, and Akulaku, Mr. Sean Duxiang, during the launch of the allnew X21 last June 21 at Okada Manila.

“We still have a long year to go and this means more exciting Vivo events are in store in the coming months,” Ms. Bascon shared.

Starmobile Improves After-sales Service

Local phone brand Starmobile continues to develop on its after-sales services by introducing “Star Phone” by One Smart Star Network, and its own E-Warranty app in select Android smartphone units.

“We are launching the Star Phone and Starmobile E-Warranty apps to make customer service more convenient for our users.These applications allow us to deliver efficient and more personal aftersales service online, offline, and in stores.” shared by Ardie Balderrama, sales and marketing head of Starmobile. “ Star Phone allows users to access a menu of Starmobile services by simply keying in *7827 on their phone’s dialer. The app eliminates the need to memorize phone numbers, websites, and social media accounts as it lays out all possible contact points in one screen. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

Created by the company’s in-house app developers, the E-Warranty allows patrons to register their devices’ warranty online for faster support in Starmobile service centers. This enables customers to avail of after-sales services in authorized outlets, even if they have lost their official receipts or physical warranty cards.

All units will be registered into the E-Warranty system, with the help of Starmobile’s sales personnel, to avoid fraud or double registration.

Only units with a corresponding code unique to the sales personnel will be honored by the system.

Star Phone and the Starmobile E-Warranty is currently available to selected models in the UP and play series. Both apps will be present in all future Starmobile Android devices.

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Araneta Center BusPort Now Offers Online Booking and Cashless Payment The Araneta Center Bus Port (ACBP) is taking convenient travel to a whole new level.

passengers no longer have to bring cash to the station.

Already offering services and facilities that are similar to airports, the ACBP has recently made available the option to book and reserve tickets online. This means passengers no longer have to go through long queues particularly during peak seasons like Holy Week, the Halloween break and Christmas season.

During the launch, Araneta Center executives tried the PayMaya card and QR code transactions with the help from from PayMaya Philippines.

Passengers just have to visit Araneta Center’s bus port website and follow the easy steps of booking and reserving their tickets.

ACBP has also launched cashless transactions.

Passengers can now pay for their tickets through their MasterCard, Visa, and JCB credit cards.

Another option is through the preloaded PayMaya card. They may also download the PayMaya app and use the QR code available at the ACBP to buy tickets.

Aside from being a convenient option, cashless payment are also deemed safer because

“Whether it’s online or at the bus port, booking bus tickets is now more convenient for passengers, and their total experience now made more secure with the help of PayMaya’s cashless payment options,” said Antonio T. Mardo, senior vice president for operations of the Araneta Center.

The ACBP, located on Gen. Romulo Ave. just across Ali Mall, boasts of top-of-the-line facilities like an air-conditioned passenger lounge, check-

in baggage counter, airport-like centralized automated ticketing system, and snack bar where passengers can eat and relax.

The bus station serves as the main stop for provincial air-conditioned buses going to and from the Bicol region, Southern Tagalog, Visayas and Mindanao.

YKK Brings Back Real Madrid Coaches to the Philippines The Araneta Center Bus Port (ACBP) is taking convenient travel to a whole new level.

Already offering services and facilities that are similar to airports, the ACBP has recently made available the option to book and reserve tickets online. This means passengers no longer have to go through long queues particularly during peak seasons such as the Holy Week, the Halloween break and Christmas.

Passengers just have to visit Araneta Center’s bus port website and follow the easy steps of booking and reserving their tickets.

ACBP has also launched cashless transactions.

Passengers can now pay for their tickets through their MasterCard, Visa, and JCB credit cards.

Another convenient option for passengers is to use their preloaded PayMaya card for their purchase just like any credit card. They may also download the PayMaya app and use the QR code available at the ACBP to buy tickets.

Aside from being a convenient option, cashless transactions are also deemed safer because passengers no longer have to bring cash to the station to pay for their tickets.

