Meteor Garden actors use Vivo smartphones in 2018 reboot

Hit TV series Meteor Garden has made a comeback this 2018 after a successful and highly popular run 17 years ago, in 2001. Set in the city of Shanghai, the series reboot centers around the story of an ordinary girl, Dong Shancai who enters a prestigious university where she later encounters the well-known F4, an exclusive circle of four boys celebrated in school for their good looks and wealthy background. A string of events brought Shancai with the boys, particularly with the handsome Daoming Si and soft-spoken Huaze Lei.

In the Philippines, the local fans were crossing their fingers that a Filipino version of the beloved Chinese series would materialize, calling for their favorite celebrities to earn a spot in a local series re-make. When  rumors surfaced in 2017 that Meteor Garden would be resurrected, the anticipation was also met with uncertainty that the reboot with series darlings Shancai and Daoming Si would not be as good as the original, some even calling that the original casts be called back for the re-creation of the show.

But the 2018 Meteor Garden reboot did not disappoint its fans, old and new. Drawing legions of young followers from everywhere, the old formula of the series proved that it has not lost its charm over the years. As a matter of fact, its comeback was a trending topic on Twitter with over thirty thousand tweets on Its much-anticipated re-make. Much to the delight of fans, Shancai still carries her dream-girl image, her unyielding personality more charming to the audience than ever and Daoming Si still never fails to woo fans with his abounding charisma. The series comeback inspired a myriad of feels from the fans: from happiness to sadness, to excitement and fear.

In Meteor Garden universe, the students rely on their Vivo smartphone to go on with their day-to-day university life.

The new Meteor Garden is so much flashier that the producers decided to submerge Vivo underwater.

One thing that stands out with the Meteor Garden reboot and perhaps the reason why the show managed to captivate the hearts of millennials is the relatable personalities and lifestyles of the show’s characters. The show’s leads, much like today’s youth, are connected to their smartphones—Vivo smartphones in particular—heavily interacting with each other and expressing themselves through the usual selfies and status updates, shared through several social media platforms.

While many Filipinos know the love story of Shancai and Daoming Si like the back of their hand, the Meteor Garden reboot’s main actors Shen Yue and Dylan Wang as well as the rest of the F4—Darren Chen, Connor Leung, and Caesar Wu—no doubt keep fans glued to their screens with their chemistry and energy that add zing to a classic favorite. #

Rampant (Korean)

The newest Korean zombie movie “Rampant,” from the same company behind the 2015 blockbuster hit “Train to Busan” just unveiled its teaser poster and trailer weeks before its worldwide release including the Philippines.

“Changgwol” which means “outbreak” or “rage” in Korean, is the original title of the upcoming action thriller “Rampant” starring My Name is Kim Sam Soon and Secret Garden star Hyun-Bin from director Kim Sung-Hoon (Confidential Assignment).

The film will feature Hyun-Bin as Lee Chung, a talented swordsman but also womanizing and gambling prince of the Joseon Dynasty. He returns to his kingdom ten years after having been taken hostage by the Qing Dynasty. Upon his return, he must assist his brother who sits on the throne to rid the land of a new scourge known as the ‘night demons’.

The film also stars Jang Dong-gun (All About Eve), Jo Woo-jin (My Love from the Star), Kim Eui-sung (W, Train to Busan), Jung Man-sik (The Battleship Island, Miracle in Cell No.7) and Seo Ji-hye (49 Days), written by Hwang Jo-yoon (Confidential Assignment, Oldboy).

“Rampant” arrives in Philippine cinemas soon from Next Entertainment World, to be distributed locally by Rafaella Films International.

Fast Charging coming to Vivo?

Vivo, one of the leading global smartphones in the world, is set to re-unleash an innovative feature to aid everyday life. Will it be a feature that allows efficient battery charging to ensure better communication, web browsing, and long-lasting apps usage to keep up with day-to-day tasks?

Battery life and charging time are two of the important features that tech savvy and heavy smartphone users look
at when they search for smartphone. What good is a smartphone if it does not have battery anyway?

