Exceptional Experience Awaits Filipinos with Alcatel's Latest Range of Products

Alcatel, one of the world’s fastest-growing smartphone brands seeks to provide an exceptional and enjoyable consumer experience to the most dynamic and aggressive mobile technology markets in the world, the Filipinos. 

Alcatel executives presenting their latest range of products. From left are Mr. Alain Lejeune, Senior VP & GM of Worldwide Mobile Phone Division; Ms. Liza Woods, Regional Director-Asia Pacific & Country Manager; Mr. Laurent Labbe, VP & GM of Global Qualoty & Global Customer Care; and Mr. Vittorio Di Mauro, VP & GM of Smart Connectivity Business Division.

Upping the ante in the country’s smartphone industry, Alcatel recently launched its latest range of products: IDOL 4S + VR, MOVIE TIME TRACK & TALK watch, and PLUS 10 with 4G LTE Keyboard.

“Alcatel has been known globally to redefine the mobiles mass market with its latest mobile technologies that have been designed to be accessible to everyone. Now, it seeks to continue delivering customized user experience with innovative, feature-rich, high-performance mobile devices that allow consumers to do more, create more and enjoy more moments of joy every day.” shared Liza Woods, alcatel Regional Director for Asia Pacific and Country Manager of Philippines said.

At the product launch event last May 18, 2016 at Crowne Plaza, I got the chance to get my hands on these 3 latest products. They also raffled off 18 devices to the media guests to which most of my blogger friends and seatmates during the event won. Imagine we were 8 left on the table and 5 won it was unfortunate for the other 3 which includes me. Haha!

Moving on, let me give you a sneak peek on what to expect from these latest mobile products:

IDOL 4S + VR: alcatel’s Flagship Smartphone

Leading alcatel’s latest product lineup is IDOL 4S + VR, the company’s new flagship smartphone. alcatel takes the user experience up a notch with unique, finely crafted design, and innovative features.

The circle thing on the side is the Boom Key

It has the Boom Key which promises to level up custom-made features like taking photos and videos, listening to music, gaming and user interface, “It boom-ifies everything, from the sound to photos to gaming,” shared Woods. 

Something that will really get everyone excited about as well is that they've augmented their flagship’s multimedia experience: the large screen with great views from all angels, powerhouse audio and a top-of-the-line camera with dual flash.cThe IDOL 4S smartphone comes with a 16-megapixel rear-facing camera and 8-megapixel front camera. It has a 2K AMOLED screen display and a 3000mAh quick-charge battery that can last all day. 

The innovative packaging design transforms into a pair of virtual reality googles that create visual reality experience anytime, anywhere and become a portal for users to enter the world of immersive 360-degree viewing and gaming.

MOVIE TIME TRACK & TALK: For Parent’s Peace of Mind

Recognizing that seamless connections are vital in today’s mobile world, alcatel also launches the MOVIE TIME TRACK & TALK watch for children. Design for kids from 5 to 9 years old, this 2G device allows parents to callor send them voice messages. Using the simple user interface, children can reply to calls from up to 10 pre-set contacts and make calls to 5 registered numbers.

“Connected objects are part of the daily experience of young children today, so MOVE TIME can fit easily with thier needs and parents’needs” said Vittorio Di Mauro, General Manager of Smart Connectivity at alcatel.

Using a blend of GPS, GSM and Wi-Fi, the watch can locate children within 60 seconds using the most accurate information, both indoors and outdoors, thanks to a dedicated cloud service. It is compatible with both iOS7 and above and andriod 4.3 and above. The battery has a long standby time, lasting up to four days.

PLUS 10 with 4G LTE Keyboard:alcatel’s first 2-in-1 device windows 10

The PLUS 10 tablet can be used in laptop mode to type documents or create spreadsheets, and in dock mode to display presentations or sliders. it can be connected to a hard drive, mouse, USB key and a secondary screen. it is compact and 40 percent lighter than an average laptop.

“We’re very proud of all the functionality we’ve built into it,’ said Di Mauro.“PLUS 10 goes everywhere i go – the house, the office, even the park! it’s a fun product that sparks a lot of conversation.”

