Philippine Long Distance Company (PLDT) has announced that it will be acquiring 50% of the equity interest of the telecommunications business of San Miguel Corporation, while Globe Telecom Inc. will acquire the remaining 50% interest. The PLDT Board also approved the acquisition by PLDT of 50% equity interest in the telecommunications businesses of New Century Telecoms Inc. and eTelco Inc.
According to PLDT chief executive officer Manuel V. Pangilinan:
He expounded further: “At the same time, it leaves the door open for new entrants into the industry. Taken together, this will enable the industry to better support the country’s development efforts—especially significant with the onset of a new government.”
The acquisition is expected to provide the following benefits:
Access to additional frequencies will help significantly improve internet speed, quality, and coverage.
700 MHz will provide better indoor coverage and enable faster rollout in regional and rural areas.
Acquisition involves a return of certain radio frequencies to the government, which will allow for a third competitor to enter the market.
PLDT will increase capex and accelerate network build-out.
With the acquisition, PLDT, Smart, TNT, and Sun Cellular customers can expect improved internet and data services across their fixed and mobile networks. Further, PLDT will be able to provide attractive mobile connectivity and digital services to its consumer and enterprise customers at affordable prices.
If you’re looking for something a lot bigger than the Asus Zenfone 3 Deluxe, there’s the Zenfone 3 Ultra. Coming in with a massive 6.8 inch Full HD IPS display, an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 processor humming at 1.8 GHz, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of expandable storage, and a 4600 mAh Quick Charge capable battery, it’s a solid device to consume multimedia on, whether that means watching movies for hours on end or playing graphics-intensive games.
It’s slim and light for its size, coming in at a mere 6.8 mm thick and 233 g heavy, which should make two-handed use easier and less straining. The Zenfone 3 Ultra is set to hit stores with a USD 479 tag—a bit cheaper than the flagship Zenfone 3 Deluxe as the Ultra struts a nerfed processor, display, RAM, and memory configuration, but for the most part retains its brother’s high-end innards.
Petron, the country’s leading oil company, was the official fuel for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Euro 4 Fuel Economy Run, held on May 27, 2016. This is part of the DOE’s initiative to strengthen the country’s energy efficiency and conservation efforts by expanding the Philippine Energy Standards and Labeling Program (PESLP) to include light duty motor vehicles.
With support from the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers in the Philippines (CAMPI) and the Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors (AVID), a total of 70 vehicles were entered in this fuel efficiency benchmarking run. Thirty-eight gasoline engine cars used Petron Euro 4 XCS, while 32 diesel vehicles used Petron Euro 4 Turbo Diesel.
With Petron Clark Station in Angeles City, Pampanga, as the take-off and finish point, the run traversed some 300-kilometers on the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX). The car companies fielded their own driver-navigator teams for the run, with an independent observer riding shotgun to ensure that guidelines were complied with.
The participating car companies include: Asianbrands Motors Corporation (Mahindra), Automobile Central Enterprise Inc. (Volkswagen), Bayan Automotive Industries Corporation (BAIC), Berjaya Auto Philippines (Mazda), British United Automobiles Inc., Columbian Autocar Corporation (Kia), Eurobrands Distributor Inc. (Peugeot), Ford Group Philippines, Honda Cars Philippines Inc., Hyundai Asia Resources Inc., Isuzu Philippines Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corporation, Motor Image Pilipinas Inc. (Subaru), Nissan Philippines Inc., PGA Cars Inc. (Audi / Porsche), Pilipinas Taj Autogroup Inc. (Tata Motors), Suzuki Philippines Inc., The Covenant Car Company Inc. (Chevrolet), Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation, United Asia Automotive Group Inc. (Foton), and Volvo Philippines.
Petron was the first oil company to locally produce a full line-up of gasoline variants that meet Euro 4 standards, six months ahead of the government mandate requiring all fuels sold in the country to meet the Philippine Euro 4 standard by January 2016. This Clean Air initiative sets allowable sulfur content for gasoline and diesel fuels at 50 parts per million (ppm), which is 10-times cleaner than previous Euro 2 fuels.
As a fuel innovator, Petron has also specially formulated its Euro 4 fuels with advanced additives to deliver TriActiv benefits, namely: (1) better engine protection for longer engine life; (2) better mileage for longer drives; and (3) better power. Petron’s line up of Euro 4 TriActiv fuels are available at all 2,200 Petron service stations nationwide.