Vivo’s latest flagship model in the Philippines, the X21, for instance, has non-removable Li-Ion 3400 mAh battery
with fast charging. The Vivo NEX was also supported by fast charging but its Li-Ion battery capacity
is up to 4,000 mAh.

With a slogan of “daring to pursue true perfection, while continuously creating the surprising”,

we can’t wait for what’s next for Vivo.

#NCAA94 Day 20: Arellano stuns Perpetual Help, San Beda crushed JRU

The Arellano Chiefs erased a 17 point deficit to complete a comeback to stun the Perpetual Help Altas 76-72.

Kraniel Villoria top scored for the Chiefs with 15 points, Maui Serajosef followed 14 points, Levi Dela Cruz added 12 markers while Archie Concepcion had 10 points.

Prince Eze's 22 points and 25 rebounds went to waste as their winning streak came to an end in this game, Jeffrey Coronel had 12 points, while Kim Aurin and Rey Peralta both added 10 points.

________________________________

The San Beda Red Lions crushed the hapless JRU Heavy Bombers after they unleashed a 40 point lead in their game that ended at 77-40.

The Heavy Bombers sets a record in this game after they only scored 5 points in the third period of this game, the lowest quarter output this season.

Calvin Oftana break out for the Red Lions in this game after having 16 points, AC Soberano added 11 markers for the 7-1 San Beda.

No one scored in double digits on the side of the Heavy Bombers, but Karl Bordon managed to top score for JRU with 9 points.

Vivo Teases New Smartphone via Endorsers

Daniel Padilla on Twitter teased fans with a new visual.

Vivo’s Filipino endorsers have been throwing hints on their social media accounts that something new is coming soon.

Teen King Daniel Padilla posted a photo of himself with a gradient pink and blue background and the words “Go Beyond,” tagging Vivo Philippines' account.

Other Vivo endorsers Darren Espanto, Julie Anne San Jose, Maymay Entrata, Maris Racal, and Paul Salas also posted the similar photos on their Instagram pages.

       
Vivo endorsers hinted online that something new from the smartphone brand is arriving soon.

TJ Monterde, KZ Tandingan, and Iñigo Pascual also posted photos tagging Vivo Philippines on IG. This time, their photos showed colorful backgrounds or lighting.

     
Do these photos tell something about the next Vivo flagship smartphone?

Vivo ladies Kira Balinger, Joyce Pring, Loisa Andalio, Elisse Joson, and Sassa Dagdag posted closeup photos tagging Vivo Philippines, as if to emphasize their makeup.

       
What is the common theme of these photos?

In the past week, Vivo has been dropping hints on its social media accounts. It kicked off with a video of a fingerprint depicted like a spiral galaxy in an apparent reference to its pioneering In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology. Its second teaser was a video of a launch of a space rocket. The third one was another video of the moon with a curved line emphasizing its shape.

In this case, Vivo seems to be getting a lot of inspiration from the cosmos for its next smartphone. What do you think will Vivo post next? Best to keep watch on its social media pages.

Aaron Carter Brings the LØVË Tour to Manila

Kbeam Events officially announces the upcoming concert of 90’s teen sensation, Aaron Carter dubbed as “Aaron Carter LØVË Tour Live in Manila” on Sunday, November 18, 2018 at the Kia Theater in Araneta Center, Quezon City.

The singer, songwriter, and producer who has taken the 90’s and early 2000s by storm with hit singles “I Want Candy,” “I’m All About You,” and “Crush on You,” will be featuring his latest album release LØVË. One of his hit singles in the album “Sooner or Later” went Gold in several countries in Europe and is now enjoying multi-million streams on Spotify.

Now 30 years old, Aaron Carter, has been spending the year touring the US and UK headlining in his own shows, as well as joining his fellow 90’s greats like boyband O-town, Lance Bass from NSYNC, Ryan Cabrera, and Youtube sensation, Tyler Hilton.

Upon learning that he’s now back on tour, fans from the Philippines via Twitter started requesting the singer to come to Manila for a concert. The last time he was here was in 2002 and he was only 14 at the time when he performed at the Araneta Coliseum. Today, Aaron Carter heard his fans loud and clear and he is now schedule to perform at the Kia Theater at 8pm on Sunday, November 18, 2018. Aaron Carter will feature songs from the latest album LØVË, which is distributed by Sony Music.