This device is a perfect travel companion with a double battery. The tablet an 4G LTE keyboard combined have a total 8,410 mAh, which last a full 8-hour working day. The keyboard works double-time to serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to 15 users. To complete PLUS 10’s long list of functionalities, it has both a front and rear-facing camera, with front flash making it deal for video calls.

Woods said with the new lineup of products, the alcatel brand hopes to resonate with millennial and Gen Z consumers with it simple, personal, authentic, and fun approach.

Excited about Alcatel’s newest range of mobile devices? Ready yourselves as it will be available in the market on June 2016.

Single/Single Season 2 continues: More hilarious catch-ups and revelations unfold

Single/Single, the breakthrough romantic comedy series of PhilStar TV and Cinema One, is back for another run. Elevating the kilig, fun and valuable lessons for millennials. The premiere episode aired last Sunday, May 15, bringing back the wacky gang of Joee, Joey, Ranee, Benny and Tita Bianca, played Shaina Magdayao, Matteo Guidicelli, Anna Luna, Brian Sy and Cherie Gil, respectively. 

The Season 2 premiere episode picked up six months after former housemates Joee and Joey decided to go their separate ways. The friends haven’t seen each other for quite some time but there’s a reason to get together – it’s Joey’s birthday and he’s celebrating via glamping.

As old flames met again, hilarious catch-ups and a charade of feelings followed suit, putting Joee and Joey as well as Tita Bianca and Brandon in funny, awkward moments. More of these can be expected in the second episode of Single/Single Season 2.

Watch out if sparks will fly or completely die in the “Hugot Bonfire”. Expect to laugh and cry with the whole gang as they reveal their innermost thoughts and feelings. Will Joee and Joey, Bianca and Brandon, rekindle their romance? Will there be transferees from one tent to another?

Find out in the next episode airing on a special 8pm timeslot on May 22, Sunday on Cinema One. Succeeding episodes will revert to the original 10pm Sunday timeslot with replays every Wednesday, 8:30PM and Saturday, 9:00PM. Past episodes can also be viewed on philstartv.com one week after airing. For more updates, visit facebook.com/SingleSingleC1 and @SingleSingleC1 on Twitter and Instagram.

Pizza Hut Blowout Pizza x X-Men: Apocalypse presents Xtreme Las Vegas Adventure!

Husband and I are both fans of the X-Men movie series, we've watched all episodes and last May 17, 2016 we were among the few lucky ones who got the chance to watch the advance screening of its latest episode, the X-Men Apocalypse. Aside from the 2 tickets I got during the Press conference held last May 12, one of my posted photo on Facebook together with the Pizza Hut blowout won me 6 more tickets which I got to share with my friends. Thanks again for the treat Pizza Hut!

Raymund Nobleza- Marketing Officer-in-Charge for Pizza Hut, TH Lim- Chief Operating Officer and Tony Rulloda, Marketing Director of 20th Century Fox together with Bb. Pilipinas 2016 winners holding the X-Men: Apocalypse limited-edition collectible boxes

Pizza Hut has partnered with one of the biggest entertainment companies in the country, 20th Century Fox, for the nationwide release of X-Men: Apocalypse. This latest promotion was launched during the press conference presided by its Chief Operating Officer TH Lim together with Tony Rulloda, Marketing Director of 20th Century Fox.

Presenting the 18” Blowout Pizza, which combines the Hawaiian, Supreme, Roast Beef and Veggies, and Sausage and Bacon flavors into one pizza! You can choose to enjoy the Blowout Pizza through Hut Feast promos on site or a la carte, or if you want to enjoy your a la carte order by delivery you can get an upgrade with add-ons like Cream Of Mushroom Soup, Fried Chicken, Spaghetti Bolognese or Slingers for just P99 only.

With the tie up, Pizza Hut rewards fans with new flavorful, extra-large, limited edition Pizza Hut Blowout pizza and each order is packaged in one of four limited-edition collectible boxes for fans of the X-Men film saga to enjoy. 