Petron invested US $2-billion to upgrade its Bataan Refinery and ensure the reliable production of more environment-friendly and premium fuels. It also operates a fuel additives blending plant in Subic Bay, in partnership with the leading global fuel specialties company Innospec. With these capabilities, Petron is able to produce Euro 4 fuel variants that meet the unique needs of motorists.
As the official fuel of the first Euro 4 Fuel Economy Run in the country, Petron sets another benchmark in providing Filipino motorists with comparable fuel efficiency ratings which can help them make more informed purchase decisions.
The official fuel efficiency ratings will be presented by the DOE to car company executives on June 14 at the Makati Diamond Hotel, at a gala night hosted by Petron Corporation.
Asus recently announced its newest flagship in the Zenfone 3 Deluxe—a monster of a phone sporting the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor clocked at 2.15 GHz; up to 6 GB of RAM; a base 64 GB of internal memory; and huge 5.7 inch Full HD Super AMOLED display. It also boasts of a unibody all-metal build that’s sleek and sexy to say the least.
Its snappers also get a huge boost in the form of a 23 MP primary camera with Laser, PDAF, OIS, and dual tone flash; and an 8 MP selfie camera.
The particular variant below, the ZS570KL, is priced at USD 499, so expect that it will retail around the PHP 23,000 mark plus taxes.
Nothing like starting your day with some fresh bloomers on. Ensure yours is spick and span with the Sharp ES-U105HP-SL. This washing machine boasts features that not only save on water, electricity, and washing time, but also ensures that your clothes are thoroughly cleaned with minimal fabric damage. Its top is almost all lid—wide enough to accommodate even curtains and comforters—with the traditional controls redesigned into a space-saving circular panel on the bottom right. It also boasts a new Anti-Bacterial Screw Pulsator, Spring Water Flow technology, and a holeless tub to take the chore out of washing clothes.
Mitsubishi Motors Philippines Corp. (MMPC) this month bolstered its passenger car offerings with the updated 2016 Mirage hatchback. Currently on its fourth year on the Philippine market, the Mitsubishi Mirage’s newest iteration features better comforts and innards that will give customers an even more enjoyable time behind the wheel.
Underneath its hood is a Euro 4 compliant 3-cylinder, 1200 cc engine with the Mitsubishi Innovative Valve Timing Electronic Control system (MIVEC) that can produce a maximum 78 ps @ 6000 rpm and 100 Nm of torque @ 4000 rpm.
Its exterior features a new bumper design and chrome grille, with the higher GLS variant getting new Bi-Xenon High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with LED-type position lamps. The base GLX model also features 14-inch alloy wheels while the GLS trim will receive 15-inch two tone alloys. The outside will come splashed in colors wine red pearl, sunrise orange metallic, cool silver, majestic red, medium blue mica, virgil gray, savanna white, and pyrenese black.
The sporty outside is complemented by a black-themed interior with new high-grade black fabric seats. The dashboard remains clean for greater forward visibility, with the GLS variant’s meter cluster getting white lighting for greater contrast and easier readability.
Creature comforts and safety features aboard the 2016 Mitsubishi Mirage include welcome and coming home lights that make it easier to find the Mirage in the parking lot thanks to front and rear position lamps and room lamp that stay on for a certain amount of time when the car is unlocked or the engine is turned off; standard dual-SRS airbags; and Anti-Lock Braking (ABS) system with Electronic Brake Force Distribution which prevents the wheels from locking in emergency stops, giving greater control even on tougher driving conditions.
The 2016 Mitsubishi Mirage retails for PHP 553,000 for the GLX MT, PHP 603,000 for the GLX CVT, PHP 663,000 for the GLS MT, and the top of the line GLS CVT is available for PHP 713,000. All trims are covered with an extended warranty period of five years or 100,000 km whichever comes first for worry-free ownership.
Caltex Fuel Your School (Caltex FYS), the fuel-to-donate program of Caltex brand marketer Chevron Philippines, Inc. (CPI),is honored as among the country’s best corporate responsibility programs. The members of the prestigious International Association of Business Communications Philippine chapter bestowed the trophy to representatives of Caltex FYS project partners CPI and the American Chamber Foundation at the Philippine Quill Awards formal ceremony held recently at the Grand Marriott Hotel in Pasay City.