Tickets to Aaron Carter Live in Manila are now on sale at all Ticketnet outlets (call 911-5555) and at Ticketnet.com.ph. Prices are at P5,830, P4,558, P2,756, P2,120. This concert is presented by Kbeam Events and the official residences Crowne Plaza Manila Ortigas and The Holiday Inn Manila Ortigas.

Vivo ready to wow the world with an all-new screen design

Global smartphone brand Vivo has been known for its high-technology innovations that have wowed the world several times over. But it has also been a pioneer of various consumer-centric smartphone designs.  

Starting August 20, the fastest growing smartphone brand has teased tech savvy followers with a series of mysterious videos posted on its social media pages. The latest was a video of the moon with its shape emphasized by a curved line, a hint of the look of the next flagship smartphone.  

“The galaxies coalesced. Prepare for something greater. #GoBeyond,” Vivo wrote in its latest post.

For its latest smartphone releases, Vivo has pushed the boundaries of the screens based on various studies and insights on what its consumers want.

In 2017, Vivo released the V7+, which has a 5.99-inch AllScreen Display that offers a wider visual experience without compromising a comfortable grip. This gives those on the go a chance to enjoy a bigger screen for gaming, reading, or watching videos.

Vivo followed up the V7+ with the release of the V9 in 2018. It was their first flagship smartphone for the year with the notch. The V9 features the new 19:9 FullView™ Display that has a massive 90% screen-to-body ratio that gives users a wider look into the digital world. The Vivo V9 may be as compact as the 5.5-inch phone, but it was able to attain a 6.3-inch screen.

Halfway through the year, Vivo released the Vivo X21, its first X-series smartphone in the Philippines. It still has a the iconic 19:9 FullView™ Display. But it has a bigger screen-to-body ratio of 90.3% to provide a more impactful visual experience for gamers and video hoarders.

But Vivo was able to get closer to its target when the Vivo NEX was released in some markets in June. The NEX introduces the Ultra FullView™ Display experience with a whopping 91.24% screen-to-body ratio. Vivo was able to achieve this by pioneering the 8-megapixel Elevating Front Camera that hides in the body when not in use. It also introduces the Screen SoundCasting Technology that replaces the traditional earpiece speaker entirely and cutting the bezel size.  

With these releases, Vivo has proven that the window to the digital world has no limits. What barriers will the brand break next?

Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral

From the creators of the box office hit historical biopic "Heneral Luna" comes its sequel, another historical biopic that is bound to tell the story of Gregorio Del Pilar also known as "Goyo" the youngest general in the history of Philippine Revolution, playing title role of "GOYO" is Paulo Avelino, who already played the role in "Heneral Luna". 

The movie depicts the life of Goyo from the time the Philippine-American War erupted up until his last battle in Tirad pass, the movie is written and directed by Jerrold Tarog, produced by Artikulo Uno Productions, and it is set to premiere in cinemas on September 5. 

Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral also stars Carlo Aquino, Arron Villaflor, Mon Confiado, Epy Quizon, Gwen Zamora, Empress Schuck, Alvin Anson, Rafa Siguion Reyna, Ben Alves, and alot more. This movie has been said to be the biggest movie of 2018! So don't dare miss it. Meanwhile you can watch the short series "Angelito" on the video below.  

The Hopeful Romantic

Pepe Herrera and Ritz Azul stars in Regal Film's romantic-comedy movie for "The Hopeful Romantic", directed by Topel Lee and is set to premiere this September 12 in cinemas nationwide! 

Meet Jess (Pepe Herrera), a 33 year old Valet Parking Attendant at The Manila Hotel, an honest man, no girlfriend since birth and most of all, a virgin. He promised himself that he will only give himself when he already found his true love.

Meet Veronica (Ritz Azul), or Nicky, or Ashley. A kept woman in the high society world. A victim of circumstances, but still a survivor. All she wants is to get back to her former life in Australia, a life that was stolen away from her.