During the launch, Araneta Center executives tried the PayMaya card and QR code transactions

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with the help from executives from PayMaya Philippines.

“Whether it’s online or at the bus port, booking bus tickets is now more convenient for passengers, and their total experience now made more secure with the help of PayMaya’s cashless payment options,” said Antonio T. Mardo, Senior Vice President for Operations of the Araneta Center.

The ACBP, located on Gen. Romulo Ave. just across Ali Mall, boasts of top-of-the-line facilities like an air-conditioned passenger lounge, a checkin baggage counter, an airport-like centralized automated ticketing system, reliable security, and a food port where passengers can eat and relax.

It serves as the main stop for provincial airconditioned buses going to and from the Bicol region, Southern Tagalog, Visayas and Mindanao.

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Acer Hailed as the Most Trusted PC Brand in the Philippines

Tech titan Acer Philippines has continued to live up to its promise of constantly innovating its products and services and making technology accessible to everyone in its 15 years in the Philippine market.

This year, Acer was hailed the most trusted PC brand in the Philippines by international multiplatform magazine Reader’s Digest. Reader’s Digest, one of the longest-running and most read publications in the world, conducted a study in several key markets in Asia, namely Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines. The Trusted Brands Awards hails the top PC brand that scored significantly higher than its competitors on the attributes of trustworthiness and credibility, quality, value, understanding of customer needs, innovation and social responsibility.

“Acer believes in developing technology for everyone. Hardware, software and services should be maximized to open possibilities for consumers, wherever they are in the country,” said Sue Ong-Lim, Acer Philippines Sales and Marketing Director.

Enjoying the trust of readers for 9 consecutive years, Acer continues to provide the market with quality products and after-sales services. From its entry-level to high-end products, Acer has a reputation for offering devices that promise high-definition audio and visual components, stellar processing power, and generous connection ports, all housed in sleek, refined exteriors. The range is not only limited to PCs but also includes laptops, tablets, monitors, projectors, and cloud solutions for both home and business use.

have expanded our operations in key cities outside of Luzon to better cater to the growing demands in the country. Aside from this, we released new innovative products apt for various target markets and strengthened our bond with industry partners to foster collaboration.” said Ong.

“This award cements our conviction to be known as the IT company for Filipinos. This 2018, we

Acer maintains its standing as a leader in technology through their innovations that are

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not just riders of the ever-changing demands of customers but are also game-changers in the field of technology. The tech giant stays true to its vision of breaking barriers between people and technology through its wide range of trusted products and quality service.

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ENTERPRISE

PLDT Enterprise Opens the 4th Philippine Digital Convention

The B2B arm of of the country’s leading ICT and digital services provider PLDT enterprise, together with its digital business solutions subsidiary ePLDT Inc., and in partnership with global market intelligence provider IDC, held the fourth leg of its annual digital convention in the country at the Mariott Grand Ballroom last June 21 to 22.

Showcasing the most transformative technologies in business, the two-day conference gathered over 1,000 C-level executives, business owners, and key decision makers to connect them with local and international thought leaders and pioneers in technology. The event also became an avenue for PLDT to introduce new products and bold innovations through the Digital Expo. Exclusive access to an array of other groundbreaking technology through the Expo were given to the attendees, via experiential exhibitions and live demonstrations, such as virtual reality content holograms.

“The fast pace at which new technologies are introduced is quite daunting - and sometimes overwhelming. Enterprises need to be Fearless.

Facing these challenges head on will enable them

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to be at the forefront of their respective industries.

This year’s Digicon is bigger and more expansive as we not only launch the products that will revolutionize how enterprises of today will deal with tomorrow, but we’re also highlighting the fearless customers and partners who’ve inspired and challenged us to innovate and push the digital frontiers even further,” said SVP and head of PLDT & Smart Enterprise Business Groups Jovy Hernandez.

Among the company’s recent breakthrough in technology is the highly anticipated softwaredefined wide-area network (SD-WAN) which promise to give customers more control over their business. It interconnects enterprise networks, data centers, and the cloud which enable customer’s agility despite geographical distances via powerful and secure platform. Cloud Line and new ePLDT Cyber Security services were also introduced.