The event was also graced by the Bb. Pilipinas 2016 winners. They're sooo gorgeous and so tall! I cry! 

On top of all this excitement, Pizza Hut is also set to reward lucky patrons with the Xtreme Las Vegas Adventure promo. Grand prize winners of this raffle promo will go on a trip to Las Vegas, Nevada where they can live like an Egyptian God for four days and three nights in a deluxe room with private VIP poolside cabana access at the Luxor Hotel. Winners will also ride on a private helicopter above Las Vegas’ iconic pyramid featuring an incredible view of the strip, become horsemen on a guided 2-hour horseback trek into the Grand Canyon, and explore Las Vegas’ iconic Neon Graveyard after dark.

For the promotion, Pizza Hut's staff are all dressed up in X-Men character costumes!

Aside from the Grand prize, a limited-edition Magneto Helmet as seen on X-Men: Apocalypse (and as seen on the photo above) will also be given away, other prizes in the promo include ten 18” Blowout Pizzas, as consolation prizes.

During the event, Raymund Nobleza, Marketing Officer-in-Charge for Pizza Hut explained that customers can join the promotion by ordering a Blowout Pizza in any Pizza Hut restaurant, filling out the receipt’s back with their contact details and signature, then dropping it at designated boxes. 

Pizza Hut Blowout Pizza’s X-Men Apocalypse and Xtreme Las Vegas Adventure promos are valid until June 6, 2016. For more information about Pizza Hut’s Blowout Pizza, the X-Men Apocalypse promotion and the Xtreme Las Vegas Adventure raffle, visit www.pizzahut.com.ph or “like” www.facebook.com/pizzahutphilippines. You can also follow @PizzaHutPhils on Twitter and Instagram, or simply call 911-1111 (Metro Manila) today! 

Summer Family Fun Day with Mott’s 100% Apple Juice

Mott’s 100% Original Apple Juice is a trusted name since 1842 that supports every mom in their journey to raise healthy and independent kids and want to provide everyday nutritious solutions to help her in that journey. 

Mott's Summer Family Fun day at Bonifacio High Street

Recently, the newest Mott's family member hit the Philippine shelves. It's the Mott’s 100% Original Apple Juice in can sealed and filled with the same 100% apple fruit goodness that you can enjoy anytime anywhere.

It was a pre-Mother's day celebration with the whole family. A rare occasion that I get to be with my family for a blog event.

And, what could be the best way to welcome the newest member of the Mott’s family? By putting the fun back in picnic with the Summer Family Fun Day event last May 7 at the Bonifacio High Street. Just in time for Summer, it was a day of outdoor fun and play that kids, even moms and dads enjoyed. 

Mott's 100% Apple Juice were made available for everyone during the event

The vast open space were filled with picnic tables and chairs under a tent.  There were abundant food sampling of corn munchies with apple sauce, apple-licious spaghetti, caramelized biscuits and a lot more. The event venue was also surrounded by human statues, face painting, picture balloons, treasure hunts, hula-hoops, life-sized tic-tac-toe, ladders & slides, ring and bucket toss games. 

Cotton Candy were also available which became a hit to the kids!

Brianna getting her Ice cream! Another sweet and cold treat perfect for the hot weather. 

“We, at Fly Ace, are very happy to partner with a globally renowned brand like Mott’s, in bringing world class products closer to Filipino homes. Our exclusive partnership with Mott’s and the introduction of the handy Mott’s Apple Juice in can will let more Filipino families enjoy delicious and healthy 100% apple goodness every day at home and even on-the-go occasions whether at school or at work,“ said Fly Ace Corporation General Manager Ramon Daez. 

The event is in partnership with Jolly Al Dente, Lotus Biscoff, Great Leap Academy and Crayola.

We also got the chance to meet and have photos with Appy and Motty ( though Athena wasn't in the mood lol)

The event was hosted by Ms. Christine Jacob-Sandejas and was graced by Mott’s Philippines official brand ambassador and mommymundo.com founder Janice Villanueva. Janice inspires on the go moms who keeps a fine balance between career and family. A firm believer of the age-old adage “an apple a day, keeps the doctor away”, Mott’s 100% Original Apple Juice is one of her kitchen staples. 