Because of Jess’ honesty, he was given a reward when he returned a guest’s bag full of money; a three night stay at the Manila Hotel, a shopping spree, 300,000 pesos in cash, among others.  Living like a king for three days, Jess never knew that the event would forever change his life.

On the first night, he meets Veronica at the hotel bar. Instantly, he gets mesmerized by her presence. One thing lead to another, and Veronica gave Jess the “first time”. Jess, believing in the magic of what happened between them, decides that Veronica is his one true love.

However, there is one problem; Veronica has no idea that he is not rich. Afraid that revealing himself will make him lose Veronica, Jess starts to pretend the part. He kept on doing this until his resources spill away.

The inevitable happens, and Veronica learns the truth about Jess. Jess has nothing else but himself to prove his love for Victoria despite all the deception that he perpetuated in order to get into her world.

Can love change Jess? Will he ever realize true love does not pretend? 

#NCAA94 Day 19: Bolick scored 50 as San Beda bounced back againsy

It was another historic day in the NCAA as Robert Bolick scored 50 points to carry the Red Lions past the Arellano Chiefs 98-79.

Aside from Bolick scoring 50, Javee Mocon added another 15 points, while Donald Tankoua gave away 13 markers.

Michael Canete led the Chiefs with 24 points, while Levi Dela Cruz contributed 16 points.

_____________________________
Another dominant performance by Letran Knights had showed up after they crushed the EAC Generals 76-56.

John Quinto scored his second triple double of 11 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists to send the Knights with a win, Bonbon Batiller meanwhile top scored for Letran with 17 points.

Hamadou Laminou had 18 points and 16 rebounds for the Generals, Jerome Garcia added 11 points.

The CSB Blazers kept their fire blazing as they grab a share to the 3rd spot after they beat the Perpetual Altas 84-77.

Justin Gutang led the Blazers with 20 points and 13 rebounds, Yankie Haruna added another 20 points, while James Pasturan 13 points including the game winning basket.

Prince Eze led the Altas with 24 points and 12 rebounds, Kim Aurin added 23 points, while Jielo Razon had 13 markers.
_________________________________

The CSB Blazers kept their fire blazing as they grab a share to the 3rd spot after they beat the Perpetual Altas 84-77.

Justin Gutang led the Blazers with 20 points and 13 rebounds, Yankie Haruna added another 20 points, while James Pasturan 13 points including the game winning basket.

Prince Eze led the Altas with 24 points and 12 rebounds, Kim Aurin added 23 points, while Jielo Razon had 13 markers.

#UAAP81 First Round Schedule of Basketball Tournament

Check out the schedule of the Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament of the 81st season of the UAAP as of August 22. 

Vivo is going beyond in their upcoming smartphone

Is Vivo preparing for a new smartphone?

Monday is an exciting day for tech enthusiasts and loyal followers of the fastest growing smartphone brand Vivo as it teased fans with a new visual, raising speculations that a new flagship is on its way.

Vivo said that “something out of this world is brewing.” Tech enthusiasts and fans should keep watch in the coming days for more details.

On its social media pages, Vivo posted a GIF image that depicts a fingerprint like a spiral galaxy with the phrases, “Go beyond” and “Arriving soon.”

Vivo, a global smartphone that focuses on high-technology innovations, has surprised its Filipino fans with the launch of the first X-series smartphone last June 21. The Vivo X21 is equipped with the pioneering In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology, the first smartphone in the Philippines with this forward-looking feature.

The technology replaced the rear fingerprint sensor to achieve a sleek and unified design and offer an immersive smartphone experience. This is how it works: When a user finger touches the screen for unlocking, the Vivo X21’s Super AMOLED display emits light to illuminate the fingerprint. The optical fingerprint sensor below the OLED display captures the light reflected by the fingerprint. Based on the reflected light from the unique ridges on the fingerprint, the sensor processes the optical signals to deliver crisp and sharp fingerprint images for matching. Its unlocking speed is only 0.6 second.