Emmy-nominated National Geographic host and sought-after global keynote speaker Jason Silva headlined the plenary session, deep-diving into exponentially shifting technologies that are

shaping humanity. The second day of convention focused on industry breakout sessions, with a series of in-depth workshops conducted by industry mavens and expert analysts in Banking and Financial Services, Public Sector and Local Government Units, Retail, BPO, Transport & Logistics, and even in IT & Gaming.

“Digital innovation is at the core of our business transformation at the PLDT Group, given the constantly evolving technology landscape of today. The future of societies and enterprises is anchored on its ability to evolve—and to deal with ever present disruption is to adapt to what’s here, what’s now, and what’s about to come,” shared by ePLDT president and CEO Eric R. Alberto.

The 2018 Philippine Digital Convention is cosponsored by prominent global brands such as Cisco, Fiberhome, Globaltronics, Huawei, Samsung, Nokia, Akamai Technologies, Vectras Inc., Polycom, Dell EMC, HP Enterprise, Intel, Palo Alto Networks, Soprano and Telavi. Event exhibitors also include AGS, Commworks, Fujitsu, IP Converge, Logitech and Net Pacific.

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The Rise of the Autonomous Revolution

By Chris Chelliah, group vice president and chief architect, Core Technology and Cloud, Oracle Asia Pacific

making judgments calls, sensing emotion or even driving.

In effect, autonomous is the next level of automation, and solutions still need users to intervene and dictate their operations–which itself is labor-intensive. True autonomous solutions can, once powered on, fully operate on their own to make decisions that are not only the most efficient for the user but because of the use of AI, might even suggest a better outcome than humans alone might come up with.

Think of a self-driving car. You key in the destination, and allow the car to guide you across the best routes, navigate traffic, get you to your destination, and maneuver a difficult parking - all in time for your next meeting. The car eliminates the need to drive, or even learn driving as a skill, plus the risks associated with human driving errors.

Philippines and the Autonomous Revolution

Anxiety has been named the modern plague of our time, with much of the ‘angst’ driven by the impact of modern technology - and with the dramatic rise in the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation in business, it feels like this condition has spread to the workplace. Certainly, the arrival of any new technology that promises to change the way we do things has always created tension in society; think of the introduction of machines during the Industrial Revolution. So how concerned should we, in fact, be about this new development?

Perhaps, if history is anything to go by, less so than we currently are. While new technologies seemed at first to render the traditional workforce obsolete, new jobs and new industry segments were created in the long run. Indeed, productivity raising technologies – like AI and automation – actually transforms the original job scope of traditional jobs, up-leveling and creating new forms of employment.

The autonomous revolution

Today, we see artificial intelligence, combined with machine learning, automation technologies and massive compute power, leading the way towards the Autonomous Revolution. This sees machines for the first time, increasingly capable of accomplishing activities that were once considered beyond their capabilities, such as

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So how might the autonomous era impact the Philippines? The country is already known as a Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) market, with this sector being a major employer and key source of income for the nation.

However, recently job openings for fresh graduates in the industry have shrunk, with the rise of automation seen as one of the contributing factors. A further estimated 43,000 jobs are also expected to be lost from 2016 to 2022 due to artificial intelligence.

Not all is lost though. Similar to how the Industrial Revolution brought about the creation of new jobs, the Autonomous Revolution too requires a new breed of employees. Employers and government officials need to rethink their employee engagement approach – providing employees with the necessary avenues to upskill.

The autonomous enterprise, here to help, not replace It is also key to note that the technology itself might help the transition, after all, its aim is to augment human skills, and help free them up to do higher value work, not replace.

Imagine what the Autonomous Enterprise could mean for the average BPO employee: He gets in to work and his emails are already sorted in order of priority with certain miscellaneous emails immediately relegated to the spam folder and some emails answered with a

previously registered response. He is able to start the work day fresh, without having to go through a blanket of emails.