Caltex FYS received the Merit award in the communication management division of the prestigious Philippine Quill, which comes right on the heels of winning the grand prize in education category at the 5th Amcham CSR Excellence Award, and the Silver Award in Anvil for 2015.
Caltex Fuel Your School aims to promote learning Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) subjects in public schools. Its pioneering efforts last year helped 103,000 students and fulfilled the wish for STEM learning materials and equipment of at least 600 educators from the most disadvantaged senior-ready public high schools in Metro Manila. Caltex FYS also exceeded expectations, generating during its one month campaign 6.1 million digital impressions, with Caltex Facebook page raking in an additional 18,198 page likes, while Caltex FYS project reaped an impressive 36,149 likes.
Encouraged by the results, CPI has committed to launch Caltex FYS cycle 2 in 2016, this time to help Davao City’s highest need senior high schools, particularly the Philippines’ first Grade 11 public school students.
Caltex FYS is in line with Chevron’s Energy for learning initiative which supports educational programs that help disadvantaged individuals acquire knowledge and gain new skills.
Starmobile has recently announced a partnership with A-1 Driving School, the premier driving school in the country, to incorporate the use of mobile devices in the latter’s driver education program.
“While our courses are already recognized as one of the most respected and trusted in the industry, we are committed to further advance them by incorporating the latest technologies to make them more engaging, effective, and relevant for our students,” said A1 Driving School AVP Aljun Garcia. “We have found a partner in Starmobile, whose line up of devices and deep expertise in technology have enabled them to meet the requirements of our program.”
As part of the partnership, A-1 will deploy Starmobile ENGAGE 10 Pro and Starmobile UP Max to its instructors, registrants, and trainors in its more than 80 branches nationwide to assist them in providing personalized driving education to its clientele.
A-1 and Starmobile will also collaborate on educational content on road safety and courtesy, including the proper and responsible use of mobile technology on the go, that will be shown to student drivers.
“We are happy to offer our devices to help A-1 in their mission to create not just skilled, but disciplined drivers,” said Starmobile Product Development Head Michael Chen. “We believe that we can move closer in making our dream of having better roads a reality by becoming better drivers.”
Gamers can look forward to an array of dynamic Razer Chroma lighting effects with the Overwatch-themed keyboard from Razer.
This keyboard adapts to in-game actions, including displaying a hero’s signature color, abilities and cooldowns, all displayed in real time making for truly immersive gaming sessions. On top of that, you also get the benefits of Razer Mechanical Switch, which was recently updated with an optimized set of actuation and reset points and increased durability of up to 80-million key strokes. Rounding out this capable keyboard are built in features such as fully programmable keys with on-the-fly macro recording, Razer Chroma with 16.8 million customizable color options, Razer Synapse, and 10 key roll over anti ghosting capabilities.
Your dream career might not be as far out of reach as you think especially now that Smart has teamed up with LinkedIn, the world’s largest online professional network, to let you connect to job opportunities right at your fingertips.
As an exclusive Smart offer, first-time LinkedIn users who registered by via the Mobile App can now enjoy FREE subscription to the Job Seeker Premium Service for three months.
All you have to do is download the LinkedIn mobile app, which is available on Google Play Store and iTunes, register for a new account and set up your profile – using your Smart-powered phone.
Through the handy LinkedIn mobile app, you can connect to other professionals and expand your network, as well as explore existing career and business opportunities from around the world.
The app also offers enriching and relevant professional content like industry news and business insights from industry peers and prominent leaders, such as Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group; Arianna Huffington, President of The Huffington Post Media Group; Tony Fernandes, CEO of Air Asia; Piyush Gupta, CEO of DBS Bank in Singapore, and many more.
Valuable tools to get you ahead
As a Smart subscriber, however, your FREE three-month subscription to the Job Seeker Premium service, lets you get ahead and level up your LinkedIn experience on your mobile phone.
For instance, your premium experience lets you enjoy InMail credits to directly reach out to any hiring manager on LinkedIn’s messaging platform, in addition to viewing a complete list of members who view your profile, such as recruiters and colleagues.
You can also enjoy access to unique data insights about your preferred companies, and detailed data analytics that show how you stack up against other job seekers – a feature only available to premium members.
All of these tools give you the edge and help you improve your chances in landing your dream career.
Level up your career with Smart
“We are very delighted to team up with LinkedIn, the leader in the world of online professional networking that taps the power of relationships and technology to offer convenient ways for users to search, select and succeed in their dream profession, on the go,” said Ariel P. Fermin, executive vice president and head of consumer business at Smart and its parent company PLDT.