Vivo unveiled the industry’s first Vivo Under-Display Fingerprint Scanning Solution at the Mobile World Congress Shanghai 2017. But not long after, the global smartphone brand showcased a ready-to-produce smartphone with the world’s first In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology at the Consumer Electronics Show 2018 in Las Vegas, United States. That was how quick Vivo was able to develop the technology for mass production, proving that its developments are not just for show, but also for use.

With Vivo preparing for its big announcement soon, one can’t help but wonder—how can their next flagship be different from its predecessors?

#NCAA94 Day 18: Lyceum remained undefeated after beating San Beda, Letran overpowers Mapua

The Lyceum of the Philippines University outlast the San Beda Red Lions in their first meeting this season that ended at 73-66.

CJay Perez made the Red Lions pay as he led the Pirates with 22 points and 13 rebounds, Jaycee Marcelino and Spencer Pretta added 13 and 11 points in this win.

Donald Tankoua's 19 points and 18 rebound performance didn't bring San Beda tot heir 6th win, Robert Bolick added 18 markers, while Javee Mocon had 10 points and 15 rebounds, and AC Soberano added 10 points.

__________________________________

The Letran Knights overpowered the Mapua Cardinal after they beat up them ina their match that ended at 84-63.

Five Knights scored in double digits in this victory, they were led by JP Calvo with 20 points, followed by Larry Muyang with 15 points and 14 rebounds, John Quino added this season's first triple double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Bonbon Batiller and Christian Fajarito added 11 and 10 points respectively.

Arvin Gamboa was the lone Cardinal to score in double digit with 13 points, Warren Bonifacio and Christian Bunag both added 9 points.

Shanti Dope Collaborates with International Artists

SHANTI DOPE BRINGS PINOY PRIDE IN INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS

It’s here!

“Crazy” (International Remix) by MiMi featuring Nomad, Krayzie Bone and our very own Shanti Dope 

LISTEN to the song on Spotify ➡️ spoti.fi/2P2lew1

https://www.facebook.com/universalrecordsph/videos/1960463097579513/

17 year-old viral rap star Shanti Dope's flourishing artistry continues to burn bright as he brings Pinoy rap into the international scene.

As he celebrates one year in the industry, and more than 20 million views and streams for his hit song "Nadarang," the new gen rapper-songwriter adds collaborations with international artists to the long list of achievements in his young career.

Shanti is expected to bring his A-game in on the international remix of the song 'Crazy' by rising American singer Mimi. He joins NomaD and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony member Krayzie Bone in the catchy hip-hop tune, also providing a unique Pinoy twist on his verse.

The song does not only feature Shanti himself as an artist, but also our very own language as he raps Tagalog on his verse. To be able to showcase the national language on a worldwide stage is a big feat for OPM artists, especially in the genre of rap, as Shanti continues to build bridges across different genres, platforms, and audiences through his music.

The rap prodigy will not only appear on thisinternational track, but is also slated to be special a guest (together with his mentor Gloc-9) in the upcoming Ultimate hiphop OG Bone Thugs-N-Harmony concert on September 5, 2018 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

Mimi's 'Crazy (International Remix) [feat. Shanti Dope, Krayzie Bone, and NomaD]' is now available on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon

Shanti Dope and Materyal EPs are now available on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon under Universal Records.

Tickets for Bone Thugs-N-Harmony concert are out now via SM Tickets | bit.ly/BTNH2018MNL It’s gonna be an epic hiphop party with #BTNHManila ft. Gloc-9 and Shanti Dope, made possible by Ovation Productions.

Unstoppable Innovations by Vivo

Any brand can claim that it is the best in the industry. But the true innovator let its outputs speak for them. Global smartphone brand Vivo is one of those that walk the talk. Every year, the smartphone brand has released smartphone units with features that disrupt the industry. From developing Hi-Fi technology to making 3D ubiquitous, Vivo has made its mark in the cut-throat industry with its world’s first developments.

Hi-Fi music

Vivo brings music to life with its Hi-Fi ready smartphone models.

One of the first innovations of Vivo was its decision to put a dedicated Hi-Fi quality audio chip in its smartphone, making it the first brand that gave proper attention to its handsets’ sound quality. Vivo introduced its Hi-Fi Quality Audio Chip in X1 in 2012.