A spreadsheet with customers’ details – prioritized based on the last interaction – is highlighted to him, advising him on the next tasks, and recommendations on the approach to take.

Instead of manually finding answers to a customer’s query, the BPO employee is able to take a step back, analyze the recommendations shared by the Autonomous Enterprise, answer the customer’s query and follow-up with recommendations on next steps. This turns his role from being process-oriented to a consultative one.

When a meeting overruns, the Autonomous Enterprise immediately reschedules the next appointment or arranges a quicker ride to ensure the employee gets to the meeting on time. It reminds him of things that he needs to look into, such as peer appraisals and team bonding sessions, pulls out a list of articles on social and traditional media that he might find interesting to mention to the customer and automatically scans the corporate IT system and downloads the latest security patches available.

It means less time on manual tasks that most employees are not interested in, less chance for human error as a result of tiring labor-intensive work and more time for enrichment and collaboration, instead of being concerned on the nuts and bolts of operations. It also means a change of job scope, and an opportunity to upgrade oneself to the next level of the job.

Oracle is the pioneer of autonomous technologies for the enterprise. We have introduced capabilities into our Cloud Platform Services that lower operational cost, reduce risk of human error and accelerate innovation, and get predictive insights.

For example, the recently launched Oracle Autonomous Database does not require human intervention for mundane tasks, such as patching, turning and protecting the data from security vulnerabilities.

We are only at the start of the Autonomous Revolution. To capture the full benefits jump, on board early. Start with deployment for some non-mission critical workloads and see how you can rapidly reskilling workers to benefit from it. Policymakers also need to collaborate with the business community to help the employers and employees of tomorrow while they are in transition, enabling them to boost productivity and stay relevant.

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The Future Belongs to Organizations with Intelligent Operations Organizations that leverage Intelligent Operations to make decisions and act in real-time will be best placed to thrive in the future, according to a new report from HfS Research and Accenture.

Based on survey research of 460 respondents across the globe, the report found that organizations which harness the combination of innovative talent, diverse data, and applied intelligence will be in the best position to overcome digital disruption and utilize datadriven insights to drive superior business outcomes and enhance the customer experience.

The move to Intelligent Operations is fast becoming a make-or-break proposition for organizations, with 80 percent surveyed saying they are concerned with disruption and competitive threats, especially from new digitally savvy entrants.

The report reveals that most organizations are currently unable to make data-driven decisions due to a paucity of skills and technology to process data: in nearly 80 percent of respondent organizations, 50 percent to 90 percent of data is reported as unstructured and largely inaccessible.

Half of the organizations surveyed also say their back office is not keeping pace with front office requirements to support digital capabilities and meet evolving customer expectations.

“To win in today’s market and ensure future viability, it is essential that organizations capture value quickly, change direction at pace, and shape and deliver new products and services.

Organization also need to maximize the use of ‘always on’ intelligence to sense, predict and act on changing customer and market developments,” said Debbie Polishook, group chief executive, Accenture Operations.

“Our research suggests technology alone is not a magic bullet. To successfully transform their operations, organizations must take a holistic approach that integrates business process and industry expertise, human ingenuity, and intelligent technologies. This enables the agility, flexibility and responsiveness needed to drive superior decision-making, business outcomes and customer experiences. It’s about responding swiftly to change and how to steer a new course with confidence,” Polishook added.

When it comes to digital disruption, 42 percent of executives report that they see more opportunities than threats now compared with two years ago. A robust customer experience strategy is identified as the most significant driver of operational agility.

“Breaking down the silos between the front and back office is now essential to delivering a modern customer experience. More than half of survey respondents state that it takes months or even years for their business functions to make changes to evolving business needs,” 90

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said Phil Fersht, CEO and chief analyst at HfS Research. “The market leaders of the future will be businesses that operate on a OneOffice model: an intelligent, single office characterized by seamless processes and digital capabilities centered on creating, enabling and supporting the customer experience.”