Philippine-US registered Dietitian and Nutritionist, Cheshire Que, RND, RN, RDN was also at the event, she shared recipes for delicious and nutritious snacks, entrees, smoothies, and mocktails using Mott's 100% Apple Juice. 

We didn't get to finish the event but the kids surely had fun!

With Mott’s 100% Original Apple Juice, you can always find fun and flavorful ways to hydrate and fuel your family. What’s even better is that your kids won’t even know they’re consuming real, whole, and purest apple fruit that’s neither bland nor boring. So gather your family for a level up picnic bonding like never before with the newest Mott’s 100% Apple Juice in can.

For updates and more details visit Mott's 100% Apple Juice Drink through the following:

website: http://www.motts.com/

or Like them on Facebook:Mott's Philippines

Get Your Cashback when Shopping with Shopback

In this modern day and age almost anything can be done at the tip of our fingers, thanks to our smartphones, computers and other electronic gadgets.

Personally, I still get amazed with the fact that I am among those people who's working online at the comfort of our own home. It only means that I get to spend more time with my family while earning a living. Amazing right?

So basically, everyday I spend most of my time in front of the computer and because of that I take advantage of all the possible benefits it provide. As a mom, being practical is my thing, I weigh things first before making any decisions or any purchases that's why I'm glad that the world wide web has been a great help for me. All information are just a click away online. I can even score great deals online when shopping plus it saves me from the hassle of leaving the house with 3 kids, get stuck in a traffic jam and long queues, how convenient!

And just recently, as I was browsing online searching for great deals on hotel bookings to celebrate our upcoming wedding anniversary, I came across this website called Shopback.ph. Shopback.ph is an online shopping website that helps you get the best deals and discounts from over 300 popular merchants, plus Cashback! Yes you read it right. When you shop online through ShopBack.ph you get a portion of your purchase back as Cashback. How cool is that?

I know you are all as curious and excited as I am, who doesn't love getting discounts anyway? So now let me walk you through Shopback.ph

This banner welcomed me upon getting on Shopback.ph's website. All you have to do is sign up, create an account and you get P100 pesos bonus. Talk about instant savings! Next there's going to be a quick tutorial, I tell yah the website is user friendly.

Upon successful sign up you will be directed to its homepage wherein you will see over 300 merchants under different categories like Fashion, Travel, Food and beverage, Electronics, Home and Living and Lifestyle. Each categories also has its subcategories, so organized! What's even more fascinating is that Shopback.ph offers discount on top of the deals that the other merchants already offers.

Okay so going back to my plan of having a staycation for our upcoming wedding anniversary, I clicked on Travel to which I was directed to this page where I can choose from the subcategories; Hotels, Flight, Cruises, Car Rental, Tour Packages, Rail, Ferry and Coach. You can already conveniently plan your dream travel getaway with Shopback.ph while scoring great deals plus Cashback from 1.0% up to 8.0% depending on the merchant.

I clicked on Agoda which offers up to P400 cashback. Then you'll see different Agoda Promo Codes, Discount Codes, Deals & Offers to choose from.

Once you've chosen what Promo to avail just click on Shop Now and there's going to be a pop up screen. Take note that Bookings of USD50 (~P2400) & above P400 Cashback | Bookings USD50 (~P2400) & below 5% Cashback. To continue just click Shop Now. and you will automatically be redirected to the store's website.

Once on the redirected website, type in your preferred location, check in and check out dates of your Hotel bookings then choose from filtered promos and deals depending on your preference.

The Hotel Lake Tagaytay can be availed for only $79.52 or P3,700+ from $123.01 or  P5,700+  and don't forget about the P400 cashback! 

 Then shop as usual. Just follow the steps provided. Just remember to Complete purchase within the same window to qualify for cashback. Easy peasy!

Thinking of traveling anytime soon? Through Shopback.ph you can also booked your flight and get up to 8% cashback from Expedia.