It continued this legacy in their succeeding flagship models. The Vivo X21 is equipped with the AK4376A Hi-Fi audio chipset enhanced with Deep Field technology. This was developed by Vivo to provide panoramic surround, mega bass, clear voice effects, and various environmental audio effects to allow users to customize their audio experience.

The Hi-Fi audio quality of Vivo X21 provides close-to-reality that can instantly upgrade the two-channel music to 360-degree full surround sound or continuously push the natural bass into the ears to bring the clearest and brightest vocals.

Over 20-MP front cameras  

Reel and real: Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla take a selfie using the Vivo V7+.

Vivo has been dedicated to understanding its patrons and understood fully well the world’s obsession with selfies. It revolutionized the selfie game when it came out with a 20-megapixel dual front camera in V5 Plus. It is the first smartphone brand to do so, leaving the others working hard to catch up.

It was then followed up by the 24-MP front camera in V7 and V7+. In fact, Vivo V7+ was hailed as the best selfie phone in 2017 by many tech blogs and sites. The next model with 24-MP AI-powered selfie camera of the V9, proving that Vivo never stops pushing the limits in perfecting the features that matter most to its patrons.

Bezel-less screens

The Vivo NEX features an industry-leading 91.24% screen-to-body ratio.

Aside from its selfie-centric developments, Vivo is also a leader in enhancing every patron’s screen display experience.

Vivo at the Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona, Spain last February revealed a concept phone called the APEX™ FullView™. It features a typical 5.99-inch screen, but its screen-to-body ratio nearly reaches 100%. This proves that Vivo is committed to producing a genuine bezel-less smartphone in the market.

The V9, meanwhile, boasts of a 90% screen-to-body ratio with its 6.3-inch FullView™ Display.

Vivo X21, on the other hand, has a 6.28-inch 19:9 FHD+ FullView™ Display. It has a super slim notch and a 1.66mm side bezels to achieve a 90.3% screen-to-body ratio to provide a wider viewing experience compared to other similar-sized phones.  

with a 91.24% screen-to-body ratio, achieved by introducing industry-first features like the Elevating Front Camera and the Screen SoundCasting Technology.

In-display fingerprint scanner   

Another Vivo’s first: The In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology is ready for commercial distribution worldwide.

These innovative developments may be enough for some but Vivo does not want to be the second best. It is also a pioneer in developing ultramodern yet convenient unlocking methods. Vivo has recently revealed that it has advanced the fingerprint scanning method by making the technology available on a screen. It debuted the first ready-to-produce in-display fingerprint scanning solution at the Consumer Electronics Show 2018 in Las Vegas last January.

Vivo in June 2018 introduced in the Philippines the Vivo X21 with the pioneering In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology. It replaces the rear fingerprint sensor with the latest under-display scanner.  

Pop-out camera

Where’s the cam? In Vivo NEX, the selfie camera only comes out when the user needs it.

Vivo wowed the world early 2018 with the release of its concept smartphone APEX that achieves a nearly 98% screen-to-body ratio. APEX features an 8-MP Elevating Front Camera that seamlessly rises in 0.8 seconds when it is required and retracts after use.  

This technology was made commercially available when NEX was released in June 2018. It has an 8MP Elevating Front Camera that is inside the smartphone’s body when not in use.

Screen SoundCasting

The Vivo APEX is packed with world’s first specs like the Screen SoundCasting Technology.

The Screen SoundCasting Technology was first introduced in APEX. It was then launched for commercial release in the Vivo NEX. It replaces the traditional earpiece speaker by turning the screen into a speaker. It achieves this by sending vibrations through the screen with the exciter unit. This allows Vivo to reduce the top bezel and to enhances sound quality with more powerful bass, and softer, smoother treble.

TOF 3D Sensing Technology

Vivo introduced its TOF 3D technology at the MWC Shanghai 2018.

Vivo revealed its Time of Flight (TOF) 3D Sensing Technology at MWC Shanghai 2018. It promises a paradigm shift in imaging, AR, and human-machine interaction to elevate consumer lifestyles with new levels of immersion and smart capability. This pioneering TOF 3D Sensing Technology detects the time it takes emitted pulse light to return to the sensor to accurately map objects at up to three meters in front of it.