The research suggests the future belongs to organizations with Intelligent Operations that enable them to have a 360-degree view of their operations enabling quicker, insight-led decision making. The five essential components of Intelligent Operations identified by the research include: 1. Innovative talent. The talent of the future will need to bring creative problem solving in addition to digital expertise. Organizations will need a more agile human resources function and a recruiting approach that heavily leverages an open talent marketplace.

2. Data-driven backbone. Organizations need to capitalize on the explosion of structured and unstructured data from multiple sources to gain new insights for the innovative talent to use in order to achieve stronger outcomes.

3. Applied intelligence. Using integrated automation, analytics, and AI-based solutions, organizations need innovative talent who can understand the business problem and then apply the right combination of tools to find the answer.

4. Leveraging the power of the cloud. The cloud will enable the plug-and-play digital services with better integration of diverse data, can scale up and down, and help organizations move toward an as-a-service environment.

5. Smart partnership ecosystem. Organizations of the future will develop symbiotic relationships with start-ups, academies, technology providers and platform players to achieve their goals.

The research is based on the responses of 460 participants from Accenture enterprise clients involved in buying decisions related to technology and services. The respondents were all director level or above; working for organizations with more than $3 billion global annual revenue and spanning diverse geographic locations, including North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific. www.gadgetsmagazine.com.ph

PayPal Reveals Online Spending Habits of Filipinos in 2018

The global leader in digital payment has unleashed the results from its Cross-Border Consumer Research for 2018. The said research was conducted globally, with 34,000 respondents, to get an insight about the consumer attitudes in terms of online shopping and the evolution of online commerce. Among the respondents are 1,006 Filipinos age 18 and above who own a mobile device with Internet access.

Growth on online spending

According to the report, over half of the Filipinos are looking to increase their online spending this year, presenting new opportunities for local merchants to expand sales globally. It is currently predicted to increase by 32 percent, amounting to PHP 121.9 billion. International trade, however, is expected to grow up to 47 percent from an estimated PHP 41.5 billion spent in 2017.

Cross-border purchases through smartphones

From the Asia Pacific countries that were surveyed, Philippines ranked third when it comes to the proportion of international purchases made via smartphones. With the rise of mobile users in the country, PayPal has predicted a developing trajectory for online shopping

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through tablets and phones since new mobile technologies are continuously emerging.

Garnering a total of 68 percent, clothing, footwear, and accessories surfaced as the top choice of Filipinos for cross-border online purchase. The next most shopped categories amongst crossborder shoppers include consumer electronics, as well as cosmetics and beauty products, with 57 and 56 percent respectively. The sophisticated survey also showed that Filipinos are turning their attention to buy basic necessities online.

Household goods (26 percent), baby/children supplies (24 percent), and leisure, hobby & outdoor equipment (23 percent), are the top three groups for the nation’s online spending forecast.

The company also determined that the main three potential drivers for cross-border shopping are the following: -direct conversion of costs in local currency -proof of product authenticity, and -cheapest total cost of a product including its shipping fee.

Obstacles for international trade

Despite the popularity of international online

shopping among Filipino consumers, challenges to online marketplace exist. Shipping costs are the top barrier preventing shoppers from buying products abroad, cited by 33 percent of Filipino cross-border shoppers interviewed. Other key factors include customs duties or taxes (selected by 31 percent) and the difficult process for returning products (28 percent). “2018 looks to be a year of growth and opportunities for savvy businesses that are equipped to take their cross-border sales online, on mobile and in-app. As leaders in digital payments, we are proud to enable merchants to take the best advantage of opportunities by connecting them with global consumers regardless of place or space. This in turn provides endless choices and possibilities for the mobilesavvy generation as they live their lives on the go. But we understand that while people love to shop, the hassle of online payments may deter them from doing so. PayPal takes care of that by making online payments more seamless, more convenient and secure for consumers to buy the things they need and love,� shared by Abhinav Kumar, head of Strategic Partnerships for PayPal in Southeast Asia.

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