“With this partnership, we are leveling up your digital experience – this time by giving you access to tools and a wealth of information that help you boost your careers and ultimately your lives.”
Tommaso Del Re, Head of International Business Development at LinkedIn said, “We are excited about partnering up with Smart, the leading mobile service provider in the Philippines. We believe the collaboration will empower Filipino professionals, in particular job seekers, to be more successful by connecting them to new jobs and business opportunities. This is core to what we stand for at LinkedIn.”
Smart’s expansive mobile broadband network and most innovative data packages allow you to access the LinkedIn app and enjoy its wide array of features anytime, anywhere.
Simplivity has announced an update to the OmniStack virtualization platform which improves on its infrastructure features, the new web-based OmniView, and OmniStack support for Hyper-V technology. These products allow enterprises to further optimize their workflow thanks to capabilities such as greater intelligence, automation, and hypervisor choice, while at the same time minimizing the risks they have to take.
The latest OmniStack 3.5 debuts mission-critical enterprise features, including an intelligent workload optimizer which ensures dependable application performance by balancing the workload across virtual machines; REST API for faster development and integration of third-party solutions and custom applications; and expanded support for multi-node stretched clusters for better IT availability and resiliency across multi-site data centers.
Meanwhile, the new OmniView takes advantage of predictive analytics and trend analysis to help businesses perform better and utilize resources more efficiently. It has custom dashboards which allow for full-scale monitoring of deployments from all over the world in order to quickly address performance and latency issues; predictive analytics that allow administrators to visualize organic growth and prepare for sudden capacity influxes; and a convenient and secure web platform with centralized data processing and storage in the brand’s support cloud.
Lastly, OmiStack for Hyper-V allows clients moving to the upcoming Microsoft Windows Server 2016 platform to enjoy the benefits of SimpliVity’s top-notch solutions.
Moreover, SimpliVity released a new whitepaper titled Next Generation Convergence and SimpliVity’s Hyperconverged Technologywhich showcased how customers using the company’s products are able to drive business growth through the time and money they are able to save. Not only do these customers improved on their total cost of ownership, they are also able to streamline their work processes and operations.
After an impressive showing at the first leg of the Suzuki Asian Challenge (SAC), Team Suzuki Pilipinas is again out to prove doubters wrong as they continue to improve their overall rankings. Held at the Chang International Circuit in Buriram, Thailand last May 6 to 8, 2016, leg two of this year’s SAC saw newcomer Eane Jay Sobretodo taking impressive strides towards being a consistent top ranker.
Though Sobretodo’s crash during the first practice race sent him reeling to the lowest ranks, he managed to make a strong comeback during the first formal heat. He was able to leapfrog to third place after co-Team Suzuki Pilipinas member April King Mascardo was slapped with a penalty for violating the blue line. Sobretodo also shone brightly during the second heat warm ups wherein he notched the first grid position.
With strong performances from the entire roster, Team Suzuki Pilipinas remains on track towards an overall podium finish. Visayas’ Mario Borbon, Jr. jumped from 11 th overall to 8 th ; Sobretodo inched one rank higher to 5 th ; and Mindanao’s Mascardo sits confidently at 4 th . With two legs of experience under their belt, the whole team is poised to gain more ground in the succeeding races.
“Style and comfort don’t go together.” Halo begs to differ.
The Halo Gavin looks great, and just as importantly, feels good on. This 15-inch backpack comes with a large main compartment that can fit accurately fit laptops, books, and long folders. A smaller secondary compartment with dividers, on the other hand, is perfect for keeping other valuables such as mobile devices and what not. There also a front zip for your tiny things to not get lost in the bigger compartments. This carry-all has plenty more storage compartments and specialized pockets to keep all the must-haves secured and the organizing freak in you sane. It comes in colors black, blue, gray, and red.
If you deem a product rugged, it must be able to survive a field day in a tough environment designed to punish both man and machine with equal impunity. Power Mac, while known for carrying genuine Apple products, has expanded its portfolio with outdoor power solutions brand Lifemate. They held the Lifemate Rugged Ride event last April 26 where local media got to put the new products through their paces.