With these developments under its belt, Vivo has proven itself to be a force to reckon with. And as it continues to grow, tech enthusiasts can only expect nothing game-changing innovations from Vivo. But really, what more can we ask from a brand that has been leading the way to the future of the smartphone industry?

#UAAP81 La Salle's Bartlett is the first Last One Standing Champ

De La Salle University's Jordan Bartlett reigned supreme in the Last One Standing 1 on 1 contest after beating UP's Kobe Paras, meanwhile Kobe Paras even though failing to take the 1 on 1 contest was able to win the Slam Dunk Contest against David Carlos of Chooks To Go. 

Adamson's Jerom Lastimosa bested FEU's James Tempra in the Skills Challenge, while Jerrick Ahanmisi topped the Three point shootout. 

#NCAA94 Day 17: CSB keeps blazing, JRU wins big over EAC, Lyceum gets over Letran

The College of Saint Benilde Blazers keep their fire blazing after they beat out the Arellano Chiefs 70-82.

Justin Gutang led the Blazers with 15 points, Ray Carlos added 11 markers. Rence Alcoriza led the Chiefs with 14 points, while Maui Serajosef added 11 points.

____________

The Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers scored a huge win over the EAC Generals as they escaped the latter after a 57-55 win.

Jed Mendoza led the Heavy Bombers with 18 points, while Mark Mallari added 12 markers including the winning free throw of the match.

Jerome Garcia led the Generals with 19 points and 10 rebounds, Hamadou Laminou added 10 markers.

____________

Foul trouble caused a fortune for the Letran Knights as the Lyceum Pirates successfully staged a come from behind victory 87-82.

The Knights gave away 28 fouls to the Pirates that was converted to a 24 points out of 41 attempts as compared to their 10 points out of 19 attempts in the free throw line.

Jesper Ayaay led the Pirates with 20 points, Mike Nzeusseu and Cjay Perez both added 16 points, while Jayvee Marcelino had 10 points.

JP Calvo led the Knights with 18 points, John Quinto added 13 points with 10 rebounds, Larry Muyang added 13 markers as well, Christian Fajarito added 12 points and 12 rebounds, while Jeo Ambohoy and Bonson Batiller both added 10 poiints.

Vivo and Smart forge partnership for unlimited data plan with Vivo X21

Global smartphone brand Vivo and PLDT Enterprise, the B2B arm of the country’s leading ICT and digital services provider, together with top wireless brand, Smart Communications Inc.,  seal a strong partnership for an exciting new offer: a non-stop data bundle with Vivo’s latest pride, the X21.

The partnership was established last August 16, 2018 in Makati City. Vivo executive Ms. Annie Lim, Vice President for PR Strategy and Partnerships, represented the smartphone brand. Representing PLDT Enterprise on the other hand was Smart AVP & Head for Enterprise Wireless Solutions Chet Alviz.

The Vivo X21 is the first in the world to implement the In-Display Fingerprint Scanning Technology, the center of topic during the Mobile World Congress and Global Stage for Innovation CES events. Through this strategic partnership with Smart, Vivo aims to expand and cater to the Filipino corporate market.

Smart will bundle the X21 with the Data on the Go Plan 2000, which includes unlimited calls to Smart and non-stop surf—allowing corporate clients to enjoy the X21's high-end specifications for a low monthly amortization of 400 pesos for 24 months. The  Vivo X21 makes for a perfect business companion. The Vivo X21's 6.28" Super AMOLED display is the ideal device for all professionals in the business and corporate world as it can aid users in various business-related functions. From attending critical business online conferences to performing business research on multiple websites, the Vivo X21 delivers the goods more than ever especially as it comes with the Smart’s non-stop surf bundle.

Smart is the exclusive operator partner of Vivo for this exciting X21 Project. The said offer will be available to all corporate partners of PLDT and Smart by August 15, 2018.