Expedia offers Coupons, Discount Codes, Vouchers & Deals for Hotels with 8% cashback, 1% for Flights and P850 cashback for Packages (Hotels + Flights).

Click Shop Now and another pop up will show you a note that says:

Bookings of other categories (Cars, Things To Do) will not be eligible for cashback- Orders made on external partner pages or using external partner voucher or discount codes (eg. banks, telcos, loyalty networks) are NOT valid for cashback.

To proceed click Shop Now and again shop as usual just take note that you have to Complete purchase within the same window to qualify for cashback.

Within 48 hours after purchase your cashback will already reflect on your cashback account under Pending Tab.

Your Cashback will turn 'Redeemable' once your order is validated by the merchant. This will take 30-60 days to ensure that there is no order cancellation/return/exchange.

Shopback.ph also allows you to earn when you refer a friend You'll get a unique referral link and you'll earn P100 when 1 friend sign ups and spends a minimum of P500. And this whole month of May Shopback.ph will reward you with P1,000 bonus and GC's with just 3 invites. So start referring your friends now! Now the bonus you earned will also be redeemable once your Cashback reaches P300.

Then you can cash out your cashback + bonus to your PayPal or Bank Account

Shopping has never been this rewarding! Just imagine the extra, unlimited savings you get whenever you shop online. Indeed this is the modern way of shopping and is perfect for practical people like me. So what are you waiting for, check out Shopback.ph now shop and start earning!

A Guide to Finding the Right Bass Pickups

If you are a bass guitar player then you definitely need a pick up device. A pickup device captures or senses mechanical vibrations from the bass and converts it to an electrical signal to produce musical sounds. But you have to find the pick up that best suit your needs. You have to consider the tone, the shape of the pickup hole to the bass guitar and one of the very important parameter of pickup design is the string width. The most common string widths are the 4, 5, 6 and 7 String Bass Pickups. Let' say you need a 6 string bass pickups you must know that the common width of the 6 string bass pickups are 82mm, 86mm, 92mm and 96mm total string width at the bridge. You can browse online to check out available bass pickups. 

Celebrate Everyday Greatness with Great Taste

Everyday we have the choice to do great and be great. Greatness comes out in any forms, in any situation at no particular place or time. It can be through a random act of kindness like smiling to anyone you meet on your way to office. Greatness is within every Filipinos. 

As for me, I choose to be Great by being myself all the time. I don't pretend to be someone I'm not and most especially I put love in everything I do. 

Believing in this remarkable traits of Filipinos, Great Taste celebrates everyday greatness with us by constantly innovating new and better ways to enjoy our cup of coffee helping us bring out everyday greatness from each and everyone of us. 

In line with this Great Taste Coffee held a Choose to Be Great media event last May 11, 2016 at the Crowne Plaza in Ortigas. Great Taste Coffee introduced its newest endorser who will be joining their journey of serving even greater experience to their loyal consumers. None other than the ever talented and a great actor himself John Lloyd Cruz,

“We are very pleased to have John Lloyd Cruz as the latest addition to the Great Taste family. As our endorser, we believe he will reinforce our values and philosophy with the same kind of passion and greatness that he has exemplified in his life,” said Universal Robina Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Lance Gokongwei.

I personally love the Great Taste White Smooth and Creamy, I drink 1 cup every breakfast and my husband would make coffee shake out of it.

The Choose to Be Great media event was coffee shop-themed, there's a Great Taste White Coffee Pop-up Lounge where media guests were treated with different kinds of Great Taste White goodness 

During the event we were also treated to various activities that showcased Great Taste’s celebration of the Filipino’s everyday greatness. We also had an exclusive preview of Great Taste Coffee’s newest campaign featuring John Lloyd Cruz. The new campaign captures the respect and admiration that he and the brand have for Pinoy’s greatness.

Like Great Taste Coffee and John Lloyd Cruz, Filipinos can achieve greatness—from small triumphs, to great milestones. Choose to be great with Great Taste Coffee, available at all leading supermarkets, convenience stores, and sari-sari stores nationwide.