The Rugged Ride
If you paid attention in history class, you’d know that Mount Pinatubo is an active volcano that blew its top off (literally) 15 years ago—a relative second in the world of volcanology. The ensuing chaos drastically changed the lives of people in its vicinity, as well as severely altered the surrounding landscape and river systems. Of course, there’s the famous Pinatubo Crater Lake in the caldera, but to arrive there, you need to brave around 20 km of lahar, sand, rocks, and creeks all while the sun happily smiles down your burning nape.
To be clear, you don’t have to trek the entire way to the summit. There are 4×4 jeeps available for rent at the jump off point, each able to carry up to five tourists plus the driver and tour guide. We took advantage of these and were able to trade 15 km of walking for 15 km of a bumpy and—as the event name implies—rugged ride. Just don’t forget your face mask and sunglasses so you don’t wind up eating dust and getting sand in your eyes.
The ride took around 90 minutes, after which was the start of the 5 km (around three hours) long hiking trail. It seems short, but don’t let the single digit number fool you. The terrain is challenging with shallow creeks you have to cross, rocks you have to find footing on, and the sun—I can’t emphasize this enough—melting you away. There are three pit stops between the start and the summit, with the last one having a vendor with cold drinks at exorbitant prices. That being said, it is best that you bring three liters of fluids with you. That should cover your ascent and descent, though heavy drinkers should pack more.
You’ll know that you’re close to the summit when you see the “20 Minutes to Crater” sign. After walking for another few minutes, trekkers will be greeted by concrete steps or the “Stairway to Heaven” as I called them. Yes, the beauty of the crater lake is divine, but the hurdle of walking up that flight of stairs will make your calves feel like they’ve gone to heaven. Food and drinks are also available at the top and again, they’re extremely overpriced.
However, that’s just the summit. There’s another set of stairs to traverse if you want to get down to the lake shore. Going down’s easy peasy. Forcing yourself back up is a whole other matter. The good news is that after you’ve taken in the sights and rested enough, the trek back to the 4x4s is much easier. You’ll also probably be rocked to sleep on the ride back to the jump off, especially if you didn’t have enough sleep the night before.
The Rugged Gear
Power Mac provided us with their initial outdoor offerings during the hike—the Lifemate Power Eagle and Bear battery banks, and the Lifemate Apollo 1 solar charger.
Lifemate Power Eagle
The Lifemate Power Eagle and Bear may look like something you’d bludgeon someone with, but they’re actually heavy duty power banks designed for outdoor warriors. The Eagle carries a 6000 mAh charge and is smaller and lighter than the 12000 mAh Bear. Both can withstand drops from a height of 1.5 m, water down to a depth of 1.5 m for 24 hours, and weight up to 200 kg.
Lifemate Power Bear
Because of the extremely large capacities, both products are capable of being charged at input rates up to 2.1 A, with the Eagle topping up at four hours and the Bear in double the time. They also have 1 A and 2.1 A output ports so you can simultaneously charge two devices on the go. These capabilities make them perfect for harsh environments where there’s a great probability that you’ll drop them, soak them, or put your entire body weight on them when you fall (which I didn’t, I swear!).
Lifemate Apollo I
Meanwhile, the Lifemate Apollo I is a two-panel solar charger with a USB port outputting 1 A; a little low, but good enough for trickle charging your gadgets while you’re out and about. Contrary to what you may expect, it doesn’t store power and its output is highly dependent on how intense sunlight is. I strapped it to my bag while hiking and I was able to extend the life of my GoPro thanks to the steady flow of current—the only time when I was thankful for the hot sun.
Johann Tiu, Waido Marketing and Distribution Inc. sales manager, demonstrating the Lifemate Apollo I.
If you can’t stand the thought of being lost in the wilderness with dead devices, the LifeMate Power Eagle, Power Bear, and Apollo I will see to it that you’ll be able to bathe in the comforting light of your smartphone, tablet, and camera for much longer. They retail for PHP 4,650, PHP 6,490, and PHP 2,980 respectively and are available at most PowerMac centers nationwide.
Games are fun on its own, but, when paired with awesome accessories it gets better. Gamdias’ multi-sensorial gaming headset, Hephaestus, promises a 4D sound experience with 7.1 virtual surround channels and a blast source identifier that triggers the ear cups to vibrate, following intense actions in your game.
For all-day gaming sessions, the Hephaestus comes with a cooling system with built-in aluminium heat sinks to drop temperature and keep you comfortable. It also comes with various cutting-edge technologies such as voice distortion and alteration through HERA, active noise cancellation, and flexible mic boom for a superior gaming experience like no other.