#NCAA94 Day 16: Perpetual Help continues streak, San Beda remains undefeated

The Perpetual Help Altas continues their winning streak after they defeat the Mapua Cardinals 74-68.

Kim Aurin top scored for the Altas with 22 points, Prince Eze added 19 points and 19 rebounds, while Jeffrey Coronel added 14 points.

Warren Bonifacio led the Cardinals in this game with 13 points and 12 rebounds, Cedric Pelayo and Denniel Aguirre both added 10 points.

________________________________

Despite trailing behind the whole game he San Beda Red Lions still prevailed over the San Sebastian Stags after a huge 20-8 fourth quarter run to end the match at 65-54.

Javee Mocon came up with another double-double performance after having 16 points and 11 rebounds, Donald Tankoua added 12 points and 10 rebounds, James Canlas added 12 markers.

Ailing San Sebastian was led by Allyn Bulanadi with 20 points followed by Muchael Calisaan with 15 points, the Stags drops to 1-8 after they forfeited two games after the mancomm found out that one of their players played in another league without the consent of the league. 

Ai Sarap is now Chang Ai Express

Ms. Aiai Delas Alas restaurant Ai Sarap got a major revamp, now called Chang Ai Express the restaurant now serves up more variety of food on the menu, more serving, still at a very affordable price. 

Chang Ai Express is located at the Mother Ignacia Place near the MRT Quezon Avenue station.  

AI is making mobile life easier

Not too long ago, artificial intelligence (AI) seems like an idea from a distant, unreachable future. In old sci-fi flicks, AI is often portrayed as robots—mostly evil robots that will bring havoc to the world. But, AI means so much more. It has even evolved into an everyday companion that complements human lifestyle.  

The Vivo leveled up its AI features on the all-new NEX.

In mobile technology, global smartphone brand Vivo is among the companies that maximized AI in its recent flagship units. But this concept is not new. AI was theorized decades ago after it was introduced by American computer scientist pioneer and inventor John McCarthy at the Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence in 1956. The conference was formed to discuss ideas on what they called thinking machines. He was eventually named the Father of AI.

McCarthy eventually became part of the Stanford University’s Computer Science Department and published a document breaking down his understanding of AI.  He wrote in 2007 that AI is the science and engineering of making intelligent machines or intelligent computer programs. In other words, AI will try to understand, simulate, and mimic human intelligence. McCarthy then said some of the applications of AI include game playing, speech recognition, understanding natural language, computer vision, expert systems, and heuristic classification.

Fast forward to 2018, AI has already penetrated various fields including the smartphone industry that basically touched on McCarthy’s defined applications of AI to make mobile life much easier.

Strategy Analytics Inc., a company that provides data and analysis, business consulting, advisory, and strategic market research services on a global scale, estimated that smartphone processors with on-device AI functionality such as Qualcomm grew almost three-fold year-over-year in the first quarter of 2018.

A closer look at the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 mobile platform inside every Vivo NEX. Courtesy of: Qualcomm.com

For instance, the latest Vivo NEX launched is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 Octa Core 2.8 GHz. This has the 3rd Generation Hexagon™ 685 DSP that supports on-device AI processing to deliver richer camera, voice, XR, and gaming experiences.

Meanwhile, Vivo’s latest flagship smartphone in the Philippines, the Vivo X21, is run by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 AIE Octacore 2.2 GHz (4 core) + 1.8 GHz (4 core). This chipset has an AI-powered engine with Hexagon Vector Processor, Adreno GPU, and Kryo CPU. It also has software features that make on-device AI experiences possible in camera, audio, security, and gaming.

Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. Senior Marketing Manager Dominikus Susanto visited the Philippines in April to explain the Vivo V9’s chipset.

Going beyond the AI-powered chipsets, Vivo’s first flagship smartphone in 2018 was the V9 with a 24-megapixel AI front camera. The selfie camera allowed users to maximize every shot with the use of various AI features like the Face Beauty, the AR Stickers, and Selfie Lighting.

The integration of AI and mobile technology proved that the rise of AI should not be something to be afraid of. Now that AI is becoming ubiquitous in smartphones, one can’t help but ask, what are the next developments users should look forward